MALAYSIA DAY: THE REAL NATIONAL DAY STORY

This will be a three part article. First, we look at the real story behind the independence of Malaya.

It has been a long time since I wrote something that smells like a political ditch in this blog. Well, if you truly called what I am about to write as something political, I would rather called it an enlightenment and history. This year marks our first time ever celebrating Malaysia Day. You may ask, what is this Malaysia Day is all about? Of course, the education we perceived throughout the long years of been struck under the same syllabus of history textbook has taught us that the 'Independence Day' was 31 August 1957, while failed to acknowledge the true existence of Malaysia itself  which occurred on 16 September 1963. Ask yourself this, are you conscience enough as a Malaysian to realize the contrary between both National Day and Malaysia Day?


Let's turn our attention back on the real independence story. The Federation of Malaya consisted of the 11 states in the Penisular Malaysia, achieved independence back in August 31, 1957. We all learned that Tunku Abdul Rahman led a delegation to London to discuss the road to independence. Since the history textbook told you that UMNO start rolling the ball on the road for independence, we are asked to remember that and believe that. However, there is another side of the story regarding the independence. The coins will always have two sides in parity, equally chance of getting a head or tail when it is tossed.


So, what the history book failed to inform you is that the movement towards the independence of Malaysia? The first movement to initiate the demand for independence was made 10 years earlier by the Alliance PUTERA-AMCJA, the first think tank that consists of all races; even earlier than what was claimed to be the first unity coalition of UMON, MCA and MIC. To cut things short, watch the series of videos below:

ONLY IN UKM KTM STATION

Everyday, I took KTM Komuter from my place in Serdang to my UKM campus at Bangi. Let me say this, it is not always a pleasant ride. Every morning, I forced my self to wake up at 6.10 am just to catch the 6.50 am train. Then, if KTM Komuter does not give me a bitch delay, I should be able to reach my Kejut fac (yes, people in UKM called our Engineering Faculty as Kejut) precisely at 7.35 am. But been a constant bitch KTM is, they decided to screw the schedule twice last week by coming to Serdang station at 7.15 am, so figure yourself what time I reached my campus.

Well, this is my life which is now associated and tied to UKM KTM station. There is no other mean of transport to choose from, so virtually my life of arriving early or late to my class depends on how bitch mood the KTM Komuter train is.

That is not the only thing about this KTM Station. Please come to this station at around 3.00pm, you will get this scenery:

Yeah, this happens only in UKM KTM Station.....

DAY TEN: IT'S A BULL DAY

Bull Day. Not really. We in Malaysia do not celebrate the bull raging event or the matador event like our compatriots in Spain. But indeed if we do have one, I would have the potential to fight some bull, teasing them like no one have ever wanted to do so on them. Come on, give me the head-butting, bulls! Watching the matadors at work on the television sets of my home look stylish, elegance and passionate. Teasing the bull with the red cloth can never make any sense but I love the styles of avoiding the sharp horns of the bull. Hasta la vista, baby! Or perhaps the matador could say you cannot catch me! In the end, the bulls are stabbed to death and we all will have the feast tonight!

Cows, bulls or anything in common are called the bovine. Equally, they are not uncommon even in Malaysia. There is a town in the Eastern Malaysia that could have gained much recognition and indeed we love to call it the Buffalo's town or even the Cowboys' town of the East. The small town of Kota Belud, situated in the north of the capital Kota Kinabalu, housed a sizable population of 75,000 with majority Dusun and Bajau ethnic and minority Chinese population.

The small town is well-known among the locals for many things:

(1) It is the gateway point to go to the highest peak in Malaysia, a majestic 4,095 metres high Mount Kinabalu. Ranked the 20th most prominent mountains in the world, the mountain and its surroundings are among the most important biological sites in the world, with over 600 species of ferns, 326 species of birds, and 100 mammalian species identified. Among them are the gigantic Rafflesia plants and the orangutan. Mount Kinabalu has been accorded UNESCO World Heritage status.

(2) The town is known for its Bajau ethnic. There are virtually two types of Bajau; West and East-Bajau have significant differences. The West deals on cattle and live on coastal area while The East lives on seaside and master of fisheries. Kota Belud is the town where you can find the most coastal Bajau ethnic. They have been coined the Cowboys of the East because like the rodeo and Wild Wild West - they ride on horses and managed their flock of cattle, pretty much akin to those in Wild Wild West!

(3) The town has a long history of its Tamu. Tamu is the local open market, where all kinds of food, buffalo, handicrafts and weapons (mostly for decorations) are sold. This is the traditional way of shopping. No K-Mart, Tesco or Carrefour in the area! Every year, Kota Belud town hosted the annual Tamu in bigger extravaganza. It's like a carnival where peoples outside the town flock in to catch the biggest native market of the year.

(4) I did mentioned earlier about buffalos. Yes indeed, the town is famous for its buffalos.

Yes, it's been a bull's Day but Kota Belud is just like nay other towns in Sabah, Malaysia. Filled with the warmness welcome and to the perfect getaways for holidays.

DAY SIX: SABA RESTAURANT AND BARBICAN

DAY SIX and BLOGATHON is still going strong!

Last weekend, I had my first ever Arabian food experience. I am not a big fan nor somehow familiar with them. The last time I went to Stockholm, I missed out the frenzy and I remembered seeing a lot of kebab stores all around the corner of Stockholm. Yes, it was exquisitely tasty and superb, a new kind of experience for me because I have never seen one kebab store in my hometown Kota Kinabalu yet. I bet things may have changed all these years.

Good thing is, these come in a cheaper price tag than usual and it is not some fancy Arabian dishes or not - just a simple kebab and a refreshing frizzy drink to keep my stomach happy after a long day-out.

Saba-Restaurant was the place I visited that day. When you stop by at Setiawangsa LRT station - an easily accessible if you go by LRT train, cross the overhead bridge into a near fancy condominium of Seri Maya at Setiawangsa.

There are several Arabian restaurants but look for Saba Restaurant because it is much affordable and provides the same Arabian foods like others. Besides enjoying the typical Arabian food, you can also satisfy yourself with variety range of shisha.

Because it was my first ever visit, I asked dear Evelyn for any recommendation. Thus, she recommended me the Chicken Shawarma Kebab. This kebab is chicken-based and wrapped in a bread with salad and dressing. Though it is dry and lack in mayonnaise, it is still exquisitely delicious. The chicken is tender too and it costs around MYR 4 to MYR 5.

For the beverage, I chose Barbican. Barbican is not castle by the way, but it is a brand of a chilling frizzy sparkling juice from Arab. It is made of malt and should be considered akin any malta beer. (Malta is a young beer, carbonated and contains no-alcohol; generally deemed as beer that has not been fermented) They have different types of flavour; namely apple, raspberry, strawberry and lemon. My personal favourites are the apple and strawberry.

Okay, honestly!! Barbican is awesome!! Shall try if you found it anywhere and I was made to understand that it costs MYR 2.50 per bottle. Barbican is manufactured in Dubai by Aujan Industries Co.

DAY FIVE: HTC LEGEND PLAN WITH DiGi

Hey, it's day five on the Blogathon Word Count. No, luckily I have yet to feel the burnout yet, so technically I am still on for the daily blogging (hehe...)

On today's post, I would like to introduce to the blog reader regarding HTC Legend and its plan if we are using DiGi. This should appeal to those who want to get one HTC Legend under DiGi or otherwise make this as comparison to the others. For your information, DiGi is Malaysian telco that has been around since 1995, with 49% shares owned by Telenor ASA of Morway.

HTC Legend is one of the latest product from HTC that performs under the Android platform software of version 2.1. It has been on the market for the past month and it has finally arrived in Malaysia, thanks to the effort of many. HTC, been a slate smartphone should be very appealing in this tablet era and so far has garnered many good reviews especially for its design and improved user interface as well as its performance, optical trackpad and the aesthetic.

HTC FIRST LOOK



REVIEW HTC LEGEND
From PhoneArena.com



SMART PLAN WITH DiGi



Credit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56B8Q1AQSXk

DAY FOUR: ZEE AVI

It's Day Four of my Blogathon Word Count Challenge. I am beginning to appreciate the hardship to blog a post a day. It's been so long I didn't do that but eventually now I am beginning to feel the enjoyment of daily blogging. I know there may be some of the non-Malaysian will eventually take up some time to read my blog and thus, it will be great for me to introduce something from my own country - that's Malaysia.

On Day One I talked about the summer beverage treats from Starbucks Malaysia. Then on the Day Two, I was immersed myself to rant about the film Iron Man 2. On Day Three, I talked about Muse, an international alternative rock group which I have been loved for so long.

Today on Day Four, it's all about Zee Avi. Zee Avi, hailed from Sarawak, Malaysia is one of our many local talents in the relatively small music industry in Malaysia who has go beyond to the international level. As a proud local singer-song writer, guitarist and ukulele player, she has now found her fame internationally following her sign up with the Bushfire Records, a record company owned by Jack Johnson.

One of her many beautiful songs, Bitter Heart. Enjoy this music video and I am sure somewhere somehow you may find this tune very familiar!



Perhaps it's not too much to listen to the second song, Slow Hands she said:

DAY ONE: SUMMER TASTE AT STARBUCKS

Hello, this is Day One for the Blogathon Word Count. I have no idea why I ended up joining it but I was rest assured that this is going to be fun. Despite the fact that I have never been blogging so constantly over these few months, I have put myself a challenge, a real tough task to buckle up with the demand for creating one post one day now. One post per day? I used to have one post a week once!

So flexing my muscles and squeezing my brain now!

Summer is inching close. Okay, let's be assured that we in Malaysia do not have summer season because we are blessed with sunshine and rain daily. Blessed or not, there are times when the sun really makes thing so scorching hot. Oh my God, I feel melting now! Fear not! Starbucks Malaysia has introduced a new beverage – a seasonal theme of course.

As we are heading to the heat summer, let us quench our thirst with the new flavor Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino® Blended Cream. I have to say that the new beverage is sweet, filled with the aroma and smells of strawberries, perhaps with some vanilla in it too. As a cream-based beverage, it should goes down well with those who are frenzy with the Frapps. Oops, that could have been the whipped cream taste though!

Also available in the stores nationwide is the coffee-based Espresso and Cream Frappuccino ®. Brewed from the best coffee beans available, then the extract of the espresso is what makes this excellent. Optionally, you can have chocolate chips poured atop too. Simply delicious and brewsome!

For both products, you can purchased them at any Starbucks store nationwide for a price of MYR14 (Tall), MYR15 (Grande) and MYR16 (Venti). Yummy!!

UNREPORTED WORLD MALAYSIA - ASIA'S SLAVE

Malaysia is one of those developing nation that has achieved so much economical growth over the years. For years, Malaysia becomes a hub for Indonesian, Burmese, Filipino and Bangladeshi workers to earn a living and money to be send back to their home. One can argue that with RM 1,500 per month is nothing but having a scrap through life. In big cities like Kuala Lumpur, the figure is considered as the bar line for having a normal living, subjected on how you want to spend them!

But what if they are some who earn even less than that? These are the reality faced by these foreign workers – they earned as little as RM 500 per month (although the figure is still higher when they were back at their country!). Never mind about the little pays, they are foreigners and they don’t deserve the whole pie. But what happen after working for 18 hours a day for 10 months but you don’t get a single cent from your employer? Imagine that, too much! Or what about those who has been physically and sexually abused? Imagine that, unbearable! You decided to leave but only that you can’t because your passport – the freedom pass is at the hands of your reckless employer! Imagine that, inhuman! You turned your attention to seek help from the authorities. Authorities who? Would you expect police or RELA member, or even the Home Minister or PM to help you? When you try to go public, everyone is hunting for you and it's just get better, sounding like one adrenaline-rushed action film.

What have been I said earlier are the truth that are hard to be swallowed – a reality of what happened and experienced by the immigrants. What you did not see doesn’t mean that it didn’t happened and what you ignored tends to be something serious! The following video was never been featured in Malaysia and will never will. Thus, I take a step forward by digging this thing to you. Like Mulder and Scully used to say; the truth is out there! Watch, learn and understand the concept of human trafficking. In the end of the day, ask yourselves – is it about our moral virtue or the greed of money should we blame? We know that the money is the roots of evil deed!



It's a 2006 video but who said things don't persist till these days

NEW CLASSIFICATION FOR MOVIES SHOWN IN MALAYSIA

In the latest development, the Malaysia's authority board for film censorship and rating, LPF (Lembaga Penapisan Filem or National Censorship Board) has introduced the new film rating system that will effectively replaces the current system, as reported by our local cinema portal (Cinema Online). It was reported that the authority has already issued the new system to be dismissed to all particular movie studio and distribution and will take into effect immediately.

The Malaysian horror blockbuster Jangan Pandang Belakang carried a U-rating. Rationale? It is agreeable that this movie is not even suitable for children and faint-hearted.

In the current system which has been implemented since 1996, movies are categorized into U and 18+ depending on the subject genre. The 18+ rating resembles those used by the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) by giving a R-rating for certain movies deemed unsuitable for the minors. In Malaysia, 18SG was previously used to indicate strong violent and horror genre deemed inappropriate to minor. 18SX for profanity and sexuality contents, 18PA for political and religious sensitivity; and 18PL for combination of one or more categories. U meanwhile was used to indicate a general viewing and releases, similar to MPAA's G-rating.

Read more to learn about the new classification.

The PG13, was later added into the classification in 2008 to expand the scope of the uses of U. In the past, censorship board was criticized for giving a U-rated for some local horror flick which the public deemed too gore to be watched by the minor. Classic examples are Jangan Pandang Belakang and Congkak, two blockbuster local horror that have set the trend for introducing the PG13 rating. It is also worth to note that there are times when some irregularities occurred in the past while rating a movie. Street Kings, Legion and Rambo 4 did have many of its F-words when uncensored while been given 18+ rating.

The solution is simple. LPF will abolished the current system and to be replaced by a simpler version of rating. Below is the new classification:

U - For general viewing without age limit

PG13 - Parents guidance needed for audience under the age of 13

18 - For 18 and above only

So, tell me what do you think of this new system. Is it going to be effective at all?

SOURCES: Cinema Online

FORMULA ONE 2010 - PART TWO

It's a new season again. Formula One is back again for yet another exciting season installed. What do we have? The reigning Driver's Champion, Jenson Button has joined McLaren along side fellow countryman Lewis Hamilton. Michael Schumacher returned after an absent of three years, joining rival Mercedes GP (formerly and reigning Constructor Champion, Brawn GP). Several new teams will debut this year - Virgin Racing, Hispania and Malaysia's very own Lotus.

Now, since you are excited for the start of the new F1 season coming this weekend, here are Green Tea's three parts of the 2010 Formula One Preview!!

PART 1 - The Competing Teams
PART 2 - The When And Where
PART 3 - The Rules Of All (Coming Soon)

PART TWO - THE WHEN AND WHERE

This year, there are 19 races going around across the globe. It started with the Bahrain GP this weekend and runs until the penultimate race in November 14 at Abu Dhabi. I would say this is a hectic season installed.

Race 01: Gulf Air Bahrain GP
Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir
14 March
15:00 Local, 12:00 UTC

Race 02: Qantas Australian GP
Albert Park GP Circuit, Melbourne
28 March
17:00 Local, 06:00 UTC

Race 03: Petronas Malaysian GP
Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur
4 April
16:00 Local, 08:00 UTC

Race 04: Chinese GP
Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai
18 April
15:00 Local, 07:00 UTC

Race 05: Gran Premio de Espana Telefonica
Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona
9 May
14:00 Local, 12:00 UTC

CONGRATULATIONS TO TEAM MALAYSIA PART 1

The current SEA Games is still far from over. We all realized how small this event is when you started to compare it with Olympic, Commonwealth or even Asian Games. But these small achievements are always better than none.

As at 5.00pm Sunday, December 13, the Malaysian team has collected 18 gold medals at the Laos 2009 SEA GAMES. That is 45% of the 40 gold medals which Malaysian Olympic Council had targeted earlier prior to the event.

Here are the rundown of the gold medal winners for Malaysia until NOW...

TAEKWONDO

Middle Weight (67-73 kg) Women - Chan Che Chew

DIVING

10m Platform Women - Pandelela Rinong
10m Platform Men - Bryan Nickson
10m Platform (Sync) Women
3m Springboard Men - Yeoh Ken Nee
3m Springboard (Sync) Men

KARATE-DO

Kumite (68kg and above) Women - Jamalliah Jamaludin
Kumite (84kg and below) Men - Mohd Hatta Mahamut
Kumite (55kg and below) Men - R Puvaneswaran
Kumite (68kg and below) Women - G Yamini
Team Kumite Women

SWIMMING

200m Individual Medley Women - Siow Yi Ting
100m Breaststroke Women - Siow Yi Ting
100m Freestyle Men - Daniel Bego
400m Freestyle Women - Khoo Cai Lin
100m Freestyle Men - Daniel Bego
400m Freestyle Men - Daniel Bego

ATHLETICS

400m Hurdles Women - Noraseela Khalid

TOTAL: 18 GOLD

Can Malaysia grab another 22 or so?

MALAYSIA INTERNET SLOW LIKE HELL!!

The internet connection is a holy grail when we are talking about how fast the connectivity and surfing experience is. What is the use when you have an internet router service but you find it so frustrating when the speed you pay for is not even match in what you were told. 2Mbps as promised by the provider turned out in real life is only 2kbps. Frustrating? Yes indeed.

The faster the connection is, the more enjoyment in surfing the world wide web is, or the faster files travel across the user and recipients, or even the faster a file is downloaded. Well at least that is the stuffs we ever keep imagining that someday that will happen. In Malaysia however, we rarely enjoy a real "fast" internet connection. Call us the first world country with third world mentality and facilities.

Of course nevertheless, we have so much failed advertisements around us. Heartache but true, a slow internet connection can make a country less attractive. Foreign investors knew how dreadful our internet line is till they made this comment.

First we have the POTONG SAGA (not so related though)

Then we have the POTONG ads by P1

Now, you have the WHY POTONG ads by TMNet to counter the POTONG P1 Wimax ads

Regardless which site you are choosing, the losers are still you and the winners are still them. Why we are still listening to their crap when in the end of the day, they don't give you what they promised?

P1 Wimax has a higher speed than Streamyx but the connection is really unstable, so people said. Test running on P1 (I am writing this post while surfing Facebook, Tweet Deck and watching Zombieland online), I have to say that this is fairly stable. Probably P1 trying to lure me in by giving me a stable line. However according to the owner of the P1 set, things can be pretty ugly as well on time. The red lights on one of the LED indicator can be very annoying. When it is red, it is disconnected. Say I am lucky or what!? As far as I can see, the lights are still blipping blue.

TM Net unveiled their so called fastest ever, most coverage and most stable. Streamyx of course is nothing but a slow-speed yet fairly stable internet connection at least what people said. Test running on TM Net, I have to say it is as bad as you can imagine off. The line is actually fluctuate; in terms of speed or stability. When you download, it can get very frustrating because the ETA timer says 99 hours to go. The worst, the so called fast connection becomes slow due to bandwidth. In the end, you got no value.

In the nutshell, P1 Wimax may still have the edge over TM Net Streamyx. Claimed the fastest or what ever to poison our mind. The facts will remain the facts. When you have both, you do not actually have much choices to choose for.

According to the international web server testing site, SpeedTest.net placed Malaysia pathetically at number 87 for its download speed and disastrous number 79 in upload speed.

South Korea has the highest download speed in the world with 22.59 Mbps (average value of course), while Malaysia only has 1/11 of their speed. If downloading a movie file with 120 kbps is consider fast for us, try times 11 of that - 1.32 Mbps.

So, when they announced that the lucky Malaysian will get a "true" high speed broadband connection in the next 7 years, which will be monopoly by TM Net, you know they are just a bunch of cuckoos and greedy people.

Too bad that we as the Malaysian consumer can't have their complaint getting fixed. The reason when you dialed 100 and no one really cares about your complaints is relatively understandable. Who cares about you when they have already monopoly everything.

GOOD LUCK MALAYSIAN!!!

WHY CAN'T WE DO OUR JOB PROPERLY?

Now, let me ask you an important question - How many times that your work cannot be completed on time because the group you are in is such de-motivating and non-sense? De-motivating that the attitude of the other members are so jerking and annoying. This couple with how non-sense certain quarter can come out with some ridiculous ideas that contribute nothing into the task force.

Well, if you have been experiencing it, whether you are or not as the same kind of person been described - or you knew someone within your group are such a jerk...FEAR NOT because you are not the only one with this situation heavily on your shoulder.

Some says that there is something wrong with the way Malaysians do works. This probably due to:
1) Everyone keeps pointing finger at each other when things are not going into plan - you know blaming other
2) Everyone seems not interested in giving out a proper and well-constructed idea, instead those ridiculous one
3) Everyone do not like to do the task heart-fully instead they like to do things in what Malaysian called "selamba" - enough to finish the work while neglecting aspects of quality and quantity
4) Everyone seems more interested to protect or denying their own involvement on certain things
5) Everyone just can't do things in efficient way or so

Tell me, it was not hard to make a job done well. You need to commit yourself into the group work and then, things will lead you to the goals.

Before I end, I would like to share you this:

This is a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.

Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job.

Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Source: http://www.corsinet.com/braincandy/hlife.html

I WALK VERY FAST SO I'M ABNORMAL

Let us picture this - you are walking along this alley on one busy day. You are in hurry because you may be late for something urgent. Unfortunately, while you are walking in hurried pace, you stumble upon this 'human traffic jam' but there is not that many people around you. This so called 'jam' is caused by some 'human roadblock' (you know who and which type of people) whom prefer to take their own sweet time to stroll along the sidewalk by walking slowly. You want to pass these group of people but they somehow form an ' annoying-kinda-like-barrier' in front of you.

Have you ever encounter this kind of problem?

Note: Bear in mind, the person in front of you is not some handicapped and elders in whom I would beg to exclude these people from the so called 'annoying list'. They are not old nor are they blind. They may be some family with hundreds of kids or some group of ignorant friends.

(If you don't know what I am crapping about, just let it be, click 'X' on the top right corner)

Well, this happen many times in my life and it happens yet again today. There are this young ladies walking so slow, chatting around and making some jokes to each other about one of the fat cousins. I am in hurry because the KTM Komuter train that I'm trying to board has arrived on the platform. Be it, in just a perfect moment and timing, they form the 'human roadblocks' along the stairs. In the end, train gone and I have to wait for another train which idiotically will only arrive in the next 25 minutes.

Annoying as it may seems but behind this fact, it is so obvious that a majority of the Malaysians walk very slow. According to my lecturer, this phenomenon is so endemic in this country and it reflects something troublesome (or maybe not). He told me once, a society who walks slowly and taking a moment of their own sweet times tend to lag behind a little bit compared to the other society.

Perhaps, let me ask you this? Is what he said made sense? Come on, look around you!!

So now that I walk relatively faster than these people and I am still a Malaysian. does it makes me an abnormal Malaysian?

COME LET'S VOTE FOR SIPADAN

Sipadan Island is a tropical oceanic island located on the south-east of the Malaysian state of Sabah, offshore of the town of Tawau. Located in the Celebes Sea (Laut Sulawesi) and right at the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin, the centre of one of the richest marine habitats in the world. More than 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this ecosystem.

Sipadan Island is actually a mushroom shaped atoll rising six hundred metres from the deep sea floor, with the island rises above the corals that covered above the millenia old extinct volcano cone on the seabed. Although Sipadan is recognized as one of the five best spots for diving, the designation of Marine Park status for the island since 2005 means diving activity will become scarce and a rare seen phenomenon and accommodation was dislodged from the island ever since.


However, this in line with the establishment of the need to protect the oceanic life and natural ecosystem that consists of the schools of green and hawksbill turtles nesting and mating, schools of barracuda and big-eye trevally in tornado-like formations, pelagic species such as manta rays, eagle rays, scalloped hammerhead sharks and whale sharks.

Realizing the natural wonder awesomeness in this tiny rain-forest island, recently Sipadan Island was named as one of the official nominees into the selection of the New 7 wonders of Nature.

The New 7 Wonders of Nature will be an online competition that features an international worldwide voting to select for top 7 nature's iconic landmarks around the globe. Sipadan Island is one of 261 qualified contender to eyeing for the Top 77. Therefore, anyone can vote as long as you have registered your e-mail with them.

This is the official website for the Malaysian Sipadan entry into the The New 7 Wonders of Nature at www.votesipadan.com.


And this is how the selection for The New 7 wonders of Nature will be done. So far, sipadan Island ranks #5 and may stand a good chance to enter the Top 77 nominees. I hope we can reach the Final 21 as well.

This is how you can help our own Sipadan Island to gain more international recognition into The New 7 Wonders of Nature. Follow these simple steps and you will make our country proud.

ONE. Login to http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/. You will see the below notice been posted on it. Read on.

TWO. Optionally, you can search for Sipadan Island through the list of nominees given. Or you can just go to the URL link of http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/nominees/asia/c/SipadanIsland/. Click "Vote now for Sipadan Island".

THREE. You will be linked into the voting page.

FOUR. Part one of the voting - please register your e-mail and fill in the necessary particular. Remember you need a valid e-mail OK!!

FIVE. Fill in the seven nominees of your choice. The most important - Sipadan Island (Malaysia) should be placed at #1 of the voting list. The rest fill of the 6 nominees on your top 7 can be choose from anything of your choice on the list. (However, I would suggest that you do not place any of the 6 nominees comes from any of those Island category. I forgot to tell you that Sipadan Island is under Island category and there are 7 categories)

SIX. Submit your vote.

SEVEN. Go to your e-mail inbox and check for an e-mail notification by New7Wonders.

EIGHT. Click on the link given in the e-mail to validate your vote. remember to validate because if you don't, your vote is not considered.

So what are you waiting for. Vote for Sipadan Island. Vote for our proud island to enter the list of international recognition. Sipadan is truly a natural wonder island for the world. Remember, you have till 7 July 2009 for voting, but please do so soon.

Green Tea World!! supports Sipadan Island. So how about you?
Thanks for your supports!!

"This mushroom-shaped island is known amongst divers around the world for its unique seascape and exceptional beauty. A rich variety of marine life shimmers through the translucent waters surrounding this oceanic island." - http://www.wordtravels.com/

The very famous late French underwater explorer and filmmaker, Jacques-Yves Cousteau once remarked about Sipadan Island “I have seen other places like Sipadan… 45 years ago. Now we have found again an untouched piece of art.”

HOW MUCH YOU CONTRIBUTED IN BOX OFFICE

One day, you feel like you want to watch a particular movie. So, you call and text your friends, seeking around who and whom are interested to accompany your desire. Then you drive to the nearest cinema, have some gathering, some great meal and then you queue up to purchase your movie tickets. You pay RM 11 each ticket because it is weekend and the movie is opening on that day.

With that amount, can you imagine how much a movie can rake if it is shown in a cinema?

THE MATHS IN BOX OFFICE

For instance, let's say, one big blockbuster movie is opening on Thursday (In Malaysia, movies are tend to open on Thursday). The movie is 2 hours long and the cinema decided to use 2 large halls to cater the demand. With the running time of 2 hours, a hall can show the same film 7 times a day and in total you have 14 show times. Each large cinema usually have (22 seats per row with 15 rows, roughly) 320 seats. If the movie received a huge demand and all the show times are fully seated (FULL HOUSE), you will get....

Each ticket = RM 11
Total seats = 320
Show times = 14
One day you will get = RM 11 x 320 x 14 = RM 49,280 each cinema per day
Then, the first weekend from Thursday to Sunday (4 days) = RM 49,290 x 4 = RM 197,120 in a weekend

Total cinemas in Malaysia are roughly around 50 but after considering the variety in size and capacity of show time, RM 197,120 times 30 = RM 5,913,600 grand total in theoretical calculation.

THE BOX OFFICE

A total of ticket sales for a movie showing in cinema is called BOX OFFICE. Box Office by standard is a measure of success of power purchase by a group of movie audience. Box Office is solely calculated by the amount of movie ticket sold, therefore it is based on the total amount of audience who are watching the movie. Over the years, box office particularly in Malaysia has grown so much and is still in fact expanding. Thanks to more cinemas been open and now some rural areas have cinemas in fact.

In general, audiences prefer movie as a form of entertainment compared to any form of entertainment. However, like others, the film industry suffers so much due to illegal copyright and piracy activity. Recently, drip DVD version of unfinished X-Men Origins: Wolverine was leaked and available online for download. Also, Malaysian audiences in general prefer import production than the local one. This is the reality and dilemma that the audience, movie producers and actors face here.

Nevertheless, although Cinema Online reported a summarized form of top ten movie over the weekend Box Office in Malaysia, I am sure not many know how much a movie gross and finally tabulates actually. Thanks to Box Office Guru, which is regarded as the best box office tracking for both American and International Box Office, we are able to determine how much a movie gross over a certain fixed period.

HOW BIG IS BIG?

According to my own investigation and nominal figure calculation, following are the records held on the local box office.

THE LARGEST FIRST WEEK OPENING (DEBUT)
Malaysia: Spider-Man 3 US$ 1,544,778 (RM 5,453,220)
US: The Dark Knight US$ 158,411,483

THE LARGEST ALL TIME TAKING (OVERALL)
Malaysia: Transformers US$ 5,326,029 (RM 18,144,183)
US: Titanic US$ 600,788,188

THE LARGEST ALL TIME TAKING FOR A LOCAL PRODUCTION (OVERALL)
Jangan Pandang Belakang
or maybe Geng: Pengembaraan Bermula

Well, that is how a box office is calculated.

LESSONS LEARNT FROM TODAY'S CLASS

Well, let's look at what I have learn on one fine Thursday afternoon.

THE TOPIC OF TODAY is "FACIAL INJURY and MOTOR VEHICLES ACCIDENT (MVA)"

MVA is so common in Malaysia because of the rate and number of road traffic accidents in Malaysia is on an alarming high. Dozens fatality occur each day and it makes it to around 7000 each year. Press those throttle speed and move your car to above 110 kmph, but be aware, that even at modest speed of 60 can kill you once an impact occurs.

Much said, MVA, along with assaults and domestic violences, are one of the three most common attributors for facial injury (or maxillofacial trauma). Maxillofacial trauma involves fracture of bony structure of the face bone, bleeding into the tissue and may eventually lead to less commonly severe life-threatening conditions. From the aspect of MVA, my lecturer suddenly talks about the differences in local and imported car. He reasoned that types of car can influence the type of severity in injury and prognosis.

Imported cars - with the names like Mercedes, Honda, Toyota and so on has flourished in our streets for ages. The same goes with our national cars of Proton and Perodua. Automobile industry in Malaysia is still relatively new and any high technology engineering incorporation will takes time. Its been 3 decades but the impact of such booming industry was so imminent. In general perception, a middle class will buy a local product while the rich can go with an AP (Approved Permit) and to grab one of those fancy imported car.

Now for comparison, let us look at a Mercedes 230C and a Proton Perdana...some of those popular classy sedan vehicle of all time among the Malaysian. Mercedes 230C can be bought at a price of exceeding RM 350k while a Proton Perdana costs around RM 100k. Now as a Malaysian with an ordinary salary of RM 3k per month, which one would you buy? It is easy to say that one will pick the Proton Perdana for its cheaper price tag.

Well, let us go deeper.

• In Malaysia, the local automative industry was well-protected by imposing strict and higher sales and import duty on the imported cars. 200% import duty and you will get a Mercedes 230C at a price of RM 350k, whereas the real price for it is USD 40k or about RM 150k.
• In overseas, people usually do not buy cars, either first or second hand via bank loans. They usually buy their cars via direct full cash payment. However in Malaysia, loans are available everywhere and it makes any Tom, Dick and Harry can own a car. Now the problem of finance and debts, Malaysia has a high amount of car-loan debt in the world!!
• There is some question why AP is such an issue. You can freely imports a car. Not surprisingly, some civil servant can even afford such a car. I wonder where they get their finance to support their ambition. Corruption or ah long?
• The imposing of seemingly unfair price over the same types of sedan has created an unfair environment of both cars to compete in the market. with the consumer power with an average incomes, it seems that as easily predicted, one will prefer Perdana over a Mercedes because it is cheaper. With such, the local car manufacturer will have an upper hand of advantage with more sales and profit compared to the imported one. Thus, the market value becomes uncompetitive for the locals.
• Local cars are not that local anyway. Technology from overseas, components from overseas but been assembled locally. That is what defines it as a local made car?
• Due to lack in competition, one can easily sees a decrease in quality making of the subsequent batches of car. Proton over the years, have trouble in producing such a good-quality car. In its earliest years, a Proton Saga is like a Mitsubishi engine contained in an aluminum body work! Because of the quality issues, safety issues will arise.
• To proof this, I have an experience when I was in my brother-in-law's car few years back - his 90's batch of Proton Saga. Upon the traffic light, the Proton Saga slowed down as the light had already turn red. Out of nowhere...."Boom", and looking at the front mirror, a Mercedes at the back with its handsome driver on his mobile phone on one hand and a document on one hand (I wonder how he drive) hit the bumper of our car. It seems like he was not able to stop his car in time because he is apparently busy. Now, with such a light impact, guess which car suffered more damage?
• Another proof of safety concern, there was a test in the past where we have an experiment to see at which car can brakes into zero in the shortest time. Again, a Proton model with a Toyota model. Not surprisingly, Toyota can brakes into zero in a shorter time than a Proton, enough for it to stop and to avoid an experimental cone located 200 metre from its starting point.
• Now for most of us, a car can be troublesome, besides of its price and difficulty to endure a city traffic jam. The option is a motorcycle. Now, you do not need to be a genius to figure out how dangerous this vehicle with no surrounding barrier to protect you from a direct impact in an accident. You can easily fly a few dozens metre once get bumped over by a car.
• In a car accident, you either survive with minimal injury, or get killed...less likely a severe injury.
• In a motorcycle accident, you either survive with very bad injury or an instant kill.
• Not surprisingly, with the fact that a low quality cheaper cars and million of motorcyclists roaming on the streets across the country, now you know why MVA is so common.

Was it hard to figure it out!! Once my lecturer touched on this, it becomes clearer to me now!!

A NEW CABINET LINE-UPS: THE NAJIB'S TEAM

Well, the sixth Prime Minister (who else if not Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) has just announced his much fiasco new cabinet line-ups. It is time to throw away those big names of garbage and put in some new faces. As speculated, some ministries will be combined to avoid overlapping field works and ensure efficiency (we'll see). In a statement made by him at 3pm Thursday, accompanied by DPM, he said that the new list of cabinet members of 28 ministers and 40 deputies will reflect the government's aim to focus on people-first paradigm.

PRIME MINISTER
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin

MINISTERS IN PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
UNITY - Dr Koh Tsu Koon

LAW AND PARLIAMENT - Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz

RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS - Brig. Gen. (Rtd) Datuk Jamil Khir Baharum

ECONOMIC PLANNING UNIT - Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop
Deputies - Liew Vui Keong, Sen. Dr Mashitah Ibrahim, SK Devamany, Ahmad Maslan, Sen. T Murugiah

FINANCE MINISTER
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
Deputies - Datuk Chor Chee heung, Sen. Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussein

EDUCATION MINISTER
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Deputies - Datuk Wee Ka Seong, Datuk Puad Zarkashi

TRANSPORT MINISTER
Datuk Sei Ong Tee Keat
Deputies - Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri, Datuk Robert Lau

HOME MINISTER
Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein
Deputy - Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop, Jelaing Mersat

INFORMATION, UNITY, CULTURE AND ARTS MINISTER
Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim
Deputies - Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum, Sen. Heng Sai Kee
* merged from two previously seperate ministries

ENERGY, GREEN TECHNOLOGY AND WATER MINISTER
Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui
Deputy - Noriah Kanson

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMODITIES MINISTER
Tan Sri Bernard Dompok
Deputy - Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin

RURAL AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTER
Datuk Shafie Apdal
Deputies - Datuk Hassan Malek, Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun

HIGHER EDUCATION MINISTER
Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin
Deputies - Dr Hou Kok Chung, Saifuddin Abdullah

INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY MINISTER
Datuk Mustapa Mohamed
Deputies - Datuk Muhkriz Mahathir, Datuk Jacob Dungau

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION MINISTER
Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili
Deputy - Fadillah Yusof

NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT MINISTER
Datuk Douglas Unggah Embas
Deputy - Tan Sri Joseph Kurup

TOURISM MINISTER
Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen
Deputy - Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib

AGRICULTURE AND AGRO-BASED INDUSTRIES MINISTER
Datuk Noh Omar
Deputies - Johari Baharum, Rohani Abdul Karim

DEFENCE MINISTER
Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Deputy - Datuk Dr Abdul Latif

WORKS MINISTER
Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor
Deputy - Datuk Yong Khoon Seng

HEALTH MINISTER
Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai
Deputy - Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shilin

YOUTH AND SPORT MINISTER
Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek
Deputies - Datuk Razali Ibrahim, Wee Jeck Seng

HUMAN RESOURCE MINISTER
Datuk Dr S Subramaniam
Deputy - Datuk Maznah Mazlan

DOMESTIC TRADE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS MINISTER
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri
Deputy - Datuk Tan Lian Hoe

HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTER
Datuk Kong Cho Ha
Deputy - Lajim Ukin

WOMEN, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MINISTER
Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil
Deputy - Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun

FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER
Datuk Anifah Aman
Deputies - Sen. Lee Chee Hong, sen. A Kohilan Pillay

FEDERAL TERRITORY MINISTER
Datuk Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin
Deputy - M Saravanan

Good luck you bunch of ministers...Wish you luck in serving the people and win back their hearts!!