When a friend mentioned about Photofunia and showed the sort of pictures that one could make with it, I thought I’d give it a try. Normally I am not interested in such things but it somehow attracted my attention.
And to prove that I’m such a vain person…
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It was a very depressing last Saturday for me, considering the fact that I went home that day with my parents so that I could join my old classmates for a reunion dinner.
I looked forward to a wonderful night with old friends and was eager to catch up with some of them, knowing very well that I have not met them for some years already. It did not cross my mind that such an ordinary day would end with such a horrific manner.
It was 6.15 PM when I left home and headed to the railway station to purchase a train ticket for the following day back to Kuala Lumpur. As I had left my Proton car in Kuala Lumpur, I drove the Honda CRV out.
Everything went well and I arrived at the railway station. There, I started to look for a good parking space. I found one about fifty to a hundred metres ahead of me and I turned on my right-hand signal lights. I checked my mirrors to make sure that the coast is clear, and started to execute my turn into the parking space when a motorcycle suddenly just crashed into my driver-side door without a warning whatsoever.
I was shocked, and so was the cyclist. I moved my car aside because if I had just left the car at the spot where the motorcycle crashed into me, I would be obstructing traffic.
I got down of the car and the motorcyclist, a nineteen-year-old boy, accused me immediately for not turning on my signal lights. I refuted him and stated firmly that I turned on my signal lights to turn right for more than five seconds and he would have been looking elsewhere if he had not seen my gigantic signal lights blinking brightly.
I inspected my damages and I was quite terrified by the amount of damage he had done, considering the fact that his motorcycle was fine, with only some minor scratches. He suffered no physical injury (but of course, the impact would have been painful for him). I could only imagine that he was travelling quite fast himself. And the fact that I could not see him at my mirrors would tell me that he was riding at my blind spot and that he was very near my car such that he could not even notice my signal lights!
Calmly, I took down his vehicle registration number and took out my digital camera to snap some photographs of the damages. I telephoned my parents and told them about the crash, in which they turned up at the railway station shortly.
The motorcyclist was very cocky with me, stating fiercely that he had an interview to attend. I gave him a piece of my mind by saying that I had an appointment to keep, too, and that such an incident is not of anyone’s wishes.
While I escaped unhurt, it was also miraculous that the motorcyclist was unhurt. The fact that the body of the CRV wasn’t very hard helped to absorb some of the impact from the crash and actually prolonged the stopping time of the motorcyclist. In other words, the design of the CRV actually saved his life. Had I been driving my father’s old Mercedes Benz and the crash happened, it would have been likely a different story for the motorcyclist.
When my parents arrived they were also shocked to see the amount of damage done by a motorcycle. That nineteen-year-old boy continued to be cocky, in which my father, with the help of my mother, gave him a resounding scolding in public while I was telephoning for the traffic police. Long story cut short, we adjourned to the nearby police station to lodge a police report.
The police report was made and when it came to my turn to submit the report, the sergeant who attended to me nicely told me to collect my report on Monday during office hours. Then I asked him about the motorcyclist and he informed me that the motorcyclist was fined RM300. This meant that I was not at fault. My mother asked some questions on insurance in which he answered them very politely. We were quite surprised to receive such a polite treatment.
In the end, I didn’t go for the reunion dinner. But to make the best out of my trip back to Ipoh, I brought back some important textbooks that I will be needing and also got a new pair of spectacles made. Now, for some pictures of the aftermath of the crash:
Dented right front door, broken right-side mirror, broken right skirting, broken right mudflap. The interiors are in fine condition. Central locking system still working fine.
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“That was a wonderful performance! I have not seen such an impressive show. It was certainly worth the money that your mother and I paid,” my Aunt Yim said.
I beamed, delighted. “Thank you, aunt. But of course, we made quite a lot of mistakes here and there. That was the best that we could do, nevertheless.”
“Well, what do you expect from a technological university that does not even have a musical faculty to begin with?”
—
“Did you know that it has always been my dream to perform in an orchestra?” my uncle asked. “Unfortunately, it has always been a dream that never came true.”
“It has always been my dream, too,” said I. “I have been very fortunate to have achieved such a feat.”
“Yes, I could see that. There were times when I wondered if you were a little too obsessed with music. But judging from the way you manage your studies in university, I came to realise that one is never too obsessed with music. I am so glad you proved me wrong.”
I kept quiet.
“By the way,” he continued. “What was it that made you got interested in music, particularly the piano?”
I cleared my throat. “Well,” said I. “I was actually inspired by you.”
My uncle raised his eyebrows and looked straight at me in the eye. “Me? What do you mean?”
“Don’t you remember that many years ago when you were still in Ipoh, and living together with grandmother, there was a piano at home where you would occasionally play? I saw you playing it once, and I was captivated by it. I was even more marvelled when both you and your wife actually played a duet, too.”
“Really? It’s amazing how a trivial playing can spark off something great, resulting in your success today.”
“Yes, but Aunt Yim has been instrumental in bringing my interest this far,” I replied.
“How so?”
“Well, my parents did not really intend to buy me a piano in the first place when I started learning music. Aunt Yim, thinking that I would really need a piano to play, actually bought me one without my father knowing. He was shocked and speechless when the piano dealer telephoned to tell him that a piano is about to be shifted to my house!”
“Ah, yes!” my uncle interjected. “That was also the same time when Aunt Yoke got your family a television, right?”
I chuckled. “Yes, and it is still serving us well.”
“Aunt Yim must be proud of your achievements in the musical field then. I don’t think she really expected you to be somebody great in music. In fact, you are the only one in the Yau family who have achieved high levels in music. Your other cousins did not even do their Grade 8.”
I was thinking of the old Kawai piano then. It was just an ordinary-looking, black coloured piano which served me well from my first to the eighth grade. It never crossed my mind that I would one day actually pursue my Diploma studies in piano. But I did, and I required a different piano. Therefore, I traded in the old piano, and got myself an upright grand piano. It was a good upgrade for me, and Aunt Yim was pleased to see that her investment had been re-invested in something even bigger.
—
“Guo Zheng, if there is a recording of this, don’t forget to get your father to watch it, too,” said Aunt Yim, beaming with pride.
“Oh, I definitely will, aunt,” I replied.
“I want one of the recordings, too, if you could get me one. I want to bring it back to the Netherlands and show to the rest of the family this wonderful performance,” she said.
“Yes, let this be a good souvenir for your aunt,” my mother interjected.
“I can rest assure you that a recording is imminent. It’s just a matter of time now,” I said.
—
“Your story reminds me of the day when your Aunt Yim bought me my first tennis racquet and my sports gear,” my uncle said. “That was quite a few years after she left for the Netherlands. When she returned, she found that her siblings were deprived of the luxury that some other families could enjoy. Our family, in particular, was poor and she knew that we could not afford to play games like tennis. She was filled with compassion and pity for us.”
He continued, “Therefore, one day she said, ‘Come, let’s get you a tennis racquet and sports gear so that you could learn how to play a decent game of tennis.’ And she took me to a sports shop where all the sports equipment are sold. Without so much as bargaining, she bought me my first ever full set of sports gear and a tennis racquet.”
“I was the happiest brother at that moment. Never had I dared to dream that I would have the opportunity to play tennis. Therefore, with all the gear and equipment that I had, I began training, and eventually I actually played for the Michaelian closed tournament and won!”
“No wonder you are still so good in tennis,” said I, laughing. “I actually never knew you could play tennis!”
“Yes,” said he. “But this goes on to prove how your Aunt Yim has somehow changed our lives. Her purchase of the tennis racquet for me has given me a chance to excel in a game that I never thought I would play.”
“And her purchase of the piano for me has brought my musical studies to a level that I never dreamt of achieving. And it has brought me farther than just to achieve a Diploma. Her investment actually paid off right in front of her eyes, don’t you think?”
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On Friday I went for dinner with Jared Ee, Kei Fai, Sen Loong and Joanna Chia after work. I had agreed to meet them up at One Utama, however I did not know how to get there by bus. Therefore, Jared and Kei Fai had been kind enough to meet me at the Taman Paramount LRT station before taking me to the bus stop about a kilometre away.
It was around 6.30 PM by the time we arrived at One Utama and we rendezvoused with Joanna and Sen Loong. We had a light chat first before deciding where to go for our dinner. I suggested Chilli’s because I had always wanted to give it a try, but Chilli’s in KLCC was always full. Now that there is a Chilli’s in One Utama, I wouldn’t want to give it a miss!
When we arrived at Chilli’s, we were informed that we needed to wait for about sixteen minutes before we could be seated. Therefore, I took the opportunity to go to the MPH Bookstores to purchase some gifts for my two uncles and my father in conjunction with Father’s Day.
After purchasing a CD, I made my way back to Chilli’s after Jared told me that they were seated already. At the restaurant, I looked through the menu which sounded quite foreign to me. After a while, I had decided that I would have the chicken and mushroom soup as starters, followed by the Fajitas and Grilled Beef as entrees. The rest ordered spaghetti, fish and chips, and some lamb chops.
We couldn’t resist ordering the Totsada Chips (is that how you spell it?) as you could refill it for as much as you want, and it tasted great (of course, only if you dip it into the sauce provided)!
Let the pictures do the talking now:
Totsada Chips
Fajitas with Grilled Beef. It's a lot of food, even for me! Cost me roughly RM35.00
Apparently, this is the Fajitas (pronounced as "Fahitas"?). It is to be eaten...
... together with this. You put some sour cream, grated cheese, lettuce, whip cream, etc. onto the Fajitas, roll it up, and give it a munch. Simple but delicious!
Grilled beef. A little dry, I admit, but still fragrant and the vegetables below them are great!
Jared had this, but could only finish up the fish.
Kei Fai's and Sen Loong's lamb dish. Irresistible!
Joanna ordered this spaghetti dish. Looks lovely, and she gave a lot to Sen Loong, too.
A happy, contented group.
After dinner, I went to MPH to purchase the remaining gifts and after that all of us made our way to Sen Loong’s car parked at the basement.
In the car, we had our own conversation and it was nice to know that finally there is a friend who can speak engineering in the same wavelength as I do. Joanna studies materials engineering while I study civil engineering. However, we have some subjects in common and it is nice to be able to share some ideas. I actually marvelled at Sen Loong’s navigational skills because while I am totally lost in the complicated roads of Kuala Lumpur, Sen Loong had no problem getting his way around.
We arrived at TAR College to drop off Joanna first, then Sen Loong drove me to the Wangsa Maju LRT station and dropped me off there. Thank you Sen Loong for the ride!
From Wangsa Maju, I took the train to Terminal Putra where my car is parked. From there, I went home, feeling happy and relaxed, knowing that the next day was a Saturday.
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The Light Rapid Transit, or LRT, has become my major mode of transportation to and from work. Every Monday to Friday, I would find myself taking the LRT from Terminal Putra (Gombak) to KLCC and back. And everyday the situation only gets worse in the train.
I am rather appalled by the fact that between Terminal Putra and KLCC, there are so many more stations where we need to stop to pick up and drop off passengers. However, things have gone so bad that by the time we pick up passengers from the third station (Wangsa Maju) in the morning, there just isn’t anymore space left in the train to accommodate passengers boarding from Setiawangsa onwards, unless some other passengers alight.
This capacity problem has also come to an extent where passengers from Taman Melati or Wangsa Maju would board the train heading towards Terminal Putra, which would then proceed on the opposite direction once it has picked up passengers from that station. In this way, passengers from Taman Melati and Wangsa Maju can ensure that they will have a space in the train, and that they need not join the massive crowd that are heading to KLCC straightaway.
Years ago when this train service started, there was never a capacity problem. But now, the trains are not able to handle the large capacity. By the time the train reaches Setiawangsa, each person does not have more than a square-foot of space to stand on. So what about passengers from Jelatek, Dato’ Keramat, Damai and so on?
The company that runs the LRT services, RapidKL, should add more coaches to the current trains and increase the rate of arrival of trains in order to accommodate the ever increasing number of passengers.
It is annoying to see that we are paying for such an important service and yet we are deprived of our comfort while travelling. It is not like we have a choice not to take the LRT to work because it is convenient, cheap and rather safe. It allows us to avoid the traffic jams that would be inevitable if we had driven a car.
However, just because we are now part of the Kuala Lumpur community or have always been part of it does not mean that we must subject ourselves to this kind of unsightly treatment. Statements like “You are a KL-ite now so you need to get used to the KL life”, “If you don’t like our services then get out” or “Be thankful that you at least have a space to stand on in the train” should not be the reason why we should tolerate or compromise with this kind of nonsense. We are paying so we should have the right to demand for better services.
It is not fair to exploit us consumers just because we have to put up with all this asinity in order to turn up for work punctually. As consumers, there isn’t a reason why we should put up with this kind of treatment when the whole service is monopolised by a single entity. If we could choose any other alternative which is more comfortable and convenient, we would have definitely switched and not remain with the trains. However, there isn’t, and therefore we must make do with the current public transport, and yet they are not doing well, too. They only have profits in mind.
And now with the emergence of the H1N1 flu, I wonder even more if the parties involved actually take steps to ensure that the virus does not spread around like wildfire. Although not 100% effective, they should sterilise the trains frequently or install air-purifying systems. It is bad enough to see people sneezing and coughing in the trains, and nothing is done to ensure that all pathogenic microorganisms are destroyed. They should employ measures that are used in commercial airlines, albeit a little modified.
However, from my side, as I cannot depend on RapidKL or any other party to ensure health safety in the trains, I have resorted to wearing a mask. The moment I arrive in the office I would go to the washroom to wash my hands with soap thoroughly before beginning my work. As the H1N1 flu has started to spread locally, we must not take any chances now. People in the high risk zone like me, who travel in trains frequently and mingle a lot with the crowd must take measures to minimise direct contact with people. I have got young cousins who are still schooling and I don’t want to put them, or their parents, at risk, too.
If you could minimise direct contact with the crowd, then by all means do so. Stay indoors if possible and avoid crowded areas. If you cannot avoid crowded areas such as the LRT, then wear a mask.
Most importantly, if you are sick, don’t go around infecting other people!
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Please read the following advertorial published by Universiti Tun Hussein Onn on the 23rd of August 2008. For better reading, I have taken the liberty to copy the transcript that is provided by Lim Kit Siang.
ADVERTORIAL
New Straits Times
23 August 2008, page 43
HONORARY DEGREE AWARD
7TH CONVOCATION CEREMONY UNIVERSITY TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA
TO
YANG AMAT MULIA RAJA ZARITH SOFIAH BINTI ALMARHUM
SULTAN IDRIS AL-MUTAWAKIL ALALLAHI SHAH
D.K.II, S.P.M.J., S.P.C.M.Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Al-Mutawakil Alallahi Shah has born on 14th of August 1959 in Hospital Batu Gajah, Perak. Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith is a third son to Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Sultan Perak Darul Ridzwan and Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Mazuwin binti almarhum Raja Arif Shah.
Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah get early education in Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Datin Khadijah Kuala Kangsar in the state his birthplace namely in Perak. After end of the education in primary school, Yang Amat Mulia continue the education to form one at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Raja Perempuan Kalsom Kuala Kangsar, Perak.
In the month of September 1972, Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah have set forth to England for further education in Chaltenham Ladies College, Gloucestershire to form six. Then, Yang Amat Mulia continue learning it in Davies College London in September 1977 and his following year in receive enter to Somerville College, London after having passed Oxford Entrance Examination.
After graduated at Oxford University with Bachelor of Art in June 1983 and follow the traditional University of Oxford, Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith will receive Master of Art after three years in 1986. Yang Amat Mulia also is a linguist follow several courses including language Mandarin at the tertiary level, French and Italy language.
As his father, Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah is a person that talented in picture arts. Refinement of soul, Yang Amat Mulia always watching natural beauty environment immortalize in the form photograph and painting to make look and reference. Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith performance become guide to deliver the message education to general public. Yang Amat Mulia concern on women and natural world and it custody aspect in become deep theme in painting.
Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah comply have interest profoundest field documentation. Apart from producing book, Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith doubled up guest writer in the The New Straits Times newspapers and in personal column it “Mind Matters” in The Star newspaper. Besides writing, Yang Amat Mulia comply active presenting a working paper at the conference national level and international.
Education from her father and mother over concern to the people, make Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah likes engaged in voluntary activities about as Deputy President of Majlis Wanita Johor (ROSE), Chief of Persatuan Pandu Puteri Malaysia Johor branch, Chairman of Nationalistic Community Service Red Crescent Malaysia, Patron of Spastic Children School in Johor Bahru, Patron Rotary Club of Tebrau Foundation, Advisor of Traditional Arts School International in London and become Pro Chancellor University Technology Malaysia (UTM) and becomen Royal Felllow Faculty of Language and Linguistic University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
As the appreciation towards her contributions of ideas and efforts in the development of education in Malaysia, Chancellor of University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Duli Yang Amat Mulia Tunku lbrahim lsmail lbni Sultan lskandar, Tunku Mahkota Johor, has approbation to presented the awards to Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Al-Mutawakil Alallahi Shah the Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Education at 7th Convocation Ceremony of University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia in this year. Congratulation from us, University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia members.
Click for larger image
I rest my case.
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Today (the 14th of June 2009) was quite an extraordinary day for me as I had an outing with a number of university friends at a scale that I have not ever expected.
Initially, there were a few of of my friends who wanted to come to Kuala Lumpur to watch a performance by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) at Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS (DFP) located at the PETRONAS Twin Towers. Well, what was meant to be a five-man outing turned out to a total of fourteen persons altogether.
Friends from as far as Ipoh, Penang, Malacca and Seremban (not forgetting those from Klang and Kuala Lumpur – if you consider yourselves very far away from the city) actually made their way to Kuala Lumpur just to watch the performance, which was a chamber concert, and to also meet up with friends.
Therefore, a week ago, with the help of Shu Wei, I purchased the tickets for my friends and actually waited eagerly for the day to come. Two days back we had to do some planning and hotel reservations so that everything should go smoothly and organised.
Therefore, today I made my way to KLCC in quite a frantic mood because I was supposed to meet up with Philip at KL Central at 12.00 noon and I was late. Nevertheless, Shu Wei managed to telephone me on time to tell me that we would all meet up at the Imbi station instead to help Philip, Xuan Hui and her friend check-in at a hotel. However, since another friend of mine, Wei Di, did not know how to get to Imbi via the trains, I had to stop by at KLCC and guided him there.
Finally, when we met up at Imbi, it was already about 1.00 pm. I have initially informed all my friends that we should meet up in KLCC at 1.30 pm to have lunch together. However, judging from the lack of time, I then decided to inform all of them that those who are in KLCC should have their lunch first and meet up at the lobby of the Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS at 2.30 pm to collect their tickets from me.
By the time we have checked into the hotel, left for KLCC and arrived there, it was already five minutes past two. We hastily made our way to Nando’s and ordered our lunch. It was served quite quickly and we started eating without much talking, knowing that we were running out of time, as the performance would start at 3.00 pm sharp.
(On left from front to back) - Denson, Shu Wei, Melissa, Henry (On right from front to back) - Timmy, Wei Di, Zhe Shen, Philip
At the same time, I was worried about my two friends who were travelling from Penang to Kuala Lumpur. It was already 2.25 pm when I was told that they were still in the bus, 500 metres away from the station. I told them that they must take a taxi from Puduraya to KLCC by 2.35 pm or else they would miss the first half of the performance. Their bus left Penang at 9.00 am and I was quite surprised that it took them almost six hours to reach Kuala Lumpur.
By 2.45 pm we were at the lobby of the DFP and there was no sign of our Penang friends, Xuan Hui and Robert. I telephoned them and they said that we should go in first, while they would come in during the second half of the performance. Therefore, we just made our way into the hall.
Although it was not my first time attending the concert in the DFP, the hall has never ceased to fascinate me, in terms of architecture, design and the sound system. Its design is certainly befitting of a world-class concert hall, and, though small, it serves as a wonderful platform for musicians, young and old alike, to come together to support the musical arts.
The programme was as follows:
I was immensely impressed by the sheer style, tonality and harmony of the pieces that were played. It was a refreshing change as my previous experiences in the MPO had always been orchestral performances.
(Front row from left to right) - Denson, Wei Di, Timmy, Robert, Yun Chuan, Shu Wei, Xuan Hui (Back row from left to right) - Melissa, Christon, Zhe Shen, Henry, Philip, Sherman
After the performance, we had a group photography and we had a small but quite a lengthy talk with one of the violinists, Ionut Mazareanu. He said that we could never pronounce his name properly, but I never bothered to try. We also had the opportunity of making an acquaintance with some local musicians who were friends of Mazareanu apparently.
Later on, we made our way to Berjaya Times Square, where I had my inaugural visit to Low Yat Plaza and Berjaya Times Square (much to my shame!), while some of them return to the hotel to put down their luggage. At Low Yat Plaza I surveyed around for a digital camera and purchased a webcam. At 7.15 pm, we went to Berjaya Times Square to have dinner.
Part of our dinner - uncooked
We had steamboat for dinner, and it was not long before I realised that it was already 9.30 pm! Actually, I had promised that I would return home by 10.00 or 10.30 pm, but knowing that I would be taking a longer route home (because I perceive that the stretch of pedestrian walk between Bukit Nanas and Dang Wangi is quiet and unsafe at night), I decided to tell my uncle that I would be returning home a little late and apologised for that.
But, wait! I have another story to tell you. Before we made our way to Berjaya Times Square after the MPO performance, we had to go to Dang Wangi through the Putra LRT. In the train, we were so engrossed in our conversation that we were not aware that the train stopped at Dang Wangi and the doors were opened widely in front of our eyes. It was not until I realised that we had passed Kampung Baru that I soon knew that this was the stop that we were to alight! So, in great panic I shouted “Dang Wangi! Get out! Get out!”
But it was too late. The doors were closing and eventually only the guys managed to get out of the train, namely me, Sherman and Amer (Xuan Hui’s friend). Shu Wei, Xuan Hui and Yun Chuan were still in the train, so they had to get down at the next station and take the train going on the opposite direction back to Dang Wangi. When they arrived, Xuan Hui came to me and said her classic line, “You’re not gentlemen at all! How could you leave us ladies in the train?” We laughed so badly till our sides ached.
So after dinner, I grabbed my things at the hotel (thanks Philip for bringing them all the way from Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur!), made my way to KL Central using the Monorail and from there I switched to the Putra LRT towards Terminal Putra. By the time I reached home it was already 11.20 pm. I felt so guilty for staying out so late.
And now that I have enjoyed myself thoroughly, it is time that I settle down and prepare myself for the next day – to work!
P/S: Contrary to what some people perceive about work, I look forward to work everyday!
It was a wonderful outing for me nevertheless. I do feel indebted to my friends who actually travelled far to join us in watching this performance. It was a brief meet-up for me, but it is one which I would not forget easily.
To all car lovers - this might be a reason why you might want to pay Berjaya Times Square a visit these days
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The "remnants" of the stadium
Not long ago we had the tragic incident of the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide which destroyed many buildings and left many people homeless. Now, it’s the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Terengganu.
As you can see in the picture (provided by The Star) above, a big section of the roof has collapsed, showering debris and pieces of the roof structure on the seats section of the stadium.
The Works Minister has said that the Construction and Industrial Development Board , a wing under the ministry, has been tasked to form a team comprising architects to conduct the investigation of the catastrophe.
But I wonder who is really to blame this time? The civil engineers? The contractors? The labourers? What could have contributed to such a large-scale damage? The early signs of collapse were apparently observed earlier on, but how could they be left unattended?
It is really disheartening to see such a large section of the stadium in ruins because it is not just a section of the roof that has collapsed, but the whole of it! It speaks of how bad the construction of the roof was! It cannot be due to fatigue and it is most probably a failure due to its own weight, which is something that can be avoided altogether!
Have the engineers made wrong calculations? Have the engineers forgotten about important moments at the joints and supports? What about bending moment? Did they use the correct concrete grading?
Or did the contractors decide to cut corners? Was corruption involved? How could the Works Ministry approve such a job with such a tragic outcome?
It’s a no wonder that civil engineers – past, present and future – are often in the bad light.
And now the following question begs an answer: are our structures, especially the important ones such as the Twin Towers, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, etc. safe for use?
After all, a structure has just failed without any usage and without any form of utilisation! It has failed under its own weight!
Must we have death in the house first before we learn not to play with fire? Even so, many would still not learn their lesson. I cannot imagine how many should be charged guilty for imminent manslaughter. Imagine that the stadium was full with people and the royal box was seated as well when the tragedy happened!
I smell a big rat.
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As some of you might already know, I have already begun my industrial training. I am currently attached to PETRONAS Carigali Sdn. Bhd. and I am assigned to the Development Department (DD) – Facilities Engineering Department (DFE); Civil, Structural and Pipelining Division (DFSP). Although Pipelining is part of DFSP, I am attached to the Civil and Structural section.
I reported for duty on the 1st of June 2009 at 8.00 AM, and for the first time ever I made my way boldly to Tower 1 of the PETRONAS Twin Towers, got myself my daily entry pass, and walked among the mass of people into the infamous twin towers. But here’s the part where my first day tends to be quite unmemorable.
You see, the twin towers have insufficient space to accommodate lifts of great sizes, therefore they have a unique transportation system to get people to their working places as fast as possible. Therefore, the lifts are designed with two decks vertically – one for the odd-numbered floors and the other for the even-numbered ones. Six of the lifts take you between 8th and37th floor, while the other six would take you between 22nd to 37th floor if I am not mistaken.
Then there is also another set of lifts which take you directly from the ground floor to the 41st floor. This is meant for people who work in the higher floors to avoid stopping too frequent at the lower floors in order to reach the higher ones. Once they reach the 41st floor, they need to switch to another set of lifts to bring them higher. There are also lifts to serve the 40th to the 42nd floor.
With such a “unique” transportation system, it is a no wonder that I got myself so easily confused.
However, as I was supposed to report for duty at the 23rd floor, I dutifully took the lift to the 23rd floor.
Imagine my surprise, however, to find a notice pasted on the door, with the following written: “PETRONAS Carigali Internship Briefing at Level 40″. Great! Now I had to make my way to the 40th floor. But wait! How do I get there? The lift that I took a moment ago would only take me to the 37th floor. How am I to get to the other lifts?
Thankfully, a PETRONAS staff came by and I quickly asked her for directions to the 40th floor. She told me nicely to go all the way up to the 37th floor, and from there take another lift to the 40th. She actually accompanied me and some of my friends up there.
The briefing was held in the Dining Hall, and it lasted for about three hours. After that, all of the trainees were brought to their respective departments. Therefore, I made my way (through the lift maze once again) to the 17th floor, where I met my supervisor for the first time. He is the manager of the Structural section and acting Senior Manager of the Civil, Structural and Pipelining Department (DFSP).
I was quite nervous and excited to find out about what sort of work will I be experiencing during my industrial training. However, I was given some manuals and construction guidelines to read, and was told that for the week that is the only task that I need to do. It felt a bit like going back to university but I guess I must be patient.
I was quite disappointed to find out that industrial trainees like me this time may or may not be given a workstation. What appalls me was the fact that I may not be given a personal computer to do my work. According to the administrators in the company, they were told that PETRONAS scholars like us have laptops, and they have applied for computer loans to get the laptops, therefore if they need to use a computer to work, then they should bring their laptops to work, too.
I was quite indignant and annoyed to hear such a thing. For once, I am not in favour of travelling with my laptop computer while in a public transportation such as the LRT because there have been known cases where laptops were snatched. The solution that was provided to me was that if there isn’t anything for me to do at night with the laptop then I could just lock it up in the company after working hours. This solution does not satisfy me at all because I would need the laptop to check my e-mails, reply them, write my reports, etc. To expect me to leave my laptop in the company is not an option either; how could I entirely trust the safety of my laptop in a foreign place which I am not accustomed to?
Besides, how could the company ensure that nothing bad would happen to us when we bring our laptop computers to work for the first time? They should keep in mind that we did not ask for such unwanted risks. If they have cared, they would have tried their best to eliminate such risks. I never intended to bring my laptop to work, and yet I shall need a computer to perform my duties. However, as they would most probably not be providing me with a workstation, I shall be forced to bring my laptop. Who will be responsible for my loss if I am robbed during my first time bringing the laptop to work? What they do not know is that I bought this laptop out of my parent’s money, not PETRONAS.
Many questions still linger in my mind which I have no choice but to dismiss them unwillingly: how do they expect us to perform well without a proper workstation? How come there is no budget allocation for trainees and yet they request for so many trainees? Not all departments are happy about getting new trainees (they don’t smile, they don’t acknowledge you, etc.) so why force them to take trainees in? Even as trainees, I feel embarrassed to be among them knowing quite well that I would be contributing little. I have expertise far inferior to the engineers working here, I am unsure of working ethics myself and I am entirely inexperienced.
Nevertheless I have managed to make friends with a few of the engineers, and they have been very friendly towards me. One even offered me some advice which I am very grateful. As for the rest, I have met some of them who are quite hostile in their own ways, without even returning my smile. They might be a tough nut to crack, but I intend to do my best.
While I have been feeling very awkward during my first day, my second day was by far more productive and better. Let’s just hope that I shall be able to find more happiness in my days ahead.
As for now, it’s time for me to hit the bed.
Posted in Henry Yew | 8 Comments »
If you have been observant about my blog, you would have noticed that I have inserted a counter to record how many spam comments have been filtered.
It’s unnerving to see that in the past two years, my Akismet has filtered off over 4000 spam comments; that is over 2000 spam comments per year, or about seven to eight spam comments per day.
I am quite surprised at the fact that these spam comments are especially rampant among WordPress blogs but are not so in Blogger, Xanga, Vox, etc. blogs. I do not recall having a spam filter for comments in Blogger, and I don’t remember seeing one in Xanga, too.
Lately, I’ve been receiving a lot of spam comments written in RUSSIAN. I am surprised for the fact that my blog is in English and I am receiving spam comments in Russian. It is as if they understood what I wrote in English, but couldn’t be bothered to help me understand what they are writing.
Perhaps WordPress ought to impose a word verification requirement for readers who wish to leave comments on posts. Currently, WordPress imposes that the e-mail field must be filled before comments can be posted. This could be one of the methods in which no phantom comments can be avoided, but unfortunately it is not the most effective way to do so. Phoney e-mail addresses can still be inserted to bypass the whole system. However, if the word verification were imposed, then it is far more reliable because the word projected during the word verification process are actually random letters that must be typed out exactly the same.
Besides, not many people are fond about leaving their e-mail addresses even to bloggers whom they know. I would feel a little more apprehensive about giving my e-mail address to anyone because of my sheer hatred of spam.
I am happy, however, that the Akismet spam robot has not failed me at all. It has managed to detect all spam comments correctly and that saved me the trouble of having to go through every spam comment thoroughly to make sure that no “false spam” is being filtered as well.
However, I would very much prefer of not having to delete the filtered spam comments myself. Therefore, a word verification requirement would save me that trouble.
PEOPLE, NO MORE SPAM, PLEASE. SPAMMING MY BLOG IS POINTLESS. I WILL NOT WAVER TO YOUR SILLY PRETENTIOUS OF GRANDEUR.
Posted in Henry Yew | 7 Comments »
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Henry Yew