Toyota Vios 1.5 vs Toyota Hilux

Wrapped in plastice bag before to be send to repair.

Send to Toyota Service Centre to get new original spare part

Just before Iduladha, Toyota Hilux collided with my car at NKVE just before Sungai Buloh Exit.
A chinese man than came out from Toyota Hilux and say that he will pay RM 500 for the accident. He said he is in hurry for the meeting. I don't want to accept RM 500 because I think for such damage, the cost is higher. He asked me just to accept the RM 500 and make false police report to claim my insurance which I refuse. He tried to shout at me and said he is very late for the meeting. I scold him back because he break the law by following my car very near and failed to stop his car even in very low speed drive.

Than we try to make police report but for accident along highway at Selangor, should be reported to IPD Selangor near PJ.

I drove my car to Toyota Service Centre Jalan 217 and estimated cost to repair my car is RM3000 - RM 5000. Since the cost is much higher than RM500 he offered, I call the chinese man and said I will make a police report. So I make my report at IPD Selangor PJ.

Afterward at night, police officer call me to go back again to police station to record my statement. The chinese guy claim that I change my lane suddenly and this cause and accident. I stood to my point and I have alibi that I do not need to change a lane. I also said that the idiot guy even suggest to me to make false police report. At last the police officer agreed that the chinese guy is the cause of the accident.

What I learn from this case is making police report is the best way to financially cover the cost of accident. Outside settlement is a no-no and let police fine anyone who break the law. Let them know that we are strong and honest.

Home Refinancing

Home Refinancing enable you to have better loan rates and extra cash for investment

Alhamdulillah before the end of this year I manage to acquire one property and refinance one property.

Why refinance? One of the reason is to have better profit rates and more cash in hands. My previous loan is BLR + 0.1% with no ceiling rate (conventional loan) but the new loan is BLR - 1.9% with ceiling rate of 10.25% (Islamic financing).

I also extend the lending to reduce monthly installment. With cash in hand from refinancing exercise enable me to prepare for next year investment.

Proposal for the extension of Ampang and Kelana Jaya Lines

Original Proposal by SPNB

Proposal 1:

Branch off LRT to connect Red Line (Kelana Jaya) and Green Line (Puchong)

Proposal 2:

Monorail to connect Setia Jaya Komuter station, red line and green line.

Effective public transportation is an essential for socio-economic growth. Reliable public transportation can reduce cost of transportation thus reducing congestion, reducing pollution and increasing productivity.

However looking at the original proposal, some improvement need to be done in order to increase LRT effectiveness.

Using original proposal, commuters from Puchong to Kelana Jaya need to travel back to Bandar Putra, change train there. On the other hand, commuters from Port Klang need to change train twice at Subang Jaya and Bandar Putra.

Thus, there is a need of LRT branch off to connect between Green Line and Red Line.

The Subang Jaya Komuter Station need to be upgrade and it is propose it become transit hub like KL Sentral. The line can be considered to be extend to the new Shah Alam terminal at Batu 3 and Melawati Stadium to accommodate Park and Ride facilities for Shah Alam people.

It is a fair proposal that could benefit most people in major town in Selangor.

Alternatively, if there is a strain of time, money and space, reviving Sunway Monorail is another option. A single track shuttle can be connect between Green Line and Red Line. Another single track can connect Setia Jaya Komuter Station to the interconnecting Green and Red Line via Sunway Pyramid.

It is propose SPNB, takeover the Sunway Monorai, revive it and integrate it to the LRT system.

Last but not least, KTMB must do their part by providing enough Komuter train to support surge in passanger in Subang Jaya Komuter station and maybe in future to provide non-stop service between Subang Jaya and KL Sentral.

Good Bye Nissan 130Y

Door handle taken from my Datsun 120Y

Original 1.3l Carburetor Engine.

Original gearbox replace with Nissan Sentra 5 speed manual gearbox

Clocked 282,220 KM!!!

Original 13" Alloy Rim with 175/70 series tyre

Sun Visor taken from Datsun 120Y

After 25 years of operation, the Nissan Sunny 130Y still as good as new. Only the interior is some kind deteriorated due to old age and damage by the sun.

But fortunately, some of the fittings, is same as my Datsun 120Y so before the car send to scrap, I manage to salvage door handle and sun visor. Surprisingly it's fit. The screw is the same type.

This car is very nostalgic to my family but maintaining many cars will cause some financial burden espeacially third party insurance is very hard to get nowadays. Plus there are simply not enough space to park the car.

So my father decided to sell it to my relative. Hopefully the car still continue it's good deed to new owner.

Location Location Location. Lesson from SImcity 3000

Dual pump jetty to enhance water supply without using too much space.

Buying apartment with water supply directly from Syabas will reduce problem by maintenance office. In Selangor, you will also receive 20 cubic meter free per month.

LRT and Komuter interchange should be very efficient.

When will Putra LRT will be extended to Subang Jaya Komuter Station?

Property near green areas such as Golf Resort is ideal for living.

House near LRT/Komuter station may have high rental value.

Wonder when is KL will be equipped with reliable mass transportation.

Avoid buying house near power statio or substation

Having public transportation may reduce congestion and reduce pollution.

House near higher education is good for investment.

But noise from student may deter family to live there.

My ultra high density 2 million resident of Simcity 3000

It is property mantra. Location-Location-Location. But it depends on what purpose of your property.

If for investment than the mantra will be like Near Public Transport - Near to workplace - Near to shopping complex.

It is very different than property for you to live. Maybe the mantra is Security - Near to workplace - Near to school.

But whatever it is, no property is perfect. A perfect property maybe already too expensive and when you buy the property, the appreciation of value is quite minimal.

I remember to my first property. It's cheap. Near to school and mosque. Highway is yet to be completed (not proposed but under final stage of construction). Shop house completed but no shop. After 2 years, the highway completed and shop house occupied. The property have it's all element of location-location-location.

Good Bye JAF (Datsun 120Y B310)

Mitsubishi Emblem replacing Datsun

Evo III skirting

Clocked 221,567 km!

Inner interior with Auto Gearbox

1.2l engine upgraded to 1.5l with Electronic Injection

Break pump from Toyota.

My father bought the car after I was born. Sharing the same birth year as mine give much sentimental value to the car.

The car was given to me on my first year of the study. As a young adult, of course I love the car and convert it into what is today. The car was painted with pearl white with EVO III skirting, Mitsubishi emblem and spoiler.

On my final year, after much high speed driving, the gearbox give away and I fork out RM1000 for a second hand gear box.

The box still with me when I am working at KL. Once again, the tired 1.2l engine replace to 1.5l engine. The second hand gear box cannot cope with the new engine and replace to automatic transmission system. The new auto gear box was equipped with ATF cooler (much more advance than Perdana at that time).

Today sadly, the car will be send to scrap for RM5000 voucher for new Proton.

Hopefully the car will be send to smelting plant and will become a true Mitsubishi Evo. Next time when you buy new car, your new car maybe my Datsun 120Y or EVO III.

Boh Tea Centre, Sungai Palas, Cameron Highland, Pahang, Malaysia

Boh Tea Centre Entrance

Tea Field

Worker's Quarters

Narrow road toward the exhibition centre

Free advertisement. Boh Tea

Drying tea old fashion way

It is incomplete if you visit Cameron Highland if you not not visiting Boh Tea Centre. I cannot say anything, The view is scenic. The tea centre is also entertaining and educational. Entrance fee is free. You can view actual workers doing actual job processing tea. There is also tour guide to guide you.

After visiting the tea factory you can go shopping for all the "tea" thing and there is also cafe at the edge of the cliff. You can drink the hot tea, eat cakes and enjoy the view of the tea field.

How to go:-

By car go toward Brinchang and after Hotel Equatorial, you can see Sungai Palas plantation on your left. Please note the road is quite narrow but there is a few spot where two car or even bus can pass each other. When entering blind spot, use your honk.

By bus or taxi from Cameron Highland bus station direct to the tea centre.

Genting Splash, Genting Theme Park, Malaysia

I love swimming. Swimming is a good non-impact exercise. But Genting Splash is not quite for swimming. The heated swimming pool theme park is located inside indoor theme park. If you are first world hotel customer, you will get much discount.

Genting Splash is not as big as A Famosa or Sunway Water Park. It is much smaller. But to keeep your children occupied, you can have a visit.

Money Black Hole

Money Black Hole

When you receive your salary, you cannot determine where your money goes. In the end, we finish all the salary with only minimum amount for savings and investment.

1) We need to draft where our money goes in and out(housing loan, car loan, fuel, etc)

2) List top 10 where our money goes

3) Develop strategy to reduce the payment (refinance, full settlement etc)

4) Channel the savings into investment

5) List all our spending for month

6) Repeat step 2, 3 and 4.

The goal is to ensure passive income that can suppport your lifestyle.

Keep Your Body and Tax Slim

Surfing is one of the sport included in Sport Development Act 1997

When you filling up tax form, you must keep all your receipt in order to get tax deduction. Example of receipt tou must keep it is recipt to buy books and sport equipment. You will get a deduction of RM 300 for each year of assessment for the purchase of sports and exercise equipment for any sports activities defined under the Sport Development Act 1997. However tax deduction for sport wear such as swimwear and shoes is not allowed. So what is the sport defined in Sport Development Act 1997? Below are the list of sport taken from the act.

Further reading.

BM version: http://www.parlimen.gov.my/Undang/1997/Rang-Undang-Undang-DR-26.pdf

English Version: http://www.parlimen.gov.my/actindexbi/pdf/ACT-576.pdf

1. Archery

2. Athletics

3. Aquatics

4. Automobile Sports

5. Badminton

6. Basketball

7. Billiards and Snooker

8. Body Building

9. Bowling

10. Boxing

11. Cricket

12. Cycling

13. Equestrian Sports

14. Fencing

15. Foolball

16. Golf

17. Gymnastics

18. Handball

19. Hockey

20. Judo

21. Karate Do

22. Lawn Bowls

23. Netball

24. Rugby

25. Sepak Takraw

26. Shooting

27. Silat Olahraga

28. Soft Tennis

29. Softball

30. Squash

31. Table Tennis

32. Tae kwan do

33. Tennis

34. Volleyball

35. Waterski

36. Weightlifting

37. Wrestling

38. Wushu

39. Yachting

Exercise and keep fit. Keep your body and tax slim

Dare to Fail

Dare to fail

In our life, we will face many failure. People who do not face failure maybe a type of people who did not try. If you don't try, you cannot achieve maximum potential of yourself. Failure is a risk we face if we try. Let say the success rate 90%, the failure rate is 10%. But if you do not try, success rate is 0% and failure rate is 100%.

When you work harder, the success rate will be higher let say 99.9%. But stil there is 0.1% chances of fail. In this case, below are the tips to face failure.

1. Think and act positive on failure
2. Find root cause of failure. Do not find scape goat
3. Dig, find and write your strength
4. Catch new opportunity
5. Learn from failure, change strategy and act
6. Always remember that how hard you work, there is always chances of failure. Pray and let Allah decide your faith.

Green back vs Gold back

Gold Price 2000 - 2009

20 gram and 50 gram Public Gold

US Dollar notes. In God we trust?

In God we trust. That is the word imprinted in US Dollar. But Allah created gold and silver as currency, but people use worthless paper as currency. The economic we hold right now is just an illusion based on trust on paper, not God.

Everyone in the world buy US bonds. Everyone trust US dollar and US print so much money and the money will become worthless. The reliance on fiat money cause so much problem in the economy. Everything including property, food and oil price keep increasing.

So, you have a lot of money? Think again. How is your money worth.

Abu

Abu Bakr ibn Abi Maryam reported that he heard the Me\senger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say: "A time is certainly coming over mankind in which there will be nothing [left] which will be of use save a dinar and a dirham." (The Musnad of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal)

Bank loan. Monthly, Fortnightly or Weekly Payment?

One of the ways to reduce your loan amount is by finding loan facilities which have lowest interest rate. With current economic situation, government may reduce Base Lending Rate (BLR) in order to boost the economy.

However, beside low BLR, Bank also give more discount. Some bank may offer up to BLR - 2.3% for the interest rate.

Another ways is by increasing the number you pay to the banks. Instead of monthly payment, you can pay the bank weekly or every 2 weeks.

Let's assume RM100k loan with interest rate 3.5% (5.55 - 2.00) for 30 years.

Monthly payment if pay:-

Monthly = RM 449.04

Forthnighly = RM 207.16 X 2 = RM414.32

Weekly = RM 103.56 X 4 = RM 414.24

Different per month = RM 494.04-414.24 = RM 79.80

Saving in 30 years = RM 79.80 X 30 X 12 = RM 28728

So, any wonder where the bank got the money?

Putrajaya, Malaysia

Putrajaya Bridge

Palace of Justice

Large boulevard toward Prime Minister Office

Government Building

Some might say that Putrajaya building like 1001 Arabian Night. Putrajaya is new state capital of Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur now concentrating as commercial hubs. Putrajaya is like Washington D.C. and Kuala Lumpur is like New York.

Both city are linked by dedicated highway and fast rail network.

Among attraction at Putrajaya is wetland and Putrajaya Mosque. Near Putrajaya Mosque there a lot of shops and eateries. There are also river cruise so you can admire the beuty of Putrajaya via waterways.

How to get there

1) Via ERL from KL Sentral to Putrajaya Sentral and then proceed by Putrajaya Bus or taxi.

2) By car or taxi from KL proceed to MEX highway to Putrajaya.

Extreme house modification

Extreme modification

Setia Tropika, Kempas, Johor Baharu

On my recent trip to Johor Baharu, I encounter a corner house with extreme modification. Extreme in term of the design which is not align with the Setia Tropika theme.

But anyway it depend on the owner taste. But for investment purpose, it is not recommended.

For investment, modification is done to add more value to the house. For example more pleasent, more space and better interiror (tiling, paint etc)

Smoking is Dangerous for Plant

Translation: Please do not throw cigarette butt into the vast. It will cause the plant to die.

You normally seen in the cigarette box that smoking may cause cancer and impotency. But do you know smoking also kills plant.

If cigarette can kill tough plant. Wonder what it will do to us.

Stop smoking and start investing.

Mee Bandung Muar, Pagoh Bus Station, Muar, Johor, Malaysia

Mee Bandung Abang Sayang

Mee Bandung and Sirap Bandung

Muar River Sunset near the Muar local station Bus

Muar Second Mosque seen from Muar local bus.

I've been to Bandung Indonesia and you will never see a single restaurant selling Mee Bandung. But if you go to Muar, majority of the restaurant sell Mee Bandung Muar.

Actually Mee Bandung Muar is yellow mee served with thick gravy made from fish and spices. The mee bandung muar is quite hot. My personal preference is to consume mee bandung with chill sirap bandung (rose syrup with milk).

Next time, when you visit Malacca, do visit Muar and joint Muarian and eat Mee Bandung.