Kite Flying @ Esplanade 1st Aug 2009

Date: 1st August 2009

Time: 7pm to 9pm

Location: Esplanade, Penang

Organizer: Action Kites

Kite flying is a popular form of hobby in Malaysia.

This Saturday, you will be able to enjoy colourful Wau or kites flying and learn the unique skill from our kite expert. The fliers will demonstrate their latest kites such as 2 giant octupus, 2 giant fish, 1 dragon, 5 rokaku and 11 stack bumble bee plus traditional "wau bulan" . All these will be paraded around the field for your viewing.Teams from Perlis, Kedah Johor & Kelantan will be joining. A total of 50 kites will be flying covering the sky of Esplanade, Penang.

The fascination in kites can only be experienced when you witness the various colourful designs completely envelop the sky. Don't miss this opportunity to snap up fantastic photos for your photo album collection.It's a great family outing. So bring along your kids for a relax and fun day at Esplanade.

Rapid Penang Treasure Hunt 1st Aug 2009

Date: 1st August 2009
Venue: Gurney Plaza
Organizer: Rapid Penang
Tel: 04-2381313
Website: www.rapidpg.com.my
A treasure hunt organize by Rapid Penang - a public transport company

It’s Rapid Penang’s 2nd Anniversary!

The Rapid Penang Fiesta 2009 will be a 1 day event at Gurney Plaza Penang filled with Non-stop Activities and Competitions.

The countdown begins NOW! Rapid Penang Fiesta 2009, 1st August at Gurney Plaza!

It’s Rapid Penang’s 2nd anniversary! Join us in a fun-filled day of non-stop Activities and Competitions!Treasure Hunt, Talent Quest, Superstar Performances and MORE! You might even walk away with Firefly tickets!

Fiesta Line-Up:

Hourly Quizzes: Win Firefly tickets to Phuket, Medan, Langkawi & Bandar Aceh!

Throughout the day: Celebrity Caricature Artist Ambo, Stilt walkers, Clowns, Puppet shows, Cheerleading performances, Popcorn, Candy Floss, Sand Art, Face Painting, Nail Painting, Magic shows + MORE!

9.00am – Opening Ceremony

- Launch of Rapid Penang Tourist Passport

- Malaysia Book of Records Awards– First Wi-Fi on Stage Bus; First Stage Bus Operator to be ISO 9001:2008 certified

10.30am – Treasure Hunt Flag-Off

12.00pm – Children’s Colouring Contest

2.00pm – Kids Fancy Dress Competition

4.00pm – Rapid Penang Talent Quest + Showtime!

8.00pm – Treasure Hunt Answer Session + Prize Giving

9.00pm – Closing Ceremony & Superstar Performances

This event targets Penang folks from all walks of life and Rapid Penang would like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone for their continuous support for the past 2 years.

Budget for 2010 to focuson aiding economic recovery

THE federal government's budget for 2010 will focus on helping the economy recover from a global recession, deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Husin said.

"We are not out of the woods even though there are indications of some light at the end of the tunnel. We hope the global economy will show signs of recovery soon," he said at a media briefing in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Awang Adek was launching the Inland Revenue Board's (IRB) new website address of www.hasil.gov.my.

The government has held talks with several focus groups and it is assessing the economy's condition and how it's affecting the people, especially the poor and those in rural areas.

It was also still early to say if the government would cut taxes further.Yesterday, he announced that the IRB collected RM50.7 billion in gross income so far this year, a 1.1 per cent growth from last year.

CONFIRMED!!! Schumacher returns to replace Massa

Wow...how things got spiced up and getting really hot and interesting...

In another dramatic twist to the 2009 season, seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher will be replacing the injured Felipe Massa at the European Grand Prix in Valencia. With rumours having circulated since the Brazilian's accident on Saturday, Ferrari confirmed the decision on Wednesday evening.

"The most important thing first: thanks God, all news concerning Felipe are positive. I wish him all the best again," Schumacher said on Wednesday evening.

"I was meeting this afternoon with Stefano Domenicali and Luca di Montezemolo and together we decided that I will prepare myself to take the place of Felipe. Though it is true that the chapter Formula 1 has been closed for me since long and completely, it is also true that for loyalty reasons to the team I cannot ignore that unfortunate situation. But as the competitor I am I also very much look forward to facing this challenge.

" Having retired at the end of the 2006 season, the unexpected return of the German will see him partner his own replacement at Ferrari, 2007 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen, until the recovering Massa is able to return to his position.

Despite having kept fit due to his motor cycle commitment earlier in the year, Schumacher will be involving in a training programme with the team on the lead up to the Valencia race on 23 August. Doubts remain over the condition of Massa, although the Brazilian walked for the first time post-accident in hospital on Wednesday.

Larian Merdeka 2009 - 16th Aug 2009

Date: 16 August 2009

Venue: Dewan Bandaraya (Padang Kota), Penang

Fee: RM12 adult and RM7 junior

Distance: 6km

A SPECIAL run, ‘Larian Merdeka 2009,’ to foster racial harmony will be held in Penang to commemorate the Merdeka celebration.

The 6km run, organised by the Penang Malay Recreation and Sports Club, will be held on Aug 16 at 7.30am.

The run, to be flagged off at the City Hall building on Jalan Padang Kota Lama, will pass through Light Street, Farquhar Street, Penang Road, Burmah Road, Pangkor Road and Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah before heading back to Farquhar Street and Light Street.

Last year, there were 1,150 participants in the run.

The event is divided into eight categories:

Boys’ Youth (13-17 years)

Girls’ Youth (13-17)

Men’s Open (18 and above)

Women’s Open (18 and above)

Men’s Junior Veteran (35-44)

Men’s Senior Veteran (45 and above)

Women’s Junior Veteran (35-44)

Women’s Senior Veteran (45 and above).

Registration can be done from 10am to 5pm from Monday to Saturday.

Please call Tajuddin at 019-4721217 or Roslina Bakar at 013-2386188.

The entry fee for youths is RM7 and RM12 for adults. Cheques or money order can be made out to ‘Kelab Sukan Dan Rekreasi Melayu Pulau Pinang’.

Closing date for the entries is Aug 10.

Application forms can also be obtained from the club at 163-E, Wisma Seri Perak, Jalan Perak (04-2271217), Penang State Sports Council, Jalan Batu Uban (04-6593713), information counter at Level 3, Komtar, Jabatan Taman Botani Pulau Pinang, Jalan Kebun Bunga (04-2270428), Jabatan Khidmat Kemasyarakatan, City Stadium on Lorong Kulit, Penang Municipal Park (04-2270618) and Kedai Foto Bagan Ajam, Butterworth (04-3331110) or Philip Teh (012-4785708).

26 teaspoons of sugar a day ?!!?!!?!!

This is very alarming. Read the following report from The Star today. Please reduce your sugar input. The same goes to me as well...

Malaysians consume an average of 26 teaspoons of sugar per person daily, revealed a 2005 survey. And early this year, the country was ranked the world’s eighth highest sugar user.
In the 70s, Malaysians only consumed 17 teaspoons of sugar per person per day.

Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) president S.M. Mohamed Idris said the consumption might have increased further by now, as the last research was done in 2005.

He said Malaysians consumed sugar in the form of, among others, soft drinks, condensed milk, flavoured drinks, junk food and even breakfast cereals. A CAP survey revealed that some drinks and food contained 10 teaspoons of sugar in one serving.

Idris said a brand of orange juice contained 40.8 teaspoons of sugar in a two-litre pack while a brand of cordial syrup had 200 teaspoons in a two-litre bottle.

He also said former Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad revealed earlier this year that Malaysia was the eighth highest sugar users in the world.

He said the International Diabetes Institute recorded Malaysia as having the fourth highest number of diabetics in Asia with 800,000 cases in 2007, which was expected to increase to 1.3 million in 2010.

“Sugar is linked to over 60 ailments such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart problems, osteoporosis, kidney problems, asthma and allergies.

“According to the Health Ministry’s statistics, 11.6 million of the 16 million adults nationwide are sick with a non-communicable disease like diabetes, hypertension or cancer.

“Malaysia has the most overweight and obese people in Asia with 54% of the adult population either being obese or overweight,” Idris told a press conference at CAP office yesterday.

“Thus, CAP calls on the Government to work with food manufacturers to avoid sugar in their products,” he added.

He also urged the Government to make it a requirement for manufacturers to graphically display the sugar content in their products by the number of teaspoons as well as colour labelling with red, orange and green indicating the sugar level as high, medium or low respectively.

“The Government should also stop advertisements of highly-sugared drinks and food during children’s television viewing hours, and educate schoolchildren and the public on the dangers of excessive sugar intake,” Idris said.

The Star 29th July 2009

Bursa Announcement: Tick Size change from 3rd Aug 2009

Equity investment strategies take account of many factors, including tick sizes which are set by a stock exchange. Here is a primer on tick sizes and how investors benefit from a smaller value.

This educative article is in conjunction with the introduction of a smaller tick size which will be made available by Bursa Malaysia and is planned for implementation on Aug 3.

Equity investors rely a lot on research and information to forecast the potential price appreciation of a stock. This ranges from fundamental analysis of the company to a technical analysis of its historical price movements. There is also a little known indicator known as a spread that can be used by investors to gauge the near-term movement of a particular stock. A stock’s spread is closely influenced by a “tick size”.

Understanding Spreads. Every share that trades on the stock market has a best buy and a best sell price. The best buy price is the highest price in the order book placed by interested buyers for a specific share while the best sell price is the lowest price in the order book placed by interested sellers.

These two prices are determined by demand and supply, which can be seen as a negotiation process between two parties.

The spread is the difference between a share’s best buy and best sell price. The general belief is that a consistently large spread signals low volume for that respective stock.

On the other hand, a narrow spread can indicate that a transaction will occur soon. For example, a stock with a buy/sell price of RM10 and RM10.02 suggests that buyers and sellers are very close to making a trade. If the narrow spread continues, volume for the respective share is expected to be high. A wider spread means that greater changes in the share’s buy or sell price is needed before a transaction can conclude.

This don't look good....whoever that proposed out this idea should be sack and get a kick in his ass. Of all the people I discussed with so far, none agreed with the move. You can search for yourself on the internet how people are so pissed off of the implementation and change. Haizzz...

AirAsia X fails to get Govt nod for flights to Sydney and Seoul

AirAsia X’s expansion into Sydney and Seoul will be delayed as it has failed to get the nod from the Malaysian Government to fly to the two cities, forcing the long haul low-cost carrier to formulate a back-up plan to utilise some of the new aircraft that will be delivered later this year.

“We had asked for rights to fly to Sydney and Seoul and the Government decided to defer granting us the approval. They want (AirAsia) to settle (its) dues with Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB),’’ AirAsia X chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani told StarBiz in an interview recently.

“It is a high profile issue and needs a lot of justification but we are AirAsia X and not the ones that owe MAHB money for airport services. Every invoice that we receive is paid within 30 days.”

“It is unfortunate that we are brought into the AirAsia issue but we have written and explained that our accounts are all current,’’ he said.

Hmm...is this one of government's way to curb the ever dominance of AirAsia? You make your own judgement...hmmmmm...

All-Star National Chingay Championship 26th July 2009

I was so busy over the weekend that I forgot to post up this event which happened yesterday. In fact, there are lots of activities and events happening over the last weekend due to the end of the month long celebration by the state government in conjunction to the 1 year anniversary of Penang listed as The World Heritage Site. So sorry for my readers out there....

When I browsed through the photos from this event, I guess it must be enjoying and fun. Hope that those of you that went for it will have some memorable time out there as long as some lasting impression :)

Penang Symphony Orchestra 24th July 2009

Penang Symphony Orchestra

Date: 24th July 2009

Time: Opens: 7.30pm / Starts: 8:00pm

Venue: Dewan Sri Pinang Auditorium, Penang

Tickets: RM10 / RM20

Music Director / Conductor:Mr Woon Wen Kin

MUSIC lovers old and young alike will be treated to an evening of lovely melodies at the Family Favourite Pop and Classical Concert by the Penang Symphony Orchestra held at Dewan Sri Pinang in George Town, Penang, on 24th July Friday.

The night’s melodies are intended to be light and entertaining as the concert’s central aim was to get people acquainted with classical music.

It's time to relax your mind and rest your body with some energy boosting music. Hehe. I'm sure you will be able to get your tickets on the spot. Head on there after dinner or work tomorrow in case you have free time!

Art-Craft-Food Fair Penang '09 : 24th to 26th July 2009

Date: 24th to 26th July 2009
Location: Dewan Sri Pinang
Time: 10am to 5pm

Looking for activities for the family? Well, don’t look too far because the Art, Craft and Food Fair is just around the corner!

The Art, Craft and Food Fair (ACF), organised by the Women’s Development Organisation (WDO) of George Town and endorsed by the State Tourism Development and Culture, will be held at Dewan Sri Pinang along Lebuh Light from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm from 24 to 26 July 2009. Entrance is free.

Be sure to be there because with more than 60 art, craft and food stalls and various activities planned, the ACF promises to cater to the young and old alike. There will be a ceramic painting workshop and demonstration by a master ceramic painter from China and there will also be a ceramic competition which is open to the public. Among other activities include the “Young Stars Discovery Contest” and also the "My Beautiful Hometown, Penang Landmark" which is a colouring competition for children.

The objective for organising this fair is to attract artistic talents from across the board and also to commemorate the first year anniversary of George Town being listed by Unesco as a World Heritage Site.

Activities:

Art Exhibition
Healthcare & Lifestyle products exhibition
Giant Painting by Invited International Artists
Art & crafts stalls
Ceramic painting competition and workshop
Children's talent time "Young STARS Discovery Contest"
Children's drawing competition "My Beautiful Hometown, Penang Lanmark"
WDO George Town choir performance
Food Fair - food coupon (25th to 26th July)
Art Auction Dinner jointly organized with Xiao En Cultural Foundation (26th July)

New slip road leading to bridge opens tomorrow

A newly-constructed slip road from the North-South Expressway to the Penang Bridge will be opened to traffic starting tomorrow.

Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd (PBSB) said the existing slip road at Km139.2 on the north-bound stretch of the highway would be closed entirely and substituted with the new slip road at Km140.1.

In a statement yesterday, PBSB said the new one-kilometre slip road was part of the Penang Bridge widening project. It is also an initiative to ensure smoothness of traffic movement for bridge users from Juru heading towards the toll plaza, without disrupting the traffic going further north.

PBSB advised motorists to observe the directional signage heading towards the toll plaza to avoid overshooting the slip road.

Should motorists fail to notice the new slip road, PBSB said they should make a U-turn at the Prai interchange.

There are so many nice photos about Penang Bridge on the web. Love it!!!

Partial Solar Eclipse Can Be Observed In Malaysia Tomorrow

This century's longest total solar eclipse can be observed as partial solar eclipse in Malaysia between 8.23am and 9.48am tomorrow.

However, it would be difficult to view the phenomenon with naked eyes as only 17.8 per cent of the sun would be obscured by the moon, head of Angkasa space science research unit Mhd Fairos Asillam said.

The northern part of Peninsular Malaysia would be the best place to observe the eclipse, he said in a statement on Tuesday.

The total solar eclipse, which would last for six minutes and 39 seconds, would pass through Ryuku Islands in Japan and through the Pacific Ocean, he said.

Mhd Fairos the moon's umbral shadow would begin covering India and then Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China.Mhd Fairos said Angkasa, the national space agency, would sent three officers to carry our research and take data as well as images of the eclipse in Jinshan, Shanghai, China.

Several groups would also carry out expeditions in China, among them from the University of Malaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysian Islamic Development Department, Malaysian Syarie Astronomy Association, Stargazer Scientific and Falak Online, he said.

Malaysians would be able view the live webcasts of the eclipse through the websites www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse/2009/index.html, www.saros.org/index.html, www.live-eclipse.org and http://www.eclipse-tv.com/.

Malaysians would be able to observe partial solar eclipse on Jan 15, 2010, March 9, 2016 and Dec 26, 2019, he said.

Penang Heritage Oil Painting Exhibition - 17th to 26th July 2009

Date: 17th~26th July 2009. New Word Park, Penang.

Notable three Penang's famous artists, Simon Tan Siew Kuan, Peter Liew & Chong Hon Fatt, examine our city from different perspective at the same gallery.

As part of our Penang Heritage Anniversary "Penang Heritage Oil Painting Exhibition" will showcase prize winning collections which promised to impressed the enthusiasts.

The exhibition will display paintings depicting true Penang heritage beauty. A variety of inspiring paintings under the theme "Penang Heritage" will surely mesmerized the crowd.

I might be going over for a visit during one of my lunch. But then again recently I'm super tied up during lunch time...shall see...

Penang covered in haze AGAIN !

Penangites woke up to a thick cloud of haze hanging over the island with several landmarks disappearing from view till about 11am.

Motorists travelling along the Bayan Lepas Expressway yesterday said they could not see the middle span of the Penang Bridge and the buildings on the mainland.

Visibility dropped to 1km in Butterworth and Prai from 7am but it improved to 5km at 2pm. On Penang Bridge, visibility was 4km at 7am but cleared up by 2pm after a brief shower at about 11am.

A Meteorological Department spokesman said the hazy spell in Penang was caused by 60 hotspots in Sumatra.

As at 5pm yesterday, Kuala Selangor, Port Klang and Seberang Prai in Penang are among those that recorded the worst air quality in the country. The Department of Environment’s (DOE) website showed that 79% of the country recorded ‘moderate’ status in covering 38 places.

About 4% of the country recorded ‘unhealthy’ levels in two areas while 16% of the country was in the green ‘good’ status.

Haizzz...why always haze...I also cannot remember how many times I have talked about haze. Whenever there are rains, all clear but after a few days, we are back to the same problem....

Bon Odori '09 - 18th July 2009

Date(s): Saturday, 18 July 2009
Venue: Esplanade, Penang
Organizer: The Consulate of Japan

Bon Odori Festival is a Japanese Buddhist observance honouring the spirits of ancestors, who return once a year to visit their families. Traditional dance is performed to entertain the spirits of the ancestors. Bon Odori 2008 attracted around 50,000 locals and tourists.

Fireworks of 15 minutes will be display at 10.00pm.

Do head there if you are free....can really see the fireworks from such a near distance...I experienced it last year with my dear. Worth to go, but be careful and plan your time well as the area will be jam packed :)

SEC Consumer Electronics and Digital Fair 17-19 July 2009 @ Penang Times Square...

Event : SEC Consumer Electronics and Digital Fair

Date : 17th - 19th July 2009

Venue : Penang Time Square ground floor open area

Time : 11am to 9pm

Do pay them a visit, you never know maybe you'll be very lucky to get a good bargain...if you are hunting for some new electrical appliances, then make sure you don't miss it :) I'll be going there, so hopefully can get some good buy...hopefully...

1Malaysia unit trust fund set for August launch

The much-anticipated 1Malaysia unit trust fund is set to be launched by the end of next month with a size of 10 billion units, executives of the country's largest fund manager Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) said.

They said the launch is dependent on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's itinerary, but is now tentatively scheduled for August.

PNB president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman declined to disclose the date nor other details, but said that the launch will be held "very soon".

"Let the Prime Minister announce the details," he told a media briefing on the sale of additional units of Amanah Saham Malaysia (ASM) in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Hmm...another unit trust fund....is the GOVERNMENT really no money??? A bit scary...

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!! Unsold ASM units open to all Malaysians from July 21

Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) will open the remaining 1.6 billion units of Amanah Saham Malaysia (ASM) for subscription to all Malaysians beginning July 21, after the expiry of quota-based offer period on July 20.

These unsold units are part of the 3.33 billion additional ASM units announced on April 20. Of the 3.33 billion units, 50% was allocated for bumiputras, 30% for Chinese, 15% for Indians and the remaining 5% for other races.

"PNB had placed the quota for a period of three months in an effort to promote this fund to all races and to diversify investors' profile. We think this three-month period was sufficient to enable all to invest," PNB's president and group chief executive Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman said at a media briefing here on July 15.

"The quotas for Chinese and Indian had been fully taken up. But beginning July 21, those who want to invest more can do so," he added.

To ensure fair distribution to the investing public, each investor will be allowed to buy maximum 20,000 ASM units from July 21 to 27. The investment limit will be void after July 27. The purchase of ASM units will be on a first come first serve basis.

ASM is an equity-income fund launched in 2000 with a fund size of two billion units, which were fully subscribed in 21 days. Since its introduction, ASM had offered six additional launches with total units of 7.63 billion.

Penang water taxi plan to go ahead?

The concept of a water taxi service connecting Penang island and the mainland under the Northern Corridor Economic Region has received the federal government's approval.

A feasibility study on the proposal for a shuttle service for passengers from 10 coastal points on both sides of the Penang channel is expected to be conducted next month and to be completed by the year-end.

"An allocation of RM50 million under the Ninth Malaysia Plan has been earmarked for commissioning technical studies, funding fundamental infrastructure and possibly finance boats for the water taxi service," Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) senior vice-president (manufacturing industry division) Chris Tan told reporters in Penang yesterday.

A consultant will be appointed soon to carry out a detailed study on the proposed project.

Chris added that the project was likely to be implemented as a private finance initiative.

"We are targeting for at least two or three routes to be operational by the end of 2010," he said.

Among other things, the feasibility study will look into operational details of the water taxi system, pricing mechanism for fares, size of the vessels to be used and how these can be integrated into a holistic transportation system for Penang.

On Penang island, the proposed jetty points include Tanjung Bungah, Teluk Bahang, George Town, Bayan Lepas, Batu Maung and Pulau Jerejak.

On the mainland, locations such as Bagan Ajam, Butterworth, Pulau Aman and Nibong Tebal have been identified as potential landing points.

Wow, Penang to have water taxi services? How fun....I bet it won't be cheap for a ride :P

New taxi fares in the offing

New taxi fares will be announced on Thursday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abd Aziz said.

Nazri, however, did not disclose the quantum of the increase for the new fares, which will be adjusted upwards.

In late May Nazri had said the new bus and taxi fares would be presented to the Cabinet for approval.

On the 3,000 taxi permits announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak,, Nazri said priority would be given to taxi drivers who had been driving for more than 10 years and with a good track record.

Currently, there are about 9,000 applications for individual permits still pending with the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CLVB) since last October.

“We need to go through the applications first and also listen to the industry players who have been complaining about too many taxi permits being given away,” said Nazri.

Galaxie & YOUth Carnival - 11th to 12th July 2009

Come join Galaxie team at the Galaxie & Youth Carnival @ Penang Time Square this Saturday and Sunday (11 & 12 July) from 10am until midnight. For those of you who are eager to take part in our festivities, there will be various games including basketball, foosball, arm wrestling, street dance and Galaxie's personal favourite, an eating competition!

There’s also going to be a talent search and a photo competition. Anyone can take part and aim to win the over RM30,000 worth of prizes and cash prizes or you can sit back and watch the fun.

Apart from the games, Galaxie have lined up other events too including a belly dancing performance, a shuffle dance performance and a special performance by Astin Tan.

Not sure this carnival will bring business and life back to the Penang Times Square, but since the opening, the project itself is like a white elephant to me. A visit there during one of my lunch time further proves me right since there are hardly anybody hanging out there. Well, maybe it's because the condos are not being occupied yet or there are just a handy of shops opened at this moment. Hopefully I'm wrong :)

1Malaysia songs will soon go on air

1MALAYSIA songs, in different rhythms, from a slow and melodious to energetic marches, will soon fill the airwaves.

Six songs, themed “1Malaysia, People First, Performance Now” were picked from 341 entries in a month-long contest in May.

They were sent in by well-known composers as well as newcomers.

Of the six songs which were picked, two were by Nik Nizam Jaafar, with lyrics by Lokman Ghani.

There were also two songs composed by Datuk Mokhzani Ismail of Radio Televisyen Malaysia’s music department, with lyrics by Chuari Selamat.

The other two songs were from Datuk Suhaimi Mohd Zain (lyrics by Syed Indra Syed Omar, or Siso) and the Lim Kok Wing Sound and Music Design Academy Sdn Bhd.

Each of the six songs earned their composers and lyricists RM8,000 and certificates, presented to them yesterday by Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim. The ministry had organized the competition.

Rais said the songs were meant to soothe the mood of the rakyat and stimulate their sentiments.

He said copies of the songs would be distributed to the various departments and communities nationwide.

So what are we going to have after this? 1Malaysia food? 1Malaysia day? 1Malaysia mascot? I'm gonna faint...

It's BM from 2012

The Cabinet has decided that all national primary and secondary schools will teach Science and Mathematics in Bahasa Melayu beginning 2012.

Vernacular schools, meanwhile, will teach the subjects in either Chinese or Tamil respectively, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin announced here today.

He said the policy will be implemented in stages for Year One, Year Four, Form One and Form Four in 2012. The changes do not involve Form Six and Matriculation students.

All examinations for Science and Mathematics will remain bilingual until 2014, so as to not jeopardise the performance of students under the current policy - Teaching of Science and Mathematics in English or its official abbreviation PPSMI (Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam Bahasa Inggeris).

At the same time, measures will be taken to strengthen the teaching and learning of English in schools, he added. These include:

* Increasing the number of English teachers by 13,000, especially for rural schools.

* Teaching assistants for English will be allocated for large classes of more than 35 students in Years One and Two.

* Time allocated for English in Level 1 (Year One to Three) for national schools will be increased 90 minutes to 330 minutes a week, while for Level 2 (Year Four to Six) to 300 minutes a week.

* Time allocated for English in Level 1 at vernacular schools will be increased 100 per cent from 60 minutes to 120 minutes a week, and for Level 2 from 90 minutes to 120 minutes a week.

* Time allocated for English in Form One to Six will be added 80 minutes from 200 minutes to 280 minutes a week.

* Time allocated for Malaysian University English Test (MUET) in Form Six will be increased 80 minutes to 400 minutes a week.

* Time allocated for English in Matriculation courses will rise 100 per cent from three hours to six hours a week.

The ministry will also introduce a Contemporary English Literature Programme For Children to inculcate the reading habit and introduce elements of literature. English labs will be set up in schools to help students learn the language more effectively, incorporating information technology through the use of appropriate software. To expose students to scientific terms, elements of science and technology will be absorbed into the teaching of English.

Since when we started to shift to backward gears? Another sorry state...

Penang declares July 7 a public holiday from 2010

The Penang Government will declare July 7 as a state public holiday beginning next year in commemoration of the date George Town received the Unesco World Heritage Site status.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced this Tuesday when launching the month-long anniversary celebrations at the century-old Town Hall here.

“George Town and Malacca’s joint listing as a Unesco World Heritage Site not only brings honour to the state but also makes our city the heritage of all mankind.

“In the state’s commitment to preserve the listing, I have taken the suggestion of some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and will declare July 7 as the George Town Unesco World Heritage Day as a public holiday to create awareness and education on heritage issues,” Lim said.

He added that the theme of this year’s anniversary celebrations was One Heritage to symbolise the importance of collective awareness to preserve, protect and promote George Town’s heritage.

Wow...this is really good news for Penang. However, I doubt how many companies, especially those MNCs or local companies will follow and observe this 7/7 as a non working day. Anyway, I'm still happy because it was indeed meaningful :)

Mid Summer Night Music with Penang State Symphonic Band - 7th July 2009

Date: 7th July 2009
Time: 8pm
Location: Esplanade, Penang
email:info@visitpenang.gov.my
A FREE 90-minute concert.

Bring along your picnic mat or blanket to sit on the field. Relax and enjoy your mid summer night with Penang State Symphonic Band...

If you like classical and modern music from the east and the west, you will surely enjoy this 90-minute concert that is set to dazzle the crowd with tunes like The Flight of the Bumble Bee, Final Countdown, Go West, You Raise Me Up, Gonna Fly Now, Eye of the Tiger, Dancing Queen and Sex Bomb.

The Penang State Government hope the Band's performance at Esplanade will enable all the young and gifted players in the Band an opportunity to showcase their talents to the public and hence create two way flow in community involvement. Show your support to these local community musicians by joining the concert for a night of musical delight.

Hmm...first time open air free concert in Penang...so happening! Woohoo...

International Choral Festival 2009 - A Voyage of Songs - 4th - 8th July 2009

International Choral Festival 2009
Theme: A Voyage of Songs
Date: 4th ~ 8th July 2009
Location: Berjaya Hotel Grand Ballroom
Organizer: Transinex Pte Ltd

1,300 Participants from 10 countries: United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan have confirmed to participate in this International Choral Festival.
This event will help promote greater appreciation of choral music, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, through an exchange of music and culture when chorister from different countries and the various judges.
This would strenghten the choral movement in the region and establish friendships among the participants.

Opening Ceremony:
The opening ceremony of A VOYAGE OF SONGS 2009 will take place on 4th of July 2009. The opening event comprises of the assembly of all participating choirs and the official opening concert by top choirs specially chosen by the festival office.

There are plenty of activities in store for this festival. It would be a fun and interesting event. Don't miss it!

Penang 3rd International Skim-Boarding Competition 2009 - 11th July 2009

Penang 3rd International Skimboarding Competition 2009

Date: Saturday July 11th, 2009

Venue: Batu Feringghi Beach, Penang Island, Malaysia

Time: 9AM - 3PM

Remarks: Skimboarders from Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan & Philippine willbe participating including Malaysian riders. BBQ party starts at 6PM and this eventis organised by Penang Skimboarding Association in collaboration with Penang StateGovernment.

If you are free this Saturday, then head on to the Batu Feringghi Beach for this event, I'm sure it will be an eye opener for many of us :)

Peace Run 2009 - 9th Aug 2009

Date: 9th Aug 2009
Start/finish: Penang Municipal Park (Youth Park, Penang)
Time: 7.30am
Distance: 1.5km (Disabled) and 6km (Others)
Organizer: Service Civic International (SCI)

Closing Date: 27th July 2009

Themed ‘Unity in Diversity’, the run is 1.5km for the disabled and 6km for the able bodied.
A participation fee of RM12 is charged for normal adults, RM8 for students and free for participants from special schools and orphanage. Each registered participant will be given a T-shirt.
Closing date for registration is July 27.

Are you being caught?

It was No Plastic Bag day yesterday, the very first Monday in the month of July in Penang. There are many retailers participating in this meaningful event to reduce the usage of plastic bag. However, not many are fine with the move. I'm sure each and everyone out there had been so used to the use of plastic in basically everything. Hence, when this plan executed yesterday, many were caught red handed. I was reading the news and saw a report that a cashier in one of the big supermarket was scolded by a customer for not providing plastic bag. Poor cashier, the fella is just taking orders and doing the job to save the environment. Shame on the customer...cheh cheh cheh!

Hooray !!! Federer edges Roddick 16-14 in 5th for 15th major Slams

IN ONE of the most exciting as well as amazing finals ever seen at Wimbledon, on Sunday (July 6) World No 2 Roger Federer beat World No 6 Andy Roddick by 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14. Switzerland's Roger Federer won his sixth Wimbledon title by defeating American Andy Roddick in a dramatic match that stretched over four hour.


In fact, the final set alone lasted 95 minutes and it was probably the longest set ever played in a men's Wimbledon final. And once again dreams of Roddick shattered as he lost to Federer for third time in a Wimbledon final.

However, a delighted Federer complimented Roddick on court and said, “Andy I want to say you're going to come back and win one, I'm sure.” “Today I was on the lucky side. It feels funny to have the trophy back. It feels great. It was a crazy match, my head's still spinning. It's an unbelievable moment in my career.”


At the meantime, Roger Federer made the world record of winning 15 Grand Slam titles by surpassing the earlier record of 14 Grand Slam held by Pete Sampras. Now the 27-year-old Federer has six Wimbledon titles, five US Opens, three Australian Opens and a French Open trophy. Of course, Roger Federer won a tough game, but his American counterpart Andy Roddick won the hearts by showing fighting skills throughout the game.

It was really an epic final. Federer really had to dig deep for this record breaking feat. Although the match finished at nearly 2am on a Monday morning Malaysian time and I was already very tired being a lousy painter the whole day, I didn't fall asleep throughout the match. It was simply breathtaking watching these 2 great fighter. It's cruel to Roddick, but salute for Roger for being a worthy champion, more importantly being the most successful tennis player in the world and capturing back the world no.1 ranked player. I know my gf is not going to agree on this, but this was a worth watch match although I'm sleepy for the whole day getting up at 615am for my Monday work....Well, everything comes with a price ;)