“Hey, brake awak sudah pecah, minyak keluar (your brake is broken and oil is coming out)!” Normally, a warning like that from another motorist would alarm you and you would immediately stop and jump out to look. But these days, that’s not such a wise idea, even if you are worried about the brakes leaking. This is because one of the tactics of robbers now is to use that warning to make you stop and get down – as this writer discovered this afternoon. Fortunately, however, I am not an average motorist who doesn’t know a lot about cars and whose first two thoughts were: “brake leaking… why didn’t the warning light come on?” and “two guys on a motorbike… be careful!”.
Fortunately, the second thought made me hesitate about getting down and in fact, even when they (two Indians on a motorbike) drew alongside me in the jam along Jalan Syed Putra, Kuala Lumpur, I only wound down the window a bit to ask them what they were saying. As I stopped the car, I was still thinking about the absence of a warning light which would normally come on because a leak will drop the brake fluid level and the sensor (which most cars have) will pick it up.
As I pulled over, the two guys stopped their motorcycle in front of me and the tall pillion rider got down (which also struck me as suspicious because most people usually shout a warning and then go off). It could be that because they were both wearing dark blue shirts with a Shell logo, they expected that unsuspecting motorists would let their guard down thinking they were mechanics. Anyway as the tall guy was getting down, I noticed that in his hand was a small container (like an Eye-mo bottle) and that immediately stopped me from getting out. I immediately drove off and kept an eye in the mirror but didn’t see them following me.
I drove on looking for a spot with plenty of people so that I could check on the front wheel and turned into the carpark at Muzium Negara. I was still alert for the possibility that they followed me so I quickly ran to the front to check – no oil, nothing visibly wrong – and as I rushed back to the door, around the corner they came! I jumped in and they did a u-turn and went off.
So be alert for this tactic which may be a new one. They may not want to hijack the car and probably just want to steal things and that container may have soapy water or something that can burn your eyes and as you are blinded, they open the doors and steal whatever they can find. So whatever you do, don’t get down and don’t stop further along thinking it is safe. If it is a brake problem, just drive carefully till you get to somewhere that has security guards nearby. And it is best not to head straight for home because you never know if they may still be following you, determined to rob you (hopefully, you were an unlucky random choice).
While on the subject of modus operandi, as the police have warned, be alert when you are rammed from behind and don’t get down. Drive to a police station to make your report – you are not committing an offence if no one has been injured and you can tell the police you were suspicious of the car that rammed you. Also, do not think that if there is just one person in the car that rammed you, it is safe because there have been reported cases where another car comes up and stops ahead and two guys get out with parangs and do their nasty things. You also need to be alert for the possibility that if you are talking to one of them one one side from inside the car, it is not safe because the others can smash the glass on the other side and grab you.
Sadly, it’s a dangerous world we live in these days and being alert and staying calm enough to be able to recognise danger signs is critical.






Meet Jonker Street uncle popiah. Indeed the best popiah in the world rated by $1, its even better than Penang's.
Close up shot by Hiew's camera, its perfect to me cause the skin is not too thin like most other popiah sellers. Its not soggy soaking wet with the turnip's gravy and best of all, the main secret ingredient is lard. You can opt not to have it in your but there no point without it. A teaspoon full of lard and crispy fried fat chucks.
Uncle also sells deep fried spring rolls, no lard in this but he makes it all up with his crispy home made skin. Perfect! These sells off extremely fast cause its limited, I couldnt get it this trip cause I only went there at nite.Photo courtesy from Hiew again. So remmeber if you wanna get your hand on these, get to Jonker at 6PM on weekends.
Dim Sum stall at Jonker, nothing special but good snacks to eat while walking around Jonker. Used to be MYR1 then went up to MYR1.20 and now its MYR1.50 for any 4 pieces. Forget the rest just choose the white coloured 'siew mai' on the top right corner. Thats the best, infact better than some other dim sum places I've been to.
Didnt had time for this also sigh,..... if you have a sweet tooth like me, please help yourself to this small lil bowl of diabetic chendol. Ice is very fine shaved, quite generous with the coconut milk and chendol jelly but best of all the thick 'Gula Melaka' (palm syrup) will sent you straight up to heaven. Also found at Jonker, you'll see 2 shops in the midlle of the street selling laksa and chendol. Both shop serves good chendol, Anyway its the syrup that makes me come back over and over cause they leave the syrup on the table and you just help yourselves with it as much as you can.
Recent discovery after I stumbled into some blogs while I was doing some Malacca food research. Tangkak beed noodles at Melaka Raya, awesome beef stocked brooth served with tender beef chuncks and tripe and brisket. Excellente!! Half muslim friendly place, its not certified Halal but iits doesnt server pork and there was a sign for non Halal food is prohibited in the shop. Saw some malay customers while we were eating there.
Arrived, checked in and knocked out cold. Hotel service was rather crappy. Booked a single bed room and they fuckin gave me 2 single beds so whats the point of the booking for.When asked for extra shampoo they said "Sorry Sir we dont give extra" WTF??!! Damn room smells of ciggerattes. The room was fine after we aired iit for a while and the bed was comfy and clean.
"With this cuffs, I bid my freedom and bachelor life goodbye"
Simple and nice Rangoli (aka kolam) at the entrance to the hall where the ceremony was held.
Poor Ceasar. He was tied up to the pole outside. I still think he has small oriental eyes.
2nd session at Libra just few doors away. Ringo was too hot so Raj went next door and started another session. Cheaper booze here too, MYR30 for a bucket of 5.


