KAY

Alternative to Malaysia's Nuclear Power Plants Plans ?

2011-01-17T08:26:00.000+08:00

Image by Michigan Engineering LabLog

Straits Power, a hydroelectric power generation solution without the dam problem. This is the brain child of Anthony Reale senior project in fall 2010. This is definitely one of the most interesting projects I have seen so far in relations to hydro power. Anthony Reale calls this The Shark as the design was inspired by a basking shark.

The senior project prototype made entirely almost of wood features a double-nozzle design around a singe turbine. In test conducted at University of Michigan, data have seen to show a 40% improvement for a single turbine design. It was also made possible with about USD85,000. Watch the video for a full narrative by Anthony Reale.

Malaysia should seriously consider this as a green alternative to the nuclear power plant solution.

Meditate your way to a longer life

2011-01-16T13:56:00.006+08:00

Picked up this article from TIME. According to their write up, a recent study shows that a bunch of people after a 3 month stay at a meditation retreat, they show higher level of telomerase, an enzyme which is associated with longevity.

What is telomerase ?? TIME's Maia Szalavitz explains the telomerase enzyme as :-

...Responsible for repairing telomeres, the structures located on the ends chromosomes, which, like the plastic aglets at the tips of shoelaces, prevent the chromosome from unraveling. Each time a cell reproduces, its telomeres become shorter and less effective at protecting the chromosome -- this, researchers believe, is a cause of aging. As the chromosome becomes more and more vulnerable, cell copying becomes sloppier and eventually stops when the telomeres disintegrate completely. Telomerase can mitigate -- and possibly stop -- cell aging.

I need to take a look at the people around me that meditates to see if they are indeed a little more youthful looking. Mirror mirror on the wall, who looks youthful of them all ?

2011 Economic Outlook

2011-01-12T09:30:00.001+08:00

Here is my version on how 2011 will impact my economic well being.

Everything will be going the direction below except for my salary.

See short and simple. Why can't those economist tell me something like this. Instead I have to read through reports of almost biblical proportions just to get one simple message for my 2011 economic outlook.

Your Grandfather's Road Mentality is driving Malaysian youths to their demise

2011-01-09T10:54:00.003+08:00

Malaysians get their motorcycle license at 16 and driver's license at 17. In the next 5 years they are akin to lemmings myth where they are in a constant push to 'drive' to their deaths. Motor vehicle accidents in Malaysia has proven countless unnecessary life's are lost in these age group.

Sunday Star's article 'Young and Reckless' on 9th Jan 2011 mentioned - 'Those aged 16 to 25 years old are more likely to be involved in road accidents compared to drivers of other age groups, according to statistics.'

Now if they would just plot another trend on the time of the accidents I am sure they will find another very obvious trend.

I was hit by a youth who recently just got his driver's license many years back. I was on my motorcycle at a complete stop in a junction waiting to cross when the idiot coming from my right lost control and skidded his car on a straight road. Amazing?!?!

The part that annoyed me was when he mentioned - "Wow ! This is the first time I got involved in a MVA..." and also the part where his father tried to arrange for a settlement just so that he could save the car's No Claim Bonus (NCB).

Falling Birds - Arkansas

2011-01-03T19:33:00.000+08:00

CNN reported over 5000 birds fell from the sky over a one mile area just before the stroke of midnight of 2011. No one seems to have an official answer for this yet. Is this an omen for an impending natural disaster? or maybe just another random event happening on earth? What is your take?

Cheapest iPad

2010-11-30T20:35:00.000+08:00

Updated 30th Nov - read below

Where do you get the cheapest iPad?

The cheapest iPad as everyone knows is the 16Gb wifi version. I shall use that as a reference baseline in this article. It retails USD499 in the US Apple store. Unless you get to buy in one of the 5 sales tax free states in the US (Oregon, Alaska, Delaware, Montana & New Hampshire) you add averagely around 5-10% to the retail price (Let me know if I got this part wrong).

Its not officially available yet in Malaysia. Resourceful vendors currently bring them in from Singapore. A search in Lowyat shows that these iPads' are being sold from RM1899.

After scouring the internet for information I've found that the cheapest retail price for the 16Gb Wifi version iPad is in Hong Kong. Apple priced it at HKG 3888. Thats translates to about RM1556 with the current exchange rate. A news article also confirms this.

Next in line are the 16Gb Wifi iPad sold in Changi Airport. Apple's office retail price puts it at SGD728 which is about RM1736. However what one forgets is that if you buy in Changi you get another 7% off from GST. That brings down the price to SGD677.04 which is around RM1614.

Now one would just need to make a trip to Hong Kong or Singapore.

Now if you don't mind I'll need to go keep an eye on AirAsia for some cheap tickets.

Updated 3rd Nov 2010 - One of my friends flying back via Hong Kong Airport this afternoon says the Ipads are out of stock there. Sounds like Changi is probably a better hunting ground?

Updated 30 Nov 2010 - The new answer is now Malaysia !!!! Malaysians can get the cheapest iPad if they buy it in Malaysia. Don't have to hunt in Hong Kong or Singapore anymore. Something that I would have never guessed at all. Talked to the guys at Switch, they say its not taxed. Thats why its so cheap. I'm guessing they probably declared it as computer at the customs. Now this does open up new opportunities for those of us in the IRB space.... are you thinking what I am thinking ? Price below is obtained from Switch. A check at the Malaysia Apple store, the iPad is still not listed though.

iPad with Wi-Fi

16GB – RM1549

32GB – RM1849

64GB – RM2149

iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G

16GB – RM1999

32GB – RM2299

64GB – RM2599

Apple Store HK | Apple Store SG | Apple Store US

Your Grandfather's Road ??!!?!

2010-11-06T10:18:00.000+08:00

"Your grandfather's road ar?!!!"
"Your father's road ar?!!!"
"Jalan bapak kau ke !!!??!"
"Jalan datuk hang ??!!?"

It all started with this stub by Dean Irvine on CNN - On the road to new cinema in Malaysia. It talked about how 'Your Grandfather's Road' used crowd sourced ideas from people via the internet. What the filmmaker thought about the whole thing. Here are a few parts that i like from the article.

Generally, Malaysia films are "rubbish", says Nesaratnam, dominated by horror and comedy genre movies.

"There's a vibrant independent scene, but the mainstream isn't as rich and as diverse as it could be"

It was only last night I read an article from Lim Kit Siang commenting on P.Ramlee biography on the History Channel. P.Ramlee died a poor man. The country failed him. Catch it on YouTube here.

Coming back to the topic here,so what is Your Grandfather's Road ? Digging around their website they have this to say in their FAQ.

1.What is Your Grandfather’s Road all about?

We want to make a movie with you.

Your Grandfather’s Road (YGR) is a groundbreaking film project which aims to produce a road-movie BY the Malaysian public, FOR the Malaysian public, in a way and scale that has never been done before.

The idea is to harness the creativity, thoughts, feelings and aspirations of an entire generation; to open the filmmaking process to film-lovers, amateur storytellers, budding artists, and everyday Malaysians just like you and me.

We believe in, and want to work with, local talent, hidden or known.

Story and character ideas will be crowd-sourced through comment streams around thematic posts. A script will be created after two months of the project going live. This script is then given back to the public for design, location, casting, music, art direction and cinematographic ideas. The professional Pit Crew will curate and grow the ideas of the public during this pre-production period.

In the end, the Pit Crew will shoot the people’s movie – Your Grandfather’s Road! and it will be screened in local cinemas.

The title has a good catch to it. The phrase is well used by all Malaysians. Try say it in English, Malay, Chinese, Tamil or any local dialect. It works right? Of course there tend to be a variation of use as grandfather is also oftentimes swapped with father. An all Malaysian phrase for an all Malaysian movie. Downright awesome!!

Your Grandfather's Road (YGR)
YGR on Facebook

LHDN - E-Lejar

2010-11-02T13:54:00.002+08:00

Apparently our Inland Revenue Department or more fondly know as LHDN has a new tool for all of us using e-Filing. E-Lejar allows you to check the following:-

Personal information
Ledger transactions
The current tax balance position

E-Lejar uses the same ID and password that you used for e-Filing.

Go to E-Lejar now!
Go to LHDN now!

Bayan Lepas Waterfall: Dying or Dead ?

2010-10-31T18:30:00.001+08:00

GPS Coordinates : N 5 18.000 E 100 15.550

Did you know that there is a waterfall in Bayan Lepas? It's tucked a way in Kampung Perlis. I come pass the signboard "Air Terjun Bayan Lepas" a few times going home. Finally found time to scout out the place this weekend. What greeted me was the sorry state of this recreation area. Having lived in this country so long I am really tempted to say, if you've seen one, you've seen them all. However that would be totally unfair to places that are in a better condition.

The first thing that greeted me when I walked in from the main road was the amount of garbage on the slopes of the hill on my right before the main area. I've marked this in the main diagram. One can only wonder why those living in the apartments there would rather bomb the hillside access road than take their trash to the proper disposal site in their apartment.

The next surprise was the health warning sign erected by the Health Ministry. Apparently it seems that the waters in the area could be contaminated.

Translation: Warning! Health Risk! Contatigous Disease Risk! This river/pond/waterfall/mud may be contaminated by bacteria/virus/parasite. Do not drink uncooked or untreated water. Avoid swimming/playing in the water if you have skin wounds or skin ailments. Swim/play at your own risk. Obtain treatment within 2 weeks if you are sick from now. Keep surroundings clean, as dirty surrounding will invite animal that will increase risk of germ contamination.
More information contact: South West Health Office @ 04-8668357/04-8660287

So I'm a little shaken after reading the warning. Couple of months back people died in Bentong I think after swimming in the river. The whole area was cordoned off by the Health Ministry. However there is little of that here in the main area. No security tapes, no no entry sign.

There were some tapes wrapped around the trees in the pavilion across the pond. I did not cross over to take a closer look as that would require me to walk through the sand/mud and water. There is a health warning mind you. The area is mainly deserted except for 2 little children that playing in the water (yes no typo here) and another adult that seems to be digging out the sand that has settled in the pond. If you look at the photos, thats a lot of sand to dig out.The water is absolutely muddy.

Now if you compare the images that I've taken above with the ones that are taken by PenangTravelTips in Nov 2009 and MalaysiaNaturalHeritage in Jan 2010; you can see that the sand bank wasn't there previously. Well thats a lot of crap to be washed downstream in 10-12 months time. Definitely looks like construction area soil/mud.

Isn't the Irrigation Department (JPS) suppose to conduct routine checks on our river systems? Lets give them the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps the chap is digging out the sand was hired by them.

The rock areas near the falls looks pretty dry. I decided to try my luck by hiking upstream to see what I can find. The waterfall is not looking too bad from this perspective.

Here is another photo higher up. Plenty of garbage in the overgrown bush. The children are still playing in the water.

The water in the catchment area above is also dirty. Sand and mud banks are building up on the side as you can see in the image below.

There is a path that leads upward to the right. You will pass the Dato' Kong on your way up into an open area.

What greets you is a row of deserted stalls that were erected back then. I guess these were suppose to be use for vendors selling things to visitors of the waterfall. It is in a run down condition. Some folks have converted it into their own private sheltered car park. Up high in front is the Setia Pearl Island show village. I didn't realize that it was that close.

It doesn't look like the path has been traversed in a while as vegetation has started to grow covering the trail partially. I did not manage to follow the river further up. Who know what else would I be able to find. If anyone out there did do let me know so that I can link you up.

If only a by election would happen here. We would then have some politician swim in its water trying to prove it is safe and the waterfall/river system would probably get millions in allocation to fix its problems.

Anyway I hope those 2 children that were enjoying the water will be ok. Else they would be contributing to the statistics that will generate heated news for a while before the issue gets forgotten all over again.

*All images were on 31 October 2010 with my T650i. If I fall sick in these 2 weeks you guys know what happened to me.

Malaysia Transport Safety Authority ?

2010-10-30T23:38:00.000+08:00

As i sit here typing this entry, i read the sad news of yet another bus accident. This latest one happened in Genting Sempah claimed 7 lives. According to the news the driver did not have a valid driving license for the last 13 years. How did a man with no driving license got a job as a bus driver for a bus company ?

Just earlier this month, Oct 11 an express bus crashed through the divider on the North South Expressway and caused a massive pile up killing 12 and injuring 35 others.

How many more need to die before the government does something for good? This comes in midst of new transformation projects announced by our beloved Prime Minister to bring Malaysia to the next level. We hear announcements of new towers (the controversial Warisan Merdeka tower), high speed rails, greater KL mass rapid transit system and all other things.

Is there a key transformation project to increase the safety of our public transport system? Or is the lives of an ordinary Malaysia too cheap to justify for it? Do we need a bus load of our dear ministers to perish in a fatal bus accident before something is done for real ?

Please my dear government do set up Malaysia Transport Safety Authority like US's National Transportation Safety Board. Our very own TSA/NTSB should oversee every single mode of transportation. You guys probably don't need to tell you this. I'm just an ordinary Malaysian. The think tank should have figured out this one many years ago.

What defines a good doctor?

2010-10-29T19:06:00.000+08:00

In the recent days I've been to quite a few different doctor armed with a medical card from the office.
On the visit to the last specialist the following question comes to mind.

What makes a good doctor?

A doctor that prescribes what you need ? or
A doctor that prescribes what you want ?

That comes to mind after 2 doctors/specialist does not think I need an MRI while the third was more than happy to order a MRI. He was even ready to admit me for 'intensive' treatment. I also do have to mention that the existence of the medical do in fact play a big role here.

Would the doctors have prescribed otherwise without the medical card? Is the medical card the root of all evil in the industry or is it the savior of those that are in need?

MSN News: Malaysia Top 5 Most Gruesome Murders

2010-10-26T20:08:00.001+08:00

Here is MSN New's take on Malaysia's Top 5 Most Gruesome Murders.

Number 5 : Altantuya Shaariibuu - The C4 Murder
Number 4 : The Cosmetic Tycoon Murder - Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya
Number 3 : Bangsar Abductee -The Canny Ong Murder
Number 2 : The Nurin Jazlin Murder
Number 1 : Mona Fandey - The Witch Doctor Murderess

Totally agree with them on who gets the Number 1 spot. Still gives me the creeps whenever think about it. In fact all of them do. For those that didn't know a movie was made based loosely on the Witch Doctor Murderess - Dukun.

At the time of this writing only Number 4 and Number 2 have their cases still open. May all the victims rest in eternal peace.

Source: MSN News Malaysia

Worm on Face

2010-10-22T15:52:00.003+08:00

OK, one of my friends just posted a video showing some traditional treatment that supposedly get the worms on your face to show itself. Then the healer will then remove the worms. Gross. Don't watch the video if you don't have the stomach for it.

First thing that comes to mind is eeew.. gross.. creepy.. then I start to wonder, what sort of worms are they and why is it on the persons face. So far looking for answers on the web gave me only one satisfactory answer for ' worm on face'.

On Yahoo Answers:-

"This is actually a treatment where they use the lipas tanah (earth roach), chop off the butt and squeeze the ooze on your face (usually its on ur nose) so that it heals certain illness for example the application on you nose is to cure sinus. I first heard of this at Melaka"

"The worms on the guys face are from the roach. This particular species actually carries worms inside its stomach. When rubbed on the guy’s face, the ooze are worms that appears after a while, reacting to the exposed air. People who choose these types of treatment should be aware that the worms dont come from their own face. How do I know this? My grandfather dissected the same type of roach and found the stomach full of worms. Don’t be fooled!"

Link to Worm on Face answer on Yahoo Answers

Anyone with more scientific explanation do please feel free to leave me a comment. Thank!

RM50 - Credit Card Tax

2010-01-31T18:10:00.001+08:00

January 2010 has arrived and with it the implementation of the new RM50 credit card tax for each card that you own. Banks however are launching and all out preemptive strike on its users before they start picking cancelling. Have you snipped yours yet ?

If you are like me you probably would have been given various 'offers' by the banks to make sure you continue using a particular banks credit card. Banks will probably be offering you a choice of the following:-

Free upgrade to the next level card (eg Gold or Platinum)
Credit limit upgrade (eg. RM8000 to RM20000 even on a normal classic card)
'Free' cash advance (eg Check for RM10000 under your name with tiny printed fine prints)

When you finally ask the bank if they are going to waive the RM50 they will tell you NO. As of the time of writing this article, most banks have given official notices that they are not going to waive the RM50 for their customers. Instead they have different mechanisms to offset that from their points.

Most will offset the credit card tax with an exchange of 10000 points and some will provide them as a from of rebate with a minimum spending per month. Check out the table created by The Star for a more comprehensive list.

As of today I've cancelled most of my cards even my company cards and retained just two. Happy Snipping!

Fuel Subsidy

2010-01-07T16:30:00.002+08:00

The government is at it again. More news about the new fuel subsidy scheme by our beloved government is on the The Star. The minister had this to say......

For Malaysians, the price of petrol will also be based on engine capacity, which means that not all would be entitled to subsidised fuel, he added.
“Not all Malaysians will get the fuel subsidy, which should by right be given to those earning less,” he said.
Ismail said those eligible for the fuel subsidy would be able to buy fuel based on the current prices while those who are not eligible for it, will have to pay the market price.
“For RON95 petrol, the Goverment’s subsidy is 30sen per litre now. The current price of RON95 petrol is RM1.80 compared to the actual price, which is RM2.10.
“So, Malaysians who are not eligible for the subsidy and also non-citizens will have to pay RM2.10 or more,” he added.

Why am i not surprised that they will based the subsidy upon the size of the engine ? In their minds only the so called rich can buy big capacity engine vehicles. Again it is very likely 2nd hand vehicle owners that happen to buy big capacity engines will have to pay the price.

Thank you so much. Keep your fingers crossed until May 1st.

Dell Bukit Minyak sheds 700

2009-12-16T14:17:00.003+08:00

Finally the cat is out of the bag. The Star reported Dell gave VSS to 700 staff of various positions. Updates to the retrenchment list will follow suit later.

GEORGE TOWN: Dell Malaysia is letting some 700 workers go via a voluntary separation scheme (VSS) exercise.
The 700 include those in the operator, supervisory and managerial positions at its Bukit Minyak plant here.
Dell corporate communication senior manager Jasmine Begum said the VSS scheme was being implemented because Dell was transferring the division that manufactured notebooks for Latin America, Canada and US markets to the group’s global manufacturing network.
“This means that the Bukit Minyak plant will only manufacture notebooks, desktops and servers for the South Asian and Australian markets,” she said.
The move would enable Dell Malaysia to be more cost-effective in its operations, reduce delivery time and enhance the quality of the products manufactured, Begum said.
“Dell Malaysia will continue to hire for the procuring, financing, and supply chain planning departments,” she said.
Jasmine said the affected workers would leave the company via VSS packages from January to June.
“They will be given competitive VSS packages. We will also provide them with career counselling and outplacement services,” she added.
Dell Malaysia, which has been operating here since 1995, currently has some 4,500 workers, most of them employed at the Bukit Minyak plant, and the rest at the Dell Cyberjaya Centre.
After the VSS implementation, the workforce in Malaysia will be scaled down to about 3,800. In March, Dell Malaysia offered VSS packages to about 5% of its employees - The Star

Recession Antidote: DIY iPhone Stand

2009-10-01T22:53:00.004+08:00

Here's something totally random. Found this on Treehugger.

Printable DIY stand for the iPhone. Download the plan here and print it on those fancy colour cards. More details can be found on the creator's website.

Agilent employees rejoices

2009-08-22T09:38:00.002+08:00

Met up with a friend that works in Agilent. They say the company will revert back to the original salary scheme this coming November. That would mean no more 10% pay cut and not more force leave.

Does this mean there is light at the end of the tunnel?

Why is A (H1N1) death rate in Malaysia four times the global fatality rate?

2009-08-17T18:28:00.002+08:00

News

Headlines

Opinion

A (H1N1) Pandemic

2009-08-14 18:29
LETTER
Why is A (H1N1) death rate in Malaysia four times the global case fatality rate?
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai should explain why Malaysia’s A (H1N1) death rate is four times the global case fatality rate.
Malaysia’s death toll from A (H1N1) flu has topped 56 since the first fatality three weeks ago.
The influenza A (H1N1) mortality rate in Malaysia is close to 2% instead of the 0.1% to 0.4% as estimated by the Health Ministry. It reflects an unusual phenomenon. Without finding out the crux of the problem, assuming that 5 million of people are infected, probably 100,000 of them will die, instead of 5,000 to 28,000 as estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Full and satisfactory explanations are warranted from Liow.
Lim Kit Siang
MP for Ipoh Timor
14 August 2009
Petaling Jaya
MySinchew 2009.08.14

This was taken from MySinchew. Uncle Lim says its four times more.. Uncle Liow says its not there yet.... who has got the better statistician?

Singapore PM expects more layoffs in 2009

2009-08-08T23:28:00.004+08:00

Singapore PM warns of more retrenchments in 2009
Sat Aug 8, 2009
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned the city state to brace for further job retrenchments in 2009, although he said the economy did better than expected in the first half of the year.
"We might see another wave of retrenchments later in the year, so we must stay on guard for more challenges to come," Lee said in a recorded speech on state television on Saturday, the eve of national day.
Singapore's preliminary unemployment figure stayed at a seasonally adjusted 3.3 percent in the second quarter of 2009, unchanged from the first quarter, which was the highest in three years.
Lee said the economy contracted 6.5 percent in the first half of 2009 -- a smaller contraction than previously feared -- prompting the government to revise down the annual contraction to 4-6 percent from an earlier projection of a fall of 6-9 percent.
"It is too early to celebrate. The outlook remains clouded. The advanced economies are not expected to bounce back soon," he said.
Singapore leapt out of its worst recession in the second quarter of 2009 due to rising pharmaceuticals production and construction, preliminary government data showed. Final second quarter GDP data is due on Aug 11.
A Reuters survey showed analysts expected the revised data to show that the economy expanded at an annualised and seasonally adjusted rate of 19.2 percent, compared with an advance estimate of a 20.4 percent.
The latest data is expected to show that from a year earlier, gross domestic product fell 3.9 percent rather than 3.7 percent as earlier reported.

Here's apiece from the Prime Minister of Singapore taken from Reuters. While Singapore is preparing itself for more surprises, Malaysia's relavant departments still paints a rosy picture that we are in good shape. I really hope to believe that is the case but what if its not and its all a bluff to hide the truth?

IDC: Chip Sector Rebound Not What it Seems
By Andy Patrizio
August 6, 2009

Second quarter 2009 worldwide PC microprocessor shipments rose 10.1 percent over the first quarter, according to a just-released IDCreport, yet another sign of recovery for the battered chip sector, although it's still got a ways to go.
The 10.1 percent recovery is certainly better than the 10.9 percent fall from Q4 2008 to Q1 09, but it doesn't tell the whole story. Unit shipments declined 7.0 percent from the second quarter of 2008 and revenue declined 15.3 percent year over year, indicating continued pressure on average selling prices (ASPs).
Much of what has been going on in the last two quarters has been rebalancing of inventories between manufacturers, suppliers and system builders. Sales stopped dead in the fourth quarter, forcing companies to stop manufacturing product. Throughout Q1, inventory was slowly drained from the channel and Q2 was marked by restocking of depleted inventory.
The biggest mover of the quarter was shipments of Atom processors, which increased 34 percent from Q1 to Q2 of 2009. IDC estimates that the Atom processor sales represented 25 percent of Intel's (NASDAQ: INTC) mobile PC processor shipments in Q2 09 and 8.1 percent of Intel's mobile PC processor revenues for the same quarter.
Shane Rau, director of semiconductors for personal computing research at IDC says that the flatness of AMD (NYSE: AMD) sales and that Intel's revenue from Asia/Pacific, where the vast majority of PCs are built, grew from 51 percent in Q1 09 to 55 percent in Q2 09 indicates a broad-based recovery has not yet begun.
"We feel that the supply chain replenishment of inventories in late Q1 and early Q2 is what drove a lot of sales," he told InternetNews.com. "Any idea that there was a recovery in the economy this quarter is belied by the fact that the growth came from Intel. Now, Intel can certainly drive a market, but the isolation to Intel, Atom, and in Asia seems pretty focused." Full Article Here

This is partly what I've been worried about. True enough that in the last 3 months, I've received little or no news from my sources on retrenchment, inf act there were some factories that were ramping up as they did not have enough inventory. The semiconductor and manufacturing industry will still be the first in the country to feel the impact but I'm not so sure when it comes to recovery.

I wish to believe that the worse is over but I shall keep my fingers crossed.

Risk Taking

2009-08-02T20:26:00.004+08:00

In August 2009 edition of Personal Money, they talked to Tony Pua, MP for PJ Utara on his money matter thoughts.

Tony's thoughts on risk taking :-

''At different stages of their lives, people need to adopt different levels of risk depending on what you intend to do. I think the period to take risks is in the first five years of one's working life - it doesn't have to immediately, experience is still required - so there still needs to be a balance. Once you reach a stage like mine where you have some money but not an excessive amount, then you need to become a prudent investor.''

You should get a copy of Personal Money August 2009 to read the full article.

30% of the 29,718 Retrenched in Malaysia Re-employed

2009-07-08T17:11:00.003+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR, WED:
ALMOST 30 per cent or 8,905 of the 29,718 Malaysian workers who were retrenched due to the global economic crisis have been re-employed, the Dewan Negara was told today.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan said a total of 38,729 workers were retrenched so far and that 29,718 of them were locals.

She said the ministry had also introduced a Train-and-Place programme to help the retrenched workers.

"At present, 9,098 people are participating in the programme including 2,046 retrenched workers," she said in reply to Senator J. Usha Nandhini during question time.

She said the programme, launched in April this year, was a new skills training aimed at enhancing participants'' employability.
Apart from the Train-and-Place programme, the ministry had also introduced Train-and-Retrain as well as Train-and-Replace programmes, with similar objectives to help retrenched workers, she added. - NST Online

Is the worse over?

2009-07-02T07:33:00.003+08:00

I am wondering if the worse is over or is it just another calm to another storm.

Penang electronics firms unable to cope with demand

GEORGE TOWN: Penang’s electronics industry is facing a shortage of production workers after orders started to pick up early last month, according to a job outsourcing company.

Read the full news here

GLC workers to brace for paycut

2009-06-19T15:11:00.004+08:00

PETALING JAYA, Thurs:
The 400,000 workers in government-linked companies (GLCs) have been forewarned to brace for a salary cut by September because of the economic downturn, MTUC vice-president Mustafa Maarof disclosed today.
This was conveyed to the unions when the management of these companies headed by Khazanah Nasional met the workers' representatives recently.

Mustafa, who is also the executive secretary of the Malaysia Airlines System (MAS) Employees Union, told Bernama that the management also told them that "if the salary cut does not improve the companies'' results, then they should expect to be subjected to either a mutual separation scheme (MSS) or voluntary separation scheme (VSS)".

Besides MAS, 90 other companies are also categorised as GLCs, among them, Sime Darby, Tenaga Nasional, Telekom Malaysia, Felda, Felcra, Pos Malaysia and Bernas.

Almost 200,000 of the workers in these companies are former civil servants who opted for the new entities when their departments were privatised in the early 80's and 90's.
Mustafa said the GLCs should not use the economic downturn as a reason for their move to reduce their workforce.

"We understand that some of the companies are doing very well and their top executives are highly paid and enjoy excellent perks like large bonuses and entertainment allowance.

"What they intend to do is to retrench the middle and lower-level staff.
"But why should the general workers be penalised for the weakness in management?" he said.

Moreover, he added, the government had assured that as far as possible it would prevent job cuts and had allocated sufficient money under the second economic stimulus package.

Meanwhile, the president of the newly-formed Congress of Unions in GLCs Malaysia, Mohamed Shafie B.P. Mammal, said the workers would soon submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on their grouses, particularly the pension formulas and pensionable age and promotional opportunities.

According to him, almost 80 per cent of workers in the GLCs who were former civil servants were getting pensions of less than RM200 per month.

"We will be asking the government to increase the minimum pension to RM720 per month as being enjoyed by their counterparts in the civil service," he said.

Mohamed Shafie said the other demands were to raise the pension age to 58 years, and to stop the frequent restructuring and reorganisation of GLCs and the frequent change of CEOs of the GLCs.

He said promotional opportunities were also much less for the workers because the management were bringing in new workers from outside and putting them in higher positions.

This, he pointed out, was detrimental to the morale and productivity of the workers.

- The New Straits Times Online

Worst is yet to come, says IMF head

2009-06-15T21:48:00.001+08:00

LONDON, June 15 — The head of the IMF questioned today any debate about when to roll back stimulus spending, saying the world economy had yet to weather the worst of a recession that claimed a record number of European jobs.
- The Malaysian Insider

KAY