Air Panas turning into Scrap Metal Traders' Row?

This is one of the many scrap metal stores along the road from Air Panas to Setapak Jaya. There are a few more along the shortcut to Jalan Gurney from Air Panas. Their presence are given away by the sight of scrawny scavengers pushing rusty wheelbarrows containing all sorts of scraps - from tin cans to telephone poles sometimes - to these areas.

One wonders how the neighbours are taking their presence. Doesn't City hall have a say in these? Or is turning one's home into a scrap metal yard is as easy as kacang puteh? Perhaps someone can enlighten our readers?

Chong Hwa Restaurant

This restaurant, this writer is told, is owned by a former student of Chong Hwa school. Upstairs its building is the Chong Hwa Alumni Association or "Chong Hwa Xiao You Hui", 中华校友会. (Thanks to reader CLF)

It serves very good food and used to own two blocks of the restaurant. Good business and good food and good clientele has forced the restaurant to expand. If you are around Jalan Perusahaan, check it out.

Great place, fine food and excellent price. Non-halal, though.

Here's the map. You have to click on larger map view to see Chong Hwa Restaurant's location though. Use the key at left of the larger map.


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Thanks Guys! Wangsa-Maju.Com is now PR2

Yes! Google has pulled us out of the box and given us a PageRank 2 in terms of site's prominence. We will continue to keep up the good work to provide you with information about Wangsa Maju, or Parliamentary Constituency P116!

Link us fr more updates!

Do You Remember Len Seng?

A Len Seng Omnibus bus (sourced from wikipedia)

Back in the 70s, 80s and 90s, before private bus companies were forced to consolidate their services and merge, as well as concede to the current Intrakota, plying the roads of Jalan Pahang, Genting Kelang, Hulu Kelang, Air Panas and Gombak was a fleet of red and white buses known simply as Len Seng.

You can still see remnants of this company, now operating under Metrobus, and its headquarters is still at Jalan Genting Kelang, just next door to the Jalan Genting Kelang Pizza Hut. The bus yard is still there and the road on which it sits leads to Air Panas, or rather more specifically, as known in the past, Kampung Pasir Air Panas.

The buses from Gombak (Nos 168, 169, 169A), Zoo Negara (170), Wardieburn Camp (166) and Air Panas (165) would ply their daily rounds from these area to the city centre, stopping at Malacca Street and Lebuh Ampang.


The HQ of Len Seng at Genting Kelang.

It faced fierce competition with the minibus in the 80s before revamp of the KL public transportation wiped out minibuses and gave birth to a handful of operators, one of which is the current Intrakota buses.

Courts Mammoth Premises - Story Behind It

For those who remember it well, the spot where the current premises of Courts Mammoth in Jalan Genting Kelang used to be the premises of Rich's supermarket. It was the first supermarket in the area and came into being somewhere in the late 80s.

Just like any good supermarket, Rich's sold anything from groceries to household appliances. It was pretty popular and during promotional periods, scores of shoppers from Gombak, Setapak and even as far as Ulu Kelang and Sentul make a beeline for the place.

However, for some unknown reason, it lasted only a couple of years. Some say it was bad location, others say it was bad management. The complex died and the three-storey building remained empty for a while before Courts Mammoth rose in its shadow.

Today, all memories of Rich's have been erased. However, its reputation remained as the first shopping complex (okay, supermarket) to arrive in the Setapak, Genting Kelang and Gombak suburb.

What's that blue building at junction of Jalan Gombak-Sentul at Fourth Mile Gombak?

Anyone above 40 who lived in Gombak would remember this building, if they had already forgotten the stink that wafts in the area each time they pass by.

If you had grown up in the 70s in Gombak, chances are that you will remember this terraced building. It has a blue zinc roof and you could see lattices within the building. Back then, whenever you pass by this junction, you would thumb your noses and stop breathing in. Why? Because this building literally takes your breath away!

Actually, you stop breathing for a while because of the stink that wafts from the building. It is actually a rubber sheet smokehouse by the name of Lian Hin Rubber Smokehouse. Rubber sheets are hung out to dry in this building and people staying under the building's shadow will never forget the stink the smell left on their shirts. Kids staying here, who returned to school after long holidays, often became the butt of jokes of their schoolmates for the pungent smell that seem to emanate from their uniforms.

Today, I dont know what this building is for but the smell is no longer there. This building is left as a historical landmark of the business that thrived in the 70s in Gombak. From what I was told, it was also the shelter for Chinese families during the May 13 riots.

What will the be building in the rubble?

Weeks ago, this writer wrote about how four hawker centres in Desa Setapak were reduced to rubble.

From the ashes - or rather rubble - something will be rising. The signs are there as a fence has been used to cordon off the area lest new squatters move in. While the hawker centres had been eyesores, one can't help wondering what will be coming up of this place.

According to one shop operator there, the developer will be building some shops. How true this is, one doesnt know. But isn't Desa Setapak jammed enough? One wonders!



Got flower pots some more!

Fresh Fish From Sekinchan in Wangsa Maju

Fresh fish for sale?

Okay, you fish lovers out there. No need to drive to Kuala Selangor or Sekinchan to buy fresh fish. Three times a week, a bunch of jokers from Sekinchan drives all the way from their sleepy hollow to Wangsa Maju to sell fresh fish. Their price is a bit pricey but heck, you don't have to burn petrol to get there for your fresh fish.


A bit pricey, but beats driving all the way to Kuala Selangor or Sekinchan.


Where can you find them? Head for Royal Selangor Pewter factory. They will be there from 4pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Location? On the road opposite the pewter factory, about 100 metres from the KIA office. You can't miss the crowd.

Hello, Tada Baca-kah?

Sri Utama

If you need to use the road that leads into Royal Selangor Pewter, ie. Jalan Usahawan 6, in the afternoons between noon to 1:30pm, you will see cars of all sizes and makes, mostly luxury ones which reflect the background of the owners, congregating beside the Sri Utama school, a prominent private school in the neighbourhood of Wangsa Maju.

While the number of luxury vehicles signal the preference for the wealthy for private schools, the intelligence of some of these vehicle owners leaves little to be desired. If at all, they act as if they own the road, and many give very little thought about public property.


The owners of this row of cars at least have the courtesy to park in between the break in the road divider. But hallo fiends, why sit smack in front of the entrance to the Royal Selangor Pewter? Tour buses come in and out by the hour. I am sure the tourists they bring will take delight in photographing inconsiderate Malaysians to take home to show their fellow countrymen!

Their inconsiderate attitudes, which hopefully will not rub off their children who are being educated at an exclusively private school there, can be seen by the way the cars and double- and triple-parked along this tiny stretch without thinking about other road users.

Some, who apparently can afford wheel realignments more than you can afford to brush your teeth in the morning, can be seen driving their vehicles onto the grass kerbs that the City Hall spends thousands of ringgit of tax payers' money to upkeep.

Our fiends don't care if the grass is damaged or the concrete broken. And I bet you they are of the same kind of people who will gripe and complaint about how useless local authorities are and how not much have been done to upkeep the city's facilities!


Wah, like you own the whole city! Grass kerb or not, up you go. Hello kawan, that's public property your car is sitting on. Ada Baca-kah?

For you and I mere mortals, who cannot afford private education for our children, at least we are spared the nightmare of mingling with such unthoughtful beings. Sigh..

To the school authorities, at least have the courtesy to teach your students' parents not to simply park lah.

Like this, sure jatuh standard-lah your school!

Now I Know Where Ulu Yam Loh Mee Is!

Thanks to a reader who pointed out the new location, we managed to track it down. This favourite Loh Mee stall has moved from the corner lot to two doors away.

Although it is now airconditioned, everything is very much the same. Still the same price, same food. But it has lost its crowd somewhat during lunch hour.

Because of the horrendous parking and very likely being eclipsed by the Ipoh Hakka Yong Tau Foo shop which took over its former place, I hope the Ulu Yam fellas are braced for the long haul.

Bas Mini - Masuk Belakang Sikit, Mari, Mari!

This one's lucky to end up at the museum as part of history. Others got converted into Bas Sekolah.

One remembers fondly the days of the crazy minibus drivers. The tiny streets of Gombak and Jalan Pahang were their F1 circuit and they were certainly kind of the road, not giving a damn to other road users. If Mat Rempits were present then, many would have kissed dirt with the 'bus mini' drivers around. If the former was lucky, he would not end up minced meat. Otherwise...

It was the 'gangster-like' attitude of these minibus drivers and their conductors that killed the business. Their arrogance on the road unleashed the wrath of the authorities and their extinction today was brought about by that silliness.

But one must admit, these buses were efficient. You could get from point A to point B between 6am to 11am easily.

Fare started from 50 sen but went up later. Unlike today's buses, you can be sure to catch a minibus to town in less than 10 minute's wait.

Of course, most of the time the buses were packed like moving sardine cans. But heck, to the time-constrained traveller, what's a little squeeze-in?

Masuk, masuk. Blakang sikit. Masuk lagi. Masuk lagi.

Klompor. Batu Kib. Gombak. Ayer Panas. Mari mari!

Ah ... those memories. Remember No 14, No 34? Oh, those pink monsters on wheels!

Cendol and Rojak at Desa Setapak

This mamak cendol seller can be seen occupying two car parking lots at Desa Setapak almost daily. He and his partner in crime, another mamak selling rojak, can be seen from 10am to evening at this spot in front of Asashi computers.

How their rojak and cendol taste is up to the individual to judge. But each time when frequenting the parking area starved Desa Setapak, one would wish they find a better to trade - at least not at the expense of car park users.

How can they take up two parking lots? What if others do the same? You be the judge!

Are Diagnostic Examination Questions Being Leaked Out At Tuition Centres?

If you have a child in secondary school, chances are that you would have heard of diagnostic examinations. These are mock examinations, held several times a year, to prepare students sitting for public examinations such as PMR and SPM and STPM.

The setter of the examination questions are the respective education departments of each state.

Recently, it came to the attention of this blogger, that some school teachers in the Wangsa Maju area were quite peeved because a number of their students who were usually average in their scores in school exams did extremely well in a diagnostic paper of a certain subject.

Upon discreet checks, it was found out that even before the examinations, some students who were studying at a particular tuition centre nearby had already been given the questions as "forecast" questions. All the questions forecasted by a this centre had miraculously come up, word for word, in a recent diagnostic examination. While it is little wonder that the tuition centre was extremely popular, what begs discussion is how did the questions come up even before the examination was held?

This blogger, after talking to some teachers and parents who were teachers, came up with two conclusions:

a) The diagnotic examinations were not held on the same day. Students who had set for the exams in their schools earlier would be asked by their tuition teachers to bring the questions to school and the teachers would share these questions with those who had yet to sit for the examination, hence the tremendously accurate 'spot questions'.

b) Theory No 2, which was given by someone this blogger talked to, is that some teachers who are moonlighting at tuition centres who happened to be in charge of the diagnostic tests, had leaked out the questions. Hence the miraculously accurate 'spot questions'. Some smart ones would reword the questions to so that the similarity would be less striking. Others take lock, stock and barrel, hence the 100 per cent accuracy in the tuition teachers' 'prediction'.

This blog entry was written after much thought for the welfare of students in a time when academic qualifications had become so important that people are willing to cheat for it.

For the tuition teachers who had cheated, you should be ashamed of yourselves for your selfishness to look good at the tuition centre which employs you. By teaching your students to cheat (whether they know or not they are cheating is immaterial here) by providing them with these spot questions will bring hardship to them in future. What happens when they leave the tuition centre and get to college or varsity?

This entry was created, without malice, to bring awareness to teachers in the Wangsa Maju area, in the hope that reading this, they would be prompted to conduct their own checks and verify the suspicions in future diagnostic tests. Be suspicious if you find students who do averagely well suddenly getting strings of As. There is a trend and if you are alert, you can spot it! )Parents too should do the same if they could.)

Do not let the selfish few who moonlight at tuition centres undermine your effort to bring out the excellence in your students. Bring these black sheep to book in ways you are most comfortable with. You owe it to hardworking students to do so!

Although diagnostic examinations are not really important, trust had been betrayed if the questions had indeed landed in the hand of tuition centres before students sit for their examinations. It makes fools of hardworking teachers and the integrity of the teaching profession at large?

For parents whose children studied at these cheating tuition centres, make your own discreet investigations and see if the allegations were true. And if they were, kindly do the appropriate that your conscience will allow you.

It is tempting to have your children become top-scorers. Who doesn't want this bragging right? But at what price? And where will the cheating end?

This blogger also spoke to a teacher who taught at a school outside Wangsa Maju and was told that this 'leakage phenomenon' was nothing new.

"Usually the questions arrive days earlier. They would be given to the respective teachers to prepare for the examinations."

"The unscrupulous teachers who happen to moonlight at the tuition centres would give these diagnostic questions to their tuition students BEFORE the actual examination."

This blogger thinks that diagnostic questions should only be given to the principal of each school and kept in a safe, under lock and keys, until just before the actual examination to prevent leaks if a school is serious about educational excellence.

Another alternative is to bar teachers from taking up part time work at tuition centres - whether or not there is a price hike.

Ipoh Road Hakka Yong Tau Foo Coming To Genting Kelang!

Remember my earlier post about Ulu Yam Loh Mee which has moved? Well, this is the new tenant. Ipoh Road Yong Tau Foo! They seem to be everywhere. Now, pray tell, which one of these branches is better? Or do they taste the same?

Kayu Danau Kota Ka-Yoed - Snooker Centre Takes Over

This used to be the premises of the Kayu Restaurant - you know, the famous Penang-mali Kayu chain?

Did you know that the Kayu Danau Kota restaurant, which operated barely two years, have been KO-ed? Why it has happened no one knows. High costs and poor business(??) could be the reason. Who knows?

In its place is a giant snooker centre. And a tyre shop below. The picture above was taken when renovations were being done. The picture below is what it is now - not opened yet though.

Just wondering out loud - the teachers of Danau Kota schools opposite the road should tighten their surveillance for truants who are now within smelling distance of not only cybercafes but also a brand-new snooker centre. If they don't, exam results will take a dive - together with the school's reputation, which will no doubt stink as much as the oxidation pond not too far away...

Mad Bus Driver in Wangsa Maju Driving Digi-bus

This yellow bus - no prizes for correct guess which company it belongs to - was spotted making an illegal U-turn just after the Genting Kelang Wangsa Maju junction traffic lights(opposite Perodua Sales overlooking Taman Bunga Raya) moments before making this U-turn about 100 metres upstream from the Sect 2 LRT station, just opposite Jaya Jusco on a Saturday afternoon. You can see it had to reverse or knock down the bus-stop. Several motorcyclists who were on the fast lane nearly ended up under its wheels if they had not been alert. So did several cars that luckily managed to brake in time.

This guy could be high on something while trying this stunt. Perhaps his grandfather owned this road? Otherwise, no sane driver would ever think of driving this behemoth across the divider of this road.

If you ever spot it again, don't drive too near the yellow vehicle. You might end up with a nasty accident should this guy be driving again. He is not only endangering the lives of Wangsa Maju road users, but also giving his company a bad name.

I wonder why Digi would want to advertise on a bus like this rogue vehicle. If at all, it will only give the telecommunication company a 'samseng image'. The advertising manager or the public relations manager should be informed of this rogue Digi-bus.

On second thoughts, perhaps it is appropriate the bus is awashed in yellow so that you could spot the rogue vehicle a mile away and run for cover.