General Motors Review - My Health

The bid by the Canadian-Russian consortium to buy Opel another GM European operation for $725 million is indeed a relief to the biggest car manufacturer. 'MAGNA' as the name of the company revealed is unique as the name 'Magna' is closed to the United Kingdom "Magna Carta" the English legal charter and Proton first engine i.e. 'Magma'. The critics of Proton complained that the new Proton engine 'Cam Pro' is not a viable engine compared to other established brands. To me Cam Pro is a good engine for now - I drove a Proton Persona with a Cam Pro engine recently. The problem is many Malaysians were biased with Proton. For another Japanese brand MPV which uses the same 1.6 liter engine as Proton Exora the MPV, the performance was superb but for Exora it was under powered. This is the attitude of most Malaysians which I regret.


My Health

A few days before the end of Ramadan someone from the Hospital Tuanku Ampuan Najihah called and informed me that my doctor has advised me to stop taking my pills. And I did. The fact is during the day of Ramadan I felt good that I can even spend one or two hours at my banana farm. I did not even feel dizzy. BUT I am still being referred to Hospital Serdang in October. I know I have to do more tests!

HARI RAYA - F1 TEAM - INTERNET ZAKAT

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDIL FITRI

In a few days Muslims in Malaysia will celebrate the end of Ramadan. In Saskatoon they call it Eid Mubarrak while in Malaysia it is Hari Raya. This is the day when food is lavish whether you are rich or poor.


1 Malaysia F 1 Team

Prime Minister Najib announced recently that Malaysia will have a team competing in the F1 race commencing 2010. To me Proton competing in F1 race is long overdue. Proton-Lotus collaboration will produce good and powerful fast machine. I am certain Proton will ONE day make it to the podium hopefully on Malaysian soil.


INTERNET ZAKAT AND FITRAH

My enemies who have been bullied me for the past 19 years LAUGHED when they read my article on internet zakat. They said I was 10 years behind.Is it? When I said
Internet Zakat I meant paying zakat and fitrah through Canadian Banks internet banking.If I am in Canada I WILL NEVER do my banking with any Malaysian banks even if those Malaysian banks have branches in Canada. I won't even step into the premises of any Malaysian Banks with Canadian branches. I still remember my account number with the Royal Bank of Canada. Malaysians are stupid idiots!

Where Is The Favor?

I was taking a stroll at a local mall in Seremban last week when I heard someone talking behind my back. The dialogue was "how every Malaysians are purposely making excuses so I would forget Canada and abort the idea of going to Canada again- but I never thank Malaysians for the excuses made that I was able to stay longer in Malaysia since 15 October 1990"

My comment: Absurd. I will NEVER thank anyone who was doing that stupid favor and wanted me to stay in Malaysia forever and not see the world again.

I knew one or two instructors from Edwards School of Business University of Saskatchewan Canada who hailed from Asia shared the same favor with my fellow Malaysians by not welcoming me to University of Saskatchewan again.

In November 1990 , I was advanced technology wise. For instance compact disk cd is taking shape in Malaysia but DVD was never heard before. The fastest pc available in Kuala Lumpur then was NEC Powermate 386. The word intranet or internet or lap top never even heard before by some Malaysians. Yet in 2009 I am behind in all these advanced technology thinking because I was deprived such opportunities by certain big shots since November 1990.I cannot withstand this brain wash anymore.

I repeat : Making excuses to keep me staying in Malaysia IS NOT a Favor.

INTERNET ZAKAT & INTERNET FITRAH

FITRAH

Every year a Muslim must pay the fitrah i.e. a sum of money equivalent to 2.751 kg of rice. In Negeri Sembilan where I'm residing the amount is RM6.50 per person. This amount varies from one state to another since one state per capita income varies from another. Some state like Terengganu has embarked on SMS Fitrah scheme whereby an individual can pay his fitrah from his handphone. I think Negeri Sembilan would do the same next year. On September 5 I paid my own fitrah, my mother's and my younger sister's at Negeri Sembilan state mosque in Seremban (since my father is dead). When my father was still alive I just paid my OWN fitrah.

Since SMS Fitrah is now permitted I can now foresee Internet Fitrah where Muslims can pay the fitrah through internet hand in hand with internet banking. If internet zakat and fitrah is introduced in Malaysia then I will be very elated since I do not have to worry to pay the fitrah for my mother when I go overseas again.
It must be noted that Fitrah must be paid during Ramadan. It CANNOT be paid after Ramadan.



ZAKAT

Zakat is the Islamic taxation. The mechanism ranges from income,gold,animals such as cows and goats,savings and many others. The taxable rate is called NISAB. For instance I know for a low income earner like myself who makes less than RM5000.00 per annum is NOT TAXABLE either from the conventional tax or the Islamic Zakat. My savings account has NOT accumulated more than RM3000.00 for the past year thus I do not need to zakat my savings either.

Zakat however can be paid all year long.

Economic Review 4 Sept 2009

It is a relief to learn that the American economy is producing positive signs for recovery. Though it is not yet certain, positive signs is a good indicator. It is my view the impending recovery is due partly to the "cash for clunkers" program.

As noted in my previous article, the same scheme in Malaysia is called the "car scrap program" whereby anyone with old cars would be given RM5,000 discount to buy Malaysian Made Cars i.e. Proton or Perodua. The "cash for clunkers" program in the US does not limit to buying American made cars only but also other brands. If Malaysia is really serious in Proton and Perodua then the Malaysian government must allow the car scrap program for Non Malaysian made cars too. There is no room for fear as the newly launched MPV the Exora has already 20,000 in advanced bookings.

I hate staying in Malaysia BUT I am really proud of Proton and Perodua.

Quarter 2 GDP at -3.9%

MERDEKA

Today August 31, 2009 is the 52 year Malaysia celebrates her independence from Britain. The Melaka Sultanate came to an end in 1511 when Portuguese invaded Melaka. In 1641 Melaka was under Dutch rule while the Japanese ruled during the second world war.Yes my country is an independent nation BUT NOT ME.

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

The Malaysian economy grew at a surprisingly stronger -3.9% for quarter two 2009. Sincerely I thought quarter two would be worst than quarter one (-6.2%) but it turned out better than my common sense calculations. The Minister of Finance has hinted another bleak negative growth for quarter three 2009. The spread of H1N1 influenza where the deaths have surpassed 70 lives would indirectly affect quarter three GDP.Malaysians are more health conscious nowadays. Normally during Ramadan people would break fast at outdoor restaurants but this year it was different.Last Friday I broke fast at a restaurant in Seremban. There were not many customers and I was treated as usual by rude Malaysians.

Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia

Continuing my last article on reasons why I do not like Malaysia.

I have never flown with Air Asia but I knew the story from people closed to me. In Malaysia regardless of MAS or Air Asia you will be treated well only if you are somebody. Both airline cabin crews would only treat foreigners well compared to fellow Malaysians.

I remember when I flew with MAS in 1987. The cabin crews didn't even smile at me. Furthermore with dozens of Vips in the same flight those cabin crews would waste their time serving me because I am nobody. Instead they would treat those vips well with the intention of being a vip's wife or husband. This is a fact! I observed both MAS and Air Asia cabin crews when I was at KLIA once a while. The truth is I have never seen them smile. International organizations which awarded MAS cabin crews as world's best cabin crews is not acceptable to me.

So if you want to go to Malaysia or leave Malaysia fly other airlines instead. MAS or Air Asia deliver lousy services.

Destination and Readers Digest

Many Malaysians asked me why I like Canada so much compared to my country Malaysia. There are many reasons.
1) I was denied any form of finance for my air fare
2) I was black magic so I would forget Canada and its charming people
3) There is no freedom in Malaysia at all. I cannot do what I loved to do as in Canada
4) I was not allowed to obtain proper employment. I feel as if I am a beggar. People said I will a beggar in Canada but things is pretty much the same in Malaysia
5) I'm the target for someone else mistake, for instance since I came back from Canada empty handed I was labeled a non Muslim who consume alcohol and rely on drugs
6) I don't think I could even go to Mecca for my pilgrimage. I have been a prisoner in my own country since October 15th 1990

To Malaysians I MUST stay in Kuala Pilah Malaysia for the rest of my life.

But since my father died, there has been some music to my ears. Oh! How good my English was and how well I managed my father's modest estate through my Finance background. I learned English by hard. Initially I read local English newspapers then the Readers Digest. Since Readers Digest is expensive in Malaysia I read past issues instead.

One day I will go to Canada for good!

ITs Ramadan Again

Muslims in Malaysia would begin the holy month of Ramadan soon maybe on 21st August. It has been a year since I started blogging yet I know no one reads my blog. Whatever it is I will not write anything rubbish.

At 7.30 am August 7th, I started my annual journey to KL from Kuala Pilah. Since 2002 at least once a year I would make a trip to the National Heart Institute KL with my parents for my father's follow up check. This year is no difference. Although my father is dead I must make that trip to delete my memory for the last 6 years. Took the PLUS highway from Seremban. Have breakfast at one of the R&R's, go through the Smart tunnel then to IJN. I thought I would be in tears but nothing came out from my eyes.

Instead I went to the other side of IJN i.e. the National Library. Read a few Finance magazines such as Harvard club and The Economist. I know what I did was right!