My reflection >> Are we in a state of emergency? Do we really have an identity theft problem? Is this constitutional? Does this make any sense? Why the hefty fine? What is the basis for such hefty fine and jail term? Is it because of illegal immigrants coming to our country? Is this the only solution to "the problem" that we have?
I surely do not know and understand why. To some extent this indicates a state of paranoia by "those" who proposed such penalties. What if a pakcik in the village who goes to prayer just wearing "kain sarung" and suddenly he's been stopped the police and asked for his Mykad and he replied that he left it at home? Jail term? Thousand Ringgit fine?
If this law is coming to effect, it should take into account the "whole" rather than focusing on the subject of Mykad itself
My reflection
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/7/8/nation/14775065&sec=nation&focus=1
Sunday, December 24, 2006
This is one of them family project...
A small shop, just 10 feet x 10 feet space at a new establishment called city bazaar in KL...
Finally, latest update.. managed to place some pics in fotopages http://zinni-kl.fotopages.com/?entry=1067861 and one in Picasaweb http://picasaweb.google.com/zinni.kl
So far sales are okay although the Bazaar itself did not gain much crowd since it was opened late December 2006.From my perspective, it's not much due to the physical elements such as layout, building finishing, items sold etc, but the bigger issues are attributed to the human aspects such as building managers' attitude, sellers' attitude, lack of effective marketing and promotion etc.
In my case, we are taking proactive move by calling our family and friends to visit our store by phone, sms, web and email marketing. Apart from that a neon light sign will be placed outside of the store to attract attention from passers-by from Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman from Medan Tuanku.
Well, that's all for now... will be posting more development of the shop and City Bazaar from time to time...
~Re-flectionz of my mind~
My ankle has serious issue. Sometime in September 2006, I went and see an orthopedic surgeon at DSH for some help. Well, the problem at first was my knee. It has been killing me whenever I was going up the stairs. Well, my over weightness is another problem but the knee has been bugging me since I was in Melbourne.
So,during the consultation, I explained to him about my knee problem. After running a quick diagnosis, he told me to do an x-ray of my ankle! Not my knee! Now we are going somewhere...
Later it was discovered that I've 3 ligaments in the ankle that has gone kaput!The kind doc told me that the foot cannot regenerate the ligaments anymore due to recurring damage. @ options were given; operation or a new method called prolotheraphy. So I took the second option as I've had enuff of the OT or operation table. Damn scary man...
to be continued...
~Re-flectionz of my mind~
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Punished for not having their MyKad with them - maximum fine of RM20,000 or three year jail
0 comments Posted by arief74 at 10:57 amSaturday July 8, 2006
MyKad requirement 'outdated, too rigid'
PETALING JAYA: Malaysians in general agree that people should be punished for not having their MyKad with them, but feel that the maximum fine of RM20,000 or three years’ jail is too harsh.
MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong also suggested that those who forget to carry their MyKad be allowed to ask others to bring it to them.
Fomca secretary-general Mohd Sha’ani Abdullah feels that the requirement to have your MyKad with you at all times is outdated and too rigid.
He said the situation today was no longer like during the Emergency era, when people were required to carry identity cards because the authorities had to weed out communists.
Lawyer Jesvin Jessy, 29, said the fines were too high. “Even people who speed and kill others are not given such a heavy fine,” she said when interviewed by The Star.
Her friend D. Dhena, 36, a business development executive, said a points system should be implemented whereby a person would be penalised after he or she repeated the offence.
Marketing executive Corinne Chieng, 25, said a penalty was good since it was part of the laws of the country.
“But the Government should not impose such a heavy fine if a person loses the card,” she said, adding that children, teenagers and the elderly should be given lighter penalties.
A manager who only wanted to be known as Raja said the penalty was ridiculous and unfair, especially when people forget to bring the card.
“People should be allowed to carry photocopies of their MyKad. A driving licence should also be enough to verify your identity,” he said.
Technical support engineer Noor Rasyada, 23, said she felt it was not safe to have her MyKad with her everywhere. “But the law needs to be obeyed,” she added.
A clerk said the fine for not having a MyKad should be between RM100 and RM200.
“Certainly, there should not be a jail sentence,” he added.
Ipoh Timur MCA deputy chairman Thong Fah Chong suggested that instead of fines and jail sentences, citizens should be given the chance to produce their MyKad at a later date.
“Perhaps, the authorities could give them a 48-hour notice, while accepting photostat copies of the MyKad for the time being,” he said, adding that some elderly citizens feared losing their cards, so they leave them at home.
Thong urged the authorities to channel their energy elsewhere instead of on petty problems such as this.
“Do something about the illegal immigrants in the country. Stop threatening innocent citizens and frightening tourists. This is not a ‘police state’,” he said.
Meanwhile, Michael Chong said the authorities should give time for family members of those caught without their MyKad to produce their cards.
He said those caught without the card should be taken to the nearest police station to wait for their family members to show the card.
“The authorities are going too far if they fine or take those who leave their MyKad at home to court. They should not waste the court’s time,” he said.
He said the National Registration Department should consider certifying photocopies of MyKad for students.
“We should realise that some students are very careless. Their parents will have to go through the hassle of reapplying for the MyKad for them,” he said.
However, he said, he had not received any complaint from people being fined or jailed for not carrying their MyKad.
Mohd Sha’ani said that even the lowest fine of RM3,000 was too much, adding that people should be allowed to carry other documents to prove their identity, such as their driving licence.
“Malaysia is now a safe country. We shouldn’t be so rigid like during the Emergency. You can educate people to carry their MyKad at all times, but it depends on the situation. If a person goes jogging in the park, need he have his MyKad with him?
“Those caught without MyKad during operations should be allowed to retrieve them from home,” he said.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Skype is broke?!... read on
my reflection...
What is the possibility that Skype offering pc to phone calls outside of the US? Who knows.. anyway, if it does than it's going to be a new wave of change or another flux of a going down company...
Ah well, if we can get it for free, I'm all for it...
Have a nice week.
p.s.
Do you skype?
................................................................................
MAY 16, 2006
Technology
By Olga Kharif
Skype Goes for Broke
The Web-calling outfit owned by eBay is offering free PC-to-phone calling in North America in order to hit growth targets
Using Skype's bargain-basement phone service just got even cheaper. Skype customers can now make calls from personal computers to landline or wireless phones within the U.S. and Canada for free, instead of the usual 2 cents a minute. But what comes as great news for consumers may be a sign Skype's growth is falling short of its parent's expectations. The Web calling company was acquired by auction giant eBay (EBAY ) in October for $2.6 billion.
The new pricing scheme is aimed at stepping up growth of the North American user base and fending off increasingly vicious competition. At least one analyst speculates the move is an indication Skype is behind schedule in reaching targets outlined at the time of the eBay purchase.
Skype founders Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis and other Skype owners and executives stand to get a windfall of about $1.5 billion if certain growth targets are met in the coming years. EBay hasn't specified what the goals are, but they center on sales, gross margin, gross profit, and the number of active users of Skype's service.
SATISIFED MANAGERS. User growth may be 20% to 25% behind plan, according to estimates by Albert Lin, an analyst with American Technology Research. Although Skype's software has been downloaded more than 300 million times, many users have downloaded the application to multiple devices. As a result, Skype now only has some 40 million regular users, he estimates. Unless Zennstrom and Friis rev that number up to 100 million by yearend, they might have to forgo a chunk of their bonus, Lin says. Skype also could extend its free PC-to-phone calling offer to other areas, including Western Europe, he says.
Skype says it's pleased with growth and denies more price cuts are in the works. "We are not planning on expanding the promotion," says Henry Gomez, general manager for Skype in North America. "We are very, very satisfied with the growth, it's been flying."
That growth could come down to earth, though, as rivals Yahoo (YHOO ), AOL (TWX ), Microsoft's (MSN ) and Google (GOOG) offer more free Web-calling services. AOL just announced a major redesign of its TotalTalk Web-calling service, providing users with free phone numbers and free incoming calls from regular phones. Skype charges nearly $13 for a three-month subscription to a comparable service.
PROFITS MIA. The May 15 announcement is "a direct response to AOL," says Jon Arnold, principal at Web-calling consultancy J Arnold & Associates. Other providers of Internet-based calling, including Verizon (VZ ), are also lowering call prices(see BW Online, 05/05/06, "Verizon's VoIP Offensive").
Another casualty of the Internet-calling price wars, of course, is profitability. "The [100 million users] goal is achievable," says Lin. "It's all a question of, at what price." Analysts forecast that Skype will book $200 million in sales this year. That may need to be revised as the SkypeOut PC-to-phone service -- one of the few paid services the company provides -- becomes free in North America. About 5 million of Skype's active users, or 12.5% of total customers, live in the U.S. and Canada, Lin estimates. Skype believes the promotion won't affect the revenue targets.
And just how Skype will goose sales remains uncertain. By Lin's estimates, Skype generates about an average 9 cents in sales a month per customer. While Skype has been steadily increasing its revenues per subscriber, its journey to breakeven -- especially if the company makes some of its paid services free -- could take years.
SHADOWY STRATEGY. Analysts are becoming increasingly perplexed about exactly how eBay plans to make money off of the Web-calling outfit. "I don't understand what their strategy is, why they want more unpaying customers that add more cost to their network," says Stephan Beckert, an analyst with telecom consultancy Telegeography. "They just want to be Santa Claus."
One possibility: Skype may be on the verge of moving to an ads-based business model, Beckert says. But the company continues denies having any plans to run ads. "It's really about turbocharging our growth and solidifying our market position here before others catch on," says Gomez. The company's executives say they hope to acquire a loyal customer base to whom to they can sell premium products, such as ringtones and business Web-calling services(see BW Online, 05/03/06, "Skype Piles It On").
Meanwhile, Skype's per user costs could mount as the customer base rises and it becomes subject to greater regulation, Beckert says. For instance, the company, whose service is currently unregulated, could be asked to route 911 calls -- a feat it currently doesn't and can't perform. Such regulation would add to the costs for Skype -- and its new owners.
--
Arief Amron Ariffin
a.ariffin@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
Home: 61 (0)3 93837910
Mobile: 61 (0)412 046 335 (optus prepaid)
Mobile: 61 (0)433 454 778 (three)
Postgrad Student: Master of Knowledge Management, University of Melbourne
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Firstly thanks to all Kg
Here goes (Alphabetical order):
2. Alasya - Turkish Cuisine, tempat favourite bro Turki semua. Famous place.
3. Balhah - Kedai ni sebelah Medina Halal Meat,pistachio sweet ni sedap dan macam-macam lagi kuih muih dan manisan Turki/Arab.
4. Bali Bagus (Bukan Asia Bagus tau) - Indonesian,
5. Habib Pizza @
6. Kebab Station -
7. KFC Halal, satu kat Fawkner, at Gowrie Train stop of Upfield Line. Satu lagi kat
8. La Grotta - Corner
9. MKS, Dandenong, Princess Highway(dekat Dandenong Town Hall) Masakan Mamak/India....briyani, kuih sedap, segala macam rempah ratus ada...
10. My Rest, high street (selepas junction ke chapel st.) 0395214100 Samosa, roti, briyani, dll
11. Nasi Kandar, roti, nasi lemak, teh ais, tarik dll..cantikkkkk
12. Nila Restaurant - Malaysian/South Indian ala Mamak - (also opening in Little Collins), Briyani best jugak. value for money. Boleh layan
13. Northern Indian - Lazzat Kaddah (bukan orang Kedah) memang best, it's located along
14. Rest Changi Nasi Lemak( Spore), Latrobe st dan Swanston St, City (akan berpindah kot) 0396637488. Nasi campur, nasi lemak dan masakan melayu yg lain. Mee goreng dia boleh tahan.
15. Rest
16. Rest Kayu, Box Hill, (
17. Rest Tamarind,
18. Rest Zam Zam....
19. Rest. Alamaro...
20. Rest. Bismi Gold and Folk Elizabeth st dan
21. Rest. Chilli Padi...
22. Rest.
23. Restoran Bismi Di Sydney RoadSama di atas
24. Restoran Norsiah( Spore), Swanston st, Opposite Rydges Hotel, depan park sebelum
25. Restoran Padang....Swanston st, city depan nelayan. Nasi campur sedap, lunch and dinner...pedas bebbb
26. Restoran Pamir, Dandenong...dekat station keretapi Dandenong 0397920197. Makanan
27. Restoran Selera
28. Roti Club...Glenroy. Roti canai, dlll
29.
30. Spanish Moroccan - La Paella, kedai
Hmm, banyak jugak tu... this list bertujuan utk memberikan maklumat sahaja dan maybe ada yg tertinggal. Kalau ada pertanyaan lanjut, boleh contact saya. Insyaallah saya sedia membantu.
~Re-flectionz of my mind~
Monday, April 10, 2006
Yes, it was indeed a chilly BBQ for Kampung Victoria, the Malaysian Postgraduate Families community in Victoria. 9 April 2006, 3-4 of Kg Vic's volunteers were already at the BBQ spot at Lake Reserve early in the morning. It was a lovely sight, calm and peace. Not to mention, it was a cold Sunday! But the BBQ plates needs to be cleaned and the benches and tables needs to be 'booked' for the big crowd.
I was one of the later volunteers to arrive. The BBQ plates were already cleaned. It was a couple of guys left as the others had to go back and pick up their families, we started to get the BBQ rolling. The lamb was the first to get sizzled on the hot plate. Since there wasn't anyone there, the lamb cuts were cooked till it's 3/4 ready. When we've got customers, we'll just reheat them. The chicken wings were our next victim.
As time reached 10 am, I had to go back and pick up some sauces and prepare some mash potatoes with brown gravy. Took me about 40 minutes to return back and found that my guest had already arrived. Oh dear! After finished cooking and preparing the mashed potatoes, myself and Ahmad, my eldest were on our way to Lake Reserve. My wife had to stay back as my cheeky daughter, Batrisyia, had chicken pox.
I felt sorry for her as she loves parks and gardens. Everyday the word 'park' will come out of her mouth, it doesn't matter if it rains, hot or cold. Well, we do not want others to get chicken pox so she had to stay home this time.
As for the BBQ, it turned out well. I didn't make a good count but I estimate close to 200 people had attended the event. Thank you to all - contributors, volunteers, marinaters, strategist, operations (BBQ pit cooks - we've got excellent help from the males), guests, mom and daddy, mummy basha and her assistants for handling the kids events and to all that I could not recall.
This would be the last BBQ in Melbourne for me and my family as I'm counting my days till I complete my studies. It has been a pleasure being here.
Thank you to all.
~Re-flectionz of my mind~
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Okay, here's the map to the upcoming Kg Vic BBQ. The spot is where the star is. To get there, take the tram 19 along Elizabeth Street and head all the way to stop 37, just past Coburg.
Landmark when you stepdown from the tram: Proton Cars dealer across the street. From there, cross Sydney Road to Murray Road (where the Proton Dealer is) walk on and soon after you'll find a park on your left.
Oh, do remember that the event is on Sunday, April 9 2006. Starts from 10 am onwards.
BBQ Reflectionz
Sunday, March 26, 2006
It was a tough week. Assignments, tonnes of reading - journals, emails and books. Also group meeting...argh... I'm overwhelmed... but hey, Thursday is Ahmad's birthday!
Oh ya, Ahmad is my eldest son, going 7 this year. Woosh! Time flies.... I was really tied up with classes and what not, so it's up to my other half, Linie, to take care of the cake and present for my big boy... Oh ya, he's really Big! At the age of 7, he's wearing a size 12 pair of shorts and size 8-10 for the shirt! :-) Kids nowadays grow up very quickly.
As for the ceremony, I was quite occupied in making the preparation for a group
meeting that day and but managed to squeeze some time to get some KFC from the Fawkner Halal outlet. We all just love KFC and that simply switched on the celebration mood. So, we've got KFC, a big cake and a little present for Ahmad, which
the birthday boy picked his own present the day before. He got himself his favourite toy, Bionicle Robot by Lego. It's a bit cheaper here than KL.
The ceremony was short and brief, starting at 4:30 pm with the usual
song and cake cutting ceremony. It was really fun not only because of
the whole occasion but the way my youngest, Batrisyia, reacting to the
occasion. She was really shy and was behaving kinda funny. Well, that
would be the first birthday ceremony that she could have contextualise
since she's only 7 days off her 2 year old birthday. Yup, another
birthday is coming soon on 30 March 2006...
Happy birthday son...Next, saw the little cheeky girl in the pic... her birthday is just 7 days from the big brother... stay tuned!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Tahniah Bro,
Keep it up!
6 cendekiawan negara terima Zamalah Awam Asia
http://www.bharian.com.my/m/BHarian/Wednesday/Pendidikan/20060322091833/Article/Yayasan Nippon biaya projek penyelidikan antara lapan bulan dan setahun
ENAM cendekiawan awam dalam pelbagai bidang dianugerahkan Zamalah Intelektual Awam Asia (API) 2006-2007 yang dibiayai Yayasan Nippon untuk menjalankan projek penyelidikan di empat negara.
ENAM cendekiawan awam dalam pelbagai bidang dianugerahkan Zamalah Intelektual Awam Asia (API) 2006-2007 yang dibiayai Yayasan Nippon untuk menjalankan projek penyelidikan di empat negara.
Daripada jumlah itu, tiga adalah penerima Zamalah API (berumur di bawah 40 tahun), iaitu Ahmad Hezri Adnan, George Sharaad AL Chittarajan Kuttan dan Mohd Naguib Razak.
Tiga lagi menerima Zamalah Kanan API (berumur 40 tahun ke atas), iaitu Iskandar Sharifuddin Mohd Said, Jose Mary Fernandez dan Jyothi Kukathas.
Mereka adalah sebahagian daripada 30 penerima yang terpilih dari lima negara peserta, termasuk Jepun, Indonesia, Filipina dan Thailand, untuk penganugerahan zamalah dengan nilai keseluruhan kira-kira RM7.4 juta itu.
Ahmad Hezri adalah Felo Penyelidik di Institut Alam Sekitar dan Pembangunan (Lestari), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), dan akan menjalankan projek bertajuk `Informing Governance? Sustainability Reporting’.
Beliau akan menjalankan penyelidikan selama lapan bulan, masing-masing empat bulan di Indonesia dan Filipina, dijadualkan bermula 15 Julai ini.
George Sharaad pula ialah Felo Bersekutu juga di UKM dan akan melaksanakan projek bertajuk `Academic Life Worlds, The Social Sciences And Deep Democracy’.
Tempoh projek beliau ialah selama setahun dengan masing-masing enam bulan di Thailand dari Julai sehingga Disember ini, dan Filipina (Januari sehingga Jun 2007).
Pembuat filem, Mohd Naguib, menerima zamalah untuk menjalankan projek penyelidikan bertajuk `Spirituality In Japan’s Material Utopia’ selama setahun di Jepun, mulai 1 September ini.
Sementara Iskandar Sharifuddin pula, juga seorang pembuat filem, akan melaksanakan projek bertajuk `Narrating The Nation: Modern Historical Representations Of Identity’ selama setahun di Indonesia, mulai 1 Julai ini.
Jose Mary adalah Ahli Majlis Eksekutif, Transparency International Malaysia, dan bakal memberi tumpuan terhadap projek bertajuk `From Charity To Social Investments: A Study Of Philanthropy Institutions’.
Bagi tujuan itu, beliau yang berpengalaman luas dalam kegiatan badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) akan menghabiskan tempoh masing-masing empat bulan di Indonesia dan juga Filipina.
Akhir sekali, Jyothi adalah Pengarah Artistik, Instant Cafe Theatre, dan menggariskan tajuk `The Role Of The Shaman And The Place Of Myth And Ritual In Contemporary Theatre Making’ untuk projek penyelidikannya.
Penyelidikan menarik itu akan membabitkan tempoh selama setahun, iaitu masing-masing enam bulan di Jepun dan Indonesia.
Semua penerima zamalah terbabit diperkenalkan pada majlis orientasi anjuran Institut Kajian Malaysia dan Antarabangsa (Ikmas) UKM dengan kerjasama Yayasan Nippon di Putrajaya, semalam.
Pengarah Ikmas, Prof Dr Ragayah Mat Zin, dalam ucapannya pada majlis itu berkata, mereka adalah kumpulan penerima Zamalah API yang kelima dari negara ini.
“Setakat ini, seramai 35 rakyat Malaysia sudah dianugerahkan zamalah berkenaan yang dilancarkan pada Julai 2000 di Kuala Lumpur.
“Ikmas adalah antara lima institusi, termasuk empat lagi di luar negara, yang bekerjasama dalam pelaksanaan program berkenaan.
“Pembabitan Ikmas adalah berdasarkan keprihatinan terhadap keperluan lebih ramai cendekiawan awam Asia bagi melihat pelbagai isu dalam rantau ini,” katanya.
Secara umum, tema bagi penganugerahan Zamalah API 2006-2007 ialah identiti yang berubah-ubah dalam konteks sosial, sejarah dan kebudayaan; refleksi mengenai keadaan manusia dan usaha mencari keadilan sosial; serta struktur globalisasi masa kini dan kemungkinan alternatif sedia ada.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
I was quite lucky with my Mitsubishi Magna 1989 when I first bought it end 2004. Thanks to Adi who took me to Dandenong and helped me with the arrangements. For a 16 year old car, my expectation is not that high. I'm happy with the car. Little problem so far and comfortable to drive especially in the hot summer as the aircond is still in working condition.
As I said, I was lucky... others may not be that lucky. The National Roads and Motorists' Association of Australia has this website that has a thorough checklist for buyers to consider. I've pasted it in this blog for the readers to have a read.
The link is http://www.mynrma.com.au/used_car_check.asp to get further details.
It gives me a thought, do we have this in
~Re-flectionz of my mind~
Used car buyers' checklist
Shopping for a used car can be time-consuming and, at times, unnerving. Print out our kit and take it with you to make sure you leave no stone unturned. It includes a DIY inspection checklist, handy phone numbers and a receipt form.
Inspection checklist
Inspect in bright light and when dry
Accident damage or rust
Check inside the boot, the floor wells, doors and lower sills for red or other dark stains, dimpled or bubbled paint. Use a soft fridge magnet to check panels for plastic body filler.
A vinyl roof may conceal rust or other damage.
Hail damage
Found mainly on horizontal panel surfaces (eg, bonnet, roof, boot lid). If hail damage is evident, check with your insurance company - they may not insure the car until it's fixed.
Panel fitment
Loose panels may indicate accident damage or that the car has been regularly driven over rough roads.
Doors and boot lid/tailgate
Catches should close firmly. Rubber seals can perish over time.
Paint
Look for colour variation, overspraying, dents or ripples.
Upholstery, trim and carpets
Check for wear and tear.
Engine number and VIN (vehicle identification number)/body number
These numbers must match the numbers on the Certificate of Registration. Check for signs of interference - scratches, grind marks, drill holes etc, as they could indicate illegal interference with the numbers.
Year and month of manufacture
Check these are as advertised by inspecting the compliance and/or build plate (compliance plates are fitted to most cars made for Australia since 1970; usually attached to a panel in the engine bay).
Engine appearance
Build-up of dirt or oil may indicate mechanical problems or poor maintenance.
Engine oil
Dirty/thick oil and a build-up of sludge in the engine may indicate a lack of maintenance. Grey or milky coloured oil may signify the presence of water, which can indicate serious engine problems.
Engine at idle
Listen for irregular running, or any knocking/rattling noises.
Oil fumes
Remove the oil filler cap while the engine is idling. Fumes may signify worn piston rings or cylinder
Radiator coolant
Should be clean and brightly coloured. Oil in the coolant may indicate a cracked cylinder-head or a leaking gasket.
Radiator cooler fins and core tubes
Check for corrosion or damage.
Battery and mounting platform/bracket
Check for acid corrosion.
Tyres (including the spare)
Uneven wear may indicate worn or misaligned steering or suspension.
Oil leaks
Check the engine, transmission, axles, brakes, power steering and shock absorbers.
Exhaust system
Fumes or excessive noise indicate holes or rust in the pipes or mufflers.
Seat-belts
Check that the belts are not frayed or damaged, and that the belts, buckles, adjusters and child restraint anchorage points are in good condition.
Lights
Check the operation of all lights, both inside and outside the car.
If the vehicle is fitted with ABS and/or SRS (air bag), check that the dashboard warning light/s illuminates for a short time when the ignition is turned on.
Equipment and accessories
Check airconditioning, ventilation fan, electric windows, sound system, etc. Inoperative items can be expensive to repair or replace.
Jack and tool-kit
These items should be in place and in serviceable condition.
IMPORTANT: Before taking the car for a test-drive, check with the seller about your legal liability if an accident should occur.
Steering
Excessive 'free travel' or wandering on straight roads can indicate worn suspension or misaligned steering.
Brakes
The car should stop smoothly and in a straight line. The pedal should not sink to the floor or feel spongy and the steering wheel should not vibrate.
Exhaust
Blue smoke indicates oil is being burnt.
Engine
Should run smoothly (accelerating, decelerating and cruising) and the water temperature gauge should stay in the 'safe' range. Rattling or knocking sounds could mean incorrect tuning or excessive wear.
Transmission
Gear changes (manual or automatic) should be smooth, without any rattles or knocking noises. On front-wheel drive vehicles, these noises could indicate worn constant-velocity joints.
Suspension and bodywork
Listen for rattles when you drive over bumps.
Handy phone numbers
NRMA Vehicle Inspections
13 11 22
Get a thorough report on the car's mechanics and condition from our experts at NRMA. Vehicle Inspection bookings can be made seven days a week, between 7am and 8pm for Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong and Canberra. In country areas, phone 13 11 22 for your nearest NRMA inspection service.
RTA
132 213
Check for stolen parts, that the registration is current and that the seller is the registered owner.
Visit the RTA website or e-mail the RTA.
REVS
1800 424 988 or (02) 9633 6333
Check no money is owed on the car. Have the Certificate of Registration handy when you call.
Visit the REVS website or e-mail REVS
NRMA Insurance
132 132
Get insurance cover before you drive away. Call NRMA Insurance 7am-10pm, seven days a week.
Get an online insurance quote
Receipt
| Date: |  | ||
| Seller's name: | | ||
| Address: | | ||
| Phone: | | ||
| Mobile: | | ||
| Seller's drivers licence no & name: | | ||
| Car registration: | | ||
| VIN/chassis/engine no: | | ||
| Agreed condition: | |||
 | |||
 | |||
| |||
| Amount received: | | ||
| |||
| From (buyer's name): | | ||
| |||
| For (cross one out): | Deposit / Full payment | ||
| |||
| This agreement is subject to the purchaser obtaining an inspection report from NRMA Vehicle Inspections. If the reported condition of the vehicle is not satisfactory to the purchaser, he/she may rescind the contract, and any deposit paid shall be refunded in full to the purchaser. | |||
| |||
| Seller's signature: | | ||
| |||
| Buyer's signature: | | ||
| |||
Download the receipt only as a PDF |  | ||
Before you drive off...
- Make sure you get all the keys for the car (ignition keys with transformers are expensive to duplicate).
- Get the service book, owner's manual and log book.
- If there's an alarm, find out how to de-activate it.
- Is there a hidden ignition switch?
http://www.mynrma.com.au/used_car_check.asp
Saturday, March 18, 2006
13/03/2006Kekalahan sulung
Dua hari setibanya di Melbourne, kebanyakan pengurus pasukan Malaysia mendapat pertarungan pertama.
Urus setia Malaysia membekalkan pengurus pasukan kita dengan kad SIM bagi penggunaan tempatan tetapi selepas dua hari mencuba, mereka tidak dapat mengaktifkannya dan kebanyakannya sudah menyerah kalah dan melupakannya.
Ramai antaranya cuba menggunakan jenama lain dan berharap mampu mengaktifkannya.
My own opinion on this mishap is that who ever that is in charge of the sims does not understand that they need to register each and every one of the cards with the service providers. As in Malaysia, prepaid mobile users need not necessarily register with the ISP. But there has been move by the government that prepaid users are to register with their celcos as the Star newspaper reported:
http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:cANqNDNsZKEJ:www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp%3Ffile%3D/2006/1/22/nation/13184625%26sec%3Dnation+prepaid+service+registration&hl=en&gl=my&ct=clnk&cd=5Sunday January 22, 2006
NationPre-paid service at stake
CHERAS: Telecommunications companies (telcos) will lose their pre-paid subscriber services if they fail to meet the Dec 31 deadline set by the Government to register all pre-paid subscribers.
Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said there would be no more extensions to the deadline.
“They must register by the end of this year or have their (pre-paid subscriber) service terminated,” said Dr Lim after the Gerakan monthly meeting in Cheras yesterday.
Initially, the cellular companies (celcos) were given a six-month period between Jan 1 and June 30 to carry out the nationwide registration for pre-paid subscribers.
However, after receiving feedback from the celcos and advice from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and ministry officials, Dr Lim extended it to the end of 2006.
“I am not happy with the cincai (sloppy) attitude of the celcos in this registration exercise,” he said.
Dr Lim said he was surprised that only 10% of pre-paid subscribers in Penang and Malacca registered their numbers during the pilot exercise between October and December last year.
He said celcos used this period to remind their customers to register their pre-paid number.
“There is no more time for reminders, they must register,” he added.
Dr Lim said celcos must look into improving their services for their subscribers such as helping them protect their cell phones.
He said developing a database of registered customers could do this.
Once a registered subscriber’s phone details were in a database, it could help recover the phone if it was stolen.
Dr Lim explained, each cellphone had a designated serial number which subscribers could retrieve by keying in *#06#.
When customers registered their SIM cards and made a call, the first thing the celcos would pick up is the serial number.
“This can help recover phones faster and help prevent thefts.
“Thieves would think twice about taking a phone after that as it can be easily located even if the SIM card has been changed,” Dr Lim said.
He said celcos should consider introducing this service and charge their subscribers a reasonable price, which he suggested should be RM1 a year.
“I think a RM1 annual fee to protect your phone is reasonable, don’t you?” he said.
G'day mate
Friday, March 17, 2006
Melbourne 2006, the Commonwealth Games. It's my second Com Games after
KL that I had the opportunity to be part of. It was a very cold morning
for a Malaysian like me and my son to be up and awake at 6 am. But, for
the spirit of Malaysia Boleh, both us were eager to see the Malaysian
hockey team in action against it's old nemesis, India. For my son, it's
very special form him as it's his first time watching the Malaysian team
playing in a competition. He's going to be 7 years in less than 2 weeks
time and this trip would be a good story to write after his school
resumes in 2 weeks time. Back to the Malaysian team, it was a slow start
for them. But the soon settled in and looked very promising. The Indian
team was well organised and very fast on counter attacks while ours was
more European in their approach. It was a well contested match between
the two teams. However, the Malaysian team was awarded with a penalty
stroke after one of our forward was brought down by the Indian goalie.
Md Amin Rahim didn't waste the golden opportunity with our first goal.
The game continued till the break with Malaysia leading India 1-0.
The 2nd half was a different story. Our players seems to be slowing the
tempo but maintained their counter attacks on the Indian goal. However,
India managed to secure a penalty corner, 2nd of the game, and managed
to equalised with a well executed drag flick. The game went on till the
end with both teams locked in a 1-1 draw
After the match, I asked my son about what has he learned from the game.
I highlighted some aspects of hockey that he already knew such as the
right stance for hitting, running with the ball, stopping and tackling.
Hopefully he could gain interest in the game. Why? I'm a hockey player
too.... :-D
Go hockey!
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Being in charge of something is not easy... it requires more than just skills but also passion and commitment. Accountablity also come into play. One colleague is currently in charge of a group of people in a business operations. He seems exhausted... mentally and physically. Can't seems to understand why... till today... Met him and found the reason why... He and his team wasn't fully prepared to meet this challenge... knowledge, skills and context was a bit out... felt sorry for him but I'll let nature does it by itself... He'll learn a few things, if not all, about his current endavour...I hope he does... Human beings has been given the ability to learn and re-learn. That's what makes us different as compared to the animals...
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