Festival City Mall

Festival City Mall. That's not a familiar name. It is actually a new mall near my place on what used to be a real busy junction. Now with the mall built, it is going to get extra busy there.

Located at the junction of Jalan Genting Kelang and Jalan Ibukota, the new landmark certainly rebooted the area. It used to be a row of sleepy shophouses, there. There was a mamak stall I used to visit back in 2003. I stopped going soon after since the area was kinda quiet, and kinda creepy during weekends and late evenings.

With the new apartments just round the corner, the place is becoming popular with newcomers to KL, the real working class and students from nearby college. The mall itself, although looked huge from the outside, is rather cramped when one gets in, with limited parking space. At the moment, only a single floor of parking was opened although you can take the premium spots at the entrance for RM8. Basically, you pay the fee and park the car yourself. Valet parking without the valet. Whatever!

The anchor tenant at the mall was Parkson. There were also place for groceries, although I did not venture there. I might just still prefer Jusco at Alpha Angle. The eateries were pretty decent with the main outlets having restaurants there, sushi, local food, fast food etc. I did not see a McDonald's or Starbucks there. Not sure if that is a good or a bad thing. They also did not haves large lobby. Just a small corner where they built a stage for promotion.

There is however an MBO Cineplex. And the top floor had a few shops selling copycat DVDs and other bootlegs. There was also a small electronics shop. Personally, I think the mall tried to do a bit of everything, but would end up struggling unless they sort out the groceries. That might be the main reason for families to come in. The same fate as AEON AU2 despite having Jusco as their main tenant. People prefer mall which are spacious, with easy access and plenty of parking. Like Alpha Angle and Wangsa Walk Mall where I live.

SOPA

I am not going to pretend that I am a legal expert, but I understood the implications of the enactment of the American Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). The way I see it, is a version of the American Patriot Act, suppressing flow of internet information in the case of SOPA - and its sister act, the Protect IP Act (PIPA), in the name of piracy - sort of like subjecting you to all this check points at airport in the name of stopping Terrorism.

Those wanting to abuse the internet would find a way to do it as the legislator would always be a couple of steps behind these perpetrator no matter how clever these legislators think they are, and at the end of the day, the general Internet Users would be the one paying the price, akin to us honest travelers getting searched at airports etc. You catch my drift.

It may not directly effect us at the end of the day, but the implications are going to be visible. The USA is certainly not in a great spot at the moment with the recent enactment of the NDAA by the Obama Administration - go and Google it yourself - but hang on - you may not be able too do so as the Internet would be censored.

Internet organizations had been doing a lot in waking up the public of these issues, and sites such as Flickr and Wikipedia were at the forefront. They have both blacked out their webpage for 24 hours while the American Congressmen vote on the Act.

CNY at Suria KLCC

When it comes to decorations, Suria KLCC should just sack their whoever is in charge and learn a thing or two from Pavilion. For a supposedly the main showpiece mall in the nation, they clearly need to put more effort in.

The main promenade should have been transformed with lantern or what not. But instead, it was left bare. And the effort they put in for the main foyer was akin to a task given to some high school kids, doing their mid term project. It was that disappointing and lame.

If I had my way, this area would have featured heavily as part of the CNY decorationsSuria KLCC has definitely lost their mojo as far as the festivity decorations were concerned. And before long, they would lose their prestige. But then again, one doubts if they really cared …….

Tennis Time

Time to chill after the morning clinic and what more can I ask but a quick coffee in front of the TV watching a spot of live tennis. What's on offer? Murray playing his first round match at the Aussie Open. A bit one-sided though.

I might just race things through and get out early as I have to sort out some stuff at the bank. But, on with the tennis first.

The Rivaroxaban Launch

I was invited for a product launch at the KL Convention Center on Saturday afternoon. In this day and age, such launch were getting few and far between. This was a new anticoagulants which I was involved in in the clinical trial back in 2006. It is a good product but damn expansive. Yes, I prescribed it to a couple of my current patients since they had budget for it, but I can't see it being used extensively in Malaysia since the alternative is far cheaper, as well as relatively well tolerated.

The Pharmaceutical Company certainly did not pull any punches at the launch, with the dinner reception being held at the Petroleum Club on the Twin Tower. I decided to give it a miss having been at the club a couple of times in the past. But why spent so much money on such reception. As far as the Company is concerned, this is an important drug with two other competing agents in the horizon. Should the product sells well, it is a potential gold mine. Therefore, I do understand why the company was banking so much on the launch.

Walking in the tunnel from Suria to the Convention CenterThis guy apparently supposed to present a blood clot.The product launch itself was full of gimmick. They had a drama troupe giving presentations and mingling around with the guest. A kind of performance art which would not look out of place at an art gallery. They had speaker coming from the States as well for good measure. Delegates from out of town also get to stay for the night at one of the hotel at the Golden Triangle. Not a bad deal all around eh. But unfortunately, such cost would eventually be passed on to the paying patients .....