2K14 – VMY, World Cup, etc….

Assalamualaikum  (to all my fellow Muslims). ‘Sup peeps! 2013 has gone. Hello and welcome aboard 2014! While most enjoy holiday today (a public holiday by the way), some states in Malaysia have their work day as usual, including Johor. Speaking of Johor, the southernmost state of the Malaysian peninsula reverts to Friday and Saturday weekends from this year. So, will there be Friday Star, New Friday Times, Berita Harian Jumaat, Metro Jumaat, and Kosmo Jumaat for Johor as well as other states like Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu which already observe this different weekend to complement this weekend change? Anyways, here are what we can and shall look forward to this year:

VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR 2014 (VMY2K14)

The Malaysia branding logo embedded onto Visit Malaysia 2014 logo.

We shall (Malaysia will) be THE (“duh”) host to the world for the fourth time. The last time we held it was in 2007, when Malaysia celebrated its (NOT her) semi-centennial independence. The first one was in 1990, and later 1994. This time, it carries the theme “Truly Asia“, the same tagline to promote Malaysia as a tourism destination internationally. For domestic tourism, it is Cuti-cuti 1Malaysia. So, I honestly urge my fellow Malaysians to less travel abroad (with the exemption of haj and umrah for Muslims) and support our (Malaysia’s) very own domestic tourism. To all our tourists, near or far, far away, Selamat Datang ke Malaysia! (Welcome to Malaysia!) Enjoy your stay!

SPORTING EVENTS

These are Top 3 sporting events which are going to be held this year, all of which are quadrennial events.

FiFA World Cup  in Brazil, the second Latin-American country in 28 years after Mexico to host the most prestigious sporting event of all time. Will hosts Brazil win in their own soil this time?

XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

XVII Asiad in Incheon, South Korea.

 

PEOPLE

These people will be celebrating yet another milestone this year.

20 (b.1994)

Dakota Fanning (23rd Feb)

Justin Bieber (1st Mar)

25 (b. 1989)

Neelofa (24 March)

Chris Brown (5th May)

Lucy Hale (14th June)

Daniel Radcliffe (23rd July)

Jason Derulo (12th September)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shaina Magdayao (6th November)

Taylor Swift (13th December)

30 (b. 1984)

Olivia Wilde

Fasha Sandha (28th March)

Mandy Moore (10th April)

Marian Rivera (12th Aug)

Alizee (21st August)

Avril Lavigne (27th September)

Park Han Byul (17th November)

40 (b.1974)

Kate Moss

Robbie Williams (13th February)

Ryan Reynolds (10th September)

Leonardo DiCaprio (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Leonardo DiCaprio (11th November)

50 (b. 1964)

Nicolas Cage

Russell Crowe (7th April)

Sandra Bullock (26th July)

Keanu Reeves (2nd September)

60 (b. 1954)

John Travolta

Finally, I hope the domestic issues such as power tariff hike and other hike-related demonstrations will not jeopardise VMY2K14. Let us also hope that there will be fewer road accidents and criminal cases during VMY.

Haze [aka Smog] : Whose Fault is It and should Be Blamed?

I am pressed to give my opinion on the current hazy situation in the peninsular part of Malaysia.

As the epicenter of the haze that shrouds the entire part of Peninsula of Malaysia is on the province of Sumatra and Riau in Indonesia, it is easily spread through the westerly wind across the Straits of Melaka. the ongoing spat between affected neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore could have been avoided.

The rain that we shall [NOT will] obviously get in the next couple of days is not natural, but man-made ones.  According to the Minister in the Prime Ministerial Department, Datuk Abdul Jamil Khir Baharom, the rain will wash the haze away. But will rain cause flash floods afterward?

The haze is not just caused by forest fire in Indonesia. There was once, one other factor such as the ash cloud from Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines back in 1991.

I think the masks have been sold out. Are pharmacies like Guardian and Watson’s trying to take advantages of such situation to hoard masks just for making some quick buck?

Apprentice Asia on AXN Tonight!

After much anticipation, the Asian edition of one of the highest-rated reality television shows is finally making its airwaves. The Apprentice Asia airs tonight at 2105 on AXN. AirAsia boss, Tan Sri Datuk Tony Fernandes will be playing the regional Donald Trump.  A total of 12 contestants from across the region of Asia will land the hundred-grand-per-month job. For the record, Malaysia has the most number of contestants,   followed by India, Indonesia, and the Philippines, which send two people. The rest (China, Singapore, and Thailand) are represented by one person from each country. Three Malaysians are up to this challenge, Nazril bin Idrus, Ng Kian Tat aka Hanzo, and Nik  Aisyah Amirah binti Mansor, being the youngest Malaysian participant. Here are the rundown of each Malaysian contestant.

Nazril bin Idrus

– Husband of Malaysian actress Sazzy Falak

Ng Kian Tat aka Hanzo

– Self-proclaimed ‘ninja’. He was fired on the 2nd episode.

Nik

– She delayed her wedding. I bet she will win the inaugural season of The Apprentice Asia.

The contestants gather around the KLCC Park. They were divided into gender-specific team. The guys team are called the Mavericks and the gals call themselves Apex, led by Nik. But unfortunately, the Mavericks leader, Indon Hendy was the first to get fired by Tan Sri Fernandes.

Their first task was to be fishmongers at a pasar sehari in Section 17, Petaling Jaya (PJ City). So, the Apex won this pilot episode of The Apprentice Asia.

My wish to fellow Malaysians participating in The Apprentice Asia, “MALAYSIA BOLEH!”