Less EPF Cut Means More Income?

Many people have been thinking of getting the extra income come 1 Jan 2009 when the mandatory Employees' Provident Fund ("EPF") deduction is reduced to 8% of the gross salary instead of the current 11%.

We take a case study to see the benefit that could be derived if your monthly basic salary RM4,000:-

- If your monthly EPF contribution is 11% (RM440), taxable income = RM3,560, income tax payable = RM77.

- If your monthly EPF contribution is 8% (RM320), taxable income = RM3,680, income tax payable = RM109.

Conclusion: If you choose to contribute 8%, you will end up paying more income tax to the government, which will make the government richer.

Finance Minister Najib said this measure is meant to boost up the slow-down market, but from this example we see that the money does not go into the market. Instead the money goes direct into the government's pocket through the greater amount of income tax that we will have to pay. Obviously this measure does not help the market at all.
Tags: EPF, Employees' Provident Fund, Taxable Income, Malaysian Income Tax

Bad Times in Kuala Lumpur

This is a true account that happened after a heavy downpour on 16 Oct 2008 to a friend's friend who's working in Cycle & Carriage Bintang Berhad, Petaling Jaya. Time is bad and the day you take for granted on your safety, that could be the day you'll live to regret it.

Praying to God for his protection is definitely a need but our neglectful lifestyle should be looked into.

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

Dear Colleagues,

I would like to share my experience with you on what actually happened last night while on my way back from the office alone.

It was raining heavily while I left the office about 7.00pm and I was caught in the traffic jam along the way home. On reaching Kampung Tunku, I noticed some bikes tailing me closely. My reaction was bikes riders will not be so gentle on the road, even on rainy days, they often speed. As I could not view clearly in the downpour, I activated my rear windshield wiper to have a better look.

I saw three bikes behind me. Following that, one rider moved in front of my car towards the left and two riders were behind me for a while. And I heard a very loud crashing sound at the rear of my car.

I did not stop to investigate but accelerated and continued my journey home despite whatever damages I have to incur for repairs. After a while, the three bikers went missing and guess what next. A breakdown tow truck was behind me next. Along the way, my drive was not comfortable as I felt that my car was not moving in the right way.

I continued my journey, whatever, and on reaching home, guess what, two tires, LH Front and Rear were punctured flat.

We always read and heard that such incidents are happening daily, and this time I experienced this myself.

Please inform all your wives and loves ones not to stop the car while driving alone, just carry on the journey.

With regards,
Irene Kok

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

My personal advise upon reading this email is for you, if you suspect anything amiss, to drive to the nearest relative / friend's house to check on the damage. Never continue driving too far. Seek help at the nearest place that you are familiar with.

Imagine the assailants were to pursue further and you went ahead to accelerate. It would be a devastating end .........................

Tags: Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya, Cycle & Carriage Bintang Berhad

Main Cause of Stock Exchange Meltdown

Financial gurus / world class economists / professional stock traders are putting their brains together to find an answer or a method in trying to put a stop to the selldown in world stock markets.

They missed one fundamental point - communication.

(Picture was stolen from Daniel Ng)

Tags: Stock Exchange Meltdown, Stock Market, Financial Guru, Economist, Stock Traders

Night Activity in Khartoum

Thursday is like a Saturday night to the Khartoum working folks. Where could we go? Our project secretary who is a Filipino lady herself invited us to their Filipino community gathering at a basketball arena.






There were people selling foodstuff in the basketball arena. We were recommended to a well known Philippines dessert called Halo Halo. It was selling at 5 Sudanese Pound (US$2.50). Nothing's cheap in Sudan.












It could comprise blend of fruits, sweet preserves, evaporated milk and shaved ice. There are various ways of making this dessert and you could add any type of ingredients according to your taste if you do it at home.












We sat near the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) team as our project secretary's friends are in the team.

Was bitten by mosquitoes while watching the game that consist of four quarters of ten minutes each.

Hopefully those were not malaria infested mosquitoes. Will know in a few days' time.








The UNMIS team won this game by 107 to 62, if remembered correctly. It's a best of three games and they will play again on Friday night.

Filipinos were seated around the basketball court and there was a centrestage set up for a commentator and game officials, very professional.

At the end of the game, I noticed I was the tallest fella standing amongst the UNMIS players ..... but the project secretary said the competition was opened to Filipinos only ............ sigh
Tags: Filipino, Philippines, Halo-Halo Dessert, Basketball, Khartoum Nightlife, United Nations Mission In Sudan, UNMIS

Lunch at Wang

Thursday, time to go to a restaurant that I have not been two years ago .......... wow

There's the great wall of china that I have to go pass to reach the Wang Restaurant. They serve chinese dishes.

Friends are asking me why blog has became a food review column in the last few days .......... need to get some other inspiration to write others ........... it will come






Their garden on the way into the double storey bungalow.















Their menu which was nicely done up compared to the last time I was here which was just a wordings and prices on few sheets of laminated papers.

This was the sweet and sour fish fillet. Somehow each fish fillet has lots of fish oil ...... those fattiness part ...... making it not that nice and can't feel its freshness. The tangy sauce was just good to go with the white rice.

This is the Chicken Cubes with Green Pepper. Not a spicy dish and this was superb.

But one bad point about this dish was that the cook used way toooooooooooo much oil. The last few cubes have to wait for its oil to drip off before I dare to put into my mouth ....... you know, it could be cooking oil from China.

The restaurant has a cabinet at the that displays a number of their special dishes. Can't read those chinese characters and the restaurant worker explained to me ...... didn't order from this cabinet as upon hearing the price it almost gave me instant heart attack.

Their restaurant counter really depicts those restaurants found back in China. This is the counter where we paid for our lunch ................ this time for that two dishes, one 2 liter bottle of pepsi, six bowls of white rice and three small mineral water bottles ............... 70 Sudanese Dinar (US$35).

On our way out of the restaurant, we noticed a large bird cage that has a number of bird species. Saw some baby parakeets (do you call them baby ?????).

Tags: Chinese Restaurant, Fish Fillet, Chicken Cubes, Baby Parakeets

Pizza as Birthday Cake

A local Sudanese guy's birthday was celebrated with him treating us to pizzas ............ told you it was their staple food.

This pizza is as big as a normal adult's office chair. Go measure it yourself. It's not from Debonairs Pizza but from one of those local pizza outlets.








No idea on what sort of pizza is this but I suspect it was with mutton meat as toppings.

Doesn't pass my quality and taste tests .... but cannot complain as the birthday boy bought for us ......... just swallow.





Towards the late afternoon after a series of meetings, we dropped by at Pullman Hotel of the Accor Groupe. This building was formerly occupied by Hilton and the change of hotel ownership took place in Jan 2008.












We wanted to find out the room rates and got to know with a special corporate account we coudl get a room with a single bed at US$180, all in. Breakfast will be at US$27.

At that room rate, I could book a suite in hotels located in Kuala Lumpur.
Tags: Pizza, Pullman Hotel, Accor Groupe, Hilton

Pizza is Staple Food in Sudan

At times we are lost in deciding what to eat in Khartoum. We had a meeting that lasted till 8pm plus and the idea of cooking at home is definitely out.

As we need to pass by the city centre, we thought of this pizza outlet of which I haven't tried it for almost two year now ............ hehe

It's called Debonairs Pizza. This pizza brand is the originated from South Africa and it's the leading pizza brand in the whole of Africa.

Bread is somehow considered as a staple food in Sudan and any foodstuff related to bread will be also. There are lots of local pizza outlets and we seldom try any of it if we have a choice.

This Debonairs Pizza is sharing its outlet with Steers (owned by same group of companies) that almost sell similar foodstuff like McDonalds ............... fyi, no McDonalds in Sudan.

Downstairs were occupied with Debonairs and Steers counters and kitchens. Upstairs are for customers to have their meals.


We ordered the Hawaiian and BBQ Chicken large pizzas ............ almost same names with those found in Pizza Hut's menu.













And the top texture looks almost the same too ..... the one at the bottom of the pic is the Chicken Barbeque.

Nice? Nothing really special and can't really taste the mozzarella cheese topping. I prefer the Chicken Barbeque for its tastier than the other one.



It has this free delivery service and your pizza will be free if it's not delivered 'hot'. Well, no mention of when will the pizza will arrive at your doorstep though.








How much it cost us? Each pizza cost us 22 Sudanese Pound (US$11) and three of us ordered the Happy Family size that comes with a 1.25 litre Pepsi.

Total cost 53 Sudanese Pound (US$26.50), extremely expensive.
Tags: Debonairs Pizza, Steers, Pizza, Khartoum, Pepsi