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All These Buildings, But Still No Place to Call Home

I’ve been driving around Klang Valley a lot lately, and it’s hard not to notice just how many buildings there are now. Everywhere you turn—Mont Kiara, Cheras, even places like Sentul—you’ll see high-rise condominiums, half-finished commercial towers, or giant banners showing digital mockups of “luxury urban living” with rooftop pools and skyline views.

But do you know what is strange?

Many of the buildings are dark at night. No lights are on. There are no signs of life.

It made me wonder: who are we building all this for?

I'm not a property developer or an economist, but something about this circumstance doesn't feel right. We keep building—constantly—but I also keep hearing people say they can’t afford a home. Young couples. Single parents. Even folks with decent jobs. It’s like there’s a disconnect between what’s being developed and what people actually need.

I once visited a friend who was staying in a low-cost flat with her aging parents. She pointed to a glitzy new condo across the street and said, “That one’s selling for RM800,000. We’ve been trying to move for years, but that’s just not for people like us.”

It hit me.

We’re not short on buildings. We’re short on homes that people can realistically live in.

And yet developers keep going. Another tower. Another project. Another showroom with scale models and tiny plastic trees. It’s as if the goal is no longer to serve people—but to impress investors.

I sometimes ask myself: is this really the best use of our land?

Are we maximising it, or are we just packaging it into overpriced boxes for someone else to flip?

When I walk past those showrooms, it’s hard not to feel like a stranger in my own city. The brochures are in English and Mandarin. And I wonder—is this place really being built for us?

We say we want a vibrant, inclusive city. But it’s hard to feel included when you’re priced out before you even begin.

I know there are government housing initiatives like Rumah Selangorku or RUMAWIP. And yes, they help. But let’s be honest—it’s not enough. The demand far outweighs the supply, and by the time people finally qualify or get allocated a unit, prices have shifted again.

Meanwhile, the luxury condos keep rising.

It’s Not Just About Property—It’s About Priorities

This isn’t just a rant about unaffordable housing.

It’s about what kind of society we’re building.

We talk a lot about development. But who are we developing for? Do we want cities filled with empty units and inflated prices, or do we want streets filled with actual lives, actual communities?

I think about my future sometimes. Not just mine, but my friends’, my colleagues’, the younger generation who’s still working hard, hoping for a stable place to build their lives. It’s discouraging when everything feels stacked against them.

I’m not against progress.

I just wish progress didn’t always feel so disconnected from people’s real lives.

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I Want to Drive Electric—But Malaysia Isn’t Ready for Me Yet

I really want to drive an electric car. Not just for the usual “go green” reasons (although that’s part of it), but because honestly? EVs are cool. The design, the tech, the silent engine, the futuristic dashboard. It feels like you’re driving something from five years into the future. And the idea of just cruising down the highway while the car takes care of most of the driving? That’s a dream. But here’s the thing: every time I get serious about switching, something holds me back. And it’s not the price tag. It’s the infrastructure. Or more accurately, the lack of it. I live in a high-rise condo in KL. Pretty decent one, nothing fancy. But it doesn’t have any EV charging stations. Not even one. And when I casually brought it up during a building committee meeting, I got the kind of response that politely says, “That’s a problem for Future Us.” Even if I somehow convinced them (and the residents) to install chargers, it’s not as simple as buying a plug and calling it a day. There are approvals, electrical capacity checks, cost-sharing discussions—and frankly, not many people are excited to go through all that just because one guy wants to drive a Tesla. So okay, maybe I could live without home charging for a while. Use public stations, right? Well… good luck with that. The other day I tried checking what’s available around my usual routes—work, gym, parents’ place. Some stations looked promising on the app, but when I got there, one was blocked by a petrol car, another was out of service, and the third had a queue. I haven’t even bought the car yet, and already I’m stressed. I remember taking a trip to Penang a few months ago. I stayed at a hotel in the city, and there was this bright red Tesla parked near the entrance. Naturally, I was curious, so I struck up a conversation with the owner. Super friendly guy—turns out he’d been driving EVs for a couple of years. He told me he loved the experience, but every long-distance trip required meticulous planning. “You learn to drive with a little anxiety,” he joked. “You know where every charger is. You know which ones are broken. You know which malls let you plug in without needing a membership card from 2015.” I laughed, but in the back of my mind, I was thinking: Do I really want my weekend trips to turn into charging station treasure hunts? To be fair, Malaysia has made some moves. There’s no road tax for EVs (for now), and you can claim some tax relief if you install a charger at home. There are also big incentives for companies setting up charging stations. But incentives can only go so far when you still have to open five different apps just to find an available charger near you. And if you live in an apartment? Forget it. Most of us don’t even get enough parking spaces, let alone EV-ready bays. It really does feel like a chicken-and-egg situation. Not enough chargers, so not many people buy EVs. Not many EVs, so no one wants to invest in chargers. And meanwhile, the rest of us just keep watching and waiting—hoping someone blinks first. I want to drive electric. I want to feel that quiet acceleration. I want to cruise in something that doesn’t leave a trail of emissions behind. I even want to nerd out over all the dashboard stats and battery range data like every new EV owner I follow on YouTube. But right now, it just doesn’t feel possible. Not yet. Not here. I know the day will come. I really do. But until then, I’ll be on the sidelines—watching new chargers slowly pop up on the map, checking in with EV friends about their experiences, and hoping that one day, driving electric in Malaysia won’t feel like a logistical gamble. Because when it finally makes sense, I’m ready to plug in.

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I Didn’t Know About the Gasoline Lie—And Now I Can’t Unknow It

I came across this video one night—just one of those auto-played recommendations on YouTube that shows up when you’re half-distracted and not planning to learn anything serious. I almost clicked away. But I didn’t. The video was about leaded gasoline—and how, for decades, it was knowingly sold around the world even though the people behind it knew how dangerous it was.

Apparently, they knew.

They knew it was toxic. They knew it could damage the brain—especially in children. They knew it polluted the air and lingered in the soil. But they sold it anyway.

The inventor, the manufacturers, the oil companies—they had the research. They had the data. But instead of stopping, they doubled down. They ran PR campaigns to silence concerns. They put scientists on their payroll to spin the truth. All of this, just so they could keep making money off a product that was literally poisoning people. And for decades, the whole world just… breathed it in.

I don’t know why this one hit me so hard, but it did. Maybe because I’d like to believe that we live in a world where bad things happen by mistake, not by design. Maybe because I’m part of the business world too—and it made me wonder: how many things do we overlook, delay, or justify in the name of business?

Business, But at What Cost?

It’s one thing to make a mistake.

It’s another thing to know and keep going.

That’s the part that kept echoing in my head.

I think about how many people lived their whole lives not knowing that the air they breathed, the fuel they used every day, was quietly harming them. Not in a dramatic, obvious way—but slowly, subtly, irreversibly. And it was allowed. Worse—it was orchestrated.

And I think about the people who were behind it. Did they sleep well at night? Did they tell themselves it wasn’t so bad? That the profits justified the cost? Or did they know, deep down, that what they were doing would leave a scar on generations to come?

It left me unsettled. Not just because of the past, but because of the pattern. It’s not just one story. It’s one of many. Cigarettes. Asbestos. Fast fashion. Ultra-processed foods. Every time we learn something new, it feels like we’re always ten steps too late. And every time, it turns out someone already knew.

What really got to me, though, wasn’t just the history—it was how normal everything looked while it was happening. The ads were cheerful. The cars kept driving. The fuel kept pumping. People lived and worked and raised families, all while invisible harm was seeping into the background of their lives.

And now I look at the world a little differently.

It made me reflect on the kind of business I want to be part of. I’m not some big-shot corporate executive with global influence—but even in my own small way, I make decisions. I choose what to prioritise. I choose who to work with. I choose what kind of values I’m willing to stand behind, even when it’s not convenient.

It reminded me that business isn’t neutral. Every product, every service, every strategy carries a weight. It either contributes to harm, or helps reduce it. There’s no perfect path, but there’s always a direction we’re leaning toward.

That video left me feeling two things at once—anger and responsibility. Anger at how long the lie was allowed to last. And responsibility, because now that I know… I don’t want to be someone who just shrugs and carries on.

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The Day I Finally Replaced My Cracked Windscreen (And What It Made Me Realise)

I ignored the crack for three weeks.

It started as a tiny chip, barely noticeable unless you really squinted. I remember telling myself it could wait. You know, one of those “I’ll get to it next weekend” things that never actually happen. But of course, one evening, as I was driving home from a meeting in light rain, it finally happened. The chip expanded into a jagged streak right across my line of vision.

I pulled over. Sat there staring at it.

And I felt… oddly annoyed at myself. Not because the windscreen broke. But because I knew better. I just didn’t act.

Small Things We Delay, Big Things We Pay For

There’s something about minor problems that makes them easy to push aside. Like that notification light on the dashboard you pretend isn’t urgent. Or that squeaky sound from your brakes you hope will go away on its own.

But windscreen cracks are different. They don’t just stay still.

They grow. Quietly, steadily. And before you know it, you’re squinting through spiderweb glass, hoping it doesn’t rain again before you finally book that repair.

That was me. And honestly, I got lucky it didn’t shatter while I was on the highway.

What I Didn’t Know About Windscreen Repairs

When I finally got it replaced, the process was way easier than I expected. I reached out to a car windscreen repair specialist someone recommended in a group chat. Within a day, everything was sorted—insurance claim, appointment, even the glass itself.

But the thing that stayed with me wasn’t the efficiency.

It was this quiet reminder: some things are worth fixing before they become a problem.

We always say we’re too busy. But sometimes, making time to sort out the small stuff is exactly what protects our peace of mind down the line.

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I Was Terrified of Eye Surgery… Until I Did This One Thing

I used to think I’d wear glasses forever. Not because I loved them (honestly, I didn’t), but because the idea of anyone—especially a machine—coming near my eyes freaked me out. LASIK always sounded like something for the brave and the bold. I was neither.

But life has a way of nudging us when we least expect it. For me, it was during a spontaneous beach trip with friends. Between the wind, sand, and sweat, my glasses were sliding off every ten minutes. At one point, I took them off just to enjoy the breeze and realized I was missing half the view.

That night, I googled:

“Is LASIK really safe?”

And that was the beginning of a deep, deep research spiral.

What surprised me was how normal the whole thing actually is. According to the American Refractive Surgery Council, LASIK has a patient satisfaction rate of over 96%, which is one of the highest among elective surgeries. That stat alone made me pause.

Then I came across this detailed breakdown from the Mayo Clinic, which listed the risks, candidacy criteria, and what to expect. It wasn’t sugarcoated, and I appreciated that.

Turning Curiosity Into Action

I wasn’t ready to book anything, but I did visit a few local clinics’ websites—mostly to understand what the lasik eye surgery procedure actually involved.

Interestingly, they all said something similar: The procedure is quick, recovery is fast, and the results are often life-changing.

One thing I didn’t expect was how personalized the journey can be. Different clinics have different technologies, different care styles. I realized the “LASIK experience” isn’t just one fixed thing—it really depends on who you go with and how you approach it.

While I haven’t done the surgery yet, I feel way less afraid now. Reading up, asking questions, and learning from other people’s journeys has helped me shift from fear to informed curiosity.

And maybe that’s the biggest win so far���not just the thought of ditching glasses, but finally seeing this whole experience for what it is: a choice that deserves both excitement and thought.

If You’re Wondering Too…

Start small. Don’t rush. Just look into what the LASIK eye surgery procedure is, read a few articles from trusted sources like the Mayo Clinic or the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and talk to someone who’s been through it.

You don’t have to decide today. I haven’t either. But knowing more? It really does change everything.

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Needles and Nibbles: My Accidental Dive into Acupuncture for Weight Loss

So, I was lying on the acupuncture table, needles delicately placed, feeling like a human pincushion. As I glanced around the room, I saw a poster: “Acupuncture for Weight Loss!” Wait, what? I thought I was here to relieve stress, not shed pounds. Intrigued, I decided to dig deeper.

First Reaction: Wait… Lose Weight with Needles?

My first thought was: “Eh, sounds a bit too magical for my liking.” I’ve tried all the usual suspects when it comes to weight loss — counting calories, skipping bubble tea (trauma), signing up for gym trials I never returned to, and even downloading fitness apps that now just sit quietly judging me from my phone screen.

But acupuncture? As in… lie down, get poked, and suddenly your jeans fit again? That felt suspiciously like one of those ads you’d scroll past on Instagram. You know, the ones that say “Drop 5kg in 5 days — no diet, no exercise, just ancient secrets!” Uh-huh. Sure.

Still, a small part of me was curious. What if, just maybe, there’s more to it than fancy marketing and a well-designed clinic poster?

After all, if something involves less running and more lying down, it deserves at least a second look.

So after my session, I casually asked the practitioner — more like half-jokingly — “I saw your poster… acupuncture really can help lose weight ah?” expecting a polite chuckle or some mystical explanation about qi flowing into my abs.

But she didn’t even blink. Just calmly explained, “It’s not magic. What we do is help the body regulate itself. Certain acupuncture points can help boost your metabolism, reduce appetite, improve digestion, balance your hormones, and lower stress — which all indirectly support weight loss.”

Okay, that sounded more science-y than I expected.

She made it clear though — it’s not a miracle jab where you walk out two sizes smaller. You still need to eat decently and move your body. Acupuncture just helps your body get into a better state to do that more efficiently.

No false promises. Just support — like a gentle push instead of a hardcore bootcamp yell.

My Take? It’s Less About Losing, More About Balancing

After that visit, one thing became clear: Traditional Chinese Medicine doesn’t treat weight loss like a math problem — there’s no “calories in minus calories out = happiness” formula here.

Instead, it’s more like:

“Hey, let’s see why your body’s out of sync in the first place.”

Digestion sluggish? Hormones out of whack? Liver working overtime? Stress eating after 10pm because life is hard and McD’s is open? TCM looks at all that — not to scold you, but to gently nudge your body back into balance.

And maybe that’s why it stood out to me. For people who’ve already tried the apps, the diets, the protein shakes, the gym memberships they secretly dread… acupuncture might be that softer, slower, but more sustainable option.

It’s not about chasing fast results. It’s about making peace with your body and letting it do what it’s naturally meant to — feel good.

Look, I’m not saying acupuncture is some miracle weight loss hack that will turn you into a K-drama lead by next month.

But I am saying it’s fascinating how ancient healing methods are starting to blend into modern health goals — especially in a world where burnout, bloating, and bingeing seem more common than balance.

If you’ve ever felt stuck or just tired of the same old “eat less, move more” routine… maybe this is worth exploring. Not as a replacement, but as a partner in your health journey.

Worst case? You’ll have a nice lie-down and leave feeling a bit calmer.

Best case? You’ll discover a whole new way of understanding your body.

So, have you ever tried acupuncture for weight loss? Would you?

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Navigating the Storm: How Malaysian SMEs Can Thrive Amidst Intensifying Competition

Let's face it: All Malaysian SMEs face increased competition pressure, no matter how big or small. On the one hand, we're seeing more aggressive foreign businesses entering Malaysia to compete with better pricing, offerings, technology, and innovation.

This is something familiar to entrepreneurs and business owners in Malaysia. Back then, we faced fierce competition from 'Made in China' products, where you could get the same product quality at a fraction of the cost Malaysians offer. And then, in terms of technology, we can't even compete with advanced offerings from the West, Japan, or Korea. Speaking of Japan and Korea, their cultural influence is also overwhelming, especially in the entertainment industry. Now, even Nasi Lemak stores must compete with the Big M for market share.

So, do we really stand a chance to compete with them?

Looking deep into this competition, we can identify four main factors that make them superior to Malaysian businesses: price, quality, technology, and brand name.

We will first talk about price and quality because what you pay is what you get. But how can those mega factories produce all the quality goods at a fraction of the cost in the world? The answer is economies of scale. While China produces silverware, it can supply its entire population of 1.4 billion (see China Population Data).

Even if only 2.5% of the population purchased their products, that equals 35 million people. And yes, that's the population size in Malaysia. So, how much can it sell if Malaysian silverware plays the same game and sells to 2.5% of the total population? Assuming one person purchases 1 silverware, it will be 850,000 (out of 34 million population). We also need to mention the exporting part. We can hardly compete in the number game!

Then, we look at technology. The brain drain problem in Malaysia is why we need talented people in the workforce. Technological advancement and innovation need to burn money, and the private and government sectors are working together to invest.

However, we can only advance as quickly as other countries if we have talented people to help with research and development. Not to mention that many businesses, including big names or listing companies, are reluctant to innovate in Malaysia. We understand they also need to consider the cost and ROI. But R&D and innovation are just not on their priority list!

And lastly, the brand. Your favorite coffee brand, the big one, makes so much money from the brand name itself. We all saw those videos on YouTube explaining the cost and how much those companies are profiting from every cup of coffee you buy. You can be angry about how much they're profiting off you. But that's business, isn't it?

Speaking of the coffee industry, we saw local brands investing in branding and competing heads-on with those big names. Which is definitely a good sign. But this doesn't happen a lot in other industries. Businesses, typically those established decades ago, are too reluctant to invest in branding and like to stick to the status quo of how they ran their business 30 years ago.

Looking at all these factors as to why Malaysian businesses cannot compete with international brands, even those big guns and listing companies in Malaysia don't stand a chance. But what else can SMEs do to stay afloat and gradually become the big gun and compete?

I believe Malaysian SMEs are just not playing the game of "resource integration" or "resource consolidation" like China did. China's growth has depended on how effectively it brings resources together or consolidates resources to maximize its strength, outputs, efficiency, and results.

A popular concept in China called 1+1>2 means that if 2 people or companies work together, they can produce something more significant than what they can do individually.

We can interpret this into business strategies such as partnership or collaboration, merger and acquisition, or even business process outsourcing.

Partnership or M&A could take longer, so let's table it for another discussion. Let's talk about how simple and no-brainer business process outsourcing could be.

Put it this way, how many small companies actually hire internal accountants or bookkeepers? And do they really need this role in their business? We're not trying to imply that these accountants or bookkeepers don't contribute or add value to the company; it is just that they could have outsourced it to a professional accounting or bookkeeping agency to do it.

Outsourcing will cost half or less than what they need to pay for a full-time employee working in the company. For small businesses, these human resources are often underutilized. On the other hand, an accounting agency could easily hire more accountants or bookkeepers to achieve economies of scale and continue to advance in their skills and abilities, or even invest in more technologically advanced tools and equipment to get their job done more efficiently. So that's both sides will win!

The accounting agency is only one example; you could be doing the same for marketing agencies, cleaning services, customer services, IT management, human resources, or even getting the copier machine suppliers in Malaysia to rent a photocopy machine, which is even worth it compared to owning one. You get the idea.

The whole point is that SMEs should always have an idea of how they can leverage specialized skills and resources available in the market rather than hiring on their own and taking up the responsibilities of hiring, training, retaining, and paying the payroll while the market can offer you something more cost-effective.

Focus on what you do best and let others do what they do best! And finger-crossed, wish your business could grow so fast and start competing with foreign companies!

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Hard Hats on Site: How Much Protection Do They Really Offer?

I came across a video the other day that really got me thinking. It was all about motorcycle helmets and how they stand up to impacts – pretty serious stuff. This got me curious about those hard hats we see every day on construction sites. You know, the ones that seem as much a part of a builder's uniform as the high-vis jackets.

I'm in the middle of shaping a digital marketing campaign for a safety helmet brand, so this question isn't just about curiosity – it's about making sure we're on the right track.

Let me take you back to a moment on a construction site visit. They handed me a safety helmet before I stepped onto the site. I remember thinking how light it felt on my head, almost like it wasn't there. But when I actually held it, the thinness was surprising. It didn't have the heft of a motorcycle helmet or even the snug fit of a cyclist's gear. Considering the risks on a construction site – stuff falling from who knows where – it made me wonder if these helmets were up to the task.

So, do these helmets really do their job? I hit the web in search of answers. Turns out, safety helmets are a bit of a mixed bag. They're there to fend off the knocks from small falling objects and flying debris, but they're not the invincible shield we might hope for (Active Workwear).

And here's a kicker – falls are a big deal in construction accidents. Those hard hats weren't exactly designed with falls in mind, which is kind of ironic since that's how a lot of head injuries happen on the job (OHS Online).

So, what's the takeaway from my little deep dive? Well, it's clear that while safety helmets are a good start, they're not the be-all and end-all. They're part of the solution, but there's a bigger picture to consider. We can't have folks working in gear that's going to weigh them down, but at the same time, we can't skimp on safety.

Looking at the situation in Malaysia, it's a bit of a tightrope walk. The construction industry is no stranger to accidents, and with the tightening of foreign labor laws, finding willing workers is getting tougher. If the job's seen as too risky, it's going to turn people away, no matter where they're from. And let's be real – throwing money at the problem isn't going to make it go away.

What the industry needs, in my humble opinion, is to double down on safety. We need to make sure that every worker heads home in the same shape they came in. Until we've got some groundbreaking tech or new systems in place, we've got to nail the basics. Good, solid safety practices are the foundation we need to build on.