Here’s a great way to improve your mangled Malaysian English. Actually, the list is in no way complete, just a few that fly around my office everyday. And every other office in Malaysia…Cinapek – I suppose its short for ‘Cina Ah Pek’. More polite version would be ‘Chinaman’.Example: ‘Don’t want to go to UE3, lah. That place so cinapek, one’ Cinabeng – Same as above, slightly cruder. Short for ‘Cina Ah Beng’. Mostly used by non-Chinese folks.Example: ‘Cinabeng-la lu.’ Cap Palang – So named from those TV ads from the 80’s testing products with ‘brand X’.Example: ‘This car so cap palang one, throw away lah.’ Gostan – Move in reverse.…

Petrol companies in MalaysiaBP, Shell, Esso, Mobil, Petronas, ProJet, Caltex International fast-food franchises in MalaysiaMcDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Burger Kings, A&W, Shakey’s Pizza, Kenny Rogers. Failed international fast-food franchises in MalaysiaWendy’s, Carl’s Jr., White Castle, Grandy’s, MOS Burger, plenty more I can’t recall. Remaining local banks in MalaysiaMaybank, Public Bank, Southern Bank, Alliance Bank, Hong Leong Bank, Affin Bank, EON Bank, Southern Bank, Bumiputra-Commerce Bank, AmBank Proton car models (not including aerobacks)Saga, Wira, Iswara, Putra, Juara (Malaysia’s ugliest car), Limo, Satria, Waja, Gen.2, Tiara, Knight, Perdana, Cares (I’m not counting that RM4000 Proton bicycle) Hypermarkets in MalaysiaTesco, Giant, Makro, Carrefour (Jusco doesn’t count) Colours of the rainbowViolet, Indigo, Green,…

Astro re-running some old TV shows from the 80’s their channel 70. Most of us don’t get to watch them since they are usually shown during the day time, unless you work at home or are on leave. Some of the ones that are doing the rounds are Knight Rider, Magnum P.I., MacGyver, Family Ties and The Bold & the Beautiful. Here are some more shows I’d like to see them re-run just for the camp value: The Greatest American Hero – Man, this show was fun. Great song, Connie Selleca and that funny bumbling hero with the Chinese word on his chest. As I recall it used to run…

If you’ve been reading the headlines recently, the government is once again cracking down on illegal workers in our country, now that the amnesty period for voluntary repatriation has come to an end. And so the authorities will be making their checks in construction sites around the country, since it is widespread knowledge that the building industry hires the most illegal aliens. In all the years of dirtying my hands and clothes in the mud of our construction industry, I have worked alongside many, many foreign workers and seen the human face behind what the public calls a menace and a social threat. What I have seen is nothing shocking,…

Here are some questions that really annoy or get on my nerves. I call them cringe-question, because every time I hear them, it makes me squirm like hearing fingernails on the blackboard. Most of the time I refuse to answer, and the rare few times I answer, you’ll probably would not like my answer. 1. When are getting married / Still not married aah?The ultimate cringe-question. I am already married, but I really cringe whenever I hear someone asked this one. Let’s get this straight, for those unclear of the concept: If someone does not have a boyfriend or girlfriend, they’re probably looking for one. If they have one already,…

These few years must really be good years in property development. Everyday in the Metro pullouts of the local newspapers are filled with advertisements for housing launch parties and sales promotions. Come Saturday’s paper, the number doubles. Even the Edge has a special pullout for real estate. Everyday you here about Amanputra, Amansuria, Amanseri, Damaiputra, Damansara Damai, Kota Permai, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai…Is the economy really that good? Where are people getting all these money from? Deductively speaking, there is no supply without demand. And speaking from within the industry, I can say that most of these launches that are marketed well by experienced companies sell very well. Some sell…