Patriotism

Happy Thursday, everyone.

I went to abang's awards day at KYUEM last Saturday. This day marks his last day there as a student so now we can only sit and wait for the result. Guest of honour on that day was Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar, Chairman of Securities Commission, who gave a very enlightening speech about self development, independence and success. She was saying how refreshing it is not to have to talk about regulation, capital markets in Malaysia etc. and talked about her experience in school instead. She told us how her teacher had encouraged her students to be independant, like when the school didn't have enough funds to build a hall, they did a number of fund-raising events to achieve their target. Later, they wanted to have their own school band so they needed fund for their uniforms and equipments. Again, instead of asking for money from whoever and waiting, they actually took matter in their own hands and work for it, which I find very inspiring. They even won the state level that year. I have heard some ppl TRYING to go into business and blaming relatives for not providing them funds "like the chinese". WTF? I'm sure although some Chinese are lucky enough to get funding from their parents to start off their own business, most of them actually work for it themselves. So STOP BLAMING and START WORKING.

She later went on to touch on the working environment, where she said although there is no doubt your qualification is important to get you in, it is how you perform at work later that would actually get you to the next level. This is exactly the issue I have been facing lately. I know my result got me somewhere but it is a constant struggle to keep on improving at work, where all that KPIs matter. I need to go keep on moving. I can't stay constant or I will be left behind. Howww do I do that???

After the event in the hall is over, we went to the dining hall for lunch where I get to sit and talk with one of my own teachers. He was commenting about interviews and find it bullshit when people say "I want to serve the country" during interviews. What the hell is wrong with that? Honestly, as cheesy as it may sound, I DO feel that way. I DO feel like I owe it to my country to work and contribute back to the society given the amount of money they spent on me for my education. I DO feel like I owe it to myself to make use of some knowledge/skills/experience I acquired for the amount of time I put in during my studies. I'm sure it is not much as compared to other ppl I know... but there was still some effort on my side to at least pass my papers. And although the contribution of ONE small person like me may not actually affect the nation's economy as a whole, combine the small small me and you will get like what, more than half of the nation's total working force? (The rest being the high achievers that DO contribute a whole lot to the country's economy and development.) Anyway, as small as the contribution of one person may be, it is still important to the economy, especially when we later aggregate it to make up for the country's total production, ie GDP. Imagine ONE cleaner refuses to work and his decision affected his colleagues and they also decided not to work, can you imagine the effect it will have on our GDP. Not only will the state be left dirty, there will be less velocity in the market as less people have money to spend, thus other people will get less income from say groceries sales, petrol, bus fare, food stalls etc. So in short, don't underestimate one person's contribution. Also don't look down on one person's motivation to contribute to his/her country. It is NOT bullshit.

In case any of my friends working overseas reading this, you guys still contribute to the country in a number of ways. 1) money sent home 2) Malaysia's reputation to the rest of the world. You guys are the country's small ambassadors. hehe. Proud of you guys, being over there, competing with other world class people. =)

Okay, I'm patriotic. Just shut up now. =p

What the hell!

I thought of writing a proper entry on how excited I am to be voting for the first time. I was planning to say that our vote is P&C so I am not going to reveal which party I am going to vote for. I was also planning to say that unlike US voters who choose their candidate based on their current policy stance, I am not that much influenced by all that coz it all looks like gibberish to me. All I care about is a peaceful, prosperous and comfortable community to live in. Then I came across these articles. What the hell... Now I AM INFLUENCED by what policy they are making. If you don't know how to run a country, then don't run for candidacy. Or at the very least, don't make such ridiculous promise just for the sake of winning a seat without thinking of the consequences to the country. Yes, the promise seems very attractive. Petrol subsidy is essential for the people of the nation BUT it's ALL about balance. You can't expect to tackle one issue without sacrificing another in the economy. Are they trying to push us back to being a socialise economy? Yeah, that sounds like fun. Lets go back to using coupons to get food in the country. Ration it and divide equally regardless of taste, need or effort put in. This statement came in light just a day after I read about Melaka government trying to offer jobs to poor people but they refuse to work as they would prefer to receive benefits instead. (Of course, I haven't factored in those who are REALLY incapable. Hopefully the statistics would already have.) And I dislike beggers!!! Go find a job! A cleaner, a nanny, clerk... Whatever... If you are capable enough to walk around asking for money, you are capable enough to at least swipe the floor or probably be a translator for the blind or something. At least, now you know who I will NOT be voting for. Hmmph!!!

Copied from www.utusan.com.my

Syor Pas tak masuk akal
KUALA LUMPUR 19 Feb. – Cadangan Pas menubuhkan negara kebajikan disifatkan sebagai tidak masuk akal dalam keadaan dunia menghadapi kenaikan harga minyak mentah mencecah AS$100 dolar (RM320) setong.

Justeru, banyak pihak berpendapat, konsep itu hanya janji manis parti pembangkang untuk menawan hati pengundi yang akhirnya menyebabkan rakyat hidup melarat dan tertekan.

Presiden Persekutuan Syarikat-Syarikat Tersenarai Awam, Datuk Seri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas berkata, Pas perlu lebih realistik dengan konsep negara kebajikan kerana bukan mudah menyalurkan begitu banyak subsidi kepada rakyat ketika harga minyak mentah di pasaran dunia semakin melambung.

Menurut beliau, kerajaan sudah pun membelanjakan RM40 bilion setahun untuk pemberian pelbagai bentuk subsidi termasuk petrol dan gas sedangkan peruntukan itu boleh digunakan untuk melaksanakan pelbagai bentuk pembangunan.

Katanya, subsidi itu yang berjumlah RM200 bilion untuk tempoh lima tahun menyamai keseluruhan peruntukan pembangunan Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK-9).

“Pas tidak akan mampu memberi begitu banyak subsidi secara berterusan tanpa meningkatkan pendapatan negara. Adakah ini bermakna cukai akan ditingkatkan?’’ kata Megat Najmuddin ketika dihubungi Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Beliau mengulas rancangan Pas untuk melancarkan manifesto rasmi bertajuk Negara Berkebajikan pada Khamis ini.

Setiausaha Agung Pas, Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar berkata, manifesto setebal lebih 20 muka surat itu mengandungi tawaran-tawaran munasabah mengandungi penyelesaian kepada kegawatan ekonomi kepada rakyat Malaysia tidak kira jantina, kaum dan agama.

Sementara itu, Penasihat Jawatankuasa Bertindak Pelaksanaan Negara (NITF), Datuk Zainal Aznam Yusoff berkata, tindakan mewujudkan ‘negara kebajikan’ akan menjadikan rakyat semakin malas dan tidak berani menghadapi risiko.

‘‘Adakah ini bermaksud Pas akan membiayai perbelanjaan rakyat seumur hidup sehingga mereka tidak perlu mengeluarkan wang satu sen pun?’’ tanya beliau.

Menurutnya, pemberian subsidi tidak boleh diteruskan selama-lamanya kerana ia akan menjejaskan pembangunan negara.

Pakar ekonomi dan perbankan Islam, Datuk Dr. Nik Norzrul Thani Nik Hassan Thani pula berkata, hasrat Pas menubuhkan ‘negara kebajikan’ dikhuatiri melumpuhkan daya saing negara.

Beliau berpendapat, rakyat akan disogok dengan pelbagai bentuk elaun dan subsidi sehingga menyebabkan mereka hilang motivasi diri serta semangat keusahawanan.

Menurutnya, Nabi Muhammad s.a.w sendiri seorang tokoh perniagaan yang giat mengembangkan ekonomi umat Islam, bukan bersandarkan kepada kebajikan semata-mata.

‘‘Jangan sampai dikongkong oleh pemerintah sehingga daya saing kita semakin lumpuh,’’ ujarnya.

Copied from www.thestar.com.my

Shafie hits out at ‘quack’ solutions
KUALA LUMPUR: The opposition’s simple solution to complex world economic trends is irresponsible and akin to the “economics of Donald Duck,” said Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal.
Shafie chided the opposition for promising to reduce the price of petrol and diesel and to become more charitable if elected.
“The only way they can achieve this is by increasing the level of subsidy which was RM43bil last year,” he said yesterday.
“This is possible but totally unrealistic and extremely damaging as it will lead to higher inflation, loss of businesses and lower standard of living.
“The government has no intention of allowing the country to become a comic-strip economy.”
Shafie said this in his speech at the launch of the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency's (AKPK's) newly upgraded website. His speech was read out by the ministry’s deputy secretary-general (domestic trade) Dr Muzahet Masruri.
Shafie said steps such as careful enforcement of price controls were being taken to reduce financial pressures on the people and to minimise effects of rising global prices.
He commended Bank Negara and AKPK for their work in helping Malaysians in debt, which often occurred due to lack of knowledge in managing their finances.
“More than 26,000 people have received counselling and some 9,000 individuals have been helped under AKPK’s free debt management programme since it was set up in 2006.
“As of September last year, total household debt was about RM351bil with non-performing loans of about 7% (RM24.57bil.) Of this, credit card debt amounted to RM21.6bil,” he said, adding that those referred to AKPK were mostly in their 30s and 40s. Other debt include personal, housing and car loan.
AKPK chief executive officer Mohamed Akwal Sultan said their website www.akpk.org.my provided online advice within 24 hours to help individuals be more prudent with their finances.