Authorities Giving Up On Taxi Drivers?

Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board ("CVLB") is the government authority that issues taxi licences to companies who in turn rent out the taxis to the real taxi drivers who hold public service vehicle licences.

CVLB dare to say that they have ran out of ideas to counter what the taxi drivers have been doing all this while i.e. :-
* refused to pick up passengers
* overcharge passengers
* did not use meters
* did not display their driver cards
* not having driving licences
* not wearing seat belts
* driving recklessly

What has CVLB been doing all this while then? Just let it happen? If the operations to nab them were so frequent by those undercover CVLB officers, the taxi drivers would toe the line.

I would suggest that whichever company that the taxi drivers belong to has to be punished and fined as well. I'm sure by then those companies will also ensure that their taxi drivers will comply with all the requirements at all times. Right at this moment, the law is there but not enforced strictly or enforced whenever there are too many complaints found in the newspapers.

On one hand the Road Transport Department ("RTD") (from the same government ministry) has stated that they will issue show-cause letters to 612 rogue taxi drivers. When will they issue that sooooooo many number of letters? Nobody will know actually because they mentioned that ". It takes a while because there are more than 600 of them".

RTD said they expected "a majority of them to keep quiet". What does this mean? Will RTD keep quiet after that also?

Get the owners of the taxis to force their taxi drivers to comply then. If fail to do so, suspend all their taxis from operating in that particular company. I always wonder why no actions have been taken against those companies that operate such businesses ......... linked to the untouchables?

It's not that there are no solutions but as long as the relevant government authorities are not strict or serious in enforcing whatever laws that are there .............. everyone will continue to read more, hear more and see more of such shameful acts done by the taxi drivers.

This has been going on for years and years and years .... what is CVLB and RTD's KPI on such law enforcement on taxis? None? Show us ............ don't just mumble there.

Reading: Losing battle against cabbies - Star

Related post - Malaysian Taxis - Worst In The World?
Tags: Malaysian Taxi, Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board, CVLB, Road Transport Department, RTD

Roadside Dinner in Khartoum

Before showing the pictures on the dinner at roadside, we shall go through an English class - which word was spelled (this word was amended as a commenter Gary K caught me spelling "spelled" as "spelt") incorrectly?














This is where we had our dinner last night, roadside though but it was packed .... really packed by the locals. We were the only foreigners there.








What to order at such food outlet? For a start, they have deep fried goat's head.










They have lots of wadir that is being fried at the same time in the square cooking utensil.















We didn't order the goat's head although there was a challenge thrown to a colleague.

We played safe with chicken and goat's meat.

They do provide simple vegetables with their local vegie, few slices of tomatoes, onions and half slices of lime.

The plate below the vegies was the deep fried goat's meat. Found it untasty as I could feel either the charcoal smell or the overburnt taste. Failed!



Sudanese don't favour rice like what Far East Asians do. Instead bread is their staple food. Given a long long bread for you to eat together with those dishes. You could either dip into the goat's soup or pick up a deep fried goat's meat with the bread.












Our deep fried chicken. Too deep indeed. Slightly overfried. Taste - the marination was not done properly as the taste has not sipped into the meat.













While walking to our car upon finishing dinner, we saw this pick up truck delivering fresh bread. Tons of it ........ with the city full of dust everywhere and this is how they transport food.

Just don't think of cleanliness as your criteria before eating here ....... otherwise you'll end with nothing to eat.


Somehow my mobile didn't co-operate with me as I wanted to take the pictures so another colleague, Fairuz Abdullah, helped knowing it was for the blog space.
Tags: Roadside Dinner, Goat's Soup, Goat's Head

Difference between KFC - IFC - HFC

I'm sure many of you have seen, been to and dined at KFC or Kentucky Friend Chicken wherever it exists. Personally, I like KFC too.

When we were wandering around Khartoum for good meals, we try to eat something that we have not been there for quite some time. Normally that "some time" is only about few days hahahaha .......... because not many places that you can dine here.

At Amarat area, we saw this very familiar signage that caught our attention. It was KFC !!!! Our favourite fast food restaurant. We made a u-turn back to the front of the restaurant and to our disappointment, it was IFC - Ivory Fried Chiecken ....... so close to KFC.

Since we were already there, might as well try it out.

This tree's branches managed to outgrow its main tree trunk was there right in the centre of the open seating area of this IFC (note, not KFC).














The three of us ordered the set of nine pieces of chicken (5 original, 4 spicy ... yeah they have this sort of choices too). Three small cups off coleslaw, a plate of french fries and some bread. It comes with tomato ketchup, no chilli sauce.

Gave my thumb down for this fried chicken. The moment I tried to hold on to the chicken while trying to bite it, the first layer of fried flour gave way ....... it broke into pieces.

The same goes for the other two pieces that I ate.



The hungry hands going for their dinner. We paid 40 Sudanese Dinar for this meal (2 Sudanese Dinar = US$1.00). Not worth it for such quality.

Enough pictures, need to eat before it disappears.

During one of those days, we were travelling around the city in doing our usual stuff and saw this new outlet ............. KFC ..... we saw it! we found it!

We were on our way back to office and decided to try it for our dinner.





To our horror, it was another let down ...... HFC ...... can't they use any other alphabets ah














Already there ...... don't want to waste time and went in for our meal. That's the counter where you order your meals.

Their colourful seatings.












Nine pieces again, with french fries, coleslaw served on a plate, four pieces of buns, one litre of pepsi and a plate of homos (not that ........ i know what you are thinking there).

This meal cost us 53 Sudanese Dinar.

I like this fried chicken as it was almost the original KFC back home. Marvellous!!! Better than nothing man when you are stucked in this place.






This is Homos. Fattening food ordered by my colleague. This outlet's homos is not nice at all. The yellow coloured stuff is olive oil with some peas mixed with it. How do you eat it? You dip the bun into it and scooped up the homos serving.

This is HFC, not KFC, originates from Egypt. HFC stands for ????? H...... Fried Chicken. The alphabet stood for a name which the Egyptian owner told us but can't recall the arabic name now. Operates on similar franchise scheme.

Where are you KFC????
Tags: KFC, Kentucky Fried Chicken, IFC, HFC, Fried Chicken, Fast Food, Homos

Earth Hour 2009 in Malaysia

The Earth Hour 2009-Malaysia was quite successful although not everyone participated. Kudos to those business entities who made it a wonderful event.

A friend of mine staying up high managed to capture the moment just before 8.30pm.

The moment it hit 8.30pm. Proud of you Malaysians.

For those of you who thought that this would not be followed by fellow Malaysians, we look forward to you joining in the next Earth Hour.

It was not a wasted one hour but imagine the amount of electricity saved throughout the world just for that one hour.

I'm also proud of a wedding couple who had their wedding dinner function which co-incide with the Earth Hour 2009. The hotel, Sheraton Subang Hotel and Towers, approached the couple and told them that the hotel was participating in Earth Hour 2009 and suggested an idea to the wedding couple.

The couple agreed and their dinner was held with candles being lighted up all over the ballroom. Wow, what an unforgettable wedding dinner where all the guests will now know what Earth Hour is all about.

Reading: Couple hold candlelight wedding banquet - Star

Related post - Do Remember Earth Hour 2009!
Tags: Earth Hour 2009, Sheraton Subang Hotel and Towers, Global Warming, Environment

Latest Piping Technology

The Domestic Engineers would definitely be interested with this latest piping technology.


People asked me "Who are the Domestic Engineers?" .............. housewives. They worked in their domestic comfort but they know every single details of the family, household and related stuff ... just like an engineer.
Tags: Piping Technology, Domestic Engineer

Do Remember Earth Hour 2009!

World Wildlife Fund-Malaysia has initiated the Earth Hour 2009 in Malaysia to join 999 other cities in sixty two other countries to switch off your lights (better still your electricity).

The event is scheduled for Saturday, 28 March 2009 from 8:30 pm to 9.30 pm only (Malaysian time, GMT +8) which is to convey the support for action on climate change.
Be part of the marvellous event which, where according to WWF-Malaysia, aims to highlight the voice of the people of the world and represent a visual mandate for meaningful policy on climate change.
Malaysia's chapter of Earth Hour 2009-Malaysia depends on you to effect this wonderful event.

Some people may say that it's a waste of time or what could be done to save the climate within one hour only. Well, it's better than not doing anything at all. It doesn't cost you at all and it actually saves you one hour of non-usage of electricity.

This is where you can play a part for the world where the future generations to come depend on YOU!

Yeah, it's YOU!

(Pictures sourced from Earth Hour-Malaysia)
Tags: Earth Hour 2009, WWF, World Wildlife Fund, WWF-Malaysia, Climate Change, Environment

Recent Kidnap and Snatch Theft Cases

Dear Team,
We would like to alert all of our Team Members esp. Ladies on the recent kidnap attempts on one of our Team Member.

1) Last Friday around 7pm, our colleague on her way back to her car, (her car was parked behind the High Court, i.e. next to the Klang river), was approached by 4 men (2 Indians & 2 Thais) from a van that was parked in-front of her.

2) 3 of the men got out from the van and were trying to grab her and started pushing her towards the van in an attempt to force her into the van.

3) She gave the 3 of them a good fight and in turn, they started to use their fine bladed dagger to slash her on her shoulders and back.

4) The more she tried fighting them, the more they caused injuries to her.

5) They were threatening that if she keeps fighting, they would tear off her clothes in public.

6) In their attempts, they even hit her head so hard.

7) Although our colleague had bags, a chain & etc, they weren't keen in taking these items - but it was clear that their intention was to kidnap her.

8) Finally, 5 Malay men who were passing by, came to her rescue in time.

We would like to advise all of our colleagues to "Be Careful" & "Do Not Go To Your Cars & LRT Stations Alone". Here are some Safety TIPS and Reminders in order to Avoid these sort of incident:-

- When using ATM, be watchful of any suspicious people around you. If you find someone waiting and watching outside the area of an ATM, do not use it. Leave the area and report to the police immediately - you can save someone from being the victim

- Stay in well-lighted areas

- Avoid walking alone

- Avoid known trouble spots

- Carry only what you need in your wallet/purse

- Avoid carrying valuable items or large amounts of cash

- Avoid using shortcuts through dark alleys or vacant lots

- Always walk against the flow of traffic

- Always think ahead. Example: when travelling at night, have your keys ready to enter the house or car

- Lock the door immediately when you enter your car. Do not wait for the auto lock to function

- Use whistle to get attention from public

- Use pepper spray when is necessary

- The best advise is to cooperate when confronted - less chances of getting hurt

(Received the above via an email from a lady friend)
Tags: Kidnap, Snatch Theft