The Loss of QZ8501

2014 was a tragic year for aviation industry.

MH370 case came as a surprise and hit the news headline for quite a while. Then, the MH17, shoot down. Which I would say, just pure bad luck due to the theory of "mistaken identity". (which we still couldn't confirm to date).

Then on a lovely Sunday morning in December while I was having lunch with my family, I received a newsfeed from a foreign media on Facebook indicating that an Air Asia flight has lost contact during its flight from Indonesia to Singapore.

Compared to the two previous incidents, this time I would say I am one of the "first few" people who received the news. To be honest, I still think it could be a Hoax or mistake.

But when The Star news published the incidents (about an hour later), I knew the unbelievable has happened.

I believed many people would have the same reaction as me. Total disbelief. Then when the feeling started to sink in, then come the feeling of sorrow and anger surfaced. Then again, come the questions of what went wrong, conspiracy theories,  and many more.

I used to travel quite a bit by air and honestly, although the fear of flying does exist naturally (for me especially), I have never doubt that air travel is still one of the fastest and safest travelling mode in the world today

(Picture taken from one of my flight back to Malaysia from Shanghai, China)

 

 

As expected, the news channel on the television for the next few days were flooded with the news of the disappearance of the airliner.

 

Theories after theories was unleashed, the so-called "experienced airline pilot" interviewed on their opinions, updates on the current SAR (Search and Rescue) operations were like the "7-11", non-stop over the next 24 hours.

 

Then came the phenomenon which I have expected. That happened almost every single time we have lost an aircraft. The "cameo" appearance on the different type of "Social Media persona" especially on the Facebook page.

 

 

The first group, the "Normal" people.

 

 

This group of people offered prayers and word of support to the family and friends of the victims on the missing airliner. Like most of us who can't do anything apart from offering our moral supports and prayers to pray for the safe return of their loved one.

 

The second group. I called this group the "I-see-what-I-post-what" kind of people.

 

The main criteria of these lots are those who just "like" and "share" whatever that crossed their path without thinking twice.

 

 

Like the one who posted the abovementioned pictures from a different incident, to co-relate to the QZ8501 accidents.

 

This would be the same group of people that if (I say IF) you tell them that the QZ8501 was down due to the pilot "went out from the aircraft to take a smoke in mid-air", they will immediately buy your stories, and then share in on their Facebook, write on their Twitter and wrote a 10 pages of blog post on their website.

 

Then, the next group, the "Expert" one.

 

This group of people could came from the different kind of background, from aviation experts, pilots, science professors, stock broker, secondary school students to the butchers.

 

Personally I am not too worried about this group.

 

 

Everyone of us (you) are entitled to your own opinion. It is fine for me as long as you don't claim that you are an expert and says something without any base evidences.

 

The last group, the one is classified as the "classic" one, surprisingly this does not appear this time.

 

Or should I called it as the "VIP Clown Club". That managed to hit the box office from the media from all around the world.

 

 

 

From what I have gathered from a reliable source of news. Apparently in the case of QZ8501, some of the "Bomoh" or medium has declared that they will offer the help of the government asked for it.

 

And based on their humble opinion, the plane has ended up in the seabed. (At the time of writing, part of the wreckage have been found on sea, and the sonar technology has detected that most likely the wreckage could be found on the seabed".

 

As for this guy? This is as much as he can do or say from his "Magic Carpet" stunt show.

 

 

 

1. "I will slap him like a crocodile" on Khairy tweet calling him an "embarrassment".
 

2. "The plane is either in the air, or in the sea" - WTF...better don't say anything..

3. "The plane was held by some "spirits", and I am trying to free them" - .....(Speechless)

In the end, the plane was still missing. The only thing is the new found status and popularity for him on YouTube, Android apps and etc.

But joke aside, hopefully 2015 will be a great year for everyone. Especially for the aviation industry.



 



Every now and then, when I saw a plane flew over my head, it is like a second nature to me now that, I, will always mumble to myself.

 

"Have a safe flight guys. See you on the ground".

 

 

 

 

I am a proud tax payer

I am a proud tax-payer.

Every Malaysian should be one of those proud taxpayer.

Some people questioned the reason why should we give away our hard earned money to the government?

You have good highway.

Only then, occasionally comes with potholes and traffic jam especially during festive season.

 

Also since we pay taxes, we get to enjoy one of the "smartest" tunnel in the world that helped ease traffic and for flood mitigation purposes.

 



 

But occasionally this is what I would normally noticed in KL especially during rainy season.

Well, up to this point, I still try to keep my cool and saying "Yes, they screwed up, but I have done my part by paying taxes isn't it?"

Not until recently. Being such a loyal tax payer, a day prior to my departure to Hong Kong,
I received this wonderful letter from Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) or the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) asking for "additional payment".

Funny thing was, from the first to the last page of the letter, there's not a single word telling "THANK YOU MR. WONG FOR BEING SUCH A LOYAL TAXPAYER, HOWEVER, DUE TO SOME SPECIAL REASON..."

To be honest, I will feel much better that way.

Now I think LHDN (or the government) are just plain unprofessional.

It also means from 2010 - 2013 you guys never did a detailed job looking through our documents or tax submission?

Of course la, during working hours, you go mamak for afternoon tea break.

Ask you one or two questions, you said...

 

 

Now that when these somebody run out of cash for this.

 

 

 

 

We became the "Cash Cow"

 

What do you think? Put it this way.

 

Crude oil price dropped around the world, and we are still talking about reducing the subsidies in Malaysia.

 

"Surprise additional Tax Payment" like in my case.

 

Implementation of GST in 2015.

 

I only can think of one thing.

 

If we still don't change the leadership of this country, there will be a serious problem.
 

 

 

MAS Business Class for Less than MYR 200

Travelling can be a fun experience at time.

Even better if you were given a chance to ride on the business class section.

I was on a Malaysia Airline flight back from Shanghai to Kuala Lumpur after a 10 days working trip between Hong Kong and China.

I considered myself a "moderate and kiasu" frequent flyer. Ask me why? Because for almost every airline company I have used, I would apply for their frequent flyer card with the view of collecting points and rewards.

All I need to do is just to call the airline call centre and make the reservation with the points I had in my Enrich Frequent Flyer Card.

As my points was going to expired this coming December, I decided to redeem the "Enrich award flight", which means zero fare in a business class cabin en route to Kuala Lumpur just for the sake of the experience.

All I needed to forked out was the tax and surcharge less than MYR 200.

(Being a budget traveller, I never see the need to pay ridiculous amount for the treatment, which in this case, can be as high as MYR 5,000 as opposed to the MYR 1,200.00 per way in the economy class).

The business class section treatment starts even before I boarded the plane.

I was entitled to enter the club lounge while waiting for the gate to open. Here you can basically have a good rest and meals (and of course, beers) in which, is all complimentary.

But I must say there is nothing to shout about the business lounge section in the Shanghai Pudong Airport. I think even the McDonald's have the better set up and environment.

(It could be different in other airport, but definitely nothing to shout about in this airport).

A random selfie with my travel partner this time before taking off. Look at our happy face.

In Economy section, you will be addressed as "Sir/Madam".

But I guess since we "pay more theoretically", we were addresses by our Surname.

Call me first timer, I wouldn't care less. Because at this moment, I felt...

Even the cabin crew took some times to talk and mingle with us, like asking how was my stay in China, the reason of travelling, name of my dogs and etc.

Funnily enough he never asked "Do you enjoy paying the expensive amount of ticket for a business class ride with the record of two fatalities in one year?"

But honestly, I never doubt their safety record. One was missing without a clue, and another one was just pure bad luck.

 

 

In the business class section, the menu would be slightly different compared to the economy class. It was a 3 or 4 course meals and free flow of drinks including wine and beers. (Not sure about the news but heard that alcohol would be banned soon in all Malaysian Airline flight).

 

as for the taste of the foods, I have no comments. It was taste just about the same with a 4 course meals on the ground.

 

 

 

 

As usual, the whole journey from Shanghai to Kuala Lumpur would take about 5 hours in total.

 

While lying in the comfy and spacious seats, I Immediately dozed off after half an hour into my movie.

 

Well for most of the travellers, business class is something that you may afford, but wouldn't think it would be a good value for money to pay more just to sit in a different section of the plane.

 

It was the same case as mine. If it is free, why not?

 

But one thing is for sure, sometimes you can get just as lucky with Air Asia X. I remembered in my previous blogpost that I have managed to grabbed the "cheaper than economy section" business class seats when I was back from Beijing.

 

Honestly, it is just as good as the MAS.

 

The only difference is you get the "Pak Nasser Nasi Lemak" as the complimentary meal and a bottle of mineral water.

 

But who cares really?

 

Try your luck, if you experienced the same thing like me, do share me your experience too!