Malaysia's Broken House

Once upon a time, three sworn brothers built a house together. There were three bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, a garage and a small courtyard.

"They could not be reconciled to move out from the house but they would have no backbone if they stay!" The sworn brothers were young and enthusiastic. They were having a common vision and goal. Thus, they were happy living together even they were poor and had to share the living room, dining room, garage and courtyard.

The house was expanded later and more people lived in the house. They had to build more bedrooms within the limited space. As more people were living together, there were more disputes.

Power corrupts a person, this is an irrefutable truth. The eldest brother's power and influence grew greater, which meant that the status of the other two brothers were getting lower.

What made the two younger brothers could not stand was the size of their bedrooms. The three sworn brothers each occupied a bedroom of equal size at the beginning. But the eldest brother's room became larger and larger while the other two brothers' became smaller and smaller in order to make ways for new tenants. Eventually, they had difficulties even to turn around in their tiny rooms.

At the same time, the originally shared living and dining rooms, as well as the courtyard had become the eldest brother's "personal zones". The second and third brothers would have to ask for the eldest brother's permission if they wanted to use the rooms and courtyard.

Also, the eldest borther bought himself more cars that occupied the whole garage and he even built another huge garage in the courtyard. As a result, the other two brothers had to park their old cars outside the house.

Recently, heavy wind and rain caused leakages in the half of a century old house. The eldest brother just ignored the leakages as usual. Over the years, the second and third brothers were the one who paid for property taxes, water and electricity bills. Thus, the eldest brother would not have to worry about the repairs, too.

The question was, the damage caused by the wind and rain was too great. The two younger brothers could not help but to complain about it, requesting the eldest brother to bear some of the responsibilities. Otherwise, they could not stand it any longer in the house.

Unexpectedly, the eldest brother said: "It's not your business whether to repair the house. Don't forget that the house is mine."

What a bolt from the blue! The two younger brothers looked at the broken house and thought hard about their identities and statuses.

They could not be reconciled to move out from the house but they would have no backbone if they stay!

What would you do if the situation applies to you?

(Extracted from Sin Chew Daily)
Tags: Sworn Brothers, Broken House

AIG Insurance in Trouble

American International Group Inc ("AIG"), with 89 years of history, is in deep financial problem back in USA. The Federal Reserve Board is pumping in US$85 billion to safeguard its operations otherwise it could be the worst corporate bankruptcy incident. With the fund injection, USA government will have a 80% stake in AIG. This fund injection, available for two years, is only to assist AIG to meet its obligations.

In the midst of financial chaos, AIG has to issue a press statement to cool down the concerns of policyholders and annuity holders.

Back home in Malaysia, AIG's presence has been localised since 1 June 2008. A local company by the name of AIG General Insurance (Malaysia) Berhad has taken over the general insurance operations from AIG, the American Home Assurance Company but would still remain as a subsidiary of AIG. Those days they were famously known as American International Assurance ("AIA").

Does AIG Malaysia has to issue a press statement to inform their policyholders that they are still financially sound? Why do I ask this question? Because AIG has ran out of cash! Rumour has it that AIG will be drawing funds from their overseas subsidiaries.

I remembered when I was approached by AIG Malaysia's insurance agent, they would proudly present to me that AIA (those days lah) is the number one in the world and Malaysia and did mention that their worldwide assets at hand exceeds US$xxx billions, larger than a number of countries' assets.

For now, they can't mention the assets as AIG has been completely wiped off and if not for the US$85 billion fund injection, AIG would have been liquidated.

American Home Assurance Company Singapore has seen policyholders / investors queuing up to cash out / redeem their insurance policies and investment products. Better safe than never approach? To allay fears, Monetary Authority of Singapore has issued a press statement to that effect.

In the first place, how could so many USA financial institutions got themselves into such deep shit? I thought they have the best corporate practices as being boasted all the time but now, American citizens aren't sure whether their banks could safeguard their savings kept with the banks. Who will be next?

Hopefully this unfortunate financial situation will not jeopardise their sponsorship for my favourite club, Manchester United ....... hehe

Reading: AIG rescue at hand, government to take stake - Reuters
Reading: AIG Employees on Edge as Once-Safe Company in Turmoil - Insurance Journal
Reading: Is Your Insurance Safe With AIG? - Wall Street Journal
Tags: AIG, AIA, American International Group Inc, American Home Assurance Company, American International Assurance, Corporate Bailout, Corporate Bankruptcy, Federal Reserve Board, Monetary Authority of Singapore

How Men Change

The Love Word:
After 6 weeks: I looo-ve you, I love you, I love you!
After 6 months: Of course, I love you.
After 6 years: GOD, if I didn't love you, then why did I marry you?


Back from Work:
After 6 weeks: Honey, I'm home!
After 6 months: I'm BACK!!!
After 6 years: Have you cooked yet?


Phone Ringing:
After 6 weeks: Baby, somebody wants you on the phone.
After 6 months: Here, it's for you.
After 6 years: ANSWER THE PHONE DAM*T!!


Cooking:
After 6 weeks: I never knew food could taste so good!
After 6 months: What are we having for dinner tonight?
After 6 years: DUMPLING AGAIN??


New Dress:
After 6 weeks: Wow, you look like an angel in that dress.
After 6 months: You bought a new dress again?
After 6 years: How much did THAT cost me?


TV:
After 6 weeks: Baby, what would you like us to watch tonight?
After 6 months: I like this movie.
After 6 years: I'm going to watch PIRATES play, if you're not in the mood, go to bed, I can stay up by myself!


Making Love:
After 6 weeks: Baby, I want you tonight?
After 6 months: Lets make another baby, my mother just called!!!
After 6 years: Please MOVE over to your side, I'm suffocating here!!!!
Tags: Men, Jokes, Funny, Humour

Oil Price Dropped Drastically

World oil price has dropped drastically in the futures market from a high of US$147.27 on just 11 July 2008. On 15 Sept 2008 (2300 hrs), the current oil prices in various futures exchanges were:-
* Crude oil for October is trading at US$92.40 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange
* Brent crude oil for November is trading at US$90.40 a barrel on London's ICE Futures Europe
When our Malaysian government increased the fuel price on 6 June 2008 up to RM2.70 from RM1.92, the world oil price was trading at US$130 plus. When it was reduced to RM2.55 on 23 Aug 2008, the world oil price was at US$110 plus . It's already being traded at US$92 now, the fuel price should be re-priced to around RM1.92 (the fuel price before Jun 2008) or even lower.

Our faithful Prime Minister has said VERY LOUDLY that our fuel price would be priced according to world oil price and a price mechanism that would be effected every fifteen days. Excuse sir, the price has dropped way below all those oil prices you have mentioned. When will you wake up from your slumberland to review the fuel price again ........ to a much lower pricing.

Reading: Crude Oil Drops Below $92 as Lehman Adds to Demand Concern - Bloomberg
Tags: Oil Price, Crude Oil, Brent Crude Oil, New York Mercantile Exchange, ICE Futures Europe, Commodity, Futures

Lunch at Belanga

My love for food brought me to Belanga restaurant. Can't recall the meaning of this word, the waiter told me that it's a cooking utensil used in the kitchen. Actually wanted to go into the kitchen to take a picture of the Belanga ...... but after think think think think ..... sat there waiting for my food to come.

The restaurant is located at the walkway of the lower ground floor that connects The Gardens and Mid Valley.





This is their superb Nasi Lemak Ayam (chicken with coconut based white rice). The taste of the spices that was marinated into it were done very well. Ridiculously good. The size of the chicken surprised me. The price didn't.






This is the Nasi Belanga Ayam (nasi = rice). The gravy was filled with spicy chillis and if you are unable to withstand hot spice, don't pour the all the gravy onto the rice.

Exceptional in my case.











Appetite was there and couldn't resist this dish - Nasi Kunyit Rendang Daging. The calories taken shot up but I'll worry about that later.

The rendang curry was thick. Eating the nasi kunyit with the tender rendang daging, bit by bit, was just sheer estacy.









Their internal decor was nicely arranged. The preparation counter was filled with various condiments and food was prepared the moment you place the order (except for pre-packed food).

This restaurant do not charge you the 5% service tax. This restaurant owner has integrity.
Tags: Belanga, The Gardens, Mid Valley, Nasi Lemak Ayam, Nasi Belanga, Nasi Kunyit, Rendang Daging, Food

Try Forgetting Your Identity Card Number

Every single Malaysian, from the age of twelve years old onwards, is supposed to have an identity card which will state your fullname, an identity card number, residential address, date of birth, your sex and religion (for some).

When a police stops you at any authorised police check points, they could ask you for your identity card to verify who you are. If you don't have it, congratulations. For you will be questioned even more. Better make sure your explanations are good enough or else you will be thrown into jail.

A local lady was dealt with that when she couldn't even remember her identity card number and she was thrown into Kajang prison and subsequently ended up at the Lenggeng immigration depot, suspected for being a illegal Sri Lankan immigrant instead.

These are some of the police personnel you have right here in Malaysia coupled with the immigration fellas. She was held from Oct 2007 till this month. Her inability to remember the number and to speak the local malay language caused her to be holed up.

When a non-governmental organisation worker saw her situation, the NGO did a check with the National Registration Department and verified she was indeed a Malaysian. All this within one day. Really sick of these people who were involved in her case for not being humane at all in checking further. They could have gotten a person who could speak her language to understand her plight.

Reading: Inability to establish Rajeshvari ID baffling - Star
Tags: Identity Card, Malaysia, Kajang Prison, Lenggeng Immigration Depot, Non-Governmental Organisation, National Registration Department

Preservation of Heritage Building

Two of Malaysia's cities have been listed in UNESCO World Heritage List - namely, Malacca and George Town. Lots of historical backgrounds and we could still see buildings of yesteryears.

In China, even though not all cities are listed in the World Heritage List-China, the respective provincial governments are still doing their part in preserving historical buildings.

Kentucky Fried Chicken in China even restored an old building to fit in their fast food restaurant. Wonder how it will look in the interior.
Tags: UNESCO World Heritage List, Malacca, George Town, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Building Preservation