KUALA LUMPUR: This festive season, city dwellers might notice the lack of Chinese New Year decorations on the streets, particularly the absence of red beaming lanterns.

Even though the much-celebrated festival is just four days away, some of the prominent and well-known streets in the city like those in the Bukit Bintang (Golden Triangle) area are without any festive decorations.

It also seems that the number of lanterns in the city has fallen when compared with previous years.

KUALA LUMPUR: When baby Wong Wai Jing was born in December 2008 - after a decade of being a frozen embryo - her birth was believed to be a miracle and a record of sorts.

Now, the 14 months infant and her 47-year old mother have been officially recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records for the phenomenal feat.

Wai Jing, a cute 11kg toddler, has been listed as the female offspring of the first embryo frozen for the longest duration while her mother, June Tan, has been listed for gestating the first embryo frozen for the longest duration.

KUALA LUMPUR: Etihad Airways is poised for consolidation and recovery this year, apart from building its reputation and continuous innovation to live up to its "World’s Leading Airline" tagline.

Etihad Airways' country manager for Malaysia, Adam Phillips, told Mail Money in an interview that the airline plans to rebuild in 2010 what it lost in 2009 and with hopes to break even in 2011.

IN an effort to improve its system to its clientèle, Socso (Social  Security Organisation) has made the first Thursday of every month the meet-the-client day at all 46 of its offices nationwide. If the first Thursday falls on a public holiday, the programme will be held on Thursday the following week.

The problem dates back to 2008 when he received his July 2008 TM bill of RM122.65, and he then paid RM122.65 online via Maybank2u on Aug 20, 2008.

PETALING JAYA: A broken signboard was hanging precariously early yesterday at Exit 227, which is the Jalan Barat intersection along the Federal Highway.

Motorists heading towards the Asia Jaya LRT station or those manoeuvring up the highway ramp felt the jitters when passing underneath — as a chunk of the signboard was clearly on the verge of falling off.

IN conjunction with its 'Assessment Tax Payer Month' campaign, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will open six payment counters at the following shopping centres, from Feb 1 to 28.

The venues and operating hours, are as follows:

TAN of Petaling Jaya alleges that Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) has "manipulated" her bills to strike out her credit balance.

"The actual meter readings on my bill dated Sept 2 last year was at 416 to 426 but the Syabas statement recorded 416 to 438. I was billed 22m3 at RM14.38," she claims, adding that these errors were not rectified  even after she lodged a complaint.

"I am a regular commuter of RapidKL's Kelana Jaya Line and, along with many fellow passengers, were upset when we had to wait almost 45 minutes to get into the train at the Wangsa Maju station," says the 25-year-old accountant.

KALWANT of Petaling Jaya is upset that he was unable to renew the fire insurance for his three-storey shoplot
with the same insurers.

Last year, he bought the policy from Allianz Malaysia Berhad and the period covered was from Jan 16, 2009, to Jan 15 this year.

"In May 2009, my shoplot in Section 52, PJ, which was rented to a restaurant, caught fire. I filed a claim with Allianz, and received about RM137,000 in compensation.

JOHN of Batu Caves, Selangor, claims that Malaysia Airlines (MAS) was negligent with his baggage.

On Dec 17 last year, he and his wife checked in two luggage and took a MAS flight from Kuala Lumpur to Mumbai, India.

"At Mumbai, we collected our luggage and it seemed to be wet from the outside. When we opened the luggage, we found that everything inside was soaking wet – our clothes, shoes, food items and Christmas presents for our loved ones," says John who spoke to Hotline on Jan 17.

LIM of Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya is upset that her Jan 11 written complaint to Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) concerning her newly purchased suitcase that was damaged by a sticky tag pasted on it, has not resulted in a quick response.

"On Dec 30 at the airport in Miri, Sarawak, I checked in my new leather suitcase and took a flight to Mulu.

WILLIAM of Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, is wondering if he has to attend court in Tapah, Perak, after getting a summons recently.

"I was driving to Tapah on Jan 13 and there was a road block by the Road Transport Department (RTD). An officer informed me that my road tax expired on Jan 10 and I was issued a summons.

ONNY of Taman Seri Keramat, Kuala Lumpur, alleges a breach of ethics by car repossessors  from a financial institution.

According to him, repossessors of AmBank (M) Berhad showed up at his house on the morning of Jan 11 when they forcibly moved his car that was parked outside the front gate and triggered the car's alarm.

ONNY claims the repossessors proceeded to hook up the car to a tow truck without informing him of what was happening.

"Last month, I sent my car to a workshop in Bandar Baru Bangi to rectify a squeaky sound from the car engine area," he says.

BERNIE of Petaling Jaya is perturbed by the menace of mosquitoes at her residential area in Section 17.

"Whenever I lodge a complaint, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) would fog the area but unfortunately, the problems still persist," she says.

BERNIE claims she also sent her complaint to the Public Complaints Bureau and that the bureau had forwarded a letter to MBPJ on the matter.

"Surely there is a way to eliminate this recurring problem in my area once and for all."

AVI of Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, claims he and many of the owners of the 162 units at the Mutiara Sentul Condominium in Jalan Sentul, have been waiting for refunds of their Bulk Water Meter deposits of more than two years.