CRAVING OF A THAI

It is actually not as easy to find a good Thai food that is reasonably priced and taste very similar to the authentic Thai cooking. Naturally, when we came across a good Thai restaurant that is Halal with food menu that tastes very similar to the cooking of Thais, I had to share it with you. 

We incidentally saw the signage Aroi Thai after sending my son to his weekend Taekwondo class with Elaine Teoh and Nurul Nadia Mahamat at Kota Damansara. 

The three months old restaurant is called Aroi Thai and everything in the menu is priced at RM1.90 (before GST) ala the famous Thai Boat Noodle and Bangkok street food. We initially ordered a bowl each of the Beef Noodle but wallop in total 14 items from the menu!

I'VE GOT THE POWER!!

If only I had the Home Energy Report  report many years ago, we would have saved and substantially reduced our TNB Bills but Thumbs Up to TNB for generating the Home Energy Report which we received a few days ago. Without any bearing on the electrical consumption for energy efficient home, we have been on a utility bill reduction mode since last year.

Our TNB bill last year 2014, averages RM1200 per month and early this year we target to reduce it below RM1000 thinking it was a reasonable target. Now we know it is not. According to the TNB Home Energy Report, we uses 184% more electricity than similar home.  The last three months home electric usage comparison was was a staggering 5,765kWh for our home; similar home averages 2,031kWh and efficient home (of similar size) uses 891 kWh. We are 6x higher than the energy efficient home. The comparison was on 100 similar homes (Source: TNB).

Earlier this year we let go of a few under-utilize refrigerators and freezer, change the lights to LED energy saving lights and had successfully reduced it but RM800-RM900 per month was still on the high side. The target now was to keep TNB bill at an average RM300 a month which is the energy efficient home. So we did a bit of research on the energy savings electrical items and replaced the 8 years old LG air-condition on 3 August. 

We had it replaced with the Hitachi inverter aircond with 5 star energy saving rating. The aircond too came with a 10 years warranty. It claimed it can reduce our electricty bill by 60%. That was doubtful and we may just be a victim of advertising but heck, it cant be any worst than the current 8 years old air condition.

BOOTCAMP FOR LIFE~ 5th YEAR

Our journey with the Chief's bootcamp began 6 years ago in 2009 as a recruit at the bootcamp Padang Merbuk. Alike all others, we fell in love with the program at first sight. Prior to our training at the bootcamp, I have explored everything else from running, weight training, personal training, RPM, Body pump, swimming, triathlon, dualthon and even mountain climbing. My bootcamp partner Dr Malek Aziz too went through the same phase seeking and searching for an active lifestyle and training that can keep our mojo and fitness align with our medical history. Those who were given a second life having survived cancer would understand how nothing else matters but a good bill of great health. We love the program so much that we practically begged Chief Brabon and Gunny Hames to obtained the license to operate the program at Bandar Utama in 2010. The thought of not having the program being run in Malaysia was a nightmare having discovered the previous licensee wanted to opt out.

That was the beginning of our journey running the world's oldest military inspired bootcamp in Malaysia. When the licensee for Subang Jaya, Cyberjaya, Damansara Heights and Shah Alam too opted out from the network, we quickly took over. It was all for the passion for fitness. Not much for the money but for the network of people that shares similar passion as us. 

The Chief's Original Bootcamp is where it all started. It revolutionize the whole concept of exercising in Malaysia. That was during the period where all the boutique gym mushrooms throughout Malaysia. We went against the odd to establish the outdoor group fitness concept ala Military training. Now, the bootcamp concept had grow from just the Chief's Original Bootcamp to dozens of others but todate, the Chief's Original Bootcamp is the only bootcamp in Malaysia where the program is actually designed by former and currently serving infantry soldier, namely the Royal Australian army. Of course, the program is then customize for civilian training. At the Chief's Original Bootcamp (COBC), we deliver the program that was professionally and scientifically design to reap out the maximum results. The founder Chief Brabon and his Master Global trainers (whom design the program for COBC) establish the program way back in 1999; for already 16 years!!

CARBENGKEL MEDIA LAUNCH AT THE CRADLE FUND SDN BHD

On behalf of the CarBengkel team, we are grateful to all the media and guests that attended our small and simple product launching in conjunction with the upcoming festive season at the Cradle Fund office yesterday.

CarBengkel is a product of Cradle CIP Catalyst pre-seed funding. Being a recipient of government grant for the development of the application, the first thing we learn was to budget and to operate within a very limited budget. Naturally, our media launching was not held at five star hotels or expensive restaurants but at the training room at Cradle itself.

My journey with Cradle has been very educational and exciting.

When we first approach Cradle, we knew exactly what we wanted to do! We have the idea, the experience and the business plan. We did not have the product but we have everything else.... and so we thought!!

When we thought we knew and had everything, Cradle further completes it. Cradle had completed and make concrete whatever idea we have. The grant is actually a smaller contribution to what Cradle provides as a package.

Many new start up failed because they are their own bosses and being our own bosses, sometimes we feel we are right and that we knew everything. Cradle broadens our perspective and thinking methodology. It is not just the fund that came with Cradle but the support system that became our brainstorming partners.

At Cradle, we have to convinced alot of people who knew nothing about our business and some of them can be critical. This is very important because now I know, if anyone can convinced Cradle, they can actually convinced anyone. You cannot bullshit these professionals.

I am most grateful to Eizar Supiar and Dalena Zulkifli whom were the Cradle business managers assigned to us and would like to extend our big thank you for their tireless effort working with us on weekends and in discussion with us till late night. All the officials are with us on personal handphone basis. That was how committed they are.

20 MILLION CAR OWNERS TO BENEFIT FROM CARBENGKEL MOBILE APPLICATION

Malaysian government through the national Automotive Policy (NAP 2014) & Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) have placed a high emphasis to improve and enhance the services in the automotive ecosystem for the benefits of the public. The NAP 2014 focusses to give consumers greater benefits that include costs transparency, enhanced level of repair and services with proper procedures and qualification of mechanics, spare parts standardization, insurance coverage and others.

NAP 2014 would fulfill the need to standardize the local automotive after-market industry, as this industry has a direct impact on the consumer. The NAP 2014 initiatives will assist to set proper systems to standardize all of the stakehoders in the after-market that includes workshops (independent or franchised), tyres and accessories shops, spare parts dealer (new and used parts) and car dealers.

Part of the initiatives taken by MAI for the automotive aftermarket is to support the car workshope to be more competitive, proficient and customer-centric. MAI initiative through its primary app MAGIS (MAI Automotive Garage Information System) and its complementary Carbengkel app for workshop enables workshop to compete in term of competitive pricing, fast service, better customer service as well as retention and transparency. 

APA SEBENARNYA "MAI AFTERMARKET APP" ATAU "APLIKASI AFTERMARKET" INSTITUT AUTOMOTIF MALAYSIA?

YAB Perdana Menteri Malaysia, YAB Dato Seri Mohammad Najib bin Tun Hani Abdul Razak telah melancarkan aplikasi "MAI Aftermarket App" di Pekan pada 25 May 2015 di majlis Gegar Autoria tetapi tidak ramai yang tahu sebenarnya apakah aplikasi MAI aftermarket itu?

Aplikasi MAI Aftermarket terbahagi kepada dua aplikasi iaitu CarBengkel dan MAGIS. CarBengkel merupakan aplikasi baru berteraskan teknologi GPS, PUSH dan teknologi mudah alih bertujuan untuk memudahkan pemilik kereta untuk mendapatkan perkhidmatan servis dengan harga paling berpatutan. Ciri ciri aplikasi CarBengkel akan di terangkan dengan lebih lanjut. MAGIS pula merupakan sistem pengurusan bengkel berasaskan awan pintar. 

MAI CEO, Madani Sahari menerangkan ciri-ciri CarBengkel kepada Timbalan Menteri Kewangan

Aplikasi CarBengkel melalui teknologi GPS membolehkan pemilik kereta untuk mendapatkan perkhidmatan servis atau baik pulih kereta dimana-mana sahaja ia berada. 

Pihak Institut Automotif Malaysia (MAI) faham masalah-masalah yang dihadapi oleh pemilik kereta untuk menyelenggarakan kereta mereka dari segi masa, bajet dan juga untuk mencari bengkel yang bertauliah. 

LAUNCHING OF CARBENGKEL MOBILE APPLICATION AT THE GEGAR AUTORIA

Its the final countdown for us at CarBengkel to be officially launched by YAB Dato Sri Mohamamd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Malaysia Prime Minister on 23 May 2015.

We have been working closely with the Malaysian Automotive Institute (MAI) for a solution to the automotive aftermarket sector. YAB Prime Minister is scheduled to launched CarBengkel at 12:25pm, 23 May 2015 (see event itinerary below) at the biggest educational showcase of the national automotive industry open to public.

Gerak Auto Ria is one of MAI public educational programs with the participation of various automotive stakeholders showcasing their respective outputs, services and achievements in their respective automotive related business and developmental endeavors. It will be the best event for you to socialize and meet the movers of the automotive industry.

CarBengkel mobile application is a registered trademark and copyright with the Malaysia Intellectual property Organisation under the company Car Smart Apps Sdn Bhd, the owner, author and promoter of CarBengkel.

KHAS UNTUK SEMUA PENGUSAHA-PENGUSAHA BENGKEL KERETA OEM DAN BENGKEL KERETA BEBAS

Saya cukup faham masalah masalah mengusahakan bengkel kereta samada bengkel kereta OEM seperti pusat servis kereta Proton Edar dan juga bengkel kereta bebas seperti rangkaian 43 pusat servis Fasfik yang pernah saya terajui beberapa tahun lepas. Dalam beberapa industri yang saya ceburi, industi otomotif ialah industri yang paling saya minat bukan kerana keuntungan yang tinggi tetapi kerana cabaran industri otomotif ini semakin hari semakin mencabar!

Diantara masalah utama ialah dari segi pekerja. Pekerja yang mempunyai sijil atau seorang graduan yang berpengalaman amat susah untuk diambil bekerja. Gaji pun kenalah setaraf dengan kelulusan dan pengalaman. Yang menjadi beban, apabila kita dapat mencari pekerja yang amat bagus tetapi bengkel kita pula kosong tiada pelanggan. Pelanggan pusat servis kereta ini mengikut musim. beberapa minggu/hari sebelum musim perayaan atau cuti am, memang bengkel akan penuh. Kalau tak, mekanik kat kedai duduk terlopong, sibuk menyapu dan meluangkan masa main handphone; tak ke rugi?

Masalah mengendalikan pusat servis OEM seperti Proton Edar pula, alat-ganti tulen kena beli dan simpan dalam stok. Kalau tak simpan dan nak beli hanya apabila ada pelanggan, harga kos alat-ganti menjadi lebih tinggi. Bila simpan stok, kewangan kita pulak ketat. Situasi menjadi lebih parah kalau stok yang dibeli tidak dapat dijual dan tersimpan dalam bilik stor berbulan bulan atau mungkin bertahun. Kadang kadang duit keuntungan langsung tak ada, semua habis beli dan simpan stok. Kalau beli dengan kredit, nanti interest pula kena bayar atau akaun kredit kena blok apabila tempoh kredit telah tamat dan stok alat ganti tidak dibayar kerana stok alat ganti itu tidak dapat dijual. Kalau bengkel kita sentiasa tidak putus dengan pelanggan, masalah ini dapat di elak.

CLOSING THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY GAP WITH CARBENGKEL

If there is an industry gap in the automotive that can be addressed, what would it be? Yes, that would be the mismatching of car owners budget and convenient to the thousands of car workshops nationwide. Car loan is any household's second biggest expenditure after the housing loan and of course, every household would put aside a budget for these loan repayment but rarely does anyone actually set aside budget to repair and/or service their car.

A car is akin of our health. When we are healthy, we rarely go for a medical check-up even when we do know (or unbeknown) of those symptoms for common critical illnesses but when we are sick, we would immediately seek for the best clinic or hospital. Similarly, we would drive around confidently with our car until the car had a heart attack and it just drop dead... the engine I mean. Unlike our health, these medical expenses can be sorted with a medical insurance (Call my friend Affiq Zakie at 0102315911 for immediate coverage if you do not have one) but there is no medical insurance of sort, to cover for our cars.

If we fainted, breakdown or had a heart attack, we can call 999 or 911 for an ambulance but there is no 999 or 911 if our car drop dead in the middle of no where! What do we do? Call Daddy? Darling? Friend? err.. no!! Post for help on Facebook?

Living in a hectic society with inevitable traffic jam, we simply do not have the time even if we do want to service our car regularly and attend to car repair. However, did you know that many workshop provides pick-up service from your house or home to the workshop, service or repair your car then send it back? Well, they do but how would we know which one does and which does not? and how would we know if we can trust the workshop to take our car without disappearing?