The Reader

Lower toll rates for our highways

I am one of those who could only afford to make noises in the Kedai Kopi or Kopitiam about the high cost of toll.Every time I visit my son in JB,I have to cough out at least RM41 just for the toll,not to mention about the same amount for the  petrol for my MyVi.At least now, there is evidence that the new Minister of Work is doing something good for the rakyat and I also know that he is  also instrumental for  getting rid of ceiling price for the steel effective today.I hope this  is a good beginning for a few more things.I look forward to hear or read more rakyat friendly good news from all ministers,especially those that affect the daily lives of ordinary folks like me. By the way,please donot ask us to eat less rice because the price is higher.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 (Bernama) -- The proposal to reduce toll rates will be brought to the Cabinet meeting for a decision, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today. "It is a suggestion from Datuk Zin Mohamad (Works Minister) who has expressed that his choice is to reduce toll rates. But the suggestion must be brought to the Cabinet for a decision to be made," he told reporters after officiating the opening of the Fifth Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) here today. Abdullah said this when asked to comment on Works Minister Datuk Ir Mohd Zin Mohamad's statement yesterday that highway toll rates could be reduced but it was subjected to the findings of a concession study currently being carried out by his ministry. The study is expected to be ready in another three months and will be the basis for the renegotiation of agreement between the government and the highway toll concessionaires in the country. Mohd Zain said the main issue up during renegotiation will be the clause on the toll rate review mechanism which does not allow the concession company to increase toll rates as it wishes but would have to depend on the number of vehicles using the highway. -- BERNAMA

I am one of those who could only afford to make noises in the Kedai Kopi or Kopitiam about the high cost of toll.Every time I visit my son in JB,I have to cough out at least RM41 just for the toll,not to mention about the same amount for the  petrol for my MyVi.At least now, there is evidence that the new Minister of Work is doing something good for the rakyat and I also know that he is  also instrumental for  getting rid of ceiling price for the steel effective today.I hope this  is a good beginning for a few more things.I look forward to hear or read more rakyat friendly good news from all ministers,especially those that affect the daily lives of ordinary folks like me. By the way,please donot ask us to eat less rice because the price is higher.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 (Bernama) -- The proposal to reduce toll rates will be brought to the Cabinet meeting for a decision, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today. "It is a suggestion from Datuk Zin Mohamad (Works Minister) who has expressed that his choice is to reduce toll rates. But the suggestion must be brought to the Cabinet for a decision to be made," he told reporters after officiating the opening of the Fifth Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) here today. Abdullah said this when asked to comment on Works Minister Datuk Ir Mohd Zin Mohamad's statement yesterday that highway toll rates could be reduced but it was subjected to the findings of a concession study currently being carried out by his ministry. The study is expected to be ready in another three months and will be the basis for the renegotiation of agreement between the government and the highway toll concessionaires in the country. Mohd Zain said the main issue up during renegotiation will be the clause on the toll rate review mechanism which does not allow the concession company to increase toll rates as it wishes but would have to depend on the number of vehicles using the highway. -- BERNAMA

Noisy Putra Trains

A few days ago I embarked on a Putra train from Pasar Seni to Taman Jaya. The noise generated when the train took a curve and when it was stopping was unbearable!Something was grossly wrong some where.I hope the RapidKL would do something before anything untowards happens .Over to you guys.By the way,the engineer in me is worried.

Battle in Malaysian skies

Free for All!
That is the main news on The Star first page today.Even though I am not a regular traveller,I welcome a good competition between between MAS and AirAsia. Whatever is the offer,the consumers will benefit, one way or  the other[the pun is intended].On reading the news,I was disappointed to get free ticket for my planned trip to 'balik  kampung 'during this coming school holidays.The offer is only from  10th June onwards. Both are  smart enough  to charge us full fares during the peak seasons.After all, both are business entities  to make money  and not to give  poor souls free tickets.

From my experience,I will choose MAS even though both of them give me free one way ticket.It is the level of service rendered at the airports and on the plane.I heard that Airasia is offering roti canai in flight.That is cool;but I prefer my roti canai at mamak shop better.

For small time businessman like me,it is the total cost that matters.It is not just the cost from one airport to another. That is how I will make a decision.

Riding a bicycle..

First,let me thank Dr Idlan Zakaria for her permission to allow me to blog  using her nice  photo taken in Amsterdam. This shot reminds me of my family trip to Holland in 1997.It was a trip to remember for me and my entire family.We had great time in Amsterdam and the only thing that I regret was not making an effort to ride a bicycle in the Land of Bicycles-The Netherland.

Just look at the photo on the right.The road has a bicycle lane!I have been living in Kuala Lumpur for  more than 30 years now and I have yet to see a bicycle lane in my neighbourhood Kampung Pandan,located about 3km away from the city centre.I am not wrong to say that KL is not friendly to cyclists.When I ride my mountain bike for my exercise/leisure,I am taking a great risk to use the main roads.Most of the time,I ride using side roads and only on weekends.Some time ago,I blogged about bicycle lanes but not in KL.It was along a main road from Alor Setar to Kangar! If my memory is still in tact,I observed that more bicycles were used in Oxford and Cambridge,England.With increasing fuel price,I think more people will be willing to ride bicycles if there are enough bicycle lanes provided.

Every time I see a kid riding a bike,it reminds me of my childhood days-way back in the 60's.During that period,there were not many small bicycles like BMX nowadays.I learnt how to ride using my late uncle bicycle and when I ziarah his grave two months ago, the memory flashed back.I remember he took me around in our kampung...(gendong at the back)

My parents could not afford to buy me a bicycle then.I always dream of having one of my own.When I got by first salary from being a temporary teacher in 1973,I bought myself a bicycle.I used it to travel from my house and  the school to teach maths while waiting to get a place to go to UK to study engineering.(September 1973)

My kids were luckier than me.My second son is a fan of BMX bike.He loved to do all those dare-devil tricks.During one of my trips to England,I took him to White Chapel and ended up buying a morales bike for him.It cost me almost RM1000!Lucky boy...

In mid-90,I joined my schoolmate Nadim to enjoy riding mountain bike.My first bike is a Haro.It is still working until today after a few repairs.A few months ago, I bought another mountain bike-The Trek to replace my old shaky Haro.Now, I ride it about twice weekly.I know some of my peers who are sick and they can't walk properly.Here,I am riding a bike around the neighbourhood.My great thanks to Allah swt for His rahmah on me.Alhamdulilah.

Here are the link to my bike set and LTDL set of photos at my Flickr.

Breathless in LRT

It was the longest journey I ever took a ride on LRT from PWTC to Pandan Jaya.It has nothing to do with the time taken even though I had to wait 15 minutes for the Ampang train to come.The last time,I took the wrong train but this time I was more careful to read the signage.

The train was sardine-packed.The guard told me only eight trains are operating during weekends.It was all standing room only.For peak hours like this (7.45pm), I feel RapidKL should provide more trains.

Initially,I was breathless due to the body smells of those near me.My nostrils were bombarded by all kinds of smells that made my breathing difficult.I inhaled slowly to avoid bad smells from entering my lungs.I keep looking outside to check the next destination as I was anxious to arrive as soon as possible to get fresh air or when the train stops at the next station.At the same time I wish to arrive early to get out from the smelly crowd!

Next,entered two young couples who can't wait to show their affection to one another.They had to do it in front of me.I don't wish to elaborate in details what they did; but it was more than enough to get old man like me sexually aroused!This made my breathing getting worse.Luckily, in less than five minutes,my train arrived at the destination.As soon as the door opened,I quickly rushed out to get more fresh air.

I was blinded...

On the reaching the t-junction joining the main road to Bulatan Kg Pandan,I stopped to let all the vehicles from my right to pass through and waited for the traffic light located about 50metres my right to  turn red.Then I can safely join the main road with ease.When I saw all the cars stopped,I released my brake to move forward.Suddenly, a motor-cycle just flew right in front of me! I could not see at all that he was coming..

I applied my brake immediately,looked again on my right and moved forward. This is my second lesson that no matter what is the colour of the traffic light, some Malaysian motor-cyclists donot bother to stop.I did not see the d#*&% motor-cycle coming because the sun was too bright and it created some blind spots on my right.

Lessons learnt:

1. Beware of motor-cyclists all the time.

2. Bright light produces glare that blinds us or creates some blind spots that we cannot see.Bright light can take many modes of existence like our greed,ignorance,desire,hatred etc that could seduce or induce us to make the wrong decisions;hence the wrong actions that we may regret later.

Malaysian Black Beauty

I was sleepless waiting for her for almost a week-just can't forget the eyes! You know,one kind of look. In fact, I wanted to take her home on the very day I saw her...The way she glanced at me made my aging knees grew weaker..;-)

Oleh kerana mata...lagu R Azmi.<Jika tak silap>

Just look at the beautiful and seductive eyes of my new horse.It arrived at my house on 22nd Nov,2007 and I have a few rides around the neighbourhood.I hope it will serve me well in the next few years..

If you wish to see more of her,please click here. More photos here.

PS: The book is here.

Faster Eurostar

The last time I took Eurostar to Paris was in September,2003 with Awang Goneng  for  a few days holiday in Paris.Reading the news today,I am very happy to note that the travel time has been reduced from 3 hours to 2 hours and 15 minutes. That is quite a good saving in time with a speed of 186miles/hour! The maximum speed I had encountered using ERL from KL Sentral to KLIA is about half of that.

From my previous blog postings,I have always mentioned that I love travelling by train.I look forward to have another ride on Eurostar again.The last time I took the train from Waterloo station.May I ask my friends in London/UK, why do I read that now we have to board the train from St Pancras Station.

St Pancras station brings back a lot of memory to me about my student days in the 70's in UK.The most recent one was when I received a few stares while I was standing at what should be the Station No 9 3/4 and the photographer was Awang Goneng!(Station No 9 3/4 is a fictional station from Harry Potter books).

Now, I better start saving some money for the next train ride.Target date- spring 2008,insyaAllah.

Bus Terminal

Last Sunday I was at Larkin Bus terminal sending off my office mate to KL.When we arrived about 2pm looking for a ticket,all tickets to KL were "sold out" from all the counters. My JB friend told me not to worry;he would get one for my office mate. Yes, he did but we had to pay RM40! There were a few 'ulats'  selling  the JB/KL tickets right in the open.

It appeared to me this bus terminal is just like "pasar malam". I observed that there was no enforcement and order at all at the terminal.Our buildings may be world class but our way of running the operation needs a lot of improvement.

2nd encounter of the 3rd kind!

I stood by the road side waiting for the pedestrian traffic light to turn green.When light turned green,I looked on my right to ensure all the cars stopped before I walked across the road to the other side. As I walked half way,I got a shock of my life when a motorcycle whizzed in front of me and it made an emergency break into the yellow box.It missed me by about one metre!

The evil in me just wanted to give this motorcyclist a flying kick!

This is the second time.The first time was when I drove my car making a right turn in front of all other vehicles which had stopped on the other side of the road.Half way through, a motorcyclist came suddenly and just hit my two -month old car.Luckily, he did not suffer serious injuries.

My scary encounters mentioned above are nothing new on our Malaysian roads.IMHO, nothing will change the attitude/behaviours of this group of our motor-cyclists.One of the ways is to remove this  type of people from  using our roads.

What say you?