Nee Sern is...

really really sleepy

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Super Expressway

Super Expressway (North-South Highway replacement)

This expressway will be a fully elevated highway from the northern tip to the southern tip of peninsular Malaysia. It will be a 8-lane dual carriageway (4 lanes per direction) and will be built as straight as possible to maximize average vehicle speed. It will replace the North-South Highway, which will be toll-free after the Super Expressway comes into service.

Entry and exit points are planned to join the NS Highway approximately 1km from the exit points of the NS Highway. In this case the exit points are shared between the new expressway and the old highway. On the Super Expressway, there will be a minimum speed of 80km/h, and there will be no maximum speed on the 3rd and 4th lanes. Vehicles which do not conform to the minimum speed will be signaled and will have to exit the Super Expressway at the next nearest exit.

Toll payment will be facilitated via RFID tags. Users of the Super Expressway will need to have a RFID tag that stores either prepaid or account-based information. Toll payments are deducted via RFID scanners built along the expressway, therefore users do not need to stop at any toll plazas.

It is estimated that the total travel time can be saved by 40% by using the Super Expressway. Safety will also be guaranteed, as motorcycles and heavy vehicles will not be allowed to use the Super Expressway, and will continue to use the NS highway below.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Grassroots Party Of Malaysia (GPM) or Parti Akar Umbi Malaysia (PAUM)

Grassroots Party Of Malaysia (GPM)
Parti Akar Umbi Malaysia (PAUM)

Motto:
A party by the people, for the people.

Concept:

This party will be unlike any political party in the history of Malaysia. All party positions are elected by direct elections. Candidates are chosen from the grassroots and are given ample opportunities to present themselves, debate on open issues, and campaign for support.

All candidates for the parliamentary and state elections are also directly elected from the grassroots. Only after at least one layer of candidate elections will the candidate be chosen to contest in the general elections or by elections.

Should the GPM form the state government, the first business to handle will be to reintroduce local government elections. Local councils will be directly elected from the grassroots. Only the minimal number of positions will be necessary to minimize wastage of resources and promote an efficient service delivery.

The grassroots will be engaged constantly to determine what they really want in their constituency and locality. Panel of experts (comprising from the grassroots) in various fields (e.g. town planning) will be constantly engaged to provide valuable input to the GPM on how to further improve the governance.

Finally, should the GPM form the federal government, the first business will be to reaffirm the separation of powers between legislative, judiciary and executive. The elections commission will be given new autonomy and will report directly to the Agong. The Agong's and conference of rulers' discretionary powers will be restored to the pre-constitutional crisis phase. The GPM government will ensure that the grassroots' interests will be protected at all times while maintaining balance in international competetiveness.

Monday, January 28, 2008

been busy...

Lately, I've been busy looking for house for sale, looking through the newspapers, iproperty.com, ronda-ronda around the neighbourhood looking for a good house for my own stay.

After several rounds of fruitless searching in SS18, SS17, USJ20, decided to take the plunge and settle for houses in Putra Heights / Laman Putra. But after viewing the unit, decided that the rooms and built up was just too small to justify such a high price. Perhaps other types would be better, but also cost more.

Then found a wonderful unit in SS18, but purchase was not successful because of lacking documentation, floor plan, extension approvals. The unit was sold already. I guess it's back to square one.

Am now contemplating again whether or not to go for Putra Heights. The location is really far in now, and the commercial development is really lacking. I wonder if it will improve to become the next USJ.

Actually I wouldn't mind moving to the apartment for a few years. But if we don't manage to get a house of our own, I really wonder if I can continue staying here in this house now!

Options:
1) Subang Jaya
Best location, best built up, but houses are old and require renovation for it to be lived in. Also, lack of suitable units due to old fashioned design and general reluctance of owners to move out.

2) USJ
Second best location (the jams are frustrating), newer designs and newer condition. But generally built up is smaller for equal price in SJ. Furthermore, weird pillars and wasted spaces everywhere.

3) Putra Heights
New houses, new designs, better interior fittings. But built up is just too small, and a lot of wasted spaces. Newer phases have high asking prices >400K for a livable unit. Commercial area and general development is lacking. Access is poor also.

4) Kota Kemuning
A well developed township with good landscaping. But the units are small (22x75) and also this place is under MBSA jurisdiction. Have not viewed any units here yet.

5) Setia Alam
Further away from Kota Kemuning, houses also 22x75 and under MBSA. Green concept, lots of nice landscaping here. Commercial area more developed than Putra Heights. Have not viewed any units here yet.

6) Tanamera USJ
High price >400K for a 22x80 DSL unit and >500K for TSL unit. G&G development, private feeling and security is good. Maintenance fee is high ~RM300 per month. Have nice swimming pool and landscaping. Have not viewed any units here yet.