Man United - 17th EPL Championships

Manchester United confirmed their tag as the favourite to win the 2007/2008 English Premier League championship by toppling Wigan away with goals coming from the boy wonder, Cristiano Ronaldo and the veteran, Ryan Giggs.

With this win, Man United has claimed their 17th English championship.

Man United opened their account to reclaim their championship via a penalty shot by Cristiano Ronaldo. It did send Chris Kirkland the wrong direction.

On the 80th minute, Ryan Giggs who came on as a substitute for Park Ji-Sung, was fed with a through ball by Wayne Rooney right inside the penalty box. With his cool composure, he slotted in the goal that confirmed the championship.






All the hype from Chelsea that they would overtake Man United on the last day of the season came to naught when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home. Their misery was compounded when their captain, John Terry, was stretchered off. Let's hope that he doesn't come back for the UEFA Champions League final on 21 May to be held in Moscow. Wahhhhhhhhh, how come you have such thinking on another human being .................... for now, I'm a Man United supporter. Couldn't care less about his health ............. hehehe

Just one more win will cap a remarkable season for Man United. I could still recall the last 3 minutes of the 1999 UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

Football fans from other clubs kept their distance from me to avoid further berating from me ..... hahaha. Personal experience - I can find many anti-Man United people on this face of the earth. You seldom hear of anti-Liverpool, anti-Chelsea or anti-Arsenal people but you can bump into many anti-Man United anywhere. Due to jealousy on Man United's success?

I think the sales for today's Star newspapers would be quite bad as the headlines on the front and back pages highlighted Man United's success with big pictures. Anti-Man United people would definitely curse such publicity for such a club. That's my club for the last 26 years.
Tags: Manchester United, Man United, Man U, English Premier League, EPL, Football, Soccer, UEFA Champions League, Chelsea

Is Malaysia's Fuel Price Cheaper?

The Malaysian government, on each occasion of announcing the fuel / petrol price increase would tend to compare with the neighbouring countries' prices. In doing so, they would say that our price was still the lowest in the region.

But has our Malaysian government tried to compare the fuel / petrol price with other oil producing countries? Malaysia is still a net exporter oil producing country at the moment.

A Germany-based company, GTZ International ("GTZ"), has done a survey in year 2007 on behalf of the World Bank in reviewing the fuel prices throughout the world. A common price denominator was fixed at US$0.38 per litre (Nov 2006 pricing), which was also the benchmark price for the world crude oil market. A good way to gauge when comparing different countries' way of measurement.

In GTZ's latest survey (click to download the 2 pages full survey), Malaysia has been listed at number 20. It shows that Malaysia's fuel price was the twentieth cheapest in the world. Not bad........... not true when the Malaysian government said that Malaysia's fuel price was the cheapest in the South East Asia region as Brunei's fuel price was even cheaper.

The Top Twenty list:-
1) Turkmenistan - US$0.02 per litre (ultra cheap, are you sure this is top grade oil?)
2) Venezuela - US$0.03 / litre
3) Iran - US$0.09 / litre
4) Libya US$0.13 / litre
5) Saudi Arabia - US$0.16 / litre
6) Qatar - US$0.19 / litre
7) Bahrain - US$0.21 / litre
8) Kuwait - US$0.22 / litre
9) Egypt - US$0.30 / litre
10) Yemen - US$0.30 / litre
11) Oman - US$0.31 / litre
12) Algeria - US$0.32 / litre
13) Brunei - US$0.34 / litre (Brunei is in the same region with Malaysia)
14) United Arab Emirates - US$0.37 / litre
15) Trinidad and Tobago - US$0.43 / litre
16) Azerbaijan - US$0.46 / litre
17) Ecuador - US$0.47 / litre
18) Angola - US$0.50 / litre
19) Nigeria - US$0.51 / litre
20) Malaysia - US$0.53 / litre (approx. RM1.71)

You have to know that the top twenty countries are oil producing countries and also net oil exporters. The US$0.38 per litre benchmark price was based on the crude oil price of US$60.20 per barrel. At that point of time, the Malaysian government has already mentioned that they have subsidised the fuel / petrol price heavily to the tune of tens of billions (Ringgit Malaysia currency).

As can be seen in the GTZ 2007 survey, during the crude oil price of US$60.20 or US$0.38 per litre, Malaysian fuel price was already being retailed at petrol station at the price of US$0.53 or RM1.71 (using the current currency exchange rate of US$1.00 = RM3.23).

The Malaysian government has been maintaining the fuel price at US$0.59 or RM1.92 and it would have started subsidising the fuel price if it hits above US$93.46 per barrel or US$0.59 per litre (approximately). The crude oil price hit US$94.00 per barrel on 20 Oct 2007.

Unless the Malaysian government can proof that this GTZ 2007 survey done for World Bank is wrong, otherwise please tell us what kind of oil subsidies were our Malaysian government talking about all these years?

Reading: World Crude Oil Prices - Energy Information Administration

Related posts:- Peak Oil and Confirmed! Petrol Price @ RM2.70 TONIGHT! and Malaysia's Subsidy for Petrol Price
Tags: Fuel Price, Oil Price, Petrol Price, Crude Oil Price, GTZ International, World Crude Oil Price, Energy Information Administration, World Bank, Commodity, Malaysia

Certified Toilet Cleaner in Malaysia

Yes, the title that you have read is correct and the Malaysian government will implement this scheme that will see all food outlets having a staff that has been trained or certified by a recognised institution.

Of course this staff (could be one or two, depending on respective food outlet's budget), would specialise in ensuring that the toilet is kept clean according to the authority rules and regulations. In this case, the authority should be the Housing and Local Government Ministry since they were the one that suggested this scheme. I'm sure this Ministry will have plenty of vacancies for such "toilet inspector" running all over the country inspecting toilets.

During inspection, I'm sure the specialised toilet staff must be present to note whatever comments given by the Ministry staff. Maybe such jobs could be outsourced to a recognised company to do such inspection.

Imagine that a small coffeeshop being manned by an old couple with one or two foreign maids assisting them. Who would be sent for the prestigious training? Many coffeeshops in Kuala Lumpur has only one miserable toilet which could measure by 6feet(l) x 3feet(w). And a specialised toilet staff must be sent for training just to maintain the toilet's cleanliness.

Would understand if a food court that has a seating capacity for hundreds of people may require such specialised toilet staff due to frequent usage of the toilet by customers.

Next question is who would be the recognised institutions? Wow, the word institution sounds very big and professional. Soon, the trainees would be given the title of professional toilet cleaners. Suddenly, trainers specialising in toilet cleaning is in such a big demand. What criteria or qualification such trainers must possess before they could call themselves as certified trainer? Must the trainer have a minimum number of years specialising in toilet cleaning too?

What would be the cost for such training? Can you quantify it? Should a small coffeeshop that has a toilet size of 6feet x 3feet pay the same training fees for their staff as compared to a hotel staff coming from Shangri-La Hotel (chose this owing to its size and prestige) which has numerous gigantic toilets all over the hotel premise?

Sooner or later, a call could be even made compulsory where only recognised companies must be hired to clean all toilets found in all food outlets. I won't be surprised.

I'm not mocking people who clean toilet for a living but the issue is the way the government wanted to implement such an idea for the whole nation without much thought being put into it. Don't they think properly before they mumble something in public?

Malaysia Boleh!

Reading: Ministry wants clean loos at all food outlets - Star
Tags: Toilet, Toilet Cleaner, Toilet Cleanliness, Housing and Local Government Ministry, Toilet Inspector

Part Owner of Google

Recently, with the most stock prices going downwards in the New York Stock Exchange, I bought a large block of Google shares at very very cheap price. With block of shares, I was able to have some say in the Google management too.

Since I have some say, I might as well tell them to change their usual Google Search template to the one seen as below .............. how nice of themTags: Google, Google Search, Google Shares, New York Stock Exchange

No More Interest-Free Period for Credit Cards

Hear ye! Hear ye!
The financial institutions in Malaysia may soon announce a drastic change in the terms and conditions for the usage of credit cards issued in Malaysia.

What sort of changes? For the better or worse? Now, everybody can apply? (similar tone to a local airline)

As everyone knows, upon purchasing a particular item or service, say RM1,000, the vendor or retail shop will swap your credit card and the issuing bank would be informed of the usage and the details would be listed in your credit card statement.

For example, you bought your stuff on 7 May 2008 and normally, your issuing bank would despatch the credit card statement by the 18th day of each month which would have listed the purchase done on 7 May 2008. Such credit card statement would normally have to be settled by month end (30th or 31st) thus allowing the credit card user a 23 days interest-free for the amount of RM1,000 being charged to the credit card.

Lots of people don't pay the full amount owing to the bank as stated in the credit card statement. Most will opt for partial or minimum payment and thus, rendering additional interest being charged on the amount remaining.

In the drastic act to be implemented, maybe second half of the year 2008, credit card users who don't pay the full amount as stated in the credit card statement may be in for a big surprise, one that will hurt their pockets even more.

When a credit card user doesn't pay the full amount as listed, issuing banks will not grant any interest-free period any more to that fella.

Say, if you have charged RM500 on 10 May, this could be listed in the system on the following day, 11 May. This RM500 would be charged interest (bank's applicable rates) from 11 May till the full payment of it. And if you still chose to make partial payment at month end, additional interest would be charged on top of interest ........................ wow!!!!

With the minimum qualification set so low as condition in applying for the credit card, the mass, if not informed of this piece of news would be hard hit.

I do take advantage of the interest-free period and normally will start charging it to the credit card right after the cut-off date and the payment for it won't be due till end of the following month.

The above is applicable in Malaysia and I'm not surprised if this is going to be practised worldwide. Be a smart consumer ..........
Tags: Interest Free Period, Credit Card, Malaysia, Issuing Bank, Financial Institutions, Credit Card User

Cyclone Whacked Myanmar Devastatingly

Was Burma ready when Cyclone Nargis hit its shores four days ago? Why weren't the general public warned? Such severe cyclone do not hit the land immediately as it would be a slow built-up over a number of days.

Were the army officials sleeping when the storm was ravaging strongly day by day?

The wind not only came in strong but a tidal wave of 12 feet high came upon the shore, hitting the Irrawaddy Delta where millions built their homes.



The Indian Meteorological Department, that was commissioned to alert the surrounding countries on any dangerous cyclones or earthquakes coming along the way, had managed to track the Cyclone Nargis on 2 May 2008 and alerted Burmese government agencies but somewhere somehow, such news were not disseminated fast enough to warn the general public.

Today, the cyclone aftermath has brought about 50,000 deaths, tens of thousands missing (would only be considered dead once body is found) and at least, a million homeless. This is just as bad as the 2004 tsunami.

The vast land comprise many paddy fields have been destroyed as well. Considered as the main rice bowl for many Burmese, life could be really hard if the military ruled government doesn't act fast.

The not-so-easyto-penetrate country of Burma (or Myanmar) due to its tight control by the military junta have called on international aids. The call was made quite late as the military found it hard to access certain places to assess the situation. After realising that it was really really bad, they knew that they were ill-prepared for it. Foreign reporters are rarely found in Burma due to restrictions and this has resulted in lesser news updates on the cyclone tragedy. Nobody really knew how bad it was except for the military and the citizens caught in it.

On one hand international aid agencies need to supply medical supplies together with their rescuers / medical personnel but visas weren't approved as fast for such personnel to enter Burma. So how?

It was reported that there was already a shortage of rice largely in Asia and this has to happen to Burma, where it does export milled rice too. This will surely drive the commodity's price upwards. Thailand's plan to form a rice cartel similar to OPEC, seeing that rice will be a much sought after food, has been dropped due to this tragedy happening in Burma.

Will Burma's military junta be awakened or the Burmese will finally rise up to demand a much better life?

Reading: The Irrawaddy News Magazine
Tags: Burma, Burmese, Myanmar, Cyclone Nargis, Irrawaddy Delta, Rice Cartel, OPEC, International Aid Agency, Military Junta, Military Ruled

Ah Beng Jokes

Ah Beng bought a new mobile. He sent a message to everyone from his phone book & said, "My mobile no. has changed. Earlier it was Nokia 3310. Now it is 6610"
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Ah Beng: I am proud, coz my son is in Medical College.
Friend: Really, what is he studying.
Ah Beng: No, he is not studying, they are studying him.
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Ah Beng: Doctor, in my dreams, I play football every night.
DR: Take this tablet, you will be ok.
Ah Beng: Can I take tomorrow, tonight is the final game.
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Ah Beng: If I die, will u remarry?
Wife: No! I'll stay with my sister. But if I die will u remarry?
Ah Beng: No, I'll also stay with your sister.
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Ah Beng: People consider me as a "GOD"
Wife: How do you know??
Ah Beng: When I went to the Park today, everybody said, Oh GOD! U have come again.
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Ah Beng: Why are all these people running?
Man: This is a race, the winner will get the cup
Ah Beng: If only the winner will get the cup, why others running?===================================================
Teacher: "I killed a person" convert this sentence into future tense
Ah Beng : The future tense is "u will go to jail"
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Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humour, Ah Beng