Another Crime Alert!!

I became the victim of another crime just four months after that `bag snatch' incident! But thank God it's not as bad as it could have been!!

I was driving home after meeting up with a friend for drink and dessert in Cheras - taking that more `logical' toll-free way via Alam Damai home. It was just past 10pm. I stopped at the traffic light junction and noticed there was a motorcycle which headlamp was not on riding at the left side of me and stopped just behind. If I was not mistaken, it was a guy rider with a girl passenger. I didn't really pay much attention to it. There were at least 5-6 cars in front of me at the traffic light.

Then just a couple of second after I stopped, that motorcycle rode up to my left and then the rider, a young Malay guy, started hitting my passenger seat window with some hard object (which i couldn't tell what it was) When the first impact came, I thought he was some kind of a road bully! Then he hit a few times more, very hard, and the window began to `crack' - disintegrating but the glass did not break. It happened so fast and I suddenly realise he was trying to get my handbag on the passenger seat. I quickly grabbed it and then honked loudly. By that time, he had hit the window at least 7-8 times and since it didn't break, he gave up and then sped off!! I couldn't do anything as I was stuck at the traffic - which by then the light had turned green and I could move.. but the motorcyclist had already disappeared!!

The motorist in front of me must have witnessed what happened and slowed down and wound down her window to talk to me.. we got honked by the cars behind. It was a Malay woman and she asked whether I saw the number plate. I didn't and unfortunately she said she didn't as well but she advised me still to make a police report. I drove on with that shattering window and called home and related briefly to my dad what happened and asked him to accompany me to the police station. Noticing that window had a gap at the top, I tried to close it but the moment I pressed the remote, the whole glass fell off inwards!! Argh!! I became extra cautious and thankfully I didn't have to stop at any more traffic light.

Besides mild shocked after what happened, my reaction was that of anger more than feeling scared! I mean, what is our society coming to? Can't people work for a proper living rather than doing immoral, illegal stuff? Have they any conscience?

Thankfully the drive home was another five minutes or so and then dad took over the wheels - I sat at the back and we drove to the police station which happened to be just 200 meters away from the `crime scene'! We spent the next 40 mins or more reporting and waiting to take statement on the phone with the sargent. I took photos with my camera that was in my bag. Here is how it looked like:

Since I couldn't see the motorcycle's model nor the plate number, I know its almost impossible to arrest the culprit. But both my dad and I wanted to report to alert the police of such crime committed just at their backyard!

To think of it, it was really fortunate that my shattered-proof glass has protected me and my bag. I would have been so upset if my bag was taken for this time, I have some RM300 cash (besides the important documents) in my wallet, my beloved camera and the iPod touch my niece gave me! And nothing untoward happened to me. I really thank God for the protection..

But the troublesome thing is I had to get the window fixed - unsure if Nissan has ready stock or not, and then claim insurance etc.. It kinda put a damper to my mood - as tomorrow, or rather today, I would be going for a short holiday to the seaside with my parents.. for some relaxing and recharging.

Oh well, now that the incident had occured, I guess it's also timely that I can get away and just put this behind my mind for a while..

AGAIN!! but this time it's not my fault!!

I hate motorcyclists!!! Especially those reckless ones!!

You won't believe that I'm so unlucky to have two accidents in one week!! While what happened on Tuesday was due my own fault, this afternoon I was just so unlucky to be hit by a motorcyclist while driving along a congested road.

Well, I later found out the jam was caused by a car accident way at the end of Jalan Cheras. So we were crawling along, and then suddenly, I heard a loud crash and felt an impact from the left back of my car! I quickly looked at the left side mirror and saw a motorcylist and his motorbike both fell on the road. Then almost immediately, he got up and jumped onto his motorbike again. I slowed down and honked at him as he passed but he didn't even look at me and just quickly sped off!!

I would have caused a even more massive jam if I stopped so I just drove on until a petrol station nearer to my house - I needed to pump petrol anyway. And then as I checked, I saw that my left back bumper knocked off, and the bottom part also broke..


trust me the damage looks worse in real than in this photo!

I really hate motorcyclists - they think they're the king of the road and not only ride recklessly but many break all the traffic rules!! Like when we were all going slowly in the congestion, they still wanted to speed as they could squeeze in between the cars. It was fortunate for that motorcyclist that he wasn't seriously hurt but then his bike caused pretty bad damage to my car and he didn't even bother but just sped off!! Such a jerk!

I was pretty shocked so didn't remember to note his plate no. but according to dad, i couldn't do anything much also.

Sigh.. I have to send the car for bodywork repair. I was told that only damage more than RM1K could claim insurance. So just my tough luck again..

Now I curse every motorcyclist that I see riding fast and reckless on the road!! They are nuisnaces and pests!!

p.s. apologies to the law-abiding motorcyclists out there.. just that you all seem to be the minority!!

Update (Sunday evening)
Since repairing the damage could cost quite a lot and we would like the insurance to cover, I ended up have to go to lodge a police report this afternoon. And since it's Sunday, I have to go back again tomorrow to get the report (but thankfully dad is helping me to do so since he would be in town..)

The police officer said if i could remember the registration no. of the motorbike, they could trace him. Ya i wished I took note too BUT that guy just rode away so fast..and i was still mildly shell-shocked at what happened...

Pastor in his sermon today questioned why we attributed things to `luck' - good luck or bad luck. But i just can't find another term to describe this incident :(

Yet another car incident!!

A friend commented that I've had so many incidents with my cars especially in the last couple of years. She is quite right :(

Less than 3 weeks after that `freak fire' incident with my car, can you imagine I had an accident with the courtesy car - bursting two tyres in one go!!

Thank God though as it was not an accident that involve collision with another car, or a pole or a tree.. rather, i very recklessly went up a stony uneven curb while doing a fast u-turn. I have done that turn (which was just in mny housing area actually) like hundreds of times but because I was in a rush and wanted to beat another slow car which was turning into that road too.. I misjudged and crashed into the curb. I tell you,m the sound of the impact was loud and I immediately knew the tyre was gone.

But one thing I didn't know was that BOTH the left front and back tyres were gone at that time..

Thankfully there was a tyre shop just 500 meters down the road so I made it till there and got them to change the spare tyre to the front left, which was completely flat and had a huge hole on the tyre itself! I was already running late for a work assignment in Sunway. I called to inform the other party but I thought I could still make it with the few minutes of delay.. But little did I know a bigger disaster is coming..

After driving for another 10km or so on the highway, I heard some thumping noise from the left side.. At first I thought the spare tyre was faulty! But then a lady motorist honked me and pointed to the left back tyre of my car. I nodded in gratitude and by then the noise was getting louder and louder and the ride was bumpier so I just had to pull over on the Federal Highway - just after the Pantai exit.

What could I do besides calling for help for another tyre? So immediately i called Nissan and thankfully got the technician head who said he would come with a spare tyre. So I put on the hazaard light, and waited in the car stopped at the emergency lane. It was a long wait.. I wished I have a book or even my laptop with me so I didn't have to waste time..

I think it was about 45 minutes later that they finally arrived, with another spare tyre. Then, I saw how badly damage were both the tyres, and I think the underneath of the car was also hit too.. I didn't want to ask about the cost.. as i'm not sure how it would work out. They couldn't charge me for the new tyres - which I had to go to Nissan again tomorrow to get them fixed (as they needed to order one extra now), because this car is not mine. In fact, I am hoping that I get my car back soon.. hopefully in a week's time. Ya, they are STILL waiting for spare parts to arrive from Japan!

Anyway, because of this incident, I also forfeited a translation work assignment that i was to do for the first time. The pay aint a lot but I was kinda looking forward to it as a learning experience. I also inadvertantly put the moderator in a spot because I - the translator - could not turn up in the last minute! So I apologised to both she and the person who recommended me the job.. but really what could I do. I couldn't just abandon the car loaned to me in the middle of highway...

So now my courtesy car looks like this: original tyres and rims on the right, and a pair of spare tyres with no rims on the left.





Sigh. accidents happen but they're happening too often for me. And now I vow to be extra careful and no more reckless driving when I get my March back!!

At least I'm not carless.. but what really caused the fire?

This white Latio is my new car..



No, not really.. it is a temporary car for me to use. My poor car will be out for a week or two due to the freak incident. So i have requested for a replacement car from Nissan. At least the GM is nice enough to grant me this. So now I'm driving a Latio 1.8, which is bigger and more powerful than my March.

Now, what's happened to my car? Why did it the battery wiring burst into flame? And do I get any compensation bearing in mind it's a new car (five months old to be exact).

All these questions, which were a mystery last night when the incident happened, are still inconclusive. But now I was told by the car technician from preliminary examination, it was not manufacturer defect but was caused by human error. He said that the harness and wires (I think that's what they're called) fastening the batteries were not even tight thus over time, the battery positioning had moved and finally when I turned that corner caused the hot wires to short-circuit and thus the fire and smoke..

But even before he told me this, he had asked about whether i changed my car battery which I told him affirmatively no. Then as I was on my way to the service centre, I suddenly remembered something. Besides sending my car for servicing twice, there was this one time in between the two servicing that I went and bought a honk (ya, I didn't like the weak sound of the original honk) and got the accessory shop workman to install it for me there and then. I had bought extra honk for all my cars before. In fact for the last car - the RAV 4 - I had inserted the honk and then removed it cos it was too loud! Thus I never thought there would be any `danger' in doing this.

I was honest and told the technician about this and I don't know whether this has created a perfect `scapegoat' for them or it was just the truth, he was almost blaming the battery short-circuit entirely to the car accessory workman. As he said for servicing, the workmen would not touch the battery nor the wires..

So if what he said is true, that means they are not liable at all and I became the one that has `breached' the contract of warranty. :( And it is useless to go back to that car accessory as they would not claim responsibility as there was also no prove of what they've done - that was at easily 3 months plus ago i think.. :(

But again, we are still just making deduction and speculation. This morning, the technician and workmen only looked at the surface `evidence' as they had not done thorough inspection on the car..

As the GM passed me the `courtesy car', he said he would try to help me but he also said point blank confidently that it could not be a manufacturer effect. Someone must have inadvertently done something to the wiring and it's very likely to be the person(s) installing the honk..

Sigh, I have not much a case cos even deep down, I feel and fear that's the case. So what I could do was asked him to help if they could absorb the cost for repair. At the same time, I still want a thorough investigation as to exactly how that incident happen.

In the mean time, at least I have a car to drive.. for the next three days I really need a car to go around!!

My new car's first freak `accident'!

It's not really an accident as in there's no collision of any kind. But what happened earlier tonight (Wed night) was pretty freaky and shook/shocked me quite a bit!

I had spent close to three hours in Bangsar Village, buying some stuff and also went for manicure and pedicure (since there's friends' wedding on Sat which i'm playing a role in..). I had to be in town for choir practice at 8pm so I left about half pass seven. I came out of the carpark and everything was normal with my car. I took a slightly longer but less traffic route via the further end of Jalan Ara back to Jalan Maarof (sorry if u're non KL-ites) . I saw the traffic light turned green as I descended the hill and I went a bit faster to turn right to beat the light that was about to turn amber. This is something I have done many times on that junction.

Then as I turned right onto Jalan Maarof, suddenly the car cannot be controlled!! It suddenly hit me that the engine has shut down totally!! But thank goodness on the left was the carpark of a bungalow shop-house so I just did my best to manuever my car to the side so that I won't stall in the middle of the lane! I managed barely before it totally stalled and the engine couldn't be restarted. My first thought was that the battery had died (but it was only 5-month-old!?)

But no, as I stuggled to put on hazzard light, I saw dense smoke coming out from the bonnet, particularly from the left side. Two security guards who I think witnessed what happened came over and I got down the car.. another guy came out from the shop - it was Nike Golf - and asked me to open the bonnet. As they opened it, lo and behold! The battery top was on fire!! I was stun shocked a while as the few of them blew and did something to put the fire out. I also noticed the flame had burned and `scarred' a small part of the bonnet..

I was quite shocked and just blabbered as to how and why this happened!? one of the shop supervisors said the flame was most likely caused by wire short-circuit, as there was no prior warning of any problems before hand. He also kept saying that I was so `lucky', as he said the car could have exploded! Later as I just played back what happened, I felt I really was `lucky' - or rather I believe it was God's protection. It could have happened on a busier road and that my sudden stalling of the car could have caused accident.. and now the car actually stopped at a place where I had help by two guards and two shopkeepers. I even joked with my friend later that it could not happened at a better place then in Bangsar....

No way was I going to drive the car after this.. so I called got the Tan Cheong tow operators through the car salesman who sold me my car. I also called my dad - actually I already called him immediately after the incident but he was having dinner in town, then I called my choir director - a bit upset I couldn't make it as I was to sing in a group of 8. While waiting for the tow car to come, I also called a friend to tell her about what happened and I've escaped unscatched.

I was thinking of calling a cab home but remembered my friend who lives just up the road. She was just finishing her dinner nearby and said she could come and fetch me home and she arrived even before the tow truck came.. It took almost a whole hour for them to arrive!! There was one point the man started the engine to just drive the car up onto the truck (it's not towing it but carrying my car!) And that means my engine was ok...

So now my poor car is taken back to Nissan showroom/service centre.. I was told to call them tomorrow as the car technician would have to have a thorough check up. What happened was really unespected and dismaying to me as it was a brand new car and I have only used it 5 months and promptly sent it for servicing twice already. It had not given any problem at all... and then suddenly this!!!

I really hope there's nothing major that can't be rectified. In fact my friend who sent me home was so angry for me that such thing could happen to my new car and said I should ask for a replacement of a new car altogether!! but hmmm..the thing is this was the last unit! I personally feel if it's not a serious manufacture error, I think my car should deserve a second chance.. I really like it.

Fact is, whether it is people or car or anything, freak accidents do happenen. While I was a bit shaken and also a bit upset of what had happened to my car, I am actually more thankful that I am safe and sound.

It could have been much worse....

(ya, you can tell i am an optimist..and so if you're wondering, I'm feeling perfectly okay by now!) :)

It's Here!!

About two hours or so after I lamented about my new car being delayed.. I had a pleasant surprise! I got a call telling me that my car was ready!!

Talk about weird timing! :p

I couldn't wait till tomorrow.. since both dad and I had nothing particular to do in the late afternoon, we went to fetch the car from PJ! The friendly sales advisor spent some time going through some of the features and technicalities.. and I got to drive it home.

Yep, I simply LUUURVE my new Nissan March - yeah, it's another cute car! And also quite unique and rare.

Of course Nissan is known for their superb car engine and reliability and quality. But what I love most about this model is the DESIGN! Not just the exterior but the interior is so chic, clean and compact! I love the dashboard and the neatly designed compartments!

Here's a first look at the car - I took these pix as soon as I reach home after a long jam.. as it was already about 7pm, lighting wasn't good..

Jelly and Jojo were both very excited and were sniffing out the car.. Jelly couldn't wait to jump inside and sat at the passenger seat floor (her favourite spot). So she became my very first passenger as I took my new baby for another short drive around the neighbourhood.

Some may wonder why I changed back from using a SUV/4WD to a compact. Actually I would have liked to drive a SUV like my RAV4 but those cars are really quite costly to maintain - high petrol consumption and not mentioning yearly road tax, insurance etc..

With this 1.4Litre car, everything will be more economical.. unless, if *God forbids* I crash something then it won't be cheap to get certain spare parts.. but after what I've done to my old car, I would no doubt be much more careful now!!

For once I'm looking forward to my assignment tomorrow.. :p

Carless still

I miss my car!!

It's actually two fold. While eagerly anticipating the arrival of my new car - which has been delayed due to some documentation problem, I suddenly have this sentimental feeling of my old car.

To think of it, maybe we've made the wrong move. I should have only delivered my old car in when my new car arrives - after all, we traded in to the same car company!

Well, too late.. the last I inquired after I came back from my holiday, my car has been sold to a used car dealer already. A friend even said he saw it on the road some time back..

I was not unused to sharing car with mom - especially the time when my poor car was in the workshop for like a month (twice actually!) But not having your own car at your disposal still sucks.. it's inconvenient not just for myself but also mom who then also needs to arrange with dad.. So it affects all three of us. And like now, I am just stuck at home.. though I know I'm supposed to be working.

Anyway.. the car company has promised to lend me a car tomorrow if the new car is not ready.. but i hope i won't need to be using that car (whatever it is) for long..

Yeah, just hope I will rightfully be having my new car very soon!!

Saying goodbye, especially a permanent one, is never easy..

Farewell, my good old RAV4 who has served me well for 8 years and 8 months! :(

Today, as in this afternoon, I will be driving her (I like to think it's female) to the car showroom and part with her forever. She was sold on Monday - a trade in for a new car..

Yes, I'm getting a new car. It's already booked and I'm quite ecstatic as it's like a mini dream car come true. BUT at the same time, I feel a tinge of sadness.. no, actually more than a tinge.. to part with my cute little SUV which has been my faithful companion for so long.

The car we bought re-con from Japan in September 1999, was something truly special to me.. and in the years that I've been using her, she has received countless compliments for her `cuteness'.

I know I hadn't been treating her too well.. especially last year where I caused her quite bad injuries - not once, but twice! As documented here, and here in this blog. Because of the first crash, she underwent some cosmetic change. She used to have a handsome kangaroo bar and spot-lights in front (hard to dig old pix..)

Really I was not desperate to get rid of her even though she's pretty old now (1996 model) but it's for practical reason. In the last few months, the poor car had been having permanent illnesses of sort.. I have sent her to workshop and for servicing countless times.. but some teething problems persisted. Yes, she could never be restored to her former glory.. though her exterior is still well maintained as you could see from the pix.

We've been shopping for a new car for a while now and after test driving a few, I've found the one! So, there is no longer any reasons to keep her. I can't afford having two cars!

I remember parting with my first car - a Mazda 323 (Familiar) which I used since I started work in late 1991. That time somehow I never felt any sadness, cos the joy of owning a more superior SUV was just overwhelming. Or maybe I never really loved the Mazda that much..

Now, I also of course love my new car (which identity i shall keep it a suspense first) I will only be getting it after I come back from my holiday next week.. or perhaps even later. But since I have grown so attached to my dear RAV4 in these 8 years and 8 months, hence this post to commemorate the farewell..

Bye-bye, my dear car.. I hope you find a nice new owner who appreciates you as much as I did. So sorry for causing you accidents.. you know I didn't mean it.

p.s. gosh, it's one thing talking to my dogs but now I'm talking to a car? :p