Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts

Monday, August 20, 2007

Could You Live Without China?

During my younger years, Japanese made goods flooded my house literally - Hitachi fridge, Sony TV, Sony audio player & Sanyo air-cond, rice cooker.

But nowadays, anything could have came in from China even the Japanese products/goods - my Nikon digital camera, Harmon Kardon pc speaker, Sony Ericsson mobile phone's power adaptor, Nokia mobile phone's power adaptor, HP office laptop, mouse, Altec Lansing pc microphone, pc webcam, slow cooker, remote control car, chopsticks, stapler, birthday candles, normal batteries, small TV antenna and most of the items being displayed in the cabinet.

What about your home?

There is this author, Sara Bongiorni and her family, who tried to live without China. Did her family succeed? They tried it out in 2005 and noted down their life for that year and out came a book entitled "A Year Without Made in China".
Summary - at the end of the year, the family was relieved it was over....haha. They found it difficult to avoid, their life was nothing close to normal and too time consuming in seeing their labels each time. It could be part of Fear Factor too as without those China made goods, our life could be quite inconvenient.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Now Nokia is Conducting a Recall

After a major recall by Mattel/Fisher-Price for their toys that were manufactured in China, Nokia joined the bandwagon reluctantly.

Nokia is recalling batteries sold as the Nokia-branded BL-5C battery manufactured by Matsushita Battery Industrial Co. Ltd. of Japan between December 2005 and November 2006.

The word "BL-5C" is printed on the front of the battery.
On the back of the battery, the Nokia mark appears at the top, and the battery identification number (consisting of 26 characters) is found at the bottom. If the battery identification number does not contain 26 characters, it is not subject to this product advisory.

The reason for the recall is because this batch of batteries could overheat due to a short circuit especially during re-charging time. Overall, there are 300 million of such batteries out there somewhere but only 46 million needed to be recalled (with the criteria as listed above) Phew!!!!!! ...................

So, not only China made goods are useless, even Japanese made products could be a suspect now. All this due to non-stringent quality assessment/quality control again or because of cost-cutting measures that caused such an issue?????? Only the manufacturers will know.

I think those betting companies will be starting new betting schemes on what kind of products will be recalled next.
Reading: Nokia users heed this call - The Star

Tags: Nokia, Matsushita, Matsushita Battery Industrial Co Ltd, Japan, Nokia Battery, BL-5C, Overheat, Battery Identification Number, Recall

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Made In China

China really has to clean up its act in coming up with more stringent quality control to be imposed on factories operating within China, whether local or foreign owned. Tight scrutiny in foreign owned factories should have been done but I think 'profit over safety' blinded those foreign owners.

In a recent case where a top China official from the food and drug administration was 'executed by the authorities' due to taking bribes from health manufacturer that produced health goods which caused death to consumer(s).

Subsequently, food products exported to USA were tainted with substance that can caused illness. Toothpaste was a big issue too.

Recent days, toys manufactured by an OEM manufacturer in China, Lida Toy Co., marketed under the Fisher-Price brand have been recalled by Mattel from throughout the world. This caused its share price to drop as much as 4% from US$23.00.

The toy products being recalled are as follows:-
* 18.2 million magnetic toys globally, including 9.5 million in the United States, with magnets or magnetic parts that can be dislodged - inclusive of 7.3 million Polly Pocket dolls and accessories with magnets, 1 million Doggie Day Care magnetic toys, 683,000 Barbie and Tanner magnetic toys, and 345,000 Batman and One Piece play sets; and
* about 253,000 Pixar Sarge die-cast toy cars with lead paint were also recalled. Lead has been linked to health problems in children, including brain damage.
* Big Bird, Elmo, Dora and Diego characters because their paint contains excessive amounts of lead.

After an investigation, Mattel gave an account of what has happened:-
The recall of the Sarge toy results from Mattel's increased investigation and ongoing testing procedures following the recall of select Fisher-Price toys on August 1, 2007. The toy was produced by Early Light Industrial Co., Ltd (Early Light), one of Mattel's contract manufacturing facilities in China, which subcontracted the painting of parts of the toy to another vendor, Hong Li Da (HLD), also in China. While the painting subcontractor, HLD, was required to utilize paint supplied directly from Early Light, it instead violated Mattel's standards and utilized paint from a non-authorized third-party supplier.

With dignity down the drain, the Chinese owner by the name of Zhang Shuhong had committed suicide due to the recall. That's how bad the situation is.

If you are concern as to the exact toys being recalled, you can check at Mattel's Voluntary Safety Recall Facts and click your language and respective countries. As for Fisher-Price, click its Fisher-Price's Recall Information.

Reading: What Went Wrong at Mattel - BusinessWeek
Reading: Chinese products win praise - China Daily

Tags: China Made, Toys, Mattel, Fisher-Price, Early Light Industrial Co Ltd , Hong Li Da, China, Toy Manufacturer, Recall, China Products

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Next Change - 'Higher Oil Price'

The title was like a message informing us of a up and coming new show. But this new show will affect every single person in the world, whether you like the show or not (in this case, USE).

In a blog posting last year about Peak Oil, it was stated that oil price per barrel was targetted to hit US$100. Good thing it didn't but it did touch US$78 this year. In fact, oil prices have now been on a bull run for four years. This year alone, they are up nearly 30% (Business Week).

Following expected oil pricing:-
* There is market momentum, and the magic number now is $81.
* If we hit that, most people believe it'll head to $91 or higher."
* Some technical charts predict prices could hit $110 or $118 by the end of the year.

With the worldwide stock markets crumbling unexpectedly, interest rates would have to be raised as governments in Europe, Japan & USA pumped fundings to support the stock markets. Japan was supposed to raise its interest rates and with their increase, hot funds would be affected in Asian stock markets that would cause investors from Europe, Japan & USA to conduct profit-takings.

I'm not predicting the end of the world but economics do have its own cycles.
Tags: Oil Price, Peak Oil, Economics, Stock Market

Misleading Air Tickets Pricing

The Office of Fair Trading in UK has imposed some penalties on 13 airlines for their misleading advertisings details especially on the compulsory costs, such as taxes, in the prices they advertised for flights.

Will our Malaysian authorities do the same thing too? AirAsia is one company that, in my own opinion, flouts the law frequently. Their advertised pricing in newpapers are prices before any taxes and fees. Even though the one-way ticket pricing would show RM29 in the advertisement, the final pricing could be around RM72 upon confirmation.

Just flip through the daily newspapers and you'll see various travel agencies putting up so-called discounted air tickets/destinations. But they haven't shown the taxes and fees. That would only be shown when you are confirming the whole package. I'm sure many Malaysian would agree with this.

Well ah...... the Malaysian authorities will act if a big shot was an affected victim OR a big shot brought the matter up, otherwise common people like you and me ...... just bear with and be a smart consumer/buyer.
Tags: Office of Fair Trading, Airlines, Misleading Advertisement, AirAsia, Travel Agencies, Air Ticket

Friday, August 10, 2007

Foreign Shareholdings in Malaysian Companies

Yet again, another issue about the foreign shareholdings in Malaysian companies. Bureaucracy not related to business, in certain extent, did slow down foreign direct investment in Malaysia.

In certain cases where foreigners wanted to increase their shareholdings in Malaysian companies beyond 49%, such approvals could be only be solved when a ruling states that a company established prior to 21 May 2003 could not have this liberty, is removed.

Different government agencies have different agendas, namely the Foreign Investment Committee and Ministry of International Trade and Industry. How in the world are the foreigners going to set up a business within a short period and thus bringing in foreign investment with the provision of employment opportunities for Malaysians. Malaysia is just not investment friendly compared with Hong Kong and Singapore.

The British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce has to step in in requesting that all Malaysian companies could have a 70% equities held by foreigners while observing a minimum 30% bumiputera equity (another NEP ruling?).

I have a previous contact from France that wanted to set up a food business in Kuala Lumpur. His business was doing well in France and thought of extending his ideas here. After going through so many process which were going at snail's pace and unreasonable requirements, he gave up. He said that although the government promoted foreign direct investment but respective government agencies do not reflect the same ideology at all.

He did say "Why must I give away 30% of my business to someone I do not know?"
This scenario is similar to the ones in the Maybank and freight forwarders cases.
Tags: Business, Politics, Bumiputera Equity, Foreign Equity, Foreign Investment Committee, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce, New Economic Policy, NEP

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Price War on Harry Potter's Book

* Latest update: Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs's Minister, Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal said price war good for consumers.

Can you believe that 4 major bookstores in Malaysia are combining together and issued a press release stating that they won't be selling latest and final instalment of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Bookstores, namely MPH, Popular, Harris and Times said their actions were due to the heavy discounting action by 2 major hypermarkets, namely Tesco and Carrefour who were selling at RM69.90 way much lower than the RM109.90 made available at the 4 major bookstores.

I found that such practice by the 4 major bookstores sum up to being a cartel, hoarding the sale and maintaining a price in a monopolistic way. C'mon, is the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs realising this hoarding business tactic. No business ethics at all. It's up to Tesco and Carrefour to sell at a price they like even though at a loss. This is what we called BUSINESS!

It was important to note that the book distributor, Penguin, had sold at the same price to all buyers and the 4 major bookstores were trying to cover their exhorbitant pricing at RM109.90.

Can you imagine Golden Screen Cinemas closing its cinemas for the day if it found out that Cathay Cineplexes was selling its tickets at a much lower price. It's up to Cathay Cineplexes' management decision to market at a different pricing as they may have other business synergy too. I really found it so perplexed by the 4 major bookstores' decision to stop selling the books.

This is to confirm that their moves are monopolistic and hoarding the books to maintain a price. It's just the same actions by those companies who were selling sugar where they tried to hoard the goods and caused shortages in order to push up the market price. RIDICULOUS!

I really wish the 4 major bookstores would follow the examples of UK bookstores who faced similar scenario. Leading UK supermarkets were selling the books at 4.99 pounds compared to those being sold at 17.99 pounds by major bookstores. But did those major bookstores went on strike like ours in Malaysia? NO!
Tags: Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Penguin, JK Rowling, MPH, Popular, Harris, Times, Tesco, Carrefour

Friday, July 13, 2007

Expensive SMS

If you have been courted to subscribe for the SMS service from Mobile 365 Asia Sdn Bhd, please be careful of their rates and number of SMSes that may be sent/received. Though their business plan/potential under the mobile messaging and data services seems very good, that's for them as a business entity. But for consumers/users like us, it's better to be aware of it.Just at the bottom of the picture above, there is this statement:-
*Bonus realtone is for free. Bonus realtone will be sent the first week of subscription. After this the costs are RM 4.00 per msg incl. GST, 3 msg per week, 1 content item per sms. (RM 12.00 per week) Standard operator SMS/WAP/GPRS charges apply. Start up: standard message fee applies. Min. age 18+ with bill payers permission. Helpdesk: 1800 813682 (9am-5pm,Isn-Jum). Celldorado operates according to the Malaysian code of conduct for SMS services. Celldorado offers innovative information and entertainment for your mobile, such as ringtones, Javagames and wallpapers.

If you were not careful, you could be paying RM12.00 per week under their subscription service. Caveat emptor!

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

USA Town For Sale

Rich people tend to have a ranch or a large piece of land as their property, away from the noise or busy developments. And if you intend to control any land being developed without your knowledge or afraid that such development may affect your properties' prices, you can do so now.

A town in California is up for sale now and you will have full control of the town. Not a bad deal but any catch to it? You get to appoint your own sheriff?

Info on the town called Bridgeville:-
Current population: 30
Market value: US$1.3 million
Land area: 83 acres
Nature: Van Duzen River
Buildings on land: 8 houses, a post office and a cafe.

Previous owners:-
Bruce Krall, a banker, bought for US$700,000 at an eBay auction in 2002
Reason for sale: Couldn't afford the restoration costs

Daniel La Paille, an entertainment manager, bought for US$1.25 million in 2006 from Krall
Reason for sale: Committed suicide (maybe too much stress on the restoration also)

New owner: You?? If you are interested you have to bid for it via eBay's website. You should check how they present the town in the website. Starting bid - US$1.75 million.

Sunday, July 08, 2007

Change of World's Richest Man

Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft had been the world's richest person for a number of years now. Really respect a Harvard dropout who could make almost every single pc/laptop to adopt his product. What a brainy!

Forbes has also listed Carlos Slim as the 3rd richest person in the world. But recent news have stated that Carlos Slim from Mexico has overtaken Bill Gates in the ranking.

Recent share price hike in Carlos Slim's company - America Movil has pushed him up the ranking. Did he manipulate the share price? Hey, it's not surprising that such manipulation could happen. Besides this company, he also owns also owns the Inbursa financial group and the Grupo Carso industrial conglomerate.

What's the difference like between this top 2 guys? Carlos Slim is reported to have a fortune of US$67.8bn (£33.6bn) compared to Bill Gates' US$59.2bn. gOoDnEsS mE!!!!!!!
Tags: Bill Gates, Carlos Slim, Billionaires, America Movil, Inbursa, Grupo Carso, Microsoft, Mexico, USA, Wealth, Richest Person

Friday, June 15, 2007

Wahaha ...... hahahahaha

Came across this company's products by the name of Wahaha located in Hangzhou, China ..........hahahaha

I would say that the owner, Zong Qinghou, and his wife (former teachers) are laughing all the way to the bank...hahahahaha. From a minnow company selling beverages and ice-creams, they have diversified to many other types of beverages and one of which is Wahaha's Future Coke.

Future Coke, a similar carbonated drink to Coca-Cola, was launched in 1998 and today, it's giving sleepless nights to Coca-Cola and Pepsi in rural China areas. Now, you have to know that the rural areas are definitely much larger than the urban/established areas.

Their business could generate an annual revenue of US$1.37 billion (11.4 billion yuan) and profits of US$162.7 million (1.34 billion yuan) per year.

Seeing this potential, it has prompted Group Danone SA to increase their investment in Wahaha......hahahahahahhaha. Somehow, the investment didn't go as planned and has generated wide protests from the Wahaha local workers.......for once Wahaha staff are not laughing. Their founder, Zong Qinghou, has resigned amidst the takeover by Group Danone SA.

Wahaha is famous enough to attract Wang Lee Hom to become their products' ambassador. So, Lee Hom is also hahahhahahahah all the way to the bank as well.

Guess who's laughing lately ...hahahaha
Reading: Wahaha - Taking the fizz out of the giant cola brands! - Venture Republic

Tags: Wahaha, Hangzhou, China, Zong Qinghou, Future Coke, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Group Danone SA, Wang Lee Hom, Beverage

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Saudi Style Parties

Whisky, women and weapons (extracted from The Age)
LONG after midnight, the party is in full swing, the music loud, the whisky and champagne flowing. In the penthouse suite at a five-star London hotel, six attractive young British women, most in short, tight dresses that leave little to the imagination, sashay between wealthy princes from Saudi Arabia, flirting and laughing slightly more loudly than the Arabs' witticisms merit.

A silver dish of white powder, with matching spoon, is passed around. From time to time a couple slips out of the suite only to reappear half an hour later and seek new friends. Others do not feel impelled to leave to share intimate moments but settle on a sofa or the four-poster in the main bedroom oblivious, perhaps, to their fellow partygoers.

For this is the country where Islamic sharia law reigns, the Koran is the constitution, woman are not allowed to drive and where the religious zealots hold sway over law and order in a delicate pact with the ruling House of Saud, the extended royal family that holds every government post.

The Saudi royals also like to entertain and expect that to be reciprocated. In their home country that will consist of lavish dinners, with the finest food, in elegant surroundings. Abroad they will expect at least the same - and sometimes much more, especially in western Europe.

The "whisky and women" were usually demanded by less senior members of the ruling family, says one former diplomat in Riyadh. "There are about 5000 Saudi princes and a lot of the younger ones especially like to do things that many men of their age do. They are very restricted in their country so it's understandable that some go a bit wild when they are over here."
(Full text...........)
Tags: Saudi Arabia, House of Saud, Saudi Royals, Saudi Princes, Arabs, Whisky

Friday, June 08, 2007

Privilege for Broken Hearted Customers

All young South Korean men were required mandatorily to serve in the national army by the government. If during this period of service, you received a email or letter from your darling stating that she wanted to break off with you, there will be some good news after all for you.

Though the good news may not come from your darling anymore or their family members trying to salvage the broken relationship, a South Korean bank has decided to chip in to assist such soldiers. Wow! not bad but how does a bank comfort a soldier in such a scenario.

Nonghyup Bank, upon solid proof provided that you have been dumped by your darlings (wonder if being jilted by the wife counts???) will provide the following benefits for you:-
* new deposit plan with better rates
* waived service fees

This plan is not restricted to men only but also available to female soldiers, family members of professional troops, wounded veterans and trainees. Besides that, Nonghyup Bank will also donate 0.1 per cent of the new clients' balances for dead war heroes and wounded veterans.

Only 1 catch, the offer is valid from 4 June 2007 to end Sept 2007. If want to break up, make sure you break up within this few months or if you sense it in Sept 2007, make sure you get those email or letter by 30 Sept 2007 morning and rush to the bank by that afternoon.

Reading: S. Korea bank eases ache of heartbroken soldiers - Washington Times
Reading: Special bank rates for dumped soldiers - Metro UK
Reading: S. Korean bank to help dumped soldiers - Canoe Network
Tags: Nonghyup Bank, South Korea, Soldier, Jilted, Dumped, Break Up, Heart Broken, Bank Rates

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Holiday Package

*Latest Update - Receive an email from Ministry of Tourism confirming that the companies stated below were not licensed. Email posted in under Unlicensed Travel Agencies.
----------------------------------
Received this via an email. Could anyone verify the email or whether any of you have suffered the same fate?

Dear All,
If you see anyone selling this membership, please do not apply membership or any trip from them.

Slyways Vacation will sell the membership card for Dynasty Vision (as in attachment) in a lot shopping complex (e.g. Carrefour, Jusco .....).

When you walk in front to their counter, they will approach you. They will tell you that they are under government (KKKP). They are working for government so that they can get a lot cheap hotels for you. And they did a lot survey to get the cheapest travel ways in Malaysia. Just bullshit!!!!

Actually they are not working for government , their business is not related with government. They are private company. All the logo printed on the membership card is just display, they are not able to get cheap package.They just want to cheat your member fee - RM399.

The main things , their staffs are not qualify to become tour consultant. I had experience been cheated by an agent called Sankan. He is working for Slyways. When I get cheated then I called his leader (Idrus) and boss (Jimmy) for help. But they are irresponsible and they will only scold you and ignore your call. They just tell you that this staff already been terminated, your application is not in our system!

For Dynasty Vision, when you call to their service center, whatever question you ask they only have one answer. They don't even understand "English". Their boss is Encik Megat.

I hope nobody will be the next victim again. That's why I send this email to let all of you know DO NOT APPLY MEMBERSHIP OR TRIP PACKAGE with these two companies:-

Slyways Vacation
Suite 2-2-2A, 2nd Floor,
Wisma Rampai Town Centre,
Setapak
53300 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-41492122
Fax: 03-41493122

Dynasty Vision Resources
73-1, 1st Floor,
Jalan 3/23A,
Off Jalan Genting Kelang
Taman Danau Kota
Setapak
53300 Kuala Lumpur

When I did a search, this Dynasty Vision Resources is somehow linked to Best World Vacation. Under the terms and conditions, the definition of Cards - Card(s) means the Best World Vacation card(s) bearing the Dynasty Vision Resources mark/logo issued by the company or authorized sublicense(s). Closely linked indeed!

There was no mention of where this Best World was located but during the reading of Best World's website, it did state that Dynasty Vision Resources has another office located at Sri Dagangan Business Centre in Kuantan.

The above is surely another case of lousy customer service or miscommunication between both parties.
Tags: Slyways Vacation, Dynasty Vision Resources, Best World Vacation, Kuantan, Membership

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Securities Commission's Blacklist

Due to greed, scrupulous companies have been set-up to meet the needs of the greedy people.....hehehe.

The Securities Commission has issued a list of companies or websites that has no authority/approval to deal in securities, provide investment advice and/or fund management services related to securities or futures. And if you do come across such companies or representatives of such companies, do inform SC at 603-62048999 or e-mail: aduan@seccom.com.my. Generally, people's tendency is to dabble with such companies even after reading this posting. Never try never know and what if it really works for them..............bad bad.

ABFund (www.abfund.us)
Al-Arabic Fund (www.al-arabic.com)
ABB Fund (www.abbfund.com)
Artemis Wealth Management
Asia Wallet/ASWtrader/Splitindex Inc (www.splitindex.com)
AM Global Management (www.nypoe.com)

BHG e-investment (www.bhg-corp.com)
Bidvask Investment Ltd (www.bidvask.com)
Buy-e-barrel (www.buyebarrel.com)
Brentwood Trust Company (www.brentwoodtrust.com)
Belton Market (www.beltonmarkets.com)

Cambridge Capital Trading(www.cambridgecapitaltrading.com, www.dubaiex.com) * (Press Release)
Capital Enhancement Club/ CEC
CB.IRAQ
Capital Glory Holdings Ltd

Data Saham (www.datasaham.com)
Dragon Gold Sdn Bhd / Dr Iain Gray
Duit Wayang
Dana Futures (www.danafutures.com)
Dana Modal (www.angelfire.com/journal2/danamodal)
Debenture Petal Trust

eUK Gold (www.eukgold.com)
Eubond.com (www.eubond.com)
Eduit2u.com (www.eduit2u.com)
E-suisse Fund (www.esuissefund.com)
Euro America Index (www.eaindex.com)
E-Barrel (www.ebarrel.com)

Fical (www.fical.net / www.fical.us)

GC Group Asset Management
Good Credit Asset Management
Goldmill Wagner Ltd / GWA Worldwide (www.goldmillwagner.com)
Global Investment Network System (http://ginsystem.com)

Hibah Funds

IPC Shopping Services Sdn Bhd/Empay (www.ipcshopping.com)

Jai Network System Sdn Bhd

Lexworth Prestige

Mercury Acquisition Associates (www.mercuryacquisitionassociates.com)
Montego Finance & Securities Berhad (www.montegofs.official.ws)
My Dinar (www.mydinar.net)
Mind-X Solutions Sdn Bhd (www.betonmarkets.com)
My Share (www.myshare2u.com)

Oregon Invest (www.oregoninvest.com)
Ocean Balance Ltd

Pure Investor / PIPS (www.pureinvestor.com, www.gopips.com)
Prowealth Solutions (www.prowealthsolutions.com)

Remisier (www.remisier.com)

Sunshine Empire (www.sunshine-empire.com)
Swiss Mutual Fund (www.swisscash.com, www.swisscash.biz) *(Press Release)
Sweden Fund (www.swedenfund.com)
Solid Investment (www.solidinvestment.com)
Smartcash (www.smartcash.com)
Sime Securities (www.simesecurities.net)
Starr-Bradley Associates Inc (www.starrbradleyinc.com)

Tian Ping (www.tianping2u.com)

UeBond (www.uebond.com)
United Capital Management Inc (www.brentwoodtrust.com)
Universe Asset Management Inc / Tony So

Win Li Fund (www.winlifund.com)
Whitman Pearce & Partners (www.whitmanpearce.com)

3A Consulting Group Sdn Bhd

If you had invested in the above schemes, all the best to you then!
Tags: Securities Commission, SC, Blacklist, Fund Management, Asset Management, Fund, Securities, Futures, Investment

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Maybank's Change of Heart

Watching the TV3's midnite news and heard the first news - Malayan Banking Berhad will revise its latest requirement (Bernama News) prior to be selected into Maybank's panel of lawyers. The new ruling was announced few days back where it required 50% of the partnership interest of each legal firm be held by bumiputra lawyers. New legal firms intending to be selected were required to have this ruling in place while existing legal firms in their panel were given 1 year's reprieve.

In a change of mind NOW, Maybank said that performance/capability will be the main criteria/measurement in selecting legal firms to be in their panel of lawyers. News floated around that this issue was even brought up to the cabinet. What a waste of public funds/time.

In the first, where was the Board of Directors' brains when this new ruling was pondered upon before it was decided. After getting hammering from all walks of life, the Bar Council, practising lawyers, political parties (BN or opposition) and plenty of bloggers, sense came back into their mind. It's just plain racial discrimination. Racists!!

I agreed with one scenario; what if Public Bank Berhad or Hong Leong Bank Berhad starts to implement a ruling requiring all legal firms in their panel or those intending to be selected to have a minimum number of chinese lawyers and/or majority of partnership interests must be held by non-malays. I would also protest in this case as it's not fair for those who did their works well. Imagine that legal firms were forced to accept mediocre lawyers as partners just to meet the banks' requirements.

Wondering if there would be any other companies in other industries that would implement such ridiculous racial rulings in a supposedly multi-racial nation.
Tags: Malayan Banking Berhad, MBB, Maybank, Lawyer, Legal Firm, Racial Discrimination, Racist, Bumiputra, Malaysia, Bar Council

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Microsoft Buying Over Yahoo?

Rumours in the stock market has stated that Microsoft is already eyeing Yahoo as a major coup that could involve as much as US$50 billion. Details have not been revealed by both Microsoft or Yahoo. A mega merger may not happen but some business matching could materialise to strengthen their respective market share.

Upon such rumours, Yahoo shares surged $2.80, or 9.9 percent, to $30.98 on Friday, while shares of Microsoft fell 41 cents to $30.56.

In order to catch up with Googles' business, this latest merger of technology giants will really put other smaller competitors out in the cold. To arrest such situation from happening, the USA Department of Justice's Antitrust Division may not approve such mega merger.

Reading: Reports: Microsoft pursuing Yahoo - Associated Press
Reading: Yahoo shares rise on reports of Microsoft interest - Reuters
Tags: Microsoft, Yahoo, Googles, Merger, Department of Justice, Antitrust

Thursday, April 26, 2007

CIMB's Emerging Asia Fund

CIMB-Principal Asset Management Berhad published this advertisement last week in a major english newspaper. It showed that their Emerging Asia Fund could generate a 1-year return of 25.85%. That's a very good achievement. But somehow on the very next day, CIMB-Principal published the same advertisement but this time, the 1-year return has dropped drastically within 1 day period, i.e. down 7.45%. The advertisement followed the daily stock market index as well?????
I wonder what's the rate of return for next week.
Tags: CIMB, CIMB-Principal, Asset Management, Funny, Humour

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Tax Cuts

It is interesting to hear a professor present a realistic view of how economics really work.

CLEAR EXPLANATION OF TAX CUTS......................... Sometimes politicians, journalists and others exclaim; "It's just a tax cut for the rich!" and it is just accepted to be fact, without questioning it But what does that really mean? Just in case you are not completely clear on this issue, the following might help. Let's put tax cuts in terms everyone can understand.

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing. The fifth would pay $1. The sixth would pay $3. The seventh would pay $7. The eighth would pay $12. The ninth would pay $18. The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59. So, that's what they decided to do.

The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. "Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20."Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. What about the other six men, those paying the tab? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'

They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so: The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings). The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings). The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings). The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings). The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings). The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings. "I only got a dollar out of the $20,"declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man," but he got $10!" "Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!" "That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!" "Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
David R. Kamerschen
PhD Professor of Economics
University of Georgia

I'm sure quite a number of email readers have received the above article on Tax Cuts but David Kamerschen has denied that he had ever written such an article. Though he has penned more than 200 articles for the last 20 years, the Tax Cuts was not one of them.
Tags: David R Kamerschen, University of Georgia, Tax, Economics, Wealth, Beer

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Consumer Healthcare

GlaxoSmithKline Malaysia has assured the public that Ribena's content is as per its label via an official statement to Amir Mahmood Razak, a TV news anchor who enquired about it when he read about the case in New Zealand. The statement came about due to GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare in New Zealand (GSK-CH) who has accepted charges brought by the New Zealand Commerce Commission and has given undertakings to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission with regards to potentially misleading advertising statements and low levels of Vitamin C in some Ribena Ready-to-Drink products manufactured for the Australia and New Zealand markets.

More in Amir Mahmood Razak's blog and Screenshots.

Has the food/beverage production been compromised lately? Which 3rd party can verify the truthfulness on the label or those contect not listed in label to avoid consumer repercussion.

In China, two young men from Hangzhou, provincial capital of Zhejiang in eastern China, sued the Zhongcui Foodstuff Co Ltd for producing and putting on the market Coca-Cola and Sprite drinks containing the preservative sodium benzoate, which has been proved to be harmful to human health when consumed over a long period. The plaintiffs accused the manufacturers of covering up the preservative's chemical nature, thus depriving the consumer of "the right to know". The case is reported to have been accepted by a court. (source: Asia Times Onlime)

Is it the same situation in Malaysia as well? What does Malaysia's Coca Cola producer, F&N Coca-Cola, has to say about the situation in China. Personally, I do refrain from drinking carbonated soft drinks.
Tags: GlaxoSmithKline, Ribena, Malaysia, New Zealand Commerce Commission, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Vitamin C, Hangzhou, Zhongcui Foodstuff Co Ltd, China, Coca Cola, Sprite, Preservative, Sodium Benzoate, Consumer Healthcare, Health, F&N

Pattaya International Fireworks Festival

Pattaya is definitely firing up its presence internationally. Covid19 has hit many nations really hard and Pattaya wasn't exempted from ...