Emporium Blog

It rained and it rained like no other in Kuala Lumpur today. The raindrops are huge. I believe ten drops is all it takes to drench you. Okay, maybe I am exaggerating a bit but the sky really pours today.

I heard there’s hailstorm on the other part of town. Hailstorms are rare in Malaysia. There must be evil doings by someone in this place to deserve the wrath of nature of this kind. Flashflood instantly occurs in numerous parts of the city due to inefficient drainage system that has been a problem for decades.

The thunderstom today coincides with the announcement that the toll will be higher for the Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART Tunnel) by our Works Minister, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

The tunnel is the first in the world which has a dual function. Besides being a road tunnel, it will also be used for flood water diversion. Motorists would be able to use it for free for a month.

I believe the lightning wanted to strike someone today, somehow it misses. The day he die will be the day I celebrate.

I am born and raised in a traditional Malaysian Chinese family. Although we live in the city and have adopted the modern way of living, some things stay the same. Emotions and love is not shown openly, it is more subdued and kept in the heart.

In most Malaysian families, members do not hug each other or kiss each other on the cheek. The words “I love you” among family members are unheard of. The words are perceived and solely to mean love between couples and it may even denote incest if spoken to family members. Physical contacts are also kept to the minimum. I don’t even remember the last time I am hugged by my parents.

Well, that does not mean we do not love each other. Simple gestures of the elders like a nod of the head when greeted are sufficed to show they know you love them and they love you in return. I am not kidding.

I called my mom on the phone and say “Happy Mother’s Day!” and she says “Thank you”.

I live in an Hell Housing Apartment built by an Evil Developer and managed by their appointed Evil Management Company. Apart from collecting monthly maintenance fees, the Evil Management Company practically do nothing. Currently there are hundreds of claims against them for evil conducts including abandonment of projects, late and non-delivery of properties, shoddy workmanship and no proper accounts.

Ironically the Evil Developer is an investment arm of the Government. Media reports on their misconducts highlighted in “The Star Newspaper” on the 22nd March 2006 have since been removed. The government of Malaysia practically controls the media in the country.

When I first saw the brochure of my Hell Housing Apartment project, nothing is left to be desired. What do they promise? Every unit is a corner unit, three lifts serves each block, nursery, restaurant, hair saloon, big sized swimming pool complete with wading pool, squash court, tennis court, 24-hours security, fenced compound, gym, sauna, community hall, landscaped garden and many more.

Almost paradise, hell no! I will post and reveal the sorry state of the state-of-the-art Hell Housing Project one by one in due time. Until then, I will be sulking at the corner, or maybe I should pray.

Not all developers are evil, but if you see any with the group of developers above trying to sell you something, run.

Astro, the monopoly cable tv company in Malaysia announced that they are going to increase the subscription rate by 15% on 1st June 2007. Fine, as long as quality programs are aired.

I have grown immune to the fact that Astro programs are infested with advertisements, repeats and more advertisements. They are the monopoly, if you don’t watch Astro, you watch government controlled TV stations and believe me they sucks even worse.

There’s this new channel 78 on Astro, where there’s alot of nice and interesting programs about cars, fishing and all things macho. Have enjoyed it so much over the last one week or so. Finally, a channel I can watch day in day out. Much to my horror, I found out yesterday that the most of the programs on channel 78 are outdated, mostly are from the year 2002-2003.

I could watch outdated National Geographic programs but I just cannot accept a 2002 car as the latest model.

Shove it up your ass, Astro!

It’s in the news today. A pre-dawn rainstorm and twister wreaked havoc causing damage to schools and houses in Batu Pahat, a small town in Johor.

This came as no surprise to me. Not only freak storms, even flash floods are getting more frequent. Storms and twisters are not uncommon anymore. The thunder seems to get louder by the day. Haze seems to be a yearly affair.

Something is definitely not right here in Malaysia.