Sunday, June 01, 2008

Jejak Awang Goneng 1

Very nostalgic indeed...

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Got my original invitation letter... Alhamdulillah

Alhamdulillah, semalam pukul 5 petang sampai jugak akhirnya invitation letter yg Paula Mahar dari Materials Research Society pos kat aku minggu lepas. Alhamdulillah... masa tu mmg pikiran dah berkecamuk... tgh tulih e-mail nak antar kat Paula (MRS) ngan Xuan (CSTC)... tp Alhamdulillah, kuasa Allah... tiba-tiba... Ms Watanabe dtg, "Shuhaimi-san, todokimasita (En. Shuhaimi, dah sampai)!". ... "Yatta (Cayalah)!"

Cepat2 lepas tu aku call Ms Hashimoto kat Aichi-Ka-Yuu Travel utk Chinese Visa application. Alhamdulillah, lepas tu gi office derang, apply, and boleh save JPY3,000 sbb takyah buat express application. Buat normal 4-days application jer, JPY8,000 semua skali (F-type visa).

********Rentetan Kisah Visa************
  • Pegi Chinese Consulate Nagoya, diorang bg tau kena apply throughtravel agent yg dilantik, dan dpt list utk agen kat Nagoya.
  • Sbb derang nak original invitation letter, aku call Ms Xuan kat Chongqing Science and Technology Commission, China supaya hantar original invitation letter tu kat address aku. Sebelum tu dah dapat yg scanned version Paula Mahar dari MRS hantar through e-mail.
  • Xuan hantar kat aku on Friday, 3 hari lepas tu on Isnin, gempa bumi besar berlaku kat Shichuan (dekat jer ngan Chongqing nih)
  • Seminggu lebih lepas tu, Paula bg tau through e-mail MRS dah terima invitation letter. Aku bg address Egawa Lab utk hantar surat tu.
  • Should sampai last Wednesday... tp tunggu2 tak sampai gak.
  • Call JTB Sakae Nagoya on Thursday tanya pasal Chinese Visa application, sbb syarikat yg jumpa masa kat Chinese Consulate tu cakap kena buktikan ada JPY500,000 dlm akaun utk apply visa. JTB tak sure, tp die tak buat visa application utk org yg tak beli tiket ngan derang. Tp Ms Yamamoto tu banyak bg tau maklumat tentang visa application. TERUTAMANYA, FOREIGNERS YG BERADA DI JEPUN DENGAN STATUS VISA "COLLEGE STUDENT" (aku lah tu) TAK BOLEH APPLY VISA KE CHINA GUNA TRAVEL VISA (C) STATUS. Dia cakap kalau nak buat travel visa buat dari negara asal, means Malaysia lah.
  • Called Chinese Consulate Nagoya tentang status visa yg patut aku apply. Die bg tau, kalau utk international conference, tak boleh buat travel visa, kena buat VISIT VISA (F). Dan original invitation letter issued by Chinese Government kena ada utk diorang issue travel visa. Aku ada yg scanned copy jer, so takleh buat apa2. Nak apply utk visit visa (C) pun takleh. So kenalah tunggu utk original invitation letter tu sampai. Chinese consulate pun bg tau takde syarat utk buktikan miliki JPY500,000 dlm akaun utk buat visa ke China, kalau Hong Kong barulah ada syarat... tp utk Chongqing (tanah besar) takde syarat.
  • Called Aichi-Ka-Un Travel (Chinese travel company) utk tanya pasal visa application. They're so helpful, dan banyak tolong. Diorang pun ada kaitan rapat dgn Chinese Consulate Nagoya. Diorang bg tau harga JPY8,000 utk normal, JPY11,000 utk express.
  • Faxed scanned copy of the invitation letter to Chinese Consulate, and they called me immediately afterward saying OK... but they need original during application. Paling lewat apply boleh on Tuesday necxt week katanya (xpress application)... bergantung kpd agent jugak lah.
  • Pagi Jumaat semalam bg tau Ms Watanabe (secretary Research Center for Nano-Device and System, Nagoya Inst of Tech) pasal surat dari MRS that I should receive this week... but she said till today x de surat lg.
  • Lepas semayang Jumaat, sambung buat kerja, dah dekat pukul 5 ptg (abis waktu kerja, Watanabe san balik, means no letter will arrive anymore this week), wrote e-mail to Paula and Xuan pasal invitation letter tu. Kalau tak sampai by Monday next week aku nak suruh Xuan (CSTC) fax direct ke Chinese Consulate Nagoya.
  • Alhamdulillah, sebelum sempat tekan butang "Send", Watanabe-san dtg bilik aku bg surat tu, bersama dgn borang utk diisi utk claim duit travel dan elaum makan & hotel ke China tu semua.
  • Kuwar duit kat ATM, pergi print "zaigaku-syoumeisyo (certificate of existence at school/university)", terus pg Aichi-Ka-Yuu Travel utk apply.
Thanks everybody :) Love Allah :)

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Wow! It's so high!

This is the first time I book a flight pricing more than JPY100,000. And, it's just to go to a neighbouring country!

A**M*D ******* さま

本日はご依頼ありがとうございます、重慶行きの回答です

6/7 名古屋(14:55)-重慶(20:10)

6/13 重慶(7:30)-名古屋(13:55)

料金は¥81500+tax(約20000円) です。
5/26にチケッティングです。

上記の便にて手配できますが、予約は入れてみないとOKか
どうかわかりません、お早めにご予約くださいませ。

ありがとうございました。

/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/_/__/__/__/__/__/_/__/__/__/
 名古屋工業大学生活協同組合 CamPla店
 旅行サービス担当  ** ** 
 TEL 052-7*1-1*4*  FAX 052-7*3-3*1*  大学内線 5*3*

 JR券、宿泊、国内・海外航空券等の手配はメールでも承っております
  E-mail  t***l@ni*o*or.jp
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Monday, May 05, 2008

Got my room reserved... Alhamdulillah...

My reservation for J. W. Marriott at Chongqing (China) for IMRC next month has been confirmed, with special rate offered by MRS. The staff at Chongqing even faxed me the confirmation receipt. Very warm welcome indeed.

The staff also told me that transit between airport and the hotel is around RMB100~150, more than half the limousine rate advertised by Marriott. There'll be daily transit between the hotel and Chongqing International Convention Center during the conference, so I could save some bucks there too. Alhamdulillah...

Date : May 02, 2008
Subject : Reservation Confirmation

Greetings from JW Marriott Hotel Chongqing!

May we take this opportunity to say “Thank you very much” for choosing the JW Marriott hotel Chongqing for your forthcoming visit to Chongqing.We are pleased to confirm the following reservations for you and your company:

Name of Guest : ** ** ** ** **
Arr Date/Flight : 07 Jun 08
Dep Date/Flight : 1* Jun 08
Rooms/Room Type : 1 Deluxe King
Rate Per Room : RMB600.00 including one breakfast per room per night
Confirmation No. : 88*0*0**

If we can be of any further assistance, please let us know.
All of us look forward to welcoming you to the JW Marriott Hotel Chongqing soon.

Yours sincerely from Chongqing!

Reservation Dept.

GUARANTEE & CANCELLATION POLICY
Kindly be advised that your reservation is guaranteed. Any cancellation after Apr 01, 2008 or no show, there will be one night room rate charge.
Reservation Hotline (86 23) 63001700
Reservation Fax No. (86 23) 63815217

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Parlimen Malaysia = Tolong Duduk , Tolong Diam

Persidangan parlimen Malaysia yang berlangsung di "Sabah"...

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Summary from NHK The Professionals

Got many good points from a programme called The Professionals aired on NHK just now. These're the tips from Mogi Kenichiro (Ph. D), to get our brain fully activated. Mogi Kenichiro is a researcher at Sony Computer System Laboratory (also teching at Tokyo Institute of Technology, and others).

How to memorize easily:
-Don't just read silently. SAY it with your mouth, and WRITE it. You can memorize easier when your body parts work for it. As what shown in the programme, both left and right brains get blood when a person memorize a word by READING, SAYING and WRITING. When he memorize by just reading the word, only A (very very) FEW PART of his right brain filled with blood. (Brain cells will get more blood when thinking / working for something).

How to get shuchuryoku at work:
-Use each short time / minute you have wisely. For example, check/correct your journal while walking / waiting for elevator, write journal while in taxi / wait. Make sure you do it in a manner that any part of your body could MOVE. The most difficult level (don't do it this way lah) is by doing it with your mind alone, such as thinking about your schedule while walking / printing. Simply spoken, let your body DO / WORK for something all the time. The more you body works, more neurons will get activated, which could finally give you more shuuchu-ryoku.

What a good instructor do?
- Homeru koto. homeru koto ni yotte, gakusei ni yaru ki wo dasu. Something (I forgot the name) will be released in the brain which give your student / partner "minat" when you "homeru" him / her. The best thing is "puji" him / her right just after he/ she did it. As an instructor, find the chance to "puji" your student!

What a good leader do when he was appointed a new uncertain project:
- Never show / tell your "buka" what you actually feel (risky / uncertain / yuragiru kimochi).

Mode-swithing. How to switch from working mode to family mode when returning home from work:
- Get relaxed, or do something than can give you relaxation, eg. get into bath-tub, change your clothes, go for a walk or play with your dog, etc.

In long-term relationship, how to avoid from getting bored with your partner:
- It's natural for a human to find / experience new thing in our life. That what makes us different than other creatures, so that human develops from time to time. We're looking / finding / researching new thing that we don't know / understand. When we get used to it, we'll change / develop so that a new thing will be built / created. However, in relationship, it's hard to change somebody or get him / her changed. Therefore, the best thing to do is by changing / developing ourself. By doing this, we'll find something that we've never found before in our partner, that finally could prevent us from getting bored with him / her. What a good answer!

Maybe I should search for his books on Amazon.jp... really interesting!

Friday, April 25, 2008

The good days are becoming better!

Alhamdulillah, banyak perkara menarik yg berlaku bebrapa hari nih. Dua hari lepas dpt mail dari Tsuchiya-san die akan bagi 30 ketul heat-sink yg aku mintak dlm mail sebelum tuh. Alhamdulillah... dapat jugak akhirnya. Walaupun cuma 30 bijik, tapi sebenarnya mahal tuh... setiap satu bersalut emas. Maybe Egawa sensei call die mintak heat-sink tu rasanya sbb hari sebelum tu Egawa ada tanya ttg heat-sink tu. Thanks Tsuchiya, thanks Egawa... love Allah!

Tapi dapat heat-sink tu pun, still kena beli jugak heat-sink lain. Sbb 30 bijik tu sikit sgt jer. Just cukup utk 1 kali process utk 1 jenis sample saja tu. Aku rasa kena design lain, n kena tempah lain dari Ozawa Science or syarikat kat Hamamatsu yg aku suka tu... hehe... rahsia.

Mlm tadi (semalam waktu US) dah dapat dah mail dari Paula Mahar dari MRS hantar aku nyer surat jemputan dari kerajaan China utk visa application utk IMRC (International Material Research Conference) kat Chongqing next June. Alhamdulillah... boleh proceed ngan visa application lepas nih.

Semua xperiment utk IMRC tu pun dah siap semalam... XRD dan PL... penatnyer buat 2 mende nih. Lepas nih nak analysis data, maybe makan masa 1 minggu jugak (Insya'Allah harap boleh siap during weekend nih). Drpd data yg beratus2 tu (may even break 1000 datas), buat AFM utk sample yg perlu saja. So, boleh jimatkan masa sket.

Okaylah tu saja dulu. Nak kuwarkan sample semalam dari mini-cryostat masa PL measurement semalam. Okay, bye. Insya'Allah... kejayaan untuk semua umat Islam!

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Finally we GOT it! ... after so much sacrifices ...

Tracking number
865280571362
Signed for by
.ABU BAKAR
Ship date
Apr 12, 2008
Delivery date
Apr 19, 2008 10:00 AM
Reference
26859
Destination
TERENGGANU MY
Delivered to
Receptionist/Front Desk
Service type
Priority Box
Weight
7.9 lbs.
Status
Delivered
Signature image
available

No
Date/Time

Activity

Location

Details

Apr 19, 2008 10:00 AM


Delivered


TERENGGANU MY






10:00 AM


Delivery exception


SEPANG MY


Incorrect address


7:59 AM


On FedEx vehicle for delivery


SEPANG MY





Apr 18, 2008 2:14 PM


At local FedEx facility


SEPANG MY






2:13 PM


Delivery exception


SEPANG MY


Holiday - Business closed


10:00 AM


Delivery exception


SEPANG MY


Incorrect address


8:31 AM


On FedEx vehicle for delivery


SEPANG MY





Apr 17, 2008 6:19 PM


At local FedEx facility


SEPANG MY






3:00 PM


Delivery exception


SEPANG MY


Incorrect address


2:57 AM


On FedEx vehicle for delivery


SEPANG MY






2:56 AM


At local FedEx facility


SEPANG MY





Apr 16, 2008 1:58 PM


Int'l shipment release


SEPANG MY






8:31 AM


In transit


SEPANG MY


Package available for clearance


2:52 AM


Departed FedEx location


SUBIC BAY FREEPORT PH






1:18 AM


Arrived at FedEx location


SUBIC BAY FREEPORT PH





Apr 15, 2008 8:50 PM


In transit


SEPANG MY


Paperwork available

Apr 14, 2008 10:35 AM


Departed FedEx location


ANCHORAGE, AK






6:07 AM


Arrived at FedEx location


ANCHORAGE, AK





Apr 13, 2008 6:15 PM


Departed FedEx location


MEMPHIS, TN






1:29 PM


Departed FedEx location


MEMPHIS, TN






1:01 PM


Arrived at FedEx location


MEMPHIS, TN





Apr 12, 2008 11:16 PM


At local FedEx facility


PHILADELPHIA, PA






10:25 PM


At local FedEx facility


PHILADELPHIA, PA






5:02 PM


Picked up


PHILADELPHIA, PA





No education system can exceed the quality of its teachers

"The only way to improve outcomes is to improve instruction."

That's the key takeaway from a big McKinsey study (PDF file) on global education policy. Regardless of country, teacher quality has more impact on student performance than any other factor, including class size and per capita spending.

That's not exactly news. The interesting part of the study is its examination of best practices for improving instruction, both by recruiting better teachers in the first place and by developing the skills of teachers once they've been hired.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

XRD Sample Characterization

Dah 2 hari straight dah mesin XRD (X-ray diffraction) kat bawah tu ONnnnn jer memanjang. Sekeping sample amik masa 12 jam utk omega & omega/2theta scan. Satu hari boleh characterize 2 keping sample jer, n of course 24 hours non-stop per day. Dah penat dah berkelah kat dlm bangunan nih.

Jap tadi ingat nak pegi tido kat tingkat 4, cek XRD kat tingkat 1... rupa-rupanya X-ray generator nyer power putus lagi!!! Haiyyyaaa... problem maa. Rugi masa 6 jam, tetiba kena abort kat tengah2! Astaghfirullahalazim. Kena restart balik mesin, dan restart measurement dari awal... uwaaa, sedihnyer! Sepatutnya measuremnt nih siap tepat jam 9 pagi esok. Tp, nampaknya kol 4 petang esok baru boleh siap.

Ya Allah... harap2 measurement yg re-do nih x-ray power tak terputus lagi. Banyak abis masa. Ngantuk nih... tgh heat-up balik x-ray generator tu, kol 4 pagi nnt baru boleh start balik measurement. Sedey. Dugaan sungguh kali nih. Tp Alhamdulillah, stakat separuh result yg keluar tadi, mmg quantum well nyer fringe-peaks mmg lawa sangat2, even on Si substrate, even on SLS (strained-super-lattice)!

Monday, April 07, 2008

PayPal Refund... YAY!

Alhamdulillah, ari nih dah dapat refund US350 yg bayar utk IBM laptop 26 March ari tu. Dapat gak duit tu last skali... apo da PayPal. Nyusah kan idup org Melayu dan Omputeh saja la. Esok aku gi post office bayar kat Mr Jason laptop tu pakai wire transfer saja. Kalau minggu lepas bayar cara nih, sure laptop tu dah sampai Malaysia dah skarang nih. Hmm... nasib... nak wat camner.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Sepuluh Tahun Sebelum Merdeka (Ten Years Before Independence)

The most inspiring documentary on Malaysian politics before Malaysian independence.
Sepuluh Tahun Sebelum Merdeka

Krisis Perlantikan Menteri Besar Terengganu - Detik Bersejarah dalam Politik Malaysia

Lebih 10,000 rakyat menyambut kepulangan DYMM Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Sultan Mahmud (Kuala Terengganu) sempena menyokong tindakan baginda untuk melantik Datuk Ahmad Said, walaupun menerima desakan hebat dari Perdana Menteri Abdullah Badawi supaya menyambung khidmat bekas menteri besar Idris Jusoh untuk penggal kedua. Salah-guna kuasa oleh Idris Jusoh melibatkan perbelanjaan Wang Ehsan dalam projek yang tidak memberi faedah kepada rakyat Terengganu dikatakan sebagai punca Tuanku menolak perlantikan Idris Jusoh.


Update 13 April 2008: This video shows scenes around the airport officially released by UKOM Terengganu. Many Datuks are also there... but I'm not sure who they are. The part when Tuanku Mizan "melambai-lambai" to the Rakyats really touches me.


Krisis perlantikan menteri besar Terengganu boleh dilihat dalan video ini.


(My personal comments: These are qualities of UMNO leaders in Terengganu (and Malaysia)... shame on you!)

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

A short stop-over in Hong Hong

I'm unable to write long this time. These are just my personal notes for my future travel to Hong Kong City.

How to go to Hong Kong city from Chek Lap Kok Airport:
1. After exiting arrival hall, head for "Airbus" (with bus logo) sign-board. You can ask tourist information desk after exiting custom check. There're lots of guides and maps there, just take anything you want. I was a little confused when followed the bus sign as there's also "Hotel shuttle bus" heading to "Terminal 2", but don't go for that if you want a cheaper method going to the city.
2. At the airport exit (if you follow the "Airbus" sign), you can see many double-decker bus in-front of you, and there's ticket/information counter on your left.
3. I booked a hostel at Mirador Mansion which is located at Tsim Sha Shui, so buy a ticket route A21 at CitiFlyer counter (left counter). Wait for the bus at A21 waiting area. You can check the location at the information board in front of the bus station. ALWAYS REMEMBER TO BUY RETURN JOURNEY TICKET INSTEAD OF SINGLE JOURNEY TICKET as you'll get discount for the second journey. Single journey ticket would cost HKD35, while return journey ticket would cost HKD55.
4. CityFlyer airport buses are red and yellow colored, just for a note. Make sure to be in front at the queue as you can get better seat in the bus. I would prefer front seat of the second floor of the double-decker bus. When entering the bus, show ticket to the bus driver and put it into the coin box. You can pay directly pay at the box if you don't have ticket (However, I'm not sure how you can get return journey if you do this way). Put your luggage at the luggage area (CCTV monitored), and go get a good seat.
5. Enjoy your journey, as it may take around 40-50 minutes to Hong Kong city (Mong Kok or Tsim Sha Shui area). Tsim Sha Shui is at the 13th stop (number and location name is shown in Cantonese and English at the LED panel inside the bus for each stop). Better get ready to get-off the bus before the bus actually stop at your desired location. I saw a girl shouting "Wai, wait, hold on!!!" to the driver in my journey.
6. Stay cool when your get out of the bus. There'll be so many pedestrians around you. Some girls (may I say "makcik") will come to you and offer body massage, face massage, foot massage, etc... some Indians/ Pakistani will come to you and give your their restaurants pamphlets, etc. At Tshim Sha Shui (Nathan Street), you'll see many European, Indian/Pakistani, Philippine, Indonesia/Malaysia, Japanese and Korean faces around you, not only Chinese. Walk through the Nathan Street following the bus direction. You'll find Maridor Mansion at the 58th. If you go straight to the front, you'll find Holiday Inn (one block further), then the Chung-King Mansion. Head into Maridor Mansion entrance, lift is to your right after passing 3-4 shops at the entrance. For my hostel, I've to go to the 13th floor where the hostel counter is (just in-front of the lift). The "nyonya" there is quite "baik la jugak", explaining me simple things not only about my room, but also about the building itself (the lift you used to enter the building just now is unusable from 8PM to 6AM, you've to use another lift at the back which is equipped with CCTV camera for security).
7. Be happy with your room, as that's the cheapest you can get at the BEST located area in Hong Kong!!! Instead keeping yourself in the room, go outside and watch & feel Hong Kong city. Go walking along Nathan Street for cheap bargains, or Kings Street for good meals!
8. I took subway from Tsim Sha Shui station (subway entrance is joust around the Mirador Mansion) to Mong Kok. At first, I'm not sure which exit should I go for, but after strolling around, I think exit heading to Girls Street (not sure/remember the name in English though) is the best one. I' not sure whether they really sell girls for pleasure, but you'll see stalls selling everything (from HK t-shirts to lingerie) just along the street! I bought Hong Kong 100% cotton t-shirt for my friend in Japan and for myself just for HKD25 dollar each here. They'll put HKD35-40 per piece, but its your time to bargain. Normally, you can get nearly half the advertised price. There're also many shops selling home electronics, computers, and cellphones around.
9. To go back to the airport, take A21 CitiFlyer airport bus at the bus stop just at the opposite side of the Mirador Mansion. The bus would take 40-50 minutes to the airport, so plan your time properly. For my case, I take bus at Mirador Mansion at 1PM for my flight at 4:30PM, and the timing is just nice. I waited for nearly 40 minutes for Cathay Pacific flight check-in at counter C (economy class ticket). Immigration clearance didn't take long time though.

The flight journey from Hong Kong to Nagoya was very nice. I got a cute Japanese girl travelling alone from Australia just next to my seat. We just chat along the journey until the plane landed in Nagoya Centrair International Airport. How come the stewardess misunderstood us as couple along the journey... hmmm, I won't elaborate on that though... <^-^>

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Good news from the opposite side of the globe...

Actually, I'm now at my hometown in Kuala Terengganu for a short break. I'm not really happy to take a break at this challenging moment in my research, but this is the only moment that I would be able to "take a Kit-Kat" (reads: take a break). And, it's extremely short... just 5 days to go and return to a place a quarter distance of the globe! I'm quite used to this kind of life, maybe.

Semalam, bila berjaya akses ke wireless internet kat rumah nih (Ust_Kor_Hotspotz), ada berita gumbira...

Alhamdulillah, the abstract I submitted last January for MRS International Materials Research Conference in Chongqing, China has been ACCEPTED! Alhamdulillah, syukur ke hadrat Ilahi. This would be a great start for my international debut <^-^>


Abstract Status

DocumentID/ControlID: (ControlID was removed from public eyes for security reason)
Title: Growth of InGaN-based Laser Diode Structure on Silicon (111) Substrate.
Paper Number: D3.33;
Presentation Date: June 09, 2008
Presentation Time: 05:30 PM to 08:00 PM
Presentation Type: Poster
Room: Exhibit Hall
Status: Accepted

The paper has already been confirmed.
Presenting: True
Confirmation Date: March 20, 2008 at 03:42
Confirmed By: (Name was removed for security reason)

And, the journey goes on...

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Tsunami Perubahan Politik di Malaysia: Tahniah Semua Rakyat Malaysia

Alhamdulillah, Pilihanraya Umum ke-12 Malaysia berjalan dengan baik pada keseluruhannya pada 8 Mac 2008 semalam. Selain insiden di Rusila (Marang, Terengganu), rakyat Malaysia keluar mengundi dengan aman, dan berdasarkan analisis, "Pengundi yang keluar mengundi seperti sudah yakin dengan calon pilihan mereka".

Walaupun berada jauh di perantauan, Alhamdulillah, akses ke media utama seperti Utusan, TV3 dan TV1, dan media alternatif seperti MalaysiaKini, Malaysia-Today selain halaman berita parti politik seperti HarakahDaily dan DAP memberikan peluang kpd saya utk sama-sama mengikuti perkembangan di Malaysia.

Sebelum pilihanraya, walaupun media utama menyifatkan bahawa BN mampu menang mudah 2/3 majoriti parlimen dan memegang semua Kelantan, namun media alternatif rata-rata yakin bahawa perkara sebaliknya akan berlaku. Rakan-rakan rakyat Malaysia di Jepun yang terdiri drpd kalangan pelajar dan pekerja juga banyak meramalkan perkara yang sama dan menganggap pilihanraya kali ini adalah sesuatu yang perlu diberi perhatian. Saya dan beberapa sahabat lain mengikuti pengumuman keputusan pilihanraya di TV3 dan MalaysiaKini sepanjang malam semalam sehingga ke Subuh pagi tadi.

Alhamdulillah, seperti yang diramalkan semua, Barisan Rakyat/ Alternatif berjaya mengaut kemenangan yang sangat besar, menjadikan Barisan Nasional kalah besar, dengan keputusan paling buruk sejak kemerdekaan 50 tahun lalu. BN bukan sahaja gagal mendapat 2/3 parlimen, malah gagal mendapat majoriti di Kelantan, Pulau Pinang, Kedah, Selangor dan Perak. Walaubagaimanapun, BN berjaya mengekalkan penguasaannya die Terengganu. Johor yang merupakan kubu kuat BN juga sudah berjaya dipecahkan oleh pembangkang yang berjaya menawan 6 kerusi (negeri dan parlimen). Setakat blog ini ditulis, PAS mengekalkan kerajaannya di Kelantan, DAP dan PKR bersetuju untuk menubuhkan kerajaan di Pulau Pinang, PKR dan PAS bersetuju di Kedah, dan campuran ketiga-tiga parti PKR, DAP dan PAS di Selangor dan Perak. (*Maklumat ini mungkin berubah selepas ini bergantung kpd pakatan dan usaha-sama setiap parti yang menang).

Sebagai seorang yang berpandangan independent, saya melihat punca kekalahan BN adalah seperti berikut:
1. Pembatalan dakwat kekal pada jari/kuku pada hari yang sangat dekat dengan pilihanraya menyebabkan rakyat hilang keyakinan kepada kerajaan yang sepatutnya menjaga hak rakyat dan proses demokrasi negara.
2. Sikap angkuh dan dolak-dalih pengarah SPR pada semua sidang media beliau menyebabkan rakyat muak dengan kepimpinan negara.
3. Kewujudan budak hingusan Khairy Jamaludin (KJ) dalam politik Malaysia yang naik dengan tiket Abdullah Badawi, yang banyak mencampuri urusan pentadbiran kerajaan.
4. Kepimpinan yang SANGAT LEMAH dari Abdullah Badawi sendiri menyebabkan rakyat bukan sahaja hilang keyakinan kepada kerajaan, malah risau dengan hala-tuju dan masa depan negara Malaysia.
5. Teguran dari mantan perdana menteri Tun Mahathir sendiri terhadap pentadbiran Abdullah membuktikan kelemahan kerajaan beliau, dan merupakan faktor penting perubahan pemikiran rakyat Malaysia secara umumnya.
6. Dasar kerajaan Abdullah yang bukan sahaja tidak konsisten, malah dilihat sebagai membahayakan masa depan Malaysia sendiri. Pembatalan "jambatan-bengkok" di Selat Tebrau ketika dalam pembinaan, dan pewujudan WPI di Selatan Johor yang memberikan banyak faedah kepada Singapura disamping menidakkan hak Malaysia. Rakyat Malaysia juga dilihat seperti deperbodohkan dalam semua pengumuman kerajaan berhubung "jambatan-bengkok" di Selat Tebrau.
7. Kegagalan Abdullah Badawi mengawal harga petrol dengan bijak, sehingga menyebabkan kenaikan harga barang keperluan lain.
8. Kerajaan pimpinan Abdullah Badawi cuba menipu rakyat Malaysia bahawa ekonomi Malaysia berada pada keadaan yang baik dengan menjadikan Indeks Komposit BSKL, kekuatan Ringgit, dan KDNK/GDP sebagai pengukur. Walhal, hampir semua rakyat Malaysia yang bertarung dalam dunia perniagaan sedar bahawa ekonomi Malaysia bukanlah pada tahap yang baik. Kadar inflasi Malaysia tidak pernah dijadikan berita di mana-mana media utama tempatan. Rakyat Malaysia yang tahu membaca dan sedar, faham bahawa kekuatan Ringgit dan kenaikan BSKL adalah disebabkan kemasukan dana pelaburan asing ke pasaran Malaysia akibat jangkaan kemerosotan ekonomi Amerika Syarikat (USA) yg menyebabkan syarikat pelaburan dan fund di seluruh dunia beralih ke Asia, bukanlah dijana daripada dalam negara. Media tempatan tidak pernah membuat perbandingan akonomi Malaysia dengan negara jirannya seperti Singapura dan Thailand, yang mempunyai pertumbuhan yang lebih baik hasil kemasukan dana asing ke Asia.
9. Perpindahan banyak syarikat multi-nasional dari Malaysia ke China membuktikan Abdullah gagal menjadikan Malaysia sebagai pasaran yang dinamik jika dilihat secara global.
10. Skandal membabitkan Koh Tsu Koon dan Motorola membuktikan kerajaan Barisan Nasional cuba menipu dan memperbodohkan rakyat Malaysia. DAP yang memainkan isu ini menyebabkan banyak undi di Pulau Pinang memihak kepada mereka.
11. Tahap keselamatan di bandar besar seluruh negara yang semakin buruk dan kegagalan kerajaan menagani perkara ini. Banyak kes bunuh dan rogol gagal deselesaikan PDRM. Kes di kalangan kanak-kanak menjadikan rakyat Malaysia risau dengan masa depan anak mereka.
12. Gejala sosial yang semakin buruk di kalangan remaja Malaysia, yang gagal ditangani BN. Pemuda BN sendiri dicop sebagai mat rempit (mungkin KJ adalah ketuanya) oleh pembangkang. Ini menyebabkan pengundi 'lari' drpd BN.
13. Kewujudan media alternatif yang banyak seperti MalaysiaKini dan Malaysia-Today, disamping blog-blog seperti JeffOoi yang banyak mendedahkan kelemahan kerajaan.
14. Media utama yang dikuasai BN gagal memberikan penjelasan mayakinkan berhubung banyak isu yang diutarakan pembangkang dan media alternatif.
15. Kebanjiran begitu banyak golongan pengundi muda yang celik IT, yang sebenarnya lebih bijak kerana golongan ini akan membandingkan laporan berita media utama tempatan dengan laporan di internet, selain media antarabangsa.
16. Sikap kerajaan pimpinan Abdullah Badawi yang tidak menunjukkan perubahan, walaupun banyak diasak oleh pembangkang dan rakyat Malaysia secara umumnya.
17. Kronisme semakin berleluasa. Lebih buruk lagi, politik kekeluargaan di bawah pimpinan Abdullah mengecewakan rakyat.
18. Kerajaan Abdullah gagal mendengar luahan bangsa India melalui HINDRAF. Sebaliknya, HINDRAF dianggap sebagai gerakan teroris. Keadaan ini menghampakan kaum India, dan digunakan sepenuhnya oleh pembangkang menyebabkan pengundi India dan Cina lari kepada pembangkang.
19. MCA, MIC dan Gerakan yang merupakan parti komponen BN gagal menyuarakan suara bangsa Cina dan India di parlimen. Ini menyebabkan mereka beralih kepada DAP dan PKR yang dilihat lebih meyakinkan dan berkaliber.
.... dan seterusnya.

Tahniah Barisan Rakyat/ Alternatif. BN perlu berubah untuk memenangi kembali hati rakyat terutamanya golongan muda yang bakal memimpin Malaysia. Sekian.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Just found this on the net...

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centred;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, they may cheat you;
Be forthright anyway.
What you spent years building, they may destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
The good you do today, they often will forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it will never be enough;
Give the world the best youve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and GOD;
It was never between you and them, Anyway.

Monday, April 10, 2006

Bypass and Disable Genuine Windows Validation Check

As detailed in Bypass Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Check in Windows Update, Microsoft has made it harder for illegitimate, or for whatever reason, your copy of Microsoft Windows couldn’t be validated, users to retrieve updates via Microsoft Updates or Windows Update, and download programs from Microsoft Download Center.

If you just want to download and apply critical updates to your system, you will be still able to do that without any hack and crack. Just set your Windows’ Automatic Updates (found in Control Panel) setting to Automatic, and let Windows does the updating job in the background. The downside is, it won’t get for you the optional updates.

If you want to download optional components from Windows Update, or simply want to download Windows Defender, Windows Media Player 10, Photo Story 3, DirectX 9 and other application softwares from Microsoft Download Center that require WGA validation tool, you will need to apply a easy and safe hack to bypass the checking.

Open Windows Explorer by clicking Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Windows Explorer.
Browse to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Windows Genuine Advantage\data folder.
Delete (or backup or move to another folder, if you want) data.dat file.
Create a new empty data.dat: You can create a new text file by (make sure you are at the right folder at above) clicking File -> New -> Text Document or right clicking on Windows Explorer window then click New -> Text Document. Then, either rename the file to data.dat. The original .txt extention of the text file need to be changed too. You can disable the hiding of extension of known file types, or follow the following steps to create a new file out of the text file:
Open the text document you just created.
Click on File -> Save As.
Change the Save as type to “All Files”.
In the File name, type data.dat
Click Save.
Go back to the Windows Explorer, at folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Windows Genuine Advantage\data, check that data.dat exists.
Delete the text file you created previously.
Set the attributes of data.dat to Hidden and Read-Only. Attributes can be set by right click on the data.dat file, and then click on Properties.
Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) validation check has been disabled.
Note: The data.dat that are replacing the original data.dat can be blank text file or empty, or you may type whatever you want there.

With this hack (or crack if you want), Windows WGA piracy check will be bypassed and you can now download software from Download Center or apply updates from Microsoft/Windows Updates.

Source: http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/03/07/bypass-and-disable-genuine-windows-validation-check/