Category: General

Yesterday was the garden party at the Istana, an event I always look forward to.

I was scheduled for the second shift which stats at 1545. I parked at Hotel Supreme and walked over and was there by 1515. A rather warm day for waiting outside the Istana.

I bumped into Dennis Chee while waiting to enter.

I met so many people I know and had pleasant conversation with many of them.

I wanted to take a selfie with the PM but he decided that he would be able to do it better and took over my phone and took the selfie.

I was also scheduled to be part of a group photo with the PM.

Just a great 2 hours overall even though I didn’t have anything to eat or drink whilst there.

This morning was my angiogram at NHC.

I had done a stress echo cardiogram in December here and it was all good.

Then on my last trip to KL, I did a calcium screening test at IJN. And it showed calcification and blockage. It actually said severe stenosis.

I took the results to my doctor here on Monday afternoon and he said that this has forced our hands and the only way to be sure is to do an angiogram.

Arrived here at 915am today but the procedure was only done at about 115pm. There were 6 to 8 people in the room and I had gadgets and tubes all over me.

Took about 15 minutes from the time he inserted the tubes when he told me all was clear and the blood flow throughout the heart was good. Thank goodness. Guess I have just been through an unnecessary invasive procedure but I needed to know it was all good after the KL results. The doctor told me after procedure that there is quite a bit of calcium throughout my arteries and this test may not be useful for me.

Well I am resting in the short stay ward now and feeling bored. Haven’t eaten and hoping I can go back soon.

Well the lunch came and it was good. Took a while for them to take out the bandage from the carotid artery.

Finally discharged at 6 pm.

This afternoon was the celebrations at the National Stadium. Since it was the 140th anniversary, I told myself come hell or high water, I have to be there. And I was.

Actually the Stadium is not suitable for such an event, the acoustics are poor and you cannot hear the speeches or the singing. Even the singing of the ACS Anthem was anticlimactic. It was so very different from the time I organized it when I was on the Board of Governors at the Indoor Stadium.

So I don’t remember much of the event. But it was so nice meeting people that I know. Some of whom I haven’t seen in years.

Lunch today was here with U Zyn. We wanted to have lunch but it was not easy finding Chinese restaurants during the CNY period and so we ended up here.

This restaurant is part of the Taj Group and is located at South Beach and I must say the food is good. I have been here some years back and they have maintained their standard.

We ordered their set lunch priced at $38, without desserts. More than enough good food for that price. Topped that off with a masala tea.

Yesterday Peng Tiam messaged me out of the blue and asked if I would be free for lunch today.. at Samy’s restaurant. I was free and so lunch was on today.

He came with his wife. I didn’t realize that he is a regular there and he actually likes the food. He either eats in or orders takeaway.

Anyway he ordered quite a bit of food. What was interesting is that he was giving out ang pows to the staff there. And he does this every year. All of them approached him to collect their ang pow, including the boss, which I found very surprising.

We talked a bit over lunch re tariff strike down this morning, Epstein and racism. And of course he is so into family and togetherness, especially during CNY. Good for him.

He went off to take his afternoon nap. Both of them are firm believers of a nap and have been doing this since medical school days. Something to think about.

Joshua called me yesterday at about 1015 and asked if I was free to meet up with Dato Kamal. They were having breakfast at Madras Woodlands.

I rushed down and it was good catching up with Joshua, Dato Kamal and his wife.

He was part of MIC and he was in the Malaysian government for a number of years and so we spoke of Malaysian affairs quite a bit, including the economic profile of the different rates in Malaysia. Also of the drug problem and the possible impact of AI.

We spent more than an hour talking and we arranged to meet in KL on 4th March. Looking forward to that.

I had an onion rawa thosai, masala tea and a parukku payasam, which they only do on Fridays.

I woke up to the news this morning that the Supreme Court has stuck down practically all the tariffs imposed by Trump on Liberation Day and thereafter. This by a 6-3 majority ruling.

A major cornerstone of his economic policy and something he used to unilaterally threaten countries has now been put down.

Good for the 6 judges . Now he has to return the money and find money elsewhere to attempt to balance the budget. Good luck with that.

I was just perusing the BBC and the news flash was that Andrew had just been arrested and placed in custody in relation to a charge of misconduct in public office. And that on his 66th birthday.

I looked back at my posts and I noted that on 3 September 2025, I had written about the book Entitled, which was a devastating account of the life and (mis)deeds of the then Prince Andrew. Reading that book, I was appalled at the behavior of a royal who had blatantly misused his position to extract benefits of all kinds for himself.

In subsequent interviews, the author had then stated that it was, according to him, a matter of time before Andrew faced police investigations.

I didn’t think that would happen but the release a week back of a large tranche of the Epstein documents has implicated Andrew so much that it is no longer possible for anyone to protect him. Although I do wonder what would have happened if his mother was still alive. He was, after all, the Queen’s favourite child.

It is only a question of time before it will be the turn of Peter Mandelson.

Yesterday was the first day of the lunar new year. Started off the day at Kenny Hills with a coffee. They were of course open, as was every other shop there.

But what was pleasantly surprising was that the barista, servers and cashier, who were all Malays, were all, whilst wearing different clothes, were all in red, and wishing everyone a happy new year in a very sincere way. Such a pleasant and welcome surprise.

Later on I visited Pavilion where I caught with my colleague and his wife. The place was just so packed. Every shop was open and all the restaurants were full!

Of course I had to visit Hot Crush and have their egg tarts again. There was a queue, as always, but so yummy.

Today was my day of tests I had scheduled some time back. I was introduced to their National Heart Institute and after checking out their packages I picked the Heart Scan Package.

Cost me RM 2500. I arrived here early, just before 8am and just as well. Soon people started arriving after me. The registration for international patients started at 8 and took about 30 minutes.

Then it was off to the screening center where they took blood and ECG.

The main item for me was the CT scan calcium score and fill coronary artery. They needed to insert an IV line and just before the scan, they injected the dye. 3 times and it was painful and uncomfortable. Sigh. I now understand why people generally shun medical tests.. ignorance may be bliss?

All over by about 1pm. Decent service and a one stop service center. I think they will continue to attract medical tourists with their price point.