Identification Card Issue

In Malaysia, the compulsory use of the identification card was in existence since my parents' teenage time. It was to identify the general public against the communists or some terrorists running around Malaysia, a weeding process. Not sure on how to go about in getting the card done.

But as I grew up during my era (it's not that long ago, ok?), each boy or girl who reaches the age of 12 will need to go to the National Registration Department to apply for an Identification Card, credit card size.

Nowadays, I see babies getting a new designed Identification Card once the parents register the name of the new born child.

In a way, all Malaysians (including illegal fellas who still can get the Malaysian identification cards thru the illegal means via syndicates in which I don't know how they got it done), generally go about their lifes with this small piece of Identification Card whether it's for employment, banking, education, dealings with government depts and moving in & out of highly securitised buildings.

Now, the new Identification Card comes with a chip embedded into it and it could store your full personal particulars, health info, driving licence info and soon, could act as an ATM card????

Reactions from the people in the following two countries have negative feelings over the Identification Card situation:-

UK
The Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, has just announced recently that the compulsory Identification Card scheme will be scrapped. Maybe it was due to lack of fundings as a figure of £4.8 billion was mentioned to implement it.

Maybe it was a political decision as the Conservative party stated that they will scrap the national scheme if their party wins the forthcoming general election.

But it remains compulsory for the foreigners.

USA
There is this guy that equipped himself with Matrics antenna and a Motorola reader into his car. As he moves around, his reader could scan nearby people's info from their identification cards, passports, driver licences from within a distance of twenty feet.

Such reading is possible due to the fact that RFID chips (Radio Frequency Identification) are embedded into such card or passport.

Since 1 June 2009, all americans are required to equip themselves with a RFID tag document to travel.

Somehow, it was mentioned in the same article that there's a fundamental flaw with RFID - each chip is built to faithfully transmit its unique identifier "in the clear, exposing the tag number to interception during the wireless communication." ......... oooooops!

To further enhance or not to implement at all?????
Tags: Identification Card, Radio Frequency Identification, RFID, RFID Chip, RFID Tag, Matrics Antenna, Motorola Reader

A Need to Update EPF Nomination List?

Do you know anything about updating your beneficiary listing with Employees Provident Fund ("EPF") even though you knew that you have nominated a number of names there some time back. Just when you thought you have done everything required, please read the following Q&A and you'll understand better.

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

Dear Reuben,

Thank you for your query which has been referred directly to me by Mr. Ewe Jin. Please find our responses below:

1. What precedes the EPF.....the will or the EPF nomination?

The EPF nomination will always super cede the will.

2. Suppose I nominate 25% each for my son and daughter and the remainder 50% for my spouse, if an accident were to befall both of us, then what happen? Will my children be getting 50% each automatically?
· Should an EPF member dies at the same time as his or her nominee, the nomination portion that was bequeathed to that nominee will be invalid. Therefore if an accident were to befall both you and your spouse, 50 percent cent of your EPF savings or the nomination portion which has been bequeathed to your spouse will be invalid.
· This 50 per cent will be subjected to procedures under 'EPF savings without nomination' in which the first priority for the right to claim the member's savings goes to the appointed administrator of the deceased member's estate.
· This therefore means that 50 per cent of your EPF's savings will not be paid automatically to your children

3. Furthermore, if fate would have it that the 4 of us suddenly meet our maker, then what is the outcome?
· The same principle applies as above i.e. the nominations will be invalid. In such a case, withdrawal of EPF savings will be subjected to procedures under 'EPF savings without nomination' in which the first priority for the right to claim the member's savings goes to the appointed administrator of the deceased member's estate.

I hope the above answers have helped to shed some light to your queries. If you have any other queries, please email me.

Thanks and best regards,
Nik Affendi Jaafar
General Manager,
Public Relations, EPF

----- Original Message -----
From:Reuben PuanTo:ewejin@thestar.com.my
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 10:20 PM
Subject: About EPF Account

Hi Ewe Jin,I am Reuben. I read your Monday articles with interest. I should be going to the EPF web site for further details but I think there are still a lot of ignorant people around and maybe also some instances of mixed up at the EPF office. Maybe you should also highlight the following.

1. What preceed the EPF.....the will or the the EPF nomination?
2. Suppose I nominate 25% each for my son and daughter and the remainder 50% for my spouse, if an accident were to befall both of us, then what happen? Will my children be getting 50% each automatically?
3. Furthermore, if fate would have it that the 4 of us suddenly meet our maker, then what is the outcome?

Thanks.

Regards,
Reuben Puan

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Find out more in the EPF FAQ on Nomination. After reading it, go get your company's HR Dept to organise a nomination campaign with EPF to come to your office to do an exercise for everyone. HR Dept's work is not confined to recruitment and payroll only.

Tags: Employees Provident Fund, EPF, EPF Nomination

Public Transportation in a Mess

In 2008, the previous Prime Minister increased the petrol pump prices up to a staggering increase of 40%. The fuel subsidy was reduced as the government said that it will be too expensive to maintain the fuel price below RM2.00 per litre.

The former Prime Minister did mention that with the saving of fuel subsidy, the government will use those saved fuel subsidy to improve public transportation for the general public. As it will be expensive to travel with a personal motor vehicle, the government will try to make it easier to travel with the public transportation.

Then news of extended the LRT lines at both ends reaching populated areas were greeted with gladness.

A year now, allllllllllllllllllllllllllllll were just political talk only.

The government has to cover that and they came out with a new idea now.

What now?

Simple, increase the fare prices for all buses and taxis. Aiyah why didn't the goverment think of this when they increased the petrol price then.

There would be repercussions from motor vehicle users if government increased the petrol price. Now, there will certainly be repercussions from many bus commuters and those who rely on taxis to move about, more of such consumers actually.

Why does the government want to increase such fare prices in this time of economy downturn?
Reason given - an increase in fare would motivate the operators to give efficient transport services.

You know what ................. the reason given is totally bullshit.

Who are those operators that will gain? Kuala Lumpur's bus companies and taxis are generally owned by the private corporate sector and I'm sure those bosses will be laughing all their way to the bank with this implementation.

Why not they improve their services first before you reward them with a fare increment?

What will they think of come next year?

Reading: Fare hike to spur efficient transport services, Nazri says -Edge Malaysia
Tags: Malaysia Public Transportation, Bus Fares, Taxi Fares, Fuel Subsidy

Change of Language for Students

reIs my country the only country in the world that changes the language of learning Mathematics and Science subjects in schools?

It was taught in English in the early days, for example, my dad's era. By the time I started schooling, at age 7, all subjects were taught in Bahasa Malaysia, the national language except for English subject of course.

Six years ago, under the premiership of Tun Dr Mahathir, the government changed the language for the teaching of Mathematics and Science subjects only. Main reasons for the change was to improve the learning of the English language and that English language is the lingua franca for both of these subjects amongst Mathematicians and Scientists in the world. So be it.

Six years later today, my government thought it was unwise to do so and now they have reverted the situation. But it won't be implemented immediately as I'm sure school textbooks won't be ready for next year's new school term.

The government mentioned that both of the subjects will be taught in Bahasa Malaysia from year 2012.

I really pity those students out there. For they have learnt these two subjects in English for the last six years, now they have to unlearn what they have learnt in English terms and absorb new terms in Bahasa Malaysia.

Not that I'm against the Bahasa Malaysia language as I was taught in this language from Primary 1 all the way to Secondary 5.

Let's look at the following scenario:-
a) Students in Secondary 1 in year 2009 will still be taught in English for that two subjects till year 2011 where they will be in Secondary 3.

Come year 2012, both of these subjects will be taught in Bahasa Malaysia. Will the Secondary 4 students by then be able to catch up fast enough so that they will be ready for the SPM in the following year.

I guess this batch of students are still considered lucky.

b) Students in Secondary 2 in year 2009 will still be taught in English for that two subjects till year 2011 where they will be in Secondary 4.

In the year where they are supposed to sit for the public examination at the end of year 2012, both of these subjects will be taught in Bahasa Malaysia or in their mother tongues (Mandarin or Tamil). Will both of these subjects be examined in English or Bahasa Malaysia during the SPM examination? Will it affect alllllllllllllllllllllllllll the students?

This is the exam that will determine whether they'll be furthering their studies at STPM or local universities.

c) The same situation goes on for the Primary students who are in Primary 3 now. This batch of students will be sitting for the Primary 6 public examination in year 2012 and they'll be learning Maths and Science in Bahasa Malaysia for the first time and their exams will be in Bahasa Malaysia too.

Really sorry for the students who are in Secondary 2 this year as by year 2012, they won't have any past year exam papers to refer to (that is in the same language).

Teachers have been attending courses in English language so that they will know how to teach the students.

Students have been learning in English language and they are being tested.

All those textbooks printed in English language will have to be thrown away and more dump sites have to be located in preparation for millions of textbooks / workbooks / teaching materials.

Bravo!

Reading: Hard On The Kids - Malaysia Today
Tags: Mathematics, Science, English Language, Bahasa Malaysia, Primary School, Secondary School

Eat, Eat & Eat

There were three birthday celebrations every other day within the week. Stomach grew much more ..... sigh due to non-stop eating.

One of the birthdays .......... we were treated to a buffet dinner at Rotana Hotel in Khartoum. Whacked the food as usual.

You don't get to eat such quality food in Khartoum unless you are willing to pay for it. These are the Khartoum office colleagues.










Everyone just loves to pose for the cameras.











The dessert area. Most of the food items here were too sweet for Malaysian tastebuds. But Fairuz likes sweetness ............














I took the mixed fruits served in a bowl. Grabbed the cup that looks weird with its fillings (the one on the right).

It was really awful. Caramel top with sugar and cinnamon mixed with it. The white stuff is sweet milk???!?!?! Too sweet for me.

They have finished their food but I was still enjoying mine.

They ordered coffee and tea ..... no no have to leave space for my dessert.

Yeah, the big boss on the right, the birthday boy. His treat! The bill came up to around 1,600 Sudanese Dinar (240 SDG = US$100).









The next day, it was Stephanie's, our project secretary, birthday.















Both Nazril and Aditya were trying to hide the plastic plate that was full of food initially. We had pasta and murtabak chicken for our lunch .......... stomach grew a little bit again.













This three fellas were awaiting to attack the table with food as the front two guys are blocking them.










One of the colleagues, Abeir, who is supposed to be on diet.















Alan, who wants to be on diet but fails everyday.

Don't worry, there's always tomorrow to start all over again.

Tags: Rotana Hotel, Buffet Dinner, Pasta, Murtabak Chicken

Killer Fish in Malaysian Lake?

Star newspaper reported that a giant fish may be the cause for the death of two men at Kenyir Lake in Terengganu recently.
This giant fish on the left is the suspect killer fish now (pic obtained from Mega Fishing Thailand). This fish is known as Aparaima Gigas or Kenyir monster as mentioned by the locals.

Apparently, a man on a fishing may have fell of a boat and drowned. The boat could be bumped by the giant fish till the man fell into the lake.

A man who saw the situation jumped in to rescue but disappeared into the lake ?!?!?!?!?!???!!?

Such aparaima gigas could grow up to 5 meters and weighh about 200kg. Just imagine the size of it.

Or could this be a similar case like the Loch Ness monster in Scotland? Always mentioned in the media or sighted by locals/tourists but could never be found.

Or the death of the two men was just a hoax to draw more tourists to Kenyir Lake itself. You'll never know what people could do just to get their business up and running again.

Reading: Giant fish sightings in Kenyir Lake - Star
Tags: Aparaima Gigas, Kenyir Lake, Kenyir Monster, Giant Fish, Killer Fish

Gadgets Used for Muscle Toning

When I was not travelling from mid 2007 to mid 2008, I joined a gym. Thereafter, didn't renew the membership as I knew I would be travelling frequently.

When in Sudan, we are just not willing to sign up for the gym membership as it was too expensive in our opinion. Could easily end up paying more than RM200 per month here.

What's our alternatives then? Bright ideas from colleagues. They took some industrial nuts and bolts and did some taping on it and out came our own dumb bells.

Really proud of it.

You could say that this might be an enlarged picture.
Proof that this dumb bell is really large and heavy. It more than three times the length of my big watch.

Don't know the weight but easily more than 10kg per dumb bell as it's solid metal.
Spare dumb bells ................... those days there were lots of us staying together. These dumb bells were being transferred from one room to another.

Nowadays, I'm the only one still using it for my muscle toning. At times, lazy to do it. A gym is still a better place, anytime.

Want to bring back to Malaysia also cannot, as it will be definitely overweight.
Tags: Dumb Bells, Muscle Toning, Gym