Caught in Audit But Any Action Taken?

Do you own a laptop (some call it notebook)? Do you know the general pricing for a laptop from a simple set-up up to a heavy duty laptop loaded with many latest softwares or accessories?

If you do read the newspapers, magazines or browse the internet, you would have noticed that the general pricing for a laptop is around RM2,000++ up to RM5,000++ (US$1 = RM3.40).

Would you have bought a laptop with a price tag of RM42,320? Even if you do, you would have asked for the specifications and will want to know what does the price cover.

But any person would have queried that price tag for sure because at RM42,320 you could buy a new local manufactured car. Any person who has no knowledge of the general pricing for a laptop would have sensed something wrong given the huge amount.

At RM42,320, you could purchase eleven good laptops fitted with good enough accesories / softwares.

Unfortunately, the person(s) who proposed, those that concurred and the one(s) that approved the purchase presented a very sad situation in Malaysia. They didn't only buy one but two! So they bought it at RM84,640 ........ could bring in a good and new Toyota or Honda car.

The best part, the purchase request happened at Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara Balik Pulau in the state of Penang. Bravo! I really wonder what had they been teaching in this college. In my company, the purchasing department is supposed to find out the pricing from various sources before deciding on the final supplier. That too, went through stringent approval levels.

Not only that, the same college has paid for PC monitor and laser printers at sky high prices. When asked of the abovesaid purchases the respond came in this manner - "The equipment were purchased in a lump sump and there was no price breakdown for the laptops. The price breakdown was only done after the equipment was supplied for the purpose assets record and it could not be used as a basis for reference."

What a good explanation and was that accepted by the Auditor-General? The Auditor-General Annual Report do highlight so many discrepancies and abuse of public funds but were there any actions taken on those people who had caused all this issues. Year in year out, it's just a show only. They have to be seen doing something lah.

If those purchases were done in the opposition-ruled states the various government agencies, under the control of the ruling government, would have gone for some lifes at all cost ............. if you know what I mean.

Reading: RM42,320 for a laptop - Star
Tags: Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara Balik Pulau, Laptop, Notebook

Merchants Charge Credit Card Users

The Malaysian government has decided to impose a service tax of RM50 for each principal credit card holder wherelse the supplementary card would be penalised with a service tax of RM25.

Reason given for the implementation of the service tax is to 'teach' credit card holders to spend wisely. What else does the government want to teach me where my credit card balances are clean every month? That I reduce my charges to the credit cards in spite of me having settled all amounts every month? You call that teaching but I call it penalising.

As I'm renovating my house, I was able to charge to my credit cards for lots of purchases and raked up lots of points at the same time lately. I do have the cash but I prefer using my credit cards to pay for it owing to the points.

Unfortunately, the government has decided that I'm to be penalised for using the credit cards. Ok, maybe the government has to think of some ways to earn some revenues to maintain the nation's economy.

But what do you say when the merchants, who have signed up with banks to have a credit card facility in their businesses, are also charging consumers like you and me.

Of late, I have been shopping around for many stuff for the house renovation. Certain shops (not all) that accept the usage of credit cards (applies to both VISA and MASTECARD) for payments have told me this - "I have to charge you 3% extra because you are using the credit card to pay". If you pay by cash, it'll be a bit cheaper.

The goverment is taxing me and now the merchants are passing their costs to me as well. In the end, it's the consumers that are dying.

As far as I understand is that merchants arranged to have credit card facilities in their business premises for their customers' conveniences. At the same time, they'll tell their customers that the credit card facilities were set-up for the benefit of the customers but the customers would have to bear that costs. Fair?

One merchant has fixed the amount of money to be paid if you use your credit card. Say RM5 for each credit card transaction.

What does VISA and MASTERCARD have to say about such practises? Does your company explains to the credit card users who should bear that 3% charges?

What does our local banks have to say about such arrangements? Do you all (banks) know about such games being played?

Are the merchants permitted to pass the costs to the customers? What's the answer?
Tags: VISA, MASTERCARD, Service Tax, Credit Card

15,000 Bibles Held

Government talked so much about 1Malaysia ..... but acted otherwise?!?!?!

CHRISTIAN FEDERATION OF MALAYSIA

(PERSEKUTUAN KRISTIAN MALAYSIA)
Address: 10, Jalan 11/9 Sec. 11, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Telephone: (03) 7957 1278, (03) 7957 1463, Fax: (03) 7957 1457
Email: cfmsia@yahoo.co.uk

CFM media statement on 15,000 Bahasa Malaysia Bibles held by authorities
CFM CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF 15,000 BIBLES

The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) calls for the immediate release of the 15,000 Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia currently being withheld by the authorities.

To withhold the use of the Bahasa Malaysia Bibles is an infringement of Article 11 of the Federal Constitution which gives every Malaysian the right to profess his/ her faith as well as to practice it.

This constitutional right is rendered illusory if Christians in Malaysia are denied access to Bibles in a language with which they are familiar.

This action of withholding the Bahasa Malaysia Bibles deprives Christians in Sabah, Sarawak , and in Semenanjung, a large majority of whom use Bahasa Malaysia, the right to use the Holy Scriptures in Bahasa Malaysia, to practice and profess their faith and, to nourish themselves spiritually.

It is baseless to withhold the Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia on the ground that they are “prejudicial to public order”. Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia have been used since before the independence of our country and has never been the cause of any public disorder.

Since the 1970s and in consonance with the government’s policies in education and the national language, Christians in Malaysia have received their education in Bahasa Malaysia. To deny the same Christians in Malaysia the right to read and study the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia is thus ridiculous and offensive. In fact, it is this action by the authorities themselves which is an affront to good public order.

We call on the relevant government officials who have neither the authority nor the right to act in this unconscionable manner to explain their action to the church leaders and to the public.

Church leaders and the Executive Committee of the CFM in “An Affirmation to the Churches in Malaysia” (6-8 Sept 1989, the Kuching consultation) and then later in “A Declaration to Churches in Malaysia” (30 January 2008) have stood on their commitment to Bahasa Malaysia as our national language and have used and continue to use Bahasa Malaysia in the life and witness of our Churches and Christian organizations.

The government and CFM have exchanged letters on this matter previously and we have a written agreement in December 2005 that Bahasa Malaysia Bibles can be distributed so long as the symbol of the cross and the words “A Christian publication” are printed on the front page.

We call on the government to walk the talk of its 1Malaysia policy and vision and not to curtail or impose conditions on the freedom of citizens to worship, pray and read the Holy Scriptures in Bahasa Malaysia. How can the first pillar of the Rukunegara i.e. Belief In God, be made a living reality in the lives of Malaysians if the government imposes restrictions and conditions on the constitutional and fundamental right of citizens to freedom of religion?

We ask that the relevant authorities resolve this matter promptly and release these Bibles for the use of Christians without any further delay or excuse.

signed
__________________
Bishop Ng Moon Hing,
Chairman and the Executive Committee,
The Christian Federation of Malaysia

Dated : 4 Nov 2009
Tags: Christian Federation of Malaysia, Persekutuan Kristian Malaysia, Bible, Bahasa Malaysia Bibles, 1Malaysia, Rukunegara

Chicks Used To Entice Customers

Dead chickens being hanged outside to dry up or to collect dust before being cooked. How unhygienic.
Tags: Chickens

Lightings and Paints

Bought the biscuit tin designed lightings for my car porch area. Cost me RM60 each.

Still yet to buy lightings for my dining area, car porch pillars and staircase wall lights.






The carpentry works are still on-going and three of the rooms' cabinets are already installed albeit needing some touch ups here and there.














Upon advise from the ID, my house's colour scheme were chosen from Jotun and ICI paint brands. Just the paints itself cost me close to RM2,700.

Chose the matt range from the Jotun brand. The paints were used for internal walls and ceiling.











Can't use those ICI pearl glo type as the walls have to be properly skim coated first since almost all the walls are not smooth as you want it to be.

In order to skim coat the whole house, I have to burn another RM5,000 easily. Better not.

* ICI Pentalite paints for my internal walls.

* ICI Gloss Finish paints for toilet doors/frames and external gates/MS grille / wood.


The family hall located upstairs displayed a grayish wall. Intend to make this area a cooling place while I enjoy those movie/TV sessions.
Tags: Paints, Jotun, ICI Dulux

Buy Your Coffin Online

You can order your own coffin before you rest in peace for good. If you think your time is about to run out, click Wal-Mart.com quickly to order a coffin. Don't worry about the delivery time as they rely on Federal Express to courier the coffin to you.

Who would simply order a coffin for no reason? That's where FedEx come into play and it will reach you within forty eight hours. Hopefully it can reach you on time.

The price ranges from US$895 to US$2,899. The most expensive coffin is 100% bronze and the interior plush velvet is hand made. Wow .......... furthermore, it allows you to pay in twelve installments. I wonder whether you could last that long to pay off the twelve installments?!?!?! Unless you were buying it for another unfortunate person.

The abovesaid coffins are being sold at offer prices and will last till 31 Dec 2009. So, if you want to save some money, die earlier.

Sorry to tell you, you can't return the coffin once delivered to your place unless it due to freight or cosmetic damage from shipping.

Just when you thought this coffin/casket is a taboo product, another similar wholesale company by the name of Costco is giving Wal-Mart a run for their money by selling coffins/caskets too. Costco must have analysed that these products will bring in handsome profits.

Buying tip: If you can't wait up to seventy two hours, don't order from Costco.
Tags: Coffin, Casket, Wal-Mart, Federal Express, FedEx, Costco

Want To Try Flying a Boeing?

Malaysia Airlines is giving you, yeah you irrespective of your nationality, a chance to be in a Boeing 777-200 cockpit. It's no joke but at a price of course.

A normal person like you and me could at last fly a Boeing 777-200 even though we don't have a licence to fly as a pilot. The MH Flight Simulator Experience ("FSE") is opened to the general public at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang.

If you have played those Flight Simulator pc game before, this would be quite similar just that this is done in a real cockpit set-up for such purpose. That's the same cockpit used for training MAS pilots. I remembered those yesteryears in trying to fly a small plane (the pc game format of course) and it was not easy just to take off. Once up there, it's not easy to land it. I gave up on mastering that game without getting to take off and land safely at least once.

As for this MAS experience, the only setback is that you have to pay RM500 for a 20 minutes experience. You'll get a chance to to visit a flight deck and you'll be guided on how to take off and land the plane by a Simulator Engineer. Not bad, isn't it?

You must meet the following simple requirements before being allowed to test the flight simulator:-
a. 10 years of age or older;
b. get written consent from parent or guardian to participate in FSE (applicable to participant under the age of 15 years old);
c. be in good health and free from heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness or other conditions that could be aggravated by the motion of the simulator. It is advised that expectant mothers should not participate;
d. be dressed appropriately in smart casual clothing with flat shoes; and
e. not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Keen? Do contact Flight Simulator Sales & Marketing of Malaysia Airlines.

This is definitely not a paid blogposting. Anyone willing to sponsor me so that I can blog more about it? MAS? Hellooooo ........ can you hear me?
Tags: MH Flight Simulator Experience, Malaysia Airlines, Boeing 777-200, Cockpit, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Simulator Engineer

Singaporean Bloggers To Be Monitored

Blogging in Singapore has taken a new twist.

Singaporean bloggers seated in front of their own desktop PC / laptop will be monitored on how and what they blog about (besides those people who urinates in the public toilets).

Singapore's Media Development Authority is looking at rules to ensure that bloggers do not simply endorse, review, advertise, recommend or promote products & services. The main issue here is that some bloggers are being paid to do so where conflict of interest may arise.

If you are being paid, most likely you are obligated to write positive remarks, right?

One of the rules being looked into is that bloggers would be required to state whether gifts were presented / money was paid / products & services were provided for free - prior to putting up that blog post.

I'm all for this new ruling so that consumers won't be duped into obtaining products & services that could be fake/below standards via blogs.

I do lots of reviews and recommendations but they were my own opinions / experiences while using those products & services. If I do get an opportunity where a party requires me to blog about their products & services, I'll certainly be transparent about it. I won't promote the products & services which are lousy or one that fails even my own standards knowing that I'm to be paid or given benefit-in-kind to write about it. In other words, if I have nothing better to say, I'll just keep quiet.

One thing that disturbs me most is where some bloggers do post about products & services not known to them. Such bloggers will be assigned certain products & services to blog about and will be paid once that's done. The best thing, the products & services do not even exist in Malaysia. There's no blogging ethics at all and money is all they think about.

What's your stand on this issue? Malaysia gahmen should impose this too.

Reading: Bloggers who get gifts or money may have to own up - ytlcommunity
Tags: Blogger, Bloggers Monitored, Singapore, Media Development Authority, Blogging Ethics