Selected as AMBP Travel Ambassador

Was invited by Star newspaper to attend an event for the launching ceremony of a travel tool (domestic travel) administered by Mayflower ACME Tours Sdn Bhd ("Mayflower"). This travel tool, found in AllMalaysia.info and Mayflower's websites, shall make your holiday planning much easier. The travel tool will assist in booking flight tickets, accommodations, cars and tour packages.

In this travel tool, it will publish write-ups by bloggers on various local holiday destinations so that travellers will know what to expect. What bloggers? These bloggers are known as Travel Ambassadors.

I was selected by Star's All Malaysian Bloggers Project ("AMBP") after applying to become one of their Travel Ambassadors. AMBP has selected forty bloggers out of two hundred plus applicants. Thanks to Star for selecting me. Now I get to blog for a publication as well. Who told me that blogging was a waste of time? It's payback time now.

For a start, we were given Mayflower's Privilege Card, two vouchers for 2 days/1 night hotel stay at Terengganu and Sabah beaches respectively and limo transfers to/fro KLIA.

Michael Aeria, COO Multimedia, Star Publication gave an opening speech, followed by Mayflower's GM, Chin Ten Hoy.

Michael said one sentence which I will remember - we (Star) view bloggers as our partners, not as rivals! Solid statement coming from a mainstream media.
Datuk Rashid Khan, the commercial director of Malaysia Airlines was there too to grace the event. Michael, Chin and Rashid were actually putting their hands onto a button visualised on the white screen to imitate pressing a button to start a video clip.

Got to know some bloggers in the process. From left - Quachee, Thomas Yap, Soon Seng, Hurley, Teckiee and Samantha Poh.
We were treated to a buffet dinner and the same group of us sat at the cafe chit chatting till 9pm. What a start! We even got the AMBP Editor, Michael Fredericks, to sit with us talking about the Travel Ambassador programme. Got to know Tammy who was seated beside the editor.





We are excited about the programme. We will be getting all fully-paid holidays to local destinations at the expense of Star/Mayflower where in turn, we shall do a write-up on our travel experience.

It won't be restricted to travels alone but we will be invited to festival events, cultural events and food promotions too. All this in return for write-ups. What's so hard about it? It's all fun.

Reading: Holiday planning made easy - Star
Tags: AMBP, All Malaysia Bloggers Project, Travel Ambassador, Event, Star, Mayflower, Mayflower ACME Tours Sdn Bhd, Travel

Weird Animal in Local Fishing Village

Local travellers were shocked when they were walking around a fishing village in coastal area of Selangor. They thought aliens have landed when they saw three giant figures right in from of them. After cooling themselves, they noticed that the 'aliens' were none other than big octopuses being hanged out to dry.
Tags: Alien, Weird Animal, Octopus

Malaysian Taxis - Worst in the World?

International news are highlighting that Malaysian taxis are the worst in the world. It's definitely not a propaganda by any parties but it's a fact. Though not all taxi drivers are terrible but majority of them are good enough to tarnish Malaysia's image.

Even though Malaysia has imposed that all taxis be fixed with a meter to determine a journey's fee, majority of the taxis won't be using it but will quote a fixed fare instead.

I seldom board a taxi as I own a car but I do here horrible experiences from many friends. The taxi drivers could smell whether you are desperate to reach another destination. Once he knew, he would quote you a fixed fee which would be way above the usual fare. Since you need to be there on time, you have got no choice but to pay that exhorbitant fare.

What is the authority doing about this? Nothing!
They will tell you that they are short of staff, not enough evidence or there are not many of such taxi drivers as claimed.

I'm not blogging about this to backstab my country but this is a fact. Moreover, this could be an information that out of town travellers could rely on and know what to expect instead of receiving a shock of their lifes.

There are dozens of taxi drivers who would park alongside the roads near the Puduraya and KL Sentral bus stations awaiting the arrivals of bus passengers from various places in Malaysia.

Most bus passengers would be burdened with numerous baggages or kids and wouldn't mind paying or forced to pay additional fares just to get home immediately without getting into any hassle to bargain with the unscrupulous taxi drivers.

There are taxi drivers waiting outside hotels and once there are hotel guests who have indicated for a taxi at the hotel concierge, such taxis would be called. The fare for such taxis would definitely be higher than usual as the reason given would "We have sacrificially without getting any other passengers". The hotels are collaborating with such scam or are the hotels providing fast service in this case?


The Suria KLCC management, has put up a signboard warning travellers about taxi touts who don't use the taxi meters but will charge unauthorised flat fare. That's the truth about Kuala Lumpur taxis.

If I do need to board a taxi during office hours, I will take my time in getting a taxi that will use the meter to determine the taxi fare. How am I going to explain during my claim for travelling expenses if I was charged exhorbitantly?

The moment a taxi fella opens his mouth by mentioning a figure after hearing my destination. I will just shut the door and move behind the taxi to look for another one.

Read and heard a lot of bad stuff about other taxis around Malaysian's cities and towns. Any experience to share?

Reading: Malaysia's 'worst in the world' taxis tarnish national image - France 24 (source of pics)

Related post - Taxi Scam at Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Tags: Malaysia, Taxi, Cab, Metered Taxi, Taxi Touts

Proton's Latest Model?

Malaysia's Proton Holdings Berhad ("Proton"), the manufacturer of Proton brand cars, is moving into the higher range of motor vehicles sector, the Multi Purpose Vehicle or MPV and could be challenging the likes of Porsche Cayenne S, BMW X6 or Nissan Murano as shown in the picture below.This new Proton model has not been named yet but the prototype MPV model was given the name of Proton MSX. You can't see it in the showrooms yet but lots of people have been invited to see the prototype model.
Proton can't even match the likes of Toyota Wish, Honda CRV or Nissan Grand Livina but now have thought of matching those of the top range. What kind of strategy is this? How much will this car be priced at? If I have RM500,000, I'll rather buy those the imported cars rather than a local model of the same specifications.



Another two blogs by the name of Automotive News and Kereta Dot Info have pictures of Proton's alternative prototype MPV models. Which model will be finally chosen as the Proton MPV that is targetted to be launched in year 2009?

By the way, Proton has not decided on the name for the new MPV model. Proton has set up a competition in naming the MPV model. The grand prize is the said MPV model and followed by two consolation prizes of overseas trips worth RM15,000. Give it a shot.
Tags: Car, Proton, Proton Holdings Berhad, Proton MSX, Proton MPV, Porsche Cayenne S, BMW X6, Nissan Murano, Multi Purpose Vehicle, MPV, Toyota Wish, Honda CRV, Nissan Grand Livina

What To Do If Stopped By Malaysian Police

This is very useful information. Please pass it on to your friends and family ............. especially the women folk!

The next time you are stopped by persons who claimed they are plainclothes police, you are under no obligation to answer their questions or follow their orders, lawyers told Malaysiakini today. 'Policeman who is not wearing his uniform does not have the authority to stop anyone,' lawyer and human rights activist Sivarasa Rasiah said.

Sivarasa was commenting on the alleged gang-rape of an 18-year-old Uni student by four men claiming to be police officers on New Year's Eve. The girl said that her car was stopped in Taman Tun Dr Ismail in Kuala Lumpur and were asked by the men to open the car bonnet. She was then told that she had committed an offence and ordered to follow the men to a police station. The girl was driven in her car along the North-South expressway to the Tapah-Cameron Highlands road before she was raped in an oil palm estate.

This incident, and many others, have sparked confusion over the procedures which motorists must follow when flagged down by the police. The most common problem is that most people take instructions without determining if the other person is really a cop,' lawyer Annie Santiago said.

However, if you are stopped by a uniformed policeman, then you are required to stop. But you need not get out of the car because you are not expected to do so, Santiago said. The other rule to follow is to provide your identity card only when you are asked to do so. 'Even then, you should get his ID first to confirm if he is a cop. There is no harm in calling the relevant police station to verify if he issupposed to be on duty that day,' Sivarasa said.

Both lawyers said that motorists should never follow an officer to the police station unless one is under arrest. 'If you are not sure, and your instincts tell you that something is wrong, then drive off to the nearest police station and lodge areport,' Sivarasa said.

In response to the alleged gang-rape of the 18-year-old, Women's Aid Organisation executive-secretary Ivy Josiah called on the police to launch an education program to teach the public about their rights to prevent them from being victimised by bogus police officers.

Procedures to follow in the event you are stopped by uniformed police officers while driving:-
1. Stop the car and wind down your window.
2. If the police officers ask for your documents, request to see their IDs first.
3. If you are satisfied about their identity, ask them if you are being summoned, and for what offence.
4. Produce your identity card and driver's license and wait to collect your summon ticket.

In the event that the police officers ask you to follow them to the police station:-
1. Ask if you are under arrest and for what offence.
2. If you are not under arrest, you have the right to leave.

In the event you are flagged down by persons you believe could be plain clothes police:-
1. Do not stop because plain clothes police officers do not have the authority to stop you.
2. Drive to the nearest police station and lodge a report. (The same procedure applies to pedestrians)

In the event the police come to your house:-
1. Do not let them in before checking their IDs.
2. If you are not satisfied, phone the nearest police station and confirm if they had been sent to your house.
3. You are under no obligation to allow them into the house if they don't have a search warrant.
4. Do not go with them if you are not under arrest.

In the event persons who claimed to be plain clothes police come to your house:-
1. Do not let him in because they do not have the authority to do so.
2. Lodge a report at the nearest police station.

Related post - Can Cops Take Our SIM Cards?
Tags: Malaysia, Police, Police Officer, Plainclothes Police, Uniformed Policeman

Plaza Ampang Rooftop Blown Off

Strong wind has blown off the rooftop of Plaza Ampang, located next to Empire Tower ... hehe
Actualy, Plaza Ampang (previously known as Yow Chuan Plaza) is undergoing full re-furbishment right from the top down to the bottom. I saw four heavy machineries on the rooftop and were knocking down the walls.

In the first place, how did the four vehicles got up to the rooftop? Hooked up by a much bigger heavyweight crane?
Tags: Plaza Ampang, Yow Chuan Plaza, Kuala Lumpur, Empire Tower, Shopping Centre, Rooftop

Melamine Poisoning in Children

Melamine resin or melamine formaldehyde (also shortened to melamine) is a hard, plastic made from melamine and formaldehyde by polymerization. This plastic is often used in kitchen utensils and plates, often called melamine wares. It may also used as table lining such as formica. Being fire resistant, it has been made into fibres of fire resistant clothes that firemen use.

Aside from common commercial uses, melamine became a topic of much discussion in early 2007, when veterinary scientists determined it to be the cause of hundreds of pet deaths, because of pet food contamination. Prior to these reports, melamine had been regarded as non-toxic or minimally toxic. However, because of the unexplained presence of melamine in wheat gluten added to mass-produced dog and cat foods, it is the most likely cause. Pet owners report symptoms that are commonly associated with renal failure, which could be explained by the ammonia that may result from the digestion of the melamine.

Time magazine 17 September 2008 mentions “the material — in powdered form — has also come into use by certain unscrupulous food companies as a cheap and abundant filler substance for products ranging from livestock feed to pet food — and now, apparently, to baby formula. In some tests used to determine the nutritional value of a foodstuff, melamine shows up as a protein — so manufacturers can use the compound to make their products appear more nutritious. Melamine is not toxic, but inside the body it can cause kidney stones and renal failure.” The FDA database concurs.

Another Time report 16 September 2008 states that “On September 17, Chinese Health Ministry authorities announced that over 6200 babies had fallen ill, many developing kidney stones, from drinking milk made from toxic powder. At least three have died, and more than 50 remain in serious condition. Officials have said the number of victims could climb, the China Daily reported. Chinese authorities say the milk powder, produced by Chinese dairy giant Sanlu Group, was contaminated with melamine, a chemical used in making plastics. Melamine has been illegally added to food products in China to boost their apparent protein content.” The company started recalling its product on 11 September 2008, a too little, too late to save those who have died and countless others who will suffer kidney problems now or in the future. It was suspected that the company has received complaints about their milk in December 2007.

Sanlu Group has issued an apology statement (English version-google translation) and shut down their website till further notice.

The World Health Organisation has this to say:-
What are the health effects of melamine consumptions in humans?

While there are no direct human studies on the effect of melamine data from animal studies can be used to predict adverse health effects. Melamine alone causes bladder stones in animal tests. When combined with cyanuric acid, which may also be present in melamine powder, melamine can form crystals that can give rise to kidney stones.

These small crystals can also block the small tubes in the kidney potentially stoppingthe production of urine, causing kidney failure and, in some cases, death. Melamine has also been shown to have carcinogenic effects in animals in certain circumstances, but there is insufficient evidence to make a judgment on carcinogenic risk in humans.

What are the symptoms and signs of melamine poisoning?

Irritability, blood in urine, little or no urine, signs of kidney infection, high blood pressure.

What is the treatment for kidney stones and kidney failure?

Patients may receive various types of treatment, depending on the severity of the kidney effects. Treatment may include infusion of fluids and urine alkalinisation, correction of electrolyte and acid-base disturbance, haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, or surgical removal of kidney stones.

Dr Alex Tang has seen a few children brought in by parents who are afraid their children has melamine poisoning (he practises paediatrics in Malaysia).

His advice is:-
(1) There is no need to panic. Most infant formula in Malaysia are sourced from Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Check with the local papers to see if your children have been drinking milk that are on the banned item list.

(2) Eating from melamine plates and bowls do not cause melamine poisoning.

(3) Bring your child to see a doctor only if your child has been drinking milk on these banned list in the last twelve months. It is not necessary for you to bring your child if your child has drunk a glass of the ‘banned’ milk or eaten a White Rabbit candy ten years ago! (Johnny Ong has eaten this candy many times before too ............ aaaaarrrrggghhh!!)

(4) Your doctor may suggest a urine test if he or she suspects anything. The urine test is a good screening for injury to the kidneys.

Keep up with the latest with google news.

Related posts -
* Malaysia Slow in Responding to Tainted Milk Products
* Food Linked to China's Milk Scandal
Tags: Melamine Poisoning, Melamine Resin, Melamine Formaldehyde, China, FDA, World Health Organisation, Baby Formula, Infant Formula, Protein, Sanlu Group, Kidney Failure, White Rabbit Candy