Thursday 31 December 2009

A HAPPY AND TOLERANT NEW YEAR TO ALL




In Malaysia, 2009 ended on a somewhat positive note:

The Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that Christians have the constitutional right to use the Arabic word الله‎ 'Allah' in reference to 'God'.

The High Court also ruled that the government ban on non-Muslims using God's / Allah's name was illegal.



To Christians and to all sensible and tolerant people, the rulings, on New Years Eve, are a victory for freedom of religion in Muslim-majority Malaysia.



May 2010 be the beginning of many changes for the better in Malaysia.

The people have suffered under the BN / UMNO federal government for far too long!


Mihi cura futuri



My concern is the future




Magnas inter opes inops



A pauper in the midst of wealth


Sunday 20 December 2009

MALAYSIA IS SO VERY VERY EXPENSIVE



Whither Malaysia in 2010 and beyond if still under UMNO/BN control


More bullshit, empty talk, misrepresentation, and goods and services being extremely expensive relative to the meagre incomes * of most people?

This unfortunately accurately sums up Malaysia these days.

*see below for some one to one comparisons


Acronyms are springing up ad nausea, such as:


1Malaysia


National Key Result Areas (NKRAs)


The Government Transformation Programme(GTP)


These, and many other deceptive, devious, daft policies, are resulting in hours of meaningless dumb arse drivel, UMNO/BN is evidently, it seems, trying to hoodwink folks into believing they are reforming themselves for the benefit of the country, but in reality the status qua remains.


Corruption is still alive and well

The rich selfish minority get ever richer

The majority get more and more poor


Najib and his sidekicks still seem to believe that bullshit baffles brains!


BUT THOSE WHO HAVE TRANSGRESSED, HAD BETTER GET READY TO FACE THE MUSIC.


THINGS WILL CHANGE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE PEOPLE IN DUE TIME.


SOONER OR LATER THE CORRUPT, THE AVARISTS, THE CHEATERS, THE CORRUPT, THE DEVILS IN DISGUISE, THE SELFISH, THE EGOISTIC, THE SELF IMPORTANT, THE USERS OF RELIGION TO CONTROL OTHERS, THE HYPOCRITES, THE DECEITFUL, THE GREEDY, THE VULGARLY RICH AND ALL OTHER REPROBATES WILL, AS AS HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, SOON FEEL THE WRATH OF THE PEOPLE.


On 18th December 2009 it was reported in The Star:


Almost 50,000 households living below the poverty line will get aid to lift them up under a new poverty eradication programme.

We hope to raise the level of households nationwide that are currently earning RM440 and below by the end of 2010,” said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.


If their household income is less than RM440, then these families are well and truly destitute and this brings great shame to Malaysia.

Sharizat should be trying to raise their incomes to a basic minimum of 4,400


In my opinion:

A working person in Malaysia, based on the cost of things, should earn at least RM 5,000 to be able to live to a reasonable living standard.


Why does Malaysia not have a minimum wage?

Things are so expensive if one considers that there are millions in Malaysia who earn less that RM 1,000 per month.

If one compares the wages and price in the United Kingdom with wages and prices in Malaysia on a one to one, unit income to unit cost basis, the outcome is shocking,


WAGES

In the UK the National Minimum Wage (NMW) is ₤ 5.80 per hour.

To explain in more detail, there are three levels of minimum wage, and the rates from 1st October 2009 are:

  • £5.80 per hour for workers aged 22 years and older

  • a development rate of £4.83 per hour for workers aged 18-21 inclusive

  • £3.57 per hour for all workers under the age of 18, who are no longer of compulsory school age.

Thus almost all workers aged 18 and over are entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW).

  • The NMW for those aged 22 and over is £5.80.

  • There is a lower minimum wage of £4.83 for those aged 18 to 21.

  • Freelance and temporary workers are entitled to the minimum wage.

  • Workers aged 16 and 17 (except apprentices) are entitled to a minimum of £3.57 per hour.

Workers' average pay must be at or above the minimum wage for each 'pay reference period'.

  • The 'pay reference period' is the worker's actual pay period, up to a maximum of a month.

  • Premium payments (eg overtime at time-and-a-half) cannot be included when calculating whether the worker has been paid the minimum wage. Only the standard hourly rate portion of the overtime payment can be counted.

Hours worked will depend on the type of work the worker does.

NOTE: the NMW increases periodically to take into account the rate of inflation.

Based on a 40 hour working week, the UK minimum personal income will be 928 units of currency per month of four weeks.

In Malaysia there is no minimum wage


In Malaysia an ordinary working person may earn a minimum of 928 units of currency, or perhaps a little more, per month. The poverty level is however mysteriously set at an ridiculously low 440

Now let us compare prices in the United Kingdom and Malaysia.

PRICES [in units of currency]

Petrol costs per litre

UK Vehicle Fuel Prices for Thursday 17th Dec 2009

Avg. Min. Max.

Unleaded :1.08 1.039 1.219

Diesel: 1.097 1.059 1.229

LRP: 1.129 1.059 1.169

Super: 1.149 1.069 1.259

Vehicle Gas

LPG: 0.576 0.499 0.699


In Malaysia current (December 2009) vehicle fuel costs are fixed by the government:-

Petrol RON 97 2.05,

Petrol RON 95 1.80 (may increase up to a reported 'unsubsidised' RM 3.00 on early 2010)

Diesel 1.70

Liquid Gas, Vehicle is 0.68


Highway tolls

In the UK there are none apart from a few short stretches of motorway and a few bridges.

In Malaysia all highways are toll roads, so the cost of driving is very high, one can in fact, at least double the price of the petrol use by an average car for a journey. Toll rates are every increasing too.


Motorcars Prices [in units of currency]

New cars:

UK

HONDA JAZZ Price Range: 10,575 - 13,535

PERODUA KENARI Price Range: 6,620 - 7,418

PERODUA MYVI Price Range: 6,620 - 7,418


Malaysia

HONDA JAZZ (cheapest model) 104,800.00

PERODUA KENARI GX AERO (cheapest model) (M) 41,263.10

PERODUA MYVI (cheapest model) 38,934.10

Second-hand cars:

In the UK, second-hand cars are very cheap, it is possible to buy a roadworthy car for as low as ₤ 500.

In Malaysia, second-hand cars are very expensive, even a ten year old almost junk car can cost over 5,000


Foodstuffs

Foodstuff too are far cheaper in the UK, see the list below and compare the costs you pay in Malaysia, in units of currency:

Bread

Large sliced multi-grain loaf 2.00

Six wholemeal bread buns 0.60

Cheese

Stilton 650 gm piece 5.00

Cheddar cheese 250 gm 2.00

Milk

Fresh full cream milk 2 x 4 pints 3.00

Butter

250gm 1.00

Table margarine 500 gm. 1.10

Ice Cream (luxury make)

Ben & Jerrys 500 ml 3.98


Vegetable Oil (Rapeseed or Sunflower) 1 litre 0.98


Organic potatoes 1.5 kg 1.25

Eggs, medium (12) 1.50

Mandarin oranges (6) 1.40

Apples, small Cox (8) 1.00

Rice (Thai) 1kg 0.99

The list goes on and on.

That is really food for thought!

So who is getting the shitty end of the stick?

Those in Malaysia earning 928 units of currency or those minimum wage earners in UK earning 928 units of currency?


You judge for yourself.



Ab amicis honesta petamus



We must ask what is proper from our friends



Ab ovo usque ad mala


From the egg right to the apples (From start to finish)



Acclinis falsis animus meliora recusat


The mind intent upon false appearances refuses to admit better things



MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE




The season of joy, peace, harmony, goodwill, hope and thanksgiving is soon upon us once again.


Sincere greetings are conceyed to everyone. May Christmas bring great happiness to all.



Let us all celebrate and practice the Christmas sentiments throughtout the year.





Ab imo pectore




From the bottom of the chest. (from the heart)