Touchdown @ Islamabad

To those who did not receive any calls from me except for me 'rents, I am sound in Pakistan. In fact, way beyond expectations. Its fairly nice in Islamabad. Contrary to some statements, it has turn out to be quite well. The roads and infrastructures are nice, people are friendly and the weather is cool. With the exception of the transit which took 7 hours because PIA (Pakistan International Air) wanted to save up costs to accomodate more passengers with the Boeing 777 on one flight per day, everything else is more than OK. This is the first update. More updates to come. Chao for now...

1 More Day: 2nd Day Miscalculated

Was it a mere miscalculation or intentional? Scouting for a reason. Here's to the beginning...

3 More Days: 4th Day Gone in a Jiffy

IT'S SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE TO YESTERDAY

How do I say goodbye to what we had?
The good times that made us laugh
Outweigh the bad.

I thought we'd get to see forever
But forever's gone away
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

I don't know where this road
Is going to lead
All I know is where we've been
And what we've been through.

If we get to see tomorrow
I hope it's worth all the wait
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

And I'll take with me the memories
To be my sunshine after the rain
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

And I'll take with me the memories
To be my sunshine after the rain
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

5 More Days: Silence Beckons

Went out with Eunos and Thum today. Not much of any refreshed enthusiasm I would say. I am all set to go but I still feel as though there's something lurking over there which sends me into the doldrums. I am more reserved now for whatever reason. Anna was right. I have been weird. Throughout the past 3 weeks or so since I returned from India, most people received the cold shoulder from me, not intentionally but a reflex reaction to what lies ahead for me in Pakistan. I would call it, spacing out. I am ready to go but how ready am I for the project is another thing.

I spaced out a lot since I came back to Iph, some not noticingly and some, more obvious. I try not to. Dont ask me why. It just happens. 5 more days. I am counting down.

This is FuNnY...

This is how close I am to be their extras... hahaha

Get a load of this!... I wished!

And....

Wow... but it was fun.

6 More Days: Counterfeit Finance Advice

I am still trying to figure out what has been said and what was said. Can anyone actually save up MYR2k/month in KL? This was what my friend proclaim he was trying to do. His daily attributes to achieve this vision is:

1. Mi Sedap [the one with extra bawang - and mind you, he cooks it with only hot water because he saves up on gas, plus, he doesnt have a stove]
2. He is still driving an old car with no loans to pay
3. He quit smoking altogether [buying them that is, he takes from his friend]
4. He quits drinking altogether [buying them that is, he is a parasite]
5. He is renting out his newly acquired house to help pay for the instalments.
6. He reuses his shampoo for body shampoo. In case if that is not enough, he uses a soap.
7. He reuses the left over shampoo water after his shower to wash the dishes.
8. He comes out for Yum Cha but doesnt bring his wallet out.
9. He only brings MYR15 to work everyday [that's the maximum]
10. He uses office phones all the time. After work, he doesnt call anyone.

With this 10 reasons, I dont see why he is not saving up. However, to practice this 10 reasons is simply bullshit! He had me screwed up for a minute there, and now, prompting me to re-evaluate my finances. Can I save up MYR2k/month? I am not even able to save up a meagre MYR30, not to mention MYR1k. Its either I am screwed, or he is too screwed up! Please advice.

Memoirs

There comes a point in time, somewhere, some when, somehow, you just want to turn back the clock and reflect upon everything else that matters... everyone that has made great impacts in our lives, those that made smiling look easier than ever, those that made tears swell before our eyes, those moments, those serendipity candids, the solitudeness of the picturesque, those who held your hands, those who made their presence felt, those who cared for you, in between raindrops, snow showers, those glances, peeking, stares, touches, thoughts, senses,... its all coming back to me this week.

Those are the most beautiful things in my life. Not withstanding those train rides and spacing out moments, those moments that defines the character of the mind, ..... I wish. I really do.

India New Discovery: Kingfisher Air & Misc

My recent India trip made me discovered this fantastic airline, Kingfisher Airline of India. Puts Air Asia to shame. I flew from Delhi-Mumbai (Bombay) - Delhi.

Anyone new to the name will find it a big dodgy... Kingfisher Air. Sounds a bit 'chekai' to say the least and I wasnt actually looking forward to it. But it surprised me so much I had to post this.

The 2 hour flight was more than a bargain. Upon setting foot into the plane, you are welcomed by the ever friendly crew, all ready with a gift pack for you. In it, you get candies, flight menu [FOC... yes, its FOC!!], headsets, pen, etc. I must say, I was most impressed with the interior. YES... in flight entertainment and dedicated screens for your comfortable viewing! Even flying MAS from KUL-Delhi-KUL, passengers were only given main projectors every 4-5 rows of seats. Throughout the entire journey back to Delhi, there were 10 dedicated radio stations from Hindi to English, and 5 dedicated channels, mostly comedy! It does say a lot about the projected image of this airliner... "fly the good times". I am most impressed! Kudos!

Aint it nice to see Air Asia coming up with better options to impress us?


[Cont'...][Part II]

As much as I begun trying not to be "NOooOOoo Mario......", OR "This isnt IT and that.. wtf??!!", India is the gateway to "eye-openers". Seen below is the typical building or so in Central Delhi [I use to think of Delhi as a somewhat very progressive capital just like KL, but by adopting KL picturesque to compare with Delhi, the results are of frustration, inconclusive although uninanimous].

However, this goes without saying that every modern city needs to have a form of class-act. Pictured here below is one of the shopping malls (The Metropolitan) located a long stretch of road, and I would say about 1.5km of road, there's about 7-8 Shopping Malls. However, its not in Delhi. Its in one of the outskirt cities located along the Ring road called "Gurgaon". I stayed and work there, not Delhi.

The interior of the shopping complex...

And finally, where I stayed throughout my trip to Delhi, Hotel Searock in Mumbai, Windsor Castle [left] and Windsor Castle II [right]. Not forgetting to mention, the entire place was WIFI-ed and I was simply a pleased man. :-)

Shown below is the old office for Huawei, DLF office. This was taken from the balcony of the guesthouse I was staying in.

And this was the 4Wheeler accorded to me during my 2 week stay there. just remember its a "Qualis" :-)

Chao...

7 More Days: Silent Night

Raindrops falling, such a splendid spectacle to watch, with the seconds ticking away, it felt as though time fell into a new dimension of space where you are stuck in limbo... contemplating not of decisions, but of unknown path. It's quiet in Ipoh. I am all set to go.

8 More Days: KUL-IPH Mayhem

It was mayhem today on the PLUS. I know it was bad, I didnt know it was that bad. Altogether, from Damansara toll to Ipoh toll, it took nearly 7 hours, where it will usually only take about 1 1/2 hours - 2 hours tops. I wasnt prepared for what was going to hit me. When I got up in the morning, I took a peek out to the NKVE and it was clear, to my surprise. I thought... lucky me, everyone went back home yesterday and maybe since it was the first day of Deepavali, I assumed everyone would have either balik-ed kampung or be at home. I took my time and when I was done, I headed out for North Bound PLUS. It was ok, first 10 minutes that is until I reached the intersection of PLUS Connection at Sungai Buloh. There was a long stretch of cars, well, I thought, normal because this stretch is usually the bottleneck. BUT, how wrong was I!!?@!>#@!

Up until Simpang Pulai, I was only able to do 10~20 km/h on first and second gear. Tops I went to was about 80km/h. No more than that! It was horrendous, and I am still wondering, on a freeway where there are no traffic lights, most of the roads were either two way lanes or three for that matter, how on earth can there be a traffic jam when its a free flow? I understand the interchanges which might cause a bit but .... huh??? 0_o??? My deduction from this is:

It's either:

1. There was an accident OR
2. There was heavy traffic on one interchange which caused the pileup.
3. Silly policemen stopping traffic for fines

BUT, it was none of the above, unfortunately and I am left with no logical explanation of why should there be a traffic jam on a freeway. There wasnt any roadblocks, no busy traffic on interchanges or exits for that matter, but there was a 8-car pile up due to the congestion. Apart from that, why is there traffic jam? My only logical senses thinks it is because:

1. There was still lorries and containers [heavy transport/ logistics] on the freeway when the government has made it very clearly that there should not be allowed on the roads for at least 4 days if I am not mistaken
2. People stopping by to list down the number plates for tonight's TOTO or Damacai or Magnum
3. Despite government ads and initiatives to combat accident, there were still cars jumping queue and best of all is, the sole tradition of Msians is the usage of the emergency lane. Pathetic.
4. Majority of the Woman drivers? Errr.... As much as I want to leave this out... powdering and making up and the same time? lipsticking? Errr... I dont think so!@!?

Anyway, tiring shite. Just to inform you, I have just started my countdown. 8 more days. I just want to get it done and over with. Ta...

Two Tales of One City

Some say its nice. Some say its not.
Some feel that they feel absolutely at home, whilst some beg to differ.
Others say its so-so while some say its absolutely deplorable. Some couldnt even take it.

I say, let's give it a go. The Directors had a farewell dinner and of 20 odd expats, I was the only Malaysian representative. The Director's final few words for me:

Director: You know something, I could have easily given you a free ride. You could have been posted to Australia or Singapore or even in Malaysia. But not so fast. I was the initiator for your posting to Pakistan.

Me: 0_o HuhHhhh????

Director: The reason being is... the easier ride you get, the lesser you'll learn. That's why you have been given this assignment of UFONE, the biggest thus far in AP. I am not putting you there just because its a good learning curve but more because I know you are capable of it. I want you to come out tops. Dont let me down.

Me: Errr... I wont Sir. I will do the best I can with the faith and trust entrusted in me. I will do the job.

Director: Look Mr Wang, when I leave, please take good care of this young man. He is the best, the one that I only look up to. Please keep an eye out for him....

Director Wang: I know this since the first day I was here. I've been watching...

Me: Err.... Dont say that... its only my job...

Directors: Let's drink to that!!

*yeay... ?*... I dont know... spacing out...

Pakistan... I shall cometh, for Veni, Vedi, Veci. Its 12:44am now. I am still in the office. More nights like that... I'd better be prepared whether I like it or not.

Pakistan, Here I Come

If you may have not known it yet. I have been assigned to UFONE project - the HW way. Last minute calls arent exactly favorites for some but this is HW you are talking about. Anything goes, as long as there is a need, you go. Hard to swallow as it seems, its a tad sacrifice for better things to come? At least I see it that way. Anyhow, going there is no question, when... is a BIG question mark. Management aspects sucks when it comes to this bit. I am compelled to go with the flow. This question has been posed to me a million times... when? Answer is, I DONT KNOW. Probably this week? or next? After Raya? I really dont know. But I suspect, I'll know in a few days time.

Not such a glamorous place to be in THOUGH, but if a job has to be done, it has to be done. No questions on that. I am not counting the days till I go there coz I will be starting the countdown for whatever that is. More updates when and where there is one.

On the retrospective, here goes:

Me abrí los ojos y usted estaba allí.
No se alarme, ningún no se tratan.
No deseo cambiar cosas
déjelas tan justas que eran.
Significo nada realmente diferente
Es yo que se siente extraño.
Me pierden siempre para las palabras cuando alguien menciona su nombre.
Sé que conseguiré a excedente esto para seguro
No soy el tipo que sueña allí podría ser más.
(Estribillo)
Pero usted estaba allí, y usted era todo que nunca visto.
Usted me despertó para arriba de este sueño largo y sin fin.
Estaba solo.
Me abrí los ojos y usted estaba allí.
Puedo tomo su hogar de la sonrisa con mí,
¿o la magia en su pelo?
La lluvia ha parado, la tormenta ha pasado
Ahora mire todo el los colores sun aquí el último.
Supuse que usted se irá pero quisiera que usted supiera
La parte de usted permanece con mí incluso después usted vaya.
Como un agente que juega a algún otro escena
Esto no podía sucederme.
Pero usted estaba allí, y usted era todo que nunca visto.
Usted me despertó para arriba de este sueño largo y vacío.
Estaba solo.
Me abrí los ojos y no, no estoy solo, yo no estoy solo.
Me abrí los ojos y usted estaba allí.

Malaysia and the Club of Doom

I was at MPH the other day and I was reading this book entitled "Malaysia and the Club of Doom" by Syed Akbar Ali. It wasn't good as in good but in some ways, the reading was made more interesting when sensitive issues were touched in a way that realization was presented in layman's terms. It wasn't written in a way to crucify anyone, but it sounded more like a reality check or a wake up call. After checking on the internet, there were some reviews. Here's one of them:

"........

Syed Akbar Ali The Anti-Hadith Rebel

Syed Akbar Ali, a Malaysian author has come up with a book Malaysia And The Club Of Doom, which has been denounced by the ruling United Malay National Organisation (Umno), especially by its conservative and Wahhabi members.

The book is going to be banned by Umno, because it questions the very foundations of Islam and implicitly states that what is Islam today, is esentially a farce, created by the "misguided disciples" of Muhammad.

...... He says the Muslim Ummah is doomed because it follows the Quran through the guidance of the Hadith, a set of "forgeries" masquerading as sayings of Muhammad, which were invented by his "disciples" to make the world stupid and backward forever.

.......While the blogger agrees with Syed's sentiments in general, he strongly disagrees with several pertinent points. Islam is not a farce. Islam is real *TRUE*

.....The spread of Wahhabi ideas became easier and easier over the centuries, because the Ottoman caliphate arrogantly told Muslims to stop learning because they had become "the strongest and most progressive people on Earth", in other words, the Middle Kingdom.They made the same idiotic mistake as the Manchu emperors of China.Thank goodness, China had a great, socialist revolutionary named Dr Sun Yat-Sen, who overthrew the Manchu emperors, and came up with a vision to make China a great, progressive nation.Even though the Chinese of the world do not follow the great Dr Sun 100 per cent, they have learnt a lot from his vision, and made themselves a great people once again.The Muslim Ummah almost had a Dr Sun in the form of Turkey's first president Mustapha Kamal Attaturk. *TRUE*

......He told them never to go astray and turn themselves into monsters, lest God would punish the whole human race.He told them to always cleanse their hearts daily, by doing good works, living humbly like himself, meditating modestly, caring for women, children and the less fortunate, living their lives with moderation, and treating all living creatures with loving kindness.Muhammad always said that Love or Al-Rahman and Al-Rahim should never, never be absent from Islam. Love is always the beginning and end of the Quran.The blogger fully agrees that Muslims should be re-converted to Islam, but the true, progressive Muslims are still very small in numbers.There are more Wahhabi pigs than true progressives. *TRUE*

....."

It is somewhat a book for good reading... not a good book for reading. Banning it is denial - the Malaysian way. Everyone has a way of interpreting it. Non- progressive people are nonchalant and to me, they are only trapping themselves in a cocoon bound for extinction with their solid riches in nothing.

Sour Grapes

Kudos to the Wrath of Grapes for the enlightenment on the ASLI saga... in layman's terms that is. And there are a few equations and scenarios given to make your understanding of the saga much clearer. Not withstanding Dr. Lim's findings, there's the best there is. Here goes:


Posted by: TheWrathOfGrapes October 13, 2006 04:21 PM on Jeff's Blog

Situation: Ali owns 100 Tenaga shares. Par value $100 ($1 per share). Market value $1,000 ($10 per share. Ah Chong owns 1,000 Farlim shares. Par value $1,000 ($1 per share). Market value $430 ($0.43 per share)

Oxford Methodology: Ah Chong is 10 times richer than Ali

Situation: Ali owns 100% of Ali Berhad. 5 years ago, he sold off 90% of Ali Berhad at $100 million. He bought a property in London for $30 million and a property in Malaysia at $10 million after 7% discount; Invested in shares in Africa $20 million ; Spent son's wedding $10 million; Gave his first wife alimony $30 million after marrying his 2nd wife.

Oxford Methodology: Ali is holding only 10% share in Ali Berhad now. Ali is marginalised because other races have 90% share. He should be given an additional 20% to make 30%. Nobody knows anything about his foreign assets although his personal marital affairs became hot news in Utusan Malaysia.

Situation: Ali owns 100% of Ali Berhad. He sells off 90% of Ali Berhad to a GLC controlled by UMNO

Oxford Methodology: Ali Berhad is no longer a Bumi company since GLC is not counted as a Bumi company. Ali share is 10%. Since the GLC doesn't want to sell down its shares, Ali should be given another 20% in another company, Ah Chong Berhad to make 30%.

Situation: Ali owns 100% of Ali Berhad. He sells off 90% of Ali Berhad at $100 million (market $10 per share) to Ah Chong 5 years ago.

Oxford Methodology: Ali share is 10% now. Ah Chong should sell back 20% of Ali Berhad to Ali at par value of $1 per share to comply with bumi equity policy.

Situation: Ali is given 30% share (30 million shares) in Muthu Berhad at an IPO price of $1.50 per share for a total sum of $45 million. After 1 year Ali sold off all his shares in Muthu Berhad at $10 per share for $300 million. He made a cool profit of 255 million.

Oxford Methodology: Since he does not now own any share, he is entitled to another bumi portion (30%) of IPO in Ah Chong Berhad at $1.50 in the 2nd year. Since the authorities adopt a Never Ending Policy, it doesn't matter how many times you apply for an IPO as long as you are smart enough to sell off all your shares before applying for an IPO or use the name of your father uncle, aunty, cousins, in-laws, who-so-ever as long as it sounded malay. Ali proceeded to buy Peter Berhad, Ranjit Berhad, Sayonara Berhad, etc, .... in the 3rd, 4th, 5th year.....

Conclusion: With Oxford methodology who needs other methodologies?