Maybank Used For Phishing

Malayan Banking Berhad ("also known as Maybank"), being the largest bank in Malaysia, has been often used by syndicates to dupe Maybank's customers into revealing their internet user id and password. Once you log in using those so-called Maybank 'links' ........ your money will be all gone within seconds, if not minutes.

Received an email from maybank@dynasty.com.my alerting me that my maybank account has been blocked. Is this a Malaysian based email address?

Specifically requested me to click at a maybank2u link to restore my access.

Within minutes, received another email from maybank2u@myb.com.tr. I clicked on the supposedly link to maybank2u.

And this is what you get to see in a new pop-up window. The exact duplication of the genuine site.

If you were so blur and did key in your username and password, you can wave bye bye to all your monies in your maybank account.

This is known as phishing. These internet syndicates were trying their luck / scams in hoping that blur blur Maybank customers will key in their particulars.

In fact, and sadly too, there are blur blur fellas out there.

Related post: Con Job Involving Four Local Banks
Tags: Phishing, Maybank, Malayan Banking Berhad, Maybank2u, Internet Scam, Internet Syndicates, Con Job

Request Made to Reduce Coverage on Auditor-General's Report

There you go ............ as predicted. The Auditor-General's annual report has opened up so many cans that are full of worms in it and a MP,Datuk Wira Ahmad Hamzah, from the ruling party is now suggesting to reduce the media coverage that the annual report is getting now.

Reasons given -
* gives a very bad impression and it is meloyakan (nauseating)
* embarrassing perception which would cause our competitiveness to drop

Trying to cover up something?

The people who caused all this bad impression and embarrassing situations didn't even think of such as long as someone's pocket is filled. And this MP is worried about it instead.

If it was done right from the beginning, we need not come to this stage of shameful reporting. Anyhow, all these years, there were no improvements being made despite many shocking revelations that were exposed.

But that doesn't mean we should just keep it behind closed doors. We still need to publicise such deplorable actions by the respective federal / state government departments. This report is meant for the public's consumption as taxpayers have the right to know how their tax contributions are being managed.

As for this MP, I really wonder about his knowledge on an audit exercise. He said that the auditors should also "teach” and “guide” especially for those who might have done wrong.

Hello MP, if those people had committed those acts, they should be sacked or jailed if any criminal offence existed. The auditors' job is not to teach or guide people.

This MP suggested that prior to the release of the annual report to the public, the auditors should have asked the department head to explain on those irregularities. What if those department head took ages to respond? Wait till the cow comes home?

He also questioned on who should audit the auditors. So, whistle blowers are always the guilty parties, not those who committed the 'sin'.

I think he's very ignorant of what an audit is all about but yet he brought this topic up in the parliament.

Reading: Parliament: 'Filter AG’s report' - Star
Tags: Auditor-General Annual Report, Auditors, Audit

1TooMany

Nothing wrong with the title ....... it's correct ........ 1TooMany.

The Prime Minister launched the 1Malaysia concept, back in April 2009, to foster closer relationship amongst the multi ethnic/racial society in Malaysia.

The Prime Minister is looking towards the 'One Dream, One People, One nation' and was glad that this has brought much positiveness to the nation. He has claimed that Malaysians are accepting the 1Malaysia concept which brought about the win in the recent Bagan Pinang by-election.

But I think he got carried away till the concepts of 1Region and 1World were mentioned when he addressed the 35th Unesco general conference’s opening plenary session. Not saying that it's impossible to achieve this two concepts but it's way too big. The United Nations is still experiencing certain difficulties in bringing nations to agree on grave issues all these years.

I'm sure that the concepts of 1Region and 1World can't beat the following 1 ....... 1Toilet!

What 1Toilet?

The state of Terengganu's Education, Higher Learning, Human Resource, Science and Technology Committee mooted the 1Toilet concept. Now how is this 1Toilet going to work along with 1Malaysia?

The 1Toilet was to get teachers and principals to share the same toilets with their students. Just by the virtue of sharing the same toilet will bring much transfer of wisdom from the teachers and principals to the students ?!??!?!?!??!??!

This is really getting 1TooMany now. Can we stop abusing the "1" thingy?

I think we should encourage all government-linked-companies to adopt this 1Toilet as well. I want to see all the Tun, Tan Sri and Datuk to share the same toilets with their managers, executives, clerks and office boys. I'm sure this will enhance the corporate mentality and thus, increase the productivity and effectiveness of each company.

What about 1Race? Bangsa Malaysia?

What other 1 should we have?

Reading: ‘1Toilet’ plan to let teachers and students mingle freely - Star
Tags: 1Malaysia, Malaysia, 1Toilet, 1Region, 1World, Unesco General Conference

Will Our Buildings Withstand Earthquake?

After experiencing those earthquake shakes at my condo and office building before, it's really not comforting to have read about a Bernama news report that Malaysian buildings cannot withstand a strong earthquake even if it happens at a neighbouring country.

Indonesia's many earthquakes have caused many tremors in Malaysia and a 6.0 Richter Scale shake in Indonesia could be felt in Malaysia easily.

A professor from the Universiti Sains Malaysia's Disaster Research Unit has commented that less than 1% of Malaysia's buildings have constructed the buildings factoring in the earthquake situation. My my.

Which of the buildings in Malaysia then?
Answer: Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers, Penang Bridge and Komtar. Only three structures? That's even less than 0.1%. For those of you whose buildings that are not mentioned .......... ahhh you know what to do.

My office building shook on 30 Sept 2009 when a strong earthquake hit Padang in Indonesia. It was a correct decision to evacuate the building no matter what.

I did hear from friends that not all their colleagues evacuated their offices on that day with some saying that it's just a tremor from Indonesia (if it was an earthquake) and some said that there's no earthquake in Malaysia. Some people really take things for granted.

A structural engineer has told me before that even if it was just a tremor due to an earthquake that has happened faraway, a building may not collapse immediately. Structural damage may have occured but we don't know. If there was a damage and if the structure was built according to actual designs, the structure could withstand the damage temporarily up to say thirty minutes. That's enough time to evacuate and walk faraway from the building.

What about you? Will you evacuate or you are more worried about what others may say about you being the first person to run away?

Reading: Less Than One Per Cent Of Buildings In Malaysia Have Earthquake Preventive Measures - Bernama

Related post - Earthquake Shook My Office Building
Tags: Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers, Penang Bridge, Komtar, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Disaster Research Unit, Earthquake, Richter Scale, Structural Engineer

Barred From Leaving Malaysia

Recently, there were some Malaysians that were barred from leaving Malaysia. Who are they? Wanted criminals? Tax evaders?

It seems that the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) and the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) are conducting such checks in collaboration with the Immigration Dept and managed to catch up with many income tax and loan defaulters.

Those badly affected were Malaysia Airlines employees who have to travel frequently in their line of duty. It was affecting the cabin crews and can you imagine that you are trying to board your plane (or report for duty in the airplane) and you were stopped at the Immigration check point.

The last minute replacement crew would have been rushed from somewhere to replace that crew that was barred from leaving Malaysia.

In a way, I can't pity such people as they have a duty to settle their income tax or loans. If you have taxes or loans to be paid, do pay first because you are obliged to do so. It could also be a chicken and egg story where a cabin crew needs to 'fly' to earn their income in order to pay for the taxes or loans.

Unfortunately, I have also heard from someone that even though you had made payments to PTPTN, the people working there were slow in updating the files. In due time, info on bad loan accounts were sent to the Immigration Dept to nab such culprits.

In this case, I agree that income tax defaulters/evaders should be barred for they were supposed to pay taxes based on preceding year's income. They have earned the income but failed to remit the required amount. It's their bad financial management then. They chose to default.

Some are really innocent. Some acted as if they were innocent. Why did it happen in the first place? It happened because these people took it for granted.

The Malaysian Airlines System Employees' Union (MASEU) is calling for a review on the travel ban on income tax and study loan defaulters. What for? To protect people who flout the laws?

Unless these staff had agreed on settlement plans with IRB or PTPTN in advance, they should barred. Well, you were barred because you failed to do something properly. Whose fault in the first place?

If it was IRB or PTPTN that didn't update their files even though settlement agreements/payments were made, then we should get those fellas in IRB or PTPTN to compensate for the loss of income of those that were barred from travelling for no reasons. Fair?

It works in both ways, cannot be just penalising the defaulters but also the bad performers.

Reading: MAS employees want review of travel ban on tax, loan defaulters - Star
Tags: Inland Revenue Board, IRB, National Higher Education Fund Corporation, PTPTN, Immigration Dept, Malaysian Airlines System Employees' Union, MASEU, Malaysia Airlines

Fined by Police After Accident

This is my friend's account on what happened to him recently. He posted the article in Star Online Blog and received a number of comments too.
--------------------------------------

Is it fair to be fined RM300 in road accident?
Yesterday morning I was driving in Kerinchi link heading towards TTDI, I was driving within speed limit but at the 2nd last turning before raeching toll my car skidded and lost control. After spinning for a round, luckily I managed to stopped the car and escape unscathed. Anf I continued on the journey to meet my friends.

Minutes later, I received a phone call from the friend I'm supposed to meet. She was driving at the same road and skidded at the same place. Unfortunately for her, her car rammed to the side concrete wall and unable to move on. Her car need to be towed away.

According to her, there were 3 cars before her and 1 car plus 2 motorcycle after her all met with the same fate. It was clearly that there's something wrong with that stretch of road and nothing to do with speeding or driver's fault.

Now the worst is yet to come, because when she went to make a police report she was fined RM300! It doesn't make any sense to me why she was fined when she obeyed all the rules, and all this accidents happening at the same place clearly indicates that the management of Kerinchi did not do a proper job to keep the road in a safe condition.

My question is, is it right or is it fair for her to be fined?
Tags: Kerinchi Link, Police Report, Car Accident At Kerinchi Link

Been To This Famous Street?

I noticed a new eatery in KLIA lately with the name of the famous Jalan Alor. "Jalan" is in the malay language which is "Street" in english language.

I didn't check what they were selling but I assumed that the food served in it would be those found in the actual Jalan Alor. Same quality? Will try when I go overseas next round.

Even the airport management has agreed to have such restaurant with a famous name known to locals and many tourists who frequent this street.

Somehow and somewhere, this famous street name was changed without people knowing. Who changed it? It was the local council, DBKL.

When the news was published, it created an uproar from the business owners, restaurants, stall owners, traders, residents, locals and even tourists requested for the name to be maintained.

People's power won! Never consult and didn't even think properly before doing something, that's the consequences. Name was reverted to the famous Jalan Alor with no choice. This street name was there even before I was born ........... and I was born near Jalan Alor .... at Chinese Maternity Hospital (if you know where lah and yes, I'm a 101% local boy).

Imagine the street name was changed, this restaurant at the airport won't be there too but maybe under a different unknown name.

Reading: Famous Jalan Alor - Backpacking-Asia.com
Tags: Jalan Alor, KLIA, DBKL, Chinese Maternity Hospital, Famous Street Name

Respectful Public Title of Datuk

There is a myth about people in Malaysia having the opportunity to buy the public title of Datukship or even Tan Sri if you have the right connection with either the state government or federal government.

Why is such title so important? Such public title will place you high in the eyes of the public where such title holders are usually well to do people, having done lots of stuff that have benefitted the nation/state or did some extraordinary stuff while representing the nation/state's name.

Nevertheless, some people do deserve such title.

Some may abuse such title to further achieve their selfish ambitions or to enable them to carry out immoral / unlawful acts without being questioned or detected easily.

Reading the Star newspaper reports - Five Ah Long ‘kings’ nabbed and Datuk faces death penalty for drug trafficking, two persons with the public title of Datuk have been implicated.

I wonder when were these two Datuks been bestowed with the public title, before they became involved in such notorious crimes or when they were already involved in it? And which state government granted this public title to them? Or was it even the federal government? No personal profile checkings before issuing such high public titles to them?

It made such public title to be of no value if more Datuks are implicated in various crimes. Or is the myth real after all?
Tags: Datuk, Datukship, Tan Sri, Public Title

Malaysian School Band Took World No.1

Malaysian newspapers are being used by the government in propaganda news and not many has picked up news that are really encouraging to the whole nation.

A group of students from Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur went through many challenges in winning the world's grand prize, that is the grand prize at the World Band Challenge 2009 that was held in Modena, Italy about two weeks back.

Didn't know about it?

Congrats to the 90 members of the cadet corps band and the headmistress, Pn. Azizah Othman, for bringing some positive stuff back to the land that is going boinkers.

Their victory is not just pure luck.

On many occasions, I have heard of many comments from Malaysians that some people are rich because they were lucky. Some say that they won that competition because they were lucky in having better players.

People who are successful have went through many hardships, challenges, commitments, practises, arguments, sicknesses, objections or ridicules but they hanged on.

To this group of 90 band members, I salute you!

Reading: VI school band world's best - New Straits Times
Tags: Victoria Institution, VI, World Band Challenge 2009, Modena, Italy

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

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

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

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

So True Especially for Malaysian Toilets

When you have to visit a public bathroom, you usually find a line of women, so you smile politely and take your place. Once it's your turn, you check for feet under the stall doors. Every stall is occupied.

Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the woman leaving the stall.You get in to find the door won't latch. It doesn't matter, the wait has been so long you are about to wet your pants! The dispenser for the modern 'seat covers' (invented by someone's Mom, no doubt) is handy, but empty. You would hang your purse on the door hook, if there was one, but there isn't - so you carefully, but quickly drape it around your neck, (Mom would turn over in her grave if you put it on the FLOOR!), yank down your pants, and assume ' The Stance.'

In this position your aging, toneless thigh muscles begin to shake. You'd love to sit down, but you certainly hadn't taken time to wipe the seat or lay toilet paper on it, so you hold 'The Stance.'

To take your mind off your trembling thighs, you reach for what you discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser. In your mind, you can hear your mother's voice saying, 'Honey, if you had tried to clean the seat, you would have KNOWN there was no toilet paper!' Your thighs shake more.

You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday - the one that's still in your purse. (Oh yeah, the purse around your neck, that now, you have to hold up trying not to strangle yourself at the same time). That would have to do. You crumple it in the puffiest way possible. It's still smaller than your thumbnail.

Someone pushes your door open because the latch doesn't work. The door hits your purse, which is hanging around your neck in front of your chest, and you and your purse topple backward against the tank of the toilet 'Occupied!' you scream, as you reach for the door, dropping your precious, tiny, crumpled tissue in a puddle on the floor, lose your footing altogether, and slide down directly onto the TOILET SEAT. It is wet of course. You bolt up, knowing all too well that it's too late. Your bare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and life form on the uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper - not that there was any, even if you had taken time to try. You know that your mother would be utterly appalled if she knew, because, you're certain her bare bottom never touched a public toilet seat because, frankly, dear, 'You just don't KNOW what kind of diseases you could get.'

By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so confused that it flushes, propelling a stream of water like a fire hose against the inside of the bowl that sprays a fine mist of water that covers your butt and runs down your legs and into your shoes. The flush somehow sucks everything down with such force that you grab onto the empty toilet paper dispenser for fear of being dragged in too.

At this point, you give up. You're soaked by the spewing water and the wet toilet seat. You're exhausted. You try to wipe with a gum wrapper you found in your pocket and then slink out inconspicuously to the sinks. You can't figure out how to operate the faucets with the automatic sensors, so you wipe your hands with spit and a dry paper towel and walk past the line of women still waiting.

You are no longer able to smile politely to them. A kind soul at the very end of the line points out a piece of toilet paper trailing from your shoe. (Where was that when you NEEDED it??) You yank the paper from your shoe, plunk it in the woman's hand and tell her warmly, 'Here, you just might need this.'

As you exit, you spot your hubby, who has long since entered, used, and left the men's restroom. Annoyed, he asks, 'What took you so long, and why is your purse hanging around your neck?'

This is dedicated to women everywhere who deal with a public restrooms (rest??? you've GOT to be kidding!!). It finally explains to the men what really does take us so long. It also answers their other commonly asked questions about why women go to the restroom in pairs. It's so the other gal can hold the door, hang onto your purse and hand you Kleenex under the door!

This HAD to be written by a woman! No one else could describe it so accurately!
----------------------------------------

I picked this article from an email sent by my friend. This article may have potrayed you but it's somehow fictional and it's just co-incidental that you think it was you that I'm posting about.
Tags: Malaysian Toilet, Toilet Seat, Public Restroom, Public Bathroom

Dare You Say Your Wife's Ugly

I think all married Malaysian ladies must be very happy if they knew about this piece of news.

In protecting a lady's fragile emotional heart ........ there's a new law being proposed under the Domestic Violence Act 1994 .................. if you dare tell your wife that she's ugly, then you are dead (not as in physical though).

WOOOOOOOOOW!!! What act is this? Yeah, you don't need to touch them. Just by opening your big mouth will get you into trouble with the law.

When you lift your hand and hit a woman, it's called physical abuse.
When you open your mouth and say the word 'ugly', it's called emotional violence.

The proposed amendment to the act has not been tabled at the parliament yet but those husbands who normally do address your wife as an ugly person, beware!!!!! Is there any similar act around this world?

So, those husbands, you can still escape the brunt at the moment ........... but don't say you have not been warned.

As for the ugly wives (only if you think you are one), I'm sure the government has brightened up your day and days to come.

In the future, if your husband challenges you ........... you dare them "You think I'm ugly???????? I dare you to say it out!!!!!"

Just before you dare them, organise lah ..... some of your friends to take pictures, some to video shoot the whole scene, some to record the man's voice. But please don't forget, your husband may end up in jail.

Reading: Calling your wife ugly may become offence - Star
Tags: Domestic Violence Act 1994, Ugly Wife, Physical Abuse, Emotional Violence

A Business Scam Within Malaysia?

Received this email today from a Cik Adilah Farah binti Affendi at affendi009k@msn.com but it was written in my national Malay language.
---------------------------------------
Kepada Tuan,

Saya memohon maaf andainya menganggu ketenangan anda. Saya amat gembira utk berkongsi satu perkara mustahak bersama anda dan biar saya perkenalkan diri saya. Nama saya Cik Adilah Farah binti Affendi, kerakyatan Malaysia, berumur 32 dan bekerja di United Kingdom dengan syarikat Crystal Blues inc. UK. Syarikat kami menjalankan urusan impot dan espot serta juga pengedaran dan pembelian barangan kimia berjenama agro dan agro allied.

Bermula dari Januari 2008 kami telah memperkenalan barangan yang bernama silicon OIL XXQZVB yang mana pengunaan sepenuhnya untuk perkapalan yang sebelum ini dikeluarkan dari negara korea utara, cuba dan Venecuela.Larangan pengimpotan ke atas barangan ini telah dikeluarkan oleh negara british. Setelah membuat kajian melalui wakil kami di Malaysia kami mendapati peluang untuk mendapatkan pengimpotan yg baru disana.

Pegawai kami akan ke Malaysia untuk membuat perbincangan mengenai perkara tersebut dan saya memberi sepenuh kepercayaan terhadapnya kerana Malaysia ialah sebuah negara yang hanya membuka peluang perkerjaan melalui kerakyatan sahaja. Harga yang di tetapkan di Malaysia untuk 1 kotak Silicon Oil USD$4,500.00 tapi pihak syarikat akan membayar sebanyak USD$6,700.00 seperti yang telah di sebut harga oleh pegawai kami.

Dari kepercayaan penuh yang di beri oleh pegawai kami kepada saya untuk mencari wakil yang sesuai untuk mendapatkan bekalan yang sepatutnya dan segala urusan bila pegawai kami tiba di Malaysia. Pasaran yang telah di tetapkan paling kurang 20 caton setiap kali pengimpotan dibuat.

Semoga mendapat kerjasama. Saya juga akan memberi keterangan mengenai wakil yang telah dilantik untuk pengetahuan anda dan semua keterangan mengenai diri anda kepada Pegawai kami untuk membuat pertimbangan yang sewajarnya dan kami juga akan mencadangkan keuntungan perjanjian sebanyak 40/60 sebagai permulaan.

Ini bermakna anda akan mendapat 60% dan lebihan semasa ialah 40%.

Yang Benar,
Adilah.
---------------------------------------

* Firstly, this email proposal was badly written with so many spelling mistakes.
* Secondly, in this era of hi-tech, you can't even find the name of Crystal Blues Inc being mentioned anywhere in the world in all searches.
* If the British has decided to ban imports of the Silicon Oil from North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela, what makes it permissible for us as Malaysians to import it?
* If it was permissible to do so, I reckon that the Malaysian authorities should investigate this proposal.
* The lure of buying the products at US$4,500 and getting to sell it at US$6,700, with a profit margin of 48% or US$2,200 (RM7,700) per carton is really tempting. Imagine getting to order / trade 20 cartons for an estimated high profit of US$44,000 (RM154,000) and your share of profits would be US$26,400 (RM92,400) at your first try.
* At this of economic uncertainties, many people would be fooled to take up this ludicrous offer.

Another blogger, The Sensintrovert, received the same email today from the same Adilah but from a different email address at adilah_farah00k@yahoo.co.uk.

Hopefully Malaysians won't be duped by this Adilah and with the two blogposts being done by me and The Sensintrovert would alert the others.
Tags: Adilah Farah Binti Affendi, Crystal Blues Inc, Agro, Agro Allied, Silicon Oil XXQZVB

Expired Gas Cylinders?

It was heard that according to a gas cylinder provider in Malaysia, the collar of the gas cylinder has the manufactured year being printed on it. The lifespan of a LPG gas cylinder is 11 years.

Do you know that LPG gas cylinders have expiry dates? Expired LPG cylinders are not safe for use and may cause accidents. In this regard, please be cautious at the time of accepting any LPG cylinder from your vendor.

Here is how we can check on the expiry of LPG cylinders.

On one of three side stems of the cylinder, the expiry date is coded alpha numerically such as A or B or C or D and some two digit number following this, e.g. D-06.

The alphabets stand for quarters:-
1. A for March (first quarter)
2. B for June (second quarter)
3. C for September (third quarter)
4. D for December (fourth quarter).

The digits stand for the year till it is valid. Hence D06 would mean December quarter of 2006. Please return back the cylinder that you get with an expired date. They are prone to leaks and other hazards.

This second example of D-13 allows the cylinder to be in use until December 2013.

My condo is being supplied with piped-in LPG gas and it has been a long long time since the last time I have seen one of this thingy ........

Is this true?

You should read Zach's blog at Life is Full of Experience who has checked on his gas cylinder after reading my blog posting.
Tags: LPG Gas Cylinder, LPG Gas, Hazard

Park at Car Park Operator's Risks

Many Malaysians have experienced having their cars being broke into and stuff being stolen from their cars. What can you do after that? Report police and cry all the way home while driving with a broken window apparently hacked by thieves who broke into your car.

What can you do with that police report? Claim insurance to fix your window?

Can you claim against those car park operators who have a big signboard hanging at the car park entrance telling all car owners that they are going to park at their own risk. So how? Blame yourself for parking at that spot? Blame yourself that of all car parks and you have to choose that car park?

From now onwards, all car owners can park at the car park operator's risks ....... hahahaha. Yes! It's true. A magistrate court in Penang has set a good legal precedent (good for me lah) that a car park operator cannot rely on their big signboard discounting their liabilities, one of which is theft.

In this case between a car owner who has lots items such as compact disc and cassette player with a CD of a compilation of Neil Diamond’s songs, an amplifier, and a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses.

The car owner stated that he has paid RM2.40 to park at the car park facilitated by Timur Car Park Sdn Bhd ("TCP"). I assume that you have to show the official receipt for that RM2.40. Keep your receipts from today onwards. Throw it after you have driven your car away.

The victim also claimed he parked near a lamppost with 50 to 60 other cars being there at the same time. He also stated that one or two of TCP's workers do patrol the car park on a motorcycle.

TCP argued that they had only provided parking facility and do not provide any security service to ensure that the cars are safe from any theft. Besides that, TCP also said that the victim may have not lock his car / activate the alarm system / failed to ensure that the alarm system and the locks of the car doors were all functioning well.

TCP lost the case anyhow. The victim was awarded RM1,668 and with interest and cost on top of the amount claimed. What a victory! If you are a car park operator cum owner reading this blog post, you better buck up if your car park area is prone to theft.

As for those who still leave their laptops, digital cameras or mobile phones ...... don't know what to say to you if it had been stolen from your cars (presumably in the car boot). Nowadays, the thieves have those battery 'electrical current' detectors and it could detect whether your cars are keeping any of those gadgets at a car park bay located in shopping centre, hotel, condo area or public/private car park.

In this instance, I'm not sure how the court will rule. Maybe you are at fault too. Or the car park operators are now liable for any theft.

Reading: ‘Park at own risk’ sign no shield from liability - Star
Tags: Park At Own Risk, Car Park, Car Park Operator, Car Theft, Timur Car Park Sdn Bhd, Magistrate Court

Bank Negara Warning on SMS and Phone Calls

Ref No: 04/09/01

Embargo: For immediate release

Beware of Fraudulent SMS and Telephone Calls Requesting Confirmation on Credit Card Transactions

Bank Negara Malaysia would like to caution members of the public to be vigilant when receiving any calls or SMS claiming that it is from Bank Negara Malaysia or any commercial banks. The facts are:

• There is no department called "Unit Kad Kredit Palsu" in Bank Negara Malaysia
• 8659-XXXX is not a Bank Negara Malaysia telephone line
• Bank Negara Malaysia will NEVER request for personal banking information through SMS or telephone calls.

Based on recent complaints received by Bank Negara Malaysia , there has been an increase in incidents of fraudsters making such calls and sending SMS to unknowing members of the public in order to fraudulently obtain their personal banking information, with the aim of siphoning monies from one's account.

From Bank Negara Malaysia 's investigations, the modus operandi of the scam is as follows:

1. Victim receives SMS or telephone call: Requesting victim to confirm a credit card transaction
for the purchase of goods or services purportedly charged to the victim's credit card.
2. When victim calls the telephone number provided in the SMS, the fraudsters identify
themselves as agents of a commercial bank, and again, ask the victim to confirm whether the
credit card transaction had taken place.
3. When victim informs the fraudster that he has no such credit card or transaction, the
fraudster will start to sound concerned and will advise victim to lodge a report with Bank
Negara Malaysia 's "Unit Kad Kredit Palsu", or with the commercial bank's "credit card
management department". The fraudster will provide the victim with the telephone number
for the "Unit Kad Kredit Palsu".
4. When victim calls the telephone number provided, they are greeted by a automated voice
message which identifies the company as Bank Negara Malaysia, and the call will then be
answered by someone claiming to be a Bank Negara Malaysia officer. This officer will request
for information relating to the victim's banking and credit card accounts under the pretense of
lodging a complaint on behalf of the victim.
5. The fraudsters now have sufficient information to illegally transfer funds out of the victim's
bank account.

Members of the public are reminded not to disclose their personal banking information to any unknown party without verification.

For further information, enquiries or complaints, members of the public may contact or visit:

BNMTELELINK (Customer Contact Centre)
Tel: 1-300-88-5465
Fax: (03)2174 1515
Email: bnmtelelink@bnm.gov.my

BNMLINK (Walk-in Customer Service Centre)
Block D, Bank Negara Malaysia
Jalan Dato' Onn
50480 Kuala Lumpur
(Business hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm)

ABMConnect (Hotline to Association of Banks in Malaysia)
Tel: 1-300-88-9980

Bank Negara Malaysia
7 April 2009

Extracted from Bank Negara Malaysia website.
Tags: Bank Negara Malaysia, Fraudulent SMS, Unit Kad Kredit Palsu, Association of Banks in Malaysia, Confirmation on Credit Card Transactions

Malaysia Off OECD Blacklist

In a quick reaction to being blacklisted by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ("OECD") on 3 April 2009, the Malaysian government quickly intervened by agreeing to provide full commitment to exchange information to the OECD’s internationally agreed tax standards.

For a moment, Malaysia was made famous by the non-compliance on tax standards.

What a relief! How could we have missed such a major compliance issue when almost every single country has agreed to it except for the unfortunate four which includes Malaysia.

Let's move on with the new Prime Minister and new Cabinet in place now. The economy is virtually hanging around -1% to 0.5% economic growth. Any more negative news about the new government due to their failure will certainly cause more economic downfall.

Reading: Malaysia off the OECD blacklist - Star
Related post - Malaysia Blacklisted by World Body
Tags: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, Malaysia

Malaysia Blacklisted by World Body

On the ascension as Malaysia's sixth Prime Minister on Friday, Najib Abdul Razak has lots to do in the next few days. The first big news to greet him on his office table is that Malaysia has been blacklisted by a world body, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Before reading this piece of news of being blacklisted, I have only knew that banks in Switzerland, Austria, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Isle of Man, Gibraltar and those nations located in Carribean Sea are known for their banking secrecy.

I have never ever thought of my nation being one of those nations. Malaysia has been blacklisted together with Costa Rica, Philippines and Uruguay for failure of not having agreed to international tax standards and refused to adopt new rules on financial openness.

This whole issue arose from the on-going G-20 Summit in London. The G-20 has delivered a strong message to tax evaders - we will find you wherever you are but somehow four countries haven't comply. The decision made in G-20 was based on OECD's listing.

Under the OECD definition, countries will be considered non-compliant if they have less than 12 bi-lateral agreements to exchange tax information with foreign governments on request. Authorities should have access to the information to effectively crack down on tax evasion.

The only tax haven location in Malaysia is at Labuan, an island off the state of Sabah. This island is a territory of the federal government where the Labuan Offshore Financial Services Authority ("LOFSA") was incorporated to administer the tax haven island.

Labuan is an integrated International Business & Financial Centre, offering a wide range of offshore financial products and services to customers worldwide, including banking and investment banking, insurance, captives, trust business, fund management, investment holding, company management and Islamic financing ............................. Labuan's legislative framework is not only business-friendly but also prudent to safeguard Labuan's international image as a clean and reputable offshore financial centre (as extracted from LOFSA website).

If Malaysia do not comply with OECD strict requirements, the following sanctions will be imposed on Malaysia:-
• Increased disclosure requirements by companies and individuals using tax havens
• Withholding taxes on transactions with tax havens
• A ban on the use of interest paid in a blacklisted country to offset tax
• Reviewing tax treaty policy
• Putting political pressure on global companies to withhold investment to a haven
• A reduction in aid
• Scrapping of tax treaty arrangements
• Imposing additional taxes on companies that operate in non-compliant countries
• Tougher disclosure requirements for individuals and businesses that use shelters
• Withdrawal of financing by the World Bank or International Monetary Fund

Besides this tax haven matter, OECD is also against the discriminatory policies and new forms of protectionism towards investment. Malaysia still has such policies within the New Economic Policy. Will Malaysia escape the eyes of those OECD policymakers? Will Malaysia amend its policy first or wait for OECD to enforce this ruling to force a change in Malaysia?

Well, I can only assume one answer coming out from the mouth of one of those ministry officials - Malaysia is not a member of OECD. Just wait and see.

Reading: Following G20 OECD delivers on tax pledge
Reading: Resist investment protectionism, countries meeting at OECD agree

Tags: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, Najib Abdul Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister, Labuan, Labuan Offshore Financial Services Authority, LOFSA, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, G-20 Summit, Tax Treaty Policy, Tax Haven, Tax Evasion

Authorities Giving Up On Taxi Drivers?

Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board ("CVLB") is the government authority that issues taxi licences to companies who in turn rent out the taxis to the real taxi drivers who hold public service vehicle licences.

CVLB dare to say that they have ran out of ideas to counter what the taxi drivers have been doing all this while i.e. :-
* refused to pick up passengers
* overcharge passengers
* did not use meters
* did not display their driver cards
* not having driving licences
* not wearing seat belts
* driving recklessly

What has CVLB been doing all this while then? Just let it happen? If the operations to nab them were so frequent by those undercover CVLB officers, the taxi drivers would toe the line.

I would suggest that whichever company that the taxi drivers belong to has to be punished and fined as well. I'm sure by then those companies will also ensure that their taxi drivers will comply with all the requirements at all times. Right at this moment, the law is there but not enforced strictly or enforced whenever there are too many complaints found in the newspapers.

On one hand the Road Transport Department ("RTD") (from the same government ministry) has stated that they will issue show-cause letters to 612 rogue taxi drivers. When will they issue that sooooooo many number of letters? Nobody will know actually because they mentioned that ". It takes a while because there are more than 600 of them".

RTD said they expected "a majority of them to keep quiet". What does this mean? Will RTD keep quiet after that also?

Get the owners of the taxis to force their taxi drivers to comply then. If fail to do so, suspend all their taxis from operating in that particular company. I always wonder why no actions have been taken against those companies that operate such businesses ......... linked to the untouchables?

It's not that there are no solutions but as long as the relevant government authorities are not strict or serious in enforcing whatever laws that are there .............. everyone will continue to read more, hear more and see more of such shameful acts done by the taxi drivers.

This has been going on for years and years and years .... what is CVLB and RTD's KPI on such law enforcement on taxis? None? Show us ............ don't just mumble there.

Reading: Losing battle against cabbies - Star

Related post - Malaysian Taxis - Worst In The World?
Tags: Malaysian Taxi, Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board, CVLB, Road Transport Department, RTD