Malaysia Plain Blog
Malaysia Rata
A weblog about life / politics/ impressions of Malaysia through the eyes of a foreigner




Malaysia UTC+8 hours
Monday 30 June, 2008
25 Jumada al-Thanni 1429AH

A weblog by Albert. From my home in Yan Kedah. I reside here since 1992. See here to know where Yan is.

« November 2004 »
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
  1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30        



archive
- last 10 entries
24/06- bn representatives in the dewan
23/06- subsidy country
20/06- firefox 3.0
19/06- profitering.
14/06- grab your cookies...
14/06- pure discrimination
13/06- progress in hospital (3)
10/06- rm 4.00 a liter?
10/06- penang taxi's
10/06- a responsible husband....

  2008 (81)
  2007 (191)
  2006 (265)
  2005 (139)
  2004 (120)
  2003 (76)

categories
- All categories
- general
- politics Malaysia
- Penang
- Yan Kedah
- travel abroad
- TV
- religion
- internet / computers
- travel Malaysia
- environment
- foreign
- consumer affairs
- food
- living

links
� Albert's Personal Pages
� Pondok PHP (scripts)
� Oon Yeoh Transitions
� Jeff Ooi Screenshots
� Malaysiakini (news)
� Malaysia Today
� Religeous Policeman
� Kick de Fella
� Lim Kit Siang
� Mob's Crib

foreign news links
� Al Jazeera English
� Asia News Network
� Bangkok Post
� BBC Asia Pacific
� Bloomberg
� Channel News Asia
� Herald Tribune
� Jakarta Post
� Manilla Times
� Nation Thailand
� Straits Times Sing
� Time Asia
� Yahoo Asia News



blog search
Search:
Survey
Are you happy with the election outcome
   
Could have been better for the opposition.
 Very happy.
 So so.
 Unhappy.
 I dont care about politics
This WebLog is licensed under a Creative Commons agreement!

   SYNDICATION
  RSS 2.0 (XML) RSS 2.0

  ATOM 0.3 (XML) ATOM

  RSS 1.0 RSS 1.0


Current World Population:

Its getting full....Please stop breeding!















Weather image composition of SE Asia
Satelite weather photo of SE Asia

Map of central Georgetown Penang







Valid CSS! Valid HTML 4.01 Transitional
Blog category: all categories. - November 2004
Click here to return to June-2008, all categories.

 Shitty Malaysian Banks..... - by @lbert
  Posted:26/11/2004 - 09:20 - in category: general
Well you got your internet banking? Maybank and Public bank now start charging you for internet banking.
This is actually a scandal!
They save themselves millions in labour cost and than still want you to pay for their internet services.
Because its secure they say.....don't they make billions enough yet?
They charge you for a current acoount (most times) for their credit cards, and almost every service you can imagine.
But go to the bank.... you gotta queue for hours, CAN WE CHARGE THEM FOR WAITING?
Hong Leong has the guts to put Cirrus on their credit cards instead of on the ATM.
Now if you take advance money abroad it is charged to your credit card instead of being a debit from your savings account.
Now in top of RM 12+ charge for taking money, they charge 1.5% interest + probably 1% advance fee.
This is daylight robbery! If you ask them why, you get a stupid andswer that this is because they are a small bank, ever heard of bigger shit?
Because they are small they cannot put it on the ATM card.
Banks in Malaysia are getting worse instead of better.
Everything is getting automated, their profits go up every year, they put all their clients on the brink of bankrubcy with all the credit card nonsence, and still want more money.
Internet banking with most banks is still in its infancy, and is 10 years behind Europe.
Imagine my bank does not allow internet banking after 11 at night till 7 in the morning! That they call service...
Bank Negara does not give a damn about anything, this regulator is totally useless in banking as well as insurance.
I really wonder what is the use of Bank Negara they regulate NOTHING, they do nothing except shortchanging all Malaysians by keeping the ringgit pegged!
Consumer organisations in Malaysia are all mum, deaf and powerless it seems.
Any consumer organisation ever took someone to court in Malaysia?
In bolehland all the big boys have unlimited access to your pocket, noone is gonna do anything about it.
What a shameless situation, another Malaysia boleh....
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 A new camera. - by @lbert
  Posted:25/11/2004 - 12:42 - in category: general
Got myself a new foto-toy.
After my Sony P50 camera was stolen during my last trip to Medan, i was on the lookout for a new one.
I am not impressed by all the super megapixel data all manufacturers give, because its all rubish.
If you have 2-3 megapix you got more than enough, and if you want to increase quality in a real way, the only jump is to 15 or 20 megapix!
And that is something i cannot afford.
First i looked for a new Sony, but the new P100 uses proprietairy batteries, which i hate + they are bloody expensive (200 ++)
The P73 is a piece of cheap plastic with a coarse display.
Canon P75 hard to find (a great starter camera) and the new pixelled up version (P95) is to expensive.
The A400 is a piece of plastic nothing else, but so are many others.
Wow i went through the whole range .... Nikkon, Fuji, Canon, Sony and so on, i must have driven the shopkeepers nuts.
Testing low light foto's, wow so many fail....
Than i stumbled on Panasonic LC50, a 3 mpix camera. Never heard about it before, actually i did not even know they make cameras.
This one has a LEICA lens of high quality.
Really great crisp display, not the summum in macro but at 10+ cm very sharp.
And in low light still get crisp foto's, no visible snow.
All this for RM 1000- including 128 mB fast flash card!
Since i set it to 1280x960 (good enough) thats good for 372 foto's in low compression or 195 in high compression.
I am not a pro so i choose the low compression, a whole holiday on 1 stick!
Very easy to handle and has variable white balance and sensitivity/'film speed' settings.
I you insist on sound on your movie shot take the LC70, but its a lot more money for very few pixels extra (800K), and its a foto camera so who cares about sound?
Below a night shot i took in Penang last Monday, no flash!
and a macro shot in the garden

| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 The peg again....... - by @lbert
  Posted:24/11/2004 - 16:59 - in category: politics Malaysia
The currency peg is hot topic again. And this time more serious.
As i mentioned more than once in this blog the ringgit is undervalued, and to my opinion by at least 15-20%.
The recent drop of the US$ is shortchanging all Malaysians, except those who are rich enough to park their money elsewhere.
Anyone going out of the country has to pay 20% to much for everything.
Imports are way to expensive, a depeg will cause imported goods to drop 20-25% in price!
The peg now only keeps crony companies artificially alive. They are not willling to innovate and do the country more harm than good. (Proton, Perwaja, several construction companies and fill in the rest)
They are a burdun now, and will be a bigger burdon in the future....
So finally stop the noncense, the peg outlived itself completely, just let the tun cry foul!
He and his former 'companion finance minister' did already enough harm to the malaysian economy.
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Boleh again......! - by @lbert
  Posted:19/11/2004 - 09:22 - in category: politics Malaysia
A ministry upside down......wow they closed down Malaysia Boleh forum for insulting others.
What a big laugh! Minister sorry but you are the brainless one, together with this Khairy.
(God beware this guy ever becomes PM of Malaysia)
Ever heard of alt.soc.malaysia? Well this forum is the flaming place for Malaysians already for years, and the goverment cannot shut it down, sorry for Khairy.....
Take care of my StreamyX connection instead of harping on these stupid issues. Bring the country forward instead of these retarded views on things you cant change.
Propell the country instead of making it the laughing stock of the world. And than to think that people like Khairy call themselves 'youth leaders' dont make me laugh.....
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Telekom boleh! - by @lbert
  Posted:18/11/2004 - 11:24 - in category: internet / computers
It is now almost 2 years ago since i applied for my streamyX connection.
Untill now the TM website says, no connection in your place.
The most ulu-ulu places around Yan already got StreamyX meanwhile, but here it is still no-go.
Great service from Telekom.
And than to know the Yan area has about 150 Jaring customers and 200 + Terrorkom users, according to what THEY say.
How many users can 1 StreamyX node hold??
Isn't it time we get it by now?? Or do we have to wait till 2020, or maybe 3030?
Another Malaysia boleh!
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Appointment... - by @lbert
  Posted:12/11/2004 - 11:35 - in category: general
Professor Jomo Kwame Sundram has been appointed ad advisor in the UN.
That was a bitter pil to swallow for the Malaysian goverment probably, as prof Jomo is and always has been a critic of the goverment especially the Tun and his policies.
The sauer grapes can be smelled in a statement by Hamid Albah. Of course they are probably pissed of because Kofi Annan appointed him, and there was NO 'advice' required from the Malaysian goverment.
A sauer grape for some because its a non bumi appointed in such a high position, well times changes.....
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Festive Holiday.. - by @lbert
  Posted:11/11/2004 - 21:00 - in category: general
Wishing everybody happy Deepavali and Selamat Raya.
Enjoy all the food and drive carefully.
Have a great time all of you!
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Commercialisation... - by @lbert
  Posted:08/11/2004 - 19:39 - in category: general
This year everywhere got pasar for buka puasa.
They shoot like mushrooms, and its a total commercial affair by now. Some even have 4-5 stalls at different markets.
It use to be nice to buy delicacies from the locals who wanted to make some extra money. Nowadays its so terrible commercial that i dont bother to go anymore.
And if i buy something its air tebu and some kue, the rest they can keep.
But with so much competition, how is any of them making money? I really wonder.
Well another nice thing gone forever.....
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Equality?? Where.... - by @lbert
  Posted:05/11/2004 - 09:21 - in category: politics Malaysia
A suit filed by 184 pig farmers has be thrown out of court because they did not identify the officers involved in culling. This is sick....
They were goverment officials so sueing the goverment should be sufficient!.
These people are now waiting for how many years for any compensation, and were even cheated out out money from the Nipah Fund (Hey MCA where is your explanation)
If chicken flue strickes in Kelantan, compensation is paid and announced already a few days later.
Thats what they call equality??
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Arrogance everywhere - by @lbert
  Posted:04/11/2004 - 11:12 - in category: travel abroad
1. US and their elections.
What is the difference who wins for the world?
The americans in general give a damn about the rest of the world.
The most egocentric nation in the world! The average american knows nothing about anything outside the US.
Look at newspapers, international news is hidden somewhere inside and hardly worthwhile reading.
American give a shit about the Kyoto protocol they signed, they are the BIGGEST polluters in this world and the main cause of global warming.
They do NOT take any efford in trying to reduce their oil consumption, they gulp the most oil in the world. Ok China is moving up but China is a develloping country, the US has piles of laws and does not use them for the sake of money.
The rest of the world is paying for Bush his giant deficit as there are more $$ outside than inside the US.
They are the biggest debtor of the United Nations and still refuse to pay their debts, shame!
They think they can ignore everybody and do as they please everywhere.
Conclusion: It is high time the world takes action against this egocentric country.

2. Malaysian arrogance
Overheard a Malay talking to a collegue saying that he does not understand why during the Ramadan the non-malays have to come and 'meribut' the pasar berbuka puasa!
This kind of stupid remarks by the a member of the younger generation are saddening and sick. This country wants integration? What kind of education do these people have?
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |

 Indonesia revisited - by @lbert
  Posted:02/11/2004 - 10:15 - in category: general
I had an interesting trip again.And after Yogya i went to Toba.
Spent some nice time (7 days) in Toba.
Anyone who wants to go there i can tell its save and bloody cheap.
Hotel room will cost you 10-20 ringgit. Renting a motorbike will set you back around RM 15.
Tuk-tuk and Samosir are great, and hardly a tourist nowadays.
Have a great week for just RM 250.- or so, where else is that available.
On your last day go and shop around in Medan. Cosmetics and many other things are 30-50% cheaper that Malaysia.
And yes they have a Carrefour, a Sogo, and even Marks and Spencer!
Allthough you must be a 'milliardair' (in rupiah) to be able to afford the last one.
Just keep in mind that Indonesia is a country that does not want progress, so do not expect any official goverment thing to work properly.
Customs take hours. But public transport allthough simple is fast.
Never wait more than a few minutes to grab a microlet.
If you go by ferry (return ticket 30 days only RM 120,-) make sure you pack your things properly.
The crew of Kenangan (Langkawi Ferry Services) think the can throw all luggage in and out of the ferry.
I also honour LFS with an super award for environment protection.
The have dustbins all over the ferry and just before going into Penang harbour the collect all rubish (piles of Pop-Mie foams) and throw them nicely overboard.
Well done LFS another shining example of Malaysia boleh!.
And for Malaysian Chinese, every chinese in Medan speaks Hokien.
Allthough their Hokien is probably more pure than yours.....
Mind that Medan is having thousands of really poor chinese, so dont look at this filthy stinking rich upperlayer alone.
With an average monthly income of RM 300+ you dont wonder why they like to come to Malaysia.
Hopefully under SBY things will finally change.
Imagine this is their FIRST real elected president since Merdeka!
Inflation over 50 years have crumbled the county and corruption is 1000x Malaysia.
Imagine in 1945 1 rupiah was equal to 1 Dutch Guilder.
Than in the early 50's 1000 old rupiah became 1 new one. At present 5.500 rupiah would be 1 Guilder.
That means 5.5 million% inflation in 50+ years, great isn't it.
For the locals its all bad bad.....but if you go as a tourist it is cheaper than cheap.
If you go Toba also remind that the Batak people are the biggest Christian community in Indonesia.
You will not find a single mosque in Toba area. But Christianity is a varnish as a lot has been mixed with adat, and many practices go back ages ago.

Batak house on Samosir
| Permalink | no comments | Add Comment |


| show all
| |

All views are personal. I do not take any stand for or against any political party / group or whatever. I just express my feelings on the subjects, they might be harsh sometimes, but you are free to give your comments
( if you are frank enough to give a real email address).
-- All email links of comments (if displayed) are protected against email grabbers, the email address is only made visible in the browser --
-- It is send as a hex notation. --


PointOfView Version 7.1. Go here for the code.
Last modified on: 31-03-2008 04:01:29
This page has been viewed 54,652 times since June 2003.