323. A BEAUTIFUL PANERAI BUT WHERE’S THE CROWN…

This fascinating Panerai caught my eyes at the first glance a few days back...but where's the crown?

Bro Nazri was right. This is a special model release by Panerai specially for the left handers.

Besides Panerai, other watchmakers like Seiko has also released a kinetic professional diver model for left handers needs as per earlier posting no.74 @ LT Watch Gallery

More pictures, specifications and availability @ LT Watch Gallery

later...much later

by:muzill.mansor

322. THE FLOOD IS RECEDING BUT...

The flood situation in Kedah state in the northern part of peninsular Malaysia has improved according to local press. 

During our Keledang club's meeting on Sunday, it was decided that the club extend some assistance to the flood victims. I was tasked to visit the flood areas and report back to the club's committee who then will make the final decision.

Monday morning I called my dear friend and former classmate, Dato Mansor Ismail, the President of Langkawi Recreation Club( LRC), an NGO active in helping the flood victims. I was informed that the flood situation has improved but certain areas are still under water.

When told that our club would like to contribute, he was very appreciative. He said, "Any help no matter how little would most certainly be welcome." LRC has together with several other NGO in Kedah together launched a Flood relief Fund to mobilise funds for the needs of flood victims.

I made a call to the flood hotline at the Kedah State Secretariat. Upon inquiry, a lady politely answered the phone and informed us that donations can be forwarded to the natural disaster Fund under the State Secretary office.

We also got to know that donations can be forwarded through the Kedah State Welfare Department.

Well, at least we have three conduits to channel our donations and aids.

We set our journey back to Alor Setar after the Zohor prayers. The weather was kind although heavy rain started to pour by the time we reached Gurun. Exited at the Alor Setar South toll Plaza, we noticed that indeed the flood has receded. The road leading to the city is cleared although the Kedah River is still swollen.

We proceeded to Taman Golf where the federal minister of housing family home is situated near our kampung(village). Part of the road in the housing estate was still under water.

There were many cars parked along the road leading to the kampung. Jalan Dato' Syed Ahmad Shabudin in front of our family's house in still flooded to knee high. 

There was a small lorry loaded with boxes of food and mineral water. We were told that every day this lorry from the Buddhist Society will come to distribute free food and bottled mineral water to the flood victims in the kampung. All help are most welcome. So, a big thank you to the Buddhist Society.Keep up the good work.

I waddled through the flood to reach my parents house. The water was foul with stinking smell.

We surveyed the area around our house. The water mark left by the flood indicated that the flood reached just below the window level. Though water was still ankle- deep around the compound, we were quite relief and thankful that it was receding.

Some of the houses at the lower ground were still flooded. 

We then proceeded to the main relief centre at the Stadium Sultan Abdul Halim in Suka Menanti amid heavy donwpour.

Despair and empty faces awaited us at the stadium. 

The numbers remained at the relief centre has dwindled to just about 300 from the initial 2,436 on the 03 November 2010. Most of them are from Seberang Pumpong area nearby.

Much need to be done at the stadium especially keeping the compound clean from litters and the toilets hygienic.

No activities were organised to keep those at the centre occupied. Perhaps  gotong royongs could be organised to pick all the plastic containers and trash littering the compound.

From the stadium we moved to the paintball court where Muzill and his gang normally practised. The rice fields around the court resembled a huge lake.

Taking the route through Pantai Johor and Mentalun, we proceeded to Alor Setar on the way back to Ipoh, wet but happy that Muzill has made a wise decision to move out his grandparents just at the right time.

This morning, I was on telephone conversation again with Dato' Mansor Ismail, the former Langkawi Municipal Council President and now the President of Langkawi Recreation Club (LRC) to get the updates. Really happy that he is spending his retirement time doing the noble community services through his NGO in reaching out to help the needy including the flood victims. 

Well done Dato'...

Keledang Club will be very happy to extend our assistance to the flood victims through the LRC. I pray that my fellow club members will give generously...

321.Kelab Rekreasi Langkawi Lancar Tabung Derma Bantu Mangsa Banjir Di Kedah

LANGKAWI, 5 Nov (Bernama) -- Kelab Rekreasi Langkawi (Kerel) bersama beberapa badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) di Kedah melancarkan tabung derma kilat untuk membantu mangsa banjir di negeri ini.

Presiden Kerel, Datuk Mansor Ismail berkata NGO terbabit termasuk Pertubuhan Kebajikan Islam Malaysia (Perkim) Langkawi, Koperasi Pembangunan Komuniti Pelancongan Langkawi, Kelab Penerbangan, Kelab Fotograf, Persatuan Basikal Bukit Langkawi, Persatuan Menembak Langkawi, Kelab Sepak Raga Tuju dan Langkawi Motorsport Club.

Tiada sasaran kutipan ditetapkan untuk kempen itu, katanya kepada pemberita selepas melancarkan tabung itu di Kompleks Latihan Perahu Layar Kebangsaan di sini malam tadi.

Beliau berharap orang ramai dan pelancong akan menghulur sumbangan kepada tabung itu yang akan dijalankan selama sebulan sehingga 5 Dis ini.

-- BERNAMA

320. RUMAH TOK WAN BANJIR LAGI…

Petang Selasa bergegas pulang ke Alor Setar setelah mendapat panggilan telefon daripada Tok Wan pada waktu pagi. Kata Wan, jalan masuk di depan rumahnya sudah dinaiki air. Air sungai di belakang rumah juga sudah mula melimpah…

Saya maklumkan kepada Wan, insyaallah selesai satu dua tugas, saya pasti pulang untuk tinjau keadaan dan buat keputusan.

Wan cakap dia tunggu di rumah sambil berpesan supaya kala balik nanti pandu dengan cermat di jalanraya.

Kurang lebih jam 2.30 petang mula perjalanan dari Ipoh. Sampai di Alor Star hampir jam 5.00 petang. Semua kenderaan dialihkan melalui Plaza tol Alor Setar Utara. Lebuhraya PLUS dinaiki air dekat UUM.

Meluncur terus ke rumah Tok Wan. Sememangnya air telah mula membanjiri jalan di depan rumah. Kenderaan orang kampong berderetan di bahu-bahu jalan di taman perumahan yang berdekatan yang agak tinggi.

Anak-anak kecil riang bermain air limpah.

Nasib baik bawa Nissan Frontier, boleh redah masuk kawasan rumah Wan yang agak tinggi. Ada jiran tumpang letak kereta di garaj Wan. Kalau air naik lagi kereta-kereta tu pun pasti terjejas.

Sungai di belakang rumah Wan sudah senak. Air mengalir laju melimpahi kawasan rumah-rumah di tebing sungai.

Air sungai terus mengalir deras mencecah kekawasan reban ayam di belakang rumah Wan.

Jalan-jalan di depan dan kanan rumah Wan juga mula digenangi air.

Dari amatan, memang banjir besar akan tiba, harap-harap jangan sebesar banjir 2005. Letih membaiki perabut yang rosak dan mencuci lantai-lantai yang penuh dengan lumpur.

Saya bincang dengan Wan. Wan lebih suka tinggal di rumah. Tunggu dan lihat keadaan dan kemudian baru buat keputusan. Saya bimbang…

Saya lebih minat bawa Wan dan Tok pindah sebelum air bertambah besar. Perabut-perabut yang mampu diangkat ke tingkat atas rumah, dipindahkan segera. Wan kata, dia ikut saja keputusan saya.

Lepas solat Maghrib dan makan malam, Tok Wan dan Tok tawakkal tinggalkan rumah dan ikut saya pulang ke Ipoh kerana air naik dan terus naik…

Catatan: muzillmansor

Berita terkini: Khamis-jam 9.30 malam 4.11.2010

Dapat berita daripada Jiran di kampong. Air sudah membanjiri rumah-rumah kampung termasuk rumah Tok Wan. Berapa tinggi paras air yang masuk tidak dapat diketahui kerana jiran-jiran sudah mula pindah semalam.

319.OF BLINK, RADAR NUMBERS AND RAYMOND WEIL…

Nothing much has been written worthy of mention on currency and notes lately. Come to think of it, I don’t recalled writing anything on watches or clocks as well for quite a while. What more a book review.

This book ‘BLINK’ was a present received some time back but never managed to haul myself to complete reading until recently. For those who are looking for some material to loosen up the mind, this book suits you.

What I want to jot down is not the book review rather a preowned piece of RM100 Malaysian currency note tucked in between the pages of the book. I must have placed it there some time back during those initial glances at the book contents.

Turned out this currency note carries a radar number with a ZA series. Placing interesting currency notes in books surfaced from ATM, from a bank counter or a shopping change is supposed to be temporary but most of the time the transit period seemed permanent.

I remember clearly about this RM100 note bearing number ZA 1495941. 

The note was handed to Muzill to make a payment over a counter when he realized that it carries a radar number. Returning the note with a smile, he casually mentioned that I might want to keep the note and requested me to have a second glance.

Indeed it might not be an UNC, still it has a special value…and by the time I took another note, he has already settled the bill. 

I just returned the smile…

Oh yes, what has the book and the radar note got to do with the Raymond Weil? Well, I was wearing this watch when the radar number was rediscovered recently in the BLINK. This RW is a special gift from my better half many years ago and I’ll always treasure this priceless timepiece…

318. TERIMA KASIH JABATAN KESIHATAN…

Jadual biasa 'fogging' dijalankan pada petang hari. Berbeza pagi ini.

Seawal jam 6.40 pagi sekumpulan pekerja Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Perak telah bertungkus lumus membuat 'fogging' di sepanjang jalan di halaman rumah dan di belakang rumah. Jam 10.00 pagi pasukan kesihatan yang membuat pemeriksaan rumah ke rumah masih gigih bertugas.

Pegawai Kesihatan yang bertugas memaklumkan bahawa hari ini ada kes suspect denggi terbaru, katanya keluarga Hj Makmur di pangkal Persiaran Bukit Meru 10, Meru Heights, Ipoh. Wabak denggi yang menyerang kawasan perumahan kami lebih dua bulan lalu belum berjaya dibendung dan masih berleluasa.

Usaha Jabatan Kesihatan masih berjalan saban hari, penduduk-penduduk juga berusaha menjadikan kawasan rumah masing-masing bersih dan bebas nyamuk.

Masaalah yang belum selesai adalah lot-lot perumahan kosong terbiar dipenuhi lalang, rumah-rumah yang ditinggal kosong dipenuhi belukar.

Sampah-sampah kebun dari goyong royong anjuran Jabatan Kesihatan tempoh hari bersepah dibahu-bahu jalan belum dikutip lori-lori Majlis Tempatan.

Pokok-pokok hiasan di sepanjang beberapa  jalan berserabut tanpa urus dan daun-daun kering tidak disapu.

Jabatan Kesihatan tidak mampu selesaikan masaalah tersebut kerana bukan dalam bidang kuasa mereka. Maka wabak denggi tidak pasti boleh terus dihapuskan di kawasan kami.

Majlis Tempatan yang bertanggungjawab atas urusan pembersihan sampah dan menghantar notis kepada pemunya lot-lot kosong dan rumah kosong barangkali masih tidur dan pekerja-pekerja yang dihantar dilihat banyak rehat daripada bekerja…

Kepada majlis tempatan tersebut, teruskanlah gya cara kerja mu dan tidurmu seperti lagu ‘tidurlah wahai permaisuri’ dendangan P.Ramlee.

Nak tulis  surat aduan lagi kepada agensi tersebut barangkali dah tak lalu…

Nak harapkan Wakil Rakyat, alahai, kalau ada bau pilihanraya, mungkin timbullah bayangnya semula di kawasan ni...

Kepada kakitangan Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Perak, sekalong penghargaan dirakamkan dan tahniah atas kerja kuat.  We salute you for your vigorous efforts. Kalau kerajaan nak bagi bonus, inilah jenis pekerja-pekerja yang layak.

317. UPDATE ON 'KAMPONG BOY' THE MUSICAL

Met my friend, Dato' Lat at the Surau this evening for the Maghrib prayers. Caught up  with him on his latest projects after the prayers... was informed that 'Kampong Boy' might not be able to be stage this year.

The project could hit the stage in March next year.

I told him, irrespective of the performance date, please keep me informed. Our family enjoys theatrical performances once in a while whenever we can spare the time together. The whole family except Muzill was at Istana Budaya recently to watch 'CUCI-CUCI' the Musical. Unfortunately we missed the date on the 'MAHATHIR'.

What a fantastic show 'CUCI-CUCI' turnout to be. The spontaneous dialogues was just hilarious and satirical...

316. IT WAS SET 30 YEARS AGO…

Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia officially declared Malacca as a developed state yesterday, precisely on 20/10/2010.   

Congratulations to all the past and present leaders of that small yet thriving state for the achievements of pushing a sleepy hollow place into a world tourist destination.

A lot of credit has been showered to the charisma and the vision of the present chief minister which I guessed is quite justified.

But I liken the development of a state to the athletic event of a relay race.  All the runners play their part to win.

The process of the development of Malacca I reckoned began during the time of chief ministership of Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik back in early eighties with full support of Tun Mahathir, the then Prime Minister of Malaysia. 

What a visionary leader and hands on manager he was.

He was very meticulous with financial results of departments and state agencies assessing the real performances, analysing the variances and getting the departments to buck up. He was full of ideas on moving the state forward with well executed tourism projects.

I know… because I served under him then in Malacca as the State Treasurer, entrusted with managing of the state funds over 17 departments, during the days when Ali Rastam (Dato Seri), the present Chief Minister, too was a departmental head.

 Back then, we already dare to produce a surplus annual budget for the state!

Malacca folks should be proud of their success despite the limitation of state resources.  

To me, the real architect for Malacca's achievements today is undoubtedly Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik who laid the foundation.

He was succeeded by Dato' Seri Mohd Ali Rastam, a fine builder who completed the development of Malacca in grand design.

WELL DONE MALACCA! 

315.SATU IKATAN PADUAN KASIH...

314. SMOKING OUT THE VIRUS-CARRYING AEDES MOSQUITOES…

The Ipoh Health Department staffs have been making their evening rounds smoking out mosquitoes almost every day ever since the dengue fever becomes endemic in our area. This evening is no exception.

Residents of Meru Heights, Ipoh have been the subject of attacks virus carrying Aedes mosquitoes since early August.

More than 20 cases of Dengue fever victims have since been admitted and the list has yet to stop.

Pointing fingers does not stop the Aedes mosquitoes from breeding and spreading the disease. Concerted efforts from Ipoh City Hall, all government agencies and all parties concerned including the residents are the only way to curtail and control the mosquitoes.

Hence the initiatives by the Health Department for doing the evening rounds and spearheading the gotong royong last Saturday was most commendable. Thank you Sirs…

Though not many residents turned up at the Community Hall last Saturday morning for the gotong royong, I guessed most of the residents did participate judging by the piles of garden refuse along the roadsides. They chose to stay back and clean up their own compound.

I just wished the Ipoh City Hall had sent the lorries to collect those piles of garden refuse which could be potential mosquitoes breeding grounds.

Clearly, the efforts of the Health Department are producing results as there are fewer mosquitoes in the area.

To Ipoh City Hall, please be more proactive. There are so much more you guys can act.

I acknowledged once in a while you people did visit us to produce compound tickets, gave us free samples of Abate and then fogging. We really appreciate those gestures. I reckon it takes much more than that to rid of the virus-carrying Aedes mosquitoes.

A couple of months ago, I wrote a long letter to the Mayor appealing for assistance to tidy up our area prompting some positive actions.

Thank you Mr. Mayor. 

Once again, I appeal to the good Mayor of Ipoh, do pay us a visit and witness the uncollected rubbish, the overgrown empty housing lots, the unkempt empty houses, the untidy construction sites, the rubbish dumps, the uncut grass along the clogged main drains and along the hill slopes. 

I know that you do care...and seeing is believing.

A breakfast or evening tea dialogue with the residents, Mr. Mayor would certainly be most welcome. Do bring along your officers and cleaning contractors just to make the dialogue more lively and fascinating.

God willing, together we can make this world a better place to live...

P/s (updated 19 Oct 2010 at 12.30p.m)

I saw  some workers cutting grass on both sides of the road in front of my house , Are they from Ipoh City Hall? Thanks anyway...