Passing of an Unparalleled Talent

Michael Jackson, a powerful music icon during his era passed away on 25-6-2009. He may have been a very controversial figure, but I, for one will honour him not for the way he lived his life but rather for his incomparable talent. Regardless of whatever human mistakes and weaknesses, his passing is a big loss of an invaluable talent.

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AFP summarised his story as follows:-

I wasn't a big fan of his but I grew up having to inevitably listen to his music. Not that I had his CDs and tapes but those days, the radio stations were all filled with his music. Some of his songs are really nice and I'll honour them by refreshing their good tunes and noble intentions here:

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And a message about not looking at others by the colour of their skin:
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Hybrid Solar-Diesel Power - Part I

If in March 2009, someone by the name of En Hamid (a deservedly Sabahan Hero) showed to the world that one does not need to have a certificate to build a hydro-power generator, this time Tambunan came to light again with the commissioning of a hybrid solar power-diesel generator in mid-June 2009 at one of the remote villages.
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Suitable for places at remote locations, this system supply electricity continuously during wet and rainy seasons. The term hybrid refers to a system in which two or more supplies from different energy sources are integrated to supply electricity to the same demand.
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Schematic diagram of a hybrid PV solar-diesel power generator

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Simply put, an array of PV panels is installed side by side with a diesel power generator and the operations is controlled via centralised control panel manually. The system can be upgraded such that the changeover from solar power supply to starting up of diesel power generator takes place automatically.

Storage batteries are used to store energy harnessed through the PV panels during sunny days. During wet season, whereby PV panels could not 'collect' sufficient energy so meet night time energy requirement, the diesel power generator would kick in and take over the job.
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Pretty simple isn't it? The big question is determination. I did not put "cost" as the stumbling block as cost can be relative, depending on the focus and determination of the government to alleviate the situation of our rural folks.

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What is the cost then, you may ask. Okay, take a village of about 30 household which would require about 30kW (capped at 1kW/household) of total load. You are talking about RM700k to RM800k for a complete system. Take into consideration import taxes and other regulatory payments which can be discounted for government initiative, we may be looking at half of that cost??
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TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON

For everything there is a time under heaven. You may weep today but you will be full of joy tomorrow. You may endure difficulties today but you will rejoice tomorrow, for droughts are made to follow wet days.

Theft makes for a really Bad Week

I read with interest an article about a survey done by Deloitte's Financial Advisory that co relate risk of fraud and corruption during tough economic times.
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You'd have guessed it correctly as the survey revealed a resounding YES as answer to a question of whether respondent believe that there would be an uptrend of fraud and corruption risk during economic downturn.
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And why do you think it should so happen?
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Three prime reasons:

1. Financial: financial pressure is heightened with expectations for continued growth or achieving targets. As wages stay static and the cost of living increases, employees feel the heat on their personal finances.


2. Opportunity: due to cost cutting there could be to lack of resources and poor assignment of duties, which would eventually weaken the internal controls'; an opportunity for some to venture into corruption.


3. Rationalise it: Opss! That means people - both employers and employees - are coming to term with accepting fraudulence and corruptions? What's happening to our conscience? The employee says "I've got nothing to lose" and Employer says "We've got to do what we've got to to to win business." Hence, the rationalisation of such act/behaviour. OMG!

I'll add this to that:- Thieves and theft become rampant during difficult times. Well maybe not at the same timing with economic downturn, but I have every right to think so. My residence, together with that of my neighbour's were broken into last week by burglars having studied our situation beforehand.
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Have we been able to comprehend those responsible, I would not be able to guarantee that some incensed people wouldn't take the Law in their own hands.
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What a bad week for us. Now should we blessed the culprits or should we curse them? For now, I can't see myself bend on the former, more inclined to the later, so lemme take a deep breath and compose myself before i utter something I might regret later.
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Frightful and shocking weekend!!
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Stealing Laptops from Your Car

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Is it real? Or could it be another hoax?

Should i argue and ignore it? Is it just a myth, urban legend?

Well no, according to Daily Express.

Daily Express carried a short story today about the arrest of two foreigners in Selangor, Malaysia for stealing laptops from parked vehicles. Apparently they are specialist in laptop stealing based on the tools in their possession which include special car break-in apparatus and this electronic gadget.

This gadget is an inductive amplifier commonly used by electricians to detect cable embedded in concrete and concealed conduits; also used to do some quick electrical trouble-shootings.

This means it is easily available in the market and these enterprising looters made use of it to their "advantage".

So friends, please be aware. You might have some reservation about such method in the past but things change fast and what seem "mere imagination" 2 or 3 years ago can very much be in existence today.

As practicable as possible, don't leave your laptop in your car. It could save you a lot of hassle.

INTEGRITY is the name of the Game

Barely two weeks ago we were shocked with the tragedy involving foreign workers while on their routine to demolish the old Jaya Supermarket building. Last week we were again shocked (or, should we be shocked anymore?) by the collapse of roof of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium.

Oh, and if some of us have short memory there were countless more "pleasant surprises" of such nature, let's name a few:

1. MRR2 in Kepong, failed in 2006 and again in 2008 (approx Rm20-70mil)
2. Land slide at Bt Antarabangsa in 2008 (approx Rm70mil allocated for repair)
3. Leaking Parliament building (remember some smart Parliamentarians poking jokes out of this)
4. "Flaking" new Federal Administration building in Jln Sulaman, K.Kinabalu.
5. Cracked and unsafe JPJ HQ building at Jln Bundusan?

Photo from Berita Harian showing the collapsed roof. Did we have a slightest tremor that could have shaked the "tough-build" stadium recently?

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Photo from TheStar showing the section of Bukit Antarabangsa which failed and slid.

Photo by keretadotcom magazine shows motorist being deprived of better traffic flow due to mistake not of their doing.

Speaking of flake, if you frequent the big shopping mall,1Borneo Hypermart, you'll notice that the tiles are also flaking like the scales of a dead crocodile. They have to cover these sections with non-slip garment or even masking tapes to hide the scaled floor.

What I'm saying is that, these big structures were build at staggering cost and we choose to go slow and easy in solving them from the root cause. We tend to fire-fight everytime there are problems but we selectively ignore the real problems underlaying. The Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium was built for RM292mil, MRR2 at RM120mil (could someone tell me how much did it cost us to build teh new Putrajaya Building at Jalan Sulaman, KK?).

If the people seem not to be surprised anymore, it would not be because we are facing man made problems but rather at the pace the entrusted Leaders are handling things. I'm not surprised at why the roof of the stadium collapsed but I'd be really surprised if there is no party/ies held responsible for it after the thorough investigation.

For your own good, don't include "Act of God" as one of the reason in your report because God is not party to your man-made destruction. It is "Your Acts and My Acts" that ruin things!


Further readings:
a) Bernama - Roof Of Stadium Collapses
b) New Strait Times - Bukit Antarabangsa Tragedy
c) Daily Express - Sabah JPJ building unsafe

SESB Should Compensate Traders, Factories

This was not from me, although I'd agree readily to such demand.

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Kalabakan Member of Parliment, Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh said this during a briefing session in Merotai, Tawau recently (D.Express 9/5/2009).
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Of course SESB (Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd) and TNB should compensate us. If electricity supply is disrupted in the peninsula, "the traders are paid for the losses they incurred." So, where is the fairness? Do SESB and TNB has different set of terms and conditions for consumer supply of electricity? If consumers don't pay up their bills, then what? Or put it the other way, what happen if the utility fails to supply power as stipulated in the contract? Something or someone has to give way.
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Experience has tought me that the utility would come up with sufficient reasons, excuses, and explaination everytime they deprive us of this necessity.
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Your application for compensation could not be considered due to....bla bla bla

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"faults in transmission lines beyond our control.."

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"intermittent problem considered not our fault.."

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"transient voltage that is not common and cannot posibly by our fault.."

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errr..excuse me, please keep the jargon to yourself and explain to me in a language less alien to me. I'm just a consumer, you know.

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Every organisation has the right to explain its side of the story, including giving excuses (if that's what the commoners would take as meaning of "explaination"). But wait, when did TNB took ownership of LLS (SEB) from Sabah Government? That's in 1998, what kind of their side of the story we are talking about here? Surely one would not wait for more than 10 years to come out with significantly better services; if 10 years is a time not sufficient, then I don't know what is. I can't imagine someone's hoping for a "puff!! then all things change to perfection" come 2020, our sacred date for Industrialised Nation vission.

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Alright, let's be a little bit fair to SESB and let us take a look at their current situation:

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Current generation mix of SESB shows that half of the capacity is generated through Gas-fired, while a third through Fuel-fired generators (internally sourced + imported). Currently there is no Coal-fired generator in Sabah and recently TNB Chairman, Tan Sri Leo Moggie said that there is no other alternative practical option for Sabah to address the power shortage, apart from the proposed coal-fired plant. We are talking about construction of new plant and operational costs here, so it is not just about one time cost to build the plant.
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In terms of preparing for the future, SESB is not too bad. Plans such as shown above will take care of our need for at least untill 2015. Question is, how far in term of progress and commitment to their plan, have they gone at the moment? Plans are good but how about pruning the countless illegal power connection a.k.a theft.

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Sabah Water Department's NRW (non-revenue water) is the highest in Malaysia, if not in the world at more than 65%. What is SESB's NRE (non-revenue energy)? Could it be as bad?

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This diagram shows SESB's grid interconnection. Major works have been completed in recent times to interconnect East and West coast of Sabah, I believe they have spent a lot of money upgrading and putting up PMUs at strategic locations. So, well done, we are actually "connected", people in the Eastcoast should enjoy supply of power "as much as" of those in the Westcoast.

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Note: I highlighted it in bold as we don't actually have that much of power here in the Westcoast as well.
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Note the grid in green which is the 275KV overhead transmission lines stretching from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan. That would be about 300km in length. Add about, say 400km of similar lines and we are tapping power from Bakun already.

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Of course it would be costly, considering Leo Moggie's contention that at merely 500MW of current demand for Sabah, it is not viable to spend billions of Ringgit in transmission lines. Well, Tan Sri, you need some correction there. SESB MD, Ir.Baharin Din mentioned that the current "regular demand" for electricity in Sabah is at 650MW.

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Surely, SESB can organise a power distribution restructuring if it decides to purchase power from Bakun, it is not so much about "commitment to supply to peninsule is justified due to the greater power demand", but rather the leaders' commitment to solve the power supply shortage in Sabah itself.
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It's partly economic viability of the whole project, but it is also partly on the social obligation of TNB as a sole entity in supplying electricity to the people. Because you are depriving others who might provide better services to the people, you must assume the social responsibility as well; every head has it's price!
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I must shout my mouth off now, so, let the bosses and leaders do the talking now. Read further below and you'll find that other political leaders have voiced out few things as well. Have they gone into silent mode now? That's for you to find out.

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Enjoy this...
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BN-Likas Slammed TNB, SESB Over "Poor" Power Supply In Sabah

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maybe, things like Leader brandishes gun at negotiation talks with SESB maycould've had some bearing on the performance of, whoever.

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'Blackouts got worse after SESB takeover' - CASH. You may not agree with him most of the time, but he barks regularly, at least.
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Uncertain: Decision, decision, decision. When will you come down hard on us?

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Bakun power to Sabah "not likely, (because) it is already committed" - TNB Chairman Tan Sri Leo Moggie.

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Minister Peter Chin - possibility to tap power from Bakun. Looks like ministers have differing answers when the rakyat is asking.
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So which one is a greener option? Bakun power and some restructuring or coal-fired power plant?

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Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2009

Tell you, I was not there on the final day (31st May) of the month-long Kaamatan celebration, so, no story to tell and no pics to share. Hongkod Koisaan KDCA was so crowded all day on the 30th, and in the night there was concert and all kind of other activities.

I guess that would be it and I do not have to attend the 31st day closing ceremony which normally be just formality and capped by the crowning of the final winner of Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan.


I can, however, share with you the front page stories of all the major local dailies. And, your guess is correct, they are all about the Harvest Queen and stories related to Harvest Festival.


Here are the beautiful faces splashing the papers...



The venue where all the colourful events happened


New Sabah Times talks about Chief Minister Datuk Musa Hj Aman's open invitation to all Malaysians especially those residing in Sabah to join the national Pesta Kaamatan celebration in Kota Kinabalu on June 7. Note the top five contestants of the Unduk Ngadau.


Daily Express - says that Pesta Kaamatan is certain to be "among the best platforms to unite the people of Sabah who are made up of various ethnic groups, races, and religions."

Note the three lovely winners. UNK 2009 Ms Appey Rowenna Januin is flanked by 1st runner-up, Ms Pearl Dianne Petrus (right) and 2nd runner-up, Ms Joanne Kimberly J. Majalap (left).



The Borneo Post - focuses its front page story on the winning Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan.


The Top Five as shown by The New Sabah Times are:

1) Appey Rowenna Januin - representing Papar
2) Pearl Dianne Petrus - representing DBKK (Kota Kinabalu)
3) Joanne Kimberly J Majalap - representing Penampang
4) Flina Rutum - representing Tamparuli
5) Jacqueline Joseph - representing Keningau


Congratulations Girls! and Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan!

Sodop Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2009

Date: 28th May 2009 (Unduk Ngadau Gala Nite)

Venue: Hongkod Koisaan KDCA, Penampang

Time: 6.30pm - 11.00pm

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The dinner was held at the main venue of this year's Kaamatan Festival as part the bigger event to be held on 30th and 31st later this month. The objective is to help fund the Unduk Ngadau and the proceed from ticket sales to be donated to Sabah Thalassemia Society.

This is not mineral water. It's Lihing, a traditional Kadazandusun alcoholic drink (equivalent to Tuak in Sarawak), given as welcome drink to the paying diners. I tried a couple of sip.

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Appetizer was okay, except that the crab meat stick was not fresh. The rest were 'okay' but weren't that great too. Think that's how they were supposed to be.

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Enough of food, let's start the ball rolling by letting Kebudayaan Sabah kick things up with the opening presentation

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Before parading the 41 beauties from all over Sabah, Miss Leonie Lawrence Gontuni (Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2008) made special appearance....

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...also, Miss Malaysia World 2007, Deborah Priya Henry was there too as special guess.

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Unduk Ngadau's (UN) were paraded...

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...dressed in colourful evening gown

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...everyone full of smile (which I think was jammed to their jaws and face muscles)..heheh

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They are parading out into the preparatory room

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..also, them

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..and them

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...and them, to be prepared for the individual introduction later

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UN from Tunku and Tambunan

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UN from Tamparuli and Klang Valley

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UN from Ranau

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UN from Penampang and Lahad Datu

. UN from Labuan and Kota Marudu

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UN from Inanam

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Past Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan from 1960-ies to 1990-ies made it to Gala Night for the first time this year. Many many thanks to all of you!

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Prior to the crowning ceremony, Filex (ex-Akademi Fantasia talent) made appearance with 2 songs. Not disappointing.You go buddy & best of luck!

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Ms Flina Rutum (right) representing TAMPARULI was crowned Tati Topiodo (Miss Natural Beauty) &

Ms Affy Jackleyinda Entawan representing BEAUFORT crowned Tati Tosuau (Miss Friendly)

Congratulations girls!!

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