Jun/102
TM’s new HSBB
Last week I signed up for TM’s Unifi HSBB 5Mbps plan, and a few days ago the TM guys came to my house to set it up. Let me list down the steps that a Streamyx user needs to go through before signing up for Unifi.
- You need to call Unifi (1300881222) to inform them you want to sign up. They’ll ask you which plan and all other details. They’ll then schedule a time for the Unifi guys to come to your house to set up
- You need to close your Streamyx account. From a user point of view, this is plain stupid. A user simply doesn’t care if Unifi and Streamyx are 2 different business units in TM, because a user simply sees TM as 1 company. Anyway, I had to go a nearby TM Point to fill in a form to close my account. Thank god the whole closing down experience was fast and smooth.
- A few days later the Unifi guys came to my house. They arrived on-the-dot as promised at 9:30AM and they were very friendly. The agreed SLA from TM is that the installation would take less than 6 hours (my guess is that they’re playing it safe), but turns out the actual installation took about 2 hours+. The Unifi guys had to pull another cable from the TM post outside my house and wire it directly to where I want to set up the Unifi box.
The unifi package came with 4 devices (photo below)
The tall grey device on the left is the TV Set Up box. It gives you 21 IPTV channels and TV-On-Demand (TVOD). The small white box with 2 antennas is the wireless router, and the white box on the right is the modem. A cordless phone (black) comes with the package too. All these 4 devices and the installation process were free-of-charge from TM. Awesome.
The Unifi guys did everything. The wireless network was set up with all the appropriate security settings. They even helped me perform a speed test which the results was more than pleasing:
Yup, that’s right, I signed up for the 5Mbps plan but my actual speed is 6.4Mbps! Now my internet at home is faster than what I have at work! Youtube videos loading the point the page loads, and I was able to download a 1GB file for around 1 hour! That’s how fast it is! TM definitely got it right this time around. Well done TM!
May/100
Harussani Zakaria: Sultan Payung Negeri
I would like to share this short article written by Harussani Zakaria, the Mufti of Perak. The same article was published in Utusan Mingguan yesterday (Sunday, 9 May 2010).
http://umno-kgserdang.blogspot.com/2010/05/sultan-payung-negeri.html
The article was well written and it is a timely reminder to all of us. One of the interesting bits is that my ancestor was mentioned in the article:
Masih segar juga dalam sejarah, apabila al-Marhum Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin yang memerintah bersama regu ulamanya Sayyid Hussain al-Faradz mengisytiharkan Undang-Undang 99 sebagai undang-undang keadilan bagi jajahan Perak. Yang zalim dihukum, yang mangsa dimulia, yang lemah jauh dari dihina, yang kaya diwajib menderma. Maka hiduplah rakyat jelata dalam aman sejahtera, makmur dan bahagia.
I have written an article about the descendants of Sayyid Hussain al-Faradz al-Jamalullail on wikipedia. Check it out.
Apr/101
Shit lovers
I was walking in Pavilion (a mall in KL) when I came across a small booth selling teddy bears. Some were funny and cute until I saw the section selling this:
Yes, you’re seeing it right. It’s a stuffed soft toy of faeces, human excrement, or to be blunt, shit.
I cannot see how could such a disgusting object be portrayed as ‘cute’ and ‘cuddly’. It’s absolutely disgusting.
Apr/100
Perak Sultan unhappy with those who disgrace Malaysia at international forums
I was in the Balai Rong Seri in the Istana when the Sultan stated this. I would like to repost his key points as published by The Star here: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/20/nation/6089403&sec=nation
KUALA KANGSAR: The Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah expressed regret at the actions of certain individuals and groups who disgraced their own country at international forums.
This, he said, gave an opportunity to outside powers to interfere in the internal affairs of the country.
“I call on the people to use their wisdom for the sake of the nation and not to be influenced by their emotion based on desire which would eventually be to the detriment of the country,” he said at the investiture and pledging of loyalty ceremony in conjunction with his 82nd birthday at Istana Iskandariah here yesterday.
Sultan Azlan Shah noted that all members, be it in Parliament or the state assembly, should respect the sanctity of the august House.
“Those who are called the Yang Berhormat should show exemplary behaviour,” he said.
“It is embarrassing that proceedings in the august House are done in an environment filled with shouts and abuses,” said Sultan Azlan Shah.
“It is also an insult to the assembly if members bring placards with degrading words and hurl abuse at each other,” he added.
At the same event, Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah said elements of ill-mannered behaviour by people in high positions and professions were not happening on the streets or in markets but in places that should be regarded highly and respected.
Dr Nazrin said courtesy was the key factor that determines the rise and fall of a country and its leaders.
“Politeness plays an important role in shaping a society let alone a prosperous and steady country,” he said.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said that the Barisan Nasional government would do its best to maintain peace and harmony in the state while continuing with its development.
Dr Zambry noted that he had during the March 31 state assembly, called on Pakatan Rakyat state assemblymen not to jeopardise the people’s welfare with their never-ending politicking.
At the investiture ceremony Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ismail Almarhum Sultan Iskandar headed the list of 912 people conferred with awards and medals in conjunction with Sultan Azlan Shah’s birthday.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was conferred the Darjah Kebesaran Seri Paduka Sultan Azlan Shah Perak Yang Teramat Dimulia (SPSA) which carries the title Datuk Seri Diraja.
No Pakatan state assemblymen were present during the ceremony.
When contacted, state DAP chairman and Sitiawan assemblyman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said the Pakatan state assemblymen did not receive any invitations to the ceremony.
“We have been waiting for the invitations but none of us received any,” he said.
State secretary Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Hashim could not be reached to verify Ngeh’s claim.
Apr/100
Java Developers needed at Accenture Malaysia
The firm has been emailing internally for a while and I guess I should make an attempt to help HR in their recruiting efforts. The long list of vancies for the KL Office is displayed below:
Services Workforce
- Accounts Analyst
- HR Analysts
- SAP Applications Helpdesk Team Lead
- Business Analyst
- Digital Publishing Platform Support
- Digital Advertising Analytics Support
- HR Helpdesk Analyst
- Billing Operation Analyst
- Contract Management
- Contract Specialist I — Service Centre
Solutions Workforce
- Oracle BEA Weblogic Portal Consultants
- Solution Architect – Telecommunications
- Java Developers
- Oracle Order & Service Management Developers
- Oracle BEA Development Implementation and Configuration
- SAP FICO Professionals
- SAP MM Expert/Consultant
- SAP PM Data Lead/ Consultant
- TA Siebel Administrator
- Oracle Applications Specialists
Consulting Workforce
- SAP Functional Consultants (BI,CRM,SD,APO,MM)
- SAP Functional Consultants (BI/BW/PM/PS/SCM)
- SAP Functional Consultants – Human Resources (HR)
- SAP Functional Consultants – Materials Management (MM)
- SAP Managers / Senior Manager
- IT Strategy & Transformation Professionals
If you’re interested and require more details, please email me at imran.jaafar@gmail.com
Apr/100
HSBB Delivered
After a few months, the HSBB was launched a few days ago. It was one of the most anticipated events of the year.
Apart from that, I received an express mail from TM the week before stating that my housing area (TTDI) is part of the 1st phase deployment for HSBB, hence, I’ll be eligble to test HSBB (free of charge) till mid-May. Good stuff. Although, they should have used normal post instead of using registered post where I had to go collect it at poslaju depot in PJ (I don’t recommend going there during lunch hour, killer jam at the wretched Rothmans roundabout)
Although I have yet to experience HSBB, my usual Streamyx experience has improved tremendously. Check out the screenshot below: (usually my test returns a 200kbps average, but now it’s 300+kbps!)
Anyway, I look forward to trying HSBB out. I went to their new HSBB website, http://www.unifi.my, and I believe I’ll be more than happy to sign up for the 5Mbps plan. Looks reasonble and I don’t see how I would be needing any bigger bandwidth than that.
However, earlier, I heard that TM was thinking of implementing a maximum download limit (at around ~60GB+ depending on package), but later the idea was scapped. Good thinking. We don’t want to spoil a wonderful project with petty limitations such as that. We should learn from the Australians (where their ISPs implements a download cap — only to receive hateful complaints from netizens in the country) and be better.
I’ll post again after trying out the new package.
Jan/100
TM eyes McKinsey to meet HSBB target
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 — Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) is mulling to give a RM20 million project to McKinsey & Co to ensure its RM11 billion high-speed broadband (HSBB) is on time to meet the 50 per cent broadband penetration target this year.
The telecoms utility’s board is due to meet tomorrow to decide on the consultancy’s terms as it races to meet its deadline set recently by Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim. It is understood the current broadband penetration rate is now at 32 per cent.
“The board will meet tomorrow whether to award McKinsey the contract to make sure we meet this year’s target. It is a bit silly as we have the real targets to achieve,” a company source told The Malaysian Insider.
It is learnt that associates from McKinsey’s US headquarters have promised expertise from Telefonica, the Spanish multinational telecommunications giant, to help TM meet the targets, which now also include mobile broadband.
Dec/090
P1 WIMAX’s vulgar ad
P1's Potong Advert
Apparently a group of people are not happy with P1′s new “potong” advert and have lodge a complaint with the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF). Below is the news article from New Straits Times.
PUTRAJAYA: The popular potong advertisement by P1 Wimax may land the advertiser in trouble.
Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF) said it was scrutinising the advertisement aired on television and radio.
“We are looking into it,” said CMCF executive director Mohd Mustaffa Fazil Mohd Abdan.
While refusing to reveal the number of complaints received, he said CMCF would act against such an advertisement, including action like “taking it down”.
“Under our Content Code, if there is a breach and the advertisement is found to be offensive, we can remove it,” he said.
CMCF is empowered to issue a written reprimand and impose a fine of not more than RM50,000 for offensive advertisements.
CMCF can also refer the offending party to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) as the umbrella regulatory body for further action.
The P1 Wimax broadband advertisement created an uproar over its liberal use of the word potong (cut).
Although the advertisement could be a tongue-in-cheek suggestion for viewers and listeners to “cut the wires” and “cut the hidden charges”, members of parliament are calling for the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry to pull the plug on it.
Datuk Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) had previously said in Parliament that potong somehow brings a vulgar connotation for some people because it is a colloquial way of referring to circumcision.
Meanwhile, Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Senator Heng Seai Kie said the advertisement had been reviewed by the National Censorship Board even before it was aired. She said it had passed the strict censorship code imposed by the board.
Dec/090
TM’s RM11.3b broadband project
I know this piece of news was from last year, but I am exicited to see their progress and get highspeed broadband in Malaysia. I am guessing that TM needs to roll this out as soon as possible with the advent of wimax that is being aggressively promoted and provided by P1.
KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia Bhd has received a letter of award from the Government to implement the RM11.31bil high-speed broadband (HSBB) project.
TM said on Tuesday the project would be carried out in collaboration with the Government to deploy the access, domestic core and international networks to deliver an end-to-end HSBB infrastructure.
“The total cost of the HSBB investment for a period of 10 years is RM11.31bil whereby the Government will be investing RM2.4bil and the remaining RM8.91bil from TM,” it said.
TM said with the acceptance of the letter of award, the company and the Government would sign a formal agreement based on mutually agreed terms and conditions in due course.
It added that more details and relevant information would be announced when the HSBB agreement was signed.
On May 15, TM said it was pleased to learn the Government has approved the pertinent details and broad implementation strategies for the HSBB roll-out plan.
The plan was a key initiative in the effort to widen broadband penetration in the country. The HSBB coverage is expected to be available across 1.3 million premises.
News item from: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/2/business/20080902181752&sec=business
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