Protest against Najib's 100-storey Mega Tower: A different perspective

Every now and then when I cross over the Causeway, my light-hearted mood would eventually subside due to the traffic congestion along Jalan Skudai, Jalan Tebrau and the Pasir Gudang Highway.

If roads are the blood stream of the country, I think, Malaysia will be hit by stroke every single day. I can't help but wonder how our economy is going to improve with the road clogging with traffic. To travel from east to west in Johor Bahru will take up at least 45 minutes. With the jam, it may take an extra half an hour.

In Singapore or Hong Kong, one can attend several meetings in the morning, and another few in the afternoon (Note: Not via MRT). On average based on my experience, 5 to 6 meetings from 9am to 5pm. That's how fast people can travel in these cities. Johor Bahru? You are lucky to have one in the morning and another one in the afternoon. If one is able to clinch a deal in one session, our neighbour is able to make more than two-fold as compared to us. That is why they are in the First World league, and we are abang adik with Indonesia.

Pasir Gudang Highway (PGH) is a phenomenon, for more than 10 years. With only 2 lanes per way, it never fails to slow down the traffic, every single day. I would be very happy being a delivery boy as I would only make 2 trips per day, provided I only travel via PGH. Easy job. Just need to load the stuff in the truck, hit PGH and listen to my favorite radio station all day long.

No wonder I noticed more and more vehicles have car TV these days.

For more than 10 years, the situation persist and deteriorated. Is the government aware of this? Surely! But why nothing is being done to remedy the issue or at least alleviate the problem? For one or two years, it's still tolerable. For five years, the government is considered slow to react. For more than 10 years? This is a retarded regime and I think it's time for replacement. Haven't we given them ample time to perform?

And now, our Barisan Nasional led government wants to construct another 100 storeys skyscraper. According to my friend, the gazetted area for the mega project is located near his alma mater. Unless the government is going to replan and redevelop the traffic system at the area comprehensively, traffic congestion will be inevitable once the 100-storey commercial building is completed.

But, as we all already know, the current regime is weak in planning and execution. So for the folks living near (and not working at) the future Warisan Merdeka, it's time to head down to the nearest car accessories workshop to install a car TV.

Good luck.

House Renovation Tips: Before you start

Before you start any renovation work:

Protect your floor tiles and parquet flooring. If you do not intend to rework or change the tiles, make sure that the flooring is protected with a blanket of cardboards before any renovation work. This way, the polished tile surface or the parquet's protective coating (lacquer, varnish, shellac or polyurethane) will not be compromised by falling rubbles or dropped hammer.

小赌 - 可以白手起家

是真的。

赌输了，就白手啰。
赌赢了，就起家。

House Renovation Tips: Tiling

Negotiate for replacement. When you buy tiles and mosaic, remember to negotiate with the seller/manufacturer so that any defective products (colour, warpage, chipping, crack, different dimensions from tile to tile within the same batch of tiles) can be returned and replaced. This way, the contractor will be able to select the good pieces for tiling.

Plastic spacers come in different sizes.

Insist to use plastic spacers for tiling. This is to ensure that the gap between the tiles will be uniformed and at the same time pare down the unevenness from tile to tile due to warpage. Contractors will not pro-actively use the spacers as they claim that it will slow down their work progress. Ridiculously, they will use some non-standard guides such as toothpicks, cardboard and et cetera. Yes, they can finish their job within a day using their way, but you will then have to bear with the eyesore (irregular gaps) on your floor or wall everyday.Why compromise on the finishing quality when you're paying?

Check on workmanship. If possible, knock on each and every tile (floor or wall) to ensure that there is no void (air gap) beneath the tile. This is done simply by knocking using a coin and listen if there is any hollowness at the four corners and the centre of the tile. This defect is disastrous. Firstly, with the air gap trapped beneath the tiles, the adherence of the tile is questionable. You do not know when it will fall off and what it will hit when it falls. Second, the trapped air will expand and contract with respect to the change of temperature in a day. The rhythmical expansion and contraction quickens the wear and tear, causing the tile to crack other than fall off and worse still in some cases, cause the tile to explode.

Never pay until you're satisfied. Perform checks with the contractor apart from monitoring closely (if you have the time) before making full payment. Ensure that all work is done according to your requirements and the finishing quality is satisfactory before surrendering your cheque.