Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Break Winds

Because of the excessive cough & hiccup, I think I've swallowed a lot of air since yesterday causing the non-stop wind-breaking incidents from all conceivable bodily orifices (not!). It's very annoying & embarrassing!


My solution, to burp a lot & drink Eno...

Sunday, June 26, 2011

The Final Countdown

Its the final countdown... Goodbye Kuantan, and Welcome to Kuala Lumpur!



Wednesday, June 22, 2011

LYNAS... Verdict Awaits

Lynas doesn't expect 'zero-sum game' result

Note: Zero-Sum Game - a mathematical representation of a situation in which a participant's gain or loss is exactly balanced by the losses or gains of the other participant(s)

KUALA LUMPUR: Australian-listed Lynas Corp executive chairman Nicholas Curtis does not expect the decision by the international expert panel on the controversial RM700mil rare earth facility in Gebeng, Kuantan, to involve a “zero-sum game” whereby the company will not be allowed to commence its operations.

The decision is scheduled to be made at the end of this month.

“I'm not going to pre-empt what the expert panel will decide. But it's simplifying things to say the panel will decide on whether we should leave or not leave, do or don't. If we can make it safe, improve things and put the necessary measures in place, I assure you we will abide by that.

“We are up for any improvements. There's only one tiny part of the operation (waste management) that produces potentially radioactive material, the rest is absolutely safe. If they say the storage facility is fine but we need to do a few other things, of course, we will abide by it,” he said in an interview with StarBiz yesterday.

“Let's factually engage and take the emotion out of this debate. We'd like to engage the community to feel comfortable that the facility is safe. We are glad that the community is talking to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency),” he said.

Following wide-spread public concerns over the social and environmental hazards, the Government appointed an independent panel of international experts to review all health and safety aspects of the project. Pending completion of the review, it was also decided that no pre-operating license will be issued to Lynas by Malaysian Atomic Energy Licencing Board (AELB) and that no raw materials will be imported for the plant from Australia.

Lynas plans to import rare earth ore from its Mount Weld mine in Western Australia, truck it to the port of Fremantle, send it by container ship to Kuantan and process it at the Gebeng Industrial Estate in Pahang.

Curtis further defended the company's decision not to have the processing plant in Australia.

“We don't sell one molecule of our material to Australia. We sell them to Japan, the United States and Europe. So, there is simply no market in Australia to justify the economics (of setting up the plant in Australia).

“So, we have to transport these materials somewhere away from the centre of the desert for processing. We went to China first as they had the technology and skills but it didn't work because they pulled down the shutters on exports. Why would we take all the materials there only not not be able to get it out again?

“It came down to a UAE and a few Asian countries, including Malaysia, and we felt the conditions in Malaysia was better in terms of infrastructure,” he said.

Curtis, Lynas' founder, admitted that the company had done a “poor job” in explaining to the public about its facility and had not foreseen the “perfect storm”.

“The company suddenly found itself confronted with accusation of damage to the community which has been challenging to confront. It's not how we see ourselves. We are a value-based company. Fundamental to rare earth is their embeddedness in technology, in particular green technology. So we think ourselves as going in the same direction as the activists who say we are going in the opposite direction,” he said.

“We had gone through all the permitting process and all the jumps and hurdles that the AELB put us through. What we didn't recognise is that was not enough. We had the obligation to tell the community more about what we were doing and while we did that in 2008, the big mistake is that we should have continued to reinforce it. I believe strongly that our licence to operate is a function of community acceptance.”

Lynas is a single-project company. “We are not a big monster mining company and do not have projects all around the world. We are focused on one thing, which is this one particular operation. We'd be appalled with the concept that we would in any way hurt or damage the community from our activities. That's not in any way an acceptable position. The very core of our existence is sustainable future,” he said.


Monday, June 20, 2011

My New Crib

In a few weeks time, I'm gonna seal a deal to rent a condo unit at Suria Jelatek. Below are the preview of the unit (not the real shot).


Suria Jelatek, view from top...

Suria Jelatek, view from Jalan Jelatek...

The unit floor plan...

The Infinity Pool, facing KLCC...

The gym, with complete equipment...

A very reasonable deal indeed...

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Why People Fancy IKEA?

There's 5 reason, why people fancy IKEA product...
They have fancy design, like this PS Hallar Stool... I know what you're thinking...


They have fancy color, like this blue PS Bintje Storage Crate...

They have fancy name, like this Ektorp Jennylund Armchair...


They have fancy DIY instruction, like this Billy/Benno Bookcase... Which have 81 parts to be assembled in 9 steps...


And finally, they have fancy food, like this Swedish Meatballs.... Yummy! (I was made to understand that its not halal)...

Happy shopping at IKEA!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Lost Tapes

I find that "Lost Tapes" is disturbing, freaky, scary and full of suspense...

Monday, June 13, 2011

Great Movies Ahead!

SUPER 8
The best movie poster so far. It's not JJ Abram's masterpiece without the signature bluish lens flare (the same style from Fringe)

GREEN LANTERN
The best superhero tagline of all: In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight, let those who worship evil's might, beware my power Green Lantern's light!

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON
Last time there was a few, then more came... and finally a lot!

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
When there's WW2 movie + crazy Nazi scientists plotting to take over the world + unsuspected guy became an experiment guinea pig... what do you get?

HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2
And now Voldemort gonna be dead for real... good riddance!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Happy News In June!

A lot has been happening in June & I'm compelled to share them here. Its gonna be a simple one...

I'm moving to KL soon... very soon... woohoo!!!

Finally its up & running after close to 50 days of shutdown... phewwwww!!!

Gonna be extra rich, but also gonna be a big spender paying lots of stuff... tsk tsk!!!

June its the birthday month for my mom + 3 of my other brothers... happy birthday!!!

New Apply gadgets this year? iPad2? iMac? Or... wait & see!!!

That's all...


Thursday, June 9, 2011

Dear Big Brother, please stop squeezing PETRONAS until its last drop

Petronas looking at 30% dividend deal with government from 2013

KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas is looking at setting the amount of dividend to be paid to the government at 30% of the net profit from the 2013 financial year onwards.

"This will give some certainty and predictability," its executive vice-president of finance Datuk George Ratilal said here on Wednesday.

"Petronas has discussed this with the government and come to an understanding on the matter," he told reporters at the announcement of Petronas results for the financial year ended March 31, 2011.

The national oil firm declared RM30bil in dividend payment to the government for the year, which equals to 69% of the gross profit of RM97.8bil the national oil company registered for the financial year ended March 31, 2011.

Petronas also paid a similar dividend to the government for the financial year ended March 31, 2010, which was 63.6% of the gross profit of RM82.4bil.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

A Strong Reason Why Government Should Think Twice Before Increasing Petrol Price

Petronas: Oil prices should remain in US$75-US$85 range

KUALA LUMPUR: Petroliam Nasional Bhd believes crude oil prices should remain within the range of US$75 to US$80 per barrel given the current state of market fundamentals and cost environment.

President and chief executive Datuk Shamsul Azhar Abbas said prices played a pivotal role in resource allocation decisions of both consumers and producers, but were influenced by the actions of central bankers and financial speculators.

“How have we reached these price levels this early in the economic cycle given the absence of any real evidence of shortages in the physical market?” he asked in his keynote address at the 16th Asia Oil and Gas Conference here yesterday.

He pointed out that key crude price benchmarks were in their triple digits, having risen by more than US$25 per barrel in a matter of months, amid the fear of supply disruption in the Middle East and North Africa and a weakening US dollar pushing up the price.

He said the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) spare capacity has fallen below four million barrels per day, while inventory levels of crude oil and petroleum products have come off their highs.

“Global natural gas demand rebounded strongly by 4.9% and LNG demand, an astounding 21%. The buffers in supply that exist today might indeed absorb these demand increase quite comfortably,” he added. Bernama

Shamsul Azhar said Asia would have consumed more than 250 billion barrels of oil by 2030, more than six times its current proved reserves of about 40 billion barrels.

He said geology-based assessments have suggested that the region's mean undiscovered oil resources is in the order of about 50 billion barrels.

“At a recovery factor of 30%, these undiscovered resources would translate into a resource base, one-and-a-half times the combined proved reserves of Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pemandu chief executive officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala said the oil and gas industry needs to undergo a structural revamp to keep fuel prices low for its benefit and that of consumers.

“Players in the industry need to have more collaboration on a level playing field as well as compete at the same time,” he said.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Quotes Of The Day


"Truly, man is the king of beasts, for his brutality exceed theirs"

Leonardo Da Vinci

Saturday, June 4, 2011

PETRONAS... A Bold Move Indeed

PETRONAS buys Canadian shale gas assets worth RM3.32 bil

PETALING JAYA: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), via its wholly-owned subsidiary Petronas International Corp Ltd (PICL), has signed an agreement with Canada-based Progress Energy Resources Corp to acquire 50% of the latter's interest in shale gas assets worth C$1.07bil (RM3.32bil).

In a statement yesterday, Petronas said the agreement was signed to develop the Altares, Lily and Kahta shale gas assets in north-eastern British Columbia.

“The assets included in the transaction cover approximately 150,000 gross working-interest acres of land with an estimated contingent gas resource of more than 15 trillion cu ft. The assets will be operated by Progress,” said Petronas.

It said the proposed acquisition would mark Petronas' maiden entry into Canada and would allow for accelerated upstream growth that could potentially advance a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export value proposition in that country.

“Petronas views the acquisition as a highly attractive opportunity, paving its entry into the North American shale gas industry while at the same time further strengthening its position as a leading global LNG player.”

As part of the acquisition, Petronas and Progress have agreed to establish an LNG export joint venture to conduct a feasibility study on the economic viability of an integrated LNG export facility in western Canada.

“This could provide a strategic alternative to the traditional North American pipeline gas market,” Petronas said.

The two companies have also agreed to collaborate on other potential natural gas opportunities in western Canada.

“The transaction is conditional upon relevant regulatory approvals and Petronas expects the transaction to close in the third quarter of 2011.”

Bank of America Merrill Lynch is the exclusive financial advisor to Petronas on this transaction.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

MTV Concert In a Limbo


Scores of foreign artists has been banished from Malaysia in the previous years, and now its MTV's turn to be in the limelight. What is the centre of the attention? The state of Selangor, under PKR. Its the classic "Clash of the Titans" amongst Pakatan Rakyat, if not Barisan Nasional will be a bystander or maybe an agent of provocateur.

Read All About It! The 2 Sides of The Story



*Please visit Google Translate to get the news in English.