A typical day in a life at the Multi Animal Show as part of the Animal World at the A’Famosa Resort in Malacca.

Just something to upload since there isn’t much washing to do…

It says there’s no need for water filters because water provided by SYABAS is already clean.

May Allah show us the way out…

Competent and professionally installed and maintained Natural Gas for Vehicles / Compressed Natural Gas (NGV/CNG) system is quite safe. Especially when equipped with the necessary safety devices and periodically inspected.

“NGV/CNG is an old and proven technology over 70 years of history. Natural Gas rises and dissipate into the air easily. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) ignites at a 600 degree celsius. Natural Gas fuel circuit has no air inside, resulting in low-flammability. NGV cylinders are much less dangerous than a petrol tank in case of collision. Natural Gas for vehicle has a higher octane rating than petrol (130 vs 95). Natural Gas combustion is complete at any ambient temperature. Engine Oil is less contaminated if operating in NGV. NGV exhaust gasses are not corrosive. Natural gas eliminates scavenging action inside the engine cylinder chambers. NGV engines presents great performance flexibility during acceleration. NGV are able to switch between natural gas and petrol mode. NGV doubles up driving range with both CNG and petrol. NGV operates in all terrains, even across mountains. NGV/CNG works in all climate condition including extreme hot and cold. NGV are NOT underpowering vehicle at all.”

Those are just a few arguments, on how safe is NGV/CNG, found at NGV Hijau’s site here. And many other sites provide many more details and statistics. Numerous studies have shown that NGV/CNG vehicles are as safe as any conventional vehicles, if not safer. Insurance companies have no reservations about insuring them.

But you can never take anything for granted. Any type of fuel can be dangerous if handled improperly. And accidents do happen.

My condolences to the family of 40-year-old Allahyarham Samsudin Muhamed, of ST2-3-2 Kelompok Seri Tanjung, who passed away at around 9:45am this morning at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (TAR) Hospital. The body shall be buried at his hometown of Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan later today.

A hard-working father and well-respected neighbor, he left behind a wife and five school-going children.

May Allah bless his soul, and place him among the true Believers’. And may Allah give enough courage to his family to bear this loss.

انّا للہ و انّا الیہی رجیعون

الفاتحة

There are now at least TEN (10) orphans at Kelompok Seri Tanjung that I personally know. Contributions are welcome.

Harian Metro 29 Disember 2011: Kereta Meletup
Oleh Mohamad Naufal Mohamad Idris

TUNGKUS-LUMUS…anggota bomba berusaha memadamkan kebakaran pada kereta mangsa

SHAH ALAM: “Sebaik berhenti dan belum sempat kami keluar daripada kereta, tiba-tiba kereta kami meletup dan terbakar. Dalam keadaan panik dan terkejut, saya terus berlari meminta pertolongan,” kata Mohd Hailani Pangat, 43, yang melecur teruk di lengan kiri dan leher apabila kereta dinaiki bersama rakan tiba-tiba terbakar di pekarangan tempat meletak kenderaan di Stadium Shah Alam, di sini, semalam.

Dalam kejadian itu dia bersama Samsudin Muhamed (ST2-3-2 Kelompok Seri Tanjung), 40-an, berhenti seketika di kawasan itu apabila terdengar bunyi pelik di bahagian enjin kereta yang dinaiki mereka.

Menurutnya, sebaik cuba keluar dari kereta, kenderaan itu tiba-tiba meletup dan terbakar menyebabkan mereka disambar api.

Mangsa kemudian dikejarkan ke Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang, untuk rawatan kecemasan.

Sementara itu, Ketua Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat Shah Alam, Muhamad Hisham Sidek, berkata, sebuah jentera bersama lima anggota dan seorang pegawai dikejarkan ke tempat kejadian sebaik menerima panggilan jam 3.27 petang.

My first, and so far yet only, Mac that kick started my self-employment life. Contributed by the philanthropy YB Tn Hj Che Abdullah back in 1998.

This photo was taken on 15 Jan 2008, the day I sent it to its grave after a 10-year service at Mazle Communications.

This model wasn’t a creation of Steve Jobs, but thanks to him anyway for starting it.

Thanks also to YB for the contribution and much more.

And mostly, thank you Allah.

Thank you.

A little year-end feast for the class is good. To require carbonated drinks for the feast is NOT good. This isn’t just my opinion, this is worldwide opinion. Health-conscious educated opinion, at least. What’s wrong with, say, fruit juice or lemonade? I found it a little mind-boggling when the teachers themselves asked the grade-school/primary school students, to bring along carbonated drinks for the feast.

Oh, what’s a little carbonated drink we say? When out of control, we were actually talking about health effects, obesity and weight-related diseases, dental decay, hypokalemia, etc.. And we haven’t even touched on fitness routine, yet.

We should start somewhere, and grade school/primary school was as good as the place.

And I’m the one who got blamed for criticizing. Duh… stupid me!

Graphic’s credit NSTOnline

April 25, 2011 21:56 PM

15 Food Items To Be Banned In School Canteens

KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (Bernama) — Fifteen food items deemed unhealthy for children have been proposed by the Health Ministry’s Nutrition Division to be banned in school canteens, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said Monday.

She said these included instant noodles, candies, preserved food, food containing artificial flavor, processed food like burgers, and carbonated drinks.

Rosnah said in line with the proposal, which would be finalized next month, the ministry had also identified 60 types of healthy food like fried rice, “kuetiaw” soup and noodle soup to be sold by canteen operators.

“We are now looking into this as the matter needs support (from canteen operators),” she told a press conference after opening the 1st Conference of the Association of Science Officers of Ministry of Health (ASOMH) here.

Almost 250 science officers from the ministry, universities and private sector are taking part in the two-day conference aimed at encouraging innovation and knowledge sharing.

Rosnah said the proposal on the sale of healthy food was vital as the research conducted by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia revealed that in 2000, the obesity rate among children aged between seven and 12 was 9.7 per cent, while in 2008, it had increased to 13. 7 per cent.

On other development, the deputy minister said on average, only 25 health product patents were registered by the ministry at the Malaysian Intellectual Property Office (MyIPO) between 1990 and 2000.

The number continued to increase in 2009 when 270 patents were registered, merely a 36 per cent increase from 198 patents registered in 2008, she said while admitting that the commercialization level of intellectual property in the country was still low.

Hence, she said in order to attract more science officers to come out with new innovations, the government was providing various incentives including a grant of RM15,500 to researcher, besides the royalty of 80 per cent from the commercialization of the research and development products.

– BERNAMA

This came without any kind of announcement whatsoever from any party, either the developer PKNS or the JMB itself. PKNS also has failed in its promise to complete ALL backlog repairs before the actual JMB takeover.

FIM Enterprise is no longer the maintenance contractor as of that date. The JMB Chairman, Omar Amri Hj Adnan (who is no longer a Seri Tanjung resident), has appointed a new contractor.

This writer wishes JMB Seri Tanjung all the best, and hope all residents/unit owners give it the opportunity to perform its duties by giving the fullest cooperation, in good times, AND in bad times.

What is happening to beloved my country? Is this what we really want our people to read? Is this what we want our children to read? Where is our humility? Is this the way to move forward? Are some people really afraid of this ONE person? Wasn’t it before that if it sounded like me and looked like me, it was not necessarily me?

Well, may be it is just me…

What is so special about it? Econsave is selling it for rm74.90 per can.

Then we went to MyMydin, a sister store for the grand Mydin supermarket chain. There it was sold for rm61.80 per can.

Click on photo to see bigger picture.

A difference per can of rm13.10! Go figure.

It was a little strange in the beginning. The voice was familiar, for it was the same one who had asked for my signature only back in September. Hence my reservation was getting a little over me. The guy didn’t even live here in this community.

The man said he was Nik from Putrajaya whom I had encountered before, and he needed my help again in filling up the latest application forms. He would like to meet with me sometime after Isya’. I called Amran, who also had to co-sign the documents as the Residents Association’s Chairman. He voiced his concerns, too. So I suggested that the three of us met together when the guy showed up looking for us. Amran agreed, but advised that he might be late coming from work.

At 9:14pm the phone rang, and Nik was ready to meet me anywhere here. I called Amran, but Amran was still in Setapak working on his assignment. I guess I had to meet this Nik alone.

So I went downstairs, and after a quick call, located him in front of the maintenance office at ST7, next to his motorcycle. There used to be a bench there for people to take a breather, but no more. So I asked him over to ST2, and we sat at a bench there, and talk. I had to interview him.

His name was Ismail bin Yusof, but everybody called him Nik or Pok Nik, for God only knew reasons. He was a Penolong Pegawai Syariah (Assistant Syariah Officer) at the Jabatan Kehakiman Syariah (Syariah Justice Department) in Putrajaya. He received his Diploma in Syariah (Associate Degree in Islamic Laws) at Kolej Dar al-Hikmah as a part-time student while he was living here in Seri Tanjung. At the time, he would commute via the commuter train to his work at the Mahkamah Syariah (Court of Islamic Law) in KL.

Yes, he used to live here, years back. First at this block ST2 on the second floor. Many people knew him. I knew Rusdzi and wife Zaiton (or As, as she was more popularly known) knew him. Then Razak from the fifth floor walked down and recognized him. Razak even knew his wife worked at Hospital An-Nur. That’s good. While staying here at ST2, there was an auction offer for a unit at block ST7. He entered the bidding, and, lucky for him, he won the bid. He then moved to ST7-3-9. He fixed many things there including the floor, the ceiling, and the kitchen, among others. He was staying with his wife, children, and mother-in-law. Then his mother-in-law fell sick, and needed treatment.

His wife’s Mom was already on insulin injection, and now she needed thrice weekly hemodialysis. Our apartment complex was made for neither the handicapped nor the elderly. There wasn’t even an elevator. Walking up and down three stories was not going to help. Being a civil servant, he secured disabled-friendly government housing in Putrajaya, and moved there. His had his house here rented out to factory workers.

Hemodialysis treatment was expensive. 13 treatments a month at a private center cost about rm2600. Government hospitals provide cheaper alternative at the cost of looooong waiting lines! Unless one received new kidneys, the treatment would continue until the patient died. Seeking aid from the Putrajaya Government meant that he had to travel back and forth to KL just for the paperwork. The Federal Government’s office for this particular aid is at Jalan Ipoh, KL.

His wife happened to know an Ustaz from the Lembaga Zakat Selangor (Selangor Tithe Board). The Ustaz recommended the wife to apply for aids from the Selangor Tithe Board, instead. The aids office is at Section 8, just a few minutes’ drive from Hospital An-Nur. And that was what that brought him to me.

Back in September, it was Ustaz Baei and I who co-signed the documents. Nik was applying for the annual renewal of the aid for the year 2011. I signed and stamped the forms, and wished him well. By 10:30pm, Amran was still in Setapak. Nik said he’d wait. I would, too.

When all were done, during the customary handshakes, this particular handshake was a little different. This guy wouldn’t let go. It made me look up, “Aaaah, brother Muzafar! So you’re back. When?”

Last night.

As we were finishing the handshakes, Muzafar gestured at me to wait. A present from half-way around the world. The Sambal Oelek!

Not just one.

But two!

So what’s in it?

Is it any good?

Thank you very much brother!!! The last time I had these was way back in May 1994. More than 16 years ago.

My wife couldn’t figure out what was so good about it. Well, it wasn’t really very very good. It’s just that when it’s about the only thing hot that you could get straight from the shelf… hmmm…. It used to be one of those must stock items in the kitchen.

It tastes like Sambal Belacan without the belacan, with added vinegar, probably as preservative.

This “reunion” was after several tries, you see. The first was something like, "Oh, I forgot." Back in 1998. The last one was about three years ago. The customs didn’t allow it in carry-on luggage. The liquid might explode! Duh!

Now I just have to wait for that elusive Sambal Badjak. This company doesn’t make it anymore, so any other brand will do. I guess.

Just being nostalgic.

SHAH ALAM, 3 Ogos (Bernama) — Kira-kira 30 anggota jawatankuasa (AJK) masjid dan surau di Selangor termasuk nazir, bendahari dan imam meletak jawatan setiap bulan disebabkan tiada persefahaman sesama mereka.

Pengarah Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS) Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi berkata perkara itu mungkin berpunca daripada rasa tidak puas hati sesetengah pihak terhadap pemilihan AJK yang dibuat menerusi mesyuarat agung.

“Setiap bulan saya perlu tandatangan peletakan jawatan AJK purata antara 20 ke 30 orang. Jumlah itu masih kecil berbanding jumlah kesemua AJK di negeri ini iaitu kira-kira 8,000 orang, tetapi kalau tidak diatasi takut menjadi perbalahan dan mendatangkan masalah kepada pengurusan masjid dan surau,” katanya kepada pemberita pada hari Selasa.

Mengulas lanjut, beliau berkata rasa tidak puas hati juga timbul berhubung pelaksanaan projek, sumbangan serta ketiadaan kerjasama antara mereka menyebabkan ada yang menjalankan tugas orang lain.

“Seperti contoh di Kuala Langat, ada orang beri sumbangan tidak melalui nazir dan bendahari tetapi terus beri kepada bilal dan bilal pula terus lantik kontraktor untuk melaksanakan projek. Bendahari dan nazir tidak tahu kerana tiada kerjasama. Sistem dan senarai tugas dah ada tetapi ada yang buat tugas orang lain.

“Sepatutnya bilal kena maklumkan bendahari dan nazir tetapi dia terus buat, ini menunjukkan tiada ketelusan. Banyak lagi sebab seperti penceramah, biro agama nak panggil orang ini, nazir pula tidak setuju,” katanya.

Mohammed Khusrin berkata sikap sedemikian tidak harus wujud dan seharusnya AJK masjid dan surau tidak memperbesarkan isu-isu yang remeh sehingga boleh menggugat persaudaraan sesama umat Islam.

Mereka sepatutnya melaksanakan tugas demi kepentingan agama, bukan kepentingan peribadi atau kelompok tertentu, katanya.

Mengulas perkembangan lain, Mohamed Khusrin berkata hanya sekitar 40 peratus penceramah yang berceramah di masjid dan surau negeri itu mempunyai tauliah manakala selebihnya sukar dipastikan kerana tidak menyertakan maklumat lengkap.

“Dari laporan yang kita terima dan kumpulkan dari semua masjid dan surau daerah, kita dapati ada borang membabitkan maklumat peribadi penceramah yang memberi ceramah tidak lengkap seperti tidak meletak nama penuh, kad pengenalan dan nombor rujukan tauliah,” katanya.

Sehubungan itu, Mohammed Khusrin meminta agar AJK masjid dan surau bekerjasama dengan mengemukakan maklumat penceramah yang lengkap menggunakan borang yang disediakan serta menghantar laporan tersebut kepada JAIS setiap bulan.

“Kita juga mengharapkan agar semua AJK membantu mereka yang tidak bertauliah supaya memohon tauliah bagi memastikan setiap perkara yang disampaikan oleh penceramah memberi kesan positif kepada perpaduan umat Islam,” katanya.

03 Ogos, 2010 17:33 PM

– BERNAMA

Selangor EXCO (Housing, Building Management and Squtter) Iskandar Abdul Samad with SUHAKAM Commissioner Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah visit Taman Kinrara Puchong low cost apartment.

KUALA LUMPUR (July 27, 2010):
Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) has warned that it will not hesitate to take legal action against a building management company if it persists in cutting water supply to low-cost flats in Taman Kinrara.

“Only Syabas has the authority to cut water supply to any premises, and only for non-payment of water charges,” said its senior manager, southern region, Kelvin Siew.

“Any party found guilty of disrupting water supply to any premises can be charged under Section 125 of the Water Services Industry Act 2006,” he said.

He was responding to complaints from residents of the flats against their building management, Puchong Teamwork Corporation Sdn Bhd.

Residents said PTC had since December last year disrupted their water supply by tampering with the Syabas meters and cutting the pipes for alleged arrears in payments.

They claimed that PTC officers had engaged in acts of gangsterism when they wanted to collect payment.

The company charges each household RM48 a month for maintenance fees, but residents claimed some of them had to pay the company thousands of ringgit in arrears, plus interest.

Syabas today visited the affected residents, together with representatives from the National Water Services Commission (SPAN), Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and Selangor executive councilor in charge of Housing, Building Management and Squatters, Iskandar Abdul Samad.

They were shown how several pipes connected to one water meter had been cut through.

“Previously, they also locked our water meters, and when we broke the lock, they tried other ways to cut our water supply,” said resident P. Rajendran.

Span head of enforcement Ashwar Aziz said a meeting will be called next week with representatives from PTC and the residents to find a solution to the problem.

Ashwar reminded PTC not to take action that is against the law.

“It does not matter if the residents have not paid their maintenance fees. PTC has no power to cut off the water supply,” he said.

Meanwhile, Iskandar said he would check with the Subang Jaya Municipal Council if similar complaints have been made against the company.

Updated: 08:05 pm
Tue, 27 Jul 2010

the Sun

The World Cup is finally over. Thank God. So much about Paul the octopus. It was all fun in statistics and probability.

Let’s move on.

A new era is beginning at Seri Tanjung. Hopefully it is a good one.

Many aspiring candidates and early wannabes didn’t turn up. Only 33 eligible owners came to the meeting! And there were only 367 eligible owners from a total of 580 house units. What a shame. After all, these are OUR homes.

One showed up at the end of the meeting, making big noise, but apparently didn’t do his homework. And the chairman of the meeting was quick to the point. Or may be the guy was just raising his point for the benefit of all.

But the Chairman’s response to my excuse of my co-owner’s explicit refusal of any post caught me by surprise. It worked, but it still surprised me. Nevertheless, looking at the lineup, I’m relieved. But I was prepared for the worst. Alhamdulillah.

Notes of meeting shall be available, soon.