Right. I know I've committed the mortal sin for not posting any new posts for more than a week, so a thousand apologies to those who bothered to check up on me. Thanks a million for being so patient. Truth be told, I was quite the busy man of late and deserved a nice break on the weekend. Away from stress, away from obligations and away from binds that hold. I've been quite the lucky bastard this weekend. Anyway, enough about me.
Onward to the daily grouses. Just today, I've read in an article in The Star, our local English paper, claiming that our National Laureate Datuk A. Samad Said wants to move his work over to New Zealand. That name strikes a familiar tone in us doesn't it? "The Dead Crow" and "Di Hadapan Pulau"? The guy with the "sexy beard" as my BM teacher said. The guy with his initials being A.S.S. ?
Okay.. okay.. jokes over. Anyway, this cool dude with long beard threatened to take his original work all the way to NZ where his work would certainly be more appreciated than here in Msia. If there's one thing about Malaysia, it's the lack of respect and recognition that artistes alike receive for the handiwork. Let's not look too far. Our beloved Yasmin Ahmad was never really appreciated by the Government until the day she died. Come on.. everyone knows that. Singers like Fish Leong (correct me if I'm wrong) and Michael Wong, better known as Guang Liang know, they KNOW that staying behind in Malaysia and living off the entertainment industry is not really and option. The Government failed to realised that stars like these are what makes us proud to be able to shine on international stage. Datuk Ahmad Samad Said's poems and stories have entertained us for decades yet, the Government turned a blind eye on his brilliant work, making it seemed like they were the least interested in artsy stuff like these. The Information, Communications and Culture Ministry should be held responsible for having such a stupid attitude. I dare bet they are gonna give an excuse and say there must be some communication misunderstanding and try to undo their mistakes, like they always do. Apparently, due attentions to artistes are heaved upon the wrong idol, one such with the bald head and stupid goatee, namely Mawi. Never a talented singer and was made popular through a lousy "idol-like" competition that almost nobody approves, called Akademi Fantasia. You know what a real Idol is? Jaclyn Joshua Thanaraj Victor and Daniel Lee. They are real idols who could sing in several languages without any problem. We don't need baldies that is tone-impaired to entertain us like a clown.
With that being said, I certainly do hope Datuk A. Samad Said's work will be given the due appreciation, especially on his literary works.
Apart from that, another stupid thing that have transpired over the week was, the stupid decision of buying a Persian cat by the Prime Minister himself. I know you're loaded. Everyone knows that. Even some dead Mongolian actress knows that, but let me remind you that adoption is certainly better than buying. But then again, that's not the real grouse I'm having here. The real grouse is, our PM aka Najib, playing it up with the buying of his cat. You know.. When Obama got a dog, similar press sensation was skewered into the nation, causing a pet-frenzy across USA. I think Najib is just flexing his political influence by buying a cat and then as if he bothered, asking the nation what to name it. It's like... the hell. It's your darn cat that you bought with RM650. You name it! Playing it up and asking the nation to name it as if you would care is stupidly lame for a political stunt. Call it copy cat, since you pretty much lay it down like Obama. Or maybe, call it SELCAT.. Iono. Have fun with your cat then. One thing's for sure, this little kitty's gonna be the centre of attraction for quite awhile and I'm quite sure watchdogs like RSPCA and PAWS will be waiting to pounce on any mistreatment the Persian should receive.
That's quite what I have in mind right now. A very good night dear readers. Ciao for now.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
The Week That Passed.
Revelations after revelations. It's been awhile now since I last felt human and little. Took the car for a snow wash today and was really relaxed as I watched the dragonflies zooming around on the open field while I waited for my car to be cleaned. Lately, there has been a lot of things bugging me that needs my immediate attention such as my course registration and the such but I will be skipping those and prolly spare you people of my boring predicaments.
Just the other day, I promised Raphael to help him with promoting his mini theater, Jubilee Cabaret, featuring colourful and lively cabaret dances coagulated along with Malaysian cultural dances and song and not forgetting our Malacca's own baba nonya dances, songs and a lot more. So it's generally a whole new refreshing thing for me when I first watched it. Things of course got better as time goes by because they will often times slot in new performances and kick out the old such as Chinese New Year specials to keep things in time and fresh. Certainly a must watch for people who enjoys a good time on vibrant and happy performances. Little nonyas in kebaya, seronok sekali. Hahaha~
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulng82/sets/72157623178302718/
An Indian dance as performed in the Jubilee Cabaret. Certainly very VERY entertaining.
Now, back to topic. As I was saying, I promised to help Raphael in promoting Jubilee, so I met him one afternoon to accompany him around town, visiting hotels after hotels to ask if they would allow us to place Jubilee pamphlets on their counter/tourist info section/etc.. Mind you, it's quality paper Raphael ordered for the printing of these pamphlet. Not some cheap thin material that people use to stick adverts on your windscreen. Glossed finish, thick quality paper. Certainly it's not too "low-class" to be displayed on a counter of a hotel right?
Of course, since we're asking for other people's help, you gotta expect the worst to come. We stepped into this little hotel called Malacca Straits Hotel. The receptionist was a guy and he was quite the pleasant man to talk to as he was really REALLY polite, like how hospitality services should be. We asked to see their Public Relation Officer to tell of our request and the man kindly nodded and told us to wait for a minute on the cushion. As much as the interior decor was a total overhaul, I cannot help but smell of a very familiar smell. You wanna know what that is? Sterilizer. The Malacca Straits Hotel used to be a hospital. Many may not know of this but us Malaccans know better. It certainly was funny when someone once called my dad and ask if he had stayed in that hotel before cause, my dad was admitted to that hospital and stayed in that building before it was turned into a hotel.
And 5 minutes later, this lady in headscarf came out from the room she was in and mind you she did not even greet us. (Talk about Public Relations Officer.. pfft~)
This rude lady certainly left us with a very bad impression of the management. She was bossy and was not even compromising. As we pitched our idea, she asked what's in it for them (the hotel). We said that we will be issuing two complimentary tickets for them to see the show so as to better understand the show and hence, be able to explain to the guest or our potential customers. The following reply was the most shocking and in fact, the worst you could explain from a PR officer.
"Apa? Dua tiket saja? Lepas tu? Bukan tiap-tiap bulan bagi?"
("What? Only two tickets? What about after that? You're not giving us tickets every month?")
I was certainly shocked! SHOCKED I say! The ticket was a COMPLIMENTARY, meaning we are already incurring loses to invite you to see the show and you DEMAND more?! One word to sum it up, greed. What a tard! She actually wanted more! I mean, we're only borrowing a 20cm x 10cm x 7cm spot on your precious little tourist information board to put some pamphlets and you wanted more?! Plus, you're only a freaking PR. And all the more because you're a PR, shouldn't you be more gracious on your choice of words?! The only salvation the hotel has I dare bet, was the receptionist. It's a tiny little hotel that charges a hand and a leg for a room BUT albeit the pricing, I saw a contingent of cyclist who's contesting in SUKMA (Sukan Malaysia) staying there. Does the Government has so much money to pamper these athletes that aren't even promising in the first place? I swear they are not promising because of a personal incident I had with a customer of this very hotel (A car signaled late and just blindly turned into the hotel compound without noticing this poor guy on motorbike, who happens to be yours truly, was right beside him and clashed into me.) and these cyclists have to butt their nose into our argument, ganging up on the Chinese guy (which is me) and end up being reprimanded by their coach for being busybodies. They lack the brain and logic while arguing (They claimed I was speeding and overtaking a car from the left. For god's sake, a motorcycle's lane is on the freaking left side of the road! And the fact that I was still sitting on my motorbike while the accident happen proves that I was riding within a safe speed or I would end up some meters away, implanting myself face-first on the tarred road during the collision. >< ) and also the courtesy on the choice of words. I swear I didn't even use any vulgar while arguing and all the while they kept spewing words like "fuck", "butto" meaning ass and the such, inclusive of racial sediments.
And so that quite summed up my boring days on the week that passed. My arm was left with a really big ugly bruise but thank god, nothing permanent and I am alright. That'd be my ranting for this moment. Thanks for reading. Ask me out for tea sometimes okay, for those who stay in Malacca, and for those who are going to be in Malacca, ask me out for tea too~ Follow me on my Facebook if you guys are interested in looking up for me. I'll bring you to places in Malacca where they are under the tourist radar yet charming altogether. Good food, beautiful beaches, breath-taking mountain view, you name it. Haha.
http://www.facebook.com/audesxerxes?ref=profile#!/audesxerxes
Cheerio!
PS : When adding me on FB, send me a note explaining how you got my address. Don't like strangers on my FB.
Just the other day, I promised Raphael to help him with promoting his mini theater, Jubilee Cabaret, featuring colourful and lively cabaret dances coagulated along with Malaysian cultural dances and song and not forgetting our Malacca's own baba nonya dances, songs and a lot more. So it's generally a whole new refreshing thing for me when I first watched it. Things of course got better as time goes by because they will often times slot in new performances and kick out the old such as Chinese New Year specials to keep things in time and fresh. Certainly a must watch for people who enjoys a good time on vibrant and happy performances. Little nonyas in kebaya, seronok sekali. Hahaha~
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulng82/sets/72157623178302718/
An Indian dance as performed in the Jubilee Cabaret. Certainly very VERY entertaining.
Now, back to topic. As I was saying, I promised to help Raphael in promoting Jubilee, so I met him one afternoon to accompany him around town, visiting hotels after hotels to ask if they would allow us to place Jubilee pamphlets on their counter/tourist info section/etc.. Mind you, it's quality paper Raphael ordered for the printing of these pamphlet. Not some cheap thin material that people use to stick adverts on your windscreen. Glossed finish, thick quality paper. Certainly it's not too "low-class" to be displayed on a counter of a hotel right?
Of course, since we're asking for other people's help, you gotta expect the worst to come. We stepped into this little hotel called Malacca Straits Hotel. The receptionist was a guy and he was quite the pleasant man to talk to as he was really REALLY polite, like how hospitality services should be. We asked to see their Public Relation Officer to tell of our request and the man kindly nodded and told us to wait for a minute on the cushion. As much as the interior decor was a total overhaul, I cannot help but smell of a very familiar smell. You wanna know what that is? Sterilizer. The Malacca Straits Hotel used to be a hospital. Many may not know of this but us Malaccans know better. It certainly was funny when someone once called my dad and ask if he had stayed in that hotel before cause, my dad was admitted to that hospital and stayed in that building before it was turned into a hotel.
And 5 minutes later, this lady in headscarf came out from the room she was in and mind you she did not even greet us. (Talk about Public Relations Officer.. pfft~)
This rude lady certainly left us with a very bad impression of the management. She was bossy and was not even compromising. As we pitched our idea, she asked what's in it for them (the hotel). We said that we will be issuing two complimentary tickets for them to see the show so as to better understand the show and hence, be able to explain to the guest or our potential customers. The following reply was the most shocking and in fact, the worst you could explain from a PR officer.
"Apa? Dua tiket saja? Lepas tu? Bukan tiap-tiap bulan bagi?"
("What? Only two tickets? What about after that? You're not giving us tickets every month?")
I was certainly shocked! SHOCKED I say! The ticket was a COMPLIMENTARY, meaning we are already incurring loses to invite you to see the show and you DEMAND more?! One word to sum it up, greed. What a tard! She actually wanted more! I mean, we're only borrowing a 20cm x 10cm x 7cm spot on your precious little tourist information board to put some pamphlets and you wanted more?! Plus, you're only a freaking PR. And all the more because you're a PR, shouldn't you be more gracious on your choice of words?! The only salvation the hotel has I dare bet, was the receptionist. It's a tiny little hotel that charges a hand and a leg for a room BUT albeit the pricing, I saw a contingent of cyclist who's contesting in SUKMA (Sukan Malaysia) staying there. Does the Government has so much money to pamper these athletes that aren't even promising in the first place? I swear they are not promising because of a personal incident I had with a customer of this very hotel (A car signaled late and just blindly turned into the hotel compound without noticing this poor guy on motorbike, who happens to be yours truly, was right beside him and clashed into me.) and these cyclists have to butt their nose into our argument, ganging up on the Chinese guy (which is me) and end up being reprimanded by their coach for being busybodies. They lack the brain and logic while arguing (They claimed I was speeding and overtaking a car from the left. For god's sake, a motorcycle's lane is on the freaking left side of the road! And the fact that I was still sitting on my motorbike while the accident happen proves that I was riding within a safe speed or I would end up some meters away, implanting myself face-first on the tarred road during the collision. >< ) and also the courtesy on the choice of words. I swear I didn't even use any vulgar while arguing and all the while they kept spewing words like "fuck", "butto" meaning ass and the such, inclusive of racial sediments.
And so that quite summed up my boring days on the week that passed. My arm was left with a really big ugly bruise but thank god, nothing permanent and I am alright. That'd be my ranting for this moment. Thanks for reading. Ask me out for tea sometimes okay, for those who stay in Malacca, and for those who are going to be in Malacca, ask me out for tea too~ Follow me on my Facebook if you guys are interested in looking up for me. I'll bring you to places in Malacca where they are under the tourist radar yet charming altogether. Good food, beautiful beaches, breath-taking mountain view, you name it. Haha.
http://www.facebook.com/audesxerxes?ref=profile#!/audesxerxes
Cheerio!
PS : When adding me on FB, send me a note explaining how you got my address. Don't like strangers on my FB.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
A filler for now. Long Hair!
So I have been talking about other stuffs so often, I've quite forgotten to talk about myself of late. How silly.
I'm currently considering a change of hairstyle; a shorter one maybe? But pretty much reluctant at the same time cause I love my hair when it's long. It's almost like Hugh Jackman yo.
There we go, no joke. LoL~ Check my older photos of me with slightly longer hair in facebook if you want. X3
Of course, that would be me if I don't change my hairstyle and leave it long in accordance with time. But what if I change my style by a little, parting in the mid to look like this?
He Jun Xiang.... smexy hair.. Gah~
Well, many would be wagging their tails by now, I'm quite sure. Seriously though, my hair curls at semi long lengths. Hence it's not too wavy and is at just the right volume to boot.
And now.. to drink more hair growth tonic.. Haha. Ciao people. Until next time.
I'm currently considering a change of hairstyle; a shorter one maybe? But pretty much reluctant at the same time cause I love my hair when it's long. It's almost like Hugh Jackman yo.
There we go, no joke. LoL~ Check my older photos of me with slightly longer hair in facebook if you want. X3
Of course, that would be me if I don't change my hairstyle and leave it long in accordance with time. But what if I change my style by a little, parting in the mid to look like this?
He Jun Xiang.... smexy hair.. Gah~
Well, many would be wagging their tails by now, I'm quite sure. Seriously though, my hair curls at semi long lengths. Hence it's not too wavy and is at just the right volume to boot.
And now.. to drink more hair growth tonic.. Haha. Ciao people. Until next time.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
When the society defashionize...
Right now, I'm sipping and paying my daily homage to the great Java. Blended to smooth perfection, the roasted taste is just.. ecstasy. Sitting here inside Starbucks, it instantly reminds me of Joanne Loke's blog. The thoughtful thought of a young lady who pretty much provoked my thought and got me thinking. Right.. I'm just being random.. Blame the coffee.
So, many would be wondering what am I doing here instead of being in class. Well, arguably, one has to take time to chill off after a few hectic weeks of planning and gathering. I've been so up and about that I haven't even have time to actually enjoy my semester break albeit it's no longer semester break anymore.
Well, at this wonderful afternoon, I pretty much took a tour around Dataran Pahlawan's West Concourse, keeping a mindful eye and limited glances all the while checking out society and it's behaviour. I'm quite the curious one when it comes to human behaviour and also the snarky one when it comes to criticizing it.
So, here's what I noticed. Kids nowadays, (Mind you, anyone younger than me I deem them as kids. I'm 21 anyway.) have quite the poorest sense of fashion. I'm quite sure some do, but on a general populous, it seems like the younger generations are moving in onto a weirder and weirder sense of fashion which I pretty much disapprove although my little opinion may not matter. As the school holiday breaks, many can be seen loitering about in this shopping complex. Quite the scene, really, to see so many people on a Wednesday morning yet Starbucks remains as lonely as ever. Don't think kids enjoy coffee on the same level as most of us adults do.
Now, to shoot my point, I noticed that the younger generations have a great liking to wearing sunglasses in shopping complex. I admit that I'm guilty of that too, but only once and that was because I was doing a photoshoot in this very same complex, yet, may I ask a question now.. Is it really THAT bright and sunny inside a shopping complex that you have to wear AVIATOR sunglasses? I mean.. if you are some celebrities stuck in a scandal, I can understand that but for real?
Here and right now I would like to coin the word "DEFASHIONIZING" out of frustration. It simply isn't because of a slanted perspective of me in the fashion industry. It simply isn't because of solely my opinion that the younger generations are fashionably numb BUT it's out of sheer anger at how fashion has been tainted by these retards. Imagine a group of scrawny kids dressed in tube jeans, tight canvas shoes, tees with obscenity or some controversial message that makes absolutely no sense scribbled on it, ridiculously gelled hair and aviator glasses stuck on their face but slides down their nose almost half the time. And I do mean a GROUP of them, dressed in the same way, only with a different tee. It's really a plain sore to the eye and believe me, this kind of fashion can only be seen on certain people of certain race. I'm sorry to say this, but it's the hard truth that everyone has to swallow.
That's not the end. Let me move into the other race. Chinese boys nowadays too, can be spotted wearing short pants and plain tee. I mean, yeah maybe it looks alright, but with a handbag? And it's not only one of them, but a bunch of them together, parading around with their LV bag.. OH MAI GOD~ LV BAG! God knows if it's even a fake. It doesn't stop here. Most can be caught guilty of wearing glasses frame and I do mean only the frame. Pray the lord I was able to convince one of my friend to not wear it because it only makes him look "Ah Dai" (meaning "nerdy") and it's such a liability on his looks. White skin, slim face, but with a nerdy frame on.. =_= And don't get me started on the girls. It would have been endless, so I'm skipping that for now.
Indians, on a national scale, well, I kinda noticed that their sense of fashion has not changed since the past decade. I don't know if it's because of Samy Vellu's continuous presidency (sorry, couldn't resist.) or they are quite comfortable with the way they are. Indians here will dress almost casually. A simple jeans and a simple tee and that's it. Maybe a gelled or dyed hair at the most. Simple yet acceptable and that's how it should have been if one wants to look normal. They don't quite get in the scene when it comes to fashion.
So.. right now, I'm still sipping and paying my daily homage to the great Java... and I'm loving it. Peace out people.
So, many would be wondering what am I doing here instead of being in class. Well, arguably, one has to take time to chill off after a few hectic weeks of planning and gathering. I've been so up and about that I haven't even have time to actually enjoy my semester break albeit it's no longer semester break anymore.
Well, at this wonderful afternoon, I pretty much took a tour around Dataran Pahlawan's West Concourse, keeping a mindful eye and limited glances all the while checking out society and it's behaviour. I'm quite the curious one when it comes to human behaviour and also the snarky one when it comes to criticizing it.
So, here's what I noticed. Kids nowadays, (Mind you, anyone younger than me I deem them as kids. I'm 21 anyway.) have quite the poorest sense of fashion. I'm quite sure some do, but on a general populous, it seems like the younger generations are moving in onto a weirder and weirder sense of fashion which I pretty much disapprove although my little opinion may not matter. As the school holiday breaks, many can be seen loitering about in this shopping complex. Quite the scene, really, to see so many people on a Wednesday morning yet Starbucks remains as lonely as ever. Don't think kids enjoy coffee on the same level as most of us adults do.
Now, to shoot my point, I noticed that the younger generations have a great liking to wearing sunglasses in shopping complex. I admit that I'm guilty of that too, but only once and that was because I was doing a photoshoot in this very same complex, yet, may I ask a question now.. Is it really THAT bright and sunny inside a shopping complex that you have to wear AVIATOR sunglasses? I mean.. if you are some celebrities stuck in a scandal, I can understand that but for real?
Here and right now I would like to coin the word "DEFASHIONIZING" out of frustration. It simply isn't because of a slanted perspective of me in the fashion industry. It simply isn't because of solely my opinion that the younger generations are fashionably numb BUT it's out of sheer anger at how fashion has been tainted by these retards. Imagine a group of scrawny kids dressed in tube jeans, tight canvas shoes, tees with obscenity or some controversial message that makes absolutely no sense scribbled on it, ridiculously gelled hair and aviator glasses stuck on their face but slides down their nose almost half the time. And I do mean a GROUP of them, dressed in the same way, only with a different tee. It's really a plain sore to the eye and believe me, this kind of fashion can only be seen on certain people of certain race. I'm sorry to say this, but it's the hard truth that everyone has to swallow.
That's not the end. Let me move into the other race. Chinese boys nowadays too, can be spotted wearing short pants and plain tee. I mean, yeah maybe it looks alright, but with a handbag? And it's not only one of them, but a bunch of them together, parading around with their LV bag.. OH MAI GOD~ LV BAG! God knows if it's even a fake. It doesn't stop here. Most can be caught guilty of wearing glasses frame and I do mean only the frame. Pray the lord I was able to convince one of my friend to not wear it because it only makes him look "Ah Dai" (meaning "nerdy") and it's such a liability on his looks. White skin, slim face, but with a nerdy frame on.. =_= And don't get me started on the girls. It would have been endless, so I'm skipping that for now.
Indians, on a national scale, well, I kinda noticed that their sense of fashion has not changed since the past decade. I don't know if it's because of Samy Vellu's continuous presidency (sorry, couldn't resist.) or they are quite comfortable with the way they are. Indians here will dress almost casually. A simple jeans and a simple tee and that's it. Maybe a gelled or dyed hair at the most. Simple yet acceptable and that's how it should have been if one wants to look normal. They don't quite get in the scene when it comes to fashion.
So.. right now, I'm still sipping and paying my daily homage to the great Java... and I'm loving it. Peace out people.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Reiterating the Points.
To reiterate my point of our Government getting their priorities really wrong, once again, allow me to point out yet another disappointing news that has befallen onto our nation.
The Government has recently announced the motion to slash subsidies off from our daily necessities. It is a motion that receives mixed emotions with some lauding the move while others cringed so much at it, it almost look like they have been suffering from constipation for the past thirty years.
As someone who views our nation's economy in a long term, I approved the motion, though not whole-heartedly. It is partly because of a flaw in the motion, hence why the rejection from several parts of the Rakyat.
First off, the cut of subsidies in the wrong necessities of course, earns the nation's wrath as it was deemed as unnecessary and almost trivial yet causing a nationwide problem. The cut of subsidies in wheat, sugar and petroleum was of course, frowned upon because of the imbalance it might trigger in the market. Here's the reason for the flaw. Suppose you propose a cut of subsidy, wouldn't it be fair and wise to actually impose a minimum wage ruling to help out our Rakyat? A minimum wage, in the long term, boosts economy even if there is a price hike in local commodities. It's basic economy that the Government has failed to look at thoroughly.
I know, some of you people out there are already chiding me for being naive. I do agree that the minimum wage policy can't be implemented because of Malaysian's attitude in general. Lazy, unmotivated, yet wanting an easy job that offers high salary. Now you tell me, where in the world can we find such a job? Even prostitutes in Taiwan have to make a living by working hard, not forgetting the part where they have to pay taxes too. Honestly, part of the reason why the Government is suffering from a deficit every year is due to very VERY obvious reasons. Let's list them.
A. Corruption.
B. Unnecessary spending on stupid projects. (Like planting stupid deco flowers along the street only to change the entire plot after a month with NEW different flowers or incidents where there are ten people from the Government sector working on digging the road where three are working and the other seven supervising. Once again, wrong priorities.)
C. Tax evaders, and we know who they generally are.
D. Poor/wrong investment. (During the fall of Wall Street, our Government could have bought and bail out the entire entity, but our Government eventually chose to buy out a bank in Indonesia instead.)
E. Unequal/Unfair subsidies.
F. Tributes. (Almost too sensitive to say. I'm not going any further on this one. I still cherish my friends.)
G. And of course, general subsidies.
So, it's pretty clear on how the taxpayer's money is spent on.
And now, let's get back onto topic. Apparently, there was a hike which I, as a part of the nation lauded the movement entirely, which is the hike of price for a 20 stick pack of cigarette. It's really a move which deserves a praise yet I don't think the Government has done enough. Singapore charges a S$13 for a 20 stick pack while in United States - Alabama to be precise, according to a friend of mine there, it costs a freaking USD15 for the same amount of cigarette. Malaysia on the other hand, proposed a floor price of RM6.40 per 20 stick pack. In case there are some readers who didn't know our currency, when converted into USD, it's about USD2 or a little more?
Now, seriously?! I mean, you wanted to curb smoking. You don't even enforce any rules. And when you do, you don't even do anything at all to punish the people caught smoking for various reasons. The Malacca Government hung up several posters earlier this year and launched a "Smoke-free Melaka" campaign.
http://www.seatca.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=776:smf-melaka&catid=1:regional-updates&Itemid=57
I don't know about you people, but I seem to notice that nobody gives two shit about it. I still see cigarette butts strewn all over the Victoria Fountain square, courtesy of "beca-pullers" or trishaw drivers. I also see locals puffing away like no tomorrow in our so-called "smoke-free zone" which covers the entire Melaka town area. I also spotted workers of the MBMB public swimming pool smoking away right inside the compound, just beside the "No Smoking : Fine RM 1000" sign. Is this for real? Good work oh Chief Minister Ali Rustam, the minister whom was convicted of money politics by his own political party yet can still sit comfortably in our senate and become a Chief Minister. It just proves how silly our Government is, with their empty promises of erasing corruption. There's just a bitter lack of enforcement and it's very EVIDENT.
Okay okay.. I've been drawn way out of topic. About the price hike of tobacco. Right. So, if our Government imposes a higher tax for cigarette, wouldn't it be killing two birds with one stone? I mean, you can curb smoking and gain more money at the same time. And about taxes, stop taxing our Rakyat from luxuries like foreign cars just because you want to protect your own national car's market! Suppose, if you remove the subsidies from petroleum, then lower the tax from foreign cars as well! It's like, you're happy and the people are happy. Win win situation. Problem solved. Government saves money, rakyat gets luxury at lower price. You can't exactly have it all and force it down our throat!
Also, to anyone who has bothered to check, Malaysia is ranked 3rd, freaking 3rd for selling the cheapest cigarette worldwide by the Marlborough Company, although sources may not be reliable because the result was based on invested countries by the company itself. So, Malaysia is actually selling Marlborough, one of the deadliest and oldest cigarette around which offers packs which doesn't have filters at a really low price if compared globally. Indonesia ranks first, followed by Turkey. The little hike in price is definitely not enough. Oh, I've just realised, I haven't disclosed the amount of hike. It's a mere 20 sen and every bloody smokers are already complaining. For the love of your own health, just be grateful that it's only 20 sen and not a few ringgit to match our neighbour!
Cheers people. That's it for now. I know, economy is not something that can please everyone but if it's for the greater good in a long term, I don't mind spending a few more, that too, if the Government enforces minimum wage policy.
Most of the content's ideas are courtesy of my former Economics teacher, Mr Lee Tick Siong and also from a good friend of mine, Sharvan Bhojwani.
The Government has recently announced the motion to slash subsidies off from our daily necessities. It is a motion that receives mixed emotions with some lauding the move while others cringed so much at it, it almost look like they have been suffering from constipation for the past thirty years.
As someone who views our nation's economy in a long term, I approved the motion, though not whole-heartedly. It is partly because of a flaw in the motion, hence why the rejection from several parts of the Rakyat.
First off, the cut of subsidies in the wrong necessities of course, earns the nation's wrath as it was deemed as unnecessary and almost trivial yet causing a nationwide problem. The cut of subsidies in wheat, sugar and petroleum was of course, frowned upon because of the imbalance it might trigger in the market. Here's the reason for the flaw. Suppose you propose a cut of subsidy, wouldn't it be fair and wise to actually impose a minimum wage ruling to help out our Rakyat? A minimum wage, in the long term, boosts economy even if there is a price hike in local commodities. It's basic economy that the Government has failed to look at thoroughly.
I know, some of you people out there are already chiding me for being naive. I do agree that the minimum wage policy can't be implemented because of Malaysian's attitude in general. Lazy, unmotivated, yet wanting an easy job that offers high salary. Now you tell me, where in the world can we find such a job? Even prostitutes in Taiwan have to make a living by working hard, not forgetting the part where they have to pay taxes too. Honestly, part of the reason why the Government is suffering from a deficit every year is due to very VERY obvious reasons. Let's list them.
A. Corruption.
B. Unnecessary spending on stupid projects. (Like planting stupid deco flowers along the street only to change the entire plot after a month with NEW different flowers or incidents where there are ten people from the Government sector working on digging the road where three are working and the other seven supervising. Once again, wrong priorities.)
C. Tax evaders, and we know who they generally are.
D. Poor/wrong investment. (During the fall of Wall Street, our Government could have bought and bail out the entire entity, but our Government eventually chose to buy out a bank in Indonesia instead.)
E. Unequal/Unfair subsidies.
F. Tributes. (Almost too sensitive to say. I'm not going any further on this one. I still cherish my friends.)
G. And of course, general subsidies.
So, it's pretty clear on how the taxpayer's money is spent on.
And now, let's get back onto topic. Apparently, there was a hike which I, as a part of the nation lauded the movement entirely, which is the hike of price for a 20 stick pack of cigarette. It's really a move which deserves a praise yet I don't think the Government has done enough. Singapore charges a S$13 for a 20 stick pack while in United States - Alabama to be precise, according to a friend of mine there, it costs a freaking USD15 for the same amount of cigarette. Malaysia on the other hand, proposed a floor price of RM6.40 per 20 stick pack. In case there are some readers who didn't know our currency, when converted into USD, it's about USD2 or a little more?
Now, seriously?! I mean, you wanted to curb smoking. You don't even enforce any rules. And when you do, you don't even do anything at all to punish the people caught smoking for various reasons. The Malacca Government hung up several posters earlier this year and launched a "Smoke-free Melaka" campaign.
http://www.seatca.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=776:smf-melaka&catid=1:regional-updates&Itemid=57
I don't know about you people, but I seem to notice that nobody gives two shit about it. I still see cigarette butts strewn all over the Victoria Fountain square, courtesy of "beca-pullers" or trishaw drivers. I also see locals puffing away like no tomorrow in our so-called "smoke-free zone" which covers the entire Melaka town area. I also spotted workers of the MBMB public swimming pool smoking away right inside the compound, just beside the "No Smoking : Fine RM 1000" sign. Is this for real? Good work oh Chief Minister Ali Rustam, the minister whom was convicted of money politics by his own political party yet can still sit comfortably in our senate and become a Chief Minister. It just proves how silly our Government is, with their empty promises of erasing corruption. There's just a bitter lack of enforcement and it's very EVIDENT.
Okay okay.. I've been drawn way out of topic. About the price hike of tobacco. Right. So, if our Government imposes a higher tax for cigarette, wouldn't it be killing two birds with one stone? I mean, you can curb smoking and gain more money at the same time. And about taxes, stop taxing our Rakyat from luxuries like foreign cars just because you want to protect your own national car's market! Suppose, if you remove the subsidies from petroleum, then lower the tax from foreign cars as well! It's like, you're happy and the people are happy. Win win situation. Problem solved. Government saves money, rakyat gets luxury at lower price. You can't exactly have it all and force it down our throat!
Also, to anyone who has bothered to check, Malaysia is ranked 3rd, freaking 3rd for selling the cheapest cigarette worldwide by the Marlborough Company, although sources may not be reliable because the result was based on invested countries by the company itself. So, Malaysia is actually selling Marlborough, one of the deadliest and oldest cigarette around which offers packs which doesn't have filters at a really low price if compared globally. Indonesia ranks first, followed by Turkey. The little hike in price is definitely not enough. Oh, I've just realised, I haven't disclosed the amount of hike. It's a mere 20 sen and every bloody smokers are already complaining. For the love of your own health, just be grateful that it's only 20 sen and not a few ringgit to match our neighbour!
Cheers people. That's it for now. I know, economy is not something that can please everyone but if it's for the greater good in a long term, I don't mind spending a few more, that too, if the Government enforces minimum wage policy.
Most of the content's ideas are courtesy of my former Economics teacher, Mr Lee Tick Siong and also from a good friend of mine, Sharvan Bhojwani.
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