Driving

Last night when I watched Ocean’s Eleven, it reminds me of Joey and my trip to the west coast. Joey was the first guy who let me drive in the US. It was very challenging, half-way through when everyone was sleeping, I was driving in a snowstorm!

Interview

I remember a job interview with TNB. Although at first I thought it went very well, the more I thought about it the more I want to do it again. I think that I should have said things differently if I were given a second chance. The very first thing I would like to improve is the way I started the whole process. Instead of greeting everyone altogether, I would personally greet each one of them, ask their name and how they are doing while at the same time introducing myself. It would be very professional to shake hand and make eye contact while saying “Hi, How are you? My name is Buffer. And you are?” Then the way I speak, I am truly not being myself. For the first time I keep on mixing the two languages, English and Malay while communicating with them. My mind set is that I shall not speak any language other than Malay while speaking with Malays unless they really do not know the language. But the problem is that they ask me the question in English, so naturally I will begin my answer in English. But due to the nature that they are Malays and I am kind of nervous, I start speaking Malay and the mid point of our conversation. And so it goes, they would think that I always mix my language when speaking with others. One thing I learn is that I should be more relax and appear to be professional while answering their questions. I should stop and think before opening my mouth. If I don’t know the answer I shall beat around the bush while not going too far of the subject. The night before the interview, I should try to visualize the interview and prepare for any questions that would normally ask in an interview. Obviously their first question is to describe myself, my educational background in two minutes. Now that I have been through it, I know I should practice talking over and over again.

their 2 favorite questions
Tell us about your educational background.
What is the most challenging experience .. e.g during studying?

Frustrated, i imagine

Sometimes I think that it would be best if I can type anywhere or as fast as my brain is thinking. I am imagining a computer brain that can read the brain signal and type whatever is in the mind into a word processor. This is very useful when making a thesis, a book, a journal or any writing that requires a lot of thinking. The computer program should be able to differentiate the signals that require the dictation and signals that are just thought that should not be recorded. Then there should be a mean to tell the program, ok so start writing from this thought to that thought and stop whenever necessary. Indeed it would be a very complicated program to make and I don’t know if it would be realized anytime soon and be sold in the market.

Me, Doctor and Mechanic

I often think that doctors and mechanics stand on the same principle when treating symptoms of their patients. They tend to resolve in the most general or common cause of the symptoms based on their past experience. Without proper background of the patient and the limited time they have, perhaps their conclusions of the symptoms make perfect sense at the time. Let’s say John goes to the doctor complaining about the high temperature of his body. After a quick scan, the doctor concluded that John got a high fever and gave him some pills as prescription. Meanwhile there is a Jane who goes to a mechanic complaining about high temperature in her car engine. After a quick scan the mechanic concluded that the fan of the radiator is the reason. So both John and Jane go back to continue on their respective destination. Few minutes on the drive, maybe a little less than half an hour, Jane discovers that the engine starts to heat up again. So she stops at the side of the road fearing that the engine will go overheat. After half an hour or so, Jane starts driving back to the mechanic complaining about the high temperature of her engine. So now the mechanic is a bit baffled and takes a closer look which consumes more time to tell her the problem than before. After a few test the mechanic concludes that the problem may be due to the thermostat connecting the radiator and the engine. Thermostat controls the flow of water around the engine, if the engine does not reach a certain temperature, the thermostat will block the flow of water from the radiator to the engine. Once the engine starts to heat up, the thermostat will let the water circulates the engine. So mechanic just removed the thermostat saying that it will not have any effect on the engine. So after saying goodbye to the mechanic, Jane drives a way. Few miles towards her destination, the engine started to show sign of overheating yet again! Jane quickly makes a U-turn towards the workshop and indeed the mechanic is as surprised to see her. Now, the manager of the workshop also coming towards with a bunch of other mechanics thinking that either the mechanic in charge is incompetent or there is something really wrong with her car. After some explanations by the mechanic in charge, they concluded that the mechanic has done what is necessary and there is still something big causing the problem. The workshop owner suggests that Jane let them take apart the engine and do some “surgery” or major overhaul. Reluctant at first, but Jane has no other choice; the heating of the engine might have caused some other problems inside the engines as explained by the mechanics. The oil may have been spill out or the radiator itself is broken. Few days later the car is done and no more unusual heating problem!

Bizzare Snippets

The mind as it seems does not comprehend the state of affair in the state of astonishment. Amy is astounded and taken aback by the news to find the heart of a chicken in an abattoir up on the hill. The storm has abated, paving the way for Amy to investigate into the matter. She abandoned the abacus, to abase herself before the power of God the Almighty; she feels so small standing on the hill with nothing to see except the thick forest and the abattoir. Far across the valley she knows of an abbey where abbesses and abbots stay and help the villagers. With no one in sight she yawned so loudly that she can hear the sound coming back at her from the trees. She was abashed at herself for forgetting her manner somewhere 3000 ft across the continent. Perhaps due to the abbreviation of her real name, nothing aberrant for long names likes hers. Actually the case does not seem interesting to her, yet she abhors every thought about entering the abattoir, smelling the foul smell of blood and carrions especially with abscess on her gum. She could no longer stand the place and walk away.

Fresh grad salary Petronas

it has been confirmed that fresh new grad entering Petronas will receive a salary of RM 3,500 whilst other companies are still reluctant to increase the wages.

so folks, if your company gives less than 3.5k, then think hard before your board the ship.

Hidden Salary of Mine

i have never thought about this until one day a friend make a remark..

"you never got a scholarship from this company, right?"

"emm, what do you mean?"

"i mean that this company only lend you money for you to go oversea and now you have to repay them back by working with them, you don't think so?"

"damn, now i am beginning to think so too"

"yeah, how much do you owe them?"

"well, they sort of gave me the bill after i got back here"

"oh yeah, how much?"

"hmm.. let me see, yeah right here, they said i owe them RM 777,897.89"

"wow that's a lot! you have to pay them anything?"

"no, as long as i worked for them for seven years"

"so meaning that you have to pay them RM 111,128.30 a year, which translates to about RM 9,620 a month for 7 years"

"well, it seems so"

"so i guess your real salary is about RM 11,500, only that you do not get to see the nine thousand plus, kind of a lot for a fresh grad like you, you don't think so?"

"well, damn you for making me feel lucky working with this company.. BWAHAHA!"

"you should be thankful, hehe"

"i should, anyway it's ramadan, good to have this reflection"

DiGi Advert - Lovely Day

Incidentally, today is a lovely day for me.. because

i love easy driving
i love smooth traffic
i love saving <--- due to easy driving and smooth traffic, so i kinda saved on fuel
i love good food <-- after the talk today, we were served with some delicacies
i love meeting inspiring people who are positive and bubbly <-- i met many today
i love resting <-- since tomorrow is holiday
i love peace <-- no more mosquitoes after we removed their breeding haven

although some roads are closed for the incoming merdeka celebration, some roads are still open

today i took the risk of going through the roads that i thought would be closed, but luckily it was not closed and not many people are using that road. so an evening that i thought i would be spending quite some times in jammed turned out to be just the opposite.

then i switched on the tv and stumble upon the DiGi advert - Lovely Day by Bill Withers

so here is the lyric to Lovely Day -

When I wake up in the morning love
and the sun light hurts my eyes

And something without warning love
bears heavy on my mind.

Then I look at you
and the world’s alright with me

Just one look at you
and I know it’s gonna be

A lovely day
lovely day.. x8

A lovely day
lovely day .. x8

**When the day that lies ahead of me
seems impossible to face

And someone else instead of me
always seems to know the way

Then I look at you
and the world’s alright with me

(and)
Just one look at you
and I know it’s gonna be

A lovely day
lovely day.. x8

A lovely day
lovely day .. x8

....

repeat**

hmm... lovely day indeed to end a busy week. but nevertheless i do have to some homework during the weekend to finish em by tuesday, i suppose, since monday is a holiday.

AKLEH - Ampang Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway

I have been using AKLEH for a while since the start of AKLEH is just a little drive from my home which is in Ampang. With AKLEH I can reach KL i.e. the Jalan TAR area (where the SOGO and other nearby attractions) in less than 15 minutes. Thanks to AKLEH, I can start my car as late as 7.30 in the morning to be able to punch in before 8 am.

Toll is RM1.50 one way flat rate for cars but i believe it's worth every sen for me since I use AKLEH from one end to another end. It is smooth except in the toll collection area when cars are too many and the lines are long. But with Smart tag one does not have to wait for long. After and before the toll, the roads are clear thanks to understanding and caring drivers who do not drive too slow on the highway.

It is called a highway because it is high from the ground. One could jump and die. Cars could go from the sides (if they are crazy enough) and explode. A daredevil can jump and dive to the infamous river of KL. How high it may seem, the LRT track is higher than the highway.

AKLEH is in fact parallel to Jalan Ampang but without the traffic lights. Jalan Ampang is horrible even during the non-peak hours. There are just too many intersections with traffic lights. The only time I think is suitable to use Jalan Ampang is at night after 8. Hopefully, cars aren't that many.

A way to capture the modern Kuala Lumpur is to go through AKLEH. You can see all sorts of modern buildings especially the KLCC. There is in fact a special exit from AKLEH to the KLCC parking.

A little while ago, some hard knocked motorcyclist were seen using the AKLEH even though it is forbidden. I was thinking of complaining because the motorcycles disturb the harmony of the traffic since AKLEH has only four lanes, with two lanes respectively at each direction. However, at the toll collection area, the roads are wide enough with few more lanes to smooth the flow.

BTW, the thick blue line is AKLEH in the image shown above.

Life in Kuala Lumpur as a fresh grad

Let us assume that Daniel has just graduated from any college with a degree of four years.

Generally, the starting salary for fresh grad working in Malaysia is around 1800 - 2800 (after deduction due to epf and socso). Quite a big range so depending on where Daniel chooses to work or in this case, where he will be accepted to work since his result is not that good. However, he is a sweet talker and may be able to "dillusionize" the interviewer.

I believe with all my senses that working in the banking industry offer the highest pay for fresh grad in malaysia. higher than that is to work for international company like slumberger but the work is hell. you will not be staying anywhere for too long and for the first year you will be put into rigorous tests and exercises. once you passed everything, you will be posted just anywhere in the world. a friend to told about a friend of his who has to work in the middle of a dessert in sudan in a contenna for three months, then off for few weeks.

so back to salary pay, here are some that i know for new exec inclusive of allowances:

• petronas - 2500
• tnb - 2200
• powertek - 2200
• govt - 2900
• cimb - 3100
• Motorola - 2600
• audit firms - 1800++ (not sure)

so lets say daniel chooses to work in powertek, because the office is in menara maxis, which is very close to his home in jalan ampang, and he got to see chicks in KLCC. with 2200, the pay is quite low.
before he even touch the money about ~300 is deducted from his salary which is for epf and socso. the epf requires that 11% of your salary to be deposited into your epf account. so now at the end of month, daniel will receive 1900 for the month pay.

since daniel has no family in KL, he has to rent a room at about 300 which is ok and comfy. not too grand but good enough for single like daniel. he also has to pay installment for his car which he bought just after graduation, well, his father sponsored the deposit of 10% and now he has to pay the installment at 400 a month. for a month petrol, he has to pay about 300 since he likes to go out in the weekends, see some friends, make some loves and watch some movies. additionally, everyday he spent about RM15 for food, i.e. 4 for breakfast, 6 for lunch and 5 for dinner or in other possible combinations. but in average he need to spend about 15 a day for food. thus, for a whole month, 15 x 30 will equal to 450.

the basic spending will be = 300+400+300+450=1450
with 1900, he is left with = 1900 - 1450 = 350

so 350 left to spend, what about weekends? one could easily spend extra 50 every weekend. say you want to treat those special friends of yours, or just watching movies, play pool, bowling, buy new clothes, etc.. man i have no money left... what about the bills you have to pay? the phone, utilities, and so on. the bills may easily reached 100.

so basically, to live life comfortably as a fresh graduate living in kuala lumpur, 3000 is a good start for salary. some people just dont have a choice because he or she is bonded by contracts due to the sponsorship during their study and now have to work at a particular company for a certain number of years. poor 'em.

Life in Kuala Lumpur (exploring)

Once arriving in KL sentral you can just go anywhere from there. in the building itself you can access the following modes of tranportation:

• Putra LRT --> the line goes from Terminal Putra in Gombak all the way to Kelana Jaya. Interesting stops with this line are KLCC, Masjid Jamek, Bangsar and Central Market (Pasar Seni). Beware, on public holidays, Central Market is full of immigrant workers loafing around. So they squat here and there thus creating a scene which does not feel like KL. I think this LRT line has the most advance Train with most frequent availability. The only set back is that you can only use the machine with exact change. Since I have a TouchNGo card, going in and out trains is fast and easy.

• KTM Komuter --> by far always showing me how bad the service can be. Always not on time and very crowded. If you are lucky you will get the seat because there are plenty of them, but since the frequency is low, the trains tend to get very crowded, and if you are only in for few tops you should better not sit as getting out of the train will be very hard once it is very crowded. I guess because KTM uses the old style of commuter trains which are not very practical nowadays. Btw, the line goes from sentul to port klang and another line goes from Rawang to Seremban and vice versa. By far covering the longest distance of all the commuting trains.

• ERL --> Express Rail Link, yes, it is the fastest way to go from KL Sentral to KLIA. It takes only 28 minutes and cost RM35 one way. Another type is ERL transit which also goes to KLIA but will stop at first Bandar Tasik Selatan, Putrajaya, Salak Tinggi and finally KLIA. List of fares are available at their website.

• and of course taxis and buses going all sort of places. buses to Genting Highland is about Rm15 and to KLIA LCCT is RM8/9. You will need to be very familiar with the bus system to appreciate all the routes available.

If you are wiling to find the way around, a few minutes walk outside the building will lead you to the KL Monorel station. It will go from KL Sentral to titiwangsa through the bukit bintang/imbi area where the famous bintang walk is. So the complete map is available through www.kiat.net website or you can just download the pdf map.

Life in Kuala Lumpur (arriving)

Arriving with AirAsia

most people living in KL do not come or exist in KL previously. people who love their money will not spend on MAS just to fly to KL so those people including me with go with AirAsia. AirAsia is a great way to travel to KL from Sabah or Sarawak or other places where AirAsia choose to operate. AirAsia is usually (or rather most of the time) RM200 cheaper than MAS. So let us assume that some dude in Kuching decides to come and work or study or go holiday in KL.

Firstly, he will book the ticket online which payable through online banking or credit cards. please ensure that you put your contact number so that AirAsia will be able to contact you in case of flight delay or cancellation. they contacted me once to inform about a delay which is rather thoughtful because you can then make other plans.

Then, on a particular day he set the time he will have to go the airport to check in. AirAsia counter opens two hours before and closes 45 minutes before departure time. please be prepared with some money if you are going to check in bags in to the cargo. each bag will cost RM5 and the overall weight limit is 15kg. if in any case, the total luggage exceeds 15kg, then you will have to pay RM15 for every 1kg you exceeded. so he will just need to show his ID (IC) in order to check in. bla bla bla he will go to the security check point then finally the terminal building where he will wait for boarding. boarding is usually 20 mins before departure.

Then, he boards on the plane. since AirAsia is practicing free seat concept, he will just seat anywhere where he likes where there is no one on the seat. there is no need to hurry unless you want to seat at a particular spot or want to seat together with friends. but this guy is alone so he does not bother to stand first in line and just waits till the line starts moving only then he boards the plane.

flight to KL from kuching is about 1 hour and 45 mins, no matter what type of company he chooses to fly with. in this case, MAS and AirAsia are the two choices to fly from kuching to KL and vice versa. During the flight the stewardess are set to sell foods and souvenirs, but he refrains from buying anything since the stewardess are not that hot up to his standard.

the plane touches the ground 9.05 pm but he only touches the ground at 9.15 pm. he rushes out and go into the SkyBus (owns by AirAsia) to KL. The ticket is RM9 for one way from LCCT KLIA to Kuala Lumpur City Sentral. There is this another bus company offering RM8 to KL sentral but since each bus will only move once it is full and the SkyBus seems more crowded, he chooses to pay RM9 instead of RM8 so that he may reach KL sentral earlier, since somebody is waiting for him.

the bus moves at about 9.25pm and reaches KL Sentral at 10.35pm. Thus the journey is a little more than one hour. so he looks around that somebody who is waiting for him and they both run towards one another with arms wide open and finally they kiss. :-P

so with AirAsia its a rather cheap journey to KL, only RM8 or RM9 depending on which bus you choose.

missing the feeling

when i encounter people at the service points, such as cashiers, ticketing counters, bus drivers, etc i always wonder why people in malaysia are not as friendly as those in the western country...

i missed their wonderful expressions, i.e.

"Hey, how are you today?"

"How is it going boy?"

"Nice weather eh?"

"Good morning dear, what can i do for you today?" --> i was greeted whenever i go for shopping in walmart.

or even a simple smile.

so is it true that Malaysians are lacking of courtesy?

Mont Kiara vs Bukit Kiara

recently, i discovered from a friend that Bukit Kiara and Mont Kiara are referring to two different area. i used to think that Mont Kiara is the english translation of Bukit Kiara, boy i was wrong.

Bukit is the place where the Security Commission, INTAN and Pusat Sains Negara are situated, whilst Mont Kiara is the place north of Sri Hartamas and just before Segambut.

Screw my imagination

this morning i was planning to go early and to put on my contact lense for today. but somehow i spent almost half an hour trying to put em on. somehow they would not jsut stick into my eyes. they felt funny as if it was soggy and too soft. nevertheless i tried several times putting them on but failed. so i threw em both into the bin thinking that they must be rotten lime old tomatoes.

having spent almost half an hour, it was kind of late and i magined that people waiting in the bus would be annoyed by me but alas only 6 people were in the bus when i arrived. sepnt another half an hour before we actually began the trip.

so i thought to myself that when we stopped at genting sempah petronas station that i would not be eating anything. but being me and crazy to try the nasi dagang i have to let myself go. it was expensive at rm 8.50 with one teh tarik. i was not v surprised since i have eaten here before and the foods are a bit pricey.

so when we actually arrived at the factory, we were served with ... NASI DAGANG for breakfast. i was shocked and in denial state. why did i have to buy the nasi dagang at the petronas station? why? porke mia mor? (i love me)

the host at MNI was very generous. they served us with three courses i.e breakfast, lunch and tea and all are mouth watering and taste really wondeful and fresh. it was a rather large complex with three boilers and their own ability to generate electricity. they even gave us sourvenir as we were about to depart. THANKS MNI.

as a group of auditors, we were taken to the main part of the plant and trying to find ways of improving the operation. our aim is to help look for areas of improvements in terms of recoverable losses. there are few leakages we found and things could be more efficient.

three hours it took to drive from mont kiara to mentakab. on the way back i was still confused with the roads at mont kiara, i did not appear to be as in the map. how come??

and back to the topic, i am thinking that whatever that i imagine in my mind would not happen in reality. therefore i will try with all my best not to imagine the beautiful things because then i would not ever happen to me. so maybe i would start imagining all the worse thing that can happen so God willing it would never happen to me.

Screw Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim

from the moment he suggested the use of IMF during the economic downturn of 1998 i just don't trust him and i wonder why there are people who support him even though he is clearly trying to get the influence of the west namely USA into Malaysia.

can you imagine if malaysia were to listen to Anwar in 98 or if Mahathir did not sack him and put him into the jail.. we might be worse today. but to really think about it if anwar had not been sacked, he might become the current prime minister of malaysia instead of pak lah. the Mr clean pak lah who is no more viewed as mr clean but rather something else which is related to some form of doziness.

screw anwar when he said he can lower the price of oil.. for how long? but pak lah decision to cut off the subsidy in the abrupt manner is just as bad, when could do it slowly when he already gave some hint that the price will go up by august. he could do it slowly not knee jerk kind of way because people prefer to adapt but slowly. we the rakyat are willing to change our way of life but not in abrupt manner. come on, everything needs time to adjust.

then we might as well screw pak lah and his team.

but again screw anwar who is trying to seek sympathy from the foreigners. he wanted to go here and there storytelling about his pathetic life to all the foreigners. so that one day if we really got into power he can repay them at the expense of the Malaysian? do we need more foreigners in our country? no, hell no. they should let us be who we are not following their middle fingers.

then also screw mahathir who let the IPP reap all the benefits from the agreement that they signed in 1990s. additionally they make TNB suffer when TNB mission is to serve the rakyat. screw mahathir for letting TNB and the rakyat be the victim. for letting go Tan Sri Ani when he refused to sign the PPA. screw the next CEO who comply to signing the PPA. they are the ones who are responsible for the increase in tariff and the high reserve margin in the country at the 'expense of the rakyat's subsidy.

thus screw anwar, then pak lah, and then mahathir.

Let Dato Ahmad and his Mercedes

Screw them who commented or criticized on the decisions made by the Terengganu state government on the purchase of Mercedeses hAHA really screw them.

first, of course the state government has done the studies necessary and figures don't lie.
when dato ahmad said that having proton is more expensive, i believe him so should you all.

merce is da bomb, buying it will not let you down. they have the best guaranteed quality and in the long run it saves you more than having an elongated perdana V6. in addition you know how the the squeaky quality of proton. after a few hours of driving a new proton, you will start to hear nnoises that you wish you would not hear. HOW COULD SOMEONE SO BUSY like the menteri besar and his subordinates can bear the unnnecessary noises made by the proton car when they NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE RAKYAT and their problems! HOW COULD THEY LET THEM who are trusted to care about the rakyat be annoyed by such small problems??

let them have what they deserve.
let them people
leave them
they deserve the car
please
don't make a fuss about it ok?
there are more things to ponder or to question
like where are the billions spent by Pak Lah and Co.?
how little is few millions compared to those billions ringgit?

dato ahmad then can give me one of his car as a token of appreciation to me..

Screw Hartamas and its siblings

i hate going to sri hartamas or mont kiara or any other places around that area because i dont think they did any proper planning for the routes and roads. it is so confusing with flyover or downover and they are signs everyway.

Funny Nicol

how lucky that Nicol David got the "Datuk" title already. She's so young about my age and she is already a datuk not too mention that she is a female.

*datuk, in malay is grandfather.

so datuk nicol.. it just sounded so funny.. haha

the same funny feeling that i felt when datuk siti got her datuk..

Screw English

the fact is that i feel stupid talking in english.. because my mother tongue is not english. also its getting harder for me to write in english because i kept on translating what i am trying to say. this is what happen when you do not practice speaking in english in a frequent manner. looking at other countries such as japan, korea and france i wonder why do they achieve so much even though their public are infamous for not being able to understand or speak in english. thus i conclude that english is not a benchmark for any countries to be successful or not. it is just an indication of how the english has conquered the mind and culture of the locals. people from japan are proud in their language, so they are not bother in learning english. english is internationally understood but if you have ever been to korea or japan you will see how hard it is not to know the local language. why can't malaysia be like japan or korea? is it because we are multiracial? when one language are chosen as a mode of communication than other race might feel belittle of the fact that their language is not used. maybe that's the problem that people prefer to speak english in malaysia especially in the cities. sometimes in a meeting, people may not take you as serious as when you are speaking in english. is it to show that when speaking in english you are superior? may be. because then depending on your eloquence, people may look at you differently. in addition if you speak with slang (american or british) they will start to admire you.

yesterday the first day of e-learning it reminded me of my years in college. listening to some technical lectures by an Indian professor through video conference is worse than having the boring lectures in a class where you can actually feel and touch the lecturer. damn it was so boring that i dozed off a few times. what a long 3 hours yesterday and another 3 hours today! tonight have to sleep early since i have to be in mont kiara by 7.30 am. luckily no more video lectures today as we are heading to mentakab to do a technical visit at MNI (malaysian newsprint industry). i believe MNI is the only manufacturer of newspapers' paper.