Malaysians are numbed by all the on going political intrigues that distract the government from focusing on problems facing the rakyat. We do not need these political conspiracies that serve only the ambition of a few politicians at the expense of the rakyat of the nation. What the rakyat wants and need is for the government of the day to find the solution to ease the burden of the suffering poor and do it fast.
Can all the political parties accept the General Election 2008 result and just get to work for the rakyat like they are suppose to do when they campaigned in the election? What the rakyat have now are just promises and little result, especially for the poor - no matter where they are or what colour is their skin. After more than 50 years of independence, Malaysia is among the most developed country in this region. But, why are there still many rakyat who are living in old patched huts, with no piped water or electricity? Where are the roads and bridges for the rural folks and their children who have to risk their lives everyday just to go to schools? Where are the transportation system for these poor rakyat to bring their goods to be sold in towns? The government must concentrate all efforts and put out more fund in these sectors immediately if it seriously wants to elevate the suffering of these poor rakyat and eradicate poverty in this country by 2020.
Politicians, where are your hearts? Hear the suffering poor and bring yourselves closer to God. Do not disguise your greedy actions for more power to mislead the rakyat. No amount of media exposure of wrong doings is going to stop the power grabbing for monetary gains. The monetary gains will win hands down, every time. The wily politicians will find ways to convince the rakyat that their action is in the interest of the rakyat. Harvest the virgin jungle using helicopters and choose only the old trees?? Reason is that the Kedah government has no fund for state development because the federal government had not given the RM 100 Million as agreed. (Rakyat read that as you want that Rm 100 million for your self interests). Never mind if the padi farmers suffer if there is no water years from now. (We won't be in power then!).
Power is the axis of all evil. It is the constant companion of all politicians and if the leaders do not bring themselves closer to the people, it is so easy to fall into the believing that you are invincible and the higher up you are the more inaudible the voice of the lowly rakyat. You only hear the voices of the people around you and the voices that they want you to hear. As the leader of our nation, our Prime Minister need all the supports from all quarters to fight the rising cost of essential goods and also the greedy power hungry people (unscrupulous politicians and businessmen) who wants more monetary gains for themselves.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Saturday, June 7, 2008
TIPS TO SURVIVE RISING COST OF LIVING
A few tips to survive in face of sharp increase in cost of living. The magic word is "BUDGET". That is to budget our spending and avoid over-spending, which will send us into a spiral of increasing personal debt.
Tip 1# Set a spending limit.
If you earn fixed salary then budget for the whole year base on your total take home pay for the year. Simply divide your yearly total income by 12 months, and deduct for all fixed expenses (e.g. rent, loans), electric bills, water bills, payment to parents, food, petrol, children education expenses, spouse's expenses, etc. What you have left is your spending limit and you can divide it by 12 months. You only have that much to spend for that month and any overspending will have to be deducted from next month's allowance. Remember to set aside a sum for religious and end of the year celebrations.
Tips 2# Do not charge to your credit card unless absolutely necessary.
Carry cash that is just enough for your shopping. Settle your credit card payment promptly. Remember credit card companies charge very high interest (18%+ per annum).
Tip 3# List out all your expenditure to the sen and go through the list to see where you can save and defer payments ( loans can be re-negotiated to increase the payment period).
Tips 4# Always plan your shopping and not to fall prey to sales gimmicks.
Check yourself by asking if the items your are about to purchase is a necessity or not. Can you live without it? Don't go blindly for branded goods. Look for cheaper products that is just as good. Example, mineral water comes from the same source but marketted under different brand names with different price tags.
Tip 5# Pay debts on time and avoid penalty for late payment. Have a checklist of all must-pay debts and their last day for payment and enter into your handphone/PDA with alarms to remind you a few days before the day.
Tip 6# Pack your lunch to office. It is not macho? Forget your ego and think of the amount of saving you will make.. Cut down on the 'teh tarik' sessions after office. You can save hundreds of ringgit monthly.
Tip 7# Share newspapers and magazines. Exchange information with your office workers and find out who is buying the same papers you read everyday. Buy/sell n/papers to friends after you have read it. Buy secondhand books/magazines for your reading pleasure.
Tip 8# Save petrol if you travel a lot. Switch off the air acconditioner if the day is cool especially at night. Do not stress out your car engine, drive at the engine's economical output. Forget the "kiasu" syndrome. I don't recommend taking public transportation. Not until it is totally revamp and upgraded to be reliable and cover most destinations.
Tip 9# Cut out the bad habits. Smoking and drinking high sugar level carbonated drinks will save you medical expenditure later.
For those who drink alcohol, try to reduce the night outs and stay at home or take up bowling or fishing. Save thousands of ringgit and save your health too.
Tip 10# IF you are thinking of buying a new car, consider the expenses you have to spend in mantaining the car. For those who are driving 'gas guzzlers', maybe you might want to think about changing it for a more economical version and not only save yourself the ringgits but also do our enviroment a favour.
Tip 11# If you have a plot of land that is pushing lalang, maybe you can rent it out for agricultural production or for a recycle waste centre. Many loans are available for those interested in going into the agriculture business. Joint venture will be less of a financial burden.
Tip 12# Remember your health is your wealth. It is good to invest in an insurance to see you through if you should fall sick. Any financial burden on your family can cause great hardship and even cause your children to drop out from college/university.
Tip 13# Look at ways to increase your income. Examples, selling unwanted items (antiques, hand crafts, old magazines/textbooks, unwanted clothes and furniture, etc.) and teaching partime (computer repair, software). Try working from home to save transportation cost.
Tips14# Do NOT take loans from Alongs to solve your financial problems. If you must, go to the banks which give loans for such financial situations.
Note: The Tips given is in good faith and the blogger bear no malice and absolve himself from all consequences that may arise from these tips.
Tip 1# Set a spending limit.
If you earn fixed salary then budget for the whole year base on your total take home pay for the year. Simply divide your yearly total income by 12 months, and deduct for all fixed expenses (e.g. rent, loans), electric bills, water bills, payment to parents, food, petrol, children education expenses, spouse's expenses, etc. What you have left is your spending limit and you can divide it by 12 months. You only have that much to spend for that month and any overspending will have to be deducted from next month's allowance. Remember to set aside a sum for religious and end of the year celebrations.
Tips 2# Do not charge to your credit card unless absolutely necessary.
Carry cash that is just enough for your shopping. Settle your credit card payment promptly. Remember credit card companies charge very high interest (18%+ per annum).
Tip 3# List out all your expenditure to the sen and go through the list to see where you can save and defer payments ( loans can be re-negotiated to increase the payment period).
Tips 4# Always plan your shopping and not to fall prey to sales gimmicks.
Check yourself by asking if the items your are about to purchase is a necessity or not. Can you live without it? Don't go blindly for branded goods. Look for cheaper products that is just as good. Example, mineral water comes from the same source but marketted under different brand names with different price tags.
Tip 5# Pay debts on time and avoid penalty for late payment. Have a checklist of all must-pay debts and their last day for payment and enter into your handphone/PDA with alarms to remind you a few days before the day.
Tip 6# Pack your lunch to office. It is not macho? Forget your ego and think of the amount of saving you will make.. Cut down on the 'teh tarik' sessions after office. You can save hundreds of ringgit monthly.
Tip 7# Share newspapers and magazines. Exchange information with your office workers and find out who is buying the same papers you read everyday. Buy/sell n/papers to friends after you have read it. Buy secondhand books/magazines for your reading pleasure.
Tip 8# Save petrol if you travel a lot. Switch off the air acconditioner if the day is cool especially at night. Do not stress out your car engine, drive at the engine's economical output. Forget the "kiasu" syndrome. I don't recommend taking public transportation. Not until it is totally revamp and upgraded to be reliable and cover most destinations.
Tip 9# Cut out the bad habits. Smoking and drinking high sugar level carbonated drinks will save you medical expenditure later.
For those who drink alcohol, try to reduce the night outs and stay at home or take up bowling or fishing. Save thousands of ringgit and save your health too.
Tip 10# IF you are thinking of buying a new car, consider the expenses you have to spend in mantaining the car. For those who are driving 'gas guzzlers', maybe you might want to think about changing it for a more economical version and not only save yourself the ringgits but also do our enviroment a favour.
Tip 11# If you have a plot of land that is pushing lalang, maybe you can rent it out for agricultural production or for a recycle waste centre. Many loans are available for those interested in going into the agriculture business. Joint venture will be less of a financial burden.
Tip 12# Remember your health is your wealth. It is good to invest in an insurance to see you through if you should fall sick. Any financial burden on your family can cause great hardship and even cause your children to drop out from college/university.
Tip 13# Look at ways to increase your income. Examples, selling unwanted items (antiques, hand crafts, old magazines/textbooks, unwanted clothes and furniture, etc.) and teaching partime (computer repair, software). Try working from home to save transportation cost.
Tips14# Do NOT take loans from Alongs to solve your financial problems. If you must, go to the banks which give loans for such financial situations.
Note: The Tips given is in good faith and the blogger bear no malice and absolve himself from all consequences that may arise from these tips.
Friday, June 6, 2008
RISING COST OF LIVING CRISIS
The Government has announced the unevitable and we, the people must accept that the days of subsidies are nearing over. We,the people, must change our spending habits and lower our living expections. No countries in the world, not even the developed countries, remain uneffected by the sharp rise in oil prices. USA, UK, France, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, China and EU countries are trying to fight off rising cost of food, energy and transportation due to sharp rise of fuel. In India, there are demonstrations upon demonstrations to protest the rise in oil price and millions in the middle and lower income group will suffer. But will demonstrations make the government lower oil prices when the world oil prices are going up to Mars. A political leader is quoted as saying that he will lower the petrol prices if he is in power. What he did not say was by how much and at what cost to our country's future. Anyway that is another matter.
It is understandable that we are furious at suddenly being burden with rising cost of living and like to blame someone for it. That 'someone' is the Government since no one else is nearer to us although we know that the world oil prices is the real malefactor. It's like a son/daughter who has his/her allowance cut because the parent's income is reduced and the family has to survive on less than usual. The son/daughter is crying 'unfair' and moaning at what he/she has to miss out due to the drastic reduction in allowance. In fact, he/she should be counting his/her blessings that there is still food on the table and shelter over his/her head and concentrate on finding ways to increase his/her income through other means. (e.g. recycle items and reduce spending). That is what we must do to elevate our budget problems. Look into our spending habits, our unnecessary wastage (e.g. electricity, water, food, petrol), the amount of recyclable things that we throw away and expenses we can do away. Develop a smart spending habit. Think before we spend. Spend on items that will save us cost in the long run, like energy saving light bulbs and water filters (instead of buying mineral water).
It is us who must mentally change and adapt to the changing situation, to fight the cost of living and survive.
It is understandable that we are furious at suddenly being burden with rising cost of living and like to blame someone for it. That 'someone' is the Government since no one else is nearer to us although we know that the world oil prices is the real malefactor. It's like a son/daughter who has his/her allowance cut because the parent's income is reduced and the family has to survive on less than usual. The son/daughter is crying 'unfair' and moaning at what he/she has to miss out due to the drastic reduction in allowance. In fact, he/she should be counting his/her blessings that there is still food on the table and shelter over his/her head and concentrate on finding ways to increase his/her income through other means. (e.g. recycle items and reduce spending). That is what we must do to elevate our budget problems. Look into our spending habits, our unnecessary wastage (e.g. electricity, water, food, petrol), the amount of recyclable things that we throw away and expenses we can do away. Develop a smart spending habit. Think before we spend. Spend on items that will save us cost in the long run, like energy saving light bulbs and water filters (instead of buying mineral water).
It is us who must mentally change and adapt to the changing situation, to fight the cost of living and survive.
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