Oh, tremble not, my dear son!

Aria from "The Magic Flute"

Modest Iftar

What am I having today...

a Subway sandwich...

... and cream cheese cake for desert...

Kbai...

Quotes of the Day

"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time"

Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy

Next...

What's next for my home... Ermmmmm...

carpet... lots of them... the floor keeps picking up dust & dirt all over the place...

book cabinet cum wall divider... might come in handy one day...

Swarovski chandelier... in my dream!

standing light... so that I don't have to watch TV under bright fluorescent light...

garden chair set... in the serambi area...

That's all...

Good Things

"All good things, are wild and free"

Henry David Thoreau

So, be wild & free...

Online recruitment programme a scam, cautions Petronas

PETALING JAYA: The public should disregard an e-mail being circulated of a job recruitment programme purportedly by Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas).

The e-mail under the heading “Petronas Job Opportunity”, urges readers to submit their personal details to a “Petronas manager”.

Doing so would enable them to obtain jobs with the giant company, it promises.

Those behind the scam pose as Petronas recruitment department personnel and charge job seekers a certain sum to secure positions in the company.

In a statement issued yesterday, the national oil company clarified that Petronas did not go into e-mail-based recruitment exercise nor did it engage third-party personnel or on-line employment agencies for such a purpose.

“The public should not respond to such e-mails,” it added.

Petronas clarified that its official online talent scouting portal iswww.discoverpetronas.com.

“Petronas does not request any payment or charges any fee for processing job applications,” it said.

Any online communication on recruitment are via its officials e-mail domains discoverpetronas.com and petronas.com.my.

Past Due

OMG! The last post was 3rd July, and I'm overdue of a few things that I need to share. Need to do some catching up as well. But, today I only want to share this...

Hehehe...

And On The 4th Day

It has been 3 nights I'm sleeping in a new bed, in a new bedroom and in a new house. So far, life has been good & work has been very busy. Currently, there's a lot of echo in the house because much of the living room & dining/kitchen area is still empty with furniture. Lots need to be done, but it'll take time.

Kinda scary living in an empty house

The breath taking view of KL from the balcony

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...

The Final Countdown

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

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.

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...

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!

Lost Tapes

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

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!

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...

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.

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.

Quotes Of The Day

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

Leonardo Da Vinci

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.

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

The Pro MTV

The Anti MTV

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

LYNAS... From Those Who Support It

Lebih 100 berhimpun sokong pembinaan kilang Lynas

KUANTAN 30 Mei - Lebih 100 orang termasuk ahli Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS) Pahang berkumpul secara aman di pantai Teluk Chempedak di sini, hari ini bagi menyatakan sokongan terhadap pembinaan kilang memproses nadir bumi oleh syarikat Lynas Corporation Ltd dari Australia.

Pengerusi GPMS Pahang, Wan Emril Nizam Wan Embong berkata, perhimpunan itu diadakan sebagai gambaran bahawa bukan semua pihak menolak pembinaan kilang yang memberi manfaat terutama dari segi pelaburan kepada negara.

"Projek Lynas merupakan satu projek yang selamat, tidak perlu warga Kuantan bimbang kerana ada radiasi yang baik dan ada yang tidak,” katanya kepada pemberita di sini, hari ini.

Bernama

Finally! The supporters are here...

LYNAS... From A Mat Salleh Point Of View (In Malay)

I just found out this video from another blog, blog.ariff. An eye-opener in addition to a few LYNAS related info that I have shared before. Enjoy!

I've Always Dream That Love Could Be This Passionate

I would be in tears every time I listened to this song. For me, the lyrics are very deep and beautifully written to show the "sakti" or magic of LOVE. Even in distance, LOVE does prevail.

"Jika patah sayap rajawali, bertongkat jua kanda ke mari"

Hang Tuah

I am only one human

I woke up today

with a realization

that I am only one human

with a definite feeling

even with the simplest thought

even with the simplest word

even with the simplest intention

would make an old wound open...

mkk

28 may 2011 @ 4:33am

LYNAS... Making A Comeback

EIA & RIA reports on LYNAS plant available for public review

KUALA LUMPUR: The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Radiological Impact Assessment (RIA) reports for the proposed rare earth processing plant in Gebeng, Pahang, by Lynas is now available for public viewing from May 30-June 30.

The International Trade and Industry Ministry in a statement Friday said the reports will be available for public viewing at;

• Department of Environment library
• Natural Resources and Environment Ministry
• library of the Department of Environment of Pahang
• Kuantan Municipal Council
• Pahang Land and District Office
• Pahang Police headquarters
• National Library of Malaysia
• Police Beat Base at Gebeng Industrial Estate
• Pahang State Library
• Balai Penghulu Mukim
• Department of Environment
• Atomic Energy Licencing Boards of state offices

Get a copy from your nearest source!

To Work Or Not To Work

Yesterday, was the day which I took a leave, went for a follow up session with Dr Zain a.k.a. Bone Doctor, settled bank matters as well as paying up bills. But, unknowingly yesterday was also a day where a shocking & outrageous "incident" had happened (in the company) which the details are best kept a secret at the moment. In a nutshell, if handled well with consultation & discussion, it shouldn't have happened at all.

So (just to lighten up the mood), I'm just gonna share a few thoughts from Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz, which were originally in Malay but I've translated it as well.

Rajin bercakap, rajin bekerja - Bagus Sekali
Talk more, work more - Excellent

Rajin bekerja, malas bercakap - Kena Buli
Work more, lazy talk - Being bullied

Malas bekerja, rajin bercakap - Wayang Cina
Lazy work, talk more - Drama

Malas bekerja, malas bercakap - Tak Guna
Lazy work, lazy talk - Useless

Malas bekerja, suka mengadu - Nyanyuk
Lazy work, praise more - Senile

Malas bekerja, selalu ponteng - Baik Berhenti
Lazy work, always absent - Better quit

Malas bekerja, suka menyibuk - Baik Mati
Lazy work, more "busy body" - Better die

Pengerang oil and gas complex to benefit Petronas Chemicals

PETALING JAYA: Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd will undoubtedly benefit from parent company Petroliam Nasional Bhd's (Petronas) plan to build a US$20bil integrated downstream oil and gas complex in Pengerang, Johor.

Analysts expect the company to be a key beneficiary, although it has yet to confirm its participation in the project.

CIMB Research said in a report yesterday that the plan would provide great growth potential for Petronas Chemicals, similar to what the latter had achieved at its largest facility at Kertih.

“Although the management has not clearly stated whether it is expanding in Johor, this plan is likely to be an expansion of the new naphtha-based petrochemical complex that the company talked about previously,” CIMB Research said, adding that Petronas Chemicals could invest US$1.5bil to US$2bil in the project.

JP Morgan said in a report this month that the development was positive for Petronas Chemicals as it would provide feedstock for the company to expand its Malaysian capacity further.

“We think this is important because for most Asian petrochemical producers, feedstock availability is the main bottleneck to expanding capacity significantly over the next three to five years.

“The new ethylene capacity would be three times Petronas Chemicals' existing capacity and because it is based on naphtha, it will have the capability to produce profitable products like butadiene as well,” it said.

Petronas Chemicals has previously announced a three-year expansion plan that can add 30% capacity by 2015. The plan includes a downstream expansion to enhance margins, urea and ammonia plants with one million tonnes per annum capacity, and a new naphtha-based petrochemical complex.

The plans were likely to be finalised by next year and should be adequately funded with the company's net cash which stood at RM5bil now, said CIMB Research.

The research house said Petronas Chemicals would report strong fourth-quarter earnings for the financial year ended March 31 (due to be out tomorrow), with a growth of 36% quarter-on-quarter and 34% year-on-year.

The better earnings will be driven by higher margins on all of its products, improved petrochemical product prices (owing to higher oil prices) and a smaller increase in costs, especially ethane cost which is relatively fixed due to contracts.

It maintains an “outperform” call on the stock and said the share price was likely to be re-rated for its strong earnings in the fourth quarter and improved fundamentals, both short term (due to higher oil price and rising volume) and long term (its expansion plans and industry margin improvement post-2011 due to the industry upcycle).

“The stock remains attractive, given its superior growth profile and profitability. We continue to apply a calendar year 2012 EV/EBITDA (enterprise value/earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) of 10 times to the stock, leading to an unchanged target price of RM10,” it said.

Meanwhile, ECM Libra Investment Research said in a report on Monday that Petronas Gas Bhd was an attractive buy with a target price of RM14.14. It implies a 19.4 times price-to-earnings ratio due to potential earnings upside from its liquefied natural gas (LNG) re-gas facility to be ready mid next year in Malacca.

“New earnings would be from transportation and re-gasification service agreement or the agreement alone,” it said.

ECM Libra said with the plant adding some 20% to Petronas Gas' current transportation volumes, net profit could grow by 10% from transportation alone. As for re-gasification charges, revenue from that segment alone would amount to RM330mil based on an estimated price of RM2 per million British thermal units.

OSK Research also said in a report recently that Petronas Gas could be an indirect beneficiary of gas subsidy cuts, given that the move would make it more palatable for Petronas to import LNG via the former's terminal for transmission around Peninsular Malaysia.

What I Want In 7 Months Time

What are my personal KPIs this year?

HEALTH

To get rid of the lower back & leg pain: 100% recovery

To start back cardio & running: 5 km in 30 minutes

To reduce BMI: from 2.3 to 2.1

FINANCIAL

To increase total wealth by reinvesting: +10%/annum

To increase monthly saving: +10%/annum

To reduce credit card debt: -50%annum

TRAVEL

Visiting one Malaysian Island: Langkawi/Pangkor/Perhentian

Visiting one ASEAN/Asia country: Vietnam/Korea/Japan

Visiting one long-haul country: Italy/Turkey/Greece

ASSET/CAREER

To own an apartment/condo: RM 250K-350K

To be transferred to other location: KL/Sarawak

To learn a new skill: Baking/Cooking/Pottery

LONG TERM

To continue current relationship: 1-2 years

Commitment to each other: once/month

To get married: ?????

That's all for now. Pray, that I can achieve all of them by December 2011...

"The invariable mark of a dream is to see it come true"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Earth's Fury Unleashed

Over these few days, we have heard several happenings all around the world caused by natural disaster. The frequency has been increasing over the years and caused mankind to wonder whether 2012 prophecy is the real deal or not. Well, that's God business not ours. Let us look back what had happened in 2011 so far.

Queensland & Victorian Floods, Australia, December 2010-January 2011

Australian Bushfire, Australia, January 2011-May 2011

Cyclone Vania & Wilma, South Pacific, January 2011

Mount Merapi Volcanic Eruption, Indonesia, January 2011

North American Winter Storm, USA, January 2011-February 2011

Christchurch Earthquake, New Zealand, February 2011

Myanmar Earthquake, Myanmar, March 2011

Yunnan Earthquake, China, March 2011

Tohoku Earthquake & Tsunami, Japan, March 2011

Texas Wildfires, USA, April 2011-May 2011

Mississippi River Floods, USA, May 2011

Minnesota & Missouri Tornado, USA, May 2011

Grimsvotn Volcanic Eruption, Iceland, May 2011

And many more to come...

"There's no disaster that can't become a blessing, and no blessing that can't become a disaster"

Richard Bach

Sunday Has Ended

Starting Monday hopefully with a refreshed mind after a long weekend. I just hope that there's no hanky-panky work this week. I just hate surprises.

Me & Daniel Hechter

Nothing Much To Say

I'll be in KL starting tonight until Sunday. Its a long day indeed since I'm not feeling really well. I woke up with a weird stomach ache and then followed by diarrhea. Starting your day with that is really unpleasant. Nevertheless, off to work I go. Over the next few hours until after lunch, I visited the loo twice and only then I decided to visit the clinic. Pretty much standard questions and then the medicines, 4 of them! Hopefully, I'm gonna be cured soon.

Taken en-route to KL Sentral via on-board YES wifi connection

Eat, Pray And Love (Not The Movie)

Today is a public holiday in Malaysia, which is Wesak Day celebrated by the Buddhist. Normally, I would spend my time outside sipping hot chocolate, indulging warm blueberry scone with strawberry jam and enjoying the free wifi at Starbucks. But not today! The weather seems a bit cloudy today since 9am after my breakfast at a "mamak" restaurant nearby my house. So, I choose to stay at home instead doing what I always do, watch DVDs.

I began the day with Julia Robert's Eat Pray Love, a very nice movie indeed mostly because of the theme as well as the places that she went to. If I have a lot of money, I'll to the same thing as she does of course, travelling all around the world, living amongst the people; do what they do, eat what they eat, speak what they speak and others. Well, below are my ideas and thoughts on Eat Pray Love.

EAT

Food is the one thing that I really enjoy which I never quite mind spending a lot of money into it. I'll try any new food which of course have to be "halal" in the first place. My idea of an amazing and great food are beautiful, tasty, full of aroma and most importantly, it was cooked and prepared with so much devotion and love in it. The simplest dish that I find very tasty and great is Madam Kwan's "terung masak belacan" or eggplant sauteed with prawn paste. It has all what I described just now; beautiful (the color of the eggplant), tasty (the salty prawn paste plus some spiciness), and the aroma (the smell of the prawn paste). It is great living in Malaysia with so many people in diverse races which have their own special mouth-watering delicacies.

"The only time to eat diet food is is while you're waiting for the steak to cook"

Julia Child

PRAY

Although I'm not a devout Muslim, but I observe the compulsory requirement in Islam. It has been in my plan to visit Muslim countries in the future, mostly because I love the architecture of centuries old mosque, library and universities. Turkey would be a great place to begin with because of their great and beautiful buildings in the old city of Istanbul such as the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Museum and Hagia Sophia. The huge and amazing domes are breath-taking! The second place would be Cordoba in Spain, which is the birthplace of famous philosophers and scholars such as ibn-Hazm, ibn-Rushd and al-Qurtubi, and also where the Great Mosque of Cordoba is located. Once a mosque, currently it is a cathedral for Roman Catholic since 1236. Lastly, I would like to perform pilgrimage (I hope in my lifetime) to the three sacred mosques; Masjid Al-Haram (Mekah), Masjid Al-Nabawi (Madinah) and Masjid Al-Aqsa (Jerusalem).

"It is not the land that makes anyone holy, but one's deeds"

Salman al-Farisi

LOVE

Where is the best place to fall in love? For me, the place should have at least three things; great, humble, soft-spoken and well-mannered people, peaceful and calm surrounding and lastly, a common language spoken. The combination of these will (hopefully) create deep and lasting love. Love, according to Sophocles is one word which frees us of all the weight and pain in life. That is why when you're in a lovey-dovey moments, you'll feel a great burden is lifted, your senses are heighten and you'll feel more happy than ever. Well, I guess most of them are caused by hormones flooding into the blood, but nevertheless it is a universal response for people. I've been in and out of love several times, and over the years when you start to age, you'll find that the idea of love has changed over time.

"All mankind love a lover"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Best Of Karajan

It's not "kerajaan" but Karajan, or his full name Herbert von Karajan an Austrian orchestra and opera conductor, one of the best! Just search in YouTube and you'll get long list of his conducting work from numerous composers. What I would like to share here is basically how he could not only command the orchestra, but the audience as well. The piece is "Radetzky March" Op. 228 by Johann Strauss Sr. This is one of the most played march in the world, if you notice even the school band play this piece; maybe during the Sports Day. Simply the best!

"No music is vulgar, unless it is played in a way that makes it so"

Herbert von Karajan, 1908~1989

Let Us Not Forget About LYNAS

Well, RAPID seems to be the recent hot topic in my blog, but let us not forget our friend LYNAS. On 14 May, the news had officially announce that a review will be done by 9 experts appointed by IAEA. Who are they? Let us read some fact.

Dr. Tero Varjoranta (Leader) - Director of the Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology, IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy

Dr. Magnus Vesterlind (Sweden) - Head of IAEA Waste and Environment Safety Section

Dr. Horst Monken Fernandes (Brazil) - Waste Technology Section Division of Nuclear Fuel Cell and Waste Management

Hanna Kajander (Finland) - Communications Specialist at IAEA

Jan van der Steen (Netherlands) - Experts on Radioactive Protection and Radioactive Waste Management

Dr. Leo M. Lowe (Canada) - Experts on Energy, Nuclear and Environmental Sciences

Dr P.M. Balagopala Pillai (India) - Info not available

Dr. Dennis Wymer (UK) - Experts on Nuclear Energy By-Product from Mining Industry

Ulric Schwela (Finland) - Experts on Tantalum - Niobium Mining

Hiroko Ratcliffe (Austria) - Administrative Assistant

With all these distinguish experts in their own special field, I hope that they'll do their best in the review from 29 May until 3 June, and finally provide the final say on LYNAS project, as well as stop the demonstrations once and for all.

God Speed!

RAPID : Facts & Numbers

More info are pouring over the news and internet since its announcement yesterday by our PM. So, below are a few of them extracted from main stream media.

RAPID : Refinery And Petrochemical Integrated Development

(in Malay: Pembangunan Bersepadu Penapisan Minyak Dan Petrokimia)

Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) : RM 60 billion (US$ 20 billion)

Location : Pangerang, Johor on a 1,000 hectares of land

Facilities & Capacity :

Crude oil refinery - 300,000 barrels/day (will add up to the current refining capacity from 635,300 barrels/day to 935,300 barrels/day)

Naphtha cracker - 3,000,000 tonnes of ethylene, propylene, C4's and C5's olefins

Petrochemical and polymer complex - unknown capacity (producing highly-specialised products from propylene and ethylene oxide derivatives)

LNG re-gassification and receiving terminal - potential

Other related infrastructure such as pipelines, tankages, logistics and warehouse facilities

Facts :

Exceeding the combined refining capacity of Melaka and Terengganu PETRONAS refineries

Exceeding the combined petrochemical production of Integrated Petrochemical Complex in Gebeng and Kerteh

4,000 job opportunities when RAPID is completed in 2016

20,000 job opportunities when RAPID is in construction between 2012 to 2016

RAPID... Finally Its Official...

PM lancar projek RAPID

KUALA LUMPUR 13 Mei - Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak hari ini melancarkan projek Pembangunan Bersepadu Penapisan Minyak dan Petrokimia (RAPID) iaitu projek milik syarikat minyak dan gas Malaysia, Petronas.

Projek bernilai AS$20 bilion (RM60 bilion) itu akan dibina di Johor dan dijangka siap pada penghujung 2013.

RAPID akan memberi tumpuan kepada tiga sektor utama iaitu penapisan minyak mentah, penghasilan perentak nafta dan pembangunan petrokimia dan polimer kompleks. - Utusan

Petronas to build US$20bil energy complex in Johor

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has announced plans for national oil company Petronas' detailed feasibility study for the development of a proposed refinery and petrochemical integrated development project (RAPID) in Southern Johor.

The proposed project scope will include key facilities such as a crude oil refinery, a naphtha cracker and a petrochemicals and polymer complex.

The RAPID project requires an estimated investment of US$20bil and the complex is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2016.