Mari cemerlang Dengan Islam

A bit long but worth reading....

By Abi Hidayati

“Dan (ingatlah), Allah memberi rezeki kepada sesiapa yang dikehendaki-Nya dengan tidak terkira (menurut undang-undang peraturan-Nya). “(Al Baqarah 2:212)

“Dan (ingatlah) ketika Nabi Ibrahim berdoa dengan berkata: "Wahai Tuhanku! Jadikanlah (negeri Makkah) ini, negeri yang aman sentosa, dan berikanlah rezeki dari berbagai jenis buah-buahan kepada penduduknya, iaitu orang-orang yang beriman kepada Allah dan hari akhirat di antara mereka". Allah berfirman:" (Permohonanmu itu diterima) tetapi sesiapa yang kufur dan ingkar maka Aku akan beri juga ia bersenang-senang menikmati rezeki itu bagi sementara (di dunia), kemudian Aku memaksanya (dengan menyeretnya) ke azab neraka, dan (itulah) seburuk-buruk tempat kembali" (Al Baqarah 2:126)

*********

Mengikut sunatullah, Allah memberi rezeki kepada semua, yang beriman dan yang kafir. Tetapi, yang beriman dapat kejayaan dunia dan akhirat. Yang kafir, Allah beri rezeki untuk dunia saja dan mereka akan dihumban ke dalam neraka di akhirat nanti.

Laporan Keputusan SPM 2009

Ketua Pengarah Pendidikan Malaysia telah mengumumkan keputusan SPM 2009. Malangnya akhbar-akhbar harian perdana hanya memberi lapuran meluas tentang keputusan SPM sekolah-sekolah bukan agama.

Pelajar-pelajar dari sekolah agama , khususnya dari Kelantan, juga mencapai keputusan SPM cemerlang. Seperti biasa, hanya akhbar Harakah saja memberi liputan meluas tentang perkara ini.

Tidak Tahu Guna Media Massa

Sepatutnya akhbar-akhbar yang dikuasai orang-orang Melayu, seperti NST, BH dan UM, menonjolkan kejayaan ini untuk menaikan imej dan kepercayaan diri pelajar-pelajar Melayu / Islam yang mereka juga boleh cemerlang seperti yang Allah janjikan dalam ayat-ayat dari Surah Al Baqarah 126 dan 212 di atas.

Seperti musuh Islam kata, umumnya, orang Islam tidak tahu mengguna media massa dengan betul.

Kecemerlangan Pelajar-pelajar dari sekolah Agama

Pencapaian sekolah agama setanding, kalau pun tidak lebih cemerlang dari sekolah bukan agama.

Keputusan SPM 2009 Sekolah Agama Kelantan

Sekolah	15A	14A	13A	12A	11A	10A	9A	Jumlah Pelajar SPM
Maahad Laki	1	1	1	9	9	13	22	359
Maahad Perempuan	1	1	1	5	10	14	20	385

Maahad (Agama) Lelaki
Seorang 12A+ (Pelajar terbaik SPM 2009 negara 10+). Kenapa dia tidak diistihar sebagai pelajar terbaik SPM 2009?

Maahad (Agama) Perumpuan
Seorang 10A+
Pelajar Hafiz/Hafizah Juga Cemerlang
Satu perkara yang juga tidak diketengahkan oleh akhbar perdana ialah kecemerlengan pelajar-pelajar yang menghafal 30 juzuk Al Quran. Seorang hafiz dari Maahad Tahfiz Pulau Chondong Kelantan mendapat 14A (13A+ dan 1A) dan seorang hafizzah mendapat 13A (9a+, 3A dan 1A-).

(Rizal Tahir “SPM: Dua Pelajar Maahad Muhammadi Dapat 15 A” Harakah daily net 12 Mac 2010 )

MCKK: Tiada seorang dapat semua A+

21 semua A
Pelajar-pelajar MCKK dan TKC adalah pelajar-pelajar terpilih, yang mendapat keptusan UPSR terbaik di negara. Sebaliknya, pelajar-pelajar Maahad Lelaki dan Perumpuan pelajar yang tidak terpilih ke MCKK atau TKC. Kalau pun ada pelajar-pelajar cemerlang yang menolak pelawaan ke MCKK atau TKC tetapi memilih untuk ke Maahad, jumlahnya hanya sedikit saja.

Bagaimana Islam Menjamin Kejayaan Dunia dan Akhirat?

Untuk mencapai kejayaan dunia dan akhirat, manusia mesti mengikut petunjuk Allah.

1. Niat:
Nilai setiap perbuatan manusia bergantung kepada niat. Tujuan kita belajar ialah kerana menurut perintah pertama Allah kepada manusia: “Iqra!” (Baca!) Ini perintah Allah untuk manusia mencari ilmu . Membaca ialah cara utama untuk mendapat ilmu. Dengan ilmu, kita dapat beriman kepada Allah dengan betul:

“Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang sebenar-benarnya beriman hanyalah orang-orang yang percaya kepada Allah dan RasulNya, kemudian mereka (terus percaya dengan) tidak ragu-ragu lagi, serta mereka berjuang dengan harta benda dan jiwa mereka pada jalan Allah; mereka itulah orang-orang yang benar (pengakuan imannya). “ (Al Hujurat 49:15)

Jelas, tujuan utama mencari ilmu ialah untuk mengenali Allah, beriman kepada-Nya dan untuk meningkatkan rasa takut/taqwa kepada -Nya. Iman, yang bertunjangkan ilmu yang mengeratkan hubungan manusia dengan Allah, akan menguasai perbuatan manusia supaya melakukan suruhan-Nya dan meninggalkan larangan-Nya.

“Sebenarnya yang menaruh bimbang dan takut (melanggar perintah) Allah dari kalangan hamba-hambaNya hanyalah orang-orang yang berilmu.” (Al Fatir 35:28) .

Dengan ketaqwaan, jadilah manusia itu yang terbaik. “Sesungguhnya semulia-mulia kamu di sisi Allah ialah orang yang lebih taqwanya di antara kamu, (bukan yang lebih keturunan atau bangsanya).” (Al Hujurat 49:13) . “Kamu (wahai umat Muhammad) adalah sebaik-baik umat yang dilahirkan bagi (faedah) umat manusia, (kerana) kamu menyuruh berbuat segala perkara yang baik dan melarang daripada segala perkara yang salah (buruk dan keji), serta kamu pula beriman kepada Allah (dengan sebenar-benar iman).” (al Imran 3:110)

Ilmu juga dapat menolong manusia memenuhi tujuan penciptaan manusia. “Dan (ingatlah) ketika Tuhanmu berfirman kepada Malaikat; "Sesungguhnya Aku hendak menjadikan seorang khalifah di bumi". (Al Baqarah 2: 30).

Khalifah ialah wakil Allah di dunia, dijadikan Allah untuk mengurus bumi dengan mengikut petunjuk-Nya, supaya manusia dapat hidup aman dan bahagia.

Ilmu juga dapat membantu manusia menangani segala ujian Allah yang merupakan satu dari pada tujuan penciptaan manusia.

“Dia lah yang telah mentakdirkan adanya mati dan hidup (kamu) - untuk menguji dan menzahirkan keadaan kamu: siapakah di antara kamu yang lebih baik amalnya; dan Ia Maha Kuasa (membalas amal kamu), lagi Maha Pengampun, (bagi orang-orang yang bertaubat);.” (Al Mulk 67:2)

“Demi sesungguhnya! Kami akan menguji kamu dengan sedikit perasaan takut dan (dengan merasai) kelaparan, dan (dengan berlakunya) kekurangan dari harta benda dan jiwa serta hasil tanaman. Dan berilah khabar gembira kepada orang-orang yang sabar: (Al Baqarah 2: 155)

Dan dengan ilmu, iman dan amal, manusia dapat menguasai bumi Allah; “Dan demi sesungguhnya, Kami telah tulis di dalam Kitab-kitab yang Kami turunkan sesudah ada tulisannya pada Lauh Mahfuz: "Bahawasanya bumi itu akan diwarisi oleh hamba-hambaKu yang soleh" (Al Anbiya' 21:105)

Inilah prinsip dasar Islam: Dengan ilmu kita kenal dan beriman dengan Allah; dengan iman kita beramal/ buat sesuatu dengan harapan agar di akhirat nanti, dengan izin-Nya, kita masuk ke syurga dan di tempatkan di syurga Firdaus.

2. Ibadat
Dengan niat yang betul, maka belajar menjadi satu ibadat. Ia memberi pahala ke pada pelajar selama dia belajar. Maksud hadis Nabi Muhammad saw :

“Barang siapa menempuh suatu jalan untuk menuntut ilmu pengetahuan, maka Allah swt akan melorongkan baginya jalan ke syorga.” (Petikan dari Imam Ghazaali “Bimbingan Mu'min (Ihya' 'Ulumuddin) bab Kitab Ilmu Pengtahuan m.s 14 cetakan tahun 1979)

3. Minda Islam:
Untuk mendapat hasil maksimum dari pembelajaran, maka pelajar mesti mengurang gangguan kepada mindanya. Minda bekerja mengguna tenaga minda. Sekiranya tenaga minda dilencongkan untuk menghadapi tekanan/stress, yang mencetuskan rasa bimbang dan sedih yang melemahkan kuasa ingatan, maka hanya sedikit saja tenaga minda boleh diguna untuk belajar. Hasilnya, kurang kecemerlangan.

Sekarang, wabak penyakit utama di seluruh dunia ialah kebimbingan dan kesedihan (anxiety and depression), bukan sakit jantung, barah, tekanan darah tinggi dan kencing manis (diabetes ). Jesteru, dengan sifat Ar Rahman dan Ar Rahim-Nya, Allah mengadakan beberapa prinsip untuk mencapai ketenangan minda semaksimum mungkin: “ Dia lah yang menurunkan semangat tenang tenteram ke dalam hati orang-orang yang beriman supaya mereka bertambah iman dan yakin beserta dengan iman dan keyakinan mereka yang sedia ada; pada hal Allah menguasai tentera langit dan bumi (untuk menolong mereka); dan Allah adalah Maha Mengetahui, lagi Maha Bijaksana.”(Al Fat-h 48:4)

“Wahai umat manusia! Sesungguhnya telah datang kepada kamu Al-Quran yang menjadi nasihat pengajaran dari Tuhan kamu, dan yang menjadi penawar bagi penyakit-penyakit batin yang ada di dalam dada kamu, dan juga menjadi hidayah petunjuk untuk keselamatan, serta membawa rahmat bagi orang-orang yang beriman”. (Yunus 10:57)

“Kami berfirman lagi: "Turunlah kamu semuanya dari syurga itu! Kemudian jika datang kepada kamu petunjuk dariKu (melalui Rasul-rasul dan Kitab-kitab yang diturunkan kepada mereka), maka sesiapa yang mengikuti petunjukKu itu nescaya tidak ada kebimbangan (dari sesuatu yang tidak baik) terhadap mereka, dan mereka pula tidak akan berdukacita. (Al Baqarah 2: 38)

"(Iaitu) orang-orang yang beriman dan tenang tenteram hati mereka dengan zikrullah". Ketahuilah dengan "zikrullah" itu, tenang tenteramlah hati manusia. (Ar Ra'd. 13:28)

Minda manusia akan rasa tenang bila ia yakin tentang sesuatu. Bila berdepan dengan musibah, orang Islam yang sentiasa ingat kepada Allah akan merasa tenteram bila dia ingat firman Allah yang bermaksud:

“Allah tidak memberati seseorang melainkan apa yang terdaya olehnya.”(Al Baqarah 2:286)

“Oleh itu, maka (tetapkanlah kepercayaanmu) bahawa sesungguhnya tiap-tiap kesukaran disertai kemudahan,

(Sekali lagi ditegaskan): bahawa sesungguhnya tiap-tiap kesukaran disertai kemudahan.” ( Al Nasyarah 94: 5-6)

Bila terpahat dalam minda kita bahawa kesusahan itu sementara dan Allah menjamin bahawa Dia, dengan sifat-Nya Maha Pemurah dan Penyayang, buat sesuatu hanya ke tahap yang kita boleh tangani , jiwa jadi tenang. Sebab itu sentiasa ingat kepada Allah amat penting: “....dan sesungguhnya mengingati Allah adalah lebih besar (faedahnya dan kesannya)” (Al Ankabut 29:45) dan “Dan janganlah kamu menjadi seperti orang-orang yang telah melupakan (perintah-perintah) Allah, lalu Allah menjadikan mereka melupakan (amal-amal yang baik untuk menyelamatkan) diri mereka. Mereka itulah orang-orang yang fasik - derhaka” (Al Hasyr 59:19)

Bila Nabi Muhammad saw ditimpa apa-apa musibah, Baginda saw terus sembahyang sunat dua rakaat, kerana dalam solat manusia paling hampir kepada Allah.

Ini berbeda dengan pelajar-pelajar bukan Islam yang mencari ketenangan jiwa denga muzik, sukan, arak, dadah-dadah lain seperti ganja, judi dan party. Semua ini membuat mereka lupa sementara kepada apa-apa masalah yang mereka sedang alami.

3. Bahasa: Bahasa mempunyai peranan penting dalam pencapaian kecermelangan. Allah menjadi manusia dengan berbagai bahasa. Jadi, Dia memberi petunjuk bagaiman memanafaatkan bahasa. “Dan Kami tidak mengutuskan seseorang Rasul melainkan dengan bahasa kaumnya supaya ia menjelaskan (hukum-hukum Allah) kepada mereka” (Ibrahim 14:4) “

“Dan kalaulah Al-Quran itu Kami jadikan (bacaan) dalam bahasa asing, tentulah mereka akan berkata: "Mengapa tidak dijelaskan ayat-ayatnya (dalam bahasa yang kami fahami)? Patutkah Kitab itu berbahasa asing sedang Rasul yang membawanya berbangsa Arab?" (Al Fussilat 41:44). Perlu dingat bahawa masa Al Quran diturun, bahasa ilmu dan perniagaan ialah bahasa Farsi dan Latin, dua bahasa kaum, kaum Rom dan kaum Farsi, yang menguasai dunia masa itu.

Jelas bahawa penggunaan bahasa ibunda bagi setiap kaum amat penting bagi menyampaikan pengajaran. Lihat saja apa yang berlaku kepada kaum bumiputra di Amerika Syarikat (Red Indians), Amerika Selatan, masyarakat Abrogine di Australia dan kaum Maori di New Zealand di mana bahasa asing, bahasa Inggeris, bukan bahasa ibunda mereka, diguna sebagai bahasa pengantar dalam sistem pendidikan negara. Mereka jadi hina, miskin dan terbiar.

"Dan sesiapa yang berpaling ingkar dari ingatan dan petunjukKu, maka sesungguhnya adalah baginya kehidupan yang sempit, dan Kami akan himpunkan dia pada hari kiamat dalam keadaan buta". (Ta Haa 20:124)

Masyarakat Melayu pernah megalami nasib yang sama. Selepas merdeka sehingga tahun 1969, bahasa pengantar negara ialah bahasa Inggeris. Pelajar-pelajar Melayu kurang cemerlang. Hanya selepas trajedi 13 Mei 1969, bila bahasa pengantar di tukar kepada Bahasa Melayu, pelajar-pelajar Melayu setanding dengan pelajar-pelajar Cina di sekolah jenis kebangsaan Cina.

5. Peranan Guru Di peringkat awal dakwah Nabi Muhammad saw, buta huruf berleluasa.
Baginda saw bertindak dengan menyuruh orang-orang tawanan perang, yang tahu membaca, menjadi guru kepada orang-orang Islam. Sebagai balasan, Nabi saw membebaskan guru-guru itu. Orang-orang islam yang baru tahu membaca pula menjadi guru. Seterusnya, orang Islam mengembara di seluruh dunia, sehingga India dan Cina, untuk menuntut ilmu. Sekembali mereka, ilmu yang baru diperolehi disaring mengikut nilai Islam, di kembangkan dan diajar kepada orang Islam dalam bahasa ibunda Arab.

Kenapa penekanan kepada peranan guru? Mengikut satu kajian di England, guru berperanan membuat pelajar cemerlang jadi kurang cemerlang, dan pelajar biasa jadi cemerlang.(S. Covey: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People A Fireside Book 1989 m.s. 300-301 )

Orang Melayu pernah alami suasana ini. Sebelum trajedi 13 Mei 1969, majoriti guru ialah bukan Islam. Selepas trajedi itu, ramai orang Melayu dilatih menjadi guru sehinggakan kini majoriti guru ialah orang Melayu, khususnya di sekolah kebangsaan dan UKM. Kecermelangan pelajar-pelajar Melayu menyerlah.

Perbezaan di antara guru Muslim dan bukan muslim jelas: “Dan tidak ada yang lebih baik perkataannya daripada orang yang menyeru kepada (mengesakan dan mematuhi perintah) Allah, serta ia sendiri mengerjakan amal yang soleh, sambil berkata: "Sesungguhnya aku adalah dari orang-orang Islam (yang berserah bulat-bulat kepada Allah)!" (Al Fushshilat 41:43) Dan mereka bekerja bersungguh-sungguh bukan kerana harapan tinggi imbuhan di dunia, tetapi kerana takut kepada Allah. Maksud hadis Nabi saw : “ Sesiapa yang mengetahui sesutau ilmu lalu disembunyikaannya, nescaya di Hari Khiamat nanti, ia akan dikekang oleh Allah swt dengan tali kekang dari api neraka.” (“Bimbingan Mu'min (Ihya' 'Ulumuddin) bab Kitab Ilmu Pengtahuan m.s 16 cetakan tahun 1979)

6. Cara Belajar Cara belajar yang betul penting untuk kecemerlangan.
“Dan Kami telah menunjukkan kepadanya dua jalan, (jalan kebaikan untuk dijalaninya, dan jalan kejahatan untuk dijauhi)?” (Al Balad 90:10) .

Cara belajar mathematiks lain dari cara belajar sejarah. Maka pelajar perlu mendekati guru untuk bertanya cara belajar setiap mata pelajaran yang paling berkesan. Umumnya, cara belajar paling berkesan ialah SQ3R.

7. Kerja keras dan Istiqamah.
Satu kejayaan besar hanya boleh dicapai dengan kerja keras dan konsisten.

“Kemudian apabila engkau telah selesai (daripada sesuatu amal soleh), maka bersungguh-sungguhlah engkau berusaha (mengerjakan amal soleh yang lain)”(Alam Nasyarah 94:7)

8. Solat Hajat
Sementara berusaha bersungguh-sungguh, pelajar jangan lupa mengharap kepada Allah. “Dan kepada Tuhanmu sahaja hendaklah engkau memohon (apa yang engkau gemar dan ingini).” (Alam Nasyarh 94: 5-8) .

Solat hajat ini mesti dilakukan oleh pelajar dan ibu-bapanya berterusan, bukan hanya menunggu usaha sekolah atau tok guru atau tok iman. Bagi orang Islam, hubungan manusia dengan Allah ialah secara langsung, tanpa perantaran. Oleh itu, ibu bapa dan anak-anak mestilah berterusan sembahyang hajat bersendirian di rumah.

9. Bersyukur Bersyukurlah dengan kejayaan yang Allah beri. Sujud syukurlah kepada Allah bila mendapat kejayaan cemerlang. Allah menambah rezeki bagi mereka yang bersyukur. Allah memberi pahala bagi orang yang sabar bila mendapat musibah.

Kawan-kawan saya di universiti dulu mera'i keputusan kejayaan dengan minum arak sehingga mabuk dan pengsan!!!


Hadiah Dari Allah Bagi Pelajar Islam Cemerlang.

Allah sudah memberi petunjuk-Nya kepada manusia. Terpulanglah kepada kita untuk melaksanakannya.

“Allah berfirman: "Turunlah kamu berdua dari Syurga itu, bersama-sama, dalam keadaan setengah kamu menjadi musuh bagi setengahnya yang lain; kemudian jika datang kepada kamu petunjuk dariKu, maka sesiapa yang mengikut petunjukKu itu nescaya ia tidak akan sesat dan ia pula tidak akan menderita azab sengsara.

"Dan sesiapa yang berpaling ingkar dari ingatan dan petunjukKu, maka sesungguhnya adalah baginya kehidupan yang sempit, dan Kami akan himpunkan dia pada hari kiamat dalam keadaan buta".

Ia berkata: "Wahai Tuhanku, mengapa Engkau himpunkan daku dalam keadaan buta, padahal aku dahulu melihat?"

Allah berfirman: "Demikianlah keadaannya! Telah datang ayat-ayat keterangan Kami kepadamu, lalu engkau melupakan serta meninggalkannya, dan demikianlah engkau pada hari ini dilupakan serta ditinggalkan". (Ta Haa 20: 123-127)

Balasan Allah di dunia hanya sebahagian saja. Balasan sepenuhnya di akhirat. Dengan melaksanakan cara yang ditetapkan Islam untuk mencapai kejayaan cemerlang yang hakiki, manusia nanti tidak akan menyesal di akhirat nanti.

Bagi mereka yang membelakangkan petunjuk Allah, mereka akan menyesal:

“Dan mereka berkata: "Kalaulah kami dahulu mendengar dan memahami (sebagai orang yang mencari kebenaran), tentulah kami tidak termasuk dalam kalangan ahli neraka" (Al Mulk 67:10)


Reformasi Pendidikan Malaysia
Kerajaan Malaysia sedang melakukan reformasi pendidikan bertujuan meningkatkan “kecemerlangan”,“creativity, renovation”, “menjadi negara berdaya saing, dan negara berpendapatan tinggi” dan “mencapai visi 2020”, iaitu menyerupai negara-negara seperti Amerika Syarikat, Eropa dan Jepun.

Semua ini terdorong oleh sifat manusia yang cinta dunia yang Allah terangkan di dalam Al Quran:

“Dihiaskan (dan dijadikan indah) kepada manusia: kesukaan kepada benda-benda yang diingini nafsu, iaitu perempuan-perempuan dan anak-pinak; harta benda yang banyak bertimbun-timbun, dari emas dan perak; kuda peliharaan yang bertanda lagi terlatih; dan binatang-binatang ternak serta kebun-kebun tanaman. Semuanya itu ialah kesenangan hidup di dunia. Dan (ingatlah), pada sisi Allah ada tempat kembali yang sebaik-baiknya.” (Al mran 3:14)

Dengan ilmu, Barat dapt mengatasi halangan untuk ke bulan. Dengan ilmu juga, segelintir manusia Barat menimbun harta sehinggakan majoriti manusia terkaya di dunia berada di Amerika. Namun dengan ilmu itu juga Barat menuju ke hancuran. Kerana apa?

“Oleh itu, kalau kamu tidak juga melakukan (perintah mengenai larangan riba itu), maka ketahuilah kamu: akan adanya peperangan dari Allah dan RasulNya, (akibatnya kamu tidak menemui selamat).” (Al Baqarah 2:279)

Setiap 10 tahun, ekonomi dunia merudum. Jurang kekayaan di antara miskin dan kaya kian melebar yang mengakibat berbagai masalah.

“Dan apabila sampai tempoh Kami hendak membinasakan penduduk sesebuah negeri, Kami perintahkan (lebih dahulu) orang-orang yang melampau dengan kemewahan di antara mereka (supaya taat), lalu mereka menderhaka dan melakukan maksiat padanya; maka berhaklah negeri itu dibinasakan, lalu kami menghancurkannya sehancur-hancurnya.” (Al Isra' 17:16)

Sekarang Malaysia sudah lebih kaya dari tahun 60an. Sudah ada kondo dan rumah bungalow

Kenapa ini berlaku? Ia berlaku kerana membelakangi petunjuk Allah:

“Jangan sekali-kali engkau (wahai Muhammad) terpedaya oleh usaha gerakan orang-orang yang kafir di dalam negeri (yang membawa keuntungan-keuntungan kepada mereka). (Semuanya) itu hanyalah kesenangan yang sedikit, (akhirnya akan lenyap), kemudian tempat kembali mereka neraka Jahannam: dan itulah seburuk-buruk tempat ketetapan. (Al Imram 3: 196-167)

“Oleh itu, janganlah engkau tertarik hati kepada harta benda dan anak-anak mereka, (kerana) sesungguhnya Allah hanya hendak menyeksa mereka dengan harta benda dan anak-anak itu dalam kehidupan dunia, dan hendak menjadikan nyawa mereka tercabut sedang mereka berkeadaan kafir (untuk mendapat azab akhirat pula)” (At Taubah 9:55)

Musuh Islam berterusan berusaha keras untuk menjauhkan masyarakat Islam dari cara hidup Islam . Mereka mahu supaya kita mengikut mereka. Antara usaha mereka:

“ Di sekurang-kurangnya 24 buah negara, Washington senyap-senyap membiayai radio Islam dan siaran TV, kerja kursus di sekolah-sekolah Islam, institut pemikiran Islam, woksyop politik dan berbagai program untuk mengembangkan Islam moderate. Bantuan federal disalurkan untuk membaiki masjid dan juga membina sekolah-sekolah Islam.” (Terjemahan dari laporan US news and World report.)

Satu lagi rancangan mereka jelas dari satu lapuran Rand Cooperation, satu badan NGO AS yang menyediakan analisis kepada Jabatan Pertahanan Negara Amerika Syarikat (US Department of Defense):

“Masukkan pandangan mereka (golongan Islam moderate) ke dalam kurikulum pendidikan Islam.” (Syeryl Bernard (se orang Yahudi) “Civil democratic Islam”
( Terjemahan dari Ceramah Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki: Battle of the Hearts and Minds Transcribed by Al Murabiteen publications)

Mari Menuju Kecemerlangan

Jadi pelajar-pelajar , awasilah perancangan halus musuh Islam.

Marilah cemerlang dengan Islam untuk kejayaan dunia dan akhirat. Di dunia kita kuasai bumi Allah, dan di akhirat , insyallah, Allah, dengan izin-Nya, memberi syurga dan menjauhkan kita dari azab api neraka jahanam. Itulah kecemerlangan yang sebenar dan kejayaan terbesar bagi setiap manusia.

Wallahhua'lam
bernilai lebih dari RM1 juta seunit. Walaun pun masih belum menyerupai negara-negara maju, Malaysia sudah dilanda oleh masalah- masalah seperti masalah sosial, berbagai jenis jenayah, penagihan dadah, berbagai wabak jenis penyakit seksual, HIV, masalah ekonomi dan lain-lain yang membarah di negara-negara “maju”.

Quote of the day

Inspirational quote from Mark Hughes:

Money and success will make you more of what you really are. If you are a good person, you will become a better one. If you are a bad person, you will become even worse.

Why a million $$ goal?

Since this topic have came out of late in our chatbox, i thought i'd post an article here found from KCLau.com. Simple calculation, no complex math. In the end everybody has a number. What is yours?

------------------------

Sayeed is a senior manager in a large MNC in Penang. Following his association with the world of investments focused in the past 5 years, both Sayeed and his wife are confidently leading to a financial successful lifestyle, his wife retired as an employee and today runs her own business, blessed with 2 kids, this couple have learnt through tough times about their financial literacy. Sayeed is currently focus in accumulating wealth and dreams of helping others achieve financial success. You can read his first post here.

Recently sitting in a restaurant, my buddy, commented on the few articles I have written before at KCLau.com; “Sayeed, why are you so materialistic. You wanna have big house, big car, million ringgit, various properties, just to show others, and how well you want to do!?” he continued, “Is this a satisfaction to you?, or show off to others of what you’ve got?”.

Well, being a friend of mine, I didn’t really expect him to ask such a question, but to a certain extent he was really looking at the other side of coin that I have not seen yet. I knew that the reason I shared my story in earlier blog was to give hope and support to others that if I suffered, yet able to do it, so can you, and also put in a few strategies that may help others. Well, good, at least his question had me to share an interesting concept, on reasons why I want to have a Million.

Let’s go back to our current lifestyles, we live on an income, and we have expenses and tax that are unavoidable. Let say our household income is $10k a month, with expenses of house mortgage, car loan (some people got 2), child care, utilities bills (water, electric, phone, internet etc), credit cards, groceries, pocket money (inclusive of petrol money, food, drinks, movies); and finally let say we save $2000 a month, which means that our monthly living expenses would be $10 income – $2k saving = $8k expenses.

While assuming all our months are same in terms of daily activities and expenses, which is not true, we need $8k to survive without savings. Now, I am not saying that all of us have $8k lifestyle, some people only live on $3k, $5k, while other may live on $15k, $20k depending on the lifestyles. So let’s take the example of $8k expenses monthly. Which means in a year, we need $8k x 12 to survive, which is $96k per annum. Do you agree so far? Now I am not putting in other expenses like holidays, festive season shopping etc with assumption we have had buffer in the $8k lifestyle.

The question would be, if we are not working after 55, or 60, our expenses remains the same and the source of income that stops for those employees and most employment in Malaysia are without pension schemes. So where is your source of income comes from ? Most people have a few options :

a. Live with their children, baby sit the grand children so that you get roof and food daily. – the lifestyle have changed, no free meals, even from our children in future. I know many may disagree with me but this is the truth.

b. Work part time while you can, but with the part time job, you may not earn as much as you were an employee, so re-size your lifestyle to what you can earn while keeping yourself fit for the job – better option would be not to retire anyway.

c. Have savings to earn up and replace your salary with similar returns as passive income, retire with a stagnant income as per your employment or even better.

I guess, you have already got the option right. (c.) Have savings to earn up and replace your salary……but there is an interesting twist to this. So I am very worried about my future now, what would happen to me when I pronounce retired!!, I wouldn’t want to be at (a.) or at (b.) that is a choice for now and the only way we can, while we can, change that is now to plan our future.

First of all, is the question of what type of passive income business is there with ROI for us to generate $96k lifestyle per annum ? Well, if we barely look into cash and savings accounts, at 3% interest, it would be $3.2M savings, if 5% then we need $2M and if 8%, we need $1.2M, finally with 10% returns, we still need $1M. So, if there is a savings or investment scheme (proven/legal/working) that gives us a 10% return per annum, year in year out, we need to have a saving of $1M!!.

The news is if you are 30 years old and plan to retire at 60, for the next 30 years every month you need savings of $2K to achieve that million (assuming all the compounding interest). Now that is if you have a place with 10% returns!! It doesn’t exist, what would be the best return rates that we have in market today – 5%?, 7%?, or 8%? The fix deposit is hardly at 3%, EPF 4%….so let say we got the best deal of 7% somewhere, Bank A; then we need to have savings of $1.4M !!, again if you are 30, and retiring at 60, so you need to start saving $3.5k a month, you can do the math.

So whether it is, fortunate or unfortunate, savings may be only one of the options here. But those already hitting at a million, you are save for now. I am not going to confuse all of us with the inflation rates and so on because your $8k lifestyle may not be the same in terms of buying power in next 10-15-20 years.

But let’s assume, we are okay with that number and hope Malaysia will rule the world in terms of economy and the inflation doesn’t goes that high up. We have high hopes, Malaysia Boleh!!. What would be the other options ? That is part of the strategy that you ought to put into your plans, how are you going to achieve these retirement planning? Can the financial advisor and an insurance agent sit down with you to outline the retirement plan, if yes, then sit with them and have a plan, with a goal that when we say “RETIRED”, we want to retire in style.

I don’t see anything wrong, if we want to retire with a monthly steady income from our investments, with that income not only we are able to survive, but be able to provide to others, our spouse (that is a great time travelling and spending time together), our children (although earlier I said no free meals, but parents are always parents), our grand children (imagine them having to come to grandparents house to be pampered), and have our health taken care ( that should come from our insurance policy and not savings).

Do you have your plan ready ? Have you thought about it? Remember, procrastinating each day, you are losing the interest rates and days in mathematical calculations for your saving plan. We are still lucky to have started at 35. You?

This article was taken from KCLau.com

New Economic Model (NEM)

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on 30 March 2010 (Tuesday) unveiled the New Economic Model (NEM).

The objective of the NEM is to transform the nation into a high-income economy that is sustainable and inclusive and will position the nation on the right path towards attaining developed nation status by 2020.

Some of the highlights of the NEM are:

- Employees Provident Fund (EPF) will be allowed to invest more in overseas assets.
- Government and EPF to form a joint venture to promote the development of 1,200 hectares of land (3,000 acres) in Sungai Buloh into a new hub for the Klang Valley and is expected to generate new investments worth over RM5 billion.
- Petronas has identified two sizeable subsidiaries with good track record to be listed this year on Bursa Malaysia, a move that will reduce government's presence in business and enhance private sector's role.
- Khazanah Nasional Bhd will divest its 32 per cent stake in Pos Malaysia Bhd through a two-stage strategic divestment process.
- Several parcels of land in Jalan Stonor, Jalan Ampang, Jalan Lidcol in Kuala Lumpur will be tendered out and developed by private sector, failing which it will be wasteful if the assets were not developed as the government will incur cost of maintaining them.
- It is hope that Malaysia per capital income increasing to US$15,000 by the end of the decade from US$7,000.
- The government will reassess the subsidy system and broaden revenue-raising base through proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST).
- 40% of the Malaysia has the household income less than RM 1500.

I'm not sure how much the Malaysian per capita income has increased since the last 10 years. But just recalling back when i first joined the work force, starting income was somewhere in the range of RM2000 to RM2500.

And today 10 years down the road, my own siblings have started working. Starting income has gone even lower, RM1500 to RM2000, while cost of living has increased considerably over the last 10 years. I sincerely hope Malaysia's per capita income will double by the end of the decade. And hopefully this doubling is due to all Malaysian's generally earning better income, not because the gap gets bigger.

HOW TO RECRUIT THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB?

Put about 100 bricks in some Particular order in a closed Room with an Open window.

Then send 2 or 3 candidates in the room and close the door.


Leave them alone and come back, after 6 hours and then analyze the situation.

If they are counting the bricks, put them in the Accounts Department.

If they are recounting them..Put them in auditing ..

If they have messed up the Whole place with the bricks. Put them in engineering.

If they are arranging the Bricks in some strange order. Put them in planning.

If they are throwing the Bricks at each other. Put them in operations .

If they are sleeping. Put them in security.

If they have broken the bricks into pieces. Put them in information Technology.

If they are sitting idle. Put them in human resources.

If they say they have tried different combinations, yet not a brick has been moved. Put them in sales.

If they have already left for the day. Put them in marketing...

If they are staring out of the Window. Put them on strategic Planning..

And then last but not least.

If they are talking to each other and not a single brick has been Moved.

Congratulate them and put them in TOP MANAGEMENT

SHELL SCHOLARSHIP FOR SPM, STPM & MATRICULATION

Kalau ada sesapa yang ada adik, sepupu, sedara mara, kawan-kawan yang nak apply Shell scholarship, boleh klik link kat bawah.

There are 2 type of scholarship offered:

a) Local - 1 interview
b) Overseas - 2 interviews. (SI & Mini SRD)

Eligibility:
SPM- 8A1'a
STPM - 3A's
Matriculation - 3.50

More info, please [click here]

ADA BERANI?

KL Marathon open for registration...[klik sini kalau berani]

JOB VACANCY

Job vacancy for Personal Assistant in Jalan Chow Sow Lin, KL.

Basic skills - typing, trengkas, knowledge in Microsoft Office products.

If you are interested, or know someone interested, please send your resume to me ihsan dot hasbullah at gmail dot com

FUND RAISING FOR ZIBA & SON

I was informed by Mis that Ziba and her son are going to US for special workshop for deaf children. Ziba estimated she needs around RM20,000 for the 50 days course. The cost is to cover their air tickets, meals and accomodation. (From my experience, the ticket alone cost around RM7-8k for both) and exclusive of class fees.

Mis suggested a fund raising for her, and as friend I think we should help her the way we can.

I already asked Mis to obtain Ziba's bank account number so anyone who would like to contribute can do so without having to deposit to any third party bank account.

Show we care!

INNALILLAH

Pesa tepon aku pagi tadi ckp yg emak Talib Sabri telah menyahut seruan Ilahi.

Al-Fatihah untuk arwah & semoga ditempatkan di kalangan orang-orang beriman

Takziah dari kami untuk keluarga Talib.

THANKS

Antara yang meluangkan masa makan-makan sate semalam

01. Mat Yie selaku Tuai Rumah
02. Ihsan
03. Nuar
04. Amoi
05. Izaidy
06. Saliza
07. Linda
08. Pesa
09. Adzimi
10. Azrir
11. Wan Shaiza
12. Jigon
13. Bailah
14. Aida Zeti

PHI PHI ISLAND & KRABI

FIRST MAKAN-MAKAN

Mat Yie has taken the initiative utk buat makan-makan geng kita... venue TBD, and date: 6 or 7 March.. Yes people, its this coming weekend.

If you have no plans yet, let spend time together, chit chat, catch up good ol' times, and of course eat, eat and eat.

Do men shouldn't be advice column writer?

Any comment?

VACATION.....

By the time blogspot post this schedule posting atau korang baru baca posting aku nih, aku dah berada beribu batu dari Malaysia yang mana ianya satu tempat menarik, tertarik ko memang da b**m... aku boleh layan family aku main air bersih berseri-seri macam crystal, snokel carik ariel si ikan duyung, main pasir buat sand castle, naik kuda, naik off-roader, boleh buat sesi tembak menembak, dok kat tepi pantai tengok sunset. makan tak hengat tapi rege OK, rilek-rilek tepi pantai, tak yah pikir pasal kerja, tenang bak itik berenang..... bak kata pakcik dalam tibi, macam-macam ada.......

sementara korang

dan dan kat opis..... tapi for sure yang apa yang akan aku dapat kat opis bila aku masuk nanti, macam kat bawah ni (minus the lady in the middle ><) Apapun enjoyS to the max sebelum terbungkam !!! >< Hepi Holidays Everyone...

Suatu bayan yang bagus

Aku tahu ada ramai bapa di sini. Setiap bapa yang baik akan mengenang masa hadapan anak-anak mereka. Maka, atas dasar sayang dan tanggungjawab, bapa ini akan menyediakan segala-gala yang terbaik yang mampu dicapai olehnya untuk anak-anak. Tabung pendidikan, ilmu yang berterusan, keselamatan daripada kejahatan dan sebagainya. Namun jauh di sudut hati setiap bapa yang baik akan berdoa agar anak-anaknya nanti berdiri tegak di bawah bayang-bayang panji Islam mempertahankan dan memperjuangkan tradisi muslimin di sini. Kendatipun, ramai bapa hanya mengambil pendidikan atas dasar populariti yang diaruskan oleh media semasa. Harapan setiap bapa agar setiap anak berdoa tanpa jemu kepadanya nanti akan pudar jika terus-terusan serangan media mengancam integriti kolaborasi pendidikan yang disusun oleh setiap bapa dan kerajaan. Luangkan sejam masamu untuk mempelajari bagaimana Nabi Ibrahim a.s. sebagai bapa dan pengaplikasian pengetahuan silam ini di dalam era semasa.Suatu bayan yang sangat baik dan memberangsangkan daripada saudara Nouman Ali Khan. Perbincangan beliau akan berlanjutan kepada penyelesaian dan pendekatan yang perlu diambil untuk memastikan anak-anak kita selamat di dunia dan akhirat. Semoga kalian sekeluarga tinggal berjiran di syurga. Ameen Ilmu tanpa amal adalah seperti pokok yang tidak berbuah.

Bahrain visit

Last Jan, aku gi jalan2 ke Bahrain. Lebih kurang sini jer, nothing interesting much...

Kerana terbiasa dgn musim tengkujuh, jangan terkejut melihat empayar kelantanese businessman di negeri Bah+rain. Hehehehe...

Geng2 India yang melepak di roundabout Bab Al-Bahrain...

Viagra (Madu Yemen) yg dijual di Pusat Pameran Bahrain...

AUTO PILOT....

The web will be on autopilot (from my updates) for at least for 5 days starting today 20.02.10 because I am taking a long deserve leave... to my colleague and staffs, BEHAVE! hahahaha

For this site volunteers, please carry on posting as we are about 50+ to 2k posts after 3+ long years we started our own school blog. Amazing huh? Kudos to Mat Yie a.k.a MY, Adzimi, Yeop a.k.a Abu Tasneem and Zaini a.k.a zenoni on their effort to keep our blog alive.

Calling Linda and Harris, they did a great job on moview review (old and new) before.. Calling Aini and NikFa who came up with healthy (& torturing) lifestyle by doing (one after another) swimming, cycling and running... Calling all to contribute to our school blog. Be it the 'piece' taken from your mailbox, we are happy to post it for you....

Whilst you guys warming up your engine after long CNY holiday, I'm off to beach with my lovely wife and charming kids.... Cherioooooooooo!/

Harga naik lagi?

Prepare for another shocker on your electricity bills. As usual, prepare to read/hear the same statements from our beloved ministers "The price increase will not affect the majority of people, and only those from high usage groups". Probably our learned minister need to learn a thing or two on economics. Quoted from The Star today:

Sin Chew Daily reported that the price of electricity is expected to increase in March. Quating Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui, the daily said the matter would be discussed in the weekly Cabinet meeting today. “The rise in price of natural gas and charcoal had affected the operating cost of TNB. “The tariff rate should be looked into if the price of these two items had changed,” he said.

WELCOME BACK!!!

after long holidays

Racun Dunia, Ubat Sengsara

SPKG DATANG LAGI!!!

spkg (sireh pulang ke ganggang)

|| Date: 10 - 11 July 2010 || Day: Saturday & Sunday || Venue: MRSM Taiping with Love || Agenda: TBA, tapi Golf dah confirmed ||

GAMBAR KAWIN HARUN

dah lama dalam mailbox, terlupa nak bukak.... Sorry Harun! TQ to Pesa for the pic

MARI MENEMBAK...

YAHOO FANTASY WEEK 22

Rank Team Points
1 Chikungunya FC 2,080.50
2 [KBM]+Cakcibor11 2,056.50
3 KB Geroda 1,809.00
4 MyTeamKit United 1,780.50
5 Man U Setan Jahat 1,763.50
6 naz united 1,754.00
7 bOyOt 1,679.00
8 Man U No More FC 1,554.50
9 Raub FC 1,480.50
10 sik pandey kelakar sarawak 1,431.50
11 Jaga2CikSalmah 1,412.50
12 Bukit Rimau FC 1,402.00
12 Penang Mari 1,402.00
14 intertina 1,342.50
15 Player 1,208.00

Top 3 Weekly Performers KBM Cikcabor 143.5
Bukit Rimau FC 141.5
Intertina 134

AFRAID TO READ

by Dawud Wharnsby Ali

Cakap biar terang!!

Bila baca cerita Ihsan kat bawah tu, aku teringat satu cerita lain yg agak sama...

Ada sorang mamat yang kerja kat ME (bukan Q8 & bukan aku!) nak balik bercuti ke Kolumpo. Lepas survey punya survey, maka didapati tiket yang paling murah ialah Sri Langka Airlines. Dia ni pun mungkin tak berapa biasa travel naik flight ni, sbb kena transit kat airport Sri Lanka and decided to buy from agent.

Maka dia pun pergilah ke travel agen nak beli tiket, dia pun cakaplah return ticket ke Kolumpo. The indian agent asked him in thick accent."Kolumpo Sir? Ok... We got the ticket, its price this much". Tiketnya memang murah dan memang berbaloi dia amik. Excited & happy dia bayar dan agen pun bagilah ticket dia.

Bila sampai hari dia travel, dia pun naik flight dan everything went smoothly. Sampai di Airport Sri Lanka dia gabra sket sbb tak tahu nak buat apa. So, tunggu punya tunggu... Dia hairan kenapa flightnya takde. So dia pergilah tanya kat customer service counter nak tanya bila departure flight dia.

Dia terduduk tak terkata bila pegawai tu cakap... "You have arrived your destination Sir. Welcome to Bandaranaike International Airport Colombo (Kolumpo) ... ".

p/s: Same thing may be doesn't mean the same thing... Cakap biar terang!!

KENAPA KENA PRONOUNCE DENGAN BETUL

Pagi tadi di opis, dalam pukul 9, sedang gua kaver line klik fesbuk sikit sikit, Apan mundar mandir belakang gua dengan muka kusut masai.

Dari tadi gua tengok Apan hilang punca di sekitar sektor operasi. Muka macam ada masalah.

“Lu kenapa ni Apan?” - Gua tanya demi meminta kepastian. Gua dengan Apan ni kira ngam juga la. Budak Kedah, umur muda sikit dari gua dan tak berapa hensem. Kalau tatap muka dia lama lama boleh naik menyampah juga.Dia baru setahun kerja dengan kompeni gua. Sebelum masuk sini, Apan banyak hendel bisnes sendiri dan selalu rugi.

“Mak gua hilang la..” - Apan berbisik perlahan.

Gua punyala terperanjat! “Mak lu hilang?, bila hilang?” - dada gua tiba tiba mengepam keluar masuk laju laju. Berdebar tak payah cakap la, kencang macam kuda.

“Petang semalam..dah cari merata tak jumpa”.

Apan berlalu meninggalkan gua menuju ke bahagian budak budak human resource. Gua tak tahu apa benda yang dia sedang fikir dalam kepala. Gua nak tanya lebih lebih risau kena pukul pula.Apa yang gua tahu sikit sikit, mak dia memang duduk rumah tak kerja, ayah dia kerja penolong kanan lagi dua tiga tahun nak pencen.

Kira kira lima belas minit kemudian, dari jauh gua nampak Apan berjalan semula masuk ke sektor operasi. Kali ni muka dia tak kusut macam tadi dah, sebaliknya ceria macam muka Lan kumpulan the typewriter.

“Mak gua dah jumpa..” - kelegaan jelas terpampang di bibir Apan.

Gua cepat cepat bersyukur: “Alhamdulillah...Jumpa kat mana?”,

Dan dengan penuh keceriaan, jujur, ikhlas, tawadduk serta wajah disinari warna warni rama rama yang tiada belas kasihan pada gua, Apan membalas padu:

“Dalam sinki penteri.”

Gua terus tendang kompiter sampai bersepah atas lantai.

MUG la Apan..MUG..!!, pronunciation macam jahanam! Sia sia gua berdebar. Pagi pagi sudah bikin hati membara.

JEJAK KASIH TAK DISANGKA

Hari Jumaat aku p Bangunan Prasarana di Bangunan UOA, Bangsar utk dengar tender briefing. Aku sampai awal, naik tingkat 20 pastu officer ckp buat kat lobby... pelik gak mcm mana buat tender briefing kat lobby?

Tunggu punya tunggu, coordinator ajak naik first floor. Berduyung2 org naik first floor (outdoor). Masa naik ke first floor aku nampak org yang familiar. Aku pergi kat mamat tu, aku pegang bahu dia... dia tegur aku.. haa Ihsan.... kami bersalaman...

Aku jumpa Rozaily Ramli, geng kelas 512. Dia kerja business development dekat engineering company kat Damansara Utama. Sorry daaa, lupa amik gambo, hehehe.. Last aku call dia, Rozaily dok kat area Selayang, tatau sekarang dia dah pindah ke idak.. tak sempat nak borak panjang, maybe later lepak minum..

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who ers and comes short again; who knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)

YAHOO FANTASY POINTS WEEK 21

Rank Team Points
1 Chikungunya FC 1,972.50
2 [KBM]+Cakcibor11 1,873.00
3 KB Geroda 1,669.50
4 MyTeamKit United 1,649.50
5 Man U Setan Jahat 1,642.50
6 naz united 1,603.50
7 bOyOt 1,544.00
8 Man U No More FC 1,449.00
9 Raub FC 1,363.50
10 sik pandey kelakar sarawak 1,306.00
11 Jaga2CikSalmah 1,281.00
12 Penang Mari 1,261.00
13 Bukit Rimau FC 1,233.50
14 intertina 1,170.50
15 Player 1,073.50

Weight Loss Challenge - What have you got to lose?

Friends,

Most of us find weight loss a very lonely and challenging process. Usually coz there are no support, everywhere we go, there's just too much temptations. Worse still, most people are overweight, they exercise like crazy, and instead of weight going down, it goes even higher, or hardly moves. They don't understand why.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could be with a group of like minded friends, who will help to support you through the process?

A friend of mine will be organizing a weight loss challenge at her centre in Shah Alam. This will be commencing this Saturday 6th Feb 2010, and will be a 12 weeks program. You can use ANY METHOD whatsoever for your weight loss (so long as you're still healthy and alive by the end of the challenge). Best of all, the biggest loser (in terms of %, not in terms of Kg) at the end of the challenge stands to take home over RM2,000++ of prize money. Isn't that interesting?

The objective of the challenge is to bring like minded individuals together, to continue motivate each other through the journey. Each week, we will get together to monitor each other's progress, and best of all, the participants will be educated on what it takes to lose your weight effectively and safely.

The entry fee is ONLY RM50. Think of it, you will:

1. Lose weight at the end of 12 weeks
2. Learn good nutritional habits
3. Meet new friends, and have them supporting you
4. Have a coach to monitor your progress
5. Stand a chance to win a whole load of CASH!!


I will be joining this Saturday. For those of you who wants to join me, lets do this together. Contact me at 012-2672250 (Adzimi) for further details. There are only very limited seats left coz her centre can only take so many people. So don't think too long. Just DO IT!

What have you got to lose?

Normalisation of Malaysia's interest rates

Friends,

Some useful info, quoted from Fortune Sense. From what i understand below, the author is predicting that there will be an increase in the interest rate coming up in the subsequent MPC meetings. If you remember back a few years ago (2006?), Bank Negara increased interest consecutively for 3 MPC meetings. Not sure how it will happen this time. Hope the below info will be useful in preparing you for the coming months.

------------------------------------

In the last Bank Negara Malaysia Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) 2010 first meeting on 26 January 2010, BNM kept the overnight policy rate (OPR) unchanged at 2%.

However at the same time, the BNM statement mentioned that MPC recognizes the need to ensure that the stance of monetary policy is appropriate to prevent the build up of financial imbalances that could arise from interest rates being too low for a prolonged period of time.

This sentence interpreted by the analyst as the indication that BNM is about to raise the OPR soon in the future MPC meeting.

Regarding this intention to raise the interest rate in future, BNM's governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz mentioned that the move by BNM should be viewed as a step to restore the interest rate back to the normal rate and should not be seen as tightening of the policy.

The decision to reduce of the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) to 2 Percent during last 24 February 2009 Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was a step that the country at that time had to take to avoid the fundamental recession.

BNM's governor pointed out that the prolonged of the low interest rates would cause the people to invest in other investment products that possibly have a higher risks associated with it in order to have a better investment return than the conventional banking system products.

These kinds of actions by the people might cause some problems in future and BNM do not want to wait for such things to happen.

It seems that BNM is trying to take the proactive action to prevent any unwanted consequences that might due to public invest in the high risks investment products.

Are you the category of people that stay away from the conventional banking saving products that offering a return rate between 2 to 3 percent for your fixed deposit?

Do ensure that your leverage level is manageable and have a positive cash flow for your investment products. With the BNM statement and the remind by BNM governor, the raise of the interest rate is imminent and be prepared for it.

Do take note on the upcoming MPC meeting as below,

- 4 March 2010 (Thursday)
- 13 May 2010 (Thursday )
- 8 July 2010 (Thursday )
- 2 September 2010 (Thursday )
- 12 November 2010 ( Friday )

HARI WILAYAH...

Selamat bershopping sakan org kerja KL & Selamat bekerja utk org kerja kat Selangor.... lebih2 lagi yang dok kat KL :P

SWIMMING CLASS IN SHAH ALAM

If you or someone you know looking for swimming class, then you can head to Kelab Air Akuatik Shah Alam. Class starts late afternoon till evening on week days. Weekends is already full.

Charges? RM160 for 8 classes + RM20 for admin fees (one time only). If you decide to go for another session (8 classes), then its RM130. For third session (8 classes), its RM110. Interested? Please call Bukhari at 019-376 7111... He is doing this full time and if he does not pick up your phone, leave sms. He might be in the pool teaching his students.

Thanks

Is property really a good investment? by Azizi Ali

Is property really a good investment? by Azizi Ali - taken from The Start online
I get this question all the time. To be kind, I would smile and nod approvingly. “Of course!”
But deep in my heart, I know that while the answer is correct, it is not complete. Of course properties make good investments. But then, the same thing can be said about stocks, unit trusts, gold and a couple of others as well. While they are all good investments does not mean anyone can make money from them. Buying the first house you see or the stock that takes your fancy is a sure recipe for disaster and a guaranteed formula for losing your hard earned money.
Further, the house is the most expensive purchase most of us will make in our lifetime. And it also forms our highest debt and lasts for the longest time – often lasting 20 years or longer.
That being the case, doesn’t it make sense for us to do a little bit (or better, a lot) of homework before parting with our money? Doesn’t it make sense to tread very carefully before buying a property? Obviously, the answer is ‘yes’.
As an example of careful trading, a colleague of mine viewed the plot that he wanted to buy three times: once in the morning, once in the afternoon and once at night – all on different days. Mind you, it was only a plot of land at that time as the house was not up yet. Now some people may think that may be overkill, but his answer was spot on: “Before paying RM810,000 for anything, I want to be sure that everything is right and in order first.” I totally agree.
And oh yes, he sold the house when it was completed two years later for RM1.1 million. Even taking into account that he had to pay RPGT (that was still applicable then), real estate agent’s commission, legal fees and all, he still pocketed a tidy sum of money. I’d say the three trips was certainly worth the RM200,000 plus – don’t you agree?
But I have seen people buying houses on the spur of the moment. I have seen people rushing to buy properties as if they were buying groceries. For their sake, I sure hope that they have done the homework beforehand though my heart tells me something else.
Buying a property is easy. All you need is a little bit of money and sign some papers. The question is, “Can you sell the property for a profit later on (hopefully not too later on)?” Or in other words, can you make money from the property in the near future? As you can see, the answer is not so easy.
So this will mean that you will need to do your homework when investing in properties. This will include reading books, magazines, articles, observing and yes, learning from the experts. Of course, this will require time, effort and yes, even money. But all that effort is peanuts compared to the reward that awaits you. And yes, the price is miniscule compared to the problems that can happen if you bought wrongly. (Just ask the unfortunate people who bought houses in flood prone areas. Worse, they have to bear the brunt of listening to jokes about water proof furniture and getting free boats from the developer.)

Look familiar?

Taken in Esfahan (Iran)...

Typical parking style

This may help you to understand them...

THE REASON BEHIND MATHEMATIC LECTURE SUICIDE

i-Ponder

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

I want to share some beautiful words from one of our Ulama'.

Four parts definition of 'Ubudiyya:

1. Keep the covenant to Allah

2. Do not trangress the limits Allah ordered upon us.

3. Content what Allah has decreed.

4. Be patient on what you have and what you dont have.

Marilah kita sama-sama menghayati 4 perkara di atas. Semoga Allah memberi kita petunjuk ke jalan yang benar.

HARUN ASRI WEDDING INVITATION

boleh gantikan BBQ dengan this event for reunion...

Buku: Muhammad s.a.w His Life Based on the Earliest Sources

Assalamualaikum. Dengan nama Allah yang maha Pemurah lagi maha Mengashani. Untuk rakan-rakan yang berminat dengan Seerah Nabi Muhammad s.a.w, aku cadangkan baca buku Muhammads.a.w: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources by Martin Lings. Buku ini bermula dengan sejarah kabilah (tribe) Arab Quraish sehingga kewafatan Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. Walaubagaimanapun, tiada buku di dalam dunia ini sempurna kecuali al-Quran. Sedikit kelemahan pada buku ini ialah, ayat-ayat al-Quran tidak di tulis dalam versi Arab. Semua ayat-ayat al-Quran adalah terjemahan dalam bahasa Inggeris sahaja. Enjoy!.

Inside Kaabah

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year Everyone!

This is the first post for twenty ten (2010) and I pray that all of us successfully get what we wish and plan for this year.

This month is remembrance of our registration day on 24 January 1994 (sorry if I got this wrong). Yes, its already 16 years ago when we first met as Batch 4 PKP MRSM Taiping.

When I attended ANSARA dinner in November, I realised the number of ANSARA members who joined the dinner was very small. We should fit one whole KL Convec Centre with our numbers of ANSARA members. I threw a question to one of ACT (ANSARA Cawangan Taiping) why the response is poor and she said maybe because we are only together for 2 years unlike MCKK Old Boys whom spend 5 years in MCKK. However, we could not use this as an excuse for keeping yourself away from the ANSARA. We should be proud of what ANSARA is and try to work together to achieve at least what MCOBA has achieved.

I strongly believe if we can get our batch together, then we could do much more for ANSARA, especially ANSARA Cawangan Taiping. Come and join us in one of the activities and experience yourself how warm, helpful and friend-ful they are in trying to keep the alumni moving forward.

It's not to late to write an additional resolution for this year, joining ACT's activities at least one for year 2010.

Go 2010!

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

-----------------------------------------------------------

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

REMEMBRANCE

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

9th year anniversary the loss of
Mohd Shukri Yatim.

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

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.....

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?

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

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

Jejak Kasih edisi Jeddah

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

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.

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...