Curiosity, Thoughts and Whatever...

I'm not a regular blogger just occasionally wanna share some thoughts and ideas to the rest of the world. Hope you like what you see and written.....:))




Maid

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Had a small gathering during the weekend. Its was hectic and tiring. It was my wifey ex-uni mate gathering. Some of her friends....most are very nice and I get along well with some of them. Therefore a few are very close family friend. Therefore as I was chatting with this friend of ours, she told me a lot of new and interesting stories with regard to hiring a maid and I was kind of shock and surprise. This is what she told me.

1. Her maid is a good lied.
2. Her maid doesn't know the concept of time and hence don't really know how to read time. Her concept of time is listening to loud prayer from the mosque and hence +/-.
3. Her maid dresses in sarong only after taking a bath and walk around the house without any prohibition. In fact she doesn't wear any underwear around the house at all and hence she is a little bit culture shock and conservative on this.
4. Her maid is very amorous and always trying to hit on the guy next door.
5. She doesn't really know how to take care of kids or baby in a matter of fact.
6. She don't know how to cook and also to give the right measurement of milk powder and etc for kid.
7. She takes her own sweet time to feed her daughter and dilly dally with work and etc.

It seem she is having quite a hard time trying to train the maid who had just arrived for 2 months only. Nevertheless, I believe, to suffer for 2 months is much better than to suffer for 2 years. By right the maid visa renewal is by every 2 years. Hence, to spend more than 3k for the maid services and etc is a compromise. Funny part was she kept encouraging me to take up a maid myself and yet telling me all the hassle and pain she is suffering with the maid. I agreed with her the maid do help up a lot if you can find a good one and lucky enough to have her for many years to come. However, if you are a Mr./Mrs Niceties then you can't and definitely wouldn't able to have a good maid. You need to have a few pre-requisite to having a good maid. Fierce employer, and one who is a no nonsense and physically intimidating.

On another note, I had observed that this gal friend of ours is getting worst in the sense of her physical appearance, her looks, her attitude and etc.........a 100% clone of an old grumpy woman of 50's. We use to travel and did a lot of adventure trip and etc. I was aware she is old fashion but never in the world did I image she had become a hobbit......big long ears and .........I can't talk about it ........perhaps I have to give her the benefit of doubt since she's into her final month of pregnancy. Hopefully her husband doesn't get turn off by her. I know I will puke. Its funny how things turn out after so many years. People moved on, faces change, no longer youthful, grumpy and no longer have the freedom we all use to have. That's life after 30's. Miserable.


Election

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There is a by-election currently going on in My. Its pretty hot and controversy considering who the candidate is. On one side is the leading G candidate while on the other side is P candidate who is from the opposition. All this while I had been hearing lots of negative comment with regard to how the main political party in my country cheats, employing high handle tactics and abuse of power and etc. I never believe a single words of it. I mean the government can't be that stupid as to openly or deliberately give 100 or 200 for every person that comes to its polling centre. Beside paying out a large amount of money I'm sure the Gov will be worry about their reputation and etc !! No !!

This paying of 100 to 200 might be a small sum to most people in the peninsular but for people living in the suburban especially Sarawak and Sabah, its a huge amount. It can feed many people for a month. This was what one of my good friend Dr.Y told me. I ask him.......is it really true ? I'll damn if it is. Nevertheless I still don't buy it cause it might all be hearsay and wild wind but recently with the development of blogs and internet, we can see prove and listen to first hand account of people on the ground itself.

Take for example, the outspoken blog of Jeff Ooi which I read often. Believe it of not, it has prove of people getting injured and his first hand account of the situation in a by election. If course you can either believe in what was written or you can just ignored it. It can be a fabricated story or a true account. However, his photojournalism is what I appreciate most. He backup most of his stories with picture which usually will never lied.

Take for example the abuse of power. He had shown on his site the "before" and "after" what the government did right just before election. New tar roads, new street lights, new promises of goodie and etc totalling a few million just so that the gov can fish more votes. How oblivious can you get. Its a pity.

Then there is the fracas and the acting of gangsterism on the gov itself in employing young and rebellious punk to intimidate opposition party. How low can you stoop. Worst was all this uneducated punk are protected by the police and the gov itself. The only reason that they are brave in assaulting others was because of crowd and sense of superiority in their ass. If it was a one to one scenario then I think he would had run off crying to his mother. Why let this kind of brainless, idiot dog wandering around following its owner. They shouldn't even exist in the first place. I hope they will get what they deserve.

Hence, I feel a little bit disappointed with the ruling party. Not that I am a fan of them but I could if they show some integrity, transparency and accountability on their part. Some of the frustration I had voice out including the accountability and transparency issue are the basic of good governance. Since AAB can't control his own member and cabinet what use is he to the people of My. Then there is the SIL.....another ox......a big fat ox with a head bigger than King Kong. Just seeing his slimy cunning smile makes me shivering all over the body.


Corporate Strategies

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"Bad companies are destroyed by crises, good companies survive them, great companies are improved by them." ~ Andy Grove


Pasar Malam

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As I was gazing into the star last night and in the distance I can see many bright lights in a role across my place. Its a Pasar Malam. You could see many people walking to and fro trying to buy food, daily usage items and etc. Usually many stalls are setup next to each other in a single row. However, I use to patronize what use to be the longest Pasar Malam in Malaysia at Tmn Connaught until a major highway was built on it and hence after that it wasn't like what it use to be anymore. Our old house was just a short distance away from the Pasar Malam and we had to cross some big monsoon drain and a narrow bridge to reach Tmn Connaught. I still remember vividly that I just love to walk with my parents then. My bro and I would follow my dad while mom would shop for food. My dad would take us around to see those weird performances like snake charmer, monkey trainer and those new and innovative product sold by a sales man in mike talking non stop.

I don't see those atmosphere anymore. Not sure whether the area I'm staying in now is the result. Perhaps my area is consider upper class and hence those Pasar Malam performances, vibrant and chaos atmosphere are not too suitable and hence the council either don't permit it or always make a raid. It was all fun and exciting to really walk around Pasar Malam in the 80's. Perhaps the society then was in its infancy and developing and thus had not so much of crime and complex issue. Not all evolution bring progress to society. In fact socially we might be going backward.

Anyway, have you ever gave a thought on how are other Pasar Malam in other towns, area or places are held. Are there all the same. For example if the area you are in is mostly populated by Malay, Indian or Chinese and etc then how is the Pasar Malam ? Let's say hyperpotatically in a majority Malay populated area, does it mean all the stalls owner are mostly Malay ? I ask this because my perception all this while is that Pasar Malam is a Chinese business concept. There are still many poor Chinese working class and Pasar Malam is one of their profession and an avenue to make money. Its their livelihood. Nevertheless, perhaps I am a little bias but among all the Pasar Malam I have been to, mostly the stall owner/hawker are Chinese. Therefore my conclusion is a little bit inaccurate. A fact I admit I am wrong. However, the conclusion is there are many poor Chinese as well as Malay in our society too. We cannot differentiate them by their skin colour but instead should lend a helping hand to those that falls under this category. Therefore the next time you read or hear some propaganda with regard to poor Malays or Indians, well then just think of Pasar Malam and you know there are still many poor people in the society regardless of race.



Forwarded msg but PLS HELP to spread and..........

Dear friends,

I would like to share my unpleasant experience being sexually harassed yesterday & would appreciate your help to spread the words to warn your friends & family. For privacy & security, please omit my e-mail address while doing so, thanks.

I parked my car at the opposite the Taman Jaya LRT station (next to Amcorp Mall, RM3 per entrance) in the morning & paid for my car to be washed. I was too upset that I have forgotten the car park management name, if not mistaken, it should be Legean (or something similar) Management.

Upon collecting my car in the afternoon around 3pm, I was greeted by a young Indian male who could barely speak English or BM. It was raining heavily then hence I agreed to be escorted to my car by him with an umbrella. During the less then 50 meters walk next to him, he hugged my shoulder making me feel uneasy, I tried moving my body away & quickly ran to my car which he followed.

I jumped into my car quickly, attempting to close the door but he stopped me. He kept saying "Wait". & when I was seated at the driver's seat, he threw him body across me & started searching for something below the carpet of the passenger's seat next to me. You can imagine how much body contact there was in between my steering wheel & my body. I kept saying "Stop", "Tak Mau" & god knows what other words to try to stop him. Unfortunately, he did not, he continued his search with half of his body on my lap, & left arm rubbing my breasts.

He then took out a piece of clothe & started wiping the interior of my car. For obvious reason his favourite spots seemed to be my gear box & the dashboard in front of the passenger's seat. I continued to yell at him to stop & at the same time pushing him away, his response was still "Wait". After some attempts, I finally managed to push & kick him out of the door. That was the time I noticed he was having a hard on & he actually had a smile on his face.

With no further delay, I locked my car door, zoomed off the carpark & preceded to the entrance booth to place a complaint. There was an Indian lady manning the booth. I repeated the incident to her & told her I would like file a complaint to the management. Unsurprisingly, she mentioned that her boss was not around, she apologised that the Indian male is new from India & asked me to forget about the whole incident.. Being new doesn't give him the right to harass other woman. Hence, I pressed further, demanding her to call her boss so I could speak to him.

Instead of calling her boss, she called the same Indian male who attended to me, he came & both of them attempted further to apologise to me & tried convincing me to drop my complaint as it will never happen again. As they were doing so, there were cars, queuing behind me waiting to enter the carpark. I offered to move into the carpark so I will not block others' way, she had the gut to tell me that I will have to pay for the parking in order to get it. I refused to & finally after some heated argument & also dissatisfaction from the cars behind, I was let in to the carpark.

After entering the carpark, I came out from the car to continue the conversation & I was given the boss' number to call - Samy (016 3903438), I attempted several times but this number was out of service. I then called the complaint & inquiry number pinned on the booth (019 3267104), again, I could not get connected. What is the point of displaying a designated number for complaint when the line is not functioning, it shows how insincere is an organisation in handling customers feedback.

I insisted for another number to call which I was reluctantly given (016 6959731) & it finally went through. Another Indian male, Khartik picked up the phone whom I repeated the incident again. After much discussion, he agreed to meet me at the booth. All these were done with me standing in the pouring rain, the Indian lady nicely in the entrance booth & the India male nicely under an umbrella. If I had not request for an umbrella, I will be left drench & wet standing under the rain.

When Khartik arrived, again, I repeated my story to him & again, he apologized & tried to persuade me drop the matter as the staff is new from India . I pointed straight to their face that this is a lame excuse, especially when the Indian male has shown obvious arousal response following his action & he actually had a smile on his face after I pushed & kicked him.

Upon my resistance, Khartik informed that the Indian male will be dismissed as he feels very ashamed of his action towards their customer. At the same time he raised his voice to reprimand the Indian male in Tamil. I am unsure if this will indeed be done but I doubt I will ever want to return to the carpark to find out. By dismissing the Indian male does not justify the harassment, humiliation & hassles but Khartik mentioned there is nothing else he can do.

It is very disheartening that unless a female is physically injured or rapped, she will not be taken seriously. & the sad thing is, most female friends that I know, including myself have experienced sexual harassment numerous times in their lifetime. & many chose to walk away, thinking that it is pointless or too troublesome to pursue further. In addition, many organisations are very poor in handling customer distress, pinned up the complaint hotline just for the sake of display & always attempt to rush complainants away, hoping they will shut up & leave.

I am working towards highlighting this matter to the press. At the same time, please do alert your friends & family to be careful when parking at this particular carpark & never to use the car wash service there.


Thief

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This morning, somewhere between 1am till 6am there was a thief who gain access into my house compound to steal shoes from my shoes rack. When my wife woke up this morning, she found the shoe rack doors open. Both side were wide open and there was a slipper on the floor. I had a very eerie feeling and felt our privacy was exposed. A little bit worry now and not sure of what to do to protect my family. Worry that this would not be the last time and he and his accomplice might spy on our premises. The world we are living in is really not very safe anymore. Just take a look at the the 33 death at Virginia Tech in US.

What do we need to do to make ourselves safe ? Alarm system, security guard, dogs, CCTV and etc.................do we need to built our house into a prison specification in order to feel secure ? Neighbour are of no use too cause most of them are not around and even if they are around, the mentality is "Mind Your Own Business". Its appalling. As for my case, neighbour on the right is an old man. I think he's about in his 70's and have a young and naive son who is still studying college. The son is not much of a help either cause he's from Gen Y......lazy, not pro-active and unfriendly. As for my neighbour on the left, the whole family is very quiet and not around most of the time. The head of the house is a Pastor while his kids are all grown up. Furthermore he told me he's renting the place and I presume the church he is working at is sponsoring all his household needs. They are very much your typical brother while in church and bastard outside of church. Totally very oblivious. Unless you join them and they will be very happy to give their unequivocal support spiritually and emotionally.

The neighborhood and environment is not like what it use to be anymore. The good old 70's era.


Break-In

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2 days ago my neighbour house was almost broken into. If it wasn't a sudden surprise return by my neighbour he wouldn't have known and seen the robbers. However, there is a few things that surprises me with this episode.

1. The robbers ( 2 Malay youth) drove their getaway car right into the car pouch by opening the auto-gate. I think they have a master frequency device.
2. Of all the houses around why did they target my neighbour ?
3. Was it a co-incidence that they knew my neighbour was out in the afternoon ?
4. My neighbour try to block the getaway car with his own car but I guess it must have been partially since the robbers still manages to getaway. Nevertheless, his car was slightly damage.
5. The robbers are very daring and bold indeed. Who would had suspected anything if they drove the car inside to the house.
6. The thief were trying to saw the metal grille 'ear hook' where a padlock is use to secure and lock the front grille. I was make to understand that this method is very quick and fast and easily perform.

Lastly, my neighbour now had disable his auto-gate and using back the old fashion way of chain and lock to secure the gate of his house. In other words primitive ways are still the best to secure or lock a house securely. This alarm, automation and etc.......it just give more ways and enable the thief to access your house easily since technological advancement had make it all look so easy. Especially with remote control and anything to do with RF.

Come to think of it, its scary and not sure where would all this lead to. Perhaps in the future, we all have to carry a stun gun or something to protect ourselves. It's just getting too frequent and people are freaking out. Just last Sat, read in the business times that in order to increase FDI, government need to ensure a safe environment and a confident atmosphere so that everybody are happy and ensure businesses will thrive. If there is no sense of security in the society we all live in, then foreign investor will have no confidence in putting money here. This was coming from a analyst and the public. However, like usual the G will always denied the situation and bull their stories through.


Imbecile

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Short Notes: I hate imbecile, parasite......whatever you call it. They have no bones, no spine and are only good in following instruction. They can't think "Out of the Box" and are not risk taker. They will not question nor will they disobey those that feed them. Useless and should not be trusted at all.



Last evening while sending my kid to see our ped doc, I suddenly realised doc have the biggest money spinning business. Why I realise this ? Well, at that time I didn't have any money with me......zilch....hence had to detour to withdraw some cash and ask myself why all private clinics don't accept credit card payment. We are living in the 21st century. I thought ah pek stalls, kiamsap people only don't accept credit card. There are still so many un-develop people in MY. This show we are still way far apart from those develop country.

Imagine the benefit of having cc payment system in the clinic.

1. No need to keep cash in the clinic, avoid break-in, robbery while taking cash to bank
2. Prevent or avoid robbery during midnight and etc.
3. Performing accounting of ledger easily
3. Systematic and safe

Nevertheless, the doc prefer cash as it's

1. Cash is king and more visible and hence no need waiting cc clearance for bank to pay
2. Can avoid income tax by accounting manipulation
3. Receive cash and can roll for other purposes instantly

To add further while we are on the subject, I just found out that the good old doc takes in approx. 600 patient a month. How do I know this ? Well last month I had taken my son to see the doc. Exactly a month later on his 2nd visit the receipt number had jumped to almost 600. Isn't that amazing what a little observation and a little study can do. So with an average of $50 per patient........that works out to approx. $30k. That didn't even include those that have 2 patient under the same receipt, those that don't want the receipt and also those that pays more than $100.

Therefore I was being very careful and optimistic with 30k figure. After operation cost, manpower and utilities I think he can make a nice salary of 20k without breaking a sweat. Doc are really well paid and most important of all he only works like 6 hours a day. On Sunday, he only works in the morning for a few hour and then he can like take a week or 2 off during public bank. What more can you ask for !!!


Unreasonable People

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I think I had on many occasion voice my dissatisfaction about the kind of people I am working with. Nevertheless, what happen for the last few days really top it all off. Its that auntie again in my office. I don't discriminate woman but what happen to her attitude and her ...............emotion, I fell I can safely said that all woman are like that. My wifey occasionally also display those kind of unreasonable attitude and emotion.

Take her case. She had gone out (time off) for a few hours to signed her SPA (she's selling her house) and therefore when there was a very important meeting that pop up and nobody insight to represent her I try to help and cover for her by asking someone from her group to attend on behalf of her. I didn't see anything wrong with that. Her indirect member was looking for her to attend the meeting and since the meeting was all about schedule only I figure why not ask her other member to help her out. I think everybody was trying to cover for her assuming she had gone out and doing some non work related issue outside the office. Of course our company have a very bad reputation nowadays where all the younger generation of employees and newly joined staff doesn't have the utmost respect for company nor the system anymore. Some go out to have tea, some to have cendol, shopping and etc. I think if you do that its way out of line cause when company gives some leeway and employee took full advantage of it then the whole system will crumble one day.

I just fail to understand where are all this young employees brought up in. They just don't have respect, discipline and wisdom anymore. During my time we are all very well discipline but not in anyway raise like military style. I have higher expectation that anybody that's what wifey always tell me. I do admit it. I don't denied it at all. Is having expectation wrong ?

Anyway, back to the auntie. After she came back from her outside romp, she found a piece of paper with all the schedule and hand written put on the table. She was piss off and raise her arse and blow her tops. I have never seen her like this before so unreasonable and so emotional. I try to look for the positive stuff and etc but then it fail to make any mark on her. She was just barking at everybody in front of her. It was chaotic and like a war zone. She just couldn't stop barking. I couldn't cool her down at all. She was scolding everybody that had help her and telling her why we are so busybody and etc. She was overloaded and fed up with her boss but took out all this anger and frustration on everybody. You see the similarity with woman. All the same unreasonable and pathetic.

I didn't want any shouting match with her and etc so I kept quiet as best as I could. Inside me I was brewing too. I had been there before. I was a lone ranger working on 2 different chassis and with 50++ model on hand. I complain about it and make many noises. I couldn't cope too but I choose to simplify and work efficiently by using computers and best individual practices. That was way back in 2005. If she is overloaded then she should voice out and tell her boss. If the boss is not taking any initiative then tell the group manager la. She only chooses to complain and make a lot of noises. She don't dare to tell her direct boss yet everybody else had to suffered from her verbal abuse. Its totally pathetic and unreasonable. She doesn't have any wisdom at all.

What difference is there between her and her boss. To me both of them are from the same tree. Pathetic, uncultured, uneducated, brainless, irrational, emotional and psycho. Once they are under heavy pressure, their head will crack and they will just go on a massacre. Scary but at the end of the day they win cause they rule over you by the fear they try to influence.


Payment

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doctor taking cash payment and not credit card. WHY WHY !!!

Last evening while sending my kid to see our ped doc, I suddenly realised doc have the biggest money spinning business. Why I realise this ? Well, at that time I didn't have any money with me......zilch....hence had to detour to withdraw some cash and ask myself why all private clinics don't accept credit card payment. We are living in the 21st century. I thought ah pek stalls, kiamsap people only don't accept credit card. There are still so many un-develop people in MY. This show we are still way far apart from those develop country.
Imagine the benefit of having cc payment system in the clinic.

1. No need to keep cash in the clinic, avoid break-in, robbery while taking cash to bank
2. Prevent or avoid robbery during midnight and etc.
3. Performing accounting of ledger easily
3. Systematic and safe

Nevertheless, the doc prefer cash as it's

1. Cash is king and more visible and hence no need waiting cc clearance for bank to pay
2. Can avoid income tax by accounting manipulation
3. Receive cash and can roll for other purposes instantly

To add further while we are on the subject, I just found out that the good old doc takes in approx. 600 patient a month. How do I know this ? Well last month I had taken my son to see the doc. Exactly a month later on his 2nd visit the receipt number had jumped to almost 600. Isn't that amazing what a little observation and a little study can do. So with an average of $50 per patient........that works out to approx. $30k. That didn't even include those that have 2 patient under the same receipt, those that don't want the receipt and also those that pays more than $100.
Therefore I was being very careful and optimistic with 30k figure. After operation cost, manpower and utilities I think he can make a nice salary of 20k without breaking a sweat. Doc are really well paid and most important of all he only works like 6 hours a day. On Sunday, he only works in the morning for a few hour and then he can like take a week or 2 off during public bank. What more can you ask for !!!


Cousin Sister

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I came across my cousin's blog yesterday. Not came across actually but she gave me the link and told me to check it out. So I look around and was surprised that she had converted to become a very strong Christian. From everywhere on her blog, she keep giving quotes and etc from the bible. I was thinking......ai yah.........was she really into the fate or was it all because of bf or peer pressure and etc. FYI, the woman in my family......meaning relatives and etc........has a history of unable to get attached or find that someone special. Therefore, I have many of them aunties who are single in their mid 40's and also the current batch of generation Y who are also co-incidentally single. Not sure was it curse, luck, fate.....called it what you want but the fact is all of them....the woman are unable to find that someone special. Its really frustrating for them and also very stress up thinking about their future. Hence I get the impression that all of my cousins are in one way or another under pressure.

Therefore the next question was is she under pressure to take 2nd instead of first choice ? She has change so much. I always thought she was those prim Donna type cause she came from a well to do family. Furthermore I had always thought she was a little bit arrogant and obnoxious. Nevertheless she was my cousin and a family ....therefore I don't feel anything about it. I was kind of surprise too that she had been going out with this Chinese Malaysian for almost 4 yrs now. All the while I thought she only prefer Ah Moh Lang since she had spend some time in the land of Oz. The last I heard about her was she was with an Aussie. Guess the relationship must had fail.

Its funny how she has changed. I only hope she had changed for the better and not as destructive as ever. This raise the point ........is having boys more of blessing than girls ? Boys and girls are rebellious but at the end of the day you lose more with girls than boys. Full stop.



Did everybody read the news ? I was stun and speechless when read that S.Korea are signing the FTA with US just on time before the deadline. I mean there is surely a great and valid reason for this fast track approval which would had benefit both parties in the long term as well as pushes the economy of both countries up a notch.

I mean imagine US a country with tremendous market opening up and with no import duties and etc.........while S.Korea most likely have to reciprocate. Nevertheless, the way I see it is you win some and you lose some. No matter what, S.Korea market is not as huge as US therefore perhaps some sector or industry might have fierce competition while opportunity are aplenty else where. Now, I wonder why this common sense stuff is so hard to be figure out by our 'clever' minister ???

From my understanding with regard to the FTA, US negotiator didn't demand or make many request. However, we had substantially make 600++ product request for duties and tax exemption and etc. The only torn in the rose was US requesting Malaysian government to open up their procurement and implement more transparency measure for fair and equal competition so that foreign firm can bid for projects and etc locally. Currently its all enclose and nobody knows how are tenders of project awarded ! Therefore foreign firm especially US are losing out in the engineering and technology sector to Japan and Korea firm.


Read about it !!

WITH just 22 minutes to spare before the March 31 deadline, South Korea and the United States struck a deal for their bilateral free trade agreement (FTA). Touted as the largest free-trade pact since the North America Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) in 1994, it will be closely watched by other trading partners, economists and analysts.

Two-way trade between the US and South Korea is forecast to increase to between US$90 billion (RM315 billion) and US$100 billion over a few years from US$75 billion last year. Nearly 95 per cent of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products will be duty-free in three years and most other remaining tariffs are to be abolished within 10 years.

Under the pact, South Korea agreed to drop tariffs and other restrictions on imported cars with an engine capacity of below 3,000cc and within three years for bigger cars. The US too will drop the tariff on South Korean cars over three years and tariffs on larger pickup trucks will be eliminated over 10 years.

In agriculture, one of the most sensitive items for both countries and indeed in the multilateral trade talks under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), rice is excluded from the agreement. South Korea will maintain its tariffs on oranges, beans and other agricultural products and tariffs on beef will be phased out over 15 years.

With the partial liberalisation of the agricultural sector, which accounts for about four per cent of national output in South Korea, there will be a restructuring of the politically sensitive sector. However, farmers will be compensated for the "loss of income" with an allocation of US$1.27 billion by the government. It is estimated that currently two-thirds of their incomes are derived from subsidies. American farmers too are heavily subsidised, as are those in Japan and the EU.
But not everyone is jumping for joy with the agreement between the world’s largest economy and its 11th-largest. The agreement must be approved by both the National Assembly in South Korea and by Congress in the US before it can be enforced. With increased protectionist sentiments in the US and indeed in South Korea, where presidential and parliamentary elections are looming, securing an agreement at the last minute "was the easy part". And even so the deal is narrower than the two countries had planned at the outset.

Some believe that the agreement will trigger a wave of trade deals across the region and beyond. Japan, for example, has already signalled eagerness to restart negotiations with South Korea stalled since late 2004.

Tokyo’s Chief Cabinet Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki is reported as saying that Japan is "ready to resume FTA negotiations (with South Korea) at any time and will intensify our call to restart the process at an early stage". Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said a free trade agreement with the US was something "Japan needs to consider as a future topic".

The European Union (EU) and South Korea are set to resume their bilateral negotiations. Bilateral trade between EU and Seoul at US$70 billion is almost as big as that with the US. And the "success" of the South Korea-US FTA has raised hope in Brussels. Peter Mandelson, EU Trade Commissioner, said: "This success strengthens the prospects for the planned EU-South Korea free trade agreement talks next month."

China is also said to be moving fast towards negotiating a bilateral agreement with Seoul. Its bilateral trade at US$118 billion in 2006 is 1.5 times that of South Korea’s trade with the US. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao expressed the hope that an FTA between Beijing and Seoul can be conducted "as soon as possible".

There are other bilateral and regional free trade agreements being negotiated or in the planning stages. To date the WTO has been notified of nearly 300 bilateral and regional free trade agreements.

Asean as a group and many Asean individual members are pursuing trade and economic frameworks and agreements with non-Asean countries. At the regional level, Asean has signed framework agreements towards establishing FTAs with Japan and India, and the US is pursuing an "Asean initiative" with bilateral agreements with Asean countries.

At the bilateral level, Singapore has signed FTAs with New Zealand, Japan, Australia, US, European Free Trade Association and Jordan. Seoul is also in preliminary discussions with Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Malaysia, a "latecomer" among regional players into the FTA arena, now has at least a dozen such agreements in the pipeline, including one with the US.

By and large, the poor developing countries are left out of these arrangements as the bilateral agreements, such as that between the US and South Korea, are negotiated between more developed nations and large traders.



With the 60th anniversary this month of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (Gatt), the predecessor of WTO, there is a "sense of crisis" prevailing on the lack of progress on the multilateral trade negotiations front. The Doha Development Round, which promised greater trade flows and development gains, has missed another deadline. And the poor developing countries have largely been left in the waiting room with nowhere to go and no one to turn to.

The developed countries continue to focus on their own development needs, cater to their own constituencies and political agendas. As Martin Wolf, writing in the Financial Times, says, "big powers will compete with one another to wrest more favourable terms for their own producers. The emergence of such power-driven trading blocs is a world away from the hopes of the founding fathers of the Gatt system".

And it is further away from the promises made to developing countries just six years ago in 2001. - NST


Qing Ming

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Well, this year I feel less lonely and out of place accompanying my parents to perform Qing Ming. I felt very much alone last year. Perhaps the fact that my brother is not around and also a small family atmosphere is slowly rubbing it all in. I still do wonder what other people or family does ? I don't have many friends who perform Qing Ming. In fact I find most of them are more or less Chinese than I am. I mean the tradition is that the guys or the male in the family are to perform Qing Ming......a ritual to pay respect and visit our ancestors. With that the question of where does women or female stand are next raise ?

If a woman are married into the guy family, she has to accompany her husband to perform Qing Ming. Therefore this raises the issue of what if a family doesn't have any boys or only a single heir ? It would be very quiet and difficult. Sometimes in a family issue its good to have a few opinion though not all should make conflicting opinion. I do wonder what if.....this and what if that ? Its kind of tough being alone helming a one man show all the time. Many occasion I have seen family with large sibling helping one another and creating a happy family go lucky atmosphere. OK, I notice I am a little bit deviating from the original intention. Let me explain a bit on the history and tradition regarding this Qing Ming occasion. I have heard that its all about being a filial son and whoever visit are bound to be struck by enormous luck, prosperity and wealth. Therefore, the female in the family are 'prevented' from visiting the grave of their parents and etc. The luck and wealth are not supposed to be shared and it is mean only for the male in the family. Hmm........kind of bias action which had been in practice for century and I wonder when all this are going to be change ?

For example, on my recent visit last week, there was this group of large family gathering right next to my grandfather tomb. One of the man was very friendly and try to make small talk with us. The stuff that they bought to pray and offer to the other world make ours look minuscule and small in comparison. Well, Qing Ming wasn't a time to make comparison or to see who's wealthiest but I can't help notice and make observation about them.

I think they are all businessman. They are ok though a little bit on the extravaganza. What I could not accept was their attitude towards the dead. They were more concern with trying to get some lucky numbers and making prediction for striking stake sweep or 4-digit. Worst still was they bought along their maid........in fact I saw 2 Indonesian maid and they were helping out with the preparation etc. So my guess was that they are from a wealthy businessman background. The man then proceeded to advice us on the things we should do to improve the tomb and getting rid of trees growing on the stone and etc. He also advice us to "buy" Taiwanese grass and spread the seed all over the area so that nice beautiful grass will outgrow those wild glass. I was just thinking what makes him think it will work cause as far as we are concern, nice grass will never outgrow nor overlap those wild grass. Wild grass are born to stand the tough environment condition hence their namesake. Nevertheless, I wasn't about to break it into him. Though theoretically its a failure, we wouldn't know what would really happen in the cemetery. There might me miracle or magic.......:)). My dad and I just kept quiet.

Next was another neighbour which was much more quiet than us. An old couple in their mid 50's was cleaning and clearing all grasses and trees. The lady sound very educated and etc with her English. My mom smile at her and both of them started making small talk as well. She was complaining how nobody was around to help them out and they are from a small family only. My mom ask her how many kids they have and where are there. To my astonishment, she told my mom she has 3 kids. Wow.......3 children and they dare said "small" family............my family lagi lagi small size la. She told my mom all her children not free with work and commitment. I mean what kind of commitment or work you can have on a Sunday morning. Even if ....her son was a chef.......it still doesn't give them the right to shed responsibility. Its Qing Ming.....which means something...........to pay our elders respect and also to be a filial son, grandson and etc.

Besides what I had mention I notice Qing Ming this year had been a little bit grand. I have seen many many weird "present" and "gifts" to the other side of the world. From passport, porn video CD, exotic bra, Rolls Royce, computers, Windows XP and etc..........u name it and those seller would have it. Its a big business and I think its a huge industry itself if you include China, HK, Taiwan and etc. I am not sure what those seller are going to release for next year.


Pisang Goreng Lovers

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I got this weird email in my inbox early this morning. Not sure whether its true or not but its kind of hard to believe. Read for yourself !!!



For Pisang Goreng lovers. Beware.

________________________________


Just heard something appalling last weekend from my mom, apparently
she heard form a neighbor of ours that some unscrupulous "pisang goreng "
sellers are using some weird or scary ways to make what they're selling now
crispier!

It seems that before they fry the bananas, they'd put in some
PLASTIC BAGS into the boiling oil! Coincidentally , this would make the
bananas crispier! A friend of
mine confirmed this as well, as he heard it from his friend too. Beware people, refrain from buying these stuff!


Bloggers

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I am figuring out what best to write. I find writing blog daily very taxing and demanding. Perhaps if you want to be a budding journalist then blogging would be a good start. Nevertheless, I still don't understand how some of the 'famous' blogger write when they have a full time job. How do they cope with work load, personal time, relationship and at the same time spending at least an hour or 2 on the computer daily ? Most probably work involve computer and hence I figure and most likely most of them blog while at work, Hmmm........I wonder if their bosses know about it and if they allow it. Its true perhaps some bosses are nicer than others. Furthermore some bosses are the modern new generation but what happen to KPI, efficiency and etc ? Lets see,

1. if you are a programmer then I'm sure you will get addicted to blogging or IM and hence the need to spend more time to complete task and drag the whole time line to overtime and etc
2. if you are a boss, then instead of managing and looking for client and etc....I'm sure there are many things a boss need to attend to.......then u are actually wasting time pretending to be a kid and wasting it on blogging and IM
3. for those that are very free at work...sales, technical support and etc.......well I believe there should be an issue with the company information security itself. Doesn't the boss worry the employee will intro in some virus/spam in the office system or confidential document being snoop out and etc ?

I am really baffle ? However, there is another category of blogger that I respect very much ......those that are not working full time or in fact retired and spend most of their valuable time blogging good stuff. People like Jeff Ooi, Marina Mahathir and etc.........just to name a few. There are plenty of blogger that falls into this category itself. In fact I read and follow their blogs frequently. I can learn a thing or two from them especially their English and writing style.

Oh...well, that's about it concluding today's post.



I got this email recently. Thought it was informative.

Hi ladies, just wanted to let you know some VERY important information!

This information was given to me by my husband and I know all the ladies in my life should know and please forward it to all the ladies in your life.

My husband has a friend whose mother recently got diagnosed with breast cancer. The doctor told her women should not drink bottled water that has been left in a car. The doctor said that the heat and the plastic of the bottle have certain chemicals that can lead to breast cancer. So please be careful and do not drink that water bottle that has been left in a car and pass this on to all the women in your life.

This information is the kind we need to know and be aware and just might save us!!!!


Ignorant People

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I really don't understand some people. I have a Malay colloquy who seem to be very pious, nice and educated but in fact its the opposite. I have fail to understand him and also fail to make him think out of the box. When it comes to religion, race and etc issue.........just try to avoid talking about it cause they don't think logically and neither do they think at all. It seem they have to just follow the black book and whether its for their good or not they don't care cause everything from the book is good.

Ok, lets avoid that issue and debate and tell you from another side of the story. For example, he's sick and down with re-occurrence cough and flu.......the normal ENT sickness and etc. By right, thinking from the productivity point of view, if an employee is sick, you would encourage them to take a day off or go on MC. Why ? Cause if he's sick and still working then there is a high chance that he can spree the bacteria or viruses to other colleague in the whole office. So lets be logical and see this from the company productivity point of view. If he's sick and go on MC then the company will incur a loss of RM 100 (example). However, if he's around to spree the bacteria and hypothetically he got 2 of his colleague sick too.......so therefore the company will be incurring further losses of RM 200.

There....plain simple and direct. Why can't Malaysians see this !! Why have to work till you get more sick and etc and then.........finally after can't tolerate anymore only then go to see a doc. Why ? Why ? Isn't there a smart and straight person who can see this from the overall picture.

If I tell this to my Malay colleague of mine then he would shrug it off cause he will feel he's great and doing the company a good deed and therefore qualify himself as the best employee in the company. No joke.......that's the way they think. How about his boss ? Worst cause can't think at all. I don't mine if I'm still single and etc but then I have a family I want to take care of. I can't get sick by him and then when I go home spree the bacteria back home. To make matter worst, the place we work is in a small room with 2 air-con only while 6-8 fellow are working in it with no windows nor ventilation.........means oxygen is not coming in.

I just fail to understand why people can't think like me or thinking logically......you don't have to be a bookworm, straight A's or whatever to think straight and judging with common sense. Do you or you do ????????


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