Oil Price Dropped Drastically

World oil price has dropped drastically in the futures market from a high of US$147.27 on just 11 July 2008. On 15 Sept 2008 (2300 hrs), the current oil prices in various futures exchanges were:-
* Crude oil for October is trading at US$92.40 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange
* Brent crude oil for November is trading at US$90.40 a barrel on London's ICE Futures Europe
When our Malaysian government increased the fuel price on 6 June 2008 up to RM2.70 from RM1.92, the world oil price was trading at US$130 plus. When it was reduced to RM2.55 on 23 Aug 2008, the world oil price was at US$110 plus . It's already being traded at US$92 now, the fuel price should be re-priced to around RM1.92 (the fuel price before Jun 2008) or even lower.

Our faithful Prime Minister has said VERY LOUDLY that our fuel price would be priced according to world oil price and a price mechanism that would be effected every fifteen days. Excuse sir, the price has dropped way below all those oil prices you have mentioned. When will you wake up from your slumberland to review the fuel price again ........ to a much lower pricing.

Reading: Crude Oil Drops Below $92 as Lehman Adds to Demand Concern - Bloomberg
Tags: Oil Price, Crude Oil, Brent Crude Oil, New York Mercantile Exchange, ICE Futures Europe, Commodity, Futures

Lunch at Belanga

My love for food brought me to Belanga restaurant. Can't recall the meaning of this word, the waiter told me that it's a cooking utensil used in the kitchen. Actually wanted to go into the kitchen to take a picture of the Belanga ...... but after think think think think ..... sat there waiting for my food to come.

The restaurant is located at the walkway of the lower ground floor that connects The Gardens and Mid Valley.





This is their superb Nasi Lemak Ayam (chicken with coconut based white rice). The taste of the spices that was marinated into it were done very well. Ridiculously good. The size of the chicken surprised me. The price didn't.






This is the Nasi Belanga Ayam (nasi = rice). The gravy was filled with spicy chillis and if you are unable to withstand hot spice, don't pour the all the gravy onto the rice.

Exceptional in my case.











Appetite was there and couldn't resist this dish - Nasi Kunyit Rendang Daging. The calories taken shot up but I'll worry about that later.

The rendang curry was thick. Eating the nasi kunyit with the tender rendang daging, bit by bit, was just sheer estacy.









Their internal decor was nicely arranged. The preparation counter was filled with various condiments and food was prepared the moment you place the order (except for pre-packed food).

This restaurant do not charge you the 5% service tax. This restaurant owner has integrity.
Tags: Belanga, The Gardens, Mid Valley, Nasi Lemak Ayam, Nasi Belanga, Nasi Kunyit, Rendang Daging, Food

Try Forgetting Your Identity Card Number

Every single Malaysian, from the age of twelve years old onwards, is supposed to have an identity card which will state your fullname, an identity card number, residential address, date of birth, your sex and religion (for some).

When a police stops you at any authorised police check points, they could ask you for your identity card to verify who you are. If you don't have it, congratulations. For you will be questioned even more. Better make sure your explanations are good enough or else you will be thrown into jail.

A local lady was dealt with that when she couldn't even remember her identity card number and she was thrown into Kajang prison and subsequently ended up at the Lenggeng immigration depot, suspected for being a illegal Sri Lankan immigrant instead.

These are some of the police personnel you have right here in Malaysia coupled with the immigration fellas. She was held from Oct 2007 till this month. Her inability to remember the number and to speak the local malay language caused her to be holed up.

When a non-governmental organisation worker saw her situation, the NGO did a check with the National Registration Department and verified she was indeed a Malaysian. All this within one day. Really sick of these people who were involved in her case for not being humane at all in checking further. They could have gotten a person who could speak her language to understand her plight.

Reading: Inability to establish Rajeshvari ID baffling - Star
Tags: Identity Card, Malaysia, Kajang Prison, Lenggeng Immigration Depot, Non-Governmental Organisation, National Registration Department

Preservation of Heritage Building

Two of Malaysia's cities have been listed in UNESCO World Heritage List - namely, Malacca and George Town. Lots of historical backgrounds and we could still see buildings of yesteryears.

In China, even though not all cities are listed in the World Heritage List-China, the respective provincial governments are still doing their part in preserving historical buildings.

Kentucky Fried Chicken in China even restored an old building to fit in their fast food restaurant. Wonder how it will look in the interior.
Tags: UNESCO World Heritage List, Malacca, George Town, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Building Preservation

Pornography and Violence in Paralympics

After the staging the successful Beijing Oylmpics last month, China is also hosting the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.







During the opening ceremony of the Paralympics, a lady spectator jumped onto the tracks and ran towards the Russian athletes who were parading. Was she a Georgian national?
Not wanting any embarrasing moments, the stadium officials caught up with her, whom they claimed was a mental patient who ran amok. It was not easy in handling her.
The rest of the people who were involved in the opening ceremony were professional enough to continue with what they were supposed to do, not letting the pornographic and violence scenario behind them to affect their performances.

I'm wondering whether our Malaysian Paralympics athletes will receive the same accolades like Lee Chong Wei if they were to win any medals. It's still a world meet event.

Source: EastSouthWestNorth
Tags: China, Beijing Paralympics, Paralympic Games, Pornography, Violence

People With a Difference

- Name the ten wealthiest men in the world.
- Name the last ten Heisman trophy winners.
- Name the last ten winners of the Miss America contest.
- Name eight people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
- How about the last ten Academy Award winners for best picture or the last decade's worth of World Series winners?

How did you do? I didn't do well either. With the exception of you trivia hounds, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday too well. Surprising how quickly we forget, isn't it? And what I've mentioned above are no second-rate achievements. These are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one.
- Think of three people you enjoy spending time with.
- Name ten people who have taught you something worthwhile.
- Name five friends who have helped you in a difficult time.
- List a few teachers who have aided your journey through school.
- Name half-a-dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

Easier? It was for me, too. The lesson? The people who make a difference are not the ones with the credentials, but the ones with the concern.
(Take this Quiz by Max Lucado)

I wish to live a life that will impact the lifes of others in a positive manner.
Tags: People With A Difference, Positive Impact, Inspire, Worthwhile

Learning Agriculture in Taiwan

Forty nine Malaysian Members of Parliament ("MPs") have agreed to board their planes to Taiwan for a field trip to learn more about agriculture and industrial sectors.

It was fun reading the news when I first heard about this field trip. The places that cropped up were New Zealand then Australia, followed by Macao and China too. Lastly, all ended up in Taiwan as the visa requirement was much much easier. China ain't going to be happy with the Malaysian government for allowing forty nine lawmakers travelling to the land of their nemesis.

I have nothing against people who wanted to learn more stuff in beefing up their knowledge in all aspects of life especially when it was mentioned that the forty nine of them are paying for this trip out of their own pockets. True? Nobody can proof this but we give them the benefit of doubt.

In reading Taiwan - Agriculture, the agriculture sector from year 1973 to 1987 has only seen the crop production growth rate increased on average only 0.1% per year. In year 2001, the agriculture sector contributed only 2% to Taiwan's GDP. The agriculture industry's high cost of production and low returns have caused farm households to decrease by 6%.

Their top crop production is actually rice. The Taiwanese government is encouraging farmers to go for soybeans, wheat, and corn which are more profitable now owing to the growth in biotech industry. If rice was the main reason that the Malaysian MPs went for, ain't Thailand a better choice as they are the considered the main rice producer of the world.

Unless the government has better ideas in developing our nation into a world class flower producers in which Taiwan is embarking on it too. In reading Taiwan's Council of Agriculture, Taiwan is aiming to develop itself into a world–class flower island.

On the street itself, the general public is laughing at the MPs who are going for the field trip. The rumours of Pakatan Rakyat taking over the Malaysian government on 16 Sept 2008 could have prompted this last minute trip. But the organiser, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, said it was not but just co-incidental. All of time, it has to be co-incidental with the 16 Sept date. And it's in the middle of the fasting month, the Ramadan period. I don't think you can find any halal certified dishes in Taiwan itself especially when you have to go for field trips.

Even though they are paying for the trip on their own, why did they choose Taiwan. I'm very sure that the agricultural plans put up by the Ministry of Agriculture was equally good or even world class standard. In a field trip of such importance to the nation as a whole, ministry staff were not called up to tag along??????? Will all the forty nine MPs give special lectures individually at all Ministry of Agriculture's offices throughout the nation when they come back?

The one statement that caused me to fall down from my chair while reading it was this -
"The trip was supposedly for MPs to update themselves with the latest information about agriculture and high-tech food production so that they could debate better on the Budget when Parliament sits again in October."

So after all the questionings about the trip in linking it with the 16 Sept 2008 defection of MPs from the ruling government to the oppositions was just a rumour. The MPs are equipping themselves in answering questions during debate time in the parliament. Told you to give them a benefit of doubt.

Looks like there will be lots of overseas trips in the year to come till the debate on the Budget is over. MPs will travel all over the world in order to understand the mechanisms of how those things functions before they can debate in the parliament. There will be issues like:-
* public transportation nationwide (Germany has autobahn and top train services)
* public amenities in rural of sabah and sarawak (Australia's rural is quite huge)
* food security (Argentina's national plan on providing food at stable prices)

Reading: 50 Barisan MPs begin eight-day study trip - Star
Tags: Agriculture, Taiwan, Malaysian Politics, Council of Agriculture, Tiong King Sing, Ministry of Agriculture