tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post5157664215038945068..comments2023-08-27T17:28:15.252+08:00Comments on CRANKSHAFT: 51 Ideas For A Better Malaysia - #4Cranksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-53776788555379631852008-11-13T19:09:00.000+08:002008-11-13T19:09:00.000+08:00In recent years, road traffic accidents in Vietnam...In recent years, road traffic accidents in Vietnam have caused significant and increasing financial losses, as well as those related to pain, grief, and suffering.<BR/>-------------------<BR/>jack<BR/><A HREF="http://www.drivenwide.com" REL="nofollow">Influencer</A>jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13080176417653963146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-46240257572613064492008-09-28T12:36:00.000+08:002008-09-28T12:36:00.000+08:00Jugular, Melaka is confusing because of the one-wa...Jugular, Melaka is confusing because of the one-way streets. I was there again for the company dinner about a month later and I could remember the roads perfectly!<BR/><BR/>I don't think the authorities have any clue how to put up proper signs without getting confused themselves.<BR/><BR/>Kev, hey! I've been keeping up with your blog and getting educated about India!<BR/><BR/>Politics is in my blood, how could I slip away completely?? :) Last week was a crazy week for me and I tendered in my notice of resignation. Now I'm jobless or will be in 2 months. The Malaysian word for my new situation is <I>penganggur</I>. So I'm definitely NOT going to Melaka.<BR/><BR/>Improvement in "public transportation system" refers to the buses and trains connectivity and efficiency, not roads. <BR/><BR/>You will have to be on a train during the peak hours to experience how packed it is, and how long people have to wait for buses to finally arrive.<BR/><BR/>Remember how we bet on lunch that you could devise a route to my office with two transfers while I was willing to take three?<BR/><BR/>I know I eventually paid for lunch (only because I'm such a nice Malaysian) but there was no way I could make it to my office under 5 transfers.<BR/><BR/>My office is in Cyberjaya but the ERL train only goes up to Putrajaya Sentral.<BR/><BR/>My route would be bus-LRT train-ERL train-bus-bus. And it would cost me a bomb, more than driving does and also take me much longer.<BR/><BR/>Using the tolls are alternatives, which people opt not to, because they're so expensive. So they jam up the roads.<BR/><BR/>The fuel subsidy was good for 4 months after it was implemented. Then people got used to it and adjusted.<BR/><BR/>The roads are back to being jammed, and worse now that the fuel prices have gone down to RM2.45 a litre.Cranksterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-90812921450903873012008-09-27T18:29:00.000+08:002008-09-27T18:29:00.000+08:00Hey Crankster,Hello from Agra! I like the deviati...Hey Crankster,<BR/><BR/>Hello from Agra! I like the deviation from politics for the moment, although you seemed to have problems actually slipping away completely :). Over in Terengganu, most people seemed polite, although not friendly (not so much the waving, but they would let people in). Maybe you should just move out of KL? Which reminds me, how did the Melaka thing turn out?<BR/><BR/>I did notice this little contradiction, though:<BR/><BR/>"I have yet to see any improvements being made on our public transportation system, which would ease the number of cars on the roads."<BR/><BR/>But then you complain that they put tolls on the highspeed highways and have drastically reduced the fuel subsidy. In economic terms, these are both disincentives to "driving" and possibly the most cost effective ways to keep traffic down. <BR/><BR/>Which reminds me, what station was I looking to get you to in 2 or fewer transfers? Putrajaya?<BR/><BR/>KAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14209436270779203204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-42025431576442069132008-09-27T15:39:00.000+08:002008-09-27T15:39:00.000+08:00The traffic situation could also be helped by bett...The traffic situation could also be helped by better road and street signs.<BR/><BR/>I was shown round Malaka by a Malaysian friend of mine and she found it really difficult to find her way anywhere. ;)jugularhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18096419032185315377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-82203519111638301502008-09-26T20:30:00.000+08:002008-09-26T20:30:00.000+08:00Haha tc, I have my bad days too, but I'm working o...Haha tc, I have my bad days too, but I'm working on it.<BR/><BR/>When I'm stuck in an infernal jam which moves 2 metres in 10 minutes, there's always bound to be some fool who feels compelled to use the emergency lane and cut into someone's turn.<BR/><BR/>You say the same thing I always say, "Are they the only ones in a rush?". Seriously. Is not everyone else also eager to get home?Cranksterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-83552342260845658652008-09-25T17:37:00.000+08:002008-09-25T17:37:00.000+08:00Great post Crankster! Echoes the thoughts in my he...Great post Crankster! Echoes the thoughts in my head. As for the fame thing, maybe Discovery or NatGeo will do an expose on you for being one of the rarest breed of drivers in Malaysia.<BR/><BR/>The way most drivers in Malaysia drive, you'd think that they're the only ones in a rush, or that the indicator lever would somehow bite their fingers off. (it doesn't...really!) sam/asir is definitely right when he says courtesy begins with each one of us. <BR/><BR/>Man, I could go on and on regarding this topic, but I'll spare you the torment of it. To everyone out there, a little courtesy goes a long way, not just in driving, but in every aspect of life too. <BR/><BR/>Think about it. Especially you queue-jumpers at the LRT stations.(another topic for another day maybe)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-26013937216481201582008-09-25T13:49:00.000+08:002008-09-25T13:49:00.000+08:00ohh..thank you for the tagging idea michelle! I am...ohh..thank you for the tagging idea michelle! I am so goblok I didn't know the dang buttons for it. going to do so NOW AND blog on it<BR/><BR/>As for road courtesy dearest crankshaft..Door courtesy same thing. I end up many times being doorman (keeping lift or public doors open for those passing after me) & fr experience 1 out of 10 (when I get lucky) thanks me<BR/><BR/>When ppl don't even say glance at me, I shout after them "THANK YOU"!! Malu tak?GobloKinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11125739751821254797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-14818067331488282012008-09-24T13:51:00.000+08:002008-09-24T13:51:00.000+08:00Hi Michelle, been away from the internet since Sat...Hi Michelle, been away from the internet since Saturday when I last emailed you. So sorry for the delay, it's been a manic few days.<BR/><BR/>Hi Sam/Asir - fame for sure! ;-)<BR/><BR/>Pat, exactly, we're courteous for everything but our road habits. That and our horrible reputation for having nasty taxi drivers.<BR/><BR/>Walla - wow, that went deep into other themes as well! :)Cranksterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466770053258278747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-5786520248894591922008-09-23T18:46:00.000+08:002008-09-23T18:46:00.000+08:00Crankster,Did you see that Tehsin is not blogging ...Crankster,<BR/><BR/>Did you see that Tehsin is not blogging anymore? I am so upset to hear this, but I didn't know what to say in her blog :(<BR/><BR/>So I'm telling you - for what that's worth.<BR/><BR/>I feel like hitting someone already!<BR/><BR/>PatPathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10795820209657289652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-59921159722032633322008-09-22T21:05:00.000+08:002008-09-22T21:05:00.000+08:00I think the theme of a better Malaysia shows a yea...I think the theme of a better Malaysia shows a yearning for something else which somehow hasn't been articulated. So if we use the hadron colliders in our minds, something more basic should come hurtling out. What should be that fizzbuzz?<BR/><BR/>Maybe it's quality. We all don't seem to have a clear, steadfast and enduring notion of quality. And because we don't, there's no vision to get captivated about anything. Without that vision which yanks something special for once out of the mundane and ordinary humdrums of our inconsequential existences, you won't get the driving force of trying to reach..that..defining.. objective. <BR/><BR/>A better Malaysia starts with a common driving force to achieve quality. From the hardest working laborer to the highest ceo, there should be a common bond to operationalize the achievement of quality.<BR/><BR/>I've left the definition of quality open so that people can seek the essence. It's like following your own clues and suddenly everyone meets the same cross-junction.<BR/><BR/>Now here comes the twists.<BR/><BR/>One of the most uplifting moments i can remember happened to me while on the upper deck of a double decker stopping at the lights of a cross-junction in downtown San Francisco many years back. There were only two other passengers with me, an elderly American couple. It was what the old man said. Look, hon, he pointed out to the cross-junction. Thirty two manholes! Man, was i relieved on hearing that. Indeed, there were thirty two manholes right there before our eyes. Haphazardly laid, no pattern at all, and for the life of all three of us, no reason whatsoever why so many manholes should have been laid on such a small place.<BR/><BR/>The reason why it's uplifting for me is that i have to find another country which applies that manhole philosophy. With all those damn manholes we have on our roads, i was feeling quite despondent. Now i am so relieved - we're not alone out there.<BR/><BR/>It's bad enough to have manholes on the road instead of where they should be, on the pavement. They have to also go amok with putting up humps. What are we, humpty dumpties? What's the frigging point of putting so many humps on a road? The damage done to your suspensions, tyres, brakes and fuel tank from all those badly laid roads not enuh ah? <BR/><BR/>And trees. I demand more trees. Not palm trees with useless foliage. Full-bloom arms-wide big big trees. If a storm comes and one falls on a motorist, too bad. Collateral damage. But trees, trees, trees. We need them more than they need us. We need them to give us oxygen and take away the carbon dioxide and monoxide ponged by those two in the last photo. We need them for shade to cool the tarmac so that we will be soothed to remember - what a wonderful life we have in Malaysia - hot mid-thirties and yet so cool. As it is, now we're not just uncool. Given the present lack of political options, we're also undead.<BR/><BR/>And then still on roads. They widen a road, then put those orange dividers along the curb so that people won't be able to park on the new lane. That narrows the road again! <BR/><BR/>And again still on roads. There was this nice straight road in front of KBU. Hey, only one hump, although that finished off the honda which overtook too impatiently. The road was nice. Because there were no cars. Then they came in to lay the big pipe. They dug up half the road along its entire stretch. It took weeks. Then they covered it up again. So badly a B-52 stratofortress won't dare to land for fear of bursting its tyres. Let me come back to quality. Please. Why can't they suspend the new pipes on top of the big drain by the side of that road. Who is going to use that drain, after all? The quality was: dig-pipe-cover. The quality should have been: suspend-pipe.<BR/><BR/>So, not manholes, not pipes, not shitty roads etc. <BR/><BR/>Just quality inside the mind, first and foremost.<BR/><BR/>And then 52, maybe. All folks should join the taiqi and waitangong groups in each housing estate. You see malay women doing it with so many of the chinese folks. Where are the malay men? <BR/><BR/>Of course, what's said here is not just about a simple morning exercise using a stress-less technique perfected centuries ago in another country.<BR/><BR/>It's about how for fifty one years, no politician has ever come out and say hey Malay folks - go join what they are doing because it's good for you, especially for circulation and digestion.<BR/><BR/>In this country, six tahils has never meant half a kati.wallahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17580252352785040456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-68361025695515057982008-09-22T09:10:00.000+08:002008-09-22T09:10:00.000+08:00Thank you for this one. For a country supposedly k...Thank you for this one. For a country supposedly known for its courtesy, we are awful on the road!<BR/><BR/>I routinely give way to others, and stop to let others pass - much to the irritation of my daughter when she is with me. Know why? Hardly anyone every smiles, or says thank you. They just drive off in a huff, like it was my fault they were stuck in the first place!?<BR/><BR/>But so what? I still do it. And when someone does smile, it is a bonus :)<BR/><BR/>And when someone stops for me? I feel my karma has come full circle. But not often :(<BR/><BR/>But, I live in hope - and maybe I'll meet the new-and-improved you on the road one of your good days?<BR/><BR/>PatPathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10795820209657289652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-43439340653850884172008-09-22T08:06:00.000+08:002008-09-22T08:06:00.000+08:00nice one Crank, it's about time someone took the i...nice one Crank, it's about time someone took the initiative to blog about it..for i see no other blogs have done so (not the ones i read anyway)<BR/><BR/>International fame in line for you perhaps??;p<BR/><BR/>The thing with us Malaysians, is that we're courteous no matter what, to the extent that we do not even raise any voice to the powers that be, but when one is behind a steering wheel...<BR/><BR/>i'd rather not go there at this point of time.<BR/><BR/>Courtesy on the road people, it begins with each and every one of us..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880642673087161290.post-13216026106765223582008-09-22T04:44:00.000+08:002008-09-22T04:44:00.000+08:00Great idea this one. We so need more courtesy on t...Great idea this one. We so need more courtesy on the roads.<BR/><BR/>BTW, did you tag someone else for next Sunday? We need to keep the ball rolling. Should have said something about it..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com