Car Jacking in Damansara Jaya

Received this frightening news from my friend's friend.
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Last Sunday morning (25 May 2008), my immediate neighbor's father in law was robbed of his car (Toyota Altis 1+ yr old) at 9.30am in broad daylight. We live in Damansara Jaya and this is suppose to be a decent neighborhood. We have our own security guards (DJROA) patrolling the neighborhood. Even so, such violent crime still happens.

I was in my home packing my golf gear as I have an afternoon golf game. I heard screaming coming from outside and it sounded like an old man's scream. I looked out my front window and saw a car outside of my house. Couldn't see very much as my gate was closed. My immediate thought was that there's been a accident and my neighbor is hurt. Then I heard my neighbor shouting and it sounded angry. I quickly got my autogate remote and went outside. I opened the autogate and saw a new silver Honda CRV outside my house with 2 guys in there. When I walked out towards the gate, on my left, I saw my neighbor trying to pull his dad away from his car. His dad was still screaming and holding on to the open passenger car door.

Then I saw blood dripping from his right wrist. There was blood on the road too. I saw a guy in the Toyota starting his dad's car. At that point one of the guy got down from the CRV with a pistol drawn walking towards my neighbor whose back was towards him. Only at this point I realized it was a robbery. I shouted at my neighbor to get back into the house. He was still trying to pull his dad away from the car. He was holding on to the door not letting go. Then his accomplice in the Toyota started driving the car away and the guy with the pistol retreated back to the CRV and they all sped away. Luckily that happened or else that guy may have used the gun on my neighbor had his accomplice not driven the car away. Everything was over in seconds from the time I opened the gate.

I saw the wound on my neighbor's wrist which was very deep. He was slashed by a parang when he went to help his dad. The robber hit his dad with the blunt side of the parang to get him to drop the keys as he was walking to his car which was parked outside the gate. He was visiting his daughter and they were getting ready to go out for breakfast. After quickly tying a towel around his arm and another towel to press on his wound to stop the blood, I rushed him to the nearest hospital, i.e. Damansara Specialist hospital. He was operated on the same day to join back the severed tendon of his thumb.

At the hospital, in the emergency ward next bed was another elderly man in his late 50's who had both his wrist bandaged up. He told me he too was a victim of car jacking a short while ago. The description he gave me of the robbers that attacked him and the get away car is the same as what I saw. He lives in SS2, which is just across the road from Damansara Jaya. That means the robbers were on a prowl of the neighborhood. They were not successful in robbing that guy of his car, a Mercedes Benz. So they continued cruising and probably spotted my neighbor's dad's car parked outside the house and when they saw an old man they thought it would be an easy target.

According to my neighbor's wife, it took the police 30mins before they showed up by which time the car could already be on the highway towards Thailand. Their lackadaisical attitude really disgust me.

I've also seen a snatch thief in my neighborhood right before my eyes in front of a popular clay pot chicken rice shop in the early evening. Everything happened in a split second and the guy on a motorbike was gone leaving the wife speech less and her husband dumbfounded.

My other neighbor just a month ago was also almost car jacked by two guys on a motorbike that tried to break her car window when she was waiting to pick up her mom who was at the bank in Damansara Jaya. She was smart enough to drive off with the robbers chasing after her car. She drove to the police station and they stopped following.

I'm really sad and disappointed at what this wonderful country is turning out into. I really have no trust in the capabilities of our police force and I can safely say I speak for many Malaysians. Our safety have been truly compromised. I am living in fear. Now that the robbers have seen my two cars, will they come back for it next??!

It is not that the police and the government are not aware of the very high violent crime rate in this country. They are and the rate seems to be increasing to the layman. Looks like it will come a time when we Malaysians have no choice but to live in gated communities. When will our government take heed that safety of its citizen, its tourist visiting this country, and visitors living/working in this wonderful country are paramount and a responsibility that they should take seriously.

Here's some advice to everyone:-
(1) Be extremely conscious of your surroundings esp when you are getting into your car or driving in/out of your home. If there are any suspicious cars or people, then drive away and make another round just to be sure. Same precaution before you open your autogate. Lock your car doors the moment you get in your car.

(2) If you are confronted by robbers, give them the car or your handbag. Do not fight them. You life is worth much more. You don't want to injured, maimed or worst still killed for something that is replaceable.

(3) Robbers tend to attack older people and females. So be much more alert if you are in that category. Go out in pairs or group. Stay away from walking along road sides, walk on the inside pavement.

(4) Don't save the few ringgits by parking your car by the road side for free if there is inside parking available, esp female drivers. There could be somebody waiting for you when you return to your car.

(5) If you are in the car and still able to drive away if confronted by robbers, drive away to the nearest police station or patrol station where there's a lot of people. If you can't drive away, then I suggest you get down and run away from your car, leave everything and run. They will want your car more than they want you.

Go to the following websites and read up on what you can do to protect yourself. The Malaysian police certainly is not your answer, neither is our government whose struggling for their own survival. They've got no time for us:-

* Travel Safety Tips For Women Travelers (http://www.kevincoffee.com)
* Precautions for Women Travelling Alone (http://www.itis.com.my/itis/safety-tips-1.jsp)

Remember, my wife, family and friends rather I be an alive chicken than a dead hero. Take care and be cautious always.
Tags: Car Jacking, Damansara Jaya, DJROA, Safety Tips, Toyota Altis, Honda CRV, Mercedes Benz, Travelling Alone, Snatch Thief

Love N' Praise Concert in PCC

A concert is being organised by a group of Nigerian brothers and sisters in my church. It will be held tomorrow at 6pm with my church, Praise City Church, hosting it. It's the Love N' Praise Concert!

The Nigerian brothers and sisters are part of the AID - Actualising Individual Destinies from UCSI. They did mention that we will 'baptised' with an experience so powerful that their music will move us out of our seats to dance to the beat of their rhythm, sights and sound that is like no other.

They even managed to get Geoffrey Woo, Juwita Suwito and the Praise Dancers (from my own church) to perform tomorrow. You get to hear Juwita's voice for free. She's being sought at restaurants or clubs and you need to pay to hear her voice.

Few other churches will be sending their choir over to render their best songs. Not forgetting the musicians and singers from Nigeria ....... ever heard of their music? No? You got to listen to it then.

Guess what, I'm also one of the emcees ...... it seems that I have been talking too much and I was roped in.


To find your way there, you can refer to the church map or call the church office. See you there!
Tags: Love N' Praise Concert, PCC, Praise City Church, Nigeria, Nigerian, Geoffrey Woo, Juwita Suwito, UCSI, Concert, Music, Musicians, Singers

Socio-Political Bloggers in Cuba

Socio-political bloggers are found everywhere including the nation of Cuba, located in the Central America region.

Cuban socio-political bloggers do face problems with their goverment, just like in Malaysia.

Can we compare Malaysia with Cuba as they are still a communist country?

Besides that, t's not easy to access the internet in Cuba for a chance to blog. Individuals are not permitted to have an personal internet account. Corporate users don't have fast internet access. Who were allowed internet access then? Only foreigners and some government employees and academics are allowed where their account are being monitored by the government.

It's not surprising with such restriction where common folks in Cuba had their first taste of buying or using mobile phones (or cell phones or handphones) during end March 2008. That's really shocking in this era of high technology.

The famous socio-political blogger in Cuba is 32 years old, Yoani Sanchez, who blogs under Generation Y. In order to blog, she had to dress as a tourist to enter a hotel compound which has wi-fi internet access. That too, she has to pay around US$6.00 an hour.

This doesn't stop another Cuban blogger by the name of Eva Hernandez who blogs under Sin Evasion.

Reading: Cuba muzzles popular blogger - MSNBC
Reading: Bloggers offer glimpse of uncensored Cuba - MSNBC
Tags: Socio-Political Blogger, Cuba, Yoani Sanchez, Generation Y, Eva Hernandez, Sin Evasion

Roaring My Way to Nuffnang Wild ‘Live’ Blogging

Another themed party???? Organised by Nuffnang again? Just when I thought that the Nuffnang Pyjamas Party was hard enough, they have thought of a wild' animal themed party now.

The upcoming party will be called Nuffnang Wild 'Live' Blogging which looks totally different. Doesn't mean that I'm going for the party as Nuffnang will chose only 100 fellas to enjoy the party. How come Modesto's is so small only? Can fit in 100 fellas only? What about the rest?

This time round, we will have Maxis Broadband as the official sponsor. What is Maxis Broadband doing sponsoring this event? It seems that laptops and internet connections will be set-up for bloggers to blog about the event 'live' from the happening place. It goes in line with Maxis Broadband's current promotion of the Wild Maxis USB Modem.

During the event, you could take a weird / funny / exposed picture and post it into your blog immediately. No one could stop you from publishing on the spot. Could feel like a politician blogger (Jeff Ooi and Tony Pua) who blogs 'live' from inside the parliament.

Now we are seeing top night spots are lining up to host such fantastic events. Modesto's (the one found in Sri Hartamas) will host the event for the night.


As for the animal theme, maybe they are looking for party animals instead ........ but I'm very sure that they are looking forward to us wearing those animal costumes. It's clearly stated Dress Code - Animal theme (Anything and everything animal will do. Wah lau eh. What about those costumes then? Handmade type? Rent it? Steal it?

On the spot, I could think of those kids' animal costumes from the barnyard such as chicken, rooster, pig (better not as this may trigger political upheaval amongst the politicians in the parliament later on) and cow. Or I it could be the animals that I have seen in a safari; for example, lion, tiger or giraffe (thought of this just because I'm tall).

Is a dinosaur considered an animal?














May need to ask the organiser (yeah, lots of questions each time a party is being called), can I just wear a face mask of a horse? Or must I wear a full horse costume? Then, partygoers may not get to see who I am just like those masquerade parties. Better still as seeing my real face may put them off too. Will remain 'faceless' then.

In that case I may come in this horse costume. Maybe I can get another lady blogger to be my partner too. Both of us could win the Best Animal Costumes (for both sexes) that comes with a Dell XPS M1330 laptop each.

If I find any other bloggers coming in this costume or anything similar on the same night, I'm going to go 'wild' against that blogger. Beware!
Tags: Nuffnang, Nuffnang Wild Live Blogging, Maxis Broadband, Modesto's, Sri Hartamas, Animal Theme

Most Awesome Earthquake-Surviving Car

A Citroen car which was damaged extensively in the recent Sichuan earthquake was still running on the road.

If not mistaken, it's a Citroen C5 model.
The car owner may not have gotten proper insurance to replace the car. I would say it is beyond repair also (Picture sourced from KDNet). At least it has proven something, that the Citroen C5 was really tough as the engine was still functioning.

Related post - Sichuan Earthquake
Tags: Earthquake, Sichuan Earthquake, Citroen, Citroen C5

9km Jogging Track High Up in Sky

While the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, is still planning for a walkway connecting few buildings, Singapore has constructed an elevated walkway spanning 9km.

While Singapore is preserving its limited greens and allowing walkway users to experience the greeneries along the walkways, Kuala Lumpur's latest KL City Plan 2020 is cutting down the greeneries.

An elevated walkway with 2 main bridges called the Southern Ridges is up and running.
Literally running as a Singaporean blogger, Walter Lim, has used the walkway as his jogging track nowadays.

The highest point of the elevated walkway, 36m above Henderson Road.

Jogging high up in the sky. What a refreshing way of exercising. Way above the congested traffic and pollution.





Going back to my city, there are plans just build elevated walkways / bridges connecting few high human traffic areas.

Projects being planned and mentioned (but hasn't take off):-
* 300m bridge to link Abdullah Hukum light rail transit (LRT) station in Bangsar to the Mid Valley Megamall at a cost of RM12 million (which works out to RM40,000 per metre) - said to be ready by mid 2008.

* walkway to link Menara Maybank, Impiana Hotel and Cahaya Suria Shopping Centre with the Pudu Raya bus terminal at a cost of RM20 million (what's the total length of this walkway?) - said to be ready by mid 2008.

* Best Western Premier Seri Pacific Kuala Lumpur Hotel to The Mall (just build a pedestrian bridge will do, don't go for extra complex walkways) - said to be ready by end 2008.

* the Maju Junction Complex to the Sime Darby building (for whom to walk? there are no tourism sites or interesting spots along this path at all) - said to be ready by end 2008.

* the Pasar Seni LRT station to the main post office building at the Dayabumi Complex. They will be ready by the end of next year (there's an existing bridge already, why the need to incur extra cost?) - said to be ready by end 2008.

First of all, start small. Please connect the walkway (non-elevated) between the two entrances of STAR LRT and Putra LRT at the Masjid Jamek area which is only 20m apart (estimated cost of RM10,000). But latest is that a huge RM5 million pedestrian bridge may be built instead of constructing a 20m covered walkway. What's the rationale?

Next, please appoint me into the City Hall Council because I think I can brag / say even far more greater projects than all the current people in the council.

Reading: Walking in KL Will Be a Breeze - Red Orbit
Tags: Southern Ridges, Singapore, Henderson Road, Jogging Track, Elevated Walkway

Maroon 5's Latest Album

Maroon 5 has yet again produced another album called "It Won't Be Soon Before Long". Have you gotten a copy of it?

Meantime, some simple facts about Maroon 5:-

* Who is the Lead Singer of the band Maroon 5?
- Adam Levine

* What was the original name of the band before they became Maroon 5?
- Kara's Flowers

* Name the guest singer in the Maroon 5 song “If I Never See Your Face Again?”
- Rihanna

Personally, I came to know about Maroon 5 when I first heard the "This Love" song. That song captured my heart right from the first time and my feet would be tapping away following its rythm. Can't wait to listen to their second album.
Tags: Maroon 5, Rihanna, If I Never See Your Face Again, It Won't Be Soon Before Long, Music Album, Music, Kara's Flowers, Adam Levine