Tioman Ferry Disaster

A ferry operator, Seagull Express, for the route from Mersing to Tioman Island was responsible for several human lifes when fire broke out on that ferry.

Insufficient life jacket, improper evacuation procedure and overloading contributed to the deaths and injuries suffered.


The unfortunate event of the fire onboard (left pic) caused 4 deaths and 3 still missing where the search would be called off on Friday if still not found.

Personally, I have not been to Tioman Island before but been to nearby islands for diving. Remembered seeing those long queues at the Mersing jetty waiting for such ferries.

I was not surprised that such ferry operator was still operating even though operating licence and passenger certificate had expired on 16 March 2006 and 18 March 2005. Such ferry operator only thought about the income/profit that they could reap off from the unsuspecting customers. Yet 2 days ago, the ferry operator claimed that they have complied with all licences. I propose that they be banned for life from operating such services again.

It seems that two ship inspectors from the Marine Department have been suspended from duties too. Another clear cut case of close on eye to the ferry operations??? These people were playing with human lifes. It seems that prior to departing the port, a clearance was required from the Marine Department. I always wonder why respective government agencies only take stern actions (checking all ferries in Malaysia now) when such tragedy had happened. Can't they be pro-active a bit. Buck up man!

You could also get some first hand news from another Johnny, Johnny Tan, who is the boyfriend to a girl, whose brother Wong Hann Wen is still missing at sea. The Star newspaper didn't report any negative statements but in this blog, the full account of what has happened when the victims' families requested to go out to the sea were not granted.

Blog is the way for the future as newspapers nowadays wouldn't report it (as they are under close supervision from the top).

The other licensed ferry operator, Bluewater Express, must be laughing all their way to the bank now as they would be the only one now. But you travellers beware as Bluewater is not that safe either as highlighted in this letter by a traveller who went through dangerous moments during her journey to and back as well. Just the same as Seagull Express and disaster waiting to happen too, as quoted by the traveller.
Tags: Tioman, Tioman Island, Pulau Tioman, Seagull Express, Ferry, Marine Department, Bluewater Express

Stucked in Between Two Floods

When I told my friend that I could not go to his house on Saturday afternoon due to the flood, he asked me what happened. Told him that I got stucked in between two floods...... baffled as I was, he asked "How did you get yourself to be stucked in between two floods, how did you get past the first one??"

hmmmmmmm.... good question. A few of us were supposed to be at his house for one of the drama practises but unfortunately things went awry. I managed to call another group who was making their way and they managed to slip out somewhere and went back home.

I picked up a friend at Taman Seputih at around 4.50pm amidst the heavy thunderstorm. Made my way out of Taman Seputih and took the highway going towards Cheras coming from the Federal Highway direction. The two Touch & Go booths have malfunctioned which caused all cars to squeeze into remaining booths. Paid and all I need was about 10 minutes before reaching his home in Alam Damai.

Took the road leading to Bandar Tun Razak Industrial Park and was caught at that traffic light until I saw some cars going on the opposite direction at the left hand emergency lane. What's going on? Saw cars reversing and making 3 point turn to take the emergency lane. Need to do likewise as the traffic light area (under the flyover) was flooded. Others cars which saw this batch of cars reversing and going the opposite direction stayed put allowing us to turn back to the highway. Nooooowwww the highway is jam packed too. 20 minutes - moved about 50 metres. On reaching the top of the flyover, I saw the highway flooded at the bottom of the flyover. I paid toll to get caught in a flood.

So I thought I was smart in getting out from that earlier flood only to get stucked in another one elsewhere. Waited for the flood to recede, what else!!!! Didn't go for the drama practise and dropped my friend back at her house in Taman Seputih and reached home at 6.30pm. For 1 hour 40 mins, I was out there in the car. By the time I reached home, noticed that I have forgotten to take any pictures at all.........how come?
Tags: Flood, Kuala Lumpur, Taman Seputih

Redemption of Bonuslink Points

I have been a member of Bonuslink for quite some time back, maybe just after their launch...... can't recall the exact date but long enough.

Saw that my accummulated points is quite high at the moment with some points about to expire in December, I decided to redeem some stuff.

When I went through the Bonuslink website, a Philips brand iron fits my household as our only iron has its metal base coming loose. No, no, we were not rough in using it. It has been serving my household for umpteenth years now. Time to retire.

Last week, my wife went over to Parkson located at OUG and was told that only the primary member, which was me, could redeem items. Aaaargh.....

So, we decided to go there again yesterday late morning and had our lunch at Leo's in Citrus Park. New food outlet and was recommended to try the Terriyaki Chicken Claypot Rice. Good choice! Went up again to the redemption counter inside Parkson shopping centre.

Failed again........... this time, I must have a redemption PIN number in order to redeem.......... Do you know how frustrating it was? I told the counter staff that I have redeemed items before at Shell petrol stations and I got what I wanted but she still said that I must have a redemption PIN number. She said come back on Tuesday so that we could make a call to Bonuslink and settle the PIN number on the spot. It took me soooooooooo many weeks just to be there. Went back home, checked Bonuslink website, true enough under "4.3 On-the-Spot Redemption", a PIN was required..........

Now I have to call Bonuslink and ask them what PIN number??????????????? Came to work today with an unironed shirt....good thing I did hang it properly after washing it so you could hardly see those crumbled section, good clothing material anyway. Lesson learnt - don't assume things and take the easy way out.

Tags: Bonuslink, Parkson, OUG, Philips, Leo's, Citrus Park, Shell

Running All Over

Going to a friend's condo at Mont Kiara area to have our video shoot for the upcoming Christmas dramas (5 of them in production).

Today's drama's video shoot is for the Lady's Life which depicts this lady having a date with a guy that was introduced by her friend who owns a matchmaking agency. Somehow this guy is not the type of guy you would want to meet. He registered himself with the agency to know ladies and then cheat them by taking naked photos (after spiking the lady's drink)....... now how are we going to video shoot that scene ...... hehehehe

During wild brain storming sessions - this guy (we chose the actual actress' husband to play this role also....hahahaha) was supposed to take out her clothes (without showing her of course) by holding a bra and throwing it away ........... guess that wouldn't pass the censorship board....hehe. Well, that was the wild brainstorming sessions lah.

Going in a short while ....... have to set dining table just outside a japanese restaurant located within the condo compound, as if it was a dinner at an open air japanese restaurant. More pictures later on.
Tags: Christmas Drama, Christmas, Japanese Restaurant, Mont Kiara

Shenzhen Nail House

The owner of the well publicised Shenzhen Nail House, Cai Zhuxiang, has finally received the payment as requested. A reported amount of between 10 million and 20 million yuan (US$1.3 million to US$2.7 million) has been paid for that piece of land being occupied by Cai's building by Kingkey Group, the developer for that piece of land. Was it a pure business transaction or ransom against the developer by the land owner? Earlier, lower compensation was rejected and the owner held on to their property while their other neighbours had sold off their interests. Patience pays? Or ransom pays?

Right after the transaction has been publicised, the tax collector from the Luohu district office called up to demand for tax payment for the sum gained. Not only that, extortion phone calls came in asking the owner to withdraw the money from the bank. What a country!

Tags: Shenzhen Nail House, Shenzhen, Nail House, China, Kingkey Group, Luohu

Thought of Becoming an Astronaut?

Tags: Astronaut, Potential

Sudan Has Split

Oh no! Sudan's unity government has split after South Sudanese representatives claimed that a number of deadlines that were supposed to have been accomplished are still outstanding.

Due to that, the South Sudanese representatives have walked out of the unity governmnet that was established after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Deal (CPA) signed two years ago between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the northern National Congress Party (NCP).

Amongst the deadlines stated in the CPA:-
* boundary demarcations between the north and south;
* the redeployment of northern troops from the south to be implemented; and
* chance to reshuffle its minister in the unity administration.

Must show my boss this situation. Definitely I'm not going back there with this latest outcome. I have already been through the tension once during the first 2 weeks of Aug 2005 and I don't need another to refresh my memory. It really did shake me. Lots of us were really affected then in terms of emotion / psychologically.

The government has stated that SPLM's pull out was only a tactical ploy to get the government to the discussion table.
Tags: Sudan, South Sudan, Comprehensive Peace Deal, Sudan People's Liberation Movement, SPLM, National Congress Party, Demarcation