Students Told Not To Wear Facemasks

With recent flu cases happening around the world, anybody would have been concern with the spread of the flu virus.

A meningitis bacteria was reported to be spreading in the Road Transport Departments training academy located at Tiang Dua, Malacca which affected people who were attending training classes there. Some of the people were quarantined.

At a nearby primary school (Star stated 300m away only; New Straits Times stated 2km away ...... so who is correct?), SRJK Tiang Dua, the parents-teachers' association took the initiative by buying facemasks for their students to wear as a precaution.

When the Education Ministry knew about it, the ministry sent a directive to the Malacca State Education Department to inform the school that all students be barred from wearing the facemasks. Can you beat that? On what basis was that directive based on?

Reasons given -
* to prevent undue panic among the general public
* assured by the health authorities that the outbreak is not viral in nature but a bacteria
* face masks would affect both students and teachers during classes
* by allowing the face mask, more speculations may arise resulting in undue panic among the general populace living nearby

Reading those reasons really made me faint. The PTA's initiative was to ensure that it does not spread only. It would have been better if the whole town's population was to don the facemask if possible. Personally, I'm sure it wouldn't have caused any panic unnecessary. Moreover, the facemask was bought by the PTA and not the health authorities.

Children are generally weaker in their anti-body fighting against viruses and bacterias. By having them wearing it, it would have been a much better condition for them to be at. It's more prevention than cure.

And then when the media or approach the health authorities and officials at the hospital (where trainees were admitted), both parties decided not to reveal any updates or information. I would say that this will definitely cause unnecessary panic when communication breaks down which will also lead us to more speculations.

Really give up on these fellas. Do you see my point?

The Health Ministry's minister Liow Tiong Lai blogged a bit about the scenario at the training academy.

Reading: Parents irked by mask off directive for students - Star
Tags: Facemask, Road Transport Departments Training Academy, Health Authorities, SRJK Tiang Dua, Malacca State Education Department, Meningitis

Meals at Hometown Hainan Coffee

Too many towns here and there now. First time seeing this Hometown Hainan Coffee. It's situated at Desa Petaling with its frontage facing the KL-Seremban Highway.

My group of friends who told had frequented this place a number of times told me their curry chicken is marvellous. That is after I have ordered their Hainanese Chicken Rice.

Really nice ..... maybe I was stucked in Sudan for too long and any food would have been nice. But this is exceptional. Smooth skin and meat itself. Serving is just nice for average diners. For me, not enough of course.

The cafe's set up was almost similar to the other cafes that has the word "town" in it too.

Just that this cafe's air-cond is like ........ no feeling of coolness. Their doorless entrance was just too big and you can't feel the air-cond coolness at all. Good thing I was not wearing a thick shirt.

People still packed the inner seating area. Well, a bit of coolness is better than nothing at all. They have seatings which is opened.

After finishing my chicken rice, I ordered their Toast with Kaya and Butter ...... irresistable. Go for the "Kiap" type as toast will be more crunchy.

Price is similar with other similar cafes which I found is quite norm nowadays and people are swarming into such cafes compared with the olden coffee shop frequented by my parents.

Tags: Hometown Hainan Coffee, Hainanese Chicken Rice, Hainan, Desa Petaling, Toast With Kaya And Butter

Man U's The Champ Again

Took this picture when it was shown on TV. Nobody can sue me for stealing any pictures hahaha.

Manchester United is the champions again for the third year running.

Gary Neville, the team captain, hoisted the Barclays Premier League cup.

Some people (you know who you are) will find this posting sickening. This post is really personal. If you are supporting other English clubs, be forewarned.

Now, that Man Utd has matched Liverpool's 18th English championships, there are Liverpool fans saying that it took Man Utd 20 years to match it.

Some Liverpool fans are saying that Man Utd is still behind Liverpool in terms of the 5 European championships won by Liverpool.

They only want to compare in areas where they are better? FA Cups not counted?

When Liverpool beat Man Utd 4-1 at Old Trafford, I saw a Liverpool fan stating that Liverpool's the best team as they beat the title holders in a facebook comments section. I responded by saying that "please look at the table" where Man Utd was still top of the table.

This fellas got offended and commented further "some people are soooooo stupid ...... this is what we called bragging rights ..................... some people just don't get it".

Very offended indeed but I put in my comments in response to that ....... hehe. I stated "Precisely mate, this is what I'm bragging about, that Man Utd is still top of the table inspite of the result". You could hear a pin drop after that.

When Liverpool was winning and catching up with Man Utd, everything was ok. When Man Utd wins, I can hear Liverpool fans saying that Man Utd's match has been bought or sold ?!?!?!??!?!

That's what I like about football. To Manchester United, well done!

Next interesting match will be in Rome. As of now, I have found many Liverpool fans throwing their Liverpool jerseys away and putting on Barcelona's jersey for the upcoming Champions League finals on 27 May 2009.
Tags: Manchester United, Man U, Man Utd, Liverpool, Barclays Premier League, FA Cup, Barcelona, Champions League Finals

Expired Gas Cylinders?

It was heard that according to a gas cylinder provider in Malaysia, the collar of the gas cylinder has the manufactured year being printed on it. The lifespan of a LPG gas cylinder is 11 years.

Do you know that LPG gas cylinders have expiry dates? Expired LPG cylinders are not safe for use and may cause accidents. In this regard, please be cautious at the time of accepting any LPG cylinder from your vendor.

Here is how we can check on the expiry of LPG cylinders.

On one of three side stems of the cylinder, the expiry date is coded alpha numerically such as A or B or C or D and some two digit number following this, e.g. D-06.

The alphabets stand for quarters:-
1. A for March (first quarter)
2. B for June (second quarter)
3. C for September (third quarter)
4. D for December (fourth quarter).

The digits stand for the year till it is valid. Hence D06 would mean December quarter of 2006. Please return back the cylinder that you get with an expired date. They are prone to leaks and other hazards.

This second example of D-13 allows the cylinder to be in use until December 2013.

My condo is being supplied with piped-in LPG gas and it has been a long long time since the last time I have seen one of this thingy ........

Is this true?

You should read Zach's blog at Life is Full of Experience who has checked on his gas cylinder after reading my blog posting.
Tags: LPG Gas Cylinder, LPG Gas, Hazard

Do Well Also No Use

In Malaysia, can I say that we are the only country that you won't be guaranteed a scholarship even though you are a top student in the country?

Every year, we get to hear such news. It's just news to the students out there that you won't qualify for a scholarship even though you score straight A's.

Ong Tee Keat, the MCA president, has already mentioned that current selection criteria for a Public Service Department ("PSD") scholarships is based on - merit (20%), race (60%), Sabah and Sarawak citizens (10%) and students from underprivileged groups (10%).

Previously, the government has mentioned that government scholarships were handed out based on meritocracy. But Ong Tee Keat has revealed something different now. On one hand, they will hold a press conference telling us something. On the other hand, someone else revealed something different altogether.

Can you imagine that top scorers are feeling bewildered on why their excellent results do not put them on top of the scholarship listing.

So much for the hyped up 1Malaysia that was mentioned just last month. So much for the new song that tries to bring people together. It doesn't mean anything if it's not being practised.

Even the world's not the end for such unfortunate top students, Malaysia is just going to lose those bright fellas to many countries who can't wait to adopt them.

So, what's the point of trying to draw Malaysians who are experts in various fields to return to Malaysia? You could have prevented it right from the beginning. A wrong plus a right do not equal a right.

Reading: Top scorers discover again PSD scholarships are not guaranteed - Star

Related posts -
* Why Bother Waking Up at 3am to Study?
* PSD Scholarships
Tags: PSD Scholarships, Public Service Department, PSD, Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam, JPA, 1Malaysia

Are Fish Spas Clean?

Have you been to a fish spa before? I have seen one in Mid Valley itself and seems to be packed with customers.

Never been to one before but I rather go to a spa which has a full body massage. To me, this fish spa is on a different method and it has a certain element of health, in the sense removing your dead skin.

Somehow, things didn't turn up well for some as they patronise those fish spas. Unfortunately, it didn't go too well for two sisters in Singapore.

After a spa session with the 'fish doctors', they eventually need to see a real medical doctor as their legs had turned reddish, itchy and blotchy. This continued even after a week and further medical reference was required.

They have been told that they have been infected by fungal. The sisters went back to claim their medical fees and a return of the money spent in their previous fish spa session.

The fish spa owner has said that both the customers have signed the indemnity form that mentioned "the fish spa holds no responsibility for any ailments that arises after treatment".

What kind of indemnity is that? If there's nothing to be afraid of or that the fish spa is clean, such indemnity is not required at all.

In the end, common sense prevails. Consumer Association of Singapore said that indemnity could not be applied here and that the shop owner was trying escape from responsibility and liabilities caused.

That's one good reason that I don't go to a fish spa. It was mentioned that water is changed every two to three days ......... yucks.

At least a proper spa changes its bed covers after every customer.

Though the water might be clean, it's the same fish that is sucking and nibbling away ........ yucks.

Reading: Spa ordered to stop using fish treatment - East Valley Tribune
A nail & spa salon has been instructed to stop the fish treatment over health concerns.

Reading: Ban on Feet-Nibbling Fish Leaves Nail Salons on the Hook - Wall Street Journal
Cosmetology (first time seeing this word. would have simply assumed that they are experts those cosmet found in space hehehe) regulators insisted that fish pedicures are unsanitary.


How did the fish spa industry first started?
An old Turkish legend about a shepherd who injured his foot and stuck it into a hot spring teeming with small fish. The foot healed. Word spread. A treatment center for skin ailments grew around the springs near the Turkish town of Kangal. From Turkey, the practice spread throughout Asia, employing garra rufa, toe-size carp that live in warm water, have no teeth and, according to those in the business, like to suck off dead skin.
Tags: Fish Spa, Fish Pedicure, Fish Treatment, Doctor Fish, Cosmetology, Garra Rufa, Kangal

Attacked by Mat Rempits

Received this via email and you have to read on to understand the nature of the notorious Mat Rempits. I remember at one time, a certain political youth organisation wanted to glorify this group of people by giving them a greater name, a so to say positive identification.

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Dear friends,
On Friday night, 25th March 2009, I was robbed and slashed by a group of Mat Rempit, more than 15 of them and I was admitted to the hospital. It happened at about 2am at the road side of Arena Green condo in Bukit Jalil when I was entering my car after visiting a problematic student who was staying there.

I was seated at the driver seat in my own car and about to close my car door when a group of Mat Rempit on motorbikes, pull over with parang. Despite agreeing to give the robber my wallet which was at the back pocket of my trousers, the robber still slashed me on my hand and leg, just because I was too slow in taking out my wallet. Blood stain was all over the seats and my pants was soaked with blood. I was rushed to the hospital with slash wounds on my hand and leg and received 11 stitches on my knee cap which now I am temporary immobilize.

My colleague, 61 year old lady who was walking towards my car was pinned down to the ground and her gold chain was snatched and another colleague of mine, 31 year old who parked his car in front of my car, managed to run on foot to the guard house of the condo and he was chased by the Mat Rempit group. Another colleague of mine who parked her car behind my car managed to lock her car in time. The Mat Rempit group was also trying to open her car.

Luckily, there was an off duty plainclothes policeman riding a motor on his way home, happened to pass by while the robbery in progress and he rammed his motor onto them. They want to charge him with parang as well but the Mat Rempit group sped off when he was about to pull out his pistol.

It was a very daring robbery as there was a police road block on that night on the same road opposite direction about 100 meter away and the Mat Rempit group sped off in the presence of the police roadblock. The group of Mat Rempit outnumbered the police on the roadblock. Those police manning the roadblock only arrived at the crime scene after the Mat Rempit group has sped off.

The Mat Rempits are very cruel and inhuman even when I have agreed to give them all they want, they still chopped me with parang. I was told that they were probably high on syabu drugs when they committed the robbery.

Please inform your family members and friends to be careful especially when going out or coming home late at night. Police said that Mat Rempits are active past midnight and they always ride in a group.

Thank God I am still alive but traumatized by the whole incident. Now, I am resting at home, can't move around. It takes time to recover.

Thank you.

Chan Kok Keun
Manager - Testing, UTG
Scope International (M) Sdn Bhd
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Tags: Mat Rempit, Arena Green Condo, Bukit Jalil