Update from Penang, Pulau Tikus, Malaysia

Stroke Related Organization

2010-12-01T15:39:00.000-08:00

I am going to spend some effort on compiling the list of the stroke related organization worldwide (particularly in Malaysia). Family members of stroke patient needs a lot of support but I feel that it is lacking in Malaysia. Where should they go for help or advice?? General Hospital is just trying to keep their hands clean and the private hospital is merely interested in making money. A sad situation in Malaysia.

My friend's mother passed away after suffering from stroke

2010-07-06T16:44:00.000-07:00

My friend's mother has passed away after 8 months of stroke suffering. I hope that there is explanation out there on why it happens to stroke patient? Same as my mother, she was recovering slowly from stroke. However, one week before she passed away, she started to feel uncomfortable.

My condolences to her. For those whose parents still alive, pay attention to your parents health.

Rising pressure of healthcare cost

2010-05-19T16:42:00.000-07:00

The medical cost in Malaysia is increasing. It seems that it is not enough, MOH is introducing the fee paying section in government hospital. I wonder what the government is thinking. Healthcare is the social responsibility of government. Refer to the report in the Star on the rising pressure of healthcare cost in Malaysia, it is already a burden to the poor and impossible to them to seek treatment in private hospital. I am sure that doctors in the Government hospital will be biased towards towards the patients as it is the weakness of human being.

In Remembrance and Honor of my mother, Tan Seng Keng (陈秀缎)

2010-05-06T12:14:00.000-07:00

I don’t have a lot of memory of my childhood. However, I could still remember vividly that we used to have our meals on the floor when my family first moved into the house where I grew up. It’s not typical for Chinese but simply we were poor at that time. Not long after that, I recalled my mother came home one day by a trishaw with a foldable table in front of her. She had bought the table for us and that was when we started to have proper meals.

My mother had never deprived her children from any necessity when we were kids. The scene of her going from one house to another to wash clothes to earn a meager living to make ends meet still linger in my mind. Imagine that she had to wash clothes for whole family members of more than one household manually using her bare hands everyday without fail. Normal people like us today could not even do their own laundry. Not only that, she would bring back extra clothes to wash at home. She did it all on her own, and she never asked any of us to help her. She was doing all this on top of raising 5 children. This is the sacrifice of a great mother to her children.

Her hectic schedule would start in the early wee hours despite hardly had any quality rest each day. She wakes up early in the morning everyday to start her housework and prepare us for school. When we got up, everything was ready for us. Hot water she would boil for us to bathe and breakfast was served, thereafter we were ready for school. Although she is illiterate (she only finished her education at Standard 1), she knew the importance of education for her children. She ensured that all of us go to school, making sure that she earns enough to pay for our books, school bus, pocket money and everything that we need. We are lucky enough that we are never required to work as a kid. We cherished every moment with her and enjoyed our childhood like other kids, although we never had any luxury toys to play with.

My fondest memory of her was she had a kind heart like bodhisattva as she would help anybody who required assistance. Poverty had never hindered her from performing any good deed or charity. She had instilled such good quality in us and we would continue in doing so.

I could not remember if she ever falls sick although she worked so hard throughout the years. Finally, she fell sick during my third year in university. She was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer and had to go for treatment. I was not there with her to go through all this. I never know that it was very painful to go through chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I only came to know about such dreadful experience from friends who either underwent the treatment or description from others. Throughout the years and the treatments, she bears all this agony alone and I never heard her complained a single word. She is a tough and brave woman!

The only reason I can think of why she never complained now is that she did not want us to be worried. She chose to go through the battle on her own. Maybe the fact that she survived the cancer is because she still had unfinished task, that is to make sure that we are all grown up and taken care of. At that time, my younger sisters just enrolled her first year in university.

At last, she recovered from the cancer and survived for more than twelve years. However, her condition started to deteriorate. At one time, she lost her sense of taste. She started to have hearing loss and totally lost her right hearing. She complained of dizziness and imbalance during walking. However, she still insisted on going to market every morning and even finished all house chores by herself, just to make sure that all of us are well taken care of. This is the love of a mother for her children.

In April 2008, another tragedy happened. She fell down outside the bathroom and knocked her head during midnight. Luckily my sister discovered her lying down unconsciously and bleeding profusely. She suffered from the brain contusion and had to be hospitalized for about one month in hospital. Again, she was very tough and survived; and life resumed to “normal” after that.

After surviving so many ordeal and illness, on 23rd April 2010, my mother passed away. I received a call from my sister in the afternoon that day. She told me that there was something wrong with her. Her face turned bluish. When the ambulance arrived, it was already too late. The nurse told me that she has gone, and they are not supposed to carry a dead person to the ambulance. It’s a sudden shock to me; I totally did not expect it to happen.

It’s after more than 5 months of suffering from the stroke. It was a total shock and disbelief for me. I did not expect it at all. She was still at her usual state the day before. After the stroke, her whole body was paralyzed. She can only move her legs and hands a little bit. Occasionally she would respond to us by moving her eyes and sometimes she did not give us any feedback at all.

When she was first attacked with the stroke, the doctors from Penang General Hospital refused to save her as they had given up hope on her. I was really angry and till today, I have yet to receive any explanation from the hospital. We enquired at Penang Adventist Hospital and the doctor gave us lame excuse that no bed was available in the ICU ward and therefore they are unable to perform the surgery. Finally we admitted her to Penang Gleneagles Hospital and a neurosurgeon finally agreed to operate on her. However, we were informed that she only had 50% chance of survival. About seven to eight hours of precious time in saving her life was wasted in Penang General Hospital.

After the operation that took more than 4 hours, she managed to survive although her condition was very bad. The hemorrhagic stroke had damaged her brain stem. The doctor had to put the tracheotomy to let her breathe. She could only be fed using feeding tube. One of the things I regret most is the fact that I did not spend enough time to care for her after she was discharged.

We took her home after more than two months in hospital. Just when we thought that she would slowly recover and recuperate, suddenly she passed away on 23rd April, 2010. Her sudden demise without leaving any words has left a huge emptiness in us. I have never said “I Love You” to her as this is not our culture to express such feeling openly. However, I want to say “I Love You” and “Thank You” for your endless sacrifice. Mom, you should be proud of yourself. You have nurtured your 5 children to be who we are today.

Resources to help caregivers of stroke patient

2010-03-20T03:12:00.000-07:00

Today, I find that there is little or no resources to help caregivers of stroke patient. The burden on the caregivers can be enormous. National Stroke Association of US, http://www.stroke.org/, is a good site for us to get information on stroke. Check it out.

3 months after stroke

2010-02-22T05:24:00.000-08:00

It is now 3 month since my mom suffered from stroke. Today, she is still lying on the bed/chair without able to move the body or responding to any of us. However, she can still move her leg and hands (only slight movement though). I am wondering what else I can do for her.....

I sent her for Qigong session last week and another session tomorrow. Since the western medicine can not do anything now, we have to try alternate medicine. Any advice is welcome!!!

Suction Catheter With Control

2010-02-10T10:53:00.000-08:00

I was looking for suction catheter with control for my mother and found out that it's very expensive in the pharmacy. In case you don't know what it is, it is used for patient with Tracheostomy. It is connected to the vacuum pump and inserted into the lung of patient to suck out the phlegm developed as a result of Tracheostomy.

I've purchase bulk of them. If you need them, please let me know. I am going to sell about half the price of the price in pharmacy. The price is RM1 (must buy at least 10 pcs). Size is 14.

Tragedy in family - Stroke

2010-01-27T13:39:00.001-08:00

On 20 November 2009, my mom suffered from Hemorrhagic Stroke. She was unconscious for 2 hours before she was sent to hospital by ambulance.

Upon arriving in Penang General Hospital, the doctors accessing her condition gave up on her. They told me that there was nothing they can do to save her live. Imagine – the doctors were just going to let her DIE!! Worst still, the doctors were trying to convince me that no any private hospital was going to accept her.

I just could not give up on her. I asked for the CT Scan and a letter from the neurosurgeon, which luckily he was helpful on this and even gave his cell number on the letter in case doctors outside would want to understand the situation.

At last, she was operated in one private hospital and saved her life. However, 2 months after the operation, she is still lying on the bed. Our hope is that she will get up one day and live a normal life.

From now onwards, I would like to dedicate this blog to Stroke patients. They are vulnerable to the pathetic state of health system in Malaysia: Poor management of public healthcare and exorbitant cost of private health care.

President Obama won Nobel Peace Prize

2009-10-09T17:49:00.000-07:00

This is really a surprise. In the first place, what have he done to deserve this prize? Yes, he did talk a lot about peace between east and west. However, so far we just don't see the real action taken.

Make Sure Your Kids Live Better Than You

2009-09-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

Make Sure Your Kids Live Better Than You

This is actually an article that I found in Yahoo finance. I find that it is really true and can actually adapt to Malaysia.

Malaysian mom and dad have always wanted their kids to live a better live. However, sometime it puts a pressure towards the kids. The parents will want to make sure that the kids pick up every skill they could possibly do.

Below is the adaptation:

Today's children face a far different economic landscape--one marked by stiffer global competition, an uncertain job market, easier credit, declining retirement benefits and a host of new financial products that make managing money on a day-to-day basis increasingly complex. The result: That rising standard of living is no longer the slam dunk that previous generations enjoyed.

Scary stuff, huh? Sure, but challenging too, with the potential for greater rewards--yes, that better life--for young people who are well equipped to navigate the new terrain. Whether your kids are toddlers or have toddlers of their own, you have the power to tilt the financial odds in their favor. These strategies will help.

Strategy No. 1: Explain the New Money Rules
Unlike you and your parents before you, kids today are growing up in a world in which technology has made money largely invisible. Want to buy something? Hand a piece of plastic to a cashier and the goods are yours. Need cash? Stick a card into a bank machine and out pops the dough that probably landed in your account through direct deposit of your paycheck. Since actual dollars change hands far less often these days, children don't get to learn by observation how financial transactions work, and parents miss out on everyday opportunities to teach the basics of managing money.

So it's up to Mom and Dad to explain what kids can't see with their own eyes, starting as soon as your son throws his first candy-demanding tantrum at the grocery store or your daughter asks for a magic money card like yours. "The earlier you begin talking to your children about money, the better chance you'll have to instill the values you think are important," says Philip Heckman, director of youth programs for the Credit Union National Association.

Instead of delivering formal lectures, casually drop lessons into your daily financial routines. When your preschooler accompanies you to the ATM, let him know that you're taking out money you earned at work and put in the bank for safekeeping. Verbalize your purchase considerations at the store, comparing prices and quality out loud. If you whip out the plastic to pay, explain that either the amount is being taken out of your bank account directly (if you are paying with a debit card) or you will get a bill in the mail that you must pay later (if it's a credit card). Add layers of detail and sophistication as your child gets older, explaining, for example, the concept of interest and late fees.

Look for ways to directly involve your child in financial activities, making a game of it if possible. If you talk to a child about the importance of saving money, "it just goes in one ear and out the other," says Joni, a radio producer in Atlanta. But if you give them the money saved, she says, "it's a very powerful motivator."

Strategy No. 2: Fight the Spend Trend
Saving money, of course, has always been a virtue. One way to counter today's gotta-have-it-now mentality is to make saving money a habit early on. Start with a traditional piggy bank, preferably a see-through container. A kindergartner may not be impressed by a bank balance statement, but he will intuitively understand that a large pile of coins is better than a small one and will get satisfaction from watching it grow. That's why New York City media director Vladimir Leveque, 32, gave his son Amir, 5, an empty five-gallon watercooler bottle that the boy is filling up with loose change that his dad brings home from work each night. When the bottle is full, Leveque will use the money to fund Amir's first savings account. "I'm introducing him to the ideology of saving," Leveque says.

As your child grows older, give her money of her own to manage (see "Making Allowances" at left). Then encourage her to regularly set some of it aside for long-term goals, like a coveted toy or, for a teenager, a cell phone. Help her plan how much she'll need to save, over what time period and, as extra incentive, consider matching a portion of what she socks away. Open a savings account for her at the bank and suggest that she put some of her money there for safekeeping. The idea: "Make it easy to save and hard to spend," says Robert Manning, a finance professor at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Get the whole family involved in savings efforts too, as opportunities arise. For instance, when their three kids clamored for a pool in the backyard a few years ago, Sheri and John Hart of Dayton spearheaded a "pool plan" to save the necessary $3,500 for the aboveground model they wanted. Everyone agreed to make sacrifices: The family ate fewer meals out; John, 46, general counsel for the University of Dayton, moonlighted doing some extra legal work; Sheri, 43, postponed haircuts; the kids contributed some birthday money. If one of them whined to buy something on a shopping trip, "We just used the phrase 'pool plan,'" says John, "and they would remember why this was a looking trip and not a buying trip." When the pool was finally installed, "there was a sense of pride and accomplishment," says John. "The kids didn't miss what they gave up in order to achieve it." And the lesson appears to be sticking. His son Jordan, 17, recently used his own savings from afterschool and summer jobs to buy his first car.

Strategy No. 3: Hone Their Competitive Edge
The paternalistic, cradle-to-grave employer is so 20th century. Kids of the new millennium can expect to switch jobs several times in the course of a career, and perhaps industries as well, as technologies change, companies seek to keep costs down and global competition stiffens. While you can't know which jobs will be in demand a generation from now, you can count on workers with an enterprising and entrepreneurial bent to have an edge. "We've got to prepare our children to be flexible and self-sufficient to survive in an unpredictable job market and a changing economy," says Bonnie Drew, an executive at YoungBiz, which teaches business skills to young people.

Nurture your child's inner entrepreneur in the grade school years by helping him find odd jobs to do, like washing cars or raking yards. Encourage moneymaking projects such as a used-toy sale or a lemonade stand. They provide an opportunity, says Drew, to talk about various aspects of a business, including how to market it and set a price that will turn a profit.

Be sure also to make your own work visible, talking to your kids about your job, taking them with you to the office occasionally and maybe even giving them a task or two to do. Every couple of weeks or so, for example, Avon representative Poonkulali "Lee" Suresh pays her children Sathesh, 10, and Sabrina, 6, a few dollars an hour to help her set up tables, stamp her name on catalogues and sort out products. "This is the best way for them to understand that money does not come easily and you have to work for what you want," says Suresh, 38, who grew up in Sri Lanka and immigrated to the U.S. with her husband Suresh Kumaran, 42, six years ago.
Strategy No. 4: Reach Higher for Education
For past generations, graduating from a good college was an almost surefire means to success. With degrees increasingly commonplace, however, future generations may need to kick it up a notch to get the same higher-education advantage.

And, yes, quality counts. A 2005 Cornell University study reports that students who attend better-rated colleges do indeed end up earning more than their counterparts at lesser institutions--and that the boost to income from attending higher-quality schools is big enough to compensate for their typically higher cost.
So try bumping up those contributions to your 529 plan (or get started now), and steel yourself to the idea of paying those tuition bills somewhat longer than you'd planned. The ultimate price tag, though, may be smaller than you think if you send your child to a top-rated public institution. In fact, the same study found that attending highly rated public colleges packed the same earnings punch as comparable private schools, making them the better investment, in the researcher's estimation.

Strategy No. 5: Give Big Kids a Hand, Too
Your role as a financial mentor doesn't necessarily end once your child is an adult. According to a University of Michigan study, people ages 25 to 34 who live on their own typically receive more than $14,000 in assistance from their parents. As the economic climate gets tougher, odds are your adult child could probably use a hand from you too.

Giving money to your kids can reduce the taxes your heirs may ultimately owe on your estate. (Only estates worth more than $1.5 million will be taxed this year, and that amount is due to rise over the next few years. The estate tax is scheduled to be eliminated in 2010, and then, unless the law is changed, it will be reinstated with an exemption of $1 million in 2011.) You can give as much as $11,000 to each child this year without paying a gift tax; couples can give up to $22,000.

If you're like most families, though, you're probably less concerned about estate planning than you are with simply providing the help your child needs now. To make sure a gift of money has the most impact, consider targeting it for a particular purpose--say, chipping in for the down payment on a first home or paying off the balance on a high-interest credit card. If you're attaching conditions, however, make your expectations clear. If you intend that the money be used for graduate school and you'd be unhappy if it were spent on a new car instead, say so in advance to avoid hard feelings, and give your child an opportunity to decline the gift.
Also consider that, however well intentioned your gifts may be, too much of a good thing can hurt your kids in the long run. Regular gifts may encourage a lifestyle your son can't really afford or send the message to your daughter that she can't take care of herself. "Parents should use their money to help their kids become independent," says Jon Gallo, co-author of Silver Spoon Kids: How Successful Parents Raise Responsible Children, "not to maintain their dependence."

In fact, the single best step you can take to help your kids prosper as adults won't cost you a dime: Be a good role model. After all, children learn most of what they know by observation. So if you rely on plastic to keep up with the Joneses and never manage to save a dime, don't be surprised if your children grow up to do the same, no matter how much you preach to them about living within their means. "It's like parents telling their kids not to smoke and then lighting up a pack a day," says financial planner Kevin McKinley, author of Make Your Kid a Millionaire. In the end, there's no substitute for setting the right example. If you haven't exactly been a paragon of financial virtue lately, there's no time like the present to start.

You can find the full article here:

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/102033/Make_Sure_Your_Kids_Live_Better_Than_You;_ylt=AtAsISU2Ny_JnFCuXXsb_tg40tIF

RM1 bread, spoiled before expiry date

2009-09-26T18:32:00.000-07:00

I just want to share with you the experience I have. I bought 2 loaf of bread from a reputable Hypermarket in Penang Island and one of it spoiled before the expiry date. This is the 2nd time it happens and I feel that the management is not looking into the matter seriously. I don't have the photos with me right now. I will upload it when I get my camera back. Sometime I wonder if there is really 'quality control' at the so-call multinational hypermarket.

Article published in Ezine

2009-09-17T07:35:00.000-07:00

My article about "Guide to Buying a Digital Camera" has been published in Ezine. Take a look at it.

Guides to buying a digital camera

2009-07-18T03:45:00.000-07:00

There are many brands and models of digital camera in the market. However, how do you choose a right digital camera for yourself? One of the lessons that I learned recently is "DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT THE SALES PERSONS TELL YOU".

My advices on digital camera (compact) buying process are:
1. Determine the budget
2. Determine the purpose of buying the camera
3. Survey about the cameras that fits into 1 &2 above. Determine which are the cameras that suit the criteria
4. Read the reviews about the cameras that you have shortlisted.

There a lots of websites about digital camera. In the websites, you could find lots of information about digital camera. Most importantly, there are reviews about different models of camera from different brands. They have a set of standard criteria/process to test the camera and basically comparing the cameras based on the same standard. However, that's is not enough. Read about the feedback/comments from users who have bought the cameras.

1 http://www.digitalcameratracker.com
2 http://www.steves-digicams.com
3 http://www.dpreview.com
4 http://www.cameras.co.uk
5 http://www.letsgodigital.org/
6 http://www.dcviews.com/
7 http://www.trustedreviews.com/
8 http://reviews.cnet.com
9 http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/
10 http://www.photographypress.co.uk/
11 http://digital-photography-school.com/
12 http://www.infoborder.com
13 http://alatest.com/
14 http://www.dphotojournal.com/
15 http://www.pcworld.com
16 http://review.zdnet.com/
17 http://www.pocket-lint.com

5. Get the feels of the camera by actually playing with them in the shops.

Additional point:
i) More pixel not necessarily means better photo. It depends on the quality of the processor. In fact, you don't need 10M if you only use it for leisure.
ii) Make sure that camera can still produce good quality photo even at ISO400. In the auto mode, camera can automatically adjust the ISO and would reach high value. The recent camera I bought coudl not produce decent photo using auto scene selector mode.

Dead during interrogation by MACC - justice for Beng Hock?

2009-07-17T05:30:00.000-07:00

Tragedy happened in Malaysia!! A man was found dead yesterday during his interrogation by MACC (Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission). He is an aide to one of Selangor state exco.

Please click this link to read about the news http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/108635 (in Chinese)

The Malaysian public has the right to know what happened that cause Beng Hock's death. This tragedy should not have happened in Malaysia. We live in the country with rules of law.

A blog is created dedicated to the cause. http://justiceforbenghock.blogspot.com/

THE TEACHING OF MATHS AND SCIENCE - Polls by Tun Mahathir

2009-07-14T04:57:00.000-07:00

I believe many parents are interested to participate in the poll on whether you agree on the decision to teach maths & science in English.

I would predict that the poll end result will be biased to one side. The reason is very simple, those who vote online are from the cities and they will support the teaching in English(they support it). However, majority of the folks from the kampung or rural area have either limited access to internet or the use of internet among them are limited(they against it).

Personally I feel that the purpose of education is to make the students absorb and understand the subjects that they study. Therefore, the teaching using the respective mother tongue makes more sense. If the government wants to strengthen the English, pay more attention on teaching of English.

Hurry up if you want to vote, go to : http://chedet.co.cc/chedetblog/ (you can find the voting box on the right).

List of Dentist in Penang

2009-07-11T15:58:00.000-07:00

Below is the list of dental clinic in Penang:

Air Hitam

No.	Name	Address	Contact No.	Doctor(s)
1.	FORMOSA DENTAL SURGERY	123, LORONG SELAMAT 10400 PENANG	Tel: 04-2274430	DR LIM KEAN BENG, DDS (TAIWAN-KAOHSIUNG)

Balik Pulau

No.	Name	Address	Contact No.	Doctor(s)
1.	KLINIK PERGIGIAN A MARINA	858K, JALAN BALIK PULAU, MUKIM 6, TAMAN SRI INDAH BALIK PULAU 11000 PENANG	Tel: 04-8662007	DR A MARINA, BDS (MYSORE)
2.	KLINIK PERGIGIAN ISLAND	79, JALAN BESAR, BALIK PULAU 11000 PENANG	Tel: 04-8669006 Fax: 04 8669006	DR MANJIT SINGH A/L GURBAX SINGH, BDS (MYSORE) DR RAJINDER KAUR BEDI, BDS (MYSORE) DR MANJIT KAUR A/P HARDIAL SINGH, BDS (MANGALORE)

Bayan Baru

No.	Name	Address	Contact No.	Doctor(s)
1.	BHAR DENTAL SURGERY	1-P, JALAN SUNGAI NIBONG, BAYAN BARU 11900 PENANG	Tel: 04-6446555	DR SNEH BHAR, BDS (GURU NANAK) DR ONG SHAW FENG, BDS (MYSORE) DR TEJ KAUR A/P MAHINDER SINGH, BDS (MYSORE) DR AMEENNUL HUSSAINI, BDS (MADRAS) DR ANNA PURANI ACHI, BDS (MANGALORE) CAPT(R) DR TEK BINDER SINGH BHAR, BDS (PUNJAB) DR ONG JUNG THAI, BDS (BOMBAY)
2.	HOSPITAL PANTAI MUTIARA	82, JALAN TENGAH, BAYAN BARU 11900 PENANG	Tel: 04-6433888 Fax: 04-6432888	DR LOOI CHEE KHEONG, BDS (SINGAPORE)
3.	ISLAND DENTAL SURGERY	102-A, 1ST FLOOR, JALAN MAYANG PASIR, BAYAN BARU 11950 PENANG	Tel: 04-6437803 Fax: 04-6437803	DR MANJIT SINGH A/L GURBAX SINGH, BDS (MYSORE) DR RAJINDER KAUR BEDI, BDS (MYSORE)
4.	KLINIK PERGIGIAN A MARINA	4-E, JALAN SG NIBONG, BAYAN BARU 11950 PENANG	Tel: 04-6437487 Fax: 04-6413790	DR A MARINA, BDS (MYSORE)

Bukit Mertajam

No.	Name	Address	Contact No.	Doctor(s)
1.	CHIN HONG DENTAL SURGERY	229 JALAN PASAR, BUKIT MERTAJAM 14000 PENANG	Tel: 04-5390743 Fax: 04-5390743	DR LIM CHIN HONG, BDS (SINGAPORE)
2.	KLINIK GIGI SENTOSA	2658, JALAN KULIM, PUSAT PERNIAGAAN MAJU JAYA, KAMPUNG BARU, BUKIT MERTAJAM 14000 PENANG	Tel: 04-5391761 Fax: 04-5391761	DR BASKARAN A/L GOBALA KRISHNAN, BDS (MYSORE)
3.	KLINIK PERGIGIAN WOOI	15A, 1ST FLOOR, JALAN TEMBIKAI, TAMAN MUTIARA, BUKIT MERTAJAM 14000 PENANG	Tel: 04-5390507 Fax: 04-5390507	DR LIM CHIEW WOOI, BDSc (QUEENSLAND) DR MARTIN ARULANANDAM, BDS (MADRAS)
4.	OON DENTAL SURGERY AND SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC CENTRE	45, JALAN ASTON, BUKIT MERTAJAM 14000 PENANG	Tel: 04-5387502	DR OON CHENG KHAN, BDS (BOMBAY)

Butterworth

No.	Name	Address	Contact No.	Doctor(s)
1.	BHAR DENTAL SURGERY	49, JALAN TENGGIRI, SEBERANG JAYA, BUTTERWORTH 13700 PENANG	Tel: 04-3988919	DR SNEH BHAR, BDS (GURU NANAK) DR SEET AI LING, BDS (SYDNEY) DR TEJ KAUR A/P MAHINDER SINGH, BDS (MYSORE) DR AMEENNUL HUSSAINI, BDS (MADRAS) DR LEE SIEW MOY, BDS (MALAYA) CAPT(R) DR TEK BINDER SINGH BHAR, BDS (PUNJAB)
2.	THANG DENTAL SURGERY	3849, 1ST FLOOR, JALAN BAGAN LUAR, BUTTERWORTH 12000 PENANG	Tel: 04-3239277 Fax: No Fax M/C	DR TEOH HOCK LYE, BDS (MALAYA)

Gelugor

No.	Name	Address	Contact No.	Doctor(s)
1.	BANU DENTAL SURGERY	350-F, JALAN SULTAN AZLAN SHAH, GELUGOR 11700 PENANG	Tel: 04-6579225	DR MARTIN ARULANANDAM, BDS (MADRAS)
2.	KIEW DENTAL SURGERY	723A-1, VANDA BUSINESS PARK, JALAN SUNGAI DUA, GELUGOR 11700 PENANG	Tel: 04-6588932 Fax: 04-6568932	DR SAMUEL LIM SEK YING, ISMPP (MALAYA) DR KIEW HEN CHONG, BDS (MANIPAL)
3.	TEH DENTAL SURGERY	350-A, JALAN SULTAN AZLAN SHAH, GELUGOR 11700 PENANG	Tel: 04-6583332 Fax: 04-6563857	DR TEH SAM MOY, BDS (SINGAPORE)

Georgetown

No.	Name	Address	Contact No.	Doctor(s)
1.	ENG DENTAL SURGERY	33-B, JALAN CANTONMENT, PULAU TIKUS, 10350 PENANG	Tel: 04-2268623	DR ENG HENG TONG, BDS (SINGAPORE)
2.	ISLAND DENTAL SURGERY	48-B, 1ST FLOOR, LINTANG ANGSANA, BANDAR BARU FARLIM 11500 PENANG	Tel: 04-8261254	DR MANJIT SINGH A/L GURBAX SINGH, BDS (MYSORE) DR RAJINDER KAUR BEDI, BDS (MYSORE) DR MANJIT KAUR A/P HARDIAL SINGH, BDS (MANGALORE)
3.	LIM DENTAL SURGERY	NO. 3, LENGKOK BURMAH ( BURMAH CRESENT), PULAU TIKUS 10350 PENANG	Tel: 04-2298686	DR GOH KEIN JOO, BDS (MALAYA) DR LIM EWE LIANG, BDS (SYDNEY) DR SHARON VOON LEE PENG, BDS (SYDNEY)
4.	ONG & LIM DENTAL SURGERY	185-A, CAMPBELL STREET 10100 PENANG	Tel: 04-2619119	DR ONG SHAW FENG, BDS (MYSORE) DR XAVIER JAYAKUMAR, BDS (MYSORE) DR LIM SUAT HONG, BDS (MYSORE)
5.	TAN DENTAL SURGERY	2-F, JALAN BURMAH 10050 PENANG	Tel: 04-2633091 Fax: 04-2621096	DR LIM CHIEW WOOI, BDSc (QUEENSLAND) DR TAN HONG PIN, BDS (ADELAIDE)

Island Glades

No.	Name	Address	Contact No.	Doctor(s)
1.	ISLAND DENTAL SURGERY	1-M, 1ST FLOOR, LORONG DELIMA, ISLAND GLADES (1H) 11700 PENANG	Tel: 04-6571402 Fax: 04-6571402	DR MANJIT SINGH A/L GURBAX SINGH, BDS (MYSORE) DR RAJINDER KAUR BEDI, BDS (MYSORE) DR MANJIT KAUR A/P HARDIAL SINGH, BDS (MANGALORE)

Jelutong

No.	Name	Address	Contact No.	Doctor(s)
1.	BHAR DENTAL & SURGERY	15-B, LENGKOK DUMBAR, JELUTONG 11600 PENANG	Tel: 04-6585777	DR SNEH BHAR, BDS (GURU NANAK) DR TEJ KAUR A/P MAHINDER SINGH, BDS (MYSORE) DR AMEENNUL HUSSAINI, BDS (MADRAS) DR ANNA PURANI ACHI, BDS (MANGALORE) CAPT(R) DR TEK BINDER SINGH BHAR, BDS (PUNJAB)
2.	ONG & LIM DENTAL SURGERY	14E, JALAN BATU LANCHANG, (JALAN TAN SRI THE EWE LIN) 11600 PENANG	Tel: 04-2823731	DR ONG SHAW FENG, BDS (MYSORE)

Nibong Tebal

No.	Name	Address	Contact No.	Doctor(s)
1.	KLINIK PERGIGIAN LIM BERSAUDARA	3617, JALAN CHE AHMAD, NIBONG TEBAL 14300 PENANG	Tel: 04-5931437 / 012 4217205 Fax: 04-5931437	DR LIM BOON BEN, BDS (MANIPAL)

Prai

No.	Name	Address	Contact No.	Doctor(s)
1.	KLINIK PERGIGIAN JURU	783, Jalan Tok Kangar, Juru 783, JALAN TOK KANGAR, JURU, SEBERANG JAYA 14100 PENANG	Tel: 017-4794549	DR MARTIN ARULANANDAM, BDS (MADRAS)
2.	KLINIK PERGIGIAN SEBERANG JAYA	41, JALAN TENGGIRI, BANDAR SEBERANG JAYA, PRAI 13700 PENANG	Tel: 04-3903013	DR HARI SINGH S/O RATTAN SINGH, BDS (CALCUTTA)

Sg Nibong

No.	Name	Address	Contact No.	Doctor(s)
1.	CH'NG DENTAL SURGERY	12H-1, JALAN TUN DR AWANG, SUNGAI NIBONG KECIL 11900 PENANG	Tel: 04-6411094	DR CHAN KIENG HOCK, BDS (MALAYA) DR CH\'NG CHIN HOCK, BDS (MALAYA) DR TEOH BOON LEONG, ISMPP (MALAYA) DR OON CHENG KHAN, BDS (BOMBAY)

Kampung Buah Pala - never ending stories

2009-07-11T15:43:00.000-07:00

The latest hottest issue in Penang right now is about Kampung Buah Pala. I believe the most important things to do are :

1) Getting the expert to determine if the site truly has a historical value under the World Heritage Site criteria. If yes, I believe present State Government does have the responsibility to preserve the site (either legally or financially).

2) The present government has been talking about irregularity involved in the land deal. If it has proof, those involved should be brought to court and face the music. At last the DAPSY take the step to lodge a police report. However, I wonder if that should have been done by the state government itself.

LED industry

2009-07-11T05:32:00.000-07:00

I found a blog about LEDs. It is exciting to know that. Fyi, LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. It is in the position of taking over the illumination world with more and more retrofitting effort to replace the bulb. At the same time, the efficiency and brightness are improving and at the same time, price of LED in going down.

http://worldofleds.blogspot.com/

Train your Brain - Illusions and Paradoxes

2009-07-09T06:07:00.000-07:00

Look at the pictures

i) The diagonal lines are parallel. (Zöllner illusion)

ii) The red squares are the same color in the upper part and in the lower part of the "X"

iii) There are no gray spots at the corners of the squares.

A tribute to Michael Jackson

2009-07-07T15:05:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson's memorial service was held in a packed Staples Center in Los Angeles started a few hours ago. He is a legend in the music industry and truly a King of Pop!!

Please hurry and collect MJ's collection before it is too late.

Below is just one of his greatest album.

Michael Jackson - Video Greatest Hits - HIStory

Guidelines for first time homebuyers (from Bank Negara Malaysia)

2009-07-07T07:25:00.000-07:00

Guidelines for homebuyers

Some Important Aspects for House Buyers

1. Before you decide to buy a house, ensure that:-

The housing developer has a licence and it is still valid.
The housing developer has an advertisement and sales permit and it is still valid.

2. Determine the house type

For landed property such as bungalows, semi-detached houses and terrace houses, the expected date of completion is 24 months from the date of signing of the Sales and Purchase Agreement.

For subdivided building such as condominiums, flats, apartments and townhouses, the expected date of completion is 36 months.

Buyers are advised to obtain from the housing developer the complimentary brochures with all the pertinent information about the project such the development's licence number, and advertisement and sales permit.

3. Land status

Please ensure whether it is:-

Freehold land - it is in perpetuity
Leasehold land – check the number of years left
Malay Reserve

* The status of the land can be checked at the Land Office or the State Land Registrar.

4. Brochure Information

Brochures are given free by the developers. Please ensure the brochure has the following information:-

1.) The Housing Development’s Licence number and the expiry date;
2.) The advertisement and sales permit number and the expiry date;
3.) Name and address of:

i.) the licensed housing developer
ii.) authorised agents (if any)
iii.) those holding power of attorney (if any)
iv) the project management company (if any)

4.) Land status

i.) Freehold
ii.) Leasehold – number of years left
iii.) Encumbrances – whether the land has been mortgaged to the bank for a loan

5.) Location description

i) building material specification
ii) size of building
iii) amenities/services

6.) Name of housing project (if any);
7.) Expected date of completion;
8.) Price of each type of house;
9.) Number of units for each type;
10.)Reference number of the approved building plan and name of the local authority.

::: The rights of buyers must be understood as contained in the Sales and Purchase

Agreement as per schedules G and H of the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Regulation 1989.

5. First Payment

The first payment of 10 per cent must be made upon signing of the Sales and Purchase Agreement. Please ensure the date of signing of the SPA and the date of first payment are the same.

Be aware that the housing developer is not allowed to collect any form of payment without a Sales and Purchase Agreement being signed.

6. Architect Certification

Make sure any demand by the developer for instalment payment is supported by a certificate duly signed by an architect or a certified engineer.

7. Interest on Late Payment

If the buyer or end financier for the buyer fails to pay the developer the progressive payment/instalment within 21 working days from the date of the written notice of payment from the developer, the buyer will be charged an interest of 10 per cent per annum on the instalment not paid.

8. Termination of the Sales and Purchase Agreement

Be aware that failure to make the progressive payment or interest charged on late payment for a period of more than 28 days will give the developer the right to terminate the Sales and Purchase Agreement. The developer must serve the notice in writing by AR registered post of its intention to terminate the SPA.

9. Infrastructural Maintenance Fee

Buyers must pay the cost of maintaining the infrastructure from the date of vacant possession till the date the responsibility is taken over by the local authority or management corporation (in the case of a subdivided building).

Infrastructure is defined as:

a.) For land and building
Road, driveway, drains, sewerage, pipelines and sewerage tank for the housing development
b.) For subdivided building
Road, driveway, drains, sewerage, pipelines and sewerage tank for the building

10. Maintenance and Management Fee

From the date of vacant possession the buyer shall be responsible for paying for services such as:-

11. For land and building

i.) Refuse removal, upkeep of drains and grass-cutting on the road reserves
ii.) The buyer is responsible for such payment until such responsibility is taken over by the proper authority.
iii.) The buyer must pay a six months’ deposit upon being handed vacant possession for the services to be rendered. After six months, if the services are still not taken over by the relevant authority, any subsequent payment shall be payable on a monthly advance.

12. For subdivided building

i.) Payment is for the cost of maintaining and managing the common area and payment starts when vacant possession is handed over.
ii.) The buyer shall pay one (1) month’s deposit and three (3) months’ advance in respect of the maintenance service charges and any payment thereafter shall be payable on a monthly advance.
iii.) Maintenance fee must be paid to the developer from the date of vacant possession up until the formation of a management corporation under the Strata Title Act 1985.
iv.) Once the management corporation is formed under the Strata Title Act 1985, maintenance services will be handled by the management corporation and the buyer must pay the maintenance fee to the management corporation and not to the developer.

Reminder:-
Maintenance fee must be paid as long as the buyer owns a parcel in the said maintained building.

13. Sinking fund

For subdivided building only

The buyer shall upon the date he takes vacant possession of the said parcel contribute to the sinking fund an amount equivalent to 10 per cent of the service charges.

The buyer shall pay one (1) month’s deposit and three (3) months’ advance in respect of the service charges to the sinking fund and any payment thereafter shall be payable on a monthly advance.

14. Payment of Quit Rent, Rate Assessment, etc

From the date of vacant possession or date of assignment, whichever is earlier, the buyer is responsible for the quit rent, assessment, rate payment and other charges relating to the property bought.

15. Vacant Possession

Vacant possession on the building complete with water and electricity connection must be handed over within 24 calendar months from the date of signing of the SPA for landed property and 36 calendar months for subdivided building.

Regulation and Rights of House Buyers during the Handing over of Vacant Possession
Ensure the property is free from any encumbrances before accepting notice of vacant possession.

If the developer leases the land or the property, the developer must settle the balance payment before handing over vacant possession.

Conditions that must be followed by housing developers:-
I.) Certificate from the developer’s architect stating that
a.) the building is completed
b.) water and electricity are ready for connection
2.) The developer has applied for:
a.) the issue of the Certificate of Fitness for Occupation (CFO) through Form E *
b.) the local authority has issued a notice stating that Form E has been checked and accepted by the relevant authority.

* Form E is an application from the developer’s architect to the relevant authority for the issue of the CFO.

The buyer is entitled to enter into occupation of the property only upon issue of the CFO by the relevant authority and renovation may be carried out only upon issue of the CFO and approval of the plan by the relevant authority.

While inspecting the building, any defect is recorded and handed over to the developer to be rectified. Make sure you obtain a copy of the report.

The buyer is entitled to claim for late delivery from the developer.

16. Damages

If the developer fails to deliver vacant possession of the building as stipulated by the SPA, it must pay damages calculated on a daily rest, 10 per cent per annum of the purchase price.

17. Defect liability period

The defect liability period is 18 months after the date of vacant possession.

Creation of Management Corporation for Subdivided Building
A management corporation will be created once the strata title of each individual parcel is issued to the owners.

Other functions of the management corporation include insuring and maintaining the building.

18. Enquiries and complaints

You may contact:

Monitoring and Enforcement Division Ministry of Housing and Local Government
Level 3, Block B North, Pusat Bandar Damansara
50782 KUALA LUMPUR

Tel : 03-2094 7033
Fax: 03- 2092 5049

Forward your complaints here, complete and click send. Or e-mail our enforcement officers at enforcement@kpkt.gov.my, giving your full name, IC no, developer’s name, name of housing project, etc.

Before proceeding please browse through the FAQ section provided.
Please refer also to the prepared article, Housing and You, which has appeared in the local papers.

This is a division under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and it is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of the Housing Developers (Control and Licensing) Act (Act 118).

Intel Pulling Out From Penang... Part 2

2009-07-07T06:27:00.000-07:00

It is interesting and amusing to read how the politicians play the political games. The latest news is saying that Intel will instead close its plant in Philippines and shift its lines to Penang? How true is that? Let's wait for press statement from Intel (then I will believe it)!!

Intel Pulling Out From Penang

2009-07-05T08:38:00.000-07:00

A politician from MCA revealed that Intel is planning to pull out from Penang completely. However, it was denied by Penang CM. I am not sure how true it is. If it is really true, it will give a huge impact on Penang. However, one thing for sure is that Intel is downsizing its workforce in its Penang Design Center.

List of Local Bank

2009-07-02T14:21:00.001-07:00

If you are searching for a housing loan, below is the list of the contact number of the local bank.

Local Bank Contacts

Affin Bank 04-3906001

Alliance Bank 04-8182121

Am Bank 04-2263939

Bank Rakyat 04-6579634

Bank Islam 04-6425094

Muamalat Bank 03-26977077

Bank Simpanan National 03-21623222

CIMB Bank 04-2206990

Citibank 04-8181072

EON Bank 04-2966988

Hong Leong Bank 04-2615022

HSBC Bank 04-6503293

Maybank 04-2613271

Scotia Bank 04-6410766

OCBC Bank 1300 88 5000

Public Bank 04-2613415

RHB Bank 04-2621725

Standard Chartered Bank 04-2623000

UOB Bank 04-2588066

If there is any update to the contact number, you are welcome to feedback.

Nursery/Kindergarten in Penang

2009-06-28T04:57:00.001-07:00

I have compiled a list of the nursery/kindergartens in Penang. Hope that it is useful for those who are looking or searching for one.

Let me know if there is anyone that I left out so that I can add to the list. By the way, as I am still new, let me know how to put the list as table.