:: Why the need of replacing the Causeway? ::

Well, after a while (and after thinking and keeping mum about this issue for a very long time), I think it's time for me to write on why there is a dire need of replacing the Causeway.

For those who disagree, or disgruntled about this idea, no apologies are made. I am a Malaysian, and I should voice what I think is good for my country.

Maybe, some of my friends from the bordering southern country might be pissed, or think that I'm pissed with them, but afraid not, I mean no harm. But my country will always comes first.

Reasons why the Causeway should be removed/replaced:
1. To accommodate the free flow of water and ships. Better flow would mean better nautical environment.
2. By providing access there (under the replacement bridge), the ports (Pasir Gudang, and Tanjung Pelepas) would have a greater amount of trade. These ports would then be the most vital southern-most tip of the Asian mainland.
3. This would then work in tandem with the proposed double-track railway from these ports to KLIA and up north into Thailand.
4. As the double-track railway will be big enough to carry the trade items shipped as cargo, these cargoes can then be carried by it, and then be flown from KLIA, or be transported direct to mainland Asia (through Thailand).
5. Since we already have a good network of highways in the Peninsular which is joined to the major network of Asian highways, this also means that the trade items can also be transported through road.
6. Millions of jobs can the be generated as trade is increased, and this would also lead to greater development of road and rail links (and new cities) in the Eastern part of the Peninsular.
7. Another port can then be developed in either Kelantan or Terengganu, or any of the Northern states to provide better connection. Hence, leading to even a chance that ther is no need to stop at the ports down there in the south.
8. As per point #1, there can then be development of the waterfront of the most Southern state in the Peninsular. It can be a new Venice-like city, which can be a twin to the one that should be build in KL (as the city would be leased congested due to the transfer of Government facilities to Putrajaya).
9. This would also allow installation of better checkpoints or scanning facility on the new bridge. Traffic flow in the southern-most city in the Peninsular would also be improved. And better naval control and surveillance.
10. Hence, better connection of the already built or soon-to-be-built infrastructure network in the Peninsular. No need to worry about security, the bridge could be cut off if there the need arise. (Just like why the new administration capital was built on a man-made island. Think about it, by cutting off the bridge, the 'island' can still be protected by naval, air and land forces, and can still work as the beating heart of the nation).
11. It's as a show of our brave stand and authority as a proud sovereign nation with rights. We can still be good neighbour, but one which is also intelligent and brave.

There you go, those are the reasons. Some people might say that it's dumb to give full reasoning, as your enemy might see your 'secret' planning. But my idea is this: sometimes, you have to 'accidentally' leak your might and intelligence to others, so that they have a hint of what they'll be dealing with should they toy with the idea of confrontation.

All in all, I truly support the idea of replacing it.

Now, go forth, and build it!





p/s:

On a lighter note, I remembered when Malaysians were celebrating the 31st August here in Australia, they was a big banner on which everyone wrote their wishes / statements of love for the country. One fellow Singaporean even wrote 'Malaysia tanah airku' (maybe trying to pass as one of the my fellow countrymen).

I came and changed it to 'Malaysia: sumber airku'.. Partly as a joke, and partly as a reminder/lesson to the others (esp. from Malacca) that they're paying more for water, as compared to a particular foreign country.

:: Transformers II ::

My review of this movie:

Sound / special effects: 5 stars (out of 5)
Story plot: 3 stars ( for a 120+ minutes movie, and an action one, this is one of the movies in which you have to pay FULL attention. Try to avoid going to toilet or skipping through any part. Get a cup and pee somewhere while you can still watch the movie.The storyline can get a bit confusing. Furthermore, if you have a weak command of English, you might want to wait until the original DVD with full subtitle comes out. Pirated/fake ones won't give you good understanding, unless you're an avid Transformers fan!)
Hotness of the actresses: 3 stars (might be more, like 4.5/5 if you fancy Caucasian/white girls. For me, nah, East Asians ones work their magic better on me)
Value for money: 4 stars (it's worth it for the actions/violence shown, and the sound / special-effects makes it a worthy one to watch at a cinema. Unless you have a home stereo and you can wait until you get your hands on original DVD, you might want to consider catching this movie at a good cinema).

OVERALL: 3.5 stars



So, Mr Bay, if you're reading this, can I get a set of two free tickets for Transformers III in 2012?? And next time, can you put up the name of the Transformers on the screen? At least when they first appear? Not all of us read Wikipedia to find out who's who, OK? But good job anyway. Me happy.


*** PLEASE DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT ANY SPOILERS! ***

*** PLEASE DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT ANY SPOILERS! ***

*** PLEASE DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT ANY SPOILERS! ***

*** PLEASE DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT ANY SPOILERS! ***

*** PLEASE DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT ANY SPOILERS! ***


OK, since I've warned you, I'm now free to talk about the movie.

Summary of story plot:

The movie starts with a flashback of the Fallen fighting against human about 17000BC. And then, it recent time, Starscream (which is kinda like Decepticons's leader while Megatron is down there at the bottom of the sea) is searching for the piece of the Cube (or whatever it's called).

The Decepticons were mobilizing themselves under the command of Starscream to do just that. They trace Sam Witwicky, even when he was going to college. Meanwhile, the Autobots led by Optimus Prime had form an alliance called NEST with the human (basically, the Americans and the British).

A few addition had been made to the Autobots lne-up: 3 motorbikes (presumably 'female' robot), two twins (which form some sort of truck selling popsicle). And they're all smaller sized than the original line-up. Meanwhile, for the Decepticons, there is a lot of new addition: the big Destructor (combination of a few constructing machine Decepticons), a big wheel-thing, and a few more towards the end.

AND, there is this old Transormer who had inhabited the Earth to search for something. He used to be a Decepticon, but he changed side. Watch out for him.

Well, actually, the Fallen was one of the earliest ancestors of the Transformers who built a thingy that can harvest energy from suns of any planetary system to energize them. However, as the sun itself would be exhausted, there was an agreement among them that only suns that belong to uninhabitable planetary system can be used. The Fallen however, disagreed, as he was actually building the thingy on Earth (which means that should the sun be consumed, Earth and it's inhabitant would die). Thus, the name the Fallen. Seems kinda like the idea of Lucifer to me.

Thus, this movie is about them (the bad ones a.k.a. the Decepticons, ultimately led by the Fallen) wanting to use the machine so that they could have enough energy to power-up and sustain the life of their kind and further pursue their agenda. However, it turns out that the Autobots won the battle (of course, with the help of the ever powerful American army). Hooray!

Things to watch out for (or that attracted my attention, or made me think):
1. Malaysia Airlines board at the few beginning minutes of the destruction of Shanghai
2. A Decepticon transformer that can change into a hot chick
3. A cute, small Transformer that was originally serving the Decepticons that changed side. And later humped Megan Fox's leg
4. A Decepticon taking off the American flag from the top of a bridge. (Surely made the Americans in the movie go berserk). Hence, the Americans can land and fight anywhere on Earth.
5. For all the attacks done by the Decepticons, the blame was put on terrorists
6. It was stated that President Obama was sent to a hiding place. (Trying to show that this is real and new)
7. A reference was made to swine flu. (Same as point #6)
8. Jordanian airfighters are s**tty. I didn't say that (it's the movie!)
9. Size doesn't matter. It's the will and endurance that matter most! The small twins managed to present a reasonable fight with the big Devastator!
10. Even though the Autobots are smaller in size (and number), they surely showed up a good fight! Optimus Prime's fight of 1-on-3 shows that, even though he lost in the end.