Meltdown

Finally, the world chess championship match between the defending champion, Magnus Carlsen, and his official challenger, Ian Nepomniachtchi, is over. Nepomniachtchi was already trailing by two games when I wrote about the match six days ago. He threw so much caution away in trying to overturn this deficit that his play simply fell apart. Two more losses in the next three games and that was that: the match was over! Carlsen had won 7½-3½. 

[Event "FIDE World Championship 2021"]
[Site "Dubai, United Arab Emirates"]
[Date "2021.12.07"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2855"]
[WhiteFideId "4168119"]
[BlackFideId "1503014"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2855"]
[EventDate "2021.11.26"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. O-O Bc5 6. d3 Nf6 7. Nbd2 a5 8. Nb3 Be7 9. e3 dxe3 10. Bxe3 Ng4 11. Bc5 O-O 12. d4 a4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nc5 a3 15. bxa3 Rd8 16. Nb3 Nf6 17. Re1 Qxa3 18. Qe2 h6 19. h4 Bd7 20. Ne5 Be8 21. Qe3 Qb4 22. Reb1 Nxe5 23. dxe5 Ng4 24. Qe1 Qxe1+25. Rxe1 h5 26. Bxb7 Ra4 27. c5 c6 28. f3 Nh6 29. Re4 Ra7 30. Rb4 Rb8 31. a4 Raxb7 32. Rb6 Rxb6 33. cxb6 Rxb6 34. Nc5 Nf5 35. a5 Rb8 36. a6 Nxg3 37. Na4 c5 38. a7 Rd8 39. Nxc5 Ra8 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Championship 2021"]
[Site "Dubai, United Arab Emirates"]
[Date "2021.12.08"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2855"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[WhiteFideId "1503014"]
[BlackFideId "4168119"]
[WhiteElo "2855"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[EventDate "2021.11.26"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nd3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. Nf4 Nf6 7. d4 Nc6 8. c3 d5 9. Nd2 Nd8 10. Nf3 Qxe2+ 11. Bxe2 Bd6 12. O-O O-O 13. Bd3 Re8 14. Re1 Rxe1+ 15. Nxe1 Ne6 16. Nxe6 Bxe6 17. g3 g6 18. Ng2 Re8 19. f3 Nh5 20. Kf2 c6 21. g4 Ng7 22. Bf4 Bxf4 23. Nxf4 g5 24. Ne2 f5 25. h3 Kf7 26. Rh1 h6 27. f4 fxg4 28. hxg4 Bxg4 29. Rxh6 Bf5 30. Bxf5 Nxf5 31. Rh7+ Ng7 32. fxg5 Kg6 33. Rh3 Kxg5 34. Rg3+ Kf6 35. Rf3+ Ke7 36. Nf4 Kd6 37. Ng6 Re6 38. Ne5 Ne8 39. Rf7 Rf6+40. Rxf6+Nxf6 41. Ke3 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Championship 2021"]
[Site "Dubai, United Arab Emirates"]
[Date "2021.12.10"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2855"]
[WhiteFideId "4168119"]
[BlackFideId "1503014"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2855"]
[EventDate "2021.11.26"]

1. e4  e5 2. Nf3Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. O-O a5 7. Re1 Ba7 8. Na3 h6 9. Nc2 O-O 10. Be3 Bxe3 11. Nxe3 Re8 12. a4 Be6 13. Bxe6 Rxe6 14. Qb3 b6 15. Rad1 Ne7 16. h3 Qd7 17. Nh2 Rd8 18. Nhg4 Nxg4 19. hxg4 d5 20. d4 xd4 21. exd5 Re4 22. Qc2 Rf423. g3 dxe3 24. gxf4 Qxg4+ 25. Kf1 Qh3+ 26. Kg1 Nf5 27. d6 Nh4 28. fxe3 Qg3+29. Kf1 Nf3 30. Qf2 Qh3+ 31. Qg2 Qxg2+ 32. Kxg2 Nxe1+ 33. Rxe1 Rxd6 34. Kf3 Rd2 35. Rb1 g6 36. b4 axb4 37. Rxb4 Ra2 38. Ke4 h5 39. Kd5 Rc2 40. Rb3 h4 41. Kc6 h342. Kxc7 h2 43. Rb1 Rxc3+ 44. Kxb6 Rb3+ 45. Rxb3 h1=Q 46. a5 Qe4 47. Ka7 Qe7+  48. Ka8 Kg7 49. Rb6 Qc5 0-1

80th anniversary (2): The bombing of George Town

Previously, I had related how, in the morning of 08 December 1941, George Town awoke to the first sounds of Japanese enemy aircraft flying over the town. Here is a continuing 80th anniversary story. Three days later on 11 December 1941, terror rained down on the inhabitants of George Town. Terror in the shape of bullets and bombs. It was truly a rain of terror. Not yet a reign of terror, no, it had yet to begin, but a rain of terror. 

Remember that the island's air raid warning had sounded at seven o'clock on 08 December 1941 when eight planes flew over the town in a southerly direction. That was all that the Japanese did, there were no bombings or strafing then and thus, no casualties. On the following day, a bigger convoy of planes flew over the town and again they did nothing else to the town. 

These two seemingly innocuous air movements by the Japanese were actually part of their deadly plan to lure the inhabitants of George Town into a false state of comfort. Was that all that the Japanese was going to do: fly up and down the island to win the war? Of course not!

Shortly past nine o'clock on 11 December 1941 morning, their intent became very clear. Despite the air raid sirens sounding all over the town, the curious and now bolder people of George Town massed outside in the streets to watch the approaching enemy aircraft. Because nothing much had happened the first two occasions, they believed that nothing would happen again this time.

How wrong they were! Without warning, the Japanese aircraft dropped their bombs and trained their machineguns on the people who congregated in the Chinese quarter of the Beach Street area. (Note: The Chinese quarter was separated from the European quarter by the China Street-China Street Ghaut divide.) Bombs exploded all around causing heavy casualties. Hundreds, if not thousands, were either killed, maimed or received serious injuries. 

In Let the Aisles Proclaim, I had written something about that fateful morning which I'm reproducing here with some fresh edits for clarification:

In the days before 11th December, the town and its people had been left largely alone amidst the alerts, air raid sirens, strafing of air fields and bombing of ships in the harbour. But on this day, the town folks found themselves the targets. As the inhabitants collected in the streets and market place to watch the raid in the skies above, the Japanese aeroplanes dive-bombed the Chinese quarter and trained their machineguns at the people. A few thousand inhabitants of the town were estimated killed on the first day of the attack. A bomb fell on the compound of the St. George's Church and the vibration was so great that all doors and windows were damaged. At the nearby Hutchings School, that is, the former premises of Penang Free School in Farquhar Street, many Free School boys sitting for their Senior Cambridge examinations were killed in the explosion. Several more escaped with various degrees of injuries. As a result of the looting that followed, the Hutchings School suffered a very severe loss in furniture, equipment and records.  New text books and stationery ordered for 1942 and received in November 1941 were all looted.   

The destruction of the central fire station was perhaps the greatest disaster that day. Motor-cars in the streets were smashed, and drivers who had not taken shelter were killed beside their vehicles. Schoolboy Tan Boon Lin (later to become the first Malaysian headmaster of his alma mater, Penang Free School) who was on duty as a Scout volunteer at the fire station in Beach Street recalled, “I saw the planes approach from across the Channel and there were huge explosions all around us. The ground shook and buildings were catching fire. There I was, momentarily trapped in the tower and afraid to descend to the ground. When I eventually did, the carnage was everywhere: buildings were burning and there were bodies strewn all over. For a 14-year-old, this was a terrifying and unforgettable experience.”

My other book, Ten Thousand Prosperities, recounted a memory of the bombing by an old-time staff of Ban Hin Lee Bank. Ong Chin Seng had joined the bank in 1935 and was a mere 21-year-old at the start of the Japanese Occupation. In an interview he gave to the bank's newsletter team in 1980 on the occasion of his retirement, he recalled:

The (new Ban Hin Lee Bank) building was very strong due to the excellent piling work done by the contractors, a French firm. When the Japanese Air Force bombed Penang in December 1941, a bomb fell at the back of the bank. The blast was terrific, but the building stood as firm as a rock. All of us sheltered in the strongroom on the ground floor, and it was a terrible experience! When we came out in the open after the bombers flew away, we could see the devastation around Beach Street, and the many dead bodies of the people who were unfortunate to be caught in the air raid. The whole town was evacuated, and all the townsfolk ran to the countryside like Balik Pulau and Ayer Itam.

In the days that followed this infamous bombing horror, the Japanese planes returned on numerous other occasions. Their raids, however, did not inflict the same casualties as before because the people of George Town had begun their evacuation to the hills. I do remember my grandmother saying that this exodus to the countryside was known in the Hokkien-speaking community as chau huan, fleeing from war. My Standard Four class teacher also told me recently that she was seven years old when her family packed their bags from their home in the town and retreated to an attap house in Ayer Itam which her father had bought several months earlier in anticipation of this invasion.

The first detail of the bombing raid finally emerged two days later on 13 Dec 1941 when the Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser carried a report. Despite the raid being officially described as heavy with considerable damage to civilian property, telephonic communication was not difficult to obtain by a Free Press reporter.

Penang residents said that the raid was heavy, that there were many casualties but that the population - both European and Asiatic - of Penang was bearing up well. The medical, fire fighting and A.R.P. services were described as behaving "splendidly." 

The exact number of casualties is as yet unknown. Bombs dropped were "high explosives containing an incendiary mixture" and damage was done by fires. Members of the M.A.S. (Medical Auxiliary Services), the A.R.P. (Air Raid Precautions) and fire services in Penang have worked continuously in shifts.

As far as is known, there are no Europeans among the casualties. Most of the bombs fell on congested areas and also on a business quarter. One store has been badly damaged, but as was announced in yesterday's communique, no military objective was hit.

Further information about yesterday's heavy air raid on Penang, received in Singapore, shows that the attack was concentrated on one area, according to an official statement.

About half a dozen planes are reported to have flown up and down this area several times, machine-gunning as well as bombing. Inevitably, the civilian casualties were heavy, but, so far as is known at the moment, it is believed that the fatalities do not exceed a hundred.

Eye-witnesses describe the behaviour of all members of the Passive Defence Services as magnificent.

<< PREVIOUS (PART 2) 
<< PREVIOUS (PART 1)

TO BE CONTINUED....

 

80th anniversary (1): Japanese invasion

Today marks the 80th anniversary of a very significant event in Malaysia's history. At 00:30 (that is, 30 minutes past midnight) on the eighth of December 1941, Japan launched their offensive on the Malayan peninsula. This was the beginning of almost four full years of hellish dark days of the Japanese Occupation from December 1941 till their surrender in September 1945.

Despite my misgivings about Wikipedia, I must say that when it comes to describing the events of the Second World War, there is a lot of detailed information. From Wikipedia, therefore, I shall quote extensively to describe the fateful day when the Japanese landed in Kelantan. Earlier, they had sailed from southern Indo-China and their fleet of warships dropped anchor 3km from the coast. 

The ships were carrying approximately 5,200 troops of the Takumi Detachment (Major-General Takumi Hiroshi, aboard Awazisan Maru). Most of these troops were veterans of the war in China. (Wikipedia)

The invasion began with a bombardment at around 00:30 local time in Malaya on 08 December. (The Japanese carrier planes flying toward Pearl Harbour were still about 50 minutes away; the attack on Pearl Harbour started at 07:48 local time in Hawai'i on 07 December.) The loading of landing craft began almost as soon as the transports dropped anchor. Rough seas and strong winds hampered the operation and a number of smaller craft capsized. Several Japanese soldiers drowned. Despite these difficulties, by 00:45 the first wave of landing craft was heading for the beach in four lines. (Wikipedia)

The Dogra Regiment immediately opened fire on the invasion force with artillery and machine guns. The first and second waves of Japanese soldiers were pinned down by the intense fire from the Dogra's pillboxes and trenches but after vicious hand-to-hand fighting a breach was made in the defences on the south bank of the Pengkalan Chepa river estuary. On the northern bank the Japanese were pinned down on an island where dawn found them trapped in the open. Allied aircraft began attacking the invasion fleet and the soldiers trapped on the island. Japanese casualties in the first and second waves were heavy. The Japanese managed to get off the beach only after the two pill box positions and supporting trenches were destroyed. Despite their heavy resistance, the Dogras were forced to retreat to their defences. Reinforcements were brought forward to support the Dogras. At 10:30, the British forces attempted to retake the lost beaches. The fighting was heavy with both sides suffering more casualties. Some progress was made but the British forces were unable to close the breach. In the afternoon, a second attack went in but failed again to close the breach. (Wikipedia)

The Japanese claimed that the landings at Kota Bharu were some of the most violent of the whole Malayan Campaign. It was estimated that they suffered an estimated 300 killed and 500 wounded. (Wikipedia)

By comparison, the Japanese met with little resistance when they landed at Patani and Singora (now Songkhla) during the early hours of 08 December. The Thai garrison immediately occupied positions alongside the roads leading down to Malaya, but were brushed aside into positions which the main Japanese advance could ignore. The Thais suffered only a total of 57 casualties in Patani and Singora. The fighting ceased at noon when orders for an armistice was received from Bangkok. (Wikipedia) This lent credence to the oft-repeated story that Japan had secret discussions with the Thai Prime Minister, Plaek Phibunsongkhram, to allow the Japanese military free passage through Thailand. 

Phibun also granted Japan permission to use Thailand as a base of operations to invade neighbouring Malaya. Within hours after the armistice came into effect, squadrons of Japanese aircraft had flown into Songkla airfield from Indochina, allowing them to carry out air raids on strategic bases in Malaya and Singapore from a shorter distance. (Wikipedia) The Japanese troops that landed in southern Thailand were the ones that bicycled down the west coast of Malaya towards Singapore and in the process, overran the air defences in Penang, but more of that in a later story.

Together with this amphibious assault on Kelantan and the bombing raids on Pearl Harbour in Hawai'i, 17 Japanese bomber aircraft also carried out dawn air raids on Singapore at 04:00 on the same day. I wrote in my book, Ten Thousand Prosperities: the Story of Ban Hin Lee Bank, that although the targets were military airfields, the naval base and Keppel Harbour, some wayward bombs landed on Raffles Place and elsewhere in the city. One bomb hit a street opposite the Ban Hin Lee Bank branch in Singapore and many surrounding buildings were reduced to rubble. The bank building was, however, completely untouched. That the Japanese aircraft had breached British defence lines shook public confidence. Rumours swirled and people started hoarding food and moving out to the countryside.

Apart from the landings on Malaya's east coast, 08 December 1941 was also noted as the day that Japanese enemy aircraft had flown over Penang island and mainland for the first time.  The Malayan Tribune reported that the island had its air raid warning at seven o'clock in the morning when eight planes flew over George Town in a southerly direction. Reuters reported that there were no casualties except on the mainland where bombs were dropped. The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser said that 14 Japanese planes dived on the aerodrome and clubhouse in Penang at about 5pm on 09 December and machine-gunned both severely. Again, there were no casualties on the island. Over at Butterworth, many Japanese planes had engaged RAF fighters.

>> NEXT (Part 2) >>

TO BE CONTINUED....

Nepom napalmed

I'm so detached from chess nowadays that it's become rather easy for me to forget that a world chess championship match is being played in Dubai but that is what is exactly going on. Magnus Carlsen is the defending champion - and he has been on top of his game for the past eight years (since 2013) - and his latest challenger is Ian Nepomniachtchi. One is Norwegian, the other is Russian.

The eighth game of the 14-game match was played last night and it is difficult not to see Carlsen defend his world chess champion successfully. Not only is he presently the highest rated active grandmaster in the world with 2855 Elo points, he has already taken a commanding 5-3 lead with only a maximum of six games remaining. The first player to score 7½ points will take the match. 

I don't see Nepomniachtchi recovering ground, especially when he self-destructed last night. It was so painful to watch when you notice the blunder happen suddenly and I guess that many people who saw it live over the Internet felt the same way as me too. 

This world chess championship match is being carried live by at least three YouTube channels and all are fronted by well-known chess personalities such as Judith Polgar, Viswanathan Anand, Anish Giri, Fabiano Caruana with guest appearances from the likes of Hou Yifan and others.

Here are the first eight games. The diagrams refer to the final position on the chess board for each of them. For an excellent commentary of these games, I would recommend visiting the Chessbase website.

[Event "WCh 2021"]
[Site "Dubai UAE"]
[Date "2021.11.26"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2855"]
[ECO "C88"]
[Opening "Ruy Lopez"]
[Variation "closed, 7...O-O"]
[WhiteFideId "4168119"]
[BlackFideId "1503014"]
[EventDate "2021.11.26"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3 Na5 9. Nxe5 Nxb3 10. axb3 Bb7 11. d3 d5 12. exd5 Qxd5 13. Qf3 Bd6 14. Kf1 Rfb8 15. Qxd5 Nxd5 16. Bd2 c5 17. Nf3 Rd8 18. Nc3 Nb4 19. Rec1 Rac8 20. Ne2 Nc6 21. Be3 Ne7 22. Bf4 Bxf3 23. gxf3 Bxf4 24. Nxf4 Rc6 25. Re1 Nf5 26. c3 Nh4 27. Re3 Kf8 28. Ng2 Nf5 29. Re5 g6 30. Ne1 Ng7 31. Re4 f5 32. Re3 Ne6 33. Ng2 b4 34. Ke2 Rb8 35. Kd2 bxc3+ 36. bxc3 Rxb3 37. Kc2 Rb7 38. h4 Kf7 39. Ree1 Kf6 40. Ne3 Rd7 41. Nc4 Re7 42. Ne5 Rd6 43. Nc4 Rc6 44. Ne5 Rd6 45. Nc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCh 2021"]
[Site "Dubai UAE"]
[Date "2021.11.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2855"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[ECO "E06"]
[Opening "Catalan"]
[Variation "closed, 5.Nf3"]
[WhiteFideId "1503014"]
[BlackFideId "4168119"]
[EventDate "2021.11.26"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 b5 8. Ne5 c6 9. a4 Nd5 10. Nc3 f6 11. Nf3 Qd7 12. e4 Nb4 13. Qe2 Nd3 14. e5 Bb7 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Ne4 Na6 17. Ne5 Bxe5 18. dxe5 Nac5 19. Nd6 Nb3 20. Rb1 Nbxc1 21. Rbxc1 Nxc1 22. Rxc1 Rab8 23. Rd1 Ba8 24. Be4 c3 25. Qc2 g6 26. bxc3 bxa4 27. Qxa4 Rfd8 28. Ra1 c5 29. Qc4 Bxe4 30. Nxe4 Kh8 31. Nd6 Rb6 32. Qxc5 Rdb8 33. Kg2 a6 34. Kh3 Rc6 35. Qd4 Kg8 36. c4 Qc7 37. Qg4 Rxd6 38. exd6 Qxd6 39. c5 Qxc5 40. Qxe6+ Kg7 41. Rxa6 Rf8 42. f4 Qf5+ 43. Qxf5 Rxf5 44. Ra7+ Kg8 45. Kg4 Rb5 46. Re7 Ra5 47. Re5 Ra7 48. h4 Kg7 49. h5 Kh6 50. Kh4 Ra1 51. g4 Rh1+ 52. Kg3 gxh5 53. Re6+ Kg7 54. g5 Rg1+ 55. Kf2 Ra1 56. Rh6 Ra4 57. Kf3 Ra3+ 58. Kf2 Ra4 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCh 2021"]
[Site "Dubai UAE"]
[Date "2021.11.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2855"]
[ECO "C88"]
[Opening "Ruy Lopez"]
[Variation "closed, anti-Marshall 8.a4"]
[WhiteFideId "4168119"]
[BlackFideId "1503014"]
[EventDate "2021.11.26"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Nf1 h6 12. Bd2 Bf8 13. Ne3 Ne7 14. c4 bxc4 15. Nxc4 Nc6 16. Rc1 a5 17. Bc3 Bc8 18. d4 exd4 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Qxd4 Be6 21. h3 c6 22. Bc2 d5 23. e5 dxc4 24. Qxd8 Rexd8 25. exf6 Bb4 26. fxg7 Bxc3 27. bxc3 Kxg7 28. Kf1 Rab8 29. Rb1 Kf6 30. Rxb8 Rxb8 31. Rb1 Rxb1+ 32. Bxb1 Ke5 33. Ke2 f5 34. Bc2 f4 35. Bb1 c5 36. Bc2 Bd7 37. f3 Kf6 38. h4 Ke5 39. Kf2 Kf6 40. Ke2 Ke5 41. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCh 2021"]
[Site "Dubai UAE"]
[Date "2021.11.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2855"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[ECO "C42"]
[Opening "Petrov"]
[Variation "classical attack, Marshall variation"]
[WhiteFideId "1503014"]
[BlackFideId "4168119"]
[EventDate "2021.11.26"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9. Re1 Bf5 10. Qb3 Qd7 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. Bxf5 Qxf5 13. bxc3 b6 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Qb5 Qd7 16. a4 Qxb5 17. axb5 a5 18. Nh4 g6 19. g4 Nd7 20. Ng2 Rfc8 21. Bf4 Bxf4 22. Nxf4 Rxc3 23. Nxd5 Rd3 24. Re7 Nf8 25. Nf6+ Kg7 26. Ne8+ Kg8 27. d5 a4 28. Nf6+ Kg7 29. g5 a3 30. Ne8+ Kg8 31. Nf6+ Kg7 32. Ne8+ Kg8 33. Nf6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCh 2021"]
[Site "Dubai UAE"]
[Date "2021.12.01"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2855"]
[ECO "C88"]
[Opening "Ruy Lopez"]
[Variation "closed, anti-Marshall 8.a4"]
[WhiteFideId "4168119"]
[BlackFideId "1503014"]
[EventDate "2021.11.26"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 Rb8 9. axb5 axb5 10. h3 d6 11. c3 b4 12. d3 bxc3 13. bxc3 d5 14. Nbd2 dxe4 15. dxe4 Bd6 16. Qc2 h6 17. Nf1 Ne7 18. Ng3 Ng6 19. Be3 Qe8 20. Red1 Be6 21. Ba4 Bd7 22. Nd2 Bxa4 23. Qxa4 Qxa4 24. Rxa4 Ra8 25. Rda1 Rxa4 26. Rxa4 Rb8 27. Ra6 Ne8 28. Kf1 Nf8 29. Nf5 Ne6 30. Nc4 Rd8 31. f3 f6 32. g4 Kf7 33. h4 Bf8 34. Ke2 Nd6 35. Ncxd6+ Bxd6 36. h5 Bf8 37. Ra5 Ke8 38. Rd5 Ra8 39. Rd1 Ra2+ 40. Rd2 Ra1 41. Rd1 Ra2+ 42. Rd2 Ra1 43. Rd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCh 2021"]
[Site "Dubai UAE"]
[Date "2021.12.03"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2855"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Opening "Queen's pawn game"]
[WhiteFideId "1503014"]
[BlackFideId "4168119"]
[EventDate "2021.11.26"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. c4 dxc4 9. Qc2 Qe7 10. Nbd2 Nc6 11. Nxc4 b5 12. Nce5 Nb4 13. Qb2 Bb7 14. a3 Nc6 15. Nd3 Bb6 16. Bg5 Rfd8 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Rac1 Nd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd4 20. Qa2 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Qb7+ 22. Kg1 Qe4 23. Qc2 a5 24. Rfd1 Kg7 25. Rd2 Rac8 26. Qxc8 Rxc8 27. Rxc8 Qd5 28. b4 a4 29. e3 Be5 30. h4 h5 31. Kh2 Bb2 32. Rc5 Qd6 33. Rd1 Bxa3 34. Rxb5 Qd7 35. Rc5 e5 36. Rc2 Qd5 37. Rdd2 Qb3 38. Ra2 e4 39. Nc5 Qxb4 40. Nxe4 Qb3 41. Rac2 Bf8 42. Nc5 Qb5 43. Nd3 a3 44. Nf4 Qa5 45. Ra2 Bb4 46. Rd3 Kh6 47. Rd1 Qa4 48. Rda1 Bd6 49. Kg1 Qb3 50. Ne2 Qd3 51. Nd4 Kh7 52. Kh2 Qe4 53. Rxa3 Qxh4+ 54. Kg1 Qe4 55. Ra4 Be5 56. Ne2 Qc2 57. R1a2 Qb3 58. Kg2 Qd5+ 59. f3 Qd1 60. f4 Bc7 61. Kf2 Bb6 62. Ra1 Qb3 63. Re4 Kg7 64. Re8 f5 65. Raa8 Qb4 66. Rac8 Ba5 67. Rc1 Bb6 68. Re5 Qb3 69. Re8 Qd5 70. Rcc8 Qh1 71. Rc1 Qd5 72. Rb1 Ba7 73. Re7 Bc5 74. Re5 Qd3 75. Rb7 Qc2 76. Rb5 Ba7 77. Ra5 Bb6 78. Rab5 Ba7 79. Rxf5 Qd3 80. Rxf7+ Kxf7 81. Rb7+ Kg6 82. Rxa7 Qd5 83. Ra6+ Kh7 84. Ra1 Kg6 85. Nd4 Qb7 86. Ra2 Qh1 87. Ra6+ Kf7 88. Nf3 Qb1 89. Rd6 Kg7 90. Rd5 Qa2+ 91. Rd2 Qb1 92. Re2 Qb6 93. Rc2 Qb1 94. Nd4 Qh1 95. Rc7+ Kf6 96. Rc6+ Kf7 97. Nf3 Qb1 98. Ng5+ Kg7 99. Ne6+ Kf7 100. Nd4 Qh1 101. Rc7+ Kf6 102. Nf3 Qb1 103. Rd7 Qb2+ 104. Rd2 Qb1 105. Ng1 Qb4 106. Rd1 Qb3 107. Rd6+ Kg7 108. Rd4 Qb2+ 109. Ne2 Qb1 110. e4 Qh1 111. Rd7+ Kg8 112. Rd4 Qh2+ 113. Ke3 h4 114. gxh4 Qh3+ 115. Kd2 Qxh4 116. Rd3 Kf8 117. Rf3 Qd8+ 118. Ke3 Qa5 119. Kf2 Qa7+ 120. Re3 Qd7 121. Ng3 Qd2+ 122. Kf3 Qd1+ 123. Re2 Qb3+ 124. Kg2 Qb7 125. Rd2 Qb3 126. Rd5 Ke7 127. Re5+ Kf7 128. Rf5+ Ke8 129. e5 Qa2+ 130. Kh3 Qe6 131. Kh4 Qh6+ 132. Nh5 Qh7 133. e6 Qg6 134. Rf7 Kd8 135. f5 Qg1 136. Ng7 1-0

[Event "WCh 2021"]
[Site "Dubai UAE"]
[Date "2021.12.04"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2855"]
[ECO "C88"]
[Opening "Ruy Lopez"]
[Variation "closed, anti-Marshall 8.a4"]
[WhiteFideId "4168119"]
[BlackFideId "1503014"]
[EventDate "2021.11.26"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 Rb8 9. axb5 axb5 10. h3 d6 11. d3 h6 12. Nc3 Re8 13. Nd5 Bf8 14. Nxf6+ Qxf6 15. c3 Ne7 16. Be3 Be6 17. d4 exd4 18. cxd4 Bxb3 19. Qxb3 Ng6 20. Rec1 c5 21. e5 Qf5 22. dxc5 dxc5 23. Bxc5 Bxc5 24. Rxc5 Nxe5 25. Nxe5 Rxe5 26. Rxe5 Qxe5 27. Qc3 Qxc3 28. bxc3 Rc8 29. Ra5 Rxc3 30. Rxb5 Rc1+ 31. Kh2 Rc3 32. h4 g6 33. g3 h5 34. Kg2 Kg7 35. Ra5 Kf6 36. Rb5 Kg7 37. Ra5 Kf6 38. Rb5 Kg7 39. Ra5 Kf6 40. Ra6+ Kg7 41. Ra7 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCh 2021"]
[Site "Dubai UAE"]
[Date "2021.12.05"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2855"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[ECO "C43"]
[Opening "Petrov"]
[Variation "modern attack, Symmetrical variation"]
[WhiteFideId "1503014"]
[BlackFideId "4168119"]
[EventDate "2021.11.26"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. Nd2 Nxd2 8. Bxd2 Bd6 9. O-O h5 10. Qe1+ Kf8 11. Bb4 Qe7 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. Qd2 Re8 14. Rae1 Rh6 15. Qg5 c6 16. Rxe8+ Bxe8 17. Re1 Qf6 18. Qe3 Bd7 19. h3 h4 20. c4 dxc4 21. Bxc4 b5 22. Qa3+ Kg8 23. Qxa7 Qd8 24. Bb3 Rd6 25. Re4 Be6 26. Bxe6 Rxe6 27. Rxe6 fxe6 28. Qc5 Qa5 29. Qxc6 Qe1+ 30. Kh2 Qxf2 31. Qxe6+ Kh7 32. Qe4+ Kg8 33. b3 Qxa2 34. Qe8+ Kh7 35. Qxb5 Qf2 36. Qe5 Qb2 37. Qe4+ Kg8 38. Qd3 Qf2 39. Qc3 Qf4+ 40. Kg1 Kh7 41. Qd3+ g6 42. Qd1 Qe3+ 43. Kh1 g5 44. d5 g4 45. hxg4 h3 46. Qf3 1-0

Three planets

Looking eastward, this is tonight's sky at about 7.33pm. Two bright dots in the sky, unmistakably bright Jupiter at the top and a brighter Venus at the bottom. 

I couldn't see it with my less-than-perfect eyesight but when I looked at the image in my mobile phone's camera, there is a small pinprick of light roughly halfway between the two bright planets. That is Saturn, and the three planets are more or less lined up in a straight line.

(Note: This image is far sharper than the one I posted to facebook yesterday. That was taken during an evening walk in the neighbourhood and there was a lot of camera shake that prevented me from getting a sharper image. This evening was better as I could brace myself against my gate.)

Real fear

Some depressing news. If the chatter on social media or news portals are to be believed, there is a great possibility of the appeals court freeing the convicted crook of the century in a few days' time. Whether it comes true or not, we shall have to wait until 08 December 2021 to find out. This outcome is very possible, mind you, and here are some links to news reports that are guaranteed to chill your blood:

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/11/27/najib-files-police-report-claims-evidence-withheld-from-him/

Najib files police report, claims evidence withheld from him 
FMT Reporters -November 27, 2021 1:53 PM

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Najib Razak today lodged a report to get the police to investigate whether material evidence relevant to his court cases had been concealed by key members of various government agencies and the former Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration.

Speaking to reporters outside the Dang Wangi police station in Kuala Lumpur, Najib referred to transactions worth millions of ringgit linked to prosecution witnesses in both his SRC International and 1MDB cases that had only recently been reported or confirmed.

https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/600862

MCA Youth: 'Serious questions' in charges against Najib as Zeti probe incomplete
Published:  Nov 27, 2021 2:11 PM

MCA Youth said there are "serious questions" in the criminal charges brought against ex-prime minister Najib Abdul Razak over the 1MDB scandal.

It said this was because the charges were filed before investigations into the involvement of ex-Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz's family in the same scandal was completed.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2021/11/749274/najib-lodges-report-over-alleged-attempts-conceal-evidence-his-1mdb

Najib lodges report over alleged attempts to conceal evidence in his 1MDB case
By New Straits Times - November 27, 2021 @ 2:09pm

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today lodged a report urging police to investigate alleged attempts by Pakatan Harapan administration to conceal material evidence from him in relation to the 1Malysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case.

Najib said he was disappointed why no investigation agency revealed the involvement of the former Bank Negara governor's family in the 1MDB case.

"Most Malaysians were shocked with confirmation by MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) last week that a balance RM65 million funds reportedly linked to Jho Low and 1MDB which was returned to Malaysia by Singaporean authorities had some connection to the immediate family of a former central bank governor

https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/601519

Najib files to adduce new evidence on Zeti ahead of SRC appeal verdict

Hidir Reduan Abdul Rashid

Published:  Dec 2, 2021 2:57 PM

Days before the Court of Appeal is set to deliver its verdict on Najib Abdul Razak’s appeal in the RM42 million SRC International graft case, the former premier is seeking to tender new evidence to support his defence.

Through a Notice of Motion filed at the Court of Appeal, Najib is seeking to adduce the viva voce evidence of MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki, the graft buster’s investigating officer Rosli Hussein and several other witnesses.

The Court of Appeal has fixed Dec 8 to deliver its decision on Najib’s appeal to quash the High Court's guilty verdict as well as the 12-year jail term and RM210 million fine in the SRC corruption case.

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/12/03/hiding-evidence-in-najibs-trial-will-be-unjust-says-zaid/

Hiding evidence in Najib’s trial will be unjust, says Zaid

Robin Augustin -December 3, 2021 7:20 AM

Zaid Ibrahim (left) says critical evidence was not made available to the defence and it will be unsafe to convict Najib Razak based on the prosecution’s case as presented.

PETALING JAYA: Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has cautioned against a miscarriage of justice in Najib Razak’s trial in the SRC International case at the Court of Appeal.

Speaking to FMT, he said the court should allow Najib’s request for new evidence to be adduced.

Any concealment or suppression of evidence that could help the former prime minister’s defence would be a miscarriage of justice, he added.

Buy a house!

From a friend, Lim Cheng Teik, who is deep into private investments. An admirer of Warren Buffet's style. He wrote this on his facebook, which I found to be very interesting and thought-provoking:

Want to impress people? Get a big house instead of a big car!

A RM 200k house, bought 10 years ago, would be worth at least RM 200k, and most probably it’s worth way more than that.

On the other hand, a RM 200k car bought 10 years ago, would most probably be worth RM 100k or lesser, perhaps way lesser.

Both house and car can show off or use the asset (unlike stocks, which u don’t get to use or show off to people). But one appreciates, and the other depreciates. Over long term, the difference between these 2 is huge.

Then again, I’m never a fan of “big” car. To me, a car is just a vehicle for me to take me from one point to the other. Safety is important. But buying expensive cars just to show off…. Well, let’s just say I prefer to show off big house or big investments than to show off big cars. 

People with rich person’s mindset enjoys owning assets that appreciates. On the other hand, people with middle-class or poor person’s mindset… enjoys owning assets that depreciates. 

To me, I think a good ratio of House value to Car value is 10 to 1 or higher. Meaning, if you wanna drive a Mercedes worth RM 400k, then get a RM 4 mil house first. 

I know of people who drive a big car, but they’re living in a small apartment. Really got the Car/ House upside down in “showing off”. Till today, he’s still struggling financially.

I personally think car is one of the worst assets, as that’s one big asset that u buy that depreciates so much in %, and if you’re buying a big car… the depreciation in amount is perhaps, the biggest in your expense

Booster jabs taken

I received a notification on the MySejahtera app about a week ago to inform me that I had been scheduled for a Pfizer booster jab on the 28th of November. Likewise, so did my wife. For the past week, we have been rather undecisive whether to take the jab or not. Some said we would be better off taking a Sinovac booster. But finally, we summoned up enough courage to take the jabs together, especially since we learnt that many of our older friends and relatives in their 80s had already received theirs without any problem. 

So we turned up at the Flextronics plant in Bukit Minyak yesterday afternoon. However, there was a last hurdle. As we walked straight in, some friends were coming out and they said that from today (29 Nov), people could have a choice between Pfizer and Sinovac. Therefore, they had declined their scheduled Pfizer booster jabs and would go to the SPICE Arena in Seberang Jaya to get their Sinovac vaccinations instead. 

My wife's will started to dither but I was quite firm that we had come to Flextronics to get our Pfizer jabs and we should get them over with. What the heck; if people start choosing Sinovac, there will probably be a long queue from the 29th onwards and queues were what we wanted to avoid. Moreover, as it was already almost six months since our second Sinovac jab in June, I was very concerned that the efficacy could now be very low. I reasoned that we should take the Pfizer jab now and not delay any longer. For sure, there weren't many people at the Flextronics vaccination centre and it was very smooth-flowing all the way. Also, if the rumours are true, I don't want having to take a booster jab every three months if I were to continue with Sinovac. It will be madness! 

I'm happy to relate that 24 hours after the jab, we haven't had any adverse side effect today except for the expected soreness at the site of the injection. No fatigue encountered too. The panadol tablets remain kept in the medicine cabinet.

All the hyped-up news of one or two deaths after their booster jabs compared with the millions who have taken theirs successfully.... Personally, they are playing psychological havoc with people's minds and emotions. We just need to analyse the situation rationally and go for the offered Pfizer jabs. Besides, I'm confident that these are not the original Pfizer jabs. Science does not stand still. Research does not stand still. What goes into the present Pfizer vaccine should have been modified over the original.

Revenue stamps

I uncovered some old legal documents lately. They were great! Some of them - comprising Indentures, Deeds and Mortgage Conveyances - carried revenue stamps and marks from the era of the Straits Settlements. 

A five-dollar or even a one-dollar revenue stamp isn't worth much in today's world but back in those days - one of the documents dating back to 1898 - it must have cost an arm and a leg to buy. But they were compulsory for affixing on documents to make them legal. 

Great addition to our historical records and knowledge!

Phishing at its worse!

I came across this post on facebook, written by a chap called Smith Ang. I thought it is significant enough to warrant a reproduction on my blog. The incident shows that you cannot trust seemingly innocent posts on the Internet nowadays, social media included. We have to be very careful about the information we disclose. So this is the facebook post in question....

This is the Most Sophisticated Phishing I've seen so far. And it happened to me minutes ago.

Part 1: The Bait- Creating the Perfect avenue 

I've been searching for cleaners, and Facebook prompted one of the ads that caught my attention. Promotion! Who doesn't like a good 50% promo 🙂

Part 2: The Hook- The power of "Call To Action"

The "Call To Action" of the ads will bring you directly to the "vendor" WhatsApp. As you can see in the WhatsApp chat, I was asked to download an App, an APK file to be exact. Rarely do vendors ask their customers to download APK files directly, Most will give you a link to the official app store. (Tip1: Don't trust anyone that sends you .APK file. That doesn't mean the official app store is safe either)

Part 3: The Trojan

After installing, the app requested SMS read permission. Huh? Why do you need that for a Maid Booking App? (Tip2: If App request permission for something more than it should, then it shouldn't)

Part 4: Intel Gathering

The App is well-built, even had its PDPA disclosure done correctly. The registration info required are Name, Email, Password, Mobile Number. Upon finding the date and package I wanted, I had to key in my address. 

Part 5: The Bank

Now come to the part where I have to make payment. Conveniently, the credit card payment is grayed out ("Under maintenance"), the only option available is FPX. There are a few banks to prey on: Maybank, Affin, Public, CIMB, BSN and RHB. After selecting the desired bank, a very familiar bank interface appears in front of you. If you see the Maybank UI, there is a note:- "Note: you are in a secured site" that replaces the catchphrase. (Tip 3: Hmm... will a thief tell you he is not a thief?)

Okay, so when filling up the bank login detail, no matter what you put in, it will always show "Invalid User ID or Password [Err Code: FE0067]. Now, this gibberish error code is the same for all the banks you selected. Don't tell me all the banks are using the same system developer? I had a bad feeling, but I brushed it off as I was too tired.

Part 6: Heist

The next day, I received the SMS:

RM0 PBe DO NOT share this code. DuitNow Transfer RM4,860.00 to NOORALIF SAFWA.
S/N: DC0334071 
PAC No: 
12Nov21 14:52 
For enquiry, pls call 03-21799999

I immediately log into my bank account, and I receive the "Duplicate Login" and there, what I suspected. Without hesitation, I spring into quick finger mode. I was fighting access with the intruder for the login rights. Whenever I tried to change my password, it will be logged out. Years of playing Speed Typing games during my younger days boosted my typing speed +99999. I won the login match and changed the password. (Tip 4: Don't wait, stay calm and secure the situation)

Part 7: Data Exposure

So what is the data that was exposed by using this app?

1. Name
2. 3. Phone Number
4. Email Address
5. Mobile Phone
6. Address
7. Bank User ID
8. Bank Password

This is a very sophisticated operation. Why?

1. It prays on our (mainly me la) weakness- Got Promotion ah?

2. The entire scam ecosystem is well planned- From the curation of the Marketing and Advertisement to the almost flawless APP.

Note: 

For those who are unaware, when you allow the app permission to read your SMS, this will include the incoming PAC/OTP code that your bank sends (SMS) to you for dual-factor authentication.

So this is my adventure on the 12 of Nov 2021.

Enjoy reading and be careful.

The Ban Hin Lee Bank building

The stately Ban Hin Lee Bank building in George Town, Penang, was built by Yeap Chor Ee soon after the bank's incorporation in 1935. It is still standing today at the corner of Beach Street and China Street Ghaut but it now belongs to the CIMB Group. The reason is because Ban Hin Lee Bank was absorbed into Southern Bank in 2001 and later, Southern Bank was taken over by the CIMB Group in 2006. 

This was how the bank building looked like in 1939, a year after its completion. It was already a very imposing white structure at the edge of the European sector of Beach Street. The book, Ten Thousand Prosperities, described how Yeap Chor Ee had moved his bank from further up the road at Number 86, to this location at Number 43. As his influence grew, it became part of his general strategy to move his concerns in the Chinese quarter to as close as possible to the European sector. Practically at their doorstep to tell them that they could do business with him. It took decades for him to make this happen.

The bank building in 1985, when Ban Hin Lee Bank was supposed to be celebrating its 50th anniversary. But it was not to be as in October of that year, tragedy struck in the death of the bank's executive director, Jimmy Yeap.

The bank building in 2014. By then, ownership had transitioned from Ban Hin Lee Bank to Southern Bank and finally, to the CIMB Group. This picture was taken on a Sunday when one of the Occupy Beach Street events was taking place.

The bank building today. Still as stately as before but probably possessing less warmth.

This 2021 would have been Ban Hin Lee Bank's 86th anniversary year. It was formally registered as a company on 17th Sept 1935 although its banking operations only commenced on 1st Nov 1935. Only the memories remain for the faithful customers and those who had ever worked there through the decades. For an important slice of Penang's banking history, this hardcover book tells all. Ten Thousand Prosperities can be purchased online from Entrepot Publishing.

Sacrilegious!

I'm appalled! Any attempt to even suggest shutting down the Penang Hill Railway is sacrilegious. And with the suggestion coming from no less a person than the Chief Minister, it is unforgiveable. Have we not lost enough of the state's heritage in recent years? Have we forgotten how the beloved Penang Ferry has been consigned to a footnote in history? Therefore, any attempt to close down the Penang Hill railway system should be resisted!

We need a Penang-born Chief Minister who can and will appreciate Penang's heritage and cultural richness. He should exhaust all ways to address the maintenance and safety of the Penang Hill railway system, instead of taking a shortcut by saying it could be closed down. Could it be that he wants to push for the cable car system at the expense of the hill railway?

Ipoh food excursion

Returned home from Ipoh yesterday night after spending an overnight trip there to meet up at a halfway point with several chess friends who had travelled up from the Klang Valley. Surprised them all because I was a totally unexpected presence. Only the host was in the know.

Though chess was the main excuse for the get-together - yes, we did play some games with a few resident chess players from Ipoh - the emphasis was heavily on food. Good food was always on our minds and with a perfectly good host who understood our needs and wants, there was no lacking of good places to go for a filling meal.

For example, on Monday afternoon itself we decided to sample their local beancurd or tau hwa (the Cantonese in Ipoh would call it taufu fah) from one particular shop in Yang Kalsom Road and let me tell you that this bowl of tau hwa was really an experience: it was one of the softest and smoothest I've ever had in a long time!

After that we wanted to have mee rebus. Unfortunately, the first restaurant we went to would not allow people to dine in, thus forcing our host to take us on another long drive to Tasek Jaya which served this Malay dish. Verdict: the broth was exemplary. If not for the fact that we would be taking our dinner soon, I guess many of us would have ordered a second bowl. 

Dinner was, of course, the famous Ipoh chicken rice. The coronavirus not withstanding, the place was filled with diners. After happily gorging ourselves silly with chicken rice and taugeh at one of the joints, we finally adjourned to meet with some local chess players.

Day Two of our food excursion began with an early six o'clock breakfast at a timsum restaurant behind the Excelsior Hotel where we stayed. Ipoh is reputedly famous for their timsum fare and this was only the second time that I had the opportunity to try it out. In my opinion, this reputation is well deserved because definitely, nothing in Penang can really compare with the quality of the timsum in Ipoh.

Two hours later, we had a second round of breakfast. This time, it was Ipoh's version of curry mee. It was a bit pricey because of additional fillings but in my opinion again, the overall quality was nothing much to shout about. Some of us commented that there was too much curry powder in the broth. Maybe I'm being too judgmental but the bowl lacked two very important factors: what is curry mee without cockles and curdled pig's blood?

By the way, did I mention earlier that I had enjoyed timsum only twice in my life in Ipoh? Make that thrice now, because immediately after we finished the curry mee, we went back to the hotel to pick up another chessmate and then proceeded to a halal timsum restaurant in Canning Garden. Needless to say, it was fabulous food again. 

After checking out from the hotel, our final food destination was a Chinese restaurant in Pasir Puteh. Unfortunately, we were still rather full and could not order a wider variety of dishes. Nevertheless, it was the company which made the occasion perfect and we parted ways soon after that.

Beancurd with various toppings (gingko, grass jelly and peach raisin) from Bigmom Beancurd at Yang Kalsom Road

Restoran Mee Rebus Ramli in Taman Tasek Jaya along Kuala Kangsar Road 

Chicken and taugeh from Ong Kee Bean Sprouts Chicken Rice Restaurant in Yau Tet Shin Road

We played a few games with Ipoh chess players in a hawker outlet known as Poziah Enterprise in Gunong Rapat. No food, but I had a cup of teh halia. Was surprised to find some crushed ginger at the bottom of the glass. Totally unexpected. Learnt later that this area was a popular stop during the day time for people wishing to buy pomelo.

First breakfast of the day at the Ming Court Hongkong Dimsum Restaurant in Leong Sin Nam Road

Second breakfast of curry mee from the Restoran Xin Quan Fang (Sin Chuan Fong) in Hugh Low Street

Followed by a third breakfast at the Canning Dimsum Restaurant in Cecil Rae Street

The few of us at the Mun Choong Restaurant in Pasir Puteh Road. Standing, left to right, Andrew Tan, myself, Thomas Chan, Roy Ng and Tham Tick Hong. Seated, left to right, Chew Soon Keong, Wahid Karim and Chia Soon Keat

Just avoid the main roads

I was forewarned before I ventured out to the island yesterday that the traffic would be terrible. Not only was it a Friday but it was also the midst of the Deepavali festive weekend. Hordes of outstation tourists would be making their way to Penang for a getaway break after emerging from an enforced lockdown due to the coronavirus.

But what could I do? This fifth of November also coincided with the first day of the Chinese tenth lunar month and at the start of every Chinese lunar month, as well as on the 15th day, my Swee Cheok Tong Seh Quah Kongsi would have a small worship session for our resident deities. Nothing elaborate, mind you, my vice-president and I would be at the Kongsi premises to offer joss-sticks at the various altars. 

Besides which, I had an event to attend at the Penang Institute later in the evening: a talk to launch Blue Sky Mansion which is a novel by HY Yeang, formerly a research scientist at the Rubber Research Institute in Kuala Lumpur. 

I told myself that it would be necessary to drive smart. If you know the roads well enough, you can avoid the typically heavy-laden main roads by moving through the secondary ones. It's not a 100 percent fail-proof plan but it generally works well enough for me. Avoid the main roads. Take the secondary roads. Maybe a longer distance to cover but I can get to my destination without the frustration of getting caught in slow-moving traffic or worse, a jam.

The first inkling I had of the traffic situation was even before I left the mainland. Traffic on the North-South Expressway itself was moving very slowly. People were driving northwards to Alor Star and there was the bottleneck at Seberang Jaya. But luckily, the lane towards the Penang Bridge was clear, as well as traffic flow on the bridge itself.

The initial crawl came after the Sungai Pinang Road interchange on the Lim Chong Eu Expressway but once I managed to turn from Weld Quay into Malay Street Ghaut, all the tension flowed away. Armenian Street was clear too - surprise. surprise - and I had no problem making my stop at Carnarvon Lane.

Going to Pulau Tikus later was, however, quite messy. First, I was held up at the junction of Malay Street and Carnarvon Street. And after that came Magazine Road, Penang Road and Burmah Road. But a little patience will solve almost everything. Pangkor Road was clear but Kelawei Road slowed me down a bit. Luckily, I turned off into Cantonment Road and then back into Burmah Road before I found a parking space in Moulmein Close. After a quick dinner at the hawker centre outside the market, I found myself driving smoothly to the Penang Institute in Brown Road.

Lunch in Kuala Kurau

It was our first sojourn out of Penang since the lifting of the pandemic restrictions last month. There was a scheduled drive to Nibong Tebal to deliver some stuff and we took the opportunity to continue across to Kuala Kurau in Perak. It was a very short trip from Nibong Tebal: not more than a 45-minute drive to our destination for a hearty meal.

To begin with, we ordered a plate of fried prawn rolls which we found to be much nicer than the ones sold typically in timsum restaurants. I glanced at the next table and saw two senior citizens enjoying a pot of fresh seafood cooked in a rich coconut milk curry. We must have that! And so, I wandered around this seafront Kean Seng Lee coffee shop and found the stall. No crab for us, I told the cook, give me just the prawns and sotong. Finally, I made a short walk to order my regular fried prawn omelette. Together with a bowl of ice kachang, the meal cost us not more than RM60. A happy meal, indeed!

Oxymoron

Are you oxymoronic? Sorry, I don't mean to call anyone a moron but I merely said oxymoron. In the dictionaries, this is described as a phrase that contradicts itself. Oxymoron is a play with words. Usually, two words that contract one another. Can sorrow ever be sweet? Yes, said William Shakespeare. In his Romeo and Juliet, sweet sorrow was uttered by his heroine, remember? 

Countless other examples occur in everyday use and below is a non-exhaustive list. During my working days, we always typed Please sign on the duplicate copy and return it to us on correspondences to customers when we wanted them to acknowledge the receipt of our letters. Sometimes, we used a rubber stamp that said original copy on the duplicate copy of the letters. Oops, I did it again!

Lawyers liked to say final draft which left me scratching my noggin. Economists loved to achieve zero deficit, don't they? And when I was in school, there was once in 1967 when the teachers went on strike and some senior pupils from Form Six stepped in temporarily to become student teachers for an hour or two.

Although prevalent in the past, even today we sometimes cannot tell genuine imitations apart from the real goods being hocked online until it is too late. And is a true myth the same as fake news? Not that I'm demanding an answer from anyone. You can choose to do nothing!