Johor State New Administrative Centre - Latest work progress

UOB Kay Hian had indicated in its investment research titled 'Strategy - Emergence of A Super-Cycle Performer' in June 2006 that various state government departments are expected to relocate to the Johor State New Administrative Centre (JSNAC) located in Bandar Nusajaya, which are to complete in August 2007. OSK Securities further reported that the JSNAC was 11% completed as at April 2006 in its 24/7/06's investment research on UEM World. With so much publicity on the South Johor Economic Region (SJER) particularly with the Government allocating RM12.2 billion for Johor under its 9MP, I visited the site of the JSNAC in July 2006 as an excited and curious Johorean. Do you think that a project of such massive scale could be completed on time judging from the current work progress based on the picture taken at the project site?

Yunnan's Kunming, Dali & Li Jiang - Fascinating Scenery & Rich Heritage

Yunnan's capital city, Kunming certainly lived up to its reputation as the 'City of Forever Spring'. Upon arrival, we were quickly ushered by the local guide to the Western Hill just before dusk. For city folks like me, tracking up the hill was no easy task but the effort was worthwhile considering the captivating view from the hillside. In the evening, we even managed to catch up with the renowned 'Peacock Dance' performance which had been featured prominently in our daily, The Star not too long ago. On Day 2 at the Jiuxiang Scenic Resort, we were treated to the majestic view of its limestones cave system. I envied the locals for their easygoing lifestyle, free from materialistic desires and the abilities to live lives to the fullest. If you have not visited the Stone Forest, then you have not been to Kunming. Day 3 at the Stone Forest Park, a landmark synonym with Kunming was such a spectacular, having survived numerous earthquakes. The rest of the day was spent visiting the Golden Temple and a stroll in the city centre. On Day 4 before we departed for Chuxiong, we dropped by at the Yuantong Temple and later at the Chooi Lake where you practically able to feed seagulls numbered in thousands right on your palm. Dali was our next destination on Day 5 but not before visiting a museum which displayed dinasaur skeletons found somewhere in Chuxiong. At Dali, we visited the 3-Pagodas Park and the Ancient City of Dali, which were part of the settings for a Chines serial 'Tien Long Pak Puk'. Along the journey to Li Jiang on Day 6, we paid a visit to the Dali's Bai Village where we watched performances on the local Bai's customary practices. The view of Yunshan Plateau in Li Jiang was so mesmerising overlooking the Yulong Snow Mountain in the background. Day 7 was remembered by my accompanying daughter as her first encounter with snow, I meant the natural one. For a close-up view of the Yulong Snow Mountain which was at least 5,000 meters above sea level, we took cable car and further trekked for several miles by foot in thin air. The experience was magnificent despite the tiredness. We took chocolates to supplement the energy on the advice of the guide instead of hiring a gas tank to counter the effect of low oxygen level. Before returning back to Kunming by an internal flight in the evening, we visited the nostalgic Li Jiang Ancient City and for last minutes shopping as well. A memorable and enjoyable trip indeed but too bad, it still had to come to an end on the final Day 8. Yunnan will stay forever in my mind for its breathtaking view as well as the hospitalities of the locals.

Jaya Jusco Taman Universiti's Members Day @ 13-7-2006

The much awaited once-a -year Jaya Jusco Taman Universiti (Johor Bahru)'s Members Day was back again, much to the delight of the local residents there.

Crowds started to pour in as early as 9 am although the shopping complex was supposed to open for business at 10 am. It was a scene of pandemonium just before lunch when traffics reached a stage of standstill both on the streets outside as well as in the shopping mall.

Although I'm not a shopping enthusiast, every year around this time I have to apply for leave from work (not to shop of course) to guard the trolleys so that my wife, mother and mother-in-law could maneuver their ways smoothly among the crowds. This year was however an exception as there was already a prior appointment for my mother to have her cateract surgery done on the same day. Nevertheless, the feverish moods still impacted on me when I dropped by for a quick peep later in the afternoon to catch up with the euphoria. It was horrendously chaos in the evening when there were hardly any space to move around in the mall. I was later told the following morning that the crowds had not fully dispersed even after midnight.

Whether it was really that dirt-cheap and worthwhile as claimed by many, judge for yourself from the pictures below by comparing those taken during the members day and a day before.

1. Traffic conditions on the street outside the shopping complex

(Before) / (After)



2. At the open car park

(Before) / (After)



3. Inside the shopping mall (ground floor)

(Before) / (After)



4. Inside the shopping mall (upper floor)

(Before) / (After)

1st World Aspirant, 3rd World Mentality - Edition 1

Malaysia aspires to be a developed nation by the year 2020. Independence was achieved almost half a century ago while 2020 is just about 14 years away. Yet, we are bound for an arduous task ahead considering the lack of civic consciousness among us here.

Petaling Jaya attained City status recently and at the same time earned its reputation as City of Billboards. What about Johor Bahru?

Can you figure out the street name based on the disfigured signage which has been so rampant here? Tough isn't it, especially when you are new to this area.

Who are the culprits by the way? There are none other than our Ah Longs, operators of money lending institutions (illegal, of course) making sure that their presence are felt practically everywhere. Nobody could dispute that the Ah Longs have far superior networks than our local financial institutions.

Even the phone booths, street light poles, road signboards & etc. are not spared from their mercy.

A common phenomenon since the emergence of steel shortages resulting in escalation of prices for scrap metals. With the covers missing, electrical cables in the street lights are exposed with some dangling out perilously. Unless quick actions are taken to replace them, accidents are waiting to occur anytime and anywhere. Potential victims include workers installing bantings on streetlights, maintenance workers and passerby unknowingly touching the cables while crossing the street !!