Happy birthday Frankie!!!!!!!!

I created this birthday banner for you. Hope you will like it… ^^

17 Signs are:-

SEVENTEEN:

You look at their profile constantly.

SIXTEEN:

When you’re on the phone with them late at night and they hang up, you still miss them even when it was just two minutes ago.

FIFTEEN:

You read their Texts and Ims Over and over again.

FOURTEEN:

You walk really slow when you’re with them.

THIRTEEN:

You feel shy whenever they’re around.

ELEVEN:

When you think about them, your heart beats faster but slower at the same time.

TEN:

You smile when you hear their voice.

NINE:

When you look at them, you can’t see the other people around you, you just see him/her.

EIGHT:

You start listening to slow songs while thinking about them.

SEVEN:

They’re all you think about.

SIX:

You get high just from their scent.

FIVE:

You realize you’re always smiling when you’re looking at them.

FOUR:

You would do anything for them!

THREE:

While reading this, there was one person on your mind this whole time.

TWO:

You were so busy thinking about that person, you didnt notice number twelve was missing

ONE:

You just scrolled up to check & are now silently laughing at yourself.

Hi, anyone interested in buying charity concert tickets? Now you can go for this concert while doing charity that only cost RM100.00 per ticket. It will be held on 2nd August 2008 at 6pm.

I am not either an organizer or any sponsor of this charity concert. Just helping my friend to sell the charity tickets. I have 20 tickets.

Interested, please leave me a comment or email: paul_woen@hotmail.com or sms me at 016-883 0565. Thank you.

1. Material - red ink, cotton pad,white glue, tooth pick (tiny sticks). cotton wool, if no red ink you can use animal blood.

2. Use white glue o create the wound surrounding.

3. Wait for the glue to dry.

4. Use tooth pick to create the wound area.

5. Use a dishwasher pad to spread the extra glue.

6. Use little drop of red ink to create the outside scratched area.

7. Use cotton pad with red ink (not too much) to strengthen the surrounding scratched area.

8. When dry, half done.

9. Use tooth pick to spread the glue to create the broken skin.

10. Use red ink to put at the inside of the glue.

11. Some place with more and some with less ink. Then will look more real.

12. Wait to dry.

Finished!

I am really sorry, but i really cannot “tahan” when saw this car name~

Saw this “BLUEBIRD” car somewhere in Kuching.

If you translate it’s name into HOCKKIEN, isn’t it sound like “LAN CIAO”~ LOL

I guess the owner of the car sure not a HOCKKIEN or TEO CHEW~ Or maybe the owner is Malay~ dunno lar… hehehe… ^^

Kenny Sia were caught being naughty… hehehe… @.@

I would like to DEDICATE this song to Kenny Sia~ Kennysia.com GoGoGo!!!

Hope you will like it~ hehehe… ^^

I got this email from my friend. I would like to share it with the lady drivers out there!

BEWARE OF PAPER ON THE BACK WINDOW OF YOUR VEHICLE–NEW WAY TO DO A CARJACKING

THIS IS NOT A JOKE! Heads up everyone! Please, keep this circulating…

You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. You start the engine and shift into Reverse. When you look into the rearview mirror to back out of your parking space, you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift into Park, unlock your doors, and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view.

When you reach the back of your car, that is when the carjackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off. They practically mow you down as they speed off in your car. And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car. So now the carjacker has your car, your home address, your money, and your keys. Your home and your whole identity are now compromised!

BEWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED.

If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just drive away.
Remove the paper later.

And be thankful that you read this email. I hope you will forward this to friends and family, especially to women. ERM? WHY WOMEN AR? CANNOT BE GIRLS MEH? A LOT OF GIRLS ARE DRIVING ALSO MAR…

A purse contains all kinds of personal information and identification documents, and you certainly do NOT want this to fall into the wrong hands. Please keep this going.

I found this funny logo at Frankie’s blog and i would like to share it with you people out there. Hahaha~ So funny~ LOL

DAP BANNER: BN KAYA RAYA, RAKYAT SUSAH PAYAH

Hand Over MEMORANDUM OF PROTEST

MEMORANDUM OF PROTEST
Against Petrol and Diesel Price Hike 2008
Yang Amat Berhormat Perdana Menteri
c/o. Sarawak Federal Secretary
Office of Federal Secretary, Sarawak
Tingkat 17, Bangunan Sultan Iskandar,
Jalan Simpang Tiga,
93300 Kuching, Sarawak

Yang Amat Berhormat,

Re: Protest Against the 4th June 2008 fuel price hike:
· Petrol price increased by 78 sen/l and
· Diesel price increased by RM1.00/l
————————————————————————————–

We, Democratic Action Party, Kuching, strongly oppose to the fuel price hike announced by the Government on 4th June, 2008. By the announcement, the petrol price was increased by 78 sen to RM2.69 per litre (in Sarawak) while diesel price was increased by RM1.00 to RM2.58 per litre (in Sarawak).

The reasons for our strong objection to the domestic fuel price increase are as follows:

1. This is by far the largest single fuel price increment in the history of Malaysia, 40% increase in petrol price and 63% increase in diesel price. The People find it extremely difficult to adjust to such a sudden and huge increase in fuel prices and the ensuing inflation resulting from such hike.

2. Petrol and diesel are derived from crude oil, our country’s most valued natural resources. The People are the owners of our country and thus its natural resources. The Government is merely the management body elected by the People to manage our country. Oil belongs to the Peoplethe profit earned from the production and sale of crude oil ought to be utilized for the benefits of the People and , one of which is affordable petrol and diesel.

3. The Government claims that the petrol and diesel sold in petrol stations are subsidized by the Government and that car owners have been enjoying too much “subsidy” on petrol and diesel. This is the biggest FALLACY.

When one purchases a car, he has to pay the Government heavy import tariffs. For example, a Toyota Vios in Thailand is only sold at approximately RM50,000.00 but it is sold at RM75,000.00 in Malaysia. Even with an average high petrol consumption of RM500.00 per month, this RM25,000.00 tariff paid to the Government is equivalent to free petrol for 8 years and 4 months.

In general, import tariff imposed by the Government increases the price of cars in Malaysia by 50% of its original prices. Therefore, when one purchases a car, he has already paid in advance the so-called “petrol subsidy” and more.

In addition, purchasers of imported cars have to pay the AP holders an average RM30,000.00 per car.

Therefore, instead of what the Government claims about subsidizing the People on petrol and diesel, car owners are actually subsidising the Government and the AP-holders.

4. Even if one were to purchase a Proton car, he has to pay for the additional “Cost of Inefficiency” brought about by protectionism in the national automobile policy.

With the AP system and high tariff imposed on foreign cars, Proton can inflate its prices above the competitive prices. It enjoys the comfort zone provided under the national automobile policy, as a result of which, it continues to be inefficient after 20 years.

The majority of the Proton car owners are not getting their value for money. They have been exploited since the inception of Proton.

Without protectionism policy, we can get much better quality cars of the same engine capacity as a Proton car, but at a lower price. A better quality car entails cheaper maintenance costs and less fuel consumption.

5. We are a net oil exporting country. Our country actually benefits from the increase in international Crude Oil Prices (COP). Compared with other oil-exporting countries, our domestic petrol and diesel prices are by far the highest. The following are some of the petrol prices in these oil-exporting countries:
Price of Petrol in Oil-exporting Countries (per litre)
· UEA — RM1.19
· Egypt — RM1.03
· Bahrain — RM0.87
· Qatar — RM0.68
· Kuwait — RM0.67
· Saudi Arabia — RM0.38
· Iran — RM0.35
· Nigeria — RM0.32
· Turkmenistan — RM0.25
· Venezuela — RM0.16
· Brunei — RM1.26

The Government should compare our petrol and diesel prices with these oil-exporting countries and not pride itself for having cheaper petrol prices than the oil-importing countries.

6. For years, the Government has been encouraging the People to buy cars so that our national car, Proton, can survive despite its inferior quality.

To encourage the People to buy cars, Bank Negara lengthens the period of repayment under the Hire-purchase Agreement for buying cars from 5 years to 9 years. By implementing such policy, the Government is actually using the People’s future income (from 5 years of future income to 9 years of future income) to support the present car industry.

As a result, large number of youngsters and middle-aged group found themselves tied down with the car-loan repayment obligation for 7 – 9 years.

It is most unfair on the part of the Government to now suddenly increase the petrol and diesel prices by such huge margin and turn around to tell these car owners to change their life-style and stop using private cars.

These car owners have bound themselves to the repayment of car-loans for the next 7 – 9 years. How are they going to make the adjustment to the sudden increase in the petrol prices and the ensuing inflation?

7. Despite the so-called “subsidy”, the Government’s net income from production of oil after deducting the so-called “subsidy” on petrol and diesel is on the increase.
These figures were obtained by the Member of Parliament for Bandar Kuching in Parliament. Over these 4 years, international COP rose continuously. These figures show that increase in international COP actually increases the Government’s income.

This is further confirmed by the statement of the former Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mhamad Yacop on 2-11-2007 that:
“ the country gained about RM250 million for every US$1 increase in the price of crude oil and that amount was after paying subsidies to maintain the price of energy in the country.”

It cannot be over-emphasised that the RM250-million gain to our country is after paying the subsidy to keep the price of fuel unchanged.

Therefore increase in international COP cannot be a reason to justify the Government’s decision to increase our petrol and diesel prices.

8. Petronas’ profit has been increasing over the last few years and it is mainly attributable to the increase in the international COP.
It is estimated that given the continuous increase in international COP, Petronas’ revenue for the financial year ended on 31-3-2008 is likely to be more than RM200 billion. Again, the figure shows that the higher the international COP, the higher Petronas’ profit will be, and in turn the higher the Government’s income from oil will be.

Furthermore, Petronas is a government-linked company (GLC) charged with the production, sale and management of our country’s richest natural resources, the oil. It derives its wealth from the production, sale and management of our country’s oil. There is no justification why it should be allowed to retain the large Net Profit while the People are suffering.

There ought to be cash payment to the People to help shoulder the escalating costs of living. It is proposed by our Party (Democratic Action Party) that a more equitable distribution of our country’s riches is:
(a) For an individual whose income is less than RM3,000.00 per month, the oil profit be utilized to pay that individual a cash sum of RM3,000.00 per year; and
(b) For a household whose total income is less than RM6,000.00 per month, the oil profit be utilized to pay that household a cash sum of RM6,000.00 per year.

9. While the Government is asking the People to change their lifestyle and use more public transport, in Sarawak, the public transport system is so poorly managed that it is practically non-existent. One can hardly get around Kuching conveniently without a private car.

Before the government decides to increase the fuel prices and urge the People to use public transport system, the Government ought to have in place an efficient public transport system which has the following characteristics:
· Punctual
· Regular
· Comfortable
· Wide coverage
· Cheap

Sarawak is the largest oil-producing State in Malaysia and has contributed tremendously to the national coffer. However, it is sad that despite our riches in natural resources and our contribution, the Federal Government continues to neglect our need for an efficient public transport system.

10. The World is now facing the inflationary pressure from the rising COP and acute shortage in food supply. Our country is blessed with abundance of crude oil. With the increased income derived from the rising COP, the Government has the ability to maintain lower and affordable petrol and diesel prices.

Due to the international economic factors, our country is also experiencing inflation. Unfortunately, there is no proportionate increase in the income of the People.

Therefore, in such times of economy difficulties and uncertainties, the Government ought to refrain from increasing the domestic petrol and diesel prices.

Given the above reasons, we urge Yang Amat Berhormat to reverse the cabinet’s decision to on 4th June, 2008 to increase the prices of petrol and diesel. We urge that the petrol and diesel prices be reduced to the pre-General Election level, ie. RM1.91 per litre of petrol and RM1.58 per litre of diesel in Sarawak.

In the interest of the People, we hope our plea herein will meet your kind approval.

Dated this 17th day of June, 2008.

Yours truly,

On behalf of Democratic Action Party, Kuching,

—————————— ———————————
YB Chong Chieng Jen YB Voon Lee Shan
MP Bandar Kuching ADUN Batu Lintang
ADUN Kota Sentosa

——————————–
YB Violet Yong Wui Wui
ADUN Pending

Monday, June 9, 2008

Kuala Lumpur, Give Back Our Oil!

According to Oil & Gas Journal, Malaysia held a proven oil reserve of 3. 0 billion barrels as at January, 2007 and our oil reserves may only last us for another 20 years or so. Due to high prices of oil in the global market, the government and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) are making lots of money.

In its financial year ending March 2007, Petronas achieved a record profit before tax of RM76.3 billion when crude oil in global market increased dramatically from under USD25 per barrel to above USD70 all within four years. Oil had made Petronas the only representative from Malaysia in the magazine Fortune 500. Due to huge profits caused by the increase of oil prices in global market, Petronas in 2007 contributed RM53.7 billion to our national coffers.

Oil revenues are of national secret and it seemed that only the Prime Minister could have access to the accounts the country could make from oil production. Taken into consideration that there are only three states in Malaysia that produces oil, that is, Sabah, Sarawak and Terangganu, it could be said that the east Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak could have contributed two-thirds of the country’s oil revenues since the passing of the Petroleum Development Act 1974, but, in return Sabah and Sarawak, each after the passing of the Act, could only get a paltry 5% of the oil money back.

Therefore, in the year 2007 Sabah and Sarawak contributed a whopping RM35.8 billion to the national coffers, but, poor Sabah and Sarawak could only got back for each state RM895 million.

The oil money had in the past years since 1974 helped West Malaysia, at the expense of Sabah and Sarawak, to become a more developed part of Malaysia with better airports, huge and tall skyscrapers, LRTs, fast lane highways and other infrastructures. The federal government could not deny that oil money from Sabah and Sarawak had not only stimulated the economy of West Malaysia, but, investments from the oil money through airports, seaports and other infrastructures had produced huge profits to federal coffers. West Malaysia had made enough from Sabah and Sarawak, and with that in mind, it is time that we should get back our oil.

Oil revenues from Sabah and Sarawak should no more be used to save sick government linked companies (GLCs), but, instead be used as medical funds for Sabahans and Sarawakians suffering from chronic diseases and for pension funds for senior citizens of these two east Malaysian states.

Therefore, I urge all politicians in Sabah and Sarawak, irrespective of either in the Opposition or in the BN to leave their political differences aside and not to lose sight of our own oil rights as oil in these two states belong to all of us Sabahans and Sarawakians. Sarawak People’s Organization (SAPO) under Raymond Szetu Mei Thong in 1978 Parliamentary Election had asked the State government to pursue the Federal Government to give back at least 50% of our oil revenue. Now, there is no reason for any politician or political party in the state to have asked for anything less than 100% of our oil back. This is because once our oil wells dries up, to give 100% back our oil would by that time be useless.

I regret that SNAP in its recent resolution passed by its Central Executive Committee (CEC) had only wanted the oil royalty to be increased to 20% (see The Borneo Post dated 8th June 2008)

The call by PKR of 20% of oil royalty to Sabah and Sarawak is also not acceptable. If Datuk Seri Anwar is sincere, he should call for the surrender back of our oil rights back and stop this legal plundering of our Sabah and Sarawak oil rights.

If all political parties and politicians in Sabah and Sarawak could work together to negotiate and demand our oil rights back, there is no reason why the federal government would not concede to our demand. After all, both states in almost every parliamentary election, contributed to about one third of all seats won by BN. This time around with the weak position of UMNO, both Sabah and Sarawak should work out a plan to step up pressure on the federal government to give back our oil and gas rights.

We must also not forget that we in Sabah and Sarawak had been paying dearer prices of petrol and diesel than those in West Malaysia before the prices were streamlined recently.

Since Malaysia is an oil producing country, the government shouldn’t instead of comparing prices of petrol and diesel with non oil producing countries like Singapore, should have the political courage to compare the price hike with oil producing countries in the Middle East, in Africa and in South America.

In a recent statement, Opposition leader, Datin Seri Dr.Wan Azizah Wan Ismail disclosed that petrol per liter in Egypt is RM1.03, Kuwait 67 sen, Saudi Arabia 38sen, Nigeria 32 sen and Venenzula 16 sen while petrol in Malaysia now has rocketed to RM2.70 per liter.

I met the Consul of Brunei in early March 2008 and at that time I was told petrol in Brunei was B$ 0. 57 per liter, that is, RM1.38. Now price of petrol in Brunei decreased to B$0.51, that is, RM1. 24. If Brunei could decrease its prices of its oil when oil at world market increased, there is no reason why Malaysia could not do so. Instead, Malaysian government chocked our throats each time oil at world market goes up and told Malaysians that this was global factor in which every country including Malaysia were helpless.

Diesel per litre in early March, 2008 was B$0.37, that is, RM1.38 and now decreased to B$B$0.31, that is, RM0.75.

RAKYAT HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR LIFESTYLE~ EAT LESS~ WALK MORE~ NO MORE FUEL SUBSIDY~ USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT~ SEMUA INI ADALAH SATU PENYAMARAN~

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

RAPID KL

Yang Berhormat Dato’ Bung Mokhtar Radin (Ahli Parlimen Kinabatangan) telah bertanya dalam Dewan Rakyat berkenaan 1000 lebih bas milik Rapid KL yang tersadai dan tidak diguna.

Bas-bas ini dikatakan asalnya milik Intrakota dan City Liner yang telah diambilalih oleh Rapid KL yang dipercayai adalah milik Khazanah. Bas-bas ini masih boleh diguna atau boleh diperbaiki dan dijual oleh Rapid KL.

Tetapi Rapid KL tidak berusaha bersungguh-sungguh untuk mendapat balik sedikit pun daripada kos pembelian syarikat-syarikat ini.

Kenapa?

Apakah Rapid KL begitu untung dan boleh tanggung rugi yang tidak kecil daripada menjadikan bas-bas yang dibeli olehnya sebagai besi buruk?

Rapid KL terkenal dengan jumlah besar bas baru yang dimilikinya. Umum tahu yang bas-bas ini kerap kosong. Oleh kerana ia adalah GLC dan melibatkan wang rakyat sepatutnya untung-ruginya diumumkan kepada orang ramai. Tetapi kita tidak pernah melihat kira-kira untung ruginya. Untung besarkah RapidKL dan Khazanah?

Kita bangga dengan design bas-bas yang dimiliki oleh Rapid KL. Ia amat moden. Saya ingin tahu siapakah yang membekal bas-bas ini. Saya percaya pembekal bas-bas ini meraih keuntungan yang besar kerana begitu banyak bas yang jelas dibeli oleh Rapid KL. Mungkinkah pelupusan dan write-off begitu banyak bas-bas lama adalah supaya bas baru dapat dibeli daripada pembekal tertentu? Jika ya, nampaknya Rapid KL diadakan untuk menguntungkan pembekal. Apakah adanya Rapid-Penang juga tidak mempunyai tujuan yang sama?

Apakah benar pembekal bas Rapid KL dan Rapid Penang ialah M-Trans yang dimiliki 100% oleh Scomi yang dimiliki oleh sipolan-sipolan yang mempunyai talian kekeluargaan dengan pemimpin besar negara?

Katanya pesanan untuk bas baru oleh Rapid KL adalah begitu banyak sehingga Scomi tidak dapat membinanya. Oleh itu Scomi dibenar import bas dari China. Apakah harga import dan harga jualan kepada Rapid KL? Apakah syarikat lain dibenar import bas baru dari luar negeri? Apakah duti import yang dibayar?

Disiarkan gambar-gambar Scomi Coach Sdn Bhd (dahulu dikenali sebagai M-Trans Sdn Bhd) yang berada di tempat yang sama dengan Scomi Rail Bhd (dahulu dikenali sebagai M-Trans Technology Sdn Bhd)

Penceroboh boleh ditembak

Bas-bas Rapid KL yang tersadai

Bas-bas baru Rapid KL yang sedang dibina di kilang Scomi

Kita juga dengar khabar angin bahawa Scomi juga dapat kontrak membekal unit-unit monorel untuk projek monorel di Pulau Pinang. Sekali lagi Scomi hanya akan membekal unit monorel sahaja dan tidak akan terlibat dengan pembangunan dan pengurusan sistem monorel di Pulau Pinang. Umum tahu pembangunan dan pengurusan tidak memberi keuntungan. Menjual unit monorel tetap untung terutama jika tidak ada tender atau tender di buat dengan spesifikasi yang hanya jenis unit monorel Scomi sahaja yang boleh menepatinya.

(Disiarkan dibawah gambar yang menunjuk rel untuk percubaan unit monorel yang terdapat di kilang Scomi Rail Bhd)

Rel untuk test unit. Dibelakang terlihat satu unit monorel di atas test-rail

Papan kenyataan Scomi Coach Sdn Bhd dan Scomi Rail Bhd

THIS POST WAS TAKEN FROM HTTP://WWW.CHEDET.COM TUN SHOW HIS OPINION ON HIKE OF OIL PRICE

Oil Price

The price of crude oil has increased by 400 percent in the last three years. It follows that the price of products must increase, sooner or later. In other countries petrol prices had already increased. In the United Kingdom one litre of petrol sells for more than one pound sterling or RM7. In the United States it is about RM5.

That the price in neighbouring countries has gone up is shown by the rush to fill up by Thai and to a lesser extent Singapore vehicles.

The Government has now announced an increase in petrol price by 78 sen to RM2.70 per litre, an increase of more than 40 per cent.

I may be mistaken but there seems to be less vehicles on the road today. But obviously that is not all that will happen. All other consumer goods, services and luxury goods would increase in price.

The cost of living must go up. Put another way there will be inflation and the standard of living will go down.

Obviously our increase in petrol price is far less than in the United Kingdom or the United States. But our per capita income is about one-third of theirs. In purchasing power terms our increase is more than in the UK or the US.

The increase hurts but the pain is greater not just because of the increase percentage-wise is higher than in developed countries but because of the manner the increase is made.

A few days ago the Government decided to ban sale of petrol to foreign cars. It flipped. Now foreign cars can buy again. Flopped.

Knowing that in a few days it was going to raise the price and foreigners would be allowed to buy, why cannot the Government just wait instead of banning and unbanning.

But be that as it may what could the Government have done to lessen the burden on the people that results from the increase in petrol price.

In the first place the Government should not have floated the Ringgit. A floating rate creates uncertainties and we cannot gain anything from the strengthened Ringgit. Certainly the people have not experienced any increase in their purchasing power because of the appreciation in the exchange rate between the US Dollar and the Ringgit.

Actually the Ringgit has increased by about 80 sen (from RM3.80 to RM3.08 to 1 US Dollar) per US Dollar, i.e. by more than 20 per cent. Had the Government retained the fixed rate system and increased the value of the Ringgit, say 10 per cent at a time, the cost of imports, in Ringgit terms can be monitored and reduced by 10 per cent. At 20 per cent appreciation the cost of imports should decrease by 20 per cent. But we know the prices of imported goods or services have not decreased at all. This means we are paying 20 per cent higher for our imports including the raw material and components for our industries.

Since oil prices are fixed in US Dollar, the increase in US Dollar prices of oil should also be mitigated by 20 per cent in Malaysian Ringgit.

But the Government wants to please the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and decided to float the Ringgit. As a result the strengthening of the Ringgit merely increased our cost of exports without giving our people the benefit of lower cost of imports.

This is not wisdom after the event. I had actually told a Government Minister not to float the Ringgit three years ago. But of course I am not an expert, certainly I know little about the international financial regimes.

I believe the people expect the increase of petrol price. But what they are angry about is the quantum and the suddenness. The Prime Minister was hinting at August but suddenly it came two months earlier, just after the ban on sale of petrol to foreigners.

If the increase had been more gradual, the people would not feel it so much. But of course this means that the Government would have to subsidise, though to a decreasing extent.

Can the Government subsidise? I am the “adviser” to Petronas but I know very little about it beyond what is published in its accounts. What I do know may not be very accurate but should be sufficient for me to draw certain conclusions.

Roughly Malaysia produces 650,000 barrels of crude per day. We consume 400,000 barrels leaving 250,000 barrels to be exported.

Three years ago the selling price of crude was about USD30 per barrel. Today it is USD130 – an increase of USD100. There is hardly any increase in the production cost so that the extra USD100 can be considered as pure profit.

Our 250,000 barrels of export should earn us 250,000 x 100 x 365 x 3 = RM27,375,000,000 (twenty seven billion Ringgit).

But Petronas made a profit of well over RM70 billion, all of which belong to the Government.

By all accounts the Government is flushed with money.

But besides petrol the prices of palm oil, rubber and tin have also increased by about 400 per cent. Plantation companies and banks now earn as much as RM3 billion in profits each. Taxes paid by them must have also increased greatly.

I feel sure that maintaining the subsidy and gradually decreasing it would not hurt the Government finances.

In the medium term ways and means must be found to reduce wasteful consumption and increase income. We may not be able to fix the minimum wage at a high level but certainly we can improve the minimum wage.

Actually our wages are high compared to some of our neighbours. The investors who come here are attracted not by cheap labour but by other factors, among which is the attitude of the Government towards the business community and the investors in particular.

From what I hear business friendliness is wanting in the present Government – so much so that even Malaysians are investing in other countries. There are rumblings about political affiliations influencing decisions. Generally Government politicians are said to be arrogant.

Malaysia is short of manpower. The labour intensive industries are not benefiting Malaysians. Foreign workers are remitting huge sums of money home.

The industrial policy must change so that high tech is promoted in order to give Malaysians higher wages to cope with rising costs of living.

The world is facing economic turmoil due to the depreciation of the US Dollar, the sub-prime loan crisis, rising oil and raw material prices, food shortages and the continued activities of the greedy hedge funds. The possibility of a US recession is real. In a way the US is already in recession. The world economy will be dragged down by it.

Malaysia will be affected by all these problems. I wonder whether the Government is prepared for this.

We cannot avoid all the negative effects but there must be ways to mitigate against them and to lessen the burden that must be borne by all Malaysians. I am sure the Government will not just pass all these problems to the people as the review of oil prices every month seem to suggest.

MALAYSIA BOLEH~ HARGA MINYAK LAGI BOLEH~ PEMIMPIN YANG PANDAI SIAPA YANG PILIH PUNYA? KAMU SENDIRI LAH YANG TERIMA PADAHNYA! LOL~

Malaysia Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Wednesday has proudly announced price hikes for petrol, diesel and electricity.

He said the new price for petrol is RM2.70 a litre, effective midnight tonight. The price goes up by 78sen from the current RM1.92, a hike of 40%.

Abdullah also announced that the price of diesel would be increased by RM1 from RM1.58 to RM2.58, an increase of 63%.

He also said that Tenaga Nasional Bhd would be raising electricity rates by 18% for homes and 26% for business users.

The announcements are part of the new fuel subsidy plan.

Abdullah also announced a RM625 annual cash rebate per vehicle, for owners of private vehicles with engine capacities of up to 2,000cc, as well as pickup trucks and jeeps with engine capacities of up to 2,500cc.

Owners of private motorcycles with engine capacities of up to 250cc will receive RM150.

Payment will be made via Money Order upon renewal of road tax, from July 1.

For owners of private vehicles with engine capacities exceeding 2000cc, road tax will be reduced by RM200.

Owners of private motorcycles with engine capacities above 250 cc will get RM50 reduction in road tax.

(this article was taken from thestar.com.my)

2008 Sichuan earthquake

For those who have money, please donate for the Sichuan, China earthquake victims,

“Your contribution could make a difference in someone’s life. No matter how small, it goes a long way.”

Mercy Malaysia

More Options for Donating your Funds to Sichuan in Malaysia

Fund for Chinese quake victims

For those who dun have money, please pray for the Sichuan, China earthquake victims,

We pray that the victims of Sichuan could have the courage to go through all these difficulties. We will always be there for you!

Let us show our Love & Sympathy for the Sichuan, China earthquake victims…

More China earthquake photos

Do you know the difference between Love and Like?