Financial Pearls

I know i'm at risk of turning this into a political blog, but man politics in Malaysia is interesting isn't it?

Now this one, my friends, is the tale of petrol prices. Well our finance minister...oh no...i told a lie...our ex-finance minister (he is now defense minister) taught me a thing or two about running the country..honestly, cross my heart, I learnt a lot from his endless wisdom.


June 4th 2008

The government decided to increase petrol prices by a whooping 78 cents, the reason is pretty valid...with rising global prices of petrol reaching unprecedented heights, our government subsidy bill has reached unbearable peak. So fair enough, a new system was enacted...with the government keeping the max subsidy of 30 cents regardless of price

It is justified of course by comparing our prices to non-crude oil producing nations, even though we still are a net exporting nation. Even though with inflated global petrol prices we should be raking in the cash to start with? No no...No no...apparently, Petronas can only subsidize so much...the rest of the earnings...I dunno....we "invest" it in something else, you know, because the welfare of the nation is not as important as investment...


Ok...the nation grumbled and moaned, price of everything from electricity to teh tarik increased...busineses shut down, broke people become broker....


fast forward to 17th September 2008


With the tumbling global economy, crude oil prices are tumbling to record lows...woohoo! The nation should expect lowering prices since you know, with how far the price gone down the government might not even have to subsidize the 30 cents as we might be paying equal rate as the market rate kan?

This is what our PM comment about the global crude oil prices

"On the oil price drop in the world market, Abdullah said it was good but Petronas’ revenue would drop as well as the subsidy (from petronas)." -The star, Wed 17 sept 2008

damnit...I realize...our nation just can't win. Minyak naik kita rugi, minyak turun pun kita rugi...

Financial advice of the day: 1+1 does not equal 2

Give me a reason to love my country...

For those who know me well enough would know I am one of those who has a burning desire to return back home to Malaysia, God willing, after I gain enough experience abroad. People often ask, "what so good about M'sia that you want to go back?" My answer? Well, as all good Msians we will start with food of course, then of course family and friends come into mind, good weather................and I start to realize, there isn't anything else that I can boast about to make my country look good. For those of you who plan to go back too, try asking yourselves honestly, beside the above mentioned reasons, what other reasons is there that our beloved nation is better then your host nation?



Mind went blank eh?



When I look back, conversations such as these tend to linger around food...(A LOT)...nasi lemak outside IMU lah (which made it to the star, for wrong reasons=P)...banana leaf lah....char kuey teow lah...nasi kandar lah...penang hae mee lah. And if its winter, we will bitch about how damn cold it is and how it is summer year long in Malaysia (not like the winter in Brisbane is anything to bitch about) And we will talk about being close to family and friends....

Im just starting to wonder if all those are good enough reasons to return home? Are those reasons too immature? Those food are good, but they are probably the most unhealthy grub you can find, accelerating atherosclerosis, because the government doesn't give a damn about population health anyways...the weather, Brisbane is pretty good weather, except for the damn water restrictions...family, we all grow up and get detached from our family and heck, with airasia i can afford to fly back home pretty often or fly my parents here....

As I grow up I think I need better reasons than those of above to be convinced returning home is the best option. Will my rights be assured? Will I get anything resembling equal opportunity? Will my kids have a future and be safe? HECK....WILL MY CITIZENSHIP BE CHALLENGED??

I know this is all a political tirade, between the No1 and No2 of the ruling party. When No.2 apologized for what was a blatant racist remark, and No1 just gave a 3 year "suspension", giving him a hero status amoung his peers, and then invoked the dreaded ISA on the reporter and slapping show cause letters on anti-establisment newspapers, you know something is not quite right. How can you apologize for something, and then arrest someone for stating something you apologized for????!!!!!!

As if we did not need reminding of our class of citizenship in Malaysia? As if our rights haven't been trampled on enough? Now you are using a mere reporter for your political gain? Who was, by your top brass apology...telling the truth? You are arresting a MP, for allegedly banning morning prayers been broadcast, when all that happened was a couple of non-muslims signed a petition for the volume to be turned down a little?

Common, settle your squabbles internally! Malaysia cannot afford to have squabbling kids running our nation! With so much problems going on its only detrimental to our economy. We are not as stupid as we were before, pitting race against race. We have grown up significantly and are tired of your politics. Why do you think PKR is hot on your heels? treatening to topple you any minute?

3 reasons to go back, 1001 reasons I shouldn't...please, let there be a change that we all can be proud of....I am more than willing to return home, but am I wanted in my own country??

England its best at

Before reading on...remember...this editorial is written by a UNIVERSITY!!

ADVERTORIAL
New Straits Times
23 August 2008, page 43

HONORARY DEGREE AWARD
7TH CONVOCATION CEREMONY UNIVERSITY TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA
TO
YANG AMAT MULIA RAJA ZARITH SOFIAH BINTI ALMARHUM
SULTAN IDRIS AL-MUTAWAKIL ALALLAHI SHAH
D.K.II, S.P.M.J., S.P.C.M.

Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Al-Mutawakil Alallahi Shah has born on 14th of August 1959 in Hospital Batu Gajah, Perak. Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith is a third son to Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Sultan Perak Darul Ridzwan and Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Mazuwin binti almarhum Raja Arif Shah.

Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah get early education in Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Datin Khadijah Kuala Kangsar in the state his birthplace namely in Perak. After end of the education in primary school, Yang Amat Mulia continue the education to form one at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Raja Perempuan Kalsom Kuala Kangsar, Perak.

In the month of September 1972, Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah have set forth to England for further education in Chaltenham Ladies College, Gloucestershire to form six. Then, Yang Amat Mulia continue learning it in Davies College London in September 1977 and his following year in receive enter to Somerville College, London after having passed Oxford Entrance Examination.

After graduated at Oxford University with Bachelor of Art in June 1983 and follow the traditional University of Oxford, Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith will receive Master of Art after three years in 1986. Yang Amat Mulia also is a linguist follow several courses including language Mandarin at the tertiary level, French and Italy language.

As his father, Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah is a person that talented in picture arts. Refinement of soul, Yang Amat Mulia always watching natural beauty environment immortalize in the form photograph and painting to make look and reference. Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith performance become guide to deliver the message education to general public. Yang Amat Mulia concern on women and natural world and it custody aspect in become deep theme in painting.

Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah comply have interest profoundest field documentation. Apart from producing book, Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith doubled up guest writer in the The New Straits Times newspapers and in personal column it “Mind Matters” in The Star newspaper. Besides writing, Yang Amat Mulia comply active presenting a working paper at the conference national level and international.

Education from her father and mother over concern to the people, make Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah likes engaged in voluntary activities about as Deputy President of Majlis Wanita Johor (ROSE), Chief of Persatuan Pandu Puteri Malaysia Johor branch, Chairman of Nationalistic Community Service Red Crescent Malaysia, Patron of Spastic Children School in Johor Bahru, Patron Rotary Club of Tebrau Foundation, Advisor of Traditional Arts School International in London and become Pro Chancellor University Technology Malaysia (UTM) and becomen Royal Felllow Faculty of Language and Linguistic University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

As the appreciation towards her contributions of ideas and efforts in the development of education in Malaysia, Chancellor of University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Duli Yang Amat Mulia Tunku lbrahim lsmail lbni Sultan lskandar, Tunku Mahkota Johor, has approbation to presented the awards to Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Al-Mutawakil Alallahi Shah the Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Education at 7th Convocation Ceremony of University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia in this year. Congratulation from us, University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia members.

HAHAHA...I thought my england was bad enough...this is priceless. Poor Tun Hussein Onn, He must be looking down (or up) in disgust at the university of his namesake publishing such a hilarious advertorial. Good job dear government, and you wonder why the hell your teachers can't even speak proper English let alone educate our future generations in that language.

The honoured person mentioned won't be too happy too, since they changed her sex...hahahaha!

I didn't even know this University existed, so I decided to look it up on the internet. I got interested in how many publications in journals this University are involved in, you know, indicating how active they are in research...

http://www.uthm.edu.my/v2/content/view/201/189/lang,en/

Publication in 2007

The Publication of scholarly countings is vital in the academic world because through it academicians are able to share their knowledge and expertise with the students and society. Publication is the best medium to achieve the University's aspiration in disseminating and sharing knowledge with the society at large.

wah, i'm impressed....it is vital that academicians share their knowledge and expertise....

Publication Materials

In 2007, as many as 77 materials were successfully published. They include original book works, journals, learning modules, proceedings and others. The types of publication are as follows:

Type Of Publication	Total
Original Book Works	2
Learning Modules	68
Journals	2
Proceedings	3
Other Publications	2

77 materials, not bad...eh wait... learning modules pun kira kut?? Proceedings? Apa tu?

2. Journal

No.	Title / Subject	Edition
1.	Jurnal Sains dan Teknologi UTHM	Jilid 4 Bilangan 1 Jun 2007
2.	Jurnal Sains Sosial UTHM	Jilid4 Bilangan 1 Jun 2007

Jurnal Sains dan Teknologi UTHM??!! Tak pernah dengar ni jurnal apa tu?



UTHM= University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia...


ohhhh.....


Enough said........