Thursday, December 31, 2009

Inspiration

Dear friends, This is an email which i got earlier from Keith Cunningham's emailing list earlier. What i want to share is the message in it, which i find is worth a deep thought on. Hopefully you will also find something meaningful to take as a lesson to move ahead.

regards, Adzimi

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We are funny how we think about some things. New Year's has taken on a special significance for most of us, as if a calendar or certain date has more meaning or somehow is better suited for some things than any other date.

Our tradition seems to be that late December is a time of reflection, nostalgia and resolutions. And so we postpone commitments about diets, money issues, relationship goals and career changes until January 1. Why do we habitually wait until the beginning of a new year to do our thinking, planning and resolving?It seems to me that having what we want in life is not based on one giant decision or resolution that is made one time each year. Looking at our collective experiences, we know this strategy does not work... if it did, none of us would have ever made the same resolution more than once and we would all have a 100% track record on the achievement of our New Year's resolutions.

What we want in our life, whether it is health, financial, relationship or spirit related is a result of a never ending stream of consistent decisions. The first decision is the easy one. It is the subsequent, reinforcing, congruent, small decisions made in the heat of battle that are the ones we struggle with and which ultimately sabotage our dreams.

Anyone can make the decision one time. Sadly, our goals are never achieved with one giant inter-galactically huge decision, but rather with the daily decisions that continuously reinforce the initial decision.

How often do you need to remake your decisions? As often as required to have what you want.

Achieving your goals is NOT a problem of goal setting. We are goal setting experts. It is an issue of continuous, consistent decision making.

Bottom line, you get what you tolerate and most people tolerate mediocrity and average. They settle by refusing to remake the decision day after day. The quality of your life is directly proportional to what you have made non-negotiable and the decision of non-negotiable is made daily.

At whatever point in your life you get clarity on what you want, whether that be New Year's Eve or August 7, make the decision to keep making the decision for as long as it takes to achieve the goal.... And then make the decision again.

Achieving your goals and dreams is only the first step. Sustaining that success is the real end game.

Sandi and I will be sitting down in a couple of days to make the first decisions for our 2010. Part of this process is the gratitude list we make and keep with us. Our experience is that gratitude for what we do have is the base on which to build our goals, dreams and future successes.

We are grateful for you and the opportunity we have had to study with you. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

We look forward to the opportunity to deepen our relationship in 2010.

Best

Keith + Sandi

Sunday, December 27, 2009

REMEMBRANCE

10th years anniversary the loss of
Ahmad Yazid Ahmad Yakin.

9th year anniversary the loss of
Mohd Shukri Yatim.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Sudahkah anda mula memotong kad plastik anda?

Courtesy of Fortune Sense (fortunesense.blogspot.com)

The credit and charge cards RM50 service tax issue seems is clearer now with the report news that quoted the clarification from the Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah regarding the credit card and charge card Rm50 service tax. The clarification is as below,

1) New credit and charge cards will have to pay the RM50 service tax upfront from year 2010. That means starting from next year, whenever you apply a new credit or charge cards, you will need to pay the RM50 service tax.

2) Existing card holders, the charge will be imposed on the "anniversary date of cards". RM50 service tax only be imposed upon the anniversary dates of the cards, which are usually issued for a three-year period.

You can find the valid date information from the credit card or charge card. Usually the credit and charge cards issuers will send a new credit card or charge card to the card holder before the stated valid date.

Do have a look on your credit card and check what the valid date of your card is. However need to have a better understanding of the "anniversary date of cards".

1) For the case whereby the anniversary date of cards including the year. If your valid date is beyond 2010 means you still can use the card without paying the RM50 service tax next year. However if your valid date is 2010, take note of the stated anniversary month of the card. Try to cancel the card before the anniversary month if you do not wish to pay the RM 50 service tax and you are not using the card.

2) For the case whereby the anniversary date of cards means only he month. Try to cancel the card before the anniversary month if you do not wish to pay the RM 50 service tax and you are not using the card.

Do double confirm with your card issuer regarding this and check whether there is any way for the credit card or charge card issuers to absorb the service tax for you. Some do but with certain conditions on it.

Will you cancel all your credit cards or charge cards due to the RM 50 service tax or maintain only one credit or charge card?

Ladies and gentlemen, and the award goes to...

Ladies and gentlemen, and the award goes to... — Art Harun (Courtesy of The Malaysian Insider and art-harun.blogspot.com)

DEC 22 — The theft of an F5-E fighter jet engine from the Royal Malaysian Air Farce, eh sorry, Air Force, perhaps aptly defines the year 2009 as far as Malaysia (1 or otherwise) is concerned.

The absurdity of it all. And not to mention the audacity of it all. And as if to further add sodium chloride to the wide gaping wounds that all of us, Malaysians, suffer every time our so-called leaders forget to take their medications, we are told that so and so have been sacked or told to leave their job, some even earning pensions and whatever.

First, it was some plastic explosives being taken out from the storage to blow to smithereens some poor woman from a far away land, whose entry into Malaysia was erased from record. Just like that. As if C4 explosives from the people who are supposed to protect our country are just some cheap chewing gum which could be taken by anybody, at any time, for whatever reason. As if immigration records are notations made on some scrapbook which could be altered, amended or erased by anybody, at any time and for whatever reason.

And nobody even shook their butt to do anything. No report. No investigation. No blinking, nothing. Just like that.

At the same time, the public has to endure living in fear of crimes. We have to keep even our rubbish bins in locks and chains. Our drainage cover has to be welded lest it will be stolen in bright daylight. Our roads and lanes have instant holes as the sewage covers are stolen. Women can't even walk on the side of our roads for fear of being dragged to their death by handbag snatchers.

Nowhere is safe. Not even in the police lock-up, as Kugan found out the hard way. Not at the MACC office either, if reports of death and torture are to be believed.

Meanwhile, those in whom who are entrusted the duty to protect us are busy tracing individuals like Raja Petra Kamarudin, who apparently had so insulted Islam that he was, and still is, deemed to be a threat to national security. Even then, with all the might and powers of the state behind them, they are not able to trace him!

If RPK had insulted Islam, what about those who had walked after Friday prayers with a bloodied and severed cow head while policemen stood by the side doing nothing for fear of "making the situation worse"? Haven't they insulted Islam? What about those who said non-Malays are second-class citizens? And those who wrote that the Kelings are so lucky to be in Malaysia that they should just shut up and count their blessings? Oh well, they are given a pat on their shoulder because the newspaper they wrote for is the "voice of the people".

And at the same time, billions are squandered, pillaged and stolen. PKFZ has become really dirty letters. And what do we all get? Yes. We get engineers, architects and some minions charged for falsifying claims and the like. Now, the questions are, were all those false claims paid? If so, why? And who are the beneficiaries of those payments? Who authorised those payments? Aren't they guilty of something too?

Elsewhere we are the masters of sloganeering and self-glorification. We shout and scream 1 Malaysia at every possible instant and opportunity. Why? Even our mandatory "salam" has been reviewed to "Salam Satu Malaysia".

We have become, or been reduced to, a society which is shallow. Which is no deeper than our skin and the colour of it. We are obsessed with some drama actress becoming the second wife of a member of Parliament who ironically declared that women "leaked" once a month. Never mind the FDIs. Never mind the proposed GST. Never mind the Copenhagen Conference failing to reach any kind of tangible consensus on climate control.

Never mind. Because we are a society who love celebrities and their weddings. And divorce too.

An old professor of mine remarked to me over tea some months ago. After leaving Malaysia for Japan for so many years, he observed that Japan had gone through a period of extreme physical and material transformations. Coming back to Malaysia briefly after some years, he also noted that Malaysia had achieved so much physical and material transformation, just like Japan.

But there is one marked difference. Japan and her people have not seen their values and honour change. Their values and old-aged honour are still part of their society. They still know their responsibilities. Their duty to account. They still possess a deep sense of honour. And all that despite their physical and material achievements.

Malaysia and her people, according to him, have lost their sense of honour. We have changed our values. We are now measured not by our honesty, honour and sense of responsibility. We are now measured by the location of our houses and mansions; by the Cayennes X6 and whatever road-going behemoth that we drive; by how much power we can wield to bend the rules and laws in our favour; by how much favour we can call our friends in high places to do us. And of course by the trophy wives and girlfriends (and vice versa) who are seen beside us with the obligatory gold and diamond-crusted watch, LV handbag and Blahnik shoes.

Because that is what we are now. How we acquire those material possessions is not important. The question is what we do possess.

We are a society which is almost bereft of any spiritual and moral guidance. As if whatever is fair is foul and foul is fair. As if the very fabric of our existent has changed. And for the worse, that is.

It is the little wonder that a whole jet engine could be stolen from our royal air force. It is a right royal embarrassment, by any count. But what do we care? It is an old engine. We could buy thousands more. We have the money. And the persons whom we think are responsible for this shameful act have left.

Never mind any criminal offence which have quite obviously been committed by these people. They have after all been punished by being told to quietly leave. That was what we did to Ahmad Ismail, remember? And Isa Samad, remember? We dealt with them internally. They have served their sentence. And they, as everybody else, deserve a second, or even a third, chance. Why? Even Anwar Ibrahim, a convicted criminal, is now a member of Parliament.

And so we are told that we do have a full-proof system which would ensure these kind of things do not happen. But is this system fool-proof? Because if it is not, then there will always be some fools who can't even operate within a full-proof system. That is quite obvious.

And so we are told that there will not be a cover up. Yes, we, the people expect that there will be no cover up. But of course what constitutes a "cover-up" is subject to interpretation, isn't it? Like "we will not discuss it ever because the matter concerns national security". Is that a cover up? Or "we cannot charge them because matters concerning national security should not be discussed in open court". Is that a cover-up? Or "we can only charge them behind closed doors because the matter concerns national security". Is that a cover-up?

And we are left to wonder how it all happened. And why did it take a full year before the whole magical act was discovered by our ever vigilant military who is supposed to protect our nation from rogue countries, evil terrorists, Islam-insulting individuals scum of the Earth and hell, and Ketuanan Melayu evil objectors who really should just go back to wherever they came from (never mind the fact that these people were born in this country).

Would it be a severe case of paranoia if we, the people, start to wonder what else has been stolen from our military? Like our defence strategy? Or tactical blueprint? After all, these are sensitive and highly protected secrets (or supposed to be). Remember what they said in Parliament when questions were raised as to why there was not open tender for the submarines that we bought? It was said that open tenders should not be called because that will expose our national security matters unnecessarily.

Oh well, why must we worry. We still have our submarines. — art-harun.blogspot.com

Monday, December 21, 2009

MALAKOFF RUN 2009.... SOUVENIER

A MIXTURE OF EVERYTHING

Yesterday was a big day. Very big day. I supposed I have to run 6km Malakoff Run at Bukit Kiara.

Woke up at 6am after my wife's mobile alarm made it's annoying sound and disturbing my good Sunday sleep. !@(#$^&(@*#& I am late! The first thing came to my mind, do I really want to do this? Since I already paid for it (paid through Aini, tried to asked her for 10 bucks discount out of 15 bucks, and her answer was kepala otak ko!.... so my guess I have to pay full fees >_<) as well as my promise to Adzimi and Linda I woke up lazily and do the necessary (apart from taking shower) and heads to the Bukit Kiara.

6:35am: Arrival of the first timer runner at Bukit Kiara Equestrian Club
6:50am: Tipah tertipu!!! The PA lady said its 7km. Wait, I registered for 6k not 7! 7:00am: The first timer met Aini for his running number. Still contemplating to do the running
7:10am: Meet another first timer, Adzimi at the starting line up
7:13am: Still pinching myself, do I really doing this for real? Started to run 7:28am: Completed 2km after first hill
7:45am: Around this time we encounter one hill, *#(&*(&#^ steep even walking is a pain in the leg.
8:10am: Out of sudden, saw Aini taking photos. Jog to pose hehhe >_<
8:15am: We saw mat saleh in a car with running shirt and stuck at the junction waiting for the backbencher runners to clear off the road. He must completed ages ago!!!
8:20am: Completed my first 6k run or rather 7k run with running pose, not walking.
8:25am: Nikfa said its not 7k, its 7.5k, tipah tertipu lagi!!!

Then, pics, pics, pics, eat, eat, talk, talk, talk, talk, then go home

Three cars behind where I parked my car got smashed windscreen. Its a merc. Really spoiled the day. The car got two big sticker, Save Gaza at the rear windscreen. Hope nothing valuable is lost.

Nak buat lagi? Let me think.....

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

ASB Dividend is 7.30 Sen Per Unit for Year 2009

Courtesy of Fortune Sense:

Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB) announced that for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2009, Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) unit holders will receive - Income distribution of 7.30 sen per unit and - Bonus of 1.25 sen per unit - Total is 8.55 sen per unit



Last year income distribution was- Income distribution of 7.00 sen per unit and - Bonus of 1.75 sen per unit - Total is 8.75 sen per unit



The total dividend yield for this year is 0.20 sen lower than last year and there is 6.78 million unit holders who currently hold more than 70 billion ASB units.



Even tough the yield is lower than last year but the total payment for this year is RM5.48 billion compared to total payment of RM4.79 billion last year



According to PNB group chief executive and president Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman ASB is capable of paying more than 11 sen per unit but decided to paying 7.30 sen per unit and bringing forward the balance of 3.70 sen for 2010. The quoted reason is to ensure that the money could be use to buy more shares and do more investment.



Financial Result of ASB- Gross income for year 2009 - RM5.46 billion up to 10 December 2009 (year 2008 - RM5.28 billion)- Dividend income - RM1.48 billion, or 27 per cent- Profit from the sale of shares - RM3.67 billion, or 67 per cent- Investments in short-term instruments and other investments - RM309 million or 6.0 per cent



From the data, it shows that more than 60% of the income was generated by share trading. The income distribution and bonus will be automatically credited into the unit holders' accounts. All transactions for ASB will be suspended from Dec 21 until January 3 to enable the calculation of income distribution and bonus. Unit holders will be able to update their accounts from January 4.



ASB is a fixed price equity income fund, opened for Bumiputera aged 12 years and above. Normally the ASW 2020 and ASM dividend is slightly lower than the ASB dividend. Since the ASB dividend is at the range of 7 percent excluding the bonus units.



Do wait and see whether next April and next September the ASM and ASW 2020 dividend is still maintain at 6 percent plus range (ASM and ASW 2020 Dividend Rate). Besides, on next October the AS 1Malaysia will declare the first maiden dividend.



The 6 to 8 percent per annual return rate from the ASNB fixed price unit trust product could be used as a return rate benchmark to beat if we want to invest on other investment tools.



The return yield from the other investment tools should higher than the 6 to 8 percent per year to justify the time and the risks we put on it instead of invest in the ASNB fixed price products. What do you think of this?

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Anything weird here?

What do you think?

What car names mean

BMW: Brings Me Women.
FIAT: Failure in Italian Automotive Technology.
FORD: For Only Rough Drivers.
HYUNDAI: Hope You Understand Nothing's Drivable And Inexpensive
VOLVO: Very Odd Looking Vehicular Object.
PORSCHE: Proof Of Rich Spoiled Children Having Everything.KIA: Kills In Accidents
OPEL: Old People Enjoying Life
TOYOTA: The One You Only Trust, Always
GOLF/GTI: Girls Only Love Fun / Get Them Inside
HONDA: Hanged Over, Now Driving Away
PROTON: Personnel Ride Only, Towing On Negotiate... hehe

Thursday, December 10, 2009

CONGRATS HARUN ASRI

Congrats to Harun Asri 504 for his upcoming wedding at Dewan Felda Perdana on 17th January 2010. Sorry the attendance is by invitation only and very limited seats. Harun would like to apologize in advance since he could not invite most of us.

Congrats again! Semoga kekal ke akhir hayat

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Jejak Kasih edisi Jeddah

Next time, tolong bawak aku pergi makan makanan Arab pulak.....

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

How much do Malaysians spend?

How much do Malaysians spend?

If you think you're not paying for all these, think again.

Electricity bills and you

I thought i'd just share this lesson i learnt yesterday. I have a condo unit which is being rented out to an Arab student (with his family). He's a very kind guy and the nicest tenant i've ever had, though at first i did have doubts (after hearing stories about Middle Easterns). I guess i'm one of the lucky few!

One of the things that i occasionally do is to login to TNB's e-service webpage to just check on the status of the electricity bills for units that i have rented out. So i so happen to check this particular unit, and to my shock, his latest electricity bill came to be RM 2,400. His usual bills are normally about RM 30 or so. So a natural reaction would be to call TNB to demand for an explanation (at this juncture, my tenant has not known about his electricity bill yet).

TNB explained that the bills for the past 7 months (since May) are all 'estimated' bills. I asked how could it be estimated, since this is a condo and they would have access to the electricity meter. Standard answer by the clerk (i don't blame her) is 'Maaf Encik, saya cuma membaca apa yang tertera pada sistem'.

In the end, the bill is what it is. Because the past 7 months bills were estimated, and thus he was under billed, rightfully TNB could recoup this under billing and bill him this month when they did an actual reading (Apparently there is some Akta that covers this in the contract agreement we signed with TNB when purchasing a property and applying for power connection). His average bill is supposed to be about the region of RM 300 a month, so that is actually about right for 7 months accumulation.

The questions i have for TNB: 1. I noticed that there has been an increase in rate sometime in August. But the under billing was from the old rate. Now when you do a catch up bill, it is at a new rate. Isn't that unfair, because customer is billed at a new rate, when the electricity was at an old rate.

2. TNB should not have let an estimated bill be more than 2 to 3 months at max. Leaving it for 7 months is a great burden to consumers. And now you expect for a one lump sum payment of 7 months catch up bill, when it was TNB's fault at first for not doing an actual reading?

3. When TNB does current reading, they take the difference between the old meter reading and today. So in this case, there is a delta of 5000 units for example. And this 5000 units is spread out against the different bands of today's rate, and a higher band (as the units increase) incurs higher rate. So isn't it unfair to consumers to have to pay higher, because if the proper reading were taken before, an average electricity movement per month is probably about 700 units, and would be on the lower band, thus lower electricity charge if i were to accumulate each bill individually.

In the end the electricity was consumed by my tenant, and he still has to pay for it. But through no fault of his, he is now being burdened with a one lump sum bill, and risk getting a power cut because of what i perceive as TNB's ineffectiveness in getting a proper reading. Why it was an estimated bill for 7 months, we'll never know i guess, though logically it should not have been.

Probably you guys should check your bills, and if the bill is pretty low compared to what you normally use, it is worth while to double check. Otherwise be prepared for surprises.

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

What is your excuse?

p/s: Azizi Ali is one of my personal favourite author. He's a multi millionaire and an acknowledged and well known property guru. However, Azizi is also a financial trainer, not only qualified academically, but he has the experience and $$$$$ in the banks to be able to stand in his own league. He definitely walks his talks.

The Book Of Excuses by Azizi Ali

One of the funny things (at least it’s funny to me) is hearing the excuses people give to justify why they are not rich. What’s ever funnier is that the people call them “reasons”; I call them excuses.

Throughout the years, I’ve heard excuses such as “I don’t want the responsibility” to “people would come to rob me” to “I’m too young” to “I’m too old”! I’ve heard the works and now would like to share them with you.Enjoy! It’s too much work.

It’s too difficult.

I’m not greedy.

If I’m rich, people would come to rob me.

If I’m rich, people would come to borrow money from me.

If I’m rich, people would kidnap my children.If I become rich, people would hate me.

I have to learn about stocks, properties, investments, tax, estate planning, running businesses and all.

It’s too much hassle.

I’m too young.

I’m too old.

I’m not smart enough.

I’m not intelligent enough.

I didn’t go the right school.

I don’t have the right contacts.

I don’t have enough knowledge.

I don’t have enough capital.

I’m not lucky enough.

What if I make it and then lose it all? Then it’ll all be a waste of time.

I’ll be paying even more tax. And God knows I’m paying a lot of tax as it is already.

I’ll never know if people like me for what I am or because of my money.

It might take me away from doing the things that I like to do.

What will my colleagues/friends/family say?

Who me? Rich? No, I don’t think so.I never even thought about it.People may criticize me behind my back.

People may laugh at me.

I’m happy where I am.

What if I failed? Then I’ll really look stupid.

It’s too risky.

It’s too dangerous.

My religion forbids the accumulation of wealth.

I’d rather be doing more important things (such as watching TV).

In my world, the pursuit of academic excellence is more important than the pursuit of wealth.

It’s so unrefined – all this talk about wealth and money.

How much more money do you want?

I wouldn’t know what to do with all that money.

I’d prefer to do charity work instead of mindlessly chasing after money.

Too much wealth is not good. Moderation is the way to everything.

My husband will start thinking about having a second wife

What’s the point? My wife and/or children will just spend it all.

What’s the point? It’ll only last three generations.

What’s the point? I do the work; other people get to enjoy the money. My children will just be fighting one another for the inheritance when I die.

I don’t want the responsibility.

I don’t want to cheat or take advantage of people.

Money is the root of all evil.

Money is not important.

God don’t like rich people.

There are more important things in life than money, you know.

Happiness is more important than money. If I become rich, I cannot be happy.

Health is more important than money. If I become rich, I may lose my health.

You can’t have your cake and eat it too. If I become rich, something else will have to give. And I don’t want to give anything up.

What’s the point? When you die, you’ll die alone like everyone else.

If I’m rich, it means less for other people.

It’s difficult to become rich in this country.

I’m waiting for the right time.

The opportunity has not presented itself yet.

My horoscope says not to start any new business this year.

My Feng Shui master said it’s not the right time.

It’s all up to God. I leave everything to God.

I want to enjoy life first. You’re only young once.

I have too much responsibility to think about anything else at this point in time.

I’m already drowning in work as it is. You want me to do more work?

That’s my husband’s job.

So there you go, folks, a partial (!) list of excuses people give why they are not rich. My favourite?

Read on.

That’s the problem with the world today. Everyone is too gung-ho about money. All they think about is money, money and more money.

New Fuel Subsidy System in May 2010

Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said the new fuel subsidy system will be ready for implementation in May 2010 and it is a system using the Mykad.

The details of the implementation not yet announced by the government. However there was news reported that the subsidy system is as follow,

- No subsidy for foreigners and the vehicles with the engine capacity 2.0 cc above

- 50% subsidy for car engine in between 1.5 cc and 2.0 cc

- 100% subsidy for engine 1.5 cc below

----------------------------------------- Dear friends, What do you think of this new subsidy system? Kalau ikut 1.5 to 2.0 boleh dapat 50% subsidy, ini termasuklah proton wira etc. I wonder if lepas ni kalau nak isi minyak pam cashier kene verify ke berapa cc kereta kau dulu? Or maybe lepas ni dalam mykad ada tulis kau bawak kereta apa? Hmm...
..::disclaimer::..
website ni bukan official website mrsm taiping... mau carik official punya, http://www.mrsmkm.edu.my/taiping/. segala isi kandungan dalam blog ni tak mewakili mrsm taiping dan MARA. Untuk cari Ansara Cawangan Taiping, bleh p ke http://www.actorg.net. Kat ACTorg.net, webmaster dia Abg Damit.... website ni utk geng2 mrsm taiping batch 9495 lay-park, borak2, merapu, meroyan, melalak.

jemput tengok dan tengok lagi.. kalau tak puas jugak bleh la tinggal message ka, letak comment ka... mau Lagi??? email la sama wa kat taiping9495 at gmail dot com.

terima kasih kat sapa2 yg tolong website ni secara jualan langsung atau black market....

article yg ada dlm ni adalah hakcipta blog ni kecuali ada dinyatakan dicilok dari sumber2 tertentu... segala komen yg dibuat dalam blog ni takde langsung mewakili blog nih.. komen2 tu adalah hak dan rekacipta org yg tulis komen tu... ada paham? webmaster ada hak utk meng'edit', meng'keluar'kan mana2 post yg dirasakan tidak sesuai