New Perodua Axia Facelift 2017

Model kereta Perodua Axia 2017. Apa kata anda?

New Model Perodua Axia is a 2017 model or facelift Axia first upgrade since its launch on Sept 15, 2014. The best-selling car in Malaysia is trying to reenergize the popularity and sales through facelift model which will be launched soon.

It is common practice in the automotive industry as the facelift model will be released after the model aged 2 ~ 4 years before a new model is completely removed.

Whenever fecelift model is launched, it will definitely get a change to the exterior design, interior and specification ... But sometimes there is no change was already ...

What about the New Model Perodua Axia (facelift) 2017? Are changes in exterior, interior and specification offered by Perodua? Is it more interesting and powerful and worth?

Axia 2017

Here are the additions, changes and differences in exterior, interior and specification of New Perodua Axia (facelift) 2017 (to be updated when it is launched later - is expected to January 20, 2017)

* Using the new engine the same as the 1.0-liter Bezza 1KR-VE equipped with VVT-i system
* Maximum engine power increased by 1 hp and 1 Nm, making it a whole 67 hp at 6,000 rpm and 91 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm.
* The fuel consumption better - 22.5 km / l compared to previously 21.6 km / l (manual transmission)
* Smart key system
* Engine starter button (start-stop push button) for Advance and SE variants.
* Front grille and bumper with a new design for all variants
* New rear door handle,
* Graphic new seat fabric
* Front projector lamps for all variants.
* Axia Standard-G also now comes with a USB slot for playing audio files.
* Axia SE and Advance Furthermore, it is also coupled with a multimedia system with 'Smart Link' (for android only), chrome plated outer door handles, alloy wheels, spiral-shaped, and the new combination meter with white.

Variants And Price

Here is a list of official prices Perodua Axia New 2017 (facelift) according to each variant (All prices stated are the street price including insurance, warranty 5 years / 150,000 and there is no difference in price for the model is solid and metallic on the line this facelift model):

* 1.0L Perodua Axia Standard E (Manual) - RM24,900 (RM463 more expensive than ever RM24,437-RM24,837)
* Perodua Axia G 1.0L Standard (Manual) - RM34,900 (RM2,773 more expensive than ever RM32,127-RM32,527)
* 1.0L Perodua Axia Standard G (Automatic) - RM36,900 (RM1,773 more expensive than ever RM35,127-RM35,527).
* BPerodua Axia 1.0L SE (Manual) - RM37,900 (RM1,263 more expensive than ever RM36,637-RM37,037)
* Perodua Axia 1.0L SE (Automatic) - RM39,900 (model with solid paint metallic RM263 RM137 more expensive but cheaper than the old price RM41,967-RM42,377).
* 1.0L Perodua Axia Advance (Automatic) - 42,900 ringgit (RM1933 ​​higher than the price previously RM41,967-RM42,377)

Axia facelift model appears not only changed shape and specification but also the increase of the sales price!

Although Perodua reason that the price increase had to be made due to the depreciation of the ringgit but not the new engine and transmission are manufactured in NILAI , N.Sembilan?

New Colour of  Perodua Axia 2017 (facelift)

Lava Red
Midnight Blue
Ebony Black
Glittering Silver
Sunflower Yellow (solid)
Ivory White (solid)

Review

If viewed from the changes and improvements to the design, nothing too exciting except Perodua is not stingy with the same headlight (halogen) for all variants!

Front grill also maintain the identity of the new Perodua Perodua model was introduced in Bezza. However bumper design for the Advance model / SE looks exactly like the Honda Jazz.

Switch on the back, just a small change of the bonnet door handle designed to ease a result of user complaints before. Perodua seemed too stingy to change the design of the rear lights and bumper Axia.

No changes to the interior design. Exchange kinds of fabrics and accessories have not been able to slightly increase a touch of freshness exciting for Axia's Facelift 2017.

However, the most disappointing, even though prices are expensive but there is no change or an increase in the safety! Remain the same as before, where there is still no ESC or VSC.

However, given directly to the ABS brakes Standard variant G up and there in front dual airbags to achieve recognition of ASEAN NCAP four star.

In view of the BM, only the exchange of engines, headlights and front grill that can really highlight the new Perodua Axia 2017 (Facelift) this.

How to Make DIY Ejuice

Cara untuk membuat Vape Juice, Eliquid atau Ejuice. Saya akan taip entry ni dalam versi English agar rakan-rakan seluruh dunia dpt sama-sama manfaatnya.

A lot of vaping community wonder how to make vape juice or eliquid but are usually put off by the idea that it is an overwhelming and tedious process. Making DIY e-juice, on the contrary, is very simple, easy, cost-effective, and fun. In fact, it’s just is a matter of five simple steps:

Pick a recipe
Get ingredients: Natural flavorings, PG/VG base, and nicotine
Mix the ingredients
Steep
Enjoy n vape it
That’s all you need to know to make your DIY e-juice.

But if you want to make e-juice that not only tastes great enough that you can proudly share with your friends, but also save you some dough in the process, then read on.

WHAT IS EJUICE aka ELIQUID

E-Liquid or ejuice is a simple combination of a base that usually consists of vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG), flavorings and nicotine being an optional ingredient. You may also use some additives to further enhance the taste of your e-liquid. Once these ingredients are mixed, and the e-juice is ready, you can fill it up in the tank of your personal vaporizer and enjoy fresh, homebrewed vape.

WHY YOU NEED TO DIY EJUICE aka ELIQUID

Yeah, why go through all the hassle when you can get your favorite e-juice, from the comfort of your couch with a few mouse clicks?

Because it can save you up to whopping 15 times as compared to buying commercial e-juices.

Let me explain. A 30ml bottle of a good quality e-juice will cost you $15 or more, and we aren’t even considering the shipping costs. On the other hand, the DIY e-juice will cost you about $5 per 30ml bottle. However, if you're making in larger quantities, it may cost you as low as $1 for 30ml of high-quality, totally personalized e-juice.

Want another compelling reason to make DIY vape juice?

Well, with commercially produced e-juices, you’re never 100% sure what’s in the juice as many manufacturers try to conceal the actual ingredients. But when you make it yourself, you know each and every ingredient going into the juice, and can choose only the top-quality stuff that is good for your health.

WHO SHOULD MAKE EJUICE

If you are an occasional vaper, you probably are better off buying commercially produced ejuice. However, if you believe you're spending a lot of money on your vape juice, or you think you have a recipe for a never-before-made e-juice that will taste great, then definitely go for it. The process is easy and, if done right, can be fun and you might end up making the best tasting ejuice ever to become a celebrity.

Okay now let's get down to business.

THE EQUIPMENT

Since e-juices are a very specific type of fluids, you’ll need specific equipment. But the good thing is that everything you’ll need can be easily found online as well as in stores, and is very cheap. First of all, you will need empty plastic bottles with the childproof cap. These bottles will be used to store and mix your ejuice contents. We recommend plastic bottles because using them once and then discarding afterward is more convenient than having to clean the expensive glass bottles.

While you can use the so-called “drops counting method” for measuring the ingredients, but for better and more accurate measurements, you should get a separate syringe for each type of ingredient. Mark the syringes and always use them after cleaning with distilled water for the same ingredient so the flavor doesn’t get contaminated.

The biggest issue with drops counting method is that volume of the drops depends on so many external factors which you can’t control that there is always some variation no matter how hard you try. Especially if you are making your liquid in smaller quantities, drop counting method can result in extremely varying results.

 Also considering investing in a pair of gloves, especially if you're going to use nicotine. You probably already know that nicotine patches work really well for smoking cessation by instantly fulfilling your nicotine cravings. They are in direct contact with your skin and your body absorbs nicotine quickly through the skin. So if you accidentally spill even a little bit of nicotine on your hands, you’ll get one heck of a head rush.

THE INGREDIENT

PG / VG BASE

First, you will need to create your base for the vape juice which normally consists of PG and VG.

PG is a federally approved colorless, odorless organic chemical compound found in a variety of products such as food, tobacco, and certain medical products. PG does not really impact the overall flavor of the e-liquid but can offer an increased throat hit.

On the other hand, VG is derived from natural sources such as vegetables and is more viscous than the PG. It usually adds a little sweetness the overall flavor so be careful when adding VG. Since VG is thicker, it produces thicker, more visible plumes of vapor. VG is an FDA approved product and is used in several foods, e-liquids, and cosmetics.

Although it depends on the recipe of your vape juice, usually anything between 50/50 and 80/20 VG/PG blend is used as a base.

DILUTED NICOTINE

Try to find good quality, food grade nicotine that comes with either PG or VG base.  Although nicotine is available in a variety of strengths, you will need to experiment a little to find your sweet spot for the ideal nicotine level. It is recommended to start with the lower strength/volume than suggested by your recipe and then go up from there to find what works best for your recipe.

Adding too much nicotine can ruin the whole e-liquid.

FLAVOURING

You will need to add one of more flavorings to your home-made e-liquid. Remember one thing, a flavorless e-juice is better than an e-juice that has too much flavor. Therefore, just like nicotine, you should use a lower amount of flavoring than recommended and then add more until you get the desired taste. Choosing flavorings can be tough because there is such a wide variety available go on the market but do your homework, read about how different flavors work and then experiment yourself. Moreover, usually the temptation is to add more flavors together, but this can really make an end product that tastes totally different from what you expected. This is why we suggest starting with as few flavors as possible, and then experimenting with more as you get a hang of it. It all depends on your recipe, but ideal mixes contain about 10 to 20% of flavoring, while some of them are so strong that you will be good with adding only 5% flavor.

Always use food grade, high-temperature resistant, water soluble flavorings. Also, there are some flavorings specially made for inhaling, which make an ideal choice or making DIY e-juices. However, never go for flavorings that are only ideal for room temperature resistance, or contain oils or sugar because they are not suitable for vaping in a personal vape.

ADDITIVES

To further enhance the taste of your ejuice, you may add some mentholated liquids, sweets, vodka, or just distilled water. But don’t use tap water as it can contain chemicals which may not be suitable for inhaling.

Adding additives can either make or break your ejuice so be careful with too much experimenting.

THE RECIPE

The recipe is simple once you have all of your required ingredients ready. Mix them in the bottles, and shake well.

For beginners, using recipes can be hard as they may state ingredients in volume or strengths, so getting perfect measurements can be a tough row to hoe. This issue can be solved using online calculators that can help you find out the right amount of the ingredients to put in your e liquid. Make sure to use clean syringes for accurate measurements.

STEEPING PROCESS

Steeping is a magical yet very simple process that can improve the overall taste of your e juice.  Basically, it is a process that oxidizes the components of the liquid and helps them blend in. Pretty much like aged wine, steeped e liquid will taste much better and smoother than a fresh one. The oxidation actually lets the volatile compounds like alcohol replaced by less volatile components like oxygen. At the end of the process the harsh, perfume-like taste is replaced by a smoother, more pleasant flavor. Also, at the end of steeping, the color of the e-juice also changes and usually becomes darker. That is a clear signal that your e-juice has steeped properly.

The traditional, old-school method of steeping involves letting the bottles containing the fluid sit in a dark, dry place for a few days. You may occasionally uncap the bottles to let the vaporized ingredients escape the bottle, then put the cap back again and let them sit in their regular place.

While this process can take a few days or even weeks, innovative vaping souls have figured out several approaches that expedite steeping and finish the process in a few days or even hours.

All of the developed methods involve heating your e juice one way or another so that molecules in the fluid start moving at a faster pace, make the different components mix faster and let oxygen get in. Some of the commonly used techniques are giving your plastic bottles a warm water bath, putting them in a Ziploc and then tossing them in a slow cooker full of water, wrapping them in old socks and throwing them in a dryer, leaving them in the glove box of your car on a warm day, or even using a microwave.  With most processes, when the e-liquid gets hot, you shake it, remove the cap and let it cool down before repeating the whole process again. If you are using a microwave, don’t leave the bottles in for more than 10 seconds, then take them out, shake them, and let them cool down before throwing them in again. I know some people who leave the e liquid bottles right next to the exhaust fan of their laptop, though it’s a slow and very limited approach as you can steep just a few bottles at a time.

In my personal opinion, the approach that yields the best taste is the traditional method, however, you’ll have to wait much longer.

TIPS TO MAKE TASTING DIY ELIQUID

Depending on what kind of e-juice you want, you’ll need to adjust the number of your ingredients as well as the process itself. While it will be some trial and error for you to figure out what really floats your boat, here are a few tips and tricks to help you get started on the right foot:

Always note down every single measurement and every single step you took to make your ejuice. Make sure you don’t skip any details, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. It often happens that people make great tasting e-liquids, but can never replicate it because they don't remember the exact ratios of the ingredients or the exact steps that they took.
If you like bigger, thicker vapor clouds or want to enjoy sub-ohm vaping, add more VG (for instance use 80/20 VG/PG ratio)

If you want a more intense throat hit or prefer stealth vaping, add more PG
Don't make e-juices in huge amounts as you could end up wasting a lot of money in case your e-juice doesn’t taste good. Likewise, you don’t want to get stuck on vaping something that taste bad. Also, don't go for very small amounts as using ingredients in small amounts leave you a very little margin of error and even the tiniest of variations can have a considerable impact on the overall e-juice.
Using too much nicotine can be toxic. Use caution when handling nicotine and make sure that it is always out of reach of children and pets.

Remember, nicotine is almost always listed in a number of milligrams per millimeter of the liquid. It means that if you have a 20ml bottle of 18mg nicotine, it will have (20*18) 360mg of nicotine. In other words, 18mg is not the total amount of nicotine in the bottle but rather it is the amount per milliliter.
Experiment with different ingredient ratios, play around with your steeping, and most importantly have fun. And if you do end up making a great-tasting e-juice, share the recipe as well as the juice with your friends to help them keep from smoking.

Big Tobacco Asks FDA to Ban Tanks and Mods to Protect Public Health

Big Tobacco Asks FDA to Ban Tanks and Mods to Protect Public Health

If you didn’t think Big Tobacco companies could stoop any lower, get ready for a wake up call. This week we witnessed the ultimate hypocrisy as cigarette giant Reynolds American sent a 119-page document to the FDA, urging regulators to ban open-system electronic cigarettes. The reason? They are a threat to public health.

While Reynolds American reported $1.2 million in gross profits from their tobacco products last quarter, they are now suddenly concerned about America’s health. This newfound worry for health is more than a little strange considering that the tobacco giant directly contributes to 5 million smoking-related deathseach year. Even so, Reynolds American isn’t too concerned about people smoking their Camel cigarettes, but they insist that vaping mods are simply too risky.

Spokesman David Howard candidly spoke about the tobacco company’s petition to the FDA. “We believe the FDA should not allow such products to be sold or marketed,” he said. “We believe open system vapor products create unique public health risks.” At the same time, Howard failed to mention how the company’s own products are contributing to numerous fatalities.

“These (ecig) systems are highly subject to adulteration and tampering, they are manufactured largely overseas in facilities that would, as proposed, fall outside regulatory inspection and oversight, and many nicotine liquids are sold in non-child-resistant packaging in flavors that may be appealing to youth,” Howard said.

Anyone with knowledge of the tobacco industry has to wonder how the executives of Reynolds American can sleep at night after making such remarks. How many of their cigarette packs are made with child-resistant packaging? How often does their notable mascot “Joe the Camel” appeal to youth?

In reality, Reynolds is more concerned with the risk to their bottom line than the actual health of Americans. Gregory Conley, president of the American Vaping Association, summed it up quite nicely: “RJ Reynolds calls for the FDA to ban the majority of e-cigarette products should be seen fro what it really is – an admission that it simply cannot compete in the current e-cigarette market,” he said. “Recent market reports show that while sales of open-system e-cigarette products and e-liquid are booming, sales of closed-system cigarette lookalikes – the kind that Reynolds sells – have stagnated.”

There is no denying that Reynolds is looking closely at the ecig market with the recent gradual launch of its own ecig called Vuse. Reynolds executive Susan Cameron said Vuse would be a “game changer” for the ecig industry. She claimed that many smokers weren’t satisfied with today’s standard cig-a-like models and that is why many turn to tank style devices.

“The growth of those is driven by the consumer’s desire to get satisfaction. If you’re not getting satisfaction out of the e-cigarette format because you’re not getting the nicotine that you want, then if you go to those tanks, you can figure out how much nicotine you want, right. You fill it yourself,” Cameron explained.

She went on to say that even as tanks are growing in popularity among former smokers, they are “really not appropriate”. She claimed that allowing consumers to fill their own tanks opened the door for a lot of potentially illegal activity. “People are putting a lot of things other than nicotine into these pipes,” she alleged. Cameron said some e-liquids even contain cannabis.

“Second of all, if you really load a lot of nicotine into a pipe, and there is nothing to stop a kid from picking it up, this is not good,” she said. “So we believe that closed systems are the way that regulators should evolve.”

Since when is big tobacco so concerned with keeping nicotine away from children? Since when is big tobacco concerned about public health whatsoever?

The History of Electronic Cigarettes

The History of Electronic Cigarettes

A Timeline 

2003: The electronic cigarette is first developed in Beijing, China by Hon Lik, a 52 year old pharmacist, inventor and smoker. He invents the device after his father, also a heavy smoker, dies of lung cancer. The company Lik worked for, Golden Dragon Holdings, developed the device and changed their name to Ruyan, which means "like smoke."

April 2006: Electronic cigarettes introduced to Europe
2006-2007: Electronic cigarettes introduced to the U.S.
September 2008: The World Health Organization proclaims that it does not consider the electronic cigarette to be a legitimate smoking cessation aid, and demand that marketers immediately remove from their materials any suggestions that the WHO considers electronic cigarettes safe and effective

October 2008: In a study funded by Ruyan, Health New Zealand conducts a detailed quantitative analysis and concludes that carcinogens and toxicants are present only below harmful levels. Overall, the product tested was deemed a "safe alternative to smoking." http://www.healthnz.co.nz/DublinEcigBenchtopHandout.pdf

January 2009: Australia bans the possession and sale of electronic cigarettes which contain nicotine, citing that "every form of nicotine except for replacement therapies and cigarettes are classified as a form of poison."

March 2009: FDA adds electronic cigarettes to Import Alert 66-41 and directed the USCBP to reject the entry of electronic cigarettes into the United States.
March 2009: Canada bans the sale, advertising and import of electronic cigarettes and Health Canada advises Canadians not to purchase or use them, claiming they contain a "known irritant" (Propylene Glycol) March 2009: FDA notifies Smoking Everywhere that their shipments have been refused entry into the U.S. TheFDA purports that electronic cigarettes "appears to be a combination drug-device product that requires preapproval, registration and listing with the FDA.

May 2009: Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) files a petition to the FDA, calling for FDA regulation of electronic cigarettes ecigpetition
April 2009: Smoking Everywhere files a federal complaint seeking an injunction against the FDA with respect to the FDA's attempts to ban the import of Electronic Cigarettes. Smoking Everywhere contends that the FDA has no authority over electronic cigarettes, as they are a "tobacco product" and the FDA's attempt to regulate them infringes on Congress's intent to withhold FDA jurisdiction over tobacco products. They contend that electronic cigarettes are not "drugs," "drug delivery systems," or "drug device combinations" under 21 U.S.C 321(g). Smoking Everywhere Verified Complaint

May 2009: Njoy joins Smoking Everywhere lawsuit against FDA
May 2009: The Electronic Cigarette Association is formed. The ECA is a trade association made up of electronic cigarette producers, distributors and retailers, whose aim is to speak on behalf of the electronic cigarette industry, especially in response to health concerns, and to help institute industry standards. The group is headquartered in Washington, D.C. Its president and spokesman is former United States congressman Matt Salmon.

 May 2009: FDA tests 2 brands of electronic cigarettes, Njoy & Smoking Everywhere. 18 catridges are tested. Tests reveal trace amounts of cancer-causing nitrosamines. One cartridge contains 1% diethylene glycol, a toxic substance. Cartridges labeled as 0mg nicotine are shown to contain nicotine. Evaluation e Cigarettes
June 2009: President Obama signs into law the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act 18, giving the FDA the power to regulate the tobacco industry. Although nicotine and cigarettes as a whole cannot be banned outright, flavoring such as fruit or mint can. Additionally, new tobacco products seeking to enter the market will be required to meet FDA pre-market standards, which could affect electronic cigarette regulation.
June 2009: Panama bans the importation, distribution and sale of electronic cigarettes.
July 2009: FDA files a supplimental brief, in the Smoking Everywhere lawsuit, referencing the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The FDA contends that it still has authority over electronic cigarettes and they stand behind the decision to label it a drug-device combination and that the "FDA found, after examining the product, the claims made in the product labeling, and information SE submitted to FDA, that SE’s product met the definition of both a drug and device under the FDCA." http://www.fda.gov/downloads/NewsEve.../UCM173191.pdf
July 2009: Two months after testing, the FDA issues a press release discouraging the use of electronic cigarettes and repeating previously stated concerns that electronic cigarettes may be marketed to young people, lack appropriate health warnings and that they contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze. Electronic Cigarettes
July 2009: FDA's May 2009 study is reviewed by scientific consulting firm Exponent, Inc., in a report commissioned by Njoy. Some of the criticisms in Exponent's report are poor standards of documentation and analysis and failure to perform relevant comparisons to FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy products, which Exponent claims contain TSNA levels comparable to those of electronic cigarettes. The study concludes that the FDA's claims of potential adverse health effects were not supported by the study. http://www.njoythefreedom.com/contac...%20Summary.pdf

August 2008: The State of Oregon files two settlements that prevent two national travel store chains, Pilot Travel Centers and TA Operating, from selling Njoy electronic cigarettes. In addition, the company must give the Attorney General advance notice that they intend to sell electronic cigarettes in Oregon, provide copies of all electronic cigarette advertising, and provide copies of the scientific studies they maintain substantiates their claims. Njoy voluntarily stops all sales in Oregon. http://www.doj.state.or.us/releases/...el073009.shtml
 August 2008: Oregon Attorney General John Kroger files a lawsuit against Smoking Everywhere, alleging that the Florida-based “electronic cigarette” company made false health claims about its nicotine delivery device and targeted children with sweet flavors. Smoking everywhere refuses to settle.

September 2009: California passes a bill to ban the sales of electronic cigarettes in the state. Governor Schwarzenegger vetoes the bill stating, "If adults want to purchase and consume these products with an understanding of the associated health risks, they should be able to do so unless and until federal law changes the legal status of these tobacco products."

 October 2009: Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association forms and board members elected. The organization is made up of both consumers and retailers, with the mission to ensure the availability of effective, affordable and reduced harm alternatives to smoking by increasing public awareness and education; to encourage the testing and development of products to achieve acceptable safety standards and reasonable regulation; and to promote the benefits of reduced harm alternatives. CASAA | The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association

October 2009: UK ASH recognizes that products should be made available that deliver nicotine in a safe way, without the harmful components found in tobacco, but those attempting to quit should use conventional NRTs. http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_715.pdf

December 2009: New Jersey State legislators pass a bill including electronic cigarettes in the state's public smoking ban.
December 2009: Njoy announces it is discontinuing, in the U.S., the availability of all flavors except its traditional tobacco flavor and menthol. The move aligns the flavors offered by NJOY with those allowed for combustible tobacco cigarettes under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Hon Lik is the man that started it all. Over 65 percent of Chinese men smoke (according 2002 research), and he and his father were no different. Hon Lik was inspired to create e-cigarettes after a dream he had in 2000. His throat was clogged; he coughed and wheezed, feeling as though he was drowning. The water he found himself immersed in suddenly vaporized into a fog. He filed the patent in 2003, giving one of the first electronic cigarette prototypes to his dying father. Sadly, it was too late for him, but Hon was able to make the switch and hopefully spare himself the same fate. None of this would be possible without Hon Lik.

Proton Saga SV

The Saga SV, the acronym standing for Super Value, becomes the cheapest Proton currently available. A Proton spokesman said it is not meant as a replacement for the FLX Standard variant, which from RM38,361 (manual, solid), comes with additional minor kit such as first aid kit, safety triangle, tinted windows, luggage tray, door visor and trunk lid cover. Incidentally, the more eagle-eyed will notice that the car features both FLX and SV badging on the tailgate. The car is part of the Saga FLX model range, but will simply be known as the Saga SV. To those curious as to the whereabouts of the “FLX+” that was part of the ASEAN NCAP phase one testing programme, it’s likely an internal code to designate the improvements made to the range, of which the Saga SV is part of. The car is ASEAN NCAP three-star rated, and features a number of safety improvements. It now features two airbags, and both front and rear impact aspects have been upped – the front features a new bumper beam and additional reinforcement, while the rear bumper gets packed with foam. Also on, a reinforcement “V” bar in the rear bulkhead that separates the boot from the cabin. The front door also features side impact reinforcement bars, while the centre pillar has also been strengthened. All these safety improvements have been implemented across the entire Saga FLX range, with some being quietly introduced some months back. The rear centre lap seatbelt has been replaced with a three-point seatbelt, and the front seatbelts now have pre-tensioners. The Saga SV also features a child restraint anchorage for the rear seats. No mechanical changes to the powertrain – the car is equipped with the same 94 hp and 120 Nm 1.3 litre CamPro IAFM mill as found on the rest of the FLX range. Equipment on the Saga SV includes a single-DIN CD player, reverse sensor and 13-inch steel wheels. On the exterior, the SV goes the same route as the FLX Standard, with unpainted door handles and side mirror covers and no fog lamps. The rear garnish is now unpainted while the tail pipe finisher has been removed. With that, let’s get to the pricing – the Proton Saga SV is available in both manual and CVT versions; the manual goes for RM33,438 (solid) and RM33,888 (metallic), while the CVT is priced at RM36,438 (solid) and RM36,888 (metallic), all on-the-road with insurance. That’s almost RM5,000 cheaper than the FLX Standard 1.3, the previous entry-level Saga. At the launch, the company took great pains to reiterate the point made by Proton deputy CEO Datuk Lukman Ibrahim earlier in the week, which was that the Saga SV’s low price was achieved through value analysis and engineering, with no cut in safety, quality and comfort. Proton said that the new price is not a margin cutting exercise, nor is it a promotion, discount or a rebate. Six colours are available for the car, these being Solid White, Elegant Brown, Tranquility Black, Fire Red (previously exclusive to the Saga 1.6 SE), Genetic Silver and Blue Rock. The Proton Saga SV comes with a three-year/100,000 km warranty.

A South African court has blocked the government from buying 11 million female condoms from China, saying they are too small.

The finance ministry had awarded a contract to a firm called Siqamba Medical, which planned to buy the Phoenurse condoms from China, reports AFP, quoting the Beeld newspaper.

A rival firm, Sekunjalo Investments Corporation, turned to the High Court in Pretoria after losing the bid, arguing that their condoms were 20 per cent larger than the Chinese ones.

Judge Sulet Potterill blocked the deal with Siqamba, ruling that the condoms were too small, made from the wrong material, and were not approved by the World Health Organisation, the paper said.


Source: Agencies

Firefly to blink from budget to full-service under tie-up

News for today... no more tambang murah hehehhe..

Firefly to blink from budget to full-service under tie-up
By Lee Wei Lian
August 09, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 — Travellers hoping for continued fare wars between Firefly and AirAsia will likely be disappointed after today’s announcement that the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) subsidiary will be redesigned as a full service regional carrier.
This was one of the outcomes of the strategic collaboration inked today between the government’s investment holding company Khazanah which controls MAS and unlisted Tune Air which controls AirAsia.

“Firefly’s resources would be refocused to launch a new regional full service airline operation,” said MAS chairman Tan Sri Mohd Nor Yusof.

The move renders AirAsia as Malaysia’s only major airline operating in the budget or value segment.

MAS had since last year used Firefly to compete against AirAsia, launching competitively priced flights from KL to East Malaysia and adopting the same low cost model such as charging for meals on board.