Murmurs from the Heart

Returning to Sushi Chef and found shrink-flation

2026-10-20T22:55:48.146+11:00

Unfortunately, food quality keeps dropping and its price keeps increasing, aka the phenomenon called 'shrinkflation'.

We went to Sushi Chef in Victoria Park. It was pretty good when it first opened, but then it went downhill over time. Still ok but not as great.

Point to Ponder: The French Way of Improving Education

2026-10-18T10:30:30.065+11:00

Meanwhile, in France, students are demanding better classrooms, more teachers and improved learning conditions.

Most of these “students” appear to be rather mature, dressed entirely in black, with balaclavas covering their faces.

Their innovative approach to improving education? Burning public buildings, smashing shops and attacking police.

And, for good measure, waving Palestinian flags. Because apparently, no campaign for better French classrooms is complete without a statement on the Middle East.

Well, if you can't improve the classroom, burn down the buildings.

It's a lesson in economics. You bring your points forward loud and clear. Somebody else will have to pay for the rebuilding. But then again, that money could have paid for a few teachers.

You Can’t Feed a Family with an Environmental Slogan

2026-10-11T16:55:36.840+11:00

If you have lived in Malaysia (like me) or Singapore, you know the routine. The neighbouring country's forests burn. The haze arrives. People breathe polluted air. Governments express concern. Eventually, the rain comes and everyone moves on.

Until it happens again.

After decades of this, surely we should ask why.

Burning is cheap. It clears land quickly for farming and plantations. The people who benefit do not bear the full cost. Everyone else pays through polluted air, damaged health and a degraded environment.

Businesses that profit from destructive clearing deserve scrutiny. So do governments that tolerate it. Responsibility cannot end with the poor person holding the match while those organising and profiting from the clearing remain comfortably out of sight.

But there is another question—one directed at anyone demanding that the burning stop.

What are you offering the people who depend on it?

Put yourself in their position. You have little money, limited opportunities and a family to feed. Burning is the cheapest available way to prepare your land, or clearing someone else’s land is the work available to you.

Someone tells you to protect the forest.

Fine. How will you earn your living?

That question deserves a serious answer. A worthy cause does not make the economics of survival disappear.

Environmental groups have campaigned against the haze. Yet decades later, the problem persists. Campaigning matters, but so does whether people can afford to make the choices being demanded of them.

An environmental movement that treats wealth creation i.e capitalism, as the enemy risks leaving people dependent on the very activities it condemns.

Wealth creates room to choose. A better job gives you the ability to refuse dangerous work. Savings give you time to consider alternatives. A viable business gives you a future beyond whatever pays today.

These are among the strongest arguments for capitalism: enterprise, opportunity and the ability to improve your circumstances.

So if environmentalists reject wealth creation, what credible route out of destructive subsistence are they offering?

You cannot demand that people abandon their livelihoods and treat the creation of better livelihoods as someone else’s problem.

This does not excuse businesses that exploit poverty. Quite the opposite. People with few alternatives are easier to exploit. Give them better opportunities and you weaken the power of those relying on their desperation.

Nor does wealth automatically make anyone environmentally responsible. A wealthy business can still choose to destroy a forest for profit. That is why accountability matters alongside opportunity.

But there is nothing environmentally virtuous about keeping people poor. Poverty can make tomorrow’s environmental damage less urgent than today’s meal.

How many people would still choose dirty, dangerous and destructive work if they had a realistic opportunity to earn more doing something better?

If your environmental vision depends on people staying poor and accepting fewer opportunities, do not be surprised when they reject it.

You want them to put down the match. Help make another choice possible.

The government takes the credit. Who pays the wage?

2026-10-11T13:37:17.794+11:00

Malaysia’s announcement that its minimum wage will rise from RM1,700 to RM2,000 a month makes an attractive headline. Workers get a promised pay rise. Politicians get to say they are fighting for the working class.

But the government is not paying those private-sector wages. Employers are.

It is politically convenient generosity: announce the benefit, collect the credit and send someone else the bill.

The harder question is whether workers end up better off—or simply more expensive to employ.

A government can raise the legal price of labour with a signature. It cannot raise its productivity the same way.

If skills, tools and output remain unchanged, a mandated wage increase adds cost without necessarily creating more value. Businesses must absorb it through lower profits, higher prices, fewer hours or fewer hires. Some may invest in automation instead.

The cost does not disappear because the announcement earns applause.

And it does not necessarily stay with the employer. Customers may pay more. Existing workers may receive fewer hours. Prospective workers may find fewer opportunities.

The pay rise is visible. The job that never gets created is not.

The first rung becomes harder to reach

For an inexperienced worker, a first job is more than a payslip. It is where they learn to work, develop skills and build a record that makes someone else willing to hire them.

Initially, they may need substantial supervision. The employer is paying for their time while investing in their development.

Raise the required wage, and that calculation changes. Why take a chance on an untested beginner when an experienced worker costs the same?

That creates an uncomfortable situation: a policy intended to protect vulnerable workers can make them less employable.

We tell young people to gain experience, then make it more expensive for someone to give them that experience.

A lower-paid starting point need not be a permanent destination. It can be the first step towards something better. Removing that step does not help someone climb.

The real minimum is ZERO

A minimum wage does not guarantee a minimum income. It guarantees a minimum rate for someone who secures covered employment.

For someone who cannot get hired, employment income is zero.

That distinction is easily lost in the celebration of a higher wage floor. We hear from those receiving the increase. We rarely hear from the applicant who never gets an interview or the beginner whose position is no longer worth creating.

This does not mean every increase destroys jobs. It means success cannot be measured by the new wage rate alone.

Who gets employed—and who gets left outside—matters too.

Give workers the power to leave

The strongest protection against an employer who refuses to pay more is another employer willing to do so.

That should be the ambition: workers with valuable skills and genuine options.

If a business will not pay what a worker can command elsewhere, it should risk losing them. If it cannot retain staff, it should improve its productivity, its pay or the way it operates.

Government should focus on making that competition possible.

Develop skills employers need. Make it easier to start and expand businesses. Encourage investment in equipment and technology. Remove unnecessary barriers to changing jobs. Build reliable infrastructure and predictable policy.

Productivity is not simply about telling workers to work harder. Employers must provide better tools, systems and management. Government must create conditions in which those investments make sense.

Training alone is insufficient if there are no better jobs to move into. Workers need both skills and employers competing for them.

That is why I favour market-driven wages, with any statutory minimum kept genuinely minimal—or abolished. The objective should be to strengthen workers’ earning power and choices.

Higher wages must be earned by the economy

Announcing a higher minimum wage is easy. Building an economy that sustains higher wages is much harder.

One produces an immediate headline. The other requires competent government.

The harder question is: Will policies create productive businesses, better jobs and stronger competition for workers? Can the country attract investment and develop higher-value industries?

Workers deserve more than a politician announcing what someone else must pay them. They deserve an economy in which their skills are valued, their opportunities expand and employers have to compete for their work.

The goal should be more employers asking, “What will it take for you to work here?”

Nico Japanese East Perth

2026-10-04T23:01:09.640+11:00

Eating standards have generally decreased since COVID-19. Cheaper ingredients, smaller portions, and higher prices.

However, we still go hunting for new eating places. We visited Nico Japanese in East Perth this time.

The food wasn't too bad. Their beef serving was pretty good and more generous than Kanpai Yakiniku (our usual eating spot). Though salmon don was better at Kanpai.

It was a positive experience all around. Worth going back to.

Dinner at Grand Orient Perth

2026-09-28T20:02:52.875+10:00

This restaurant would be a lot more popular if it wasn’t for its location on the fringe of Perth City with horrible parking. I am refering to the Grand Orient restaurant.

Food was pretty good actually. I like their toothfish in claypot.

While their food was grand, they chose a not so grand location.

Jerry Fraser Oyster at The Print Hall

2026-09-27T00:22:08.551+10:00

If you like oyster then the best you can get is Jerry Fraser Oyster arguably the best in Perth.

He goes from one place to another place. Jerry knows how to pick the best oysters.

We went to taste them when they were at the Print Hall. It was pretty good.

James Parker Sushi & Sake

2026-09-23T02:03:19.763+10:00

We haven’t been to James Parker Sushi & Sake for quite a while.

Happy to say it is one of the few restaurants that has actually gotten better since our last visit.

Food was good. Their sushi was arguably better than Nobu's. Will return again.

Lunch at Leeuwin Estate

2026-09-20T23:51:49.267+10:00

We go to Margaret River region maybe once every year or two.

Just in case you have never been to Margaret River, the river is not the attraction, nor is the lady called Margaret.

This time, we visited Leeuwin Estate for lunch.

Their food was pretty good. I would say on the same level of European quality.

Canal Rocks

2026-09-19T18:19:55.263+10:00

I have lived in Western Australia for quite a long time, still find it a beautiful place.

There are many places you could go to and just relax.

Breakfast at Benesse Busselton

2026-09-17T23:01:12.315+10:00

Breakfast in Busselton is actually quite ok for a small town. This one was at Benesse.

The Capel Marron Farm

2026-09-15T00:10:43.247+10:00

When down South we often looked for some marrons.

This time we went to Capel Marron Farm.

The marrons were pretty delicious there. One to go back to.

Nobu Crown Truffle Menu

2026-09-13T00:14:15.427+10:00

It was that time of year again, truffle season.

As usual, we went to Nobu for their truffle menu special.

Food was good. We were happy though the portion was a little small. Maybe we were used to Western bite size now.

Viking Sushi Boat Tour

2026-09-08T01:19:03.214+10:00

I don't think viking ate sushi but anyway, the Viking Sushi Boat Tour was not bad.

The fresh scallops right out of the ocean were great. You could tell the difference compared to the ones you get from fish market.

Kirkjufellsfoss

2026-09-05T22:55:39.509+10:00

Nearing the end of our trip, we visited Kirkjufellsfoss. Well, don't ask me how to pronounce it. I heard that tourists in Iceland often been brought to the wrong destination by their taxi drivers and paid dearly because they couldn't pronounce the destination correctly.

Also explored a ravine nearby.

Sjavarborg restaurant

2026-09-03T01:31:15.953+10:00

Not all seafood in Iceland is fantastic.

The lunch that we had in Sjavarborg restaurant was quite underwhelming.

Siglo

2026-09-01T02:01:29.284+10:00

Iceland is a rather large country and driving too long was not fun.

We rested for the day at Siglo, a small town that used to be the hub for herring industry.

Nowadays, the herrings were long gone thanks to overfishing. It was a good thing in some way as the town did not smell like dead fish or Malaysian fish market.

It was a slow, quiet and peaceful town.

Fish and Chips at Restaurant Baccala Bar, Dalvik

2026-08-30T16:45:32.836+10:00

I have to say the fish and chips in Iceland is better than those in London.

At least this restaurant, Baccala Bar, serves pretty decent ones. Though the portion was a bit small for caucasian standard. It was like Western price for Asian bite size. The fish was nice though.

Godafoss, Barnafoss and Akureyri

2026-08-29T16:54:00.347+10:00

The following morning, we went to Godafoss and Barnafoss.

Godafoss was quite accessible while Barnafoss required bit of effort through unpaved road.

The town of Akureyri is a popular cruise destination.

Mulaberg Bistro and Bar Akureyri

2026-08-27T01:46:54.873+10:00

After a long day on the road, we stopped at Akureyri for the night.

Had our dinner at Mulaberg Bistro and Bar. Food was ok.

NamafJall Hverir geothermal area

2026-08-24T00:09:47.354+10:00

Iceland is like Japan with many geothermal areas.

Though Japanese makes them more pretty and even master the art of boiling eggs using them (i.e onsen eggs).

Hafnarholmi: Best place to watch Puffin birds

2026-08-22T14:42:45.714+10:00

If you like to see puffin birds, the best place is Hafnarholmi.

You can see them very up close. And the good thing is that place is not that touristy.

Hengifoss

2026-08-21T20:48:31.826+10:00

The following day, we went to Hengifoss.

By this time, we have been to many waterfalls. Not the most beautiful but it was a good morning hike/exercise.

Hotel 1001 Nott Egilstadir

2026-08-20T00:00:26.766+10:00

After having fun with snow mobile, we drove further north to the top half of Iceland. The views along the way was pretty scenic.

We stayed at Hotel 1001 Nott at Egilstadir for the night.

Pakkhus Restaurant Hofn

2026-08-19T01:21:59.785+10:00

When you are in Iceland, you have to try their langoustines or Icelandic lobsters. They are tiny in size but very delicious.

We went to Pakkhus restaurant in their lobster town of Hofn to have this.