25 October 2008 to 28 October 2008

My sister's friends came from Singapore on 25 October 2008. They touched down on 8:00 am and my father went to Kuching International Airport to pick 4 of them up. My father brought them to have breakfast of Kolo mee at Siang Siang Court at Tabuan Jaya.

They reached my house at 9:15 am. After 15 minutes, I brought 3 of them (my sister not joining) to visit certain places in Kuching.

Our first stop - Cat Musuem at Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara at Petra Jaya. We spent about an hour there. They took some photos of the cats.

We intented to visit Sarawak Musuem but it did not open because 25 October 2008 is a Public Holiday (the birthday of Sarawak's TYT). Therefore, we went to Waterfront to have a walk and visited some shops for souvenirs.

Before we went for lunch at Crown Tower, we went to India Street too.

We went home after the lunch as they wanted to have a rest in the afternoon before we went for dinner at Li Garden for Peking Duck.

On Monday, I brought them to visit Sarawak Musuem , The Spring, etc.

and 4 of them went back on Tuesday (28 October 2008).

24 October 2008

I took leave since 14 October 2008 and I went to Miri with my wife and my two lovely daugthters to look for my in-laws on 18 October 2008. Just back on 22 October 2008.

Today, my mother went to General Hospital to check if there is any block in her arteri or vein to her heart by applying the technique of "Corus". If there is, proper treatment needs to be done.

Luckily, called from my father a moment ago to tell me that she is ok. No Block!! She can go back today.

Tatau market

This is the Tatau market, mostly occupied by the Ibans. They sell vegetables, fruits and some types of "rempah" which we, as Chinese or other races, have never seen before nor we know the name of the items.






Early in the morning yesterday, I walked to Tatau market near the best hotel in Tatau. The Ibans bring the vegetables, fruits, etc to the market to sell to locals. This is their life and they seem to be satisfied with their current situation. For us here in big cities, we always feel dissatisfied with a lot of issues such as family, working condition, lifestyle, etc.

Car Exhibition

At a shopping mall in Kuching, we can find some new cars in the mall for exhibition. Few photos taken to be uploaded here. Suzuki, Isuzu and Hyundai are the brands of the cars. The prices range from RM70k to RM200k.

Wish to have one of them.

Big Cat

Is the cat big? The photos were taken from the recent cats exhibition in "The Spring".

Tainted milk products

Now, the main issue is the tainted milk products from China.

What products are safe for us and our children now?

The list of tainted products are circulated through emails. I append below the list for your reference:

These products are recalled (do not know which country). It is for reference only. We need to check the country of origin of the materials used.

BRAND

1 BAIRONG GRAPE CREAM CRACKERS
2 DOVE H/NUT ALM & RAISIN CHOC
3 DOVE HAZELNUT CHOC
4 DOVE MILK CHOCOLATE
5 Dreyers Choc Cake Ice Cream 887ml
6 Dreyers Choc Cake Ice Cream 887ml
7 Dreyers Cookie & Cream Ice Cream 887ml
8 Dreyers Cookie & Cream Ice Cream 887ml
9 Dreyers Mint Chip Ice Cream 887ml
10 Dreyers Mint Chip Ice Cream 887ml
11 Dreyers Rocky Road Ice Cream 887ml
12 Dreyers Rocky Road Ice Cream 887ml
13 Dreyers Strawberry Ice Cream 887ml
14 Dreyers Strawberry Ice Cream 887ml
15 Dreyers Toast Almond Ice Cream 887ml
16 Dreyers Toast Almond Ice Cream 887ml
17 Dreyers Vanilla Ice Cream 887ml
18 Dreyers Vanilla Ice Cream 887ml
19 DUTCH LADY STER M LF BANANA
20 DUTCH LADY STER MK LF PLAIN
21 DUTCH LADY STER MK LF CHOC
22 DUTCH LADY STER MK LF SBERRY
23 DUTCH LADY STER M LF HNYDEW
24 DUTCH LADY STER M LF HNYDEW
25 DUTCH LADY STER MILK PLAIN
26 DUTCH LADY STER MK LF CHOC
27 DUTCH LADY STER MK LF SBERRY
28 DUTCH LADY STER M LF BANANA
29 FIRST CHOICE CALCIUM SESAME CRACKERS
30 FIRST CHOICE CALCIUM SALTINE CRACKERS
31 FIRST CHOICE CALCIUM S ONION CRACKERS
32 FIRST CHOICE CALCIUM SEAWEED CRACKERS
33 GINBIS PARTY ANIMAL BUTTER BISC
34 GINBIS PARTY ANIMAL SEAWEED BIS
35 GINBIS PARTY ANIMAL CNUT
36 GINBIS ANIMAL BISCUIT
37 Koala Cocoa Biscuit 40g
38 Koala Cocoa Biscuit 40g
39 KRAFT OREO WAFER STICKS 18S
40 KRAFT OREO WAFER STICKS 5S
41 KRAFT OREO W/STICK WH CHOC 18S
42 KRAFT OREO W/STICK WH CHOC 5S
43 Lotte Koala Cocoa Funpack 210g
44 Lotte Koala Cocoa Funpack 210g
45 M & M Chocolate Peanut 200g
46 M & M Chocolate Peanut 200g
47 M&M CHOC CANDIES PLAIN%
48 M&M CHOC CANDIES PEANUT%
49 M&M CHOC CANDIES-PLAIN
50 M&M CHOC CANDIES-PEANUTS
51 M&M FUNSIZE MILK
52 M&M FUNSIZE PEANUT
53 M&M Chocolate Candies Plain 200g
54 M&M Chocolate Candies Plain 200g
55 MEIJI UJIKINTOKI 2978
56 MEIJI UMAKABO CHOCOLATE
57 MEIJI FAMILY PACK-GREEN TEA
58 MEIJI CHESTNUT & REDBEAN
59 MENTOS BOTTLE YOGHURT PROMO PK
60 MENTOS BOTTLE YOGHURT
61 Monmilk BREAKFAST MILK MALT
62 Monmilk BREAKFAST MILK WALNUT 6S
63 Monmilk BREAKFAST MILKMALT 6S
64 Monmilk CHOCOLATE MILK 6S
65 Monmilk COFFEE MILK 6S
66 Monmilk HI CAL LOW FAT
67 Monmilk HI CAL LOW FAT MILK
68 Monmilk HI CAL LOW FAT MILK 6S
69 Monmilk HI CAL MILK
70 Monmilk HI CAL MILK 6S
71 Monmilk MILK DELUXE 12S
72 Monmilk PURE MILK
73 Monmilk PURE MILK
74 Monmilk PURE MILK 6S
75 MonmilkBREAKFAST MILK WALNUT
76 NABISCO IN A BISKIT CHICKEN
77 NESTLE NES D/STICK MINI VANILLA
78 NESTLE NES DISTICK MINI CHOCO
79 NESTLE MILK & BERRY STARS CRL
80 NO FRILLS WAFER BLUEBERRY
81 NO FRILLS WAFER CHOCOLATE
82 NO FRILLS WAFER PEANUT
83 Orion Fresh Pie 138g
84 Orion Fresh Pie 138g
85 Orion Tiramisu 138g
86 Orion Tiramisu 138g
87 PEI TIAN CREAM BISCUIT
88 Rabbit Milk Sweet 150g
89 SILANG NATURAL OAT CRACKER
90 Snicker Candies Funsize 240g
91 Snicker Candies Funsize 240g
92 SNICKERS PEANUT CHOCOLATE%
93 SNICKERS SNACKSIZE BARS PNUT 5
94 TAKE ONE BABY BITES 24S
95 TAKE ONE BABY BITE CK VG
96 TAKE ONE BABY BITE CARROT
97 Vitasoy Chocolate Drink 4s 125ml
98 Vitasoy Chocolate Drink 4s 125ml
99 Vitasoy Melon Soya Bean Milk 4s 125ml
100 Vitasoy Melon Soya Bean Milk 4s 125ml
101 Vitasoy Q Soya Milk 4s 125ml
102 Vitasoy Q Soya Milk 4s 125ml
103 WANT WANT MILK CANDY
104 Want Want Flavoured Milk 250ml
105 Yili Hi Cal Low Fat Milk 1L
106 Yili Hi Cal Low Fat Milk 6s 250ml
107 Yili Hi Cal Milk 1L
108 Yili Hi Cal Milk 6s 250ml
109 Yili Pure Milk 1L
110 Yili Pure Milk 6s 250ml
111 Youcan Masterbean Multipack
112 Youcan Passion Multipack
113 Youcan Silk Sliced and Passion Strawberry
114 Youcan Stawberry Multipack
115 Youcan Traditional Sesame Multipack 4s
116 Youcan Unusual Multipack 4s

RSPO

Do you know what is RSPO?

RSPO stands for Rountable Sustainable Palm Oil.

Sustainable palm oil production is comprised of legal, economically viable, environmentally appropriate and socially beneficial management and operations.

There are 8 prinpicals to follow in order to qualify for the certification of RSPO.

Principal 1 - Commitment to transparency

Principal 2 - Compliance with applicable laws and regulations

Principal 3 - Commitment to long-term economic and financial viability

Principal 4 - Use of appropriate best practices by growers and millers

Principal 5 - Environmental responsibility and conservation of natural resources and biodiversity

Principal 6 - Responsible consideration of employees and of individuals and communities affected by growers and mills

Principal 7 - Responsible development of new plantings

Principal 8 - Commitment to continuos improvement in key areas of activity

A lot of sub rules and guidance to follow.

Anyone of you who are interested in finding more information about RSPO, http://www.rspo.org/ is the web site for you to visit.

13 September 2008

Today, 13 September 2008, initially is a Public Holiday. It was the TYT's birthday. However, it was announced that TYT's birthday has been changed to 25 October 2008 because September is Ramadan month. As a result, activities cannot be held and we need to come to work today.

Wake up this morning to know that Teresa Kok, Raja Petra and the reporter of Sin Chew Jit Poh were detained last night under Internal Security Act (ISA). All of them were arrested under Section 73(1) of the ISA for allegedly being a threat to security, peace and public order.

As reported in "The Star", Raja Petra was picked up because "he was involved in activities that could cause unrest among the multi-racial and multi-religious society of the country."

The reporter, Tan, was arrested as he reported former Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail’s racist remarks while campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election. The 2 reporter from Guang Ming and Nayang Siang Pau who had vouched for the accuracy of Tan’s report had gone into hiding.

"The Star" reported that "Kok, 43, who is also state assemblyman for Kinrara and the senior Selangor state executive councillor, was picked up over an alleged involvement with a resident’s petition over a mosque."

Photos of Tatau

As promised, I upload some photos of Tatau. This is the Tatau new town. After we arrived, we had our breakfast - Kam Pua Mi. It costs RM3.00 per plate. It is quite delicious. The photo of the mee is attached above.

Tatau Trip

I can go back to Kuching this evening at 7:50 pm, expected to arrive at 8:20 pm (provided no delay from Air Asia). I will need to leave Tatau at about 6:00 pm this evening.

Tatau, a small town, about 45 km from Bintulu Airport. Majority of the population here are Dayak who stay in longhouses.

The shophouses here are mainly gorcery stalls, hardware shops, mini markets, etc. During weekdays, the town are petty quiet as most of the Dayaks are working in oil palm estate. They will go out from the estates once a week to buy food/stuff for their consumption next week. Therefore, the Tatau town will be busier during weekends.

Due to work schedule, I need to come to Tatau at least once a month. I need to come again on next Friday (day trip) for a meeting.

I will upload few photos of Tatau tomorrow.

Banana

I received this email this morning:

Banana is good for health. It can improve our antibody, increase the quantity of white blood cells. Therefore, it is good that we take banana on a regular basis. The best is 1 - 2 stick per day.

Introduction of myself

My name is Kouk Ping. I am now a Finance Manager of a plantation company.

I am married with 2 daughters and my wife is also a Finance Manager. She works in a public listed company in Kuching, Sarawak.

I graduated from University of Otago, New Zealand as Bachelor of Commerce (major in Accounting). I joined Ernst & Young, Kuching as Audit Assistant in December 1995. I left the firm in April 2000 and joined another local audit firm before I joined another Big 4 firm, KPMG in June 2001.

I was the Audit Manager before I left to join a public listed company in Kuching as Group Accountant in May 2005. I rejoined KPMG in January 2006 until April 2007. I worked in a steel bar manufacturer in April 2007 as Accounts and Finance Manager.

I left in May 2008 to join the current company as the Finance Manager.

This company is a plantation company. It cultivates oil palm and plan to sell the fresh fruit bunches later.

A lot of unique processes need to be performed for the planting. We need to clear the land, prepare for the site of nursery before we can plant the seeds to the field.

It will be a interesting experience for me.