Miri Resort City.com | MiriCity.my - Sarcasm

August 3rd 2010 - Foreigners warned over RON95 fuel ruling

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 11:24:36 +0800

Foreigners warned over RON95 fuel ruling

Foreigners who blatantly flout the ruling that bars foreign-registered vehicles from buying subsidised RON95 petrol can be fined up to RM100,000 or face three years imprisonment.

Foreigners, especially in border states such as Kedah, Perlis, Johor, Kelantan and Sabah and Sarawak, to follow the ruling and respect the country’s laws.

More at The Star

Do you hear that noise? It's the Bruneians laughing. This certainly doesn't apply to them, they have much cheaper petrol than us. If it's anything it should be the other way round for us here in Miri.

The Clocktower, 2 years on

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:54:42 +0800

So two years on, the flyover's been built, fuel prices skyrocketed, crime skyrocketed but where is our faceless clocktower?

Here it is: Unchanged since Day 1 when I first reported on it.

They even said in order to 'preserve' the clocktower landmark, they actually built the flyover AROUND the clocktower.

Preservation of old landmarks is all good except.. what use is to preserve it if you don't even keep it working and let its sorry state to view to the public and tourists? And what good is preservation to one small clocktower when all those really old buildings in Old Town are totally torn down to be built up instead of the more logical approach of just renovating them?

See the clock tower in 2011

Car theft on the rise.

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:05:51 +0800

About 6-8 cars were reported missing last night alone (10th June 2008). Not sure of the exact figures but it was around that.

My parents' car was also stolen.

In fact, we had sort of expected this to occur - this says a lot about the crime problems in Miri. It's not that we think it 'only happens to someone else' but we expected it to occur. Th problem is just 'when'?

Few days back, a friend's friend's Perdana was also stolen, but he was lucky as the police managed to spot it and get it back. It's interesting to know how they stole the cars - they simply drilled through the key hole, open the door and - if the car had a gear shift lock - using a hammer or heavy object, hit it hard enough so the lock mechanism breaks, but makes it drivable.

Steering locks are a deterrent but if they really wanted the car they'd be able to get past it anyhow (looking at the above example, a gearshift lock didn't work).

Orang Utans are in Peril!

Sun, 11 May 2008 14:35:28 +0800

First off, what are Orang Utans? Let's get to know the animal we're talking about here before we go any further about them being in peril. The orangutans are two species of great apes known for their intelligence, long arms and reddish-brown hair. Pretty ugly by ape standards, but nevertheless we should not be bias about saving cute animals only.

They are currently found only in rainforests on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. These are the last places on Earth they are known to exist - these are cause for concern. Interestingly however, their fossils have been known found in Java, Vietnam and China.

Their name derives from the Malay and Indonesian phrase "orang hutan", meaning "Jungle Man". The orangutan is an official state animal of Sabah in Malaysia.

As far as I know, none exist in Sarawak. Right now you're probably thinking, "You're a weirdo, why it be any of our concern if there are (apparently) none in Sarawak?"

Well, simply because - Sarawak is part of that Borneo, and as a whole, we needed to be aware of these things and help the effort in getting spreading awareness. The Bornean species of orangutans is endangered, and the Sumatran species is listed critically endangered.

It is this news article that got me thinking about the severity of situation.

Very shocking quotes from the article:

"For Central Kalimantan, the species will be gone as soon as three years from now"

"Experts believe the overall extinction rate of Borneo orangutans is nine per cent per year, but in Central Kalimantan they are disappearing even faster due to unchecked expansion of palm oil plantations."

So this is what got the conservationists jumping up and down three years ago when they accused Sarawak's oil palm plantation of destroying the orang utan's habitat (as mentioned before, none exist in Sarawak). They simply got bad geography and actually meant Central Kalimantan, where they are hunted as pests to prevent them eating palm seedlings!

Even though Sarawak does not have Orang Utan, we're still part of that Borneo, the island we share with the Orang Utans. It is this island that not only are they killing Orang Utans mercilessly, but deforestation and irresponsible field burning adds to not only the Orang Utan's demise, but probably ours very soon as well. Suddenly the border dividing Sarawak and Kalimantan becomes meaningless.

Please help spread the awareness, especially to our young children, so they'll grow up with this in mind, possibly even changing our world and treatment towards animals for the better in the future. The future lies in their hands, because the current generation of humans are such screw-ups when it comes to awareness of endangered animals.

To learn more about Orang Utans, please see the reference links

The News Article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orangutan

http://www.orangutanprotection.com/

http://www.savetheorangutan.org/

Pedestrian Crossing? It's only a suggestion.

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:00:55 +0800

The confusing pedestrian crossing - so is it a pedestrian crossing or not?

The pictures above show one sign indicating pedestrian crossing, and another saying that it is in fact not a ped crossing, so cross at your own risk.

The place is pedestrian-heavy (as can be seen in first pic) with slow moving traffic, it should be obvious to put a bridge here for the pedestrians, or put a proper crossing where the cars should stop for pedestrians to cross. Without the costly traffic lights.

Instead, the sign suggests that it may look like a crossing but is in fact isn't and if you get killed they won't be responsible.

For a city that can't even make up their mind whether it is a crossing or not in the most obvious places, it's no wonder Miri still has only one pedestrian bridge in over 10 years and countless pedestrian deaths.

Anti-theft device

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:58:16 +0800

High-tech vehicular anti-theft device & immobilizer.

4th January 2008 - Robbers re-arrested after manhunt

Fri, 4 Jan 2008 11:14:37 +0800

Robbers re-arrested after manhunt

MIRI: Six Indonesian robbers made a dramatic dash for freedom outside the Miri court complex Thursday but were rearrested two hours later.

Despite being handcuffed in pairs, they overpowered four policemen, scaled a two-metre high fence and dashed towards the city centre as soon as they alighted from the van carrying them to the courthouse at 10am.

Two of them were apprehended after a short chase outside the courthouse, two were caught in the city centre while the remaining two were recaptured in a jungle near Canada Hill.

Miri police chief Asst Comm Jamaluddin Ibrahim said the six were members of the Sambas Gang that terrorised northern Sarawak since early last year.

They are believed to be involved in at least seven robberies, using shotguns and parangs.

ACP Jamaluddin said they would face additional charges now for escaping police custody.

If convicted, he said, they could face a maximum sentence of seven years jail.

For armed robbery, they can be jailed for a maximum 20 years if convicted. The possessions of firearms carry a life sentence.

[ Source ]

Either they have some sort of amazing superpowers to escape while handcuffed, or the security arrangements are too awful.:O:O

It's the last that gets contradicting. Armed robbery a maximum of only 20 years, and yet possession of firearms carry life sentence?

And news today.. Robbery crime rates decrease! Not.

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:17:47 +0800

Just thought I'd like to share today's news, taken from a chinese newspaper. Doesn't matter you don't read chinese, I made a rough translation of the headlines;

"ROBBERY CRIME RATES DECREASED, SAYS POLICE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDANT."

but, look what's on the second page story headline...

"4 ARMED MEN COMMIT ROBBERY CAUSING HURT"

Up to you who to trust. :sad:

Riches vs reality

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 14:48:02 +0800

I got this interesting email from my financial friend, please read.

LEARN FROM THE PRO...

Title: Young and pretty lady wishes to marry a rich guy. Fantastic reply
from a financial person

A young and pretty lady posted this on a popular forum:
Title: What should I do to marry a rich guy?

I'm going to be honest of what I'm going to say here. I'm 25 this year. I'm
very pretty, have style and good taste. I wish to marry a guy with $500k
annual salary or above. You might say that I'm greedy, but an annual salary
of $1M is considered only as middle class in New York. My requirement is not
high. Is there anyone in this forum who has an income of $500k annual
salary? Are you all married? I wanted to ask: what should I do to marry rich
persons like you? Among those I've dated, the richest is $250k annual
income, and it seems that this is my upper limit. If someone is going to
move into high cost residential area on the west of New York City Garden
(?), $250k annual income is not enough.

I'm here humbly to ask a few questions:

1) Where do most rich bachelors hang out? (Please list down the names
and addresses of bars, restaurant, gym)

2) Which age group should I target?

3) Why most wives of the riches is only average-looking? I've met a
few girls who doesn't have looks and are not interesting, but they are able
to marry rich guys

4) How do you decide who can be your wife, and who can only be your
girlfriend? (my target now is to get married)

Ms. Pretty

Here's a reply from a Wall Street Financial guy:

Dear Ms. Pretty,

I have read your post with great interest. Guess there are lots of girls out
there who have similar questions like yours. Please allow me to analyze your
situation as a professional investor. My annual income is more than $500k,
which meets your requirement, so I hope everyone believes that I'm not
wasting time here.

>From the standpoint of a business person, it is a bad decision to marry you.
The answer is very simple, so let me explain. Put the details aside, what
you're trying to do is an exchange of "beauty" and "money": Person A
provides beauty, and Person B pays for it, fair and square. However, there's
a deadly problem here, your beauty will fade, but my money will not be gone
without any good reason. The fact is, my income might increase from year to
year, but you can't be prettier year after year. Hence from the viewpoint of
economics, I am an appreciation asset, and you are a depreciation asset.
It's not just normal depreciation, but exponential depreciation. If that is
your only asset, your value will be much worried 10 years later.

By the terms we use in Wall Street, every trading has a position, dating
with you is also a "trading position". If the trade value dropped we will
sell it and it is not a good idea to keep it for long term - same goes with
the marriage that you wanted. It might be cruel to say this, but in order to
make a wiser decision any assets with great depreciation value will be sold
or "leased". Anyone with over $500k annual income is not a fool; we would
only date you, but will not marry you. I would advice that you forget
looking for any clues to marry a rich guy. And by the way, you could make
yourself to become a rich person with $500k annual income. This has better
chance than finding a rich fool.

Hope this reply helps. If you are interested in "leasing" services, do
contact me .
Signed, J.P. Morgan

The story of the magical Herb Garden

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:04:50 +0800

There's a magical Herb Garden in Miri. It's a wonderful place where if you really believe in it, you will see it. Otherwise, if you don't see it, you're likely to be declared an official idiot (any similarities to the story of The Emperor's New Clothes are merely coincidental).

Behold, our magical Herb Garden, which has been around for a few years.

To visit the Herb Garden, it is located at Sylvia Road, next to the Miri High Court. :p

A look into how Miri drivers park their cars - Part 4

Tue, 11 Jul 2006 09:45:27 +0800

Part 4 of a series of illustrations

A look into how Miri drivers park their cars - Part 3

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 09:16:49 +0800

Part 3 of a series of illustrations

A look into how Miri drivers park their cars - Part 2

Sun, 9 Jul 2006 14:51:20 +0800

Part 2 in a series of illustrations.

A look into how Miri drivers park their cars - Part 1

Sat, 8 Jul 2006 11:53:11 +0800

Let's take a look into how some drivers park their cars. Part 1 of a series of illustrations.

Disclaimer: Not all drivers are like this in Miri. Just only a whole lot of them.