JUST SOME COMMON SENSE

Stupidity - Exhibit I

2011-09-28T01:26:00.000+08:00

Sponsorship That Doesn't Make Sense

If you haven't read my previous post on AirAsia: Punishing Malaysians for Their Support, please do. This post is again about AirAsia and unfortunately MAS for the wrong reason. I think most of Malaysians Barclays Premier League (BPL) followers should have known by now that our own Tony Fernandes has completed his takeover of Queens Park Rangers (QPR) on 18th August 2011. He now owns a 66% stake in the club. Maybe some Malaysians are already feeling proud of what he had achieved. I don't have any problems with whatever he wants to do with his money. What I don't like is the subsequent chain of events.

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AirAsia: Punishing Malaysian Travelers for Their Support

2011-09-07T17:34:00.000+08:00

AirAsia has been in the spotlight for the last couple of months. Some for good reasons and mostly not.

MAS-AirAsia Share Swap
This is probably the biggest news involving AirAsia in the last few months. I've truncated a few points below:

Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Datuk Kamarudin Meranun of AirAsia will sit on the MAS board. Their company, Tune Air Sdn Bhd, via a share swap, will end up with 20.5% equity stake in MAS
MAS' parent, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, will take up a 10% stake in AirAsia and MAS director Datuk Azman Yahya will join the AirAsia board
MAS managing director Tengku Datuk Azmil Zahruddin has quit the airline along with seven other directors
The whole idea of the collaboration is to salvage MAS and realign its business to become a truly premium carrier
The turboprop operations of Firefly, MAS' low-cost unit, will become a full-service carrier to ply regional flights
Both AirAsia and sister airline AirAsia X will stick with the low-cost airline model for short, mid and long-haul routes

Take People First Stand

2011-09-07T13:36:00.000+08:00

This is my letter which was published in The Star on 19th August 2011. The link here.

I READ with interest the announcement by our Prime Minister on the formation of a parliamentary select committee to look into electoral reforms. The terms of reference will be announced in due course. A lot has been said about this development and a lot of people have come forward to voice their support.

Barisan Nasional has said that it shares similar concerns on electoral reforms, thus the formation of this committee. On the other hand, Pakatan Rakyat claims that the formation of this committee justifies its cry for electoral reforms. It even wants the committee head to be from Pakatan.

Even at the onset, everybody seems to be claiming credit for the development. Politicians will always be politicians.

Klang Valley MRT

2011-07-14T00:14:00.000+08:00

The Klang Valley has been officially launched by our PM on 8th July 2011. For the MRT final alignment, you can see it here. I was not at the KL Convention Centre to witness the launching. Thus I'm not too sure of what was exhibited as the final MRT alignment linking Sungai Buloh to Kajang. But looking at the MRT website, I was a bit dissapointed with the Final Route Map. I am expecting something to precisely indicate the location of the stations. But we are only presented with the Final Route Map sketch. Hence, we can't be sure of where the proposed stations are located. To me, it's important in making any decision on property investment.

Nevertheless, I'm a supporter of this project. It's long overdue. I had the chance to view the public display somewhere in March this year in Shah Alam. I gave some feedback regarding this project. My view of this project as follows:
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Is Astro price increase justifiable?

2011-06-07T20:30:00.000+08:00

This is my letter sent to The Star. Hopefully they will publish it tomorrow.

I refer to “Astro revises rates: Packages may cost from RM1 to RM15 more” (The Star, June 7 2011). According to its chief operating officer, Henry Tan, escalating global and local content costs and sports broadcast rights are among the reasons cited to justify the increase.

If I remember it correctly, the last price increase by Astro was back in 2009 where Sports package subscription increased by about RM12. I used to pay RM71.95 (inclusive of 5% government tax) last year for my Astro subscription which includes the Sports package. A check on Astro’s website shows that the cheapest package with Sports content will from July 11 onwards cost RM94.90 (exclusive of 6% government tax). That is a whopping 32% increase in subscription fees without even factoring in the 6% government tax!

Previously there were only 3 sports channel under its Sports package. But now they have a staggering 9 sports channel. Are having the 9 channels justify the increase of RM12 back in 2009? I think Astro can do much better in selecting its content if sports broadcast rights is cited as one of the reason.

Children Education Fund

2011-05-21T19:28:00.000+08:00

Since my son was born, I was approached by a couple of insurance agents to sign up for their children education fund product. I declined their offer since I'm not looking into taking up insurance products as my son's education plan. I have some other things in mind. Besides, my employer covers for his hospitalization and my wife's employer covers for his outpatient and hospitalization benefits. Basically, he is quite well protected should he need treatment at hospitals.

Insurance needs differ from person to person. But generally, it's safe to say that you don't need insurance product as your child's education plan. Before you take up an insurance product, better ask yourself a few questions. This will avoid yourself and your family from being over insured. The money might well be spent elsewhere. Ask yourself these questions:
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Lessons Learnt #4

2011-02-22T15:59:00.004+08:00

Private Hospital Scam

My wife gave birth to a baby boy recently at a private hospital in Shah Alam. She gave birth through C-sect procedure although we were expecting her to give birth normally. This experience has taught me a thing or two on how to avoid being over charged by private hospitals especially when giving birth.

I think most of us must have heard of the scams in private hospital where they take us for a ride conducting unnecessary procedures just to overcharge the patient. This prompted the Health Ministry secretary-general to issue a statement warning errant hospitals. The Health Ministry will also come out with new guidelines on hospital fees by March. So guys, make sure what you are being charged for yeah.

I've heard from a friend where he was asked to do a heart screening although he was admitted to the hospital on suspicion of dengue. My wife during her pregnancy once complained of backache. We went to a private hospital (in Johor Bharu) only to be taken for a ride doing unnecessary procedures. Ask any medical doctors, and they will say if a pregnant lady complains of backache, the first thing that they will do is to conduct urine test to determine whether there are signs of urine infection since this is common among pregnant ladies. At that private hospital, urine test was conducted as the last procedure. The bill came up to more than RM800 for an outpatient treatment and some panadols which I can buy cheaper from pharmacy!

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Malaysia and The Club of Doom - The Collapse of The Islamic Countries

2011-02-06T10:31:00.004+08:00

1. The book elaborates on why Muslims currently around the world (Malaysia included) are such in disarray. The author argues that this is because Muslims does not understand the Al-Quran and there are too much religion in their daily lives. Islam is indeed a way of life and not a religion.

2. The book also describes the characteristics of Failed States among others oppression by those in power, dictatorship and suppression to freedom of voice. These characteristics seem to best describe the condition at the so called 'Islamic Countries', Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Malaysia, you name it.

3. In his arguments, the author only quotes verses of Quran and nothing with regards to Hadith. If you truly believe in Islam, then you shall only read Quran and practice As-Sunnah as directed by our beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. And rightly so, the author describe at length why Hadith shall not be the source of reference for they only create confusions and unnecessary time wasting arguments normally about silly petty things which somehow many Muslims tend to prioritize. Besides, Hadith are only stories. So why shall we pay attention to them and go to great lengths just to determine the authenticity of the stories and always, the narrator of the Hadiths will come into scrutiny with regards to their moral standing. Isn't this a waste of time? For definition of Hadith, look up 12:111 and 51:24.

4. The author hit a lot of nails in the coffin with regards to the typical religious believes of many Muslims. Among those I find interesting are the hatred of dogs and house lizards, the issue of hijab, Hudud laws, wearing of turbans and killing of apostates. Many of this common believes by Muslims are according to the author not found in Quran but found in the Bible. In other words, they are actually following the Bible instead of Quran. You have to read to believe it.

5. Read this book if you want fresh ideas and perspectives on how Muslims should think. We need to break away from the common conventional way of thinking in order to move forward and rise again. More importantly, read the Quran.

To digest further, I would like to share why I pick this book up to read instead of the normal personal finance books:

1. I really like the way the author thinks. I think he gives different perspective on many things. I've been following his blog for quite some time now. You can find a link to his blog, 'Outsyed The Box' under 'Interesting Read' at the right side panel of this blog.

2. Generally, I think many Muslims must be wondering why are Muslims are in their current predicament. We think we have done the right thing but yet we are in such a disarray, not moving forward and constantly linked with negative things around the world such as illiterate, poverty, terrorism and non stop fighting. Going back to Quran is the way forward. This book certainly helps me to have a better understanding of the Quran.

The Science of Getting Rich

2011-01-02T15:55:00.004+08:00

1. I felt this is a book with some strong statements. Strong statements are of course required when change in mindset is required.

2. This book gave me some different perspective in acquiring wealth and in changing mindset. The concept preached is easy to understand but hard to practice. You really need to master the concept to get where you want to be.

3. But some part of this book is quite hard to understand. I need to reread 2-3 times some of the sentences and paragraphs to really get the point.

Curios Case of Malaysians Lack of Innovation

2010-12-16T09:06:00.004+08:00

A few weeks back, I had the chance to watch the Malaysian sepak takraw team in action against Thailand at the Guangzhou Asian Games. It was the team event final. Malaysia lost to their arch-rival 0-2. Thailand have proved that they are a few steps ahead of Malaysia and other countries in this event although sepak takraw is a Malaysian traditional sport. Other countries have also shown progress to catch up in this event while Malaysia remained stagnant. This claim is supported by the fact that Malaysia lost to South Korea in the King's Cup world championship semi-final a few months back. Even during the Asian Games semi-final, Malaysia required tie-breaks in both regus to seal a 2-0 victory over the same team. Malaysia even lost 1 game to China during the grouping match. Other countries are showing progress but not Malaysia. The question is why can't Malaysia take their game to the next level?

Before I divulge any further, I must admit that it has been a while since I last watch an international sepak takraw game. This post and analysis is about what I've seen and learnt in that particular game only and it might or might not represent the whole picture of Malaysian sports in particular. I've been watching and playing sepak takraw since my childhood days. My next door neighbour used to have a sepak takraw cum badminton court behind his house. Generally speaking, sepak takraw is quite close to my heart even though I've not played it competitively.

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Learn Third Language

2010-11-22T12:55:00.003+08:00

I think this is a pretty important info that I would like to pass out. No matter how you look at it, the world is rapidly changing. We really need to adapt to the changing world fast. Hence, I do recommend myself and all of you to attend any sorts of training that could enhance your own personal skills. One of it is of course trying to master a third language. You can now learn basic third language for free at community colleges nationwide. For a list of community colleges in Malaysia, click here. Somewhere to start for a brighter future. Good Luck!

Loan To Value (LTV) Ruling

2010-11-21T13:52:00.004+08:00

Recently Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) announced the maximum loan-to-value (LTV) of 70% which will be applicable to the third house financing facility taken by borrower. This move by BNM is to moderate the excessive investment and speculative activity in the residential property market.

I think this is what will happen:

1. Speculative activity will moderate but will not be eliminated. Even the developers say so. Most speculative activities are related to the high end residential properties. Speculators in general are those with lots of cash. They buy and flip in a year or two for quick bucks. Paying a 30% down payment for a residential property will not be so much of a burden to them. In fact, if they take up 2 loans per year and sell them off the next year, they will only need a 10% down payment for each property. They repeat the process and by taking up two property loans per year, the ruling might have negligible effect on them. I do think by having the tiered pre-2007 Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT) will have much more impact to speculators.

2. Those so to say genuine investors who invest for cash flow will be the most affected. These are people who buy and hold the property for some time and sell when necessary. To get the greatest yield for cash flow investment, minimum upfront investment is the way to go. But with this ruling, for the third and subsequent properties, the initial capital outlay will be bigger hence reducing yield. Although with bigger initial capital outlay, the monthly positive cash flow will be bigger, the yield will be much more smaller. This in turn will be decisive whether the investment is feasible or not.

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Wealth Mentors 2 Hour Free Seminar

2010-11-02T22:49:00.004+08:00

I had a chance last Saturday to attend a 2 hour free introduction seminar at Concorde Hotel Shah Alam by Wealth Mentors. They are promoting the full seminar by Mirriam MacWilliams. The seminar is to share her knowledge about Options trading. She was not present during the free seminar. Representative from Wealth Mentors conducted it.

From the free seminar, I did learn a few new things although they are related to US Options trading which I'm totally new to. In fact, even Options trading is new to me. I don't think Options is for me since I don't really understand the fundamental. However, there are still new info to be gathered from the experts which hopefully I could apply in my shares investment. Some useful info:
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Budget 2011

2010-10-20T11:36:00.004+08:00

What I like:

MRT project worth 40 billion. This is long overdue. Please expedite this. We Malaysians really need this. I hope the construction will be done in phases so that part of the MRT could be used staggeredly while waiting for other lines to be completed by 2020. I also hope the construction will factor in future expansions in case they are required. All woes pertaining to current state of public transportation shall be addressed. Besides that, please also expedite the LRT extension project! It shall be completed by 2012 but till now, the project has not been awarded.
Bumiputra Property Trust Scheme. This is a chance for bumiputra to participate in commercial properties. Currently I don't have any idea how this trust will work. But when I move my property portfolio towards acquiring commercial properties, I hope this trust would help me to achieve this. No doubt that commercial properties are really expensive nowadays and is out of range for most bumiputras. Besides, I also hope with the setting up of this trust, it will eliminate the complaints by developers of not being able to sell the 30% bumi quota for commercial properties. The trust could buy these properties and then sell them to aspiring bumiputra investors. Otherwise, the trust could just let the property for rental and gain income from there, provided the properties are in good location.

Think Lazy Grow Rich

2010-09-16T10:55:00.003+08:00

1. This is a pretty interesting book to read. It's simple and full of ideas. It's based on the authors previous experience and observations of how businesses are run.

2. Many of the ideas are common sense. Maybe some will ask, why do we need a book based on common sense? Well to me, common sense is the most neglected fact. Some people just don't know why they are doing something. Having a book based on common sense will enlighten the 'why' things are done. Some just follow blindly.

Fuel That Takes You Further

2010-08-17T22:08:00.007+08:00

With the recent hike in petrol price, I think its about time I share the result of an experiment I conducted myself to determine the fuel that took me furthest, in kilometer terms of course. Before the introduction of Ron 95, a full tank of fuel could fetch me up to 400 km for a city drive and almost 500 km for long distance drive. But when Ron 95 was introduced, I was puzzled why a full tank of fuel could only fetch me about 320-330 km. Since I'm not a car enthusiast, my main concern is only for a full tank of fuel to get me furthest. Performance of my car is irrelevant. I just want value for my money. So I conducted this simple experiment.

First, let me explain how the experiment was conducted. I used my MyVi as the subject. For every refuel, I will fill up my tank full. The kilometer count starts after each refuel. The count stops when the fuel indicator starts blinking. For every brand of fuel, at least 5 rounds of kilometer counts was conducted. Kilometer count is only conducted for city drive. There were a few brand analyzed. Let's just name them green, yellow, red and blue/white brands. All other brands are ignored since they are not easily available near my place.

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Investment Seminar by Milan Doshi

2010-08-05T20:36:00.004+08:00

1. I attended a seminar by Milan Doshi 2 weeks back. Its about property and stock investment. I have to say it was really an eye opener and its worth all the money I paid for it.

2. I've learned on what are the ways to increase your borrowing ability from the bank for property investment.

3. A few books was recommended by Milan. Among them are Personality Plus, Secret of Millionaire Mind, Science of Getting Rich and Think and Grow Rich. I plan to read all these books and reread a few books that I've read before such as both Milan's book and Rich Dad Poor Dad. The reason is I want to extract as much as possible ideas and points from these books. I think I didn't get the best out of those books that I've read before.

4. Milan also discussed about the advantages of investing in REIT. I'm planning to shift part of my investment towards REIT in the future and of course no more unit trusts lah. Invest directly into share markets better.

5. I also learned the 4 methods for stock investing. They are very simple, non technical and common sense. Since I suck at stocks fundamental analysis, these methods will be useful to me.

6. A few negotiation skills are also shared by Milan and it will be really handy in the future.

7. I really recommend anyone of you who wants to be successful in your financial journey to attend this course (I'm not paid to write this). It's worth all my money. It's a bit costly though. I paid RM4988 for the 3 days course. There are ways for you to get to attend the same course at RM2988 per person. Everything got way one. All of us are doing professional con job anyway.

Islamic or Not?

2010-07-15T21:31:00.004+08:00

Something really struck me yesterday. Me and my wife have actually bought a new investment property in Shah Alam. The S&P has been signed and waiting for stamping. I'm currently trying to secure a loan with Hang Suka Bantu Cek bank. When I enquired about the status of our S&P to my lawyer, she asked me about my financing plan. She advised me to take up an Islamic property loan. If not, I would be involved with riba and its not good for a Muslim etc. I was given a ceramah lah basically.

To put things straight, I actually planned to take up an Islamic loan with Hang Suka Bantu Cek bank. Unfortunately due to the Islamic concept used by the bank, its not applicable for incomplete properties. I only came to know about this when I wanted to sign the application form. Instead, I applied for a conventional loan. One might ask, why did I compromised with my principal of supporting Islamic banking when I can actually find other Islamic loan with other banks. There are aplenty in the market.

Here are my reasons:

The agent has been really helpful with my application. She has been responsive and prompt with her service. Unlike Cek Ingat Mu Bagus banks' agents. Even asking for quotation is like asking for loan approval. What else when I asked the agent to come and collect the required documents. He took his own sweet time and will only come over the weekend. Their service has been poor even though I engaged 2 agents.
I had a few bad experiences with Rasa Hebat Benor bank. It was during loan application for my second property some where last year. It took me almost 3 months to get the loan approved just because their different departments does not speak to each other. Even complaining to the respective departments did not help. I almost gave up and did not know who to turn to for complaints. The reason I wanted the loan from Rasa Hebat Benor bank is because I had an existing loan with that bank. Its just about convenience in managing the loans.
Rasa Hebat Benor bank went a step further. In May, I complained to the bank that they actually deduct more than what they were supposed to for my April installment. Although they attended to my complaint, the reasons given were really unsatisfactory. I just gave in hopefully this matter will be solved. Perhaps they just forgot to issue a payment advice letter for my installments. But the same thing happened to my May and June installments even after they issued the new payment advice. I complained again to their customer service. Until now, I haven't received any feedback from them. By the way, both the loans are Islamic loans. Is this how an Islamic bank should operate? Simply deducting the installment amount not in accordance with the payment advice. Isn't that riba' in a way? I don't mind paying what I'm supposed to, but what is so difficult with issuing a new payment advice when there is a change in the installment amount stating the reasons such as increase in BFR or change in the profit rate?
An additional point. This is extracted from my loan agreement with Rasa Hebat Benor bank. "....upon the occurrence of the Abandonment Event, the Customer shall.... pay to the bank based on the following formulae:

Disbursed amount + Outstanding Forward Ijarah Payments
For info, this is a Musyarakah Mutanaqisah (MM) agreement where it is based on joint venture between the bank and customer to purchase a property. The share holding of the customer on the property is gradually transferred from the bank as the loan tenure goes on. Well it is obvious to me that this is unfair towards the customer in the event of abandonment since the customer will have to bear all the costs involved up till the abandonment. Senang sama2, susah sorang2 yea? Apa punya bank lah. Is this an Islamic value that the bank is trying to project? You don't need to be an ulama' to know this is not fair. I just don't know what kind of shariah advisors the bank has.
My conscience is pretty clear. If you are promoting Islamic banking, the values must be right i.e, no riba', fair, just etc. The bank is an entity which has the capabilities to access whether the developer has the means in completing the project as opposed to an individual. If the bank deemed that the project is risky, then just don't approve the loan. Its as simple as that. But when the bank approves the loan, they must be willing to take the risk as well. If the project goes bust, tanggung sama2 lah. Bukan customer sorang2 tanggung. Hang Suka Bantu Cek bank is pretty clear on this stuff. Their MM loan agreement is deemed not suitable for incomplete property. So they just don't offer it. And by doing that, they are avoiding any misunderstanding that may arise and tarnish Islamic banking values. So if you can't offer a truly Islamic banking system, just don't offer it. Full stop.

Unless my loan is rejected by Hang Suka Bantu Cek bank, I plan to take up the loan even though its a conventional loan just because the agent provided me with good service. To me, that shows an Islamic value. What's the point of taking up an Islamic loan when dealing with agents and servicing the installments does not adhere to Islamic values?

My advice to those agents selling Islamic financial products, treat your customers with respect. Islamic banking system is not just about its name. Islamic values come together. Agents are the front line of Islamic banking. Show good values and Islamic financial system will be respected.

As for me, this time around is an exception even though some might argue that I did not have a strong reason not to take up Islamic loan. I will continue to support Islamic banking in my journey towards my financial goals. Hopefully those involved with the industry will buckle up and may Allah bless all of us.

2010 Real Estate Congress

2010-07-09T20:32:00.004+08:00

Additional point number 8.

On Sunday, 4th of July 2010, I had the chance to attend the 2010 Real Estate Congress organized by WMA at Cititel Hotel, Midvalley. The speakers were Milan Doshi and 2 of his past students, Nancy and Prudence. I attended it for free because I had registered for Milan's 3 days workshop. Otherwise, it would have cost almost RM300 per person.

Nancy and Prudence has made it big through property investment. They have more than RM10 million in property loans each. Milan, being their guru of course is of similar wealth. The congress mainly was about motivation by the two Milan's past students and how they started and made the millions through property investment. Milan himself presented about the need of having 3 to 5 million in property loans in order to retire comfortably in the next 5 years.

These are some points that I got from the one day event:

1. Shah Alam will soon have a Jaya Jusco shopping mall located somewhere nearby Tesco Xtra. This development should add some value to properties nearby.

2. In order to make it big in property investment, commercial property is the way to go. Milan and his students made it big because they invested in commercial properties. From their presentation, some of the profits made through commercial properties are really out of this world. But of course one should take baby steps first before jumping to commercial properties.

3. I learnt that we can actually sell our properties under construction. There are ways to do it and that really made me think whether...... hmmmm...

4. Try to buy niche properties especially commercial properties. Examples are corner units and units facing the main road. Those kind of properties can command higher resale values.

5. The mindset that I really need to change is that take property loans as long as you can with no intention to actually settle the loans. Refinance the property every 3 to 5 years to pull out some cash for other investments.

6. If you have 1 or 2 property loans and you are having difficulties in servicing them, that is your problem. But if you have lots of property loans and having difficulties servicing them, it becomes the banks' problem. They will try to find a solution to the problem if of course you have been a good paymaster to them.

7. At the event, I came across Mr. Esa, the blog owner of Terra Nusa. My failure is to actually expand my own network. I came back from the event without actually making any new friends or established new contacts. Since property investment is more about networking and human relation, I'd better start working on this weakness of mine in order to be successful in property investment.

8. At one stage of your property investment journey, its better to have a portfolio comprising of commercial properties rather than high end condominiums. The logic is, the expatriate community in Malaysia is dwindling. The most obvious indication is lesser foreign direct investments (FDI) coming in. The only people who can afford to rent high end condos are these people because mostly, their company is the one paying for the rental. It is unlikely that a normal Malaysian citizen would want to rent these places. Supply is aplenty in the city centre but the community is shrinking. So you can be sure that one day supply will exceed demand. When that time comes, the tenants will be the one determining the rental price.

ASB explained

2010-07-01T22:54:00.003+08:00

1. In May and June 2010 editions of Personal Money, both Dr. Zurina Shafii and Mahadzir Ahmad wrote at length about ASB investment in the Islamic Financial Planning column. First it was Dr Zurina with "Sussing out halal options" and then it was Mahadzir with "Finding an alternative".

2. Dr Zurina wrote in her article about how a fund is categorized to be Shariah compliant fund. Basically this is the guide how Securities Commission (SC) determines Shariah compliant funds. From the guide, ASB is not categorized as Shariah compliant fund because it has more than 30% investment in riba based banking. Besides that, ASB also does not have a Shariah advisory council to advise on its investments.

3. Mahadzir in his article elaborate on why ASB is categorized as non Shariah compliant fund and the different rulings by Jawatankuasa Fatwa Majlis Kebangsan Bagi Hal Ehwal Ugama Islam Malaysia, the Selangor state fatwa committee and the Perak state fatwa committee with regards to ASB investment by Muslims.

4. While I have to agree that ASB can be categorized as one of the best investment available to Bumiputera in the market. No risk, capital protected and handsome yearly dividends. Who can resist all that?

5. Its good to know that PNB is actually trying to introduce an ad-hoc special project of Shariah compliancy under its president and group CEO, Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah according to Dr Zurina. Whether new Shariah compliant products will be introduced or ASB will be restructured remains to be seen but I do hope for the latter.

6. I'm certainly in support of promoting Islamic financial products especially for Muslims. If the Muslims themselves does not support the system, who else will?

7. But when it involves our hard earned money, there are certainly many of us who are not willing to take unnecessary risks hence ASB is seen as the ultimate choice. That's just human conscience.

8. Since there are different rulings, to me, there is no right or wrong in this matter. It depends on how you look at it. Even the scholars have different views, why can't each of us? If we were to go on and argue on each rulings, there will be no ending to it. Just stick to what you believe and invest accordingly.

9. Thus, I hope PNB will expedite the introduction of the Shariah advisory council as its advisor.

How You Can Get Rich from the Property and Stock Markets

2010-06-08T21:54:00.002+08:00

1. This is rather an easy to understand book about money and wealth management. Investment in properties and stock markets are the ways proposed in building wealth in this book.

2. I like the part about crisis investing at the end of the book. It shows how easy money can be made during crisis but you'll need to be prepared for the opportunity.

3. As any other property investment books, this book also describes the advantages of property investment besides describing what's possible from stock market investment. As a person who is not familiar with the stock market, of course I'm impressed with the possibilities and easy method.

4. The first part of this book describes about the author and his background. He seems to stress a lot on taking advice from independent and the right persons. Independent means not unit trust consultants, insurance agents etc. Right person means those who have made their money through stock market and property investments. That way you can be sure of getting advice to the best interest of your financial needs.

5. If you are exploring on new ways and idea to make money then read this book.

Property Investment for The New Decade

2010-05-24T23:01:00.004+08:00

Last Saturday, 22 May 2010, I attended a seminar by one of the financial coach at Cititel Hotel, Midvalley. I attended this seminar because besides reading books, I think attending seminars will further enhance my knowledge especially in property investments. The seminar is a whole day event from 9am to 5.30pm and my expectations were very high.

Unfortunately to say the least, I think paying RM700 for the seminar is really not worth it. Because of the title of the seminar, I was expecting something really out of this world. But what I encountered was the opposite. About 3/4 of the seminar content was about content in his books which I had read a few of them. Only about 1/4 of the seminar I found to be something new to me and useful. Even during the lunch break, I even told my friend that he better share something useful after the lunch break because I don't think its worthwhile to pay and listen to him repeating points from his books.

Even if the seminar is about the content of his books, I was expecting him to elaborate more on the points that he can't include in his books. Unfortunately, even this did not happen. One of his point is buying properties below market value through auctions. Surprisingly, if I recalled it correctly, his only story about property auction is the terrace house he bought in Subang Jaya many years ago which you can find the story in his books. If he only did it once, how can he emphasize so much on that? He should be an expert on that to talk about that. One property from auctions can't say too much about you right?

Now to the useful points. From his seminar, he predicted that property bubble will occur sooner or later. Well, this is just a prediction. Whether he is right or wrong, only time will tell. So don't panic. His prediction is based on causes of the US sub-prime crisis which had began to occur in the Malaysian property market. I can't agree more with him actually.

Looking at the current property market trend, we are seeing ridiculously priced property. Even a medium high cost apartment in Shah Alam is selling in the range of RM250k. People who can't afford to own properties are forcing their way to buy what they can't afford. Owning a property have become easier with easier financing and low or no down payments. When the borrowers can't pay, they bank will land into trouble later. Somehow, something will give way eventually.

Besides that, he also shared what are the steps to be taken to face this challenge which are sensible in my opinion. The main thing is to be prepared for a crisis and grab the opportunity when it comes. The last hour of his seminar was a session with a lawyer. The lawyer is also an author of a book. Many legal questions were thrown to him and they really gave me more insights from the legal point of view with regards to property investment.

The Secrets of a Multi-Millionaire Property Investor Seminar

2010-05-17T21:30:00.003+08:00

Last Saturday, 15 May 2010, I had a chance to attend a 3 hour seminar by Milan Doshi. Requirements to attend the seminar is just by buying his books, RM48 for his first book or RM68 for his second book. With that purchase, you will be given two free tickets to attend the seminar. But since I already have both books, I opt to have his DVD instead. The seminar was held at D'Rapport in Ampang, just behind Gleneagles Hospital and next to the Korean Embassy.

First, a bit about D'Rapport. I was really surprised about the existence of this project since I have been working in Great Eastern Mall, just opposite Gleneagles Hospital for 6 years and I was not aware about this project. I think this is a pretty ambitious project. Not to sure who's the developer but it's a joint venture by a Korean architecture firm and a Malaysian developer to construct 900 units of condos in that area. Starting price is about RM1.5 million. When I went through the brochure, the project is supposed to be ready by December 2010. However, at the site, there is only its sales office with a small hall where the seminar was held. Advertising has started since 2007 and works are quite minimal to be seen. I noticed that the financier for this project is some Sabah Development Bank. Heard of it? Next to its site is the Risda quarters built many years ago. What I heard was the building have yet to obtain CF since the building is tilting. With that I think its pretty much clear where this project is heading right? Well, the reason why the event was held there is free food and hall.

To be honest, I was not expecting too much from this seminar though after the frustration of Peter Yee's free seminar. But to my surprise, Milan actually gave a good short seminar with lots of point. Of course he did promote his actual seminar but that is only for the last 15 minutes. The first 10 minutes was allocated for D'Rapport to show off their promotional video. After that, the seminar started.

In his seminar, he shared about investment mistakes that people do. And he is very much against unit trust investments. Well, I guess the reasons are pretty obvious though. High service charges, annual management fees etc. What I like about this seminar is that he actually make everything looks simple and lots are based on common sense.

His simple solution to retirement is "Choose to never work again within the next 5 years by having RM3 million in property loans". That might sound scary to some. With knowledge that I currently have, I don't have any clue as how to achieve that. That's really a mind opener. The purpose of the seminar is to share on "what" and not "how". So in order to know the "how", I will need to attend the real seminar.

I like his idea of investing in combination of the stock market and property. He claim that investing in the stock market is just by using common sense and not too much on technical analysis that we always see in newspapers. One of his stock market investment strategy is the art of crisis investing. That chapter is even included in his first book. It's really mind boggling how easy he make share investment look like.

He shares a lot and show proofs on how much his net worth is and how much money he had made in the stock markets. To me, that speaks volume on what he knows. At the end of the day, of course the short seminar is inadequate to know everything. I have to admit that his 3 days seminar is very costly. But once you realized that you need to pay for good advice and for your self improvement, you will be willing to depart with your hard earned money. I think I began to realize where I'm heading to now.

Investment Ideas

2010-04-19T21:38:00.003+08:00

Recently, I thought of having a fund called a "Feel Good Factor Fund". The purpose of having this fund is to grow the money to sustain certain lifestyle of mine. Among others, I hope this fund will be able to be a source of car down payment for every 10 year period. Due to wear and tear, I think changing cars every decade is a reasonable time frame. Besides that, the fund also aims to be a source for house renovation when necessary, overseas vacation and children marriage when necessary (I'm forward thinking here).

I'm thinking between these lines for this particular fund:

Fund Name: Feel Good Factor Fund
Start up capital: RM10,000
Objective: To grow the fund to RM100,000 every 10 years.

Since my car is already 3 years old, I will likely be changing to a new car in 7 years time. That will be in 2017. This fund is already 3 years late. To achieve the target amount in 7 years, I would have to grow the fund at 39% per year. For a 10 year period, the fund will need to grow at 26% per annum.

The only way I see this fund can grow at that pace is by investing in the stock market. I have to admit that I'm not a fan of the stock market since I find it very difficult to understand the fundamentals. However, I think this fund is necessary. Some might argue that I should practice delayed gratification. I'm practicing it right now actually. But having a fund which can pamper you once in a while is something reasonable to do after working hard to grow your money. There's nothing wrong with it since I'm not jeopardizing my retirement fund, I'm not taking it from my emergency fund and it's not stopping me from continuing to invest in properties. It is totally a stand alone fund.

Since I don't know much about the stock market, I'm thinking of taking advice from magazines on what stock to pick. I read Personal Money every month and Insiderasia provides their insight on what stocks to look for in each issue. To date, I find their picks to be reasonably wise. At the same time, I will learn more about stock investing. I aim to do the stock trading online since there are many available platforms around. This is a pretty daunting task to me but I wish I will succeed.

Do give me your thoughts on this matter.

How You Can Become A Multi Millionaire Real Estate Investor!

2010-04-19T20:55:00.003+08:00

1. I have to admit that this is the best book I've read so far. Even though I took some time to finish it off, it's really worth the effort.

2. The book is comprehensive and it covers almost everything you need to know about property investing. It claims to shorten your learning curve, that's exactly what it did to me.

3. Among the topics that I find very useful and interesting are The Buying Process, Tax Issues in Property Investments and Property Holding Companies. These are topics that are almost non-existent in previous books that I've read. The author even listed down the costs of buying properties such as stamp duty on SPA and tenancy agreement.

4. The book also includes tips on various things including how to read classified in newspapers, how property loans are approved and how to find good property agents.

5. The book really shares lots of topics that can be shared in public. Of course certain things will only be revealed in seminars.

6. All in all, I'm really satisfied with the book and will be looking to attend a property seminar some where next month.

Stupidity - Exhibit H

2010-03-18T21:13:00.004+08:00

Why Morons are Governing FAM?

1. Initially I had tried to refrain myself from commenting on this issue. But as more and more facts exposed regarding the national under-21 (also known as "Harimau Muda" or Young Tigers) stint at Slovakia, I really can't hold back anymore.

2. Firstly, the FAM (they claim the state FA's) denied the under-21 team into the Super League having won the Premier League last season. For record, the team didn't even get the prize money having won the league. Reason being, they were competing just for the sake of exposure. I thought the FAM is the governing body. Why can't they veto and decide who can or cannot compete? They have been changing the league format for the past years like no body's business. Why can't make a simple decision to let them compete in the Super League? Besides I think part of the reason why Malaysia won the football gold medal at the last SEA games was because of the exposure given to the young players in our own Premier League. It has done wonders. Why back off?

3. Then the FAM sent an application to the Singapore FA for the under-21 team to compete in the S-League. The application was shot down. Back in the 1990's, the Singapore team competed in our local league and Malaysia Cup. What has happen a decade later? We are the one begging to compete in their league? Look at where you are heading FAM!

4. The FAM then turned to Slovakia hoping to compete in their second division. They got their wish as claimed by its deputy president replacing one of the team who pulled out from the league. The team will get to play 14 of the remaining games in the league.

5. Then the Slovakian League president announced that FAM would have to bare all the costs involving all other teams playing against the under-21 team including lodging, transportation and training. Of course the secretary general denied the president's statement saying "FAM is not stupid". Well, who would you trust more? The one holding the rights on the league or the one who's desperate to get involved in the league? Do the maths on your own. The secretary even admitted that nothing was finalized yet when he issued the statement and yet he denied the president's claim. What..?!

6. Lately, more facts have been exposed. The under-21 team is barely playing friendly matches in Slovakia. All the games have been lost to date. No points were awarded to the winning team. The official website of Slovakia FA even made no mention of Young Tigers actually playing in the league.

7. When all these are exposed, the FAM took a defensive stand saying the Young Tigers stint in Slovakia is going to benefit the players and Malaysian football. But playing friendly matches abroad for 3 months? Does that even make any sense? Don't waste money la kawan. You can play friendly matches back here in Malaysia. You can even select better teams as opposition.

8. Please do something sensible and good for our football team. Don't just make last minute and half cooked decisions. Plan wisely as this is considered the rakyat's money at stake. We want to see our football standard back to where it belongs. But as long as these type of morons are around, I'm pretty sure we are not going to see any significant results soon.

Pray for the best.

Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre

2010-03-08T22:54:00.002+08:00

Recently, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas announced that the government will spend RM 13 million to upgrade the Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre to be a world class tourist attraction. Read here. I have to applaud this move and hope that the allocation will really be spent into upgrading the centre.

With deteriorating conditions of many Malaysia's tourist attractions, I guess this is certainly a timely boost for the tourism sector. Just look at corals at Redang Island and the not so cold anymore Cameron Highlands. Even Genting Highlands is fast losing its appeal. I was there last week and I did not even need a sweater to wear on in contrast with 5 years back when even with a sweater on, I still shiver. I would like to think that its the current hot weather that contributed to this. But look at the bigger picture. Let say if really Genting will not be that cold anymore, will it attract as many tourists as it is now? With the emerging of Sentosa Island Casino in Singapore, even though managed by the same group, is it a question of time before Genting loses its appeal? Look around and evaluate how Malaysia's tourist attraction is doing. It's not very good in my book.

With this upgrading, the centre hopes to attract 500,000 tourists annually as oppose to 158,000 currently. The main thing is promotion. I suspect many Malaysians don't even know that we have our own elephant sanctuary. I only got to know about this sanctuary in June 2009 edition of Personal Money. Since then, I've vowed to visit this centre some time in the future.

I understand that admission to the centre is free at the moment. Since conservation is not a cheap job, I would suggest that admission be charged, let say a mere RM 10 per person. This goes a long way in showing our appreciation towards the nature and elephant conservation programmes in particular. What's RM 10 when you can get up close and personal with the elephants and ensure the sustainability of the centre?

The allocation should however really be spent in making the centre a world renowned and recognized globally. Please just don't spent the money without proper planning. Plan carefully and wisely. Malaysia is really in a need of a new world class tourist attraction. I hope this will be the one when the transformation is completed. Go and visit the centre guys!

Lessons Learnt #3

2010-02-23T22:28:00.005+08:00

Too Good to be True

A few years back, a friend of mine asked me to invest in one of his friend's company. I can't really recall what the business is about. But generally the intention of us investing is to provide capital for the business expansion and on the other hand, we will receive monthly return on our investment at a rate of 7% per month. Wow! That is really a good investment. No investment in the market that could give you anything near that.

After listening to the presentation and giving some thoughts to the proposal, I decided to invest a small amount into the company. The reason I invested only a small amount of money was that I was still skeptical about the business model. Nonetheless, I didn't want to miss the boat in case it turns out to be good as claimed.

The investment scheme is pretty simple. I was required to pay what ever amount that I wish to invest. Sign an investment contract for a year. Then they gave me 3 months post dated cheques of 7% from my total investment each. On the date of each cheque, I just need to bank in the cheque into my account. After 3 months, I was required to meet them again to get another 3 month's cheque. After a year, I will get back my initial capital invested.

This is just a perfect investment scheme. My capital is protected. On top of that, I get 7% return per month or 84% per year. Not even ASB can beat this.

Things went on good for a few months. I think at about the 7th or 8th month, things began to turn sour. Somehow they claimed that there were some problems with the business. They could not afford to pay the investors. All sorts of reasons given. In the end, I didn't even manage to complete the whole year. I lost a few hundred ringgit and learnt my lesson well.

With the growing number of investment scams around, I just wish you are not dubbed into any of them. In case you come across any thing similar to this, just ask these simple questions to clear your doubts:

Instead of asking people to invest in your company, why not go to banks and get loans? The interest rates are lower compared to the return you promised to the investors.
Why do you want to share the profits with so many investors when it can be used as rolling capital to expand your business?
Why are you so confident of giving such a high rate of return when you don't even know whether your business will succeed or not? Nothing is guaranteed in business.

The modus operandi of such scam is pretty simple. As long as there are new investors coming in, they will be able to pay returns for the earlier investors. But when new investors stop coming in, they will have problem in paying. I don't think profit from the business even though they are dealing with government contracts are that big to enable them to pay that amount of return.

Always bare in mind that there are hardly any too good to be true investments around. Stick to the conventional ways of stocks trading, unit trust, property investment etc. to grow your money. Besides growing your money, it will help you become money wise.

Stupidity - Exhibit G

2010-02-11T22:23:00.002+08:00

Johor International Kite Festival

I've been in Pasir Gudang for more than a year now. Last year, I had a chance to attend the 14th Pasir Gudang International Kite Festival held at Bukit Layang-Layang from 16th to 22nd February 2009. It was organized by Johor Corporation. Since I'm an outsider, it was an amazing experience to be part of the festival and it was my first experience attending a kite festival. I'm pretty sure that not many Malaysians have attended such festival even though kites are synonym with our childhood days favourite past time.

This year, to my amazement, the 15th International Kite Festival venue was changed to Bandar Dato' Onn held from 5th to 7th February 2010. I did not attend this event because I was back in KL besides I was disgusted with the idea of changing the venue. For the past 14 years, the International Kite Festival has been held at Pasir Gudang, why suddenly change it to Bandar Dato' Onn? I don't know whose silly idea it was to change the venue but I surely feel for the Pasir Gudang folks.

I've searched for a few sites for photos of these two events just to enlighten those who don't have any idea about the kite festival. For the 14th Pasir Gudang International Kite Festival, photos can be seen here, here, and here. For the 15th Bandar Dato' Onn International Kite Festival, photos can be seen here, here and here. I'm not going to argue about the number of participants nor the number of kites nor which festival has the most beautiful kites. These are just amazing scenes from both festivals.

From the photos, it's obvious that Bukit Layang-Layang is such an established and better venue compared to Bandar Dato' Onn for a kite festival. The festival at Bandar Dato' Onn looks like it took place at an open bare land, without proper facilities. At the background, you can even see bare land cleared probably to make way for housing developments. On the other hand, Bukit Layang-Layang is surrounded by lush greenery and park. Best of all, it has the Pasir Gudang Kite Museum which is the first kite museum in Malaysia and has a unique working windmill whose mechanism works to generate enough electricity for the daily needs of the museum. Isn't a kite museum should be synonymous with kite festival?

What I really don't understand is the fact that the organizer does not seem to care about the uniqueness of the festival to Pasir Gudang. All the related facilities and tradition are in place but suddenly the annual event took place some where else. Just leave the festival in Pasir Gudang for it has been close to the locals. Let Pasir Gudang build a legacy with this kite festival. Hopefully one day it will be a world renowned festival where tourists all over the world would flock to Johor to attend the annual festival. Like Penang Dragon Boat Race and Malaysia International Fireworks Competition which are synonym to Penang and Putrajaya respectively, let the Johor International Kite Festival be synonymous to Pasir Gudang.

Obviously, the main reason for organizing the festival at Bandar Dato' Onn is to promote the new township to the public. With all due respect, there are other better ways to promote a new township. Find Bandar Dato' Onn its own identity. To the general public, Pasir Gudang is known as a port and industrial town with unhealthy air and lorries racing with each other. For once, let Pasir Gudang have its own good image and unique identity. Better still, change the name to Pasir Gudang International Kite Festival once and for all and bring back the festival to where it belongs.

Why I Invest in Unit Trust

2010-02-08T21:44:00.004+08:00

Since I was young, my parents taught me to save money. Back then, whenever I have savings especially after Hari Raya, I will bank in the money into my ASB account. Being a kid, I actually didn't see the purpose of saving money let alone growing them. I just thought it was something noble to do. Maybe I will need it later. For what, only time will tell.

When I started working, I began to search for something fulfilling to invest in. Of course I wanted something that gives high return. Things that came to my mind at that time was stocks. I started to learn about stocks. Somehow along the way, I came across about Futures. I attended classes by a guy from CIMB. I tried to learn about all the technical stuffs. Graphs, candlestick etc. But along the way, I found out that I can't actually understand all these stuffs. It seems that I'm pretty bad at reading graphs and projecting what's going to happen. At last, I didn't even invest a single cent in Futures.

When I went to a property expo in Midvalley Megamall back in 2006, I came across a unit trust agent. He was promoting a new fund. To be frank, that was actually the first time I heard about unit trust. Without realizing it, ASB is actually a unit trust which back then I thought was just a normal bank account where I can keep my money and collect dividends yearly. He explained to me about the fund he was promoting. It impressed me that unit trust can actually generate returns of about 15% per year. I only understood about returns at that time.

Being new and skeptical, I went back and asked my friends about this particular unit trust management company. My friends gave good remarks about the unit trust management company. So there I go with my first unit trust investment. I started investing without knowing too much about unit trust. Only after being an investor did I learn more about unit trust.

What seems to be easy about investing in unit trust to me is that I don't actually have to crack my head on what stocks to invest in. I only need to choose a theme and put my money in. If I like Malaysian stock market, then I just choose a fund that invest heavily in Malaysian stocks. If I like China stock market, there are China funds available. If I like property market, there are Real Estate Invest Trusts (REIT) to choose from. All the stock selection will be done by the fund manager. As long as I choose a good fund with a good fund manager in a good unit trust management company, that should be good enough.

Even though the service charge for unit trust is quite high, 5% to 6%, I believe it's money well spent since I don't have the expertise to pick good stocks. The fund manager will do the thinking for me. Bottom line is I must make money from the investment. Not to say I can leave it entirely to the fund manager. As long as I know what to do and when to do it i.e repurchase/switching, I should be fine. I set my long term goal and I use unit trust to achieve it.

Choosing an Apartment

2010-01-30T11:46:00.004+08:00

My first encounter of being a landlord started in 2006 when I bought a medium cost apartment in Ampang. The reason I bought the apartment was to move our from the apartment that I was staying with my brother back then since he had a few plans laid out for himself. Instead of renting, I thought it might be better off to buy a cheap apartment for my own stay. My budget at that time was a below RM 100k apartment.

Before I went searching for an apartment, I first laid out the criteria that I wanted in an apartment. The criteria I developed not through reading books but instead from my own experience staying in an apartment for the first 2 years of my working years. Here are the criteria:

Find a property with freehold title. Well this reason is pretty obvious and you can find it in any property investment books. Among the advantages of freehold property easier to sell, faster transfer of land ownership and higher price compared to leasehold property.
Find apartment near amenities. Well this is also an obvious reason since I don't plan to stay in that apartment forever. Renting it out in the future is a possibility. So this criteria will make the apartment more appealing to tenants.
Try avoiding units at the highest level. Certain books do mention about this criteria. When I stayed at the apartment with my brother, occasionally my room will be flooded due to very heavy downpour. Anything got to do with the roofs, certainly the top unit will have to bare the costs of repair or will suffer due to leaking roof.
Try also avoiding the ground floor unit. There are 2 reasons for this. First, the ground floor unit will likely be the main pathway where residents go up and down the apartment. It's likely that this area will be noisy and dirty. Secondly, imagine car alarms going off in the middle of the night and it don't stop until the next morning. Scary? Yup, that's the reality. If it's your car, then fine, you can always switch it off. But what if you don't even know the car owner? Can you stand the alarm until next morning? Even staying at higher floors does not guarantee that you will not hear the car alarm. But the effect is quite minimal compared to the ground floor.
Try finding apartments with no or minimal maintenance fee. Well this is not a common thing but there are certainly these type of apartments out there. To spot these apartments, here are few criteria; normally low rise with 4-5 storeys and no lifts, no perimeter fences and no security guards, they are unlikely to have swimming pools or shops within the compound. Reason for choosing this type of apartment is the fee is beyond your control. The property manager can always increase the fee without justifying the reasons. There might be certain laws to address this issue that I don't know. If the maintenance is not up to the standard, what can you do as property owner?
Find an apartment with water connection direct to the Water Board i.e Syabas, Puas etc. What is normally done by property managers nowadays is that they buy water from the Water Board and sell them to the apartment residents, of course at a slightly higher price. Residents pay their water bills to the property manager, not to the Water Board. The property manager even goes one step further to cut the water supply in case the resident do not pay the maintenance fee. How dissatisfied you are with the property management, you basically can't do anything rather than complaint which they might or might not listen too. Having your water bills paid directly to the Water Board will eliminate this risk. Just in case you are not satisfied with the property management standard, just don't pay the maintenance fee until actions are taken. At least you have something to hold on to.

I did manage to get some of the criteria mentioned in my first property purchase, not all of course. Having these criteria in place certainly helped narrowed down my choice of apartment.

Inspired to Change - 0 to 13 Properties in Only Four & Half Years

2010-01-19T22:31:00.002+08:00

1. I guess this is the hardest book to come by. I only managed to find it at Midvalley's MPH. Even that was the last copy on the shelf.

2. I came to know about this book through a forum. Somebody recommended it as a good read. Since then, I went searching until I finally got it.

3. If you are expecting this book to be about the technicality of owning properties, then you would be disappointed. This book is more like a motivational book for you to succeed in property investment.

4. Nevertheless, do read between the lines for tips from them such as refinancing their parent's property in order to get cash to start their property investment and buying properties with little or no money down. Although they did not elaborate on these methods, at least it gives an idea on what's the tricks to be used to be successful.

5. In this book, the author repeatedly mentioned about the need to attend property seminars. Since I'm convinced with the reasoning, I would like to attend a seminar within this year to enhance my knowledge.

Lessons Learnt #2

2010-01-07T21:27:00.002+08:00

Be Prepared for Road Accidents/Breakdown

I've described about the road accident I encountered last year in my previous posting here and here. I would like to go back further into my memory lane on why I started taking towing services.

When I was still using a Kelisa back in 2006, some mishap happened to my car. The rear tire rod broke causing the car to sway excessively even at 30km/h. I had to sent the car to the workshop for repairs since I can't even go more than 30km/h. At that time, I was staying in Bandar Seri Permaisuri, Cheras. I wanted to tow my car to Perodua Service Centre in Keramat where I use to send my car for periodic service. It is about 20km away.

I thought I was lucky since I took up a motor insurance coverage which stated that they offered FREE towing service to the customers. So I called the insurance company to request for the towing service. To my surprise and disappointment, the operator told me that they don't actually offer that service. They can only guide and recommend on which tower to use. I have to pay for the towing service. The operator then called their panel tower and sent him to me.

Guess how much did it cost for the 20km towing service? RM120! RM110 after discount! Like it or not, I have to pay since I had no options. Later I found out that whatever towing services offered together with your motor insurance are just gimmick! They merely don't offer the service like in my case, or they only cover for a short distance. More than that, you have to fork out your own money.

Since then, I've never failed to take up towing services independently. I only pay RM70 per year for that service which includes personal accident coverage. And when I need it the most during that accident, the service came to my rescue. I always remind people around me to take up that kind of service but somehow many of them are reluctant. Perhaps when they need it the most, then only will they realize the importance of it. Be it Road Warrior or AAM, just take one and be prepared in case something wrong happens.

Singapore's Public Transport

2009-12-26T15:45:00.005+08:00

Last week, I had the chance to visit Singapore. This is my second visit to the island after the first visit when I was still very very young. I took a bus from Larkin Bus Station to Singapore instead of driving. The reasons are that I don't have any GPS and I'm not familiar with the roads there. Besides driving around the island costs quite a sum of money. So the simple solution was to take the public transport. Besides, Singapore is dubbed to have one of the most effective public transportation system. So I really wanted to experience it myself. These are my findings of their public transportation system that Malaysia can improve on:

The most obvious difference is that Singapore's main rail system is using the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system instead of our Klang Valley's Light Rail Transit (LRT) system. The difference between these two systems is that MRT caters for bigger crowd as compared to LRT. MRT has wider and longer trains. There are MRT and LRT lines in Singapore with the latter built only to cater for small housing areas and integrated to the main lines. But our LRT lines are build for the whole of Klang Valley. I do hope for the proposed Kota Damansara-Cheras line, it will be a MRT instead of LRT to cater for the growing crowd. If costs is an issue, I do hope the authorities will do the first thing right. Instead of building another LRT, its wiser to build a shorter MRT line and later extend the line when the funds are available. MRT and LRT have different requirements such as station size, width of platform, rail size etc. Its better to have the fundamental in place rather than building something that will only last for the next 10 years.
What makes their system efficient is that it only uses single ticketing system regardless of any lines you are taking. There are 4 MRT lines and 3 LRT lines. Our different rail systems require us to buy new tickets when we switch lines. Our own rail system consists of Ampang Line, Kelana Jaya Line, Monorail and KTM Komuter. Every switch is really a hassle when you need to buy new tickets.
At the MRT stations, the escalators are generally faster unlike ours. In simple terms, the escalator's speed is not the same as the one used in shopping malls. Its faster because the general need of commuters who are always on the go.
Most of their citizens do not buy tickets at the vendor machines. Only tourists do. They pay for their ride using a card payment system similar to our Touch 'n Go. Since usage of Touch 'n Go among Malaysian commuters are still low, the government's decision to give fare discounts for Touch 'n Go users starting next year are timely and most welcomed.
Door openings of their trains are wider as compared to ours. This eliminates the problem of packing the exit door when commuters are still coming out of the trains. Simple solutions like this do go a long way in eliminating such petty problems. It does come down to the commuters own attitude while using the service as well.
A network of rail system is certainly incomplete without buses. There are lots of buses interchange at the MRT stations. You only need to know which station to go and the rest of the journey will be with the bus. There are certainly not many bus interchange within our rail system. This need to be improved if we want to encourage more commuters to use the public transport. And the bus interchange should be a proper one. Not just a mere bus stop.

These are among the findings that I could gather from my one day visit to Singapore. I plan to forward these suggestions to the Department of Railways for improvement of our public transportation system. Should you have any other suggestions, please include them in the comments section. I would compile and send all of them.

For a better public transportation system.

Your Tenants, Your Jewels

2009-12-26T15:26:00.002+08:00

1. This book covers a whole lots of topics relating to property investment. From the moment of selecting properties, finding tenants, setting the rental, renting them out and the things need to be done after that.

2. This book also includes stories and ideas on how to become creative landlords under different circumstances. Perhaps this could be a good guide for landlords to be creative.

3. In the appendix, it also includes Property Inspection Checklist and sample of Tenancy Agreement. This could be a guide of developing your own system.

4. It lays down the method or system used by the author in property investment. This is really a good guide for beginners like me.

5. Overall, it's just a good buy.

Public Transport Updates

2009-12-20T22:17:00.004+08:00

For the past few days, Klang Valley commuters have been blessed with some good news regarding the public transportation system. Here are a few:

KTMB will introduce inter-city train service (ETS) from 1st April 2010 which will reduce travel time between Seremban and Ipoh to within 3 hours. Currently, there are shuttle services between KL and Ipoh which takes 3 hours. The ETS will be equipped with wi-fi, CCTV and disabled-friendly toilets among others. Commuters might have to pay a premium for this service but as long as the fare is below the express bus fare, I do think many will opt for this service to reduce travel time and for safety reasons.
Land Public Transport Authority will be established and operational by the end of next year as a single industry "captain" to coordinate efforts across the entire public transport system. While I'm puzzled as why does it takes so long for the ministry to establish such authority, it's still a move in the right direction. I do hope the authority will eliminate non-coordination between the various government agencies.
Service of new four-car train sets on the Kelana Jaya LRT line will be introduced by the end of this month thus enhancing its capacity from the current two-car train sets. This certainly is a good move to reduce congestion and enhancing its capacity. However, I would really like to see how the four-car train sets fit to the current LRT stations as most of the stations are designed for two-car train sets. The stations are shorter hence raise the questions how to fit longer trains. We'll see then.
Dedicated bus lanes which are separated from normal roads by barriers will be built. The KL's bus rapid transit Corridor One would be introduced in 2011. This would be followed by Corridor Two and Three the following year. I'm not sure whether this is a good move or not. If a new separated bus lanes are introduced, I assume it will be single lane since our major roads are already occupying most of the areas. If it is single lane, it raises the question as whether the buses will need to queue as they can't overtake each other since the lanes are separated with barriers. If the buses need to queue up, will the service becomes faster or slower?
Four bus expressway transit routes would be built next year. These would allow buses to travel along under-utilised highways to KL city centre with limited stops along the way. I would really like to know where are these transit stations located. Without over focusing on the rails system, the bus service is not neglected by the ministry. Well done!
By 2011, 15 refurbished electric multiple units would be available for KTM Komuter. Currently, there are 23 to 25 running train sets and the figure is expected to increase to 80 sets by 2012. Komuter headways is expected to reduce to 7.5 minutes in 2012. It's really important for KTM Komuter to enhance its service since it's the one bringing commuters from outside of Klang Valley. 7.5 minutes is a good figure to start with.
Best of all, discounted fare rates will be given to commuters who use Touch 'n Go cards by all operators beginning next year. This move will certainly encourage users to have the Touch 'n Go cards and reduce queuing at the stations for tickets.
Last but not least, land clearing work for the main Putra Heights LRT station has started. Construction of the extended LRT lines is scheduled to begin in March next year and expected to complete by end of 2012. Please do whatever it takes to expedite the construction process. Klang Valley commuters are really in bad need for this extension to be completed soon.

Let's hope for the best for our own public transportation system.

Smart TAG - A Redundant Invention

2009-12-14T22:40:00.004+08:00

Time and time again, I try to rationalize the invention of Smart TAG as one of our toll payments method. In the end, I still think that it is a redundant invention. I still think that Touch N Go is the only way to go.

For a Smart TAG to work, these are the things required:

your Touch N Go card must have adequate balance
battery power for the device must be adequate
the device must be flashed in the right direction i.e the black face facing the scanner
tint film of your car must not be V-kool or equivalent. Your Smart TAG can't be detected through this type of film

For a Touch N Go card to work, you only need:

adequate balance in your card

While there is no doubt that using Smart TAG is slightly faster compared to Touch N Go, there are also instances where people got stuck at the Smart TAG lane because one of the four reasons given above. When that happens, either the car will need to reverse which creates hassle to other road users or personnel from the toll plaza will need to come to his/her assistance. As opposed to Touch N Go lanes, there is generally no reasons for personnel from toll plaza to be around to ensure that the lanes are flowing smoothly provided balance in the card is adequate (this applies to both). Hence, there is no need for toll workers to be on standby in the middle of the night just to ensure the Touch N Go lanes flow smoothly.

Some might argue that with increasing Touch N Go users, queue at the lanes are getting longer compared to Smart TAG lanes. I've actually figured out why this happen. Go to any big toll plazas, you will either see the same or more numbers of Smart TAG lanes compared to Touch N Go lanes. This certainly does not makes sense since I think Touch N Go users are many times more compared to Smart TAG users. While it is undeniable that Smart TAG users do pay a premium for its service, is it fair at the expense of Touch N Go users when the main purpose of these two methods are to simplify and fasten toll payments?

While correct use of Smart TAG will generally smooth the traffic flow, but there are too many factors that could affect its flow. Use of Touch N Go will greatly reduce the need of human presence. Besides, what is 5 seconds faster when on other hand, you can actually eliminate the uncertainty elements in its use?

Free Property Seminar by Peter Yee

2009-12-07T23:00:00.003+08:00

I attended the free property seminar by Peter Yee last Saturday with my brother. As stated in my post You Can Become Rich in Property, two free tickets will be given when you purchase the book. As expected, the free seminar will be his stepping stone to promote his actual seminar. A good last half an hour of the seminar was spent to promote his actual seminar.

I went into the seminar not expecting a whole lot of information to be obtained. I know its going to be short and any information shared will barely touch on surface only. What I'm frustrated about is that he used this free seminar to actually elaborate on points in his book. His book is actually easy to understand and I don't see the need to elaborate more on it.

I was expecting him to share some sort of tips or information that the general public do not know. Even if he did not elaborate on these information, at least we as participant would feel the need to enrol in his actual seminar to gain more knowledge about them. This certainly is not a RM 400 worth of free seminar. It's only worth the book price.

However, I did go back with some sort of information that I wish to share:

As I've stated in my post about his book, his favourite term is "in the direction of growth of a town". Based on his experience, the rate of growth is about 1 km per year. With this, you could estimate when will the town growth reach your area.
According to him, freehold land is a trend before the year 2000. Thereafter, all are leasehold land. Even though you still find freehold properties around, the logic behind this would be the land had been acquired before year 2000 and only developed now.
When there are lots of advertisements in newspapers on perishable items, that is a sign of recession. When time is not good, it's certainly a high time to buy provided you are well prepared for it.
Simple signs of a motivated seller are; big "For Sale" banners around the property, many banners in one particular property and worn out banners at the property. Look out for these signs guys!

During the seminar, we did discuss about the 5% Real Property Gain Tax (RPGT) that was recently announced in Budget 2010. This is what probably would happen: Seller will probably lower down the selling price in S&P to avoid paying higher tax. In return, with the lower selling price, the buyer will be paying lower stamp duty. This is the same method used when you declare higher property value to obtain 100% loan from bank. It's just the other way round. Of course it would require both parties to agree on the documentation. These are all legal ways to avoid or reduce taxes paid. In the end, instead of curbing speculation in the property market as what the government wish, they end up losing money instead.

Making Your House Environmental Friendly

2009-11-25T23:31:00.003+08:00

The house that me and my wife bought will be ready within a year or so. I've started to plan how actually to furnish the house but at the same time trying to become environmental friendly. I have to admit though that owning a house itself isn't environmental friendly. Forests need to be cleared to make way for development, almost all of the building materials come from natural resources and process of building the house will somehow pollute the earth. But this is what we have to pay in the name of development. Still we need a roof over our head.

Here are a few thoughts:

1. I guess the easiest way of being environmental friendly is during the house selection process itself. Either you call it feng shui or common sense, the layout of the house is important though. Select a house that is not facing sunset. The idea is for your house not to be too hot in the evening. When the house is hot, it will require more energy to cool it. If you are using air-cond, the air-cond will have to work extra hard. If you are only using fans, perhaps you will not need a fan to cool your house if your house is facing the right direction.

2. Few criteria of your house would also determine whether you will need extra cooling requirements. Some say, selecting a house made of clay instead of sand bricks will help keep your house cooler. There might be some truth in this since we do see ancient people build their house from clay in some parts of the world. Having a high ceiling would also help air circulation in your house. The higher the ceiling is, the further heat from sunlight will have to travel to reach you. Hence, keeping you cool.

3. Selecting environmental friendly household appliances is also one of the main criteria. For this, I'm thinking of scouting for the energy efficient appliances based on rating by Singapore's National Environment Agency. Although currently there are only a few appliances with rating available, I believe the list will grow as time goes by. Some of the appliances might not be available in Malaysia, but at least there's a guideline on this.

4. I guess the single most important thing that could go a long way in helping the environment is not to install air-conditioner in your house. Air-cond has become a necessity in our modern lives but I do believe we still can cope without air-cond. For me, having fans is just as good. The amount of energy used to operate an air-cond is enormous. Just look at the electricity bills of houses with air-cond. I bet they are more than RM100 every month. Not to mention the gasses used which is said to be harmful towards the environment. Not installing an air-cond means energy saved all around. So think before you install one.

5. If let say you still insist on having air-conds, please don't install them at your living or dining rooms. Keep them minimum in the bedrooms. The reason is because, for a typical Malaysian house, living and dining area are technically not rooms. They don't have their own enclosed area. They are basically a "huge room" only called differently on the layout plan. If an air-cond is installed at these areas, the air-cond will need to cool the entire "huge room". There is no enclosure keeping the temperature down within that particular area. Hence, the air-cond is working extra hard in cooling those areas. This means more energy used and more money out of your pocket. And for a double storey house, the cooling effect from the dining or living room will be felt up till the family area above. Just imagine how big of a room the air-cond is actually cooling.

6. Another idea that crosses my mind is having a solar panel for water heater. I've did some enquiry and generally the price of buying and installing the solar panel water heater is around RM5,000. If let say you spend RM30 per month on electricity bill for water heater, it will take your approximately 14 years to recoup your investment on the solar panel. Besides that, you will get some tax relief from the government when you invest in green technology. This is certainly something to ponder upon.

If you have any suggestions, please do not hesitate to leave them in the comments section. Perhaps it could be useful to me and others.

Lessons Learnt #1

2009-11-16T21:50:00.002+08:00

I wish to add another label for my posts that is 'Lessons Learnt'. As life goes on, there are lots of decisions I had to made. Posts under this label is aimed to share my experience and the lessons learnt from those experience where money matters. I do hope the posts will benefit somebody along the way and I do hope people will not repeat the same mistakes that I did. To the first lesson.

Buying my first car

I started working back in 2004 with a mere salary of RM1,800 in KL. Back then, I only owned a scooter. After 6 months, I received a salary adjustment of RM400. Guess what, the first thing I thought of buying was a car. I guess a car goes side by side with a man's ego. Reflecting back, I didn't really need a car at that point of time since I had a bike. If I need to travel back to my hometown, I can always car pool with my brother. I go to the office with my bike, even after I bought the car.

Some might think that owning RM2000++ is a license to own a car. But please do your math carefully before deciding to buy a car. Please read my post on "Who can afford a Myvi" to get a better idea of what are the costs involved after you own a car.

My first car was a second hand Perodua Kelisa. I bought it for approximately RM28,000. I paid the down payment from my ASB savings. What a waste! If there's any positive to be taken from this experience is that I insisted the loan repayment tenure to be 5 years instead of 7 years (which a normal person would do). The installment comes up to about RM555 per month which is approximately 25% of my gross salary.

The most important element that I missed out when I decided to buy that car was I didn't pay myself first. The first thing on my mind when I received the salary adjustment was to spend it instead of investing it. When I finally owned the car, I was struggling to maintain it since I also own a bike at the same time. At the end of the day, I didn't have much left to pay myself. Just imagine instead of paying RM555 per month as installment for that car, I could invest it further to grow the money. It could have become approximately RM31,000 in 4 years time with rate of return of 8% per year compounded monthly.

After 2 years, I decided to change to a Perodua MyVi. Lucky enough, since I took a loan repayment period of 5 years, when I traded in my old car, I managed to get some money as a down payment for my new car. If I were to take a loan repayment of 7 years instead, I certainly would have to fork out extra cash just to settle the outstanding amount owed to the bank. Reason for change was I wanted a bigger car since my old car is beginning to tire me when I drive especially long distances (the car size is not proportionate with my body size).

If I were to plan properly, I should have bought only one car and use it until now. That would have saved me lots of money and time. A big chunk of the loan repayment would also have been paid by now. When the car is fully paid, perhaps the extra cash could go to more investments until I really need a new or bigger car.

Owning a car will certainly eat up a big chunk of your expenses. Besides installments, you would have to pay for petrol, tolls, maintenance and parking fees to name a few. Before deciding to buy a car, please.. please.. please plan carefully and analyze your financial situation properly. Only buy when you think you can afford all the associated expenses that come with owning a car. If you are buying for convenience, please ask yourself: Can I live without a car? As long as the answer is yes, it's better not to own a car.

Spending Tracker

2009-11-09T19:45:00.002+08:00

Often I ask my friends about their financial state. How much do you exactly spend each month? Most of the time, the answer that I will get is "I don't know". It just puzzles me how people don't know how much they are spending each month. This either shows lack of knowledge or they just simply don't care about their own money. They might be spending as long as there is money in their bank account and they might not even know whether their monthly cash flow is positive or negative.

Of course money spent differs from month to month due to different commitments we undertake such as paying car insurance, taxes etc. But as a person, we should know how much on average we are spending each month and whether our cash flow is positive or negative. Positive cash flow means you are living within your own means while negative cash flow means you are living beyond your means using other people's money which spells trouble in the long run.

I would really like to share my method of tracking my monthly spending. My habit of tracking my spending dated back to my high school years. I was in form 2, if I'm not mistaken when I first started to track my spending. Back then, my simple method of tracking is to print out the monthly calender template available in Microsoft Words and keep it in my locker (I was in a boarding school back then). Every time I withdrew money from the ATM machine, I will write it on the template the amount on the date I withdrew it. At the end of each month, I will roughly know how much I've spent over the entire month. I practiced this method until my university years.

When I started working back in 2004, I created a simple excel spreadsheet to track my spending (alpha version). A couple of months back, I upgraded this version (beta version) so that it can track my monthly cash flow precisely. To download my spreadsheet, please click here (it's FREE!). The alpha version basically only tracks my spending i.e cash outflow. The beta version meanwhile tracks my exact monthly cash flow taking into account all my incomes and cash outflow. All I need to do is input all my incomes and my expenses as the day goes by.

If you look hard enough over the Internet, you will actually find all sorts of free budget software. I'm actually not a fan of budget software because you can only budget so much for your fixed expenses such as loan installments and insurance premium. All others such as foods, petrol etc are not fixed and changes during the course of the entire month. Besides, making a budget is troublesome to me since I need to think ahead to project my expenses for the month. This consume time and arguably the reason why people simply don't like to track their expenses.

Having seen the budget software, I decided to come up with my own user friendly spending tracker spreadsheet. I've been doing it for more than 5 years, everyday of every month without fail. So I don't see why others can't do the same. Of course you will need to have our own will to do this. Hey, nothing is easy in this world. Even eating requires you to feed the food into your mouth. So I've prepared a few answers for the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

I'm too busy. I don't have time to do this - Perhaps, this is the most frequent answer I've heard. The solution is quite simple. If you work in the office, most probably, you will use the computer everyday. Just save this spreadsheet on your desktop. Every morning or after lunch, make it a point to update your spending tracker. If its on your desktop, its only a click away. Is that too hard? If you don't work with computers frequently, another option will be to print the spreadsheet and keep it at a place where you spend most of your time at. Just update it whenever you spend money. The moment you have the chance to update the soft copy, just do so with reference to your hard copy spreadsheet. This way you will not miss anything.
How about the days I don't attend to my computer?, I will certainly forget how much I've spent - The days when you don't attend to your computer will most probably be during weekends, holidays or when you are outstation. The method I use during these situations is my hand phone's notepad. I will write all my spending on the notepad and update it into my spreadsheet the moment I have the chance. This way I still keep track of my spending even though I'm not around my computer. What's the use of technology though if you don't know how to maximize the usage? Be creative.
It's hard to remember what I've spent for the entire day - A normal working adult will spend on a few normal items daily which include breakfast, lunch, parking fees etc. Once you've spent the money, immediately update the spreadsheet to avoid memory loss. Money spent beyond working hours, just update it the next morning. I bet your memory does not disappear that fast.

These are a few guidelines that I adhere to make this spreadsheet effective:

When I spend using credit card, I update the spreadsheet based on the date I use it. Not the day I pay the credit card company. This way I know I'm still using my own money to spend and I will not go overboard in spending. If you owe the credit card company, ensure that you include the interest charged when you pay them. This is technically money out from your pocket. It's considered as an expense.
Information on salary, KWSP, Tabung Haji are all taken from my payslip. This way I will not go wrong with these figures.
If you use a service which charges a fee, do include that in your expenses. Example is when you reload your Touch & Go card at ATM machines, you will be charged RM0.50 as a service fee. This should be included in your expenses since this is money out from your pocket.
Remember to include every cent of your expenses. Often people tend to ignore the huge impact of such a small amount. Without these cents, there will not be a Ringgit.
Include your monthly commitments upfront such as car loan installment, home loan installment etc. This way you will have a rough idea on how much money left for others.
Once you noticed that your cash flow is decreasing to an alarming level during the month, do take necessary actions to reduce your expenses for the remaining days to maintain the positive cash flow.

The key to remember is that this spreadsheet only serves as a monthly cash flow indicator. It does not track income from investments such as unit trusts, Tabung Haji and KWSP. I don't regard those as income. I track my investments using different spreadsheet. Money spent for investments is technically money out from your pocket since you can't use the money.

The items included in the spreadsheet is my spending pattern. Feel free to modify it to suit your spending pattern. Be creative. You don't have to make others understand your spreadsheet. It's only for you. Make sure you and only you understand your spreadsheet. No one else will be looking at this spreadsheet.

Knowing your monthly cash flow will help in planning for future commitments that you might want to undertake. It's certainly a start for more good things to come. Good Luck!

Refinancing Now

2009-10-30T17:11:00.005+08:00

1. This is considered quite a short book for its price of RM29.90. I bet you can finish reading it within 2 hours. Its presentation is quite straight forward.

2. This book is full of examples. It analyzes almost every aspects there are about refinancing a property. Various examples and conditions are given so that a normal person can quickly grab the concept.

3. The books also considers the situation a person is in and what are the benefits that he/she could possibly get from refinancing.

4. The basics and must ask questions before refinancing are also included in this book.

5. It also compares the various property loan structure there are in the market and how readers could benefit from them.

6. At the end of this book, it outlines a concept on how to pay off your home loan in half the time and get a property for free. The concept is for real actually in case you are wondering. It's the matter of selecting the right home loan and manipulating the financial instruments that are available around you.

7. Besides that, the book comes with a free 2 hour property investment workshop by W.T.Kam. I yet to attend the workshop because of logistic constraint but I really think this book is a really good buy.

Budget 2010

2009-10-26T18:28:00.003+08:00

This is my take on the recently announced 2010 Budget:

EPF contributors can utilise both current and future savings under Account 2 and their take home pay to get higher mortgage. This move will certainly boost the purchasing power of house buyers. But it could also cause buyers to buy properties that they can't actually afford. Caution needed here.
RM50 service tax will be imposed on each principal credit card every year and RM25 for every supplementary card. I understand this as a move to curb over spending by credit card users. However, by imposing this, customers who actually use credit card for the convenience of not carrying cash is being victimized here. I would think having one card without the service tax will be better. Only additional card will be imposed with the RM50 service tax.
5% Real Property Gain Tax (RPGT) will be imposed from sale of property regardless of year. This is a move I presume to curb speculation in property market. While it is good for the market, I do think prices of properties will be further inflated due to this tax. I would certainly hope disposal of property beyond the 5th year will not be taxed.
It came as a surprise that the government did not increase taxes for cigarette and alcohol drinks. In effort to promote better health and to reduce the budget deficit, this is certainly an avenue. I have to apologize to smokers, but some of them has certainly become a nuisance in our society. Just look at irresponsible drivers who throw their cigarette butts out of their car window at high speed. And look at food stalls where the premise's floor has become their ashtray.
All the exemptions for green technology certainly is a boost for the environment. I hope green technology will be mandatory in building specifications as an effort to save mother nature.

New MRT Lines for KL

2009-10-24T17:18:00.003+08:00

In my previous post of LRT Extension, I did provide links for information regarding the LRT extension project. In addition to that post, I would like to share a few more links which provide extra information regarding this project and a possible future MRT project for the Klang Valley.

My previous post does not include the exact location of the new LRT stations that will be built. From Patchay.com, these are the 13 locations where the new stations will be built for Kelana Jaya Line extension: Aman Crimson, Subang Depot, Kelana Centre Point, Subang Parade, Jalan Jengka SS15, Jalan Jengka SS18, USJ7/Subang Perdana, USJ8/Goodyear C3/Taipan,Wawasan School USJ14, Tropika Paradise USJ21, Seksyen 27, Alam Megah Seksyen 28 and Giant Putra Heights.

For the Ampang-Sri Petaling Line extension, these are the new 13 locations where the stations will be built: Taman Esplanade/Bukit OUG, Kampung Muhibah, Bukit Kinrara 9, Giant Bandar Kinrara, Kinrara Industrial Part/Taman Puncak Kinrara, IOI Mall, Tesco Puchong/Bandar Puteri, Rakan Muda Complex, Batu 12, Puchong Perdana/Indah, Puchong Prima, Kampung Tengah/Sri Aman and Giant Putra Heights.

In addition to the LRT extension project, I came across another public transportation project for the Klang Valley. However, this information has not been officially released in the main stream media. The reason I guess is because the feasibility study is still under way. The project is dubbed Kota Damansara - Cheras New MRT Line. I first encountered about this project through a forum. Since then, I've tried to search around and found these information at Patchay.com, transitmy.org and skyscrapercity.com.

The project is said to be 42km long and will possibily extend to the Sungai Buloh KTM from Kota Damansara to allow integration with KTM Komuter. It will cost around RM25 billion and will be part of 10th Malaysian Plan. It will start construction in 2012 and will take approximately 4-5 years to complete. Among hotspots that the new MRT line will service are Mutiara Damansara, Bangsar Shopping Centre, Bangsar Village, Nu Sentral, Pavillion KL, Sungei Wang, Berjaya Times Square, Cheras Leisure Mall, Plaza Phoenix and Bandar Tun Hussein Onn.

The reason I highlighted about these projects are the snowball effects they will bring to the surrounding area. Obviously, an area with good public transportation accesibility will fetch good capital appreciation and also rentals. For the LRT extension project, the obvious beneficary is of course Putra Heights with both Kelana Jaya and Ampang Lines meeting there. But unfortunately, there are not many apartments/condos around this area which can be a potential hit for property investors.

In case you are looking for properties either for staying or investment purposes, do study these 2 projects before making any decision. Eventhough the new MRT line is still at its early stages, be mindful the effects that it can bring to your property value when it's in place. However, I must caution here that the routes are likely to change when the feasibilty study is complete. As has been seen in the initial route for the LRT extension and the one announced by the government in August. Nevertheless, some info is better than no info at all.

BBA vs BTS 10-90 - continued

2009-10-15T22:36:00.003+08:00

This post is a continuation from my earlier post entitled "BBA vs BTS 10-90".

After reading the article in Personal Money, I've sent an email to Mahadzir Ahmad to enquire whether the same applies to Musharakah Mutanaqisah (MM) principle since my Islamic loan for my house is using MM concept.

Here is the extract of my email to him:

"My home loan is based on Musyarakah agreement which is based on Musyarakah Mutanaqisah concept. Does the same as BBA applies in my case if the property that I purchased is abandoned? What I understand from this concept is that its a joint venture between the bank and customer. I've gone through the agreement and found out that in case
of an abandonment, the bank and customer will share the cost. Since this concept is based on units gradually transferred from bank to customer, what is my position like since in a case of abandonment, it will likely happen within 1-2 years after I entered into the agreement? At that point of time, of course the bank's portion of unit is bigger. Is it whatever that I've paid during construction period will be refunded to me by the bank? If not, how does this concept
protect house buyers from project abandonment by a developer?"

Musharakah according to the terms in the agreement means "the joint venture entered into between the Bank and the Customer in which the Bank and the Customer contribute to the capital of the Musharakah (whether in cash or in kind) to facilitate the ownership of the Property and the gradual purchase by the Customer of the Bank's stake in the Musharakah throughout the duration of the Equity Home Financing-i Facility based on the Shariah principle of Musharakah Mutanaqisah". In layman terms, MM concept is buying a property via a partnership or joint venture.

While going through the Musharakah Agreement, this is what I found. In case of abandonment of the property:

any loss incurred due to the abandonment will be shared by the Customer and the Bank in accordance with each party's contribution to the Musharakah respectively; and
provision set out in clause 6 of the Purchase Undertaking shall be invoked by the Bank. Clause 6 states that the Customer shall pay to the Bank based on the following formulae:
Disbursed Amount + Outstanding Forward Ijarah Payments.

I'm really confused with the terms used in the agreement. At first, it states that the loss will be shared between Customer and Bank based on each party's contribution. What I understand from this is that since in an event of abandonment of the project, it is likely to happen within the first 5 years of the project. Hence, in the early stages of the agreement, the Bank should be the one who's holding a bigger stake in the agreement.

However, the subsequent point states that the Customer needs to pay the Bank based on what has been disbursed by the Bank. There seems to be 2 conflicting points in the agreement from my understanding.

According to Mahadzir's reply to my email, MM concept has not been tested in court. Hence a base case can't be established on what it will be like in case of abandonment. There is possibility that the judge will just annulled the so-called MM contract (because the partnership's validity is highly suspected) and apply the equity principle is always there. He also attached an article entitled "Shari'ah and legal issues of musharakah mutanaqisah" by Adam Ng. Please read the article for better understanding of the implications. The conclusion of this article is rather interesting which states "It is not the permissibility of MM contracts per se, but their indiscreet use, faulty structuring and ‘window dressing’ which are igniting the perception that MM is no different from BBA, or, worse still, conventional home-financing".

Perhaps there are still lots to be done in order to get a perfect Islamic home financing concept which really adheres to the principal of Shariah and protects the interest of house buyers.

Tribute to Mahadzir Ahmad for his great effort in promoting Islamic Finance. Wallahu'alam

You Can Become Rich in Property

2009-10-12T21:59:00.004+08:00

1. I have to say that I'm not really impressed with the content of this book.

2. Most of the points elaborated in this book barely touches on its surface only. There are not exactly any of his detailed method mentioned in this book. I was expecting some techniques that I could use for certain purposes such as scouting for a property effectively etc.

3. I think lots of his writing in this book oversimplified things in perspective. It makes the readers think that property investment is really a simple stuff. Even the examples are too simple.

4. Nonetheless, there are still something to learn from this book. In the book, he mentioned about flipping strategy which is a new term to me. At least now I know the general idea of flipping strategy.

5. In this book, he stated the fact that its hard to finance a leasehold property with tenure less than 30 years. Maybe any of you who has properties approaching the 30 years benchmark would want to consider selling the property.

6. The interesting part of this book is that he actually analyzed the property market cycle. He even tabulated the previous years of bull and bear run in property market cycle. He then predicted when will be the next bull and bear run. This is probably the best info in this book.

7. His preferred term used in this book is "in the direction of growth of a town" when choosing property location. He has probably came up with a term that most of property investors are subconsciously doing. This criteria can certainly be included when evaluating a property in the future.

8. The plus point of this book is that you will get two free tickets worth RM 400 to his property seminar with the purchase of this book. The book is only priced at RM 36.90. I do think that for a RM 400 worth of property seminar, it should be a full day event. This free ticket is only for a 2 hours seminar. Nevertheless, it's still a good bargain, you buy a book and get a seminar for free. I'm sure there will be something to learn from the seminar as well.

BBA vs BTS 10-90

2009-10-08T22:00:00.003+08:00

I read an article by Mahadzir Ahmad in the August 2009 edition of Personal Money with great interest. The article is entitled "Islamic banking and the BTS 10-90 - Islamic financing contracts should help protect house buyers from ending up without a property". Mahadzir Ahmad is an Islamic financial planner (IFP) and an Islamic finance senior consultant with HeiTech i-Solutions.

In his article, he highlighted the plight of house buyers which are burdened with abandoned housing projects which led the government to introduce the Build-Then-Sell 10-90 concept. With conventional banking, house buyers still have to settle their housing loans regardless whether the house is complete or not. Sounds fair? This certainly has affected thousands of house buyers who had to suffer in silence.

He cited an example of using Bai Bithaman Ajil (BBA) contracts by Islamic banking to mitigate abandoned projects which cause distress to house buyers. BBA is a sale contract. He highlighted the fact that if a house is not completed and abandoned, the buyer has the right to cancel the purchase and stop making further payments. The Islamic bank should be the one responsible in delivering the house. To me, this is a fair responsibility to the Islamic banks since they have all the resources to determine whether the housing project is liable and the developer is reliable to complete the project. After all, they are the one who will finance the housing project.

Unfortunately according to him, the role of Islamic banks has yet to reach an ideal situation where they take responsibility in delivering the house and yet at the same time house buyers are protected from the risk of abandoned project. Apart from pursuing the BTS 10-90 concept, another way to mitigate risks of abandoned project is by entering into a BBA financing contract with an Islamic bank.

He cited a recent decision by the Court of Appeal in a case involving Bank Islam (BIMB) which confirmed that BBA contracts are syariah-compliant and valid. A BBA contract is a sale transaction and it differs from a loan transaction of a conventional bank. Although there are issues pertaining BBA which is widely accepted in Malaysia but not in the Middle East, this is an issue to be discussed another day. The bottom line is we don't have to look far for solutions when the answer is actually right in front of our face.

Isn't this a good enough reason for us to change to Islamic banking?

Open House

2009-10-05T22:33:00.000+08:00

Most Malaysians are still in the Raya mood. I'm sure, this month of Syawal, you will likely be invited to an open house or you yourself might organize an open house. That's the spirit of Raya, at least in Malaysia. While doing that, I offer a few suggestions in caring for the environment but at the same time enjoying your open house:

1. Please do not use polystyrene or plastic utensils. These are the worst kind of pollutions to our mother nature. They fill the dump site and they are not biodegradable. Use your own porcelain plates and cups. Wash them after use and you can use them over and over again. If you don't have enough plates and cups, you can always rent them from caterers. They do provide this kind of service. I think, in the long run, renting is cheaper than buying a whole bunch of utensils just for that sake of the open house.

2. Organize the open house late evening i.e 4 p.m to 7 p.m. During noon, the weather will be very hot. Hence you will need more energy to cool your house either using fans or air-conditioner. Organizing the open house at night will require more energy to lighten your house. You can save more energy by organizing the open house when there is still visible natural lights.

3. Stagger the open house timing. For example, 4 p.m to 5 p.m for colleagues. 5 p.m to 6 p.m for family members etc. This will avoid over crowding at certain times. Over crowding means you will need more energy to cool your house. More people release more heat. By staggering, you will be able to distribute the crowd over the entire open house duration and spend more time with the designated guests.

Ideas that matters.

Stupidity - Exhibit F

2009-09-30T23:30:00.003+08:00

A lesson never learnt.

1. UMNO announced today that Tan Sri Isa Samad is their candidate for the Bagan Pinang by election.

2. With his history having been convicted with money politics and suspended for 3 years, it just puzzled me why UMNO still choose such candidate. Does that reflect the aspiration of the people wanting a clean government? Does that reflect the pledge made by our PM for a clean government?

3. Last year during UMNO general assembly, they voted for KJ as the Youth Chief. Thank God our PM did not appoint him in his cabinet. During Permatang Pasir by election, they choose a candidate with questionable background and they were battered.

4. This time around, again they are doing the same thing, choosing a candidate with a history of money politics. What does that say about UMNO? Are they short of capable candidates? Is that what really the grassroots wanted? Is that what the UMNO top leadership wanted? Why can't the leadership have a say on this? Are they scared the grassroots will boycott their choice of candidate? Is Isa actually bigger than UMNO itself if this is the case? It certainly looks like that.

5. During the Permatang Pasir by election, BN had to campaigned very hard just to justify their choice of candidate and refute all allegations regarding his background. Looking at how PR is playing their game, which is undermining candidates integrity, I'm sure BN will have to do the same thing in defending their candidate's integrity. Instead of a meaningful campaign, they will surely be wasting time in defending Isa.

6. With his background as a former MB for Negri Sembilan and Federal Territory Minister, I would consider it as a failure even if he wins but with majority smaller than 2,333 votes as obtained by BN in the last general election.

7. It does not matter that he was suspended for money politics by his party and not by MACC. Money politics in other words is CORRUPTION! Do you want your leader to be a corrupt? I certainly don't. When you are punished, then you are guilty. If you are not guilty, then you fight to clear your name. In Isa's case, he only appealed and his initial suspension from 6 years was reduced to 3 years. That still means he was guilty. He did not fight to clear his name and reputation. Even if it means taking the matter to court and expelled from the party, why not? That's of course if you are really innocent. If you don't do that, you will forever be labelled as a corrupt and in this case, you accept yourself to be labelled as a corrupt.

8. Good luck BN and PR! In order for a change to happen, the change must be seen to happen.

Top Money Tips for Malaysians

2009-09-28T20:39:00.005+08:00

1. This book is divided into 4 parts namely Smart Money Tips, Money Making Tips, Money Saving Tips and Money Protection Tips.

2. What's interesting about reading this book is that sometimes it feels like you are actually surfing the net. The author actually included lots of useful links for different purposes such as sites to create additional income, sites for financial tools etc.

3. Among his tips that I find interesting are "get your first car FREE" and "minimize upfront service charges in unit trust investment". These are not fictions. These are doable tips which can be put into place.

4. The author did go to a great length in explaining about insurance. There are lots of information regarding insurance in the last part, Money Protection Tips. Look out for "Investment Replacement Feature" which I find very interesting. But when I consult my insurance agent about this, she told me that its already included in my investment linked policy. Its a great benefit to know what it is all about though.

5. It is not a too technical book. It suits a normal person looking for information on various aspects of financial planning. It's an easy read too.

6. If you are uncertain about the 8th wonder of the world which is compound interest, there is a chapter about this in the book. Learn how compound interest works in order to help you in your journey towards financial freedom.

Selamat Hari Raya

2009-09-18T08:54:00.003+08:00

Dear my blog readers,

I would like to wish all of you Selamat Hari Raya & Maaf Zahir Batin. Please drive carefully on the road. Do enjoy the holidays. Make this Raya a meaningful one to you and your family. Enjoy!

National School - Continued

2009-09-17T22:03:00.004+08:00

In addition to my post entitled National School, I would like to appeal to all my blog readers to sign up for the petition in support of the "Kempen Satu Sekolah Untuk Semua". Just click here and it will direct you to the petition site. At time of this post, there are already 2,125 petitioners. They are aiming to achieve 100,00 signatures as show of support to this campaign. There is still a long way to go.

For further information, there is a blog for this campaign. Click here to direct you to the website. From the website, you can find all the information required regarding this campaign.

I would like to thank all my friends and my wife who have signed the petition that I've invited them to sign through email. I wish more will come forward in support of this campaign. There is actually no meaning of having a 1Malaysia concept if the very fundamental issue of our society is not addressed.

1 School For All, then only 1Malaysia!

LRT Extension

2009-09-15T13:23:00.004+08:00

Today we heard a great news from Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad. The Kelana Jaya and Ampang LRT lines will be extended. More new trains will be added. The project will likely kick off next year and will be ready by 2012. The extensions will serve areas like Bukit OUG, Bukit Jalil, Puchong, Subang Jaya, USJ and Putra Heights. For more information, read here and here.

Make your way to the Ministry of Transport, DBKL, MBPJ, MPSJ and MBSA to scrutinize the new routes and make yourself heard. Do contribute for the betterment of our public transportation system. The information is also available on Department of Railways website.

I hope this project will eliminate flaws that we are having in the current lines. Lessons should be learnt right. I also hope more will use the service once its ready. It should save money, time and also reduce pollution.

Eagerly awaiting for its completion...

newstations_s2

National School

2009-09-11T15:01:00.002+08:00

1. I came across this banner from the blog Marahku, My Anger, It May Be Yours Too... It inspired me to state again my stand on this issue which I think is long overdue.

2. Read Zainul Arifin's article in NST dated 9th September 2009.

3. Also read article by Dr. Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah in Mingguan Malaysia dated 30th August 2009.

4. Since Merdeka, Malaysians have been divided by no other than its own education system. The Malays go to National School or Religious schools. Chinese and Indians go to vernacular schools. After 52 years of Independence, we are reaping the rewards of not being able to integrate the various races within Malaysia.

5. The British came to the then Tanah Melayu and applied the 'divide and rule' concept. The concept managed to split the races. Malays are left in the villages. Chinese stayed in towns and near mines. Indians are left in the estates. Now we are seeing the same thing with our education system. At the end of the day, the results are the same. All the races are divided since they are children. So why are we surprised when there are too many race related issues lately?

6. Schools should be the first platform for our children to integrate with other races. If they don't what makes you think they can integrate at a later stage? However this has failed in our system simply when we still have vernacular schools around and they are becoming increasingly popular.

7. Now everybody is talking about 1Malaysia concept as mooted by our PM since he took over the helm. I'm just amazed that people would choose to harp on petty issues such as whether race should be included in forms as if by doing this, it will help integrate us. Look at the bigger picture please!

8. What kind of Malaysians are actually we leaving behind? After 52 years on independence, there are still people who can't speak the National Languange properly. If you can't communicate properly, how do you expect them to be united? There's where the phrase "Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa" came from I guess. There's no Bangsa Malaysia if the core values of Malaysians are not there.

9. Do away with vernacular schools if you are sincere with national unity. Don't argue that our law allows vernacular schools to exist. Even our law does not allow us to question Islam as the official religion and Bahasa Malaysia as the national language but what we are seeing these days are the exact opposite. If the very essence of our constitution can be questioned by certain quarters like what we are seeing now, why not question the existence of vernacular schools? It's for our own good anyway, that's if your are sincere of about national unity course.

10. I'm glad there are already people harping on this issue. To me, its for the nations good. The sad thing is, to date, only Datuk Mukhriz have stated publicly that he wants to see a single education system for all Malaysian. No other politicians have done that. What needs to be done now is to constantly fight for this until we have a single education system. If not, I think Malaysia will be worst off that what it is already now.

11. Find out what's wrong with the National School. If its found that curriculum of vernacular schools are better than the National School, change and absorb the better. At the end of the day, only National School should prevail.

By Election

2009-09-05T17:51:00.001+08:00

Today we are again hearing news that there will be another by election in Negeri Sembilan following the death of its assemblyman. Since the March 2008 general election, this will be the nation's record 9th by election after a general election. Let's see the list as follows and the reasons for these by elections:

Bagan Pinang, NS; TBA; Death of assemblyman (blood disorder)
Permatang Pauh, Penang; 26/8/2008; Resignation of MP
Penanti, Penang; 31/5/2009; Resignation of assemblyman
Permatang Pasir, Penang; 25/8/2009; Death of assemblyman (heart ailment)
Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu; 17/1/2009; Death of MP (heart attack)
Bukit Selambau, Kedah; 7/4/2009; Resignation of assemblyman
Bukit Gantang, Perak; 7/4/2009; Death of MP (heart attack)
Batang Ai, Sarawak; 7/4/2009; Death of assemblyman (stroke)
Manek Urai, Kelantan; 14/7/2009; Death of assemblyman (heart attack)

As far as I'm concerned, the 3 by elections where either the MP or assemblymen resigned could be avoided at all costs. Whether they should resign or not is another matter for another day. What is of concern to me is that 6 of the elected representatives died due to numerous reasons. That's only one and a half years into a new term. We have about three to four years to go until the next general election. Till then, only God knows how many more will die and how many more by elections to come. These indicate that candidates chosen are not fit for their job.

The fact is that every by election costs money. These money are the rakyat's money. The money involved are not small. It amounts up to millions of ringgit. Something really need to be done to avoid these unnecessary by elections. These money can be used for better purposes for developing the nation. Too many by elections also mean too many politicking which will also affect the performances of our politicians.

I'm not a politician. Therefore, I'm not well versed of the requirements of being a candidate for election. What I know is that candidates must fill up certain forms and submit them during nomination day. Candidates must fulfill certain criteria such as he is not a government servant and must not be a bankrupt. What I'm not sure is whether the candidates need to submit a full medical report or not.

Common sense says that a medical report is an indication whether a person is fit for the job or not. Whatever government posts that you apply, you certainly have to submit your medical reports together. Even though you've passed the interview session, your appointment will still subject to your medical report.

I just wonder why can't the same apply to being a candidate? They are basically government servant because they serve the people. They are being paid using government's money which in one way or another is rakyat's money. The best person should serve. If you are not fit for the job, then don't apply for it. Being a Member of Parliament (MP) or an assemblyman is not an easy job. There are too many responsibilities, that's of course if you truly know your responsibilities. Bottom line is, the rakyat deserves the best!

Pasar Ramadhan - How much are we wasting?

2009-09-02T20:49:00.004+08:00

During this fasting month, I'm sure many of us do drop by the ever popular Pasar Ramadhan to sort out the dishes for buka puasa. I have to admit that these markets are a good place for business during the fasting month. What I'm not happy about is the amount of waste generated from these markets. Any market that I go, I just could not imagine how many tonnes of garbage are generated from these markets especially plastic bags.

Just imagine this: A single guy who stops by Pasar Ramadhan to get his buka puasa dish. He is most likely to buy a main course dish (rice/mee), a pack of kuih and a pack of drink. That is the minimum to say the least. Now lets see how much food packaging goes into what he buys.

1. His main course dish will likely be packed by polystyrene pack. Then the pack will go into a plastic bag. If the dish comes with separate gravy or vegetable, then there will be more plastic bags involved.

2. His kuih will definitely go into a plastic bag. No questions asked.

3. His drink will certainly be packed in a plastic bag. Since the nature of the drink is cold, then the pack of drink will certainly go into another plastic bag just to avoid the moist and make the customer more comfortable handling the drink.

4. At a minimum, he will take back a polystyrene pack and 4 plastic bags. If he goes to the market for a whole straight month, then he will use up at least 120 plastic bags. That's only for a person. Just imagine how many people visit the market daily and how many markets are there in Malaysia? Do the math and you will be scared with the numbers alone. Does this shed any light on your contribution towards the environment?!

Since I believe you are not a typical Malaysian, these are a few steps that you can take to at least reduce the number of plastic bags used:

1. Bring along your shopping or cloth bag when you go to the market. Or should I say, always put a shopping bag in your car boot! Fill the shopping bags with your purchase. Put your main dish and packed drinks directly into the bags. You just don't need extra bags for these. It's a total waste! There alone you have reduced the number of plastic bags by 50%.

2. If you don't have any shopping or cloth bags, go out and buy one today! What's wrong with you?! The least you can do, recycle your plastic bags. Use it over and over again. They are durable. Instead of using 120 bags per month, you should be able to only use 2 bags for the entire month.

3. This is a little bit extreme. If you want to go an extra mile, bring along your own container (tupperware). The main dish and kuih can all go into it. That way, you will also reduce your plastic bags usage by 50%.

4. If you are a hawker at the market, encourage your customers to use their own bags. Give them an extra kuih for using their own containers. If they bring along their shopping bags, give them 20 cents discount. Is that too much to ask for?

All these are small gestures that I can think of which can go a long way in saving our environment. I'm sure you have better ideas that may have similar impact since you are not a typical Malaysian. Unless you want Malaysia to end up like what's in the picture, then continue with your "I don't care about the environment" habit. I hope you try.

Emergency Fund

2009-08-25T22:13:00.003+08:00

I've just completed my emergency fund. In case you are guessing, an emergency fund is used when you suffer a lost of income. Life must go on and yet money is required. That's where emergency fund comes in. Read any financial books, one of the criteria of a good financial planning is to have an emergency fund.

Some time ago, I read the book "Automatic Millionaire" by David Bach. According to him, one of the criteria of an emergency fund is that the money must work for you as an investment. Meaning to say, its a waste if your emergency fund stays stagnant without growing because an emergency fund could be as much as tenth thousands of ringgit.

Books on financial planning will suggest that you have an emergency fund of 3 to 6 months of your monthly salary. How much to choose its totally up to you. Its a feel good factor on how long you think you can secure a new job in case you suffer lost of income. As for me, I'm comfortable with 3 months salary. Among the reasons that I can think of why we need emergency funds:

In case you are terminated by your employer, you will need time to secure a new job. This can sometimes take up to 2-3 months. During financial crisis, anything can happen. So, be prepared.
If suddenly you are diagnosed with a critical illness. Treatment can take weeks, sometimes months. A normal company will only give you up to 20 days of medical leaves per year. Any extra medical leaves required will eat up your annual leave. Once you are out of annual leaves, you have to take up unpaid leave. Unpaid leaves will certainly reduce your monthly income.
There are cases where employer fails to pay their workers for up to a few months during economic crisis. You certainly need your emergency fund during that period.

These are a few criteria that an emergency fund must have from my perspective:

It must be easily accessible i.e liquid.
It must grow at a slow rate.
It must be in separate account from your day to day money.
It must be invested according to Syariah.

Having listed my criteria, I actually contemplated on a few options as my emergency fund. My first option was Fixed Deposit (FD). Before the economic downturn, FD can fetch rates up to 3.5% annually. But now, you are considered lucky if you can get a rate of 2.3% per year. While FD is a good place to invest your emergency fund, it still depends on the banks rate which will only increase the longer you park your money there.

My second option was a Money Market (MM) fund. I've done my analysis on this and the return on MM fund is not that good. You can barely fetch up to 2.5% annually. This is certainly not good in my book. Anyway, the service charge for this fund is quite minimal. Only 0.25% of your investment amount.

Next is in Tabung Haji (TH). I already have an existing account with TH for my hajj preparation. So I prefer not to mix them up. On another note, TH is giving quite a good consistent return of 2 to 3% annually after zakat.

Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB). I have actually taken out all my investments in ASB due to the halal and haram issue. Its really up to that individual to decide. Some says its harus and some haram. If you think its not an issue, then go ahead. ASB do give good consistent return of 7 to 9% per year without any service charges. Where else can you get better investment than that?

Option that I choose was Income Fund (IF). An IF is actually a fairly conservative fund. When making comparisons between IF and MM fund, IF actually gives better return. The return ranges between 3-4% per year. Besides, the service charge is the same at 0.25%. So I've decided to take up a bit more of risk for my emergency fund in order for the money to work harder for me. Hopefully with the return, I would not have to add to my emergency fund later in case there is a change of lifestyle where I require my pool of emergency fund to be bigger. Besides it complies to all the 4 criteria that I've mentioned above.

Before investing my emergency fund in the Income fund, my emergency fund was actually mixed up with my day to day money. I left my emergency fund in my savings and current accounts. One thing for sure is that I never always felt that I have adequate money since the emergency fund is always on my mind. Whenever I want to spend money on big ticket items, I was not sure whether my emergency fund is adequate or not since they are all mixed up. Now for sure, I can sleep better knowing I've separated my emergency fund from my day to day money. Its a simple task but yet important

So if you have not started your emergency fund, start studying your options today. Its a good financial planning foundation. Good Luck!

Property Jewels

2009-08-18T22:07:00.004+08:00

1. I like this book because some of the points mentioned are not known to the general public. Its kind off a bit technical, but technical stuffs that you need to know for property investments.

2. The book lists 263 so called "diamond studded strategies to help you become a property multi-millionaire". Some are common sense. Some are general knowledge but some are new, at least to me.

3. In terms of managing your rental property, I prefer Azizi Ali's book. This book does not help too much on this subject because she did not present her system used.

4. In terms of choosing a property, I prefer this book. It does outline her method of scouting for properties. She also outlines what type of properties to look for and those to avoid. She gave good reasons for all of these.

5. When buying the book, make sure you check pages 164, 165, 168, 169, 172, 173, 176 and 177. These are the missing pages from the book that I bought.

6. This is a book with good information. Read it to learn more.

Guess Who's the Winner, Again?

2009-08-12T21:15:00.004+08:00

1. After quite a stressful week, guess who came out as the winner on top of all those issues and controversies?

2. After his boss asked him to retract his statement, Jeff Ooi retracted his statement which labelled JIM as an extremist organization. The CM considered the matter closed just because he has retracted his statement. But he never apologized! Damn racist!

3. After public outcry about racists publication on his blog, Rasah MP, Loke Siew Fook simply denied the blog is even his. The blog has been around for some time and yet he did not know about it? The posting received lots of feedback from readers and yet he did not know a blog named after him exist? Only after he was condemned, the blog is deleted. He report to police to claim his innocence. Does that makes sense? No apology recorded, of course.

4. Instead of banning sales of alcohol and beer at convenience stores in Muslim-majority areas, Selangor MB has came up with a 'better' idea. "Better boycott than to ban". What's the need anyway to sell beer at Muslim-majority areas when they should not be consuming them? Should the convenience store sells pornography magazines after this since the MB said the stores should be self-regulated. When there's no demand, they will not sell, according to him. Why sell unless your hidden purpose is to destroy young Muslim generations?

5. Just because Hassan Ali has opposing views, he must be punished. That's how DAP is administering the state. Don't oppose their evergreen brilliant ideas. Otherwise, you'll be in trouble. Sounds like dictatorship anyone?

6. I guess it's about time for our public market to sell pork since Malaysia has a plural society. Other people will want to buy them so we should be considerate and let them sell. Never mind about feelings of Muslims since they should learn to impose self-ban from buying pork. Let DAP propose that to the MB. I'm sure he will agree in the name of pluralism.

7. Just too bad Selangor has that kind of MB. With mismanagement of funds among its assemblymen, claim of link to the underworld among its exco and DAP making decision on behalf of the MB, I guess its fair to say only one term for them.

Stupidity - Exhibit E

2009-08-06T21:26:00.002+08:00

1. Read article by Dr Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, "Nasib Melayu di Bumi Melayu" posted in Mingguan Malaysia dated 26th July 2009.

2. Also read his article titled "Bila Kacang Lupakan Kulit" posted in Mingguan Malaysia dated 2nd August 2009. This article is actually longer but I could not find the full version of it on the net.

3. Actually I haven't been reading Utusan nor Mingguan Malaysia for quite some time. Its basically due to its poor content. But last weekend while I was back in my hometown, I flipped thru the newspaper and read about Dr Ridhuan's article "Bila Kacang Lupakan Kulit".

4. In my opinion, whatever he has written are true. Its very brave of him to write such things and I respect him for his stand. I don't see anything wrong with his writing. All are based on facts. His stand on the illegal child issue is very clear. It does not have anything to do with Teoh Beng Hock death.

5. And as expected, he is slammed by "you know who"! Some idiot who is DAP Socialist Youth National Chairman condemned Dr Ridhuan in his blog. Zulkifli Nordin slammed him back. The usual accusations will be racist just because he has different opinions compared to the idiots.

6. Teoh Beng Hock's death and his unborn child are 2 separate issues. I'm still guessing why on earth this idiot thinks that Dr Ridhuan is making cruel remarks about this unborn child. He is questioning why should this child be declared as a legal child as proposed by MCA Wanita Chief. Just because the child's dad died mysteriously, then the child should be legal? Grow up la! There's no connection at all. An illegal child is still illegal. No 2 ways about it! Tell me which religion accepts such a practice?

7. Dr Ridhuan is all for the truth for TBH death. Why is already the MACC or the government being judged and these few illogical request being made? Its a pity that he died such a way but is it fair to demand from the government such thing as if the government is already wrong?

8. Wait for the full investigation for his cause of death. For all you know, its the people around him who killed him.

9. Just because others don't see things according to your perspective, its really convenient to label them racist. This is what has been happening over and over again. So my dear friends, stand tall. Its a long journey ahead to see a united Malaysia when we still have people like this!

Stupidity - Exhibit D

2009-08-03T18:55:00.004+08:00

1. I was really annoyed by Jelutong MP, Jeff Ooi's remark towards Penang PKR municipal councillor, Mohd Razali Abdullah by labelling him a 'religious extremist'.

2. This is another example how ignorance can a DAP leader be towards Muslims in this country. They expect others to respect them but how about them?

3. Anything linked with Islam or Syariah will be labelled as extreme by these few selfish bastards when they don't even know what's the real meaning of Islam nor Syariah.

4. Everybody has their own ideology including Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM). What gives Jeff the right to condemn others ideology? Is this type of leader we are looking for a multi-racial Malaysia? They are only administrating a state and already showing their real arrogance. I wonder how they would become if they administer our country.

5. I'm grateful that some of PKR and PAS leaders have came out strongly criticizing Jeff. Among others is Zulkifli Nordin.

6. Criticizing alone is not enough. I hope the top PR leadership will force him to apologize to all Muslims in this country and the whole world for his stupid remark and ensure such thing will not happen again in the future.

7. And I would like to see how the Penang Chief Minister handle this matter since Jeff Ooi is his Chief of Staff. Then only will we know the true colours of DAP leaders in this country.

8. I also hope Mohd Razali Abdullah will keep his position and Penang PKR will not bow to this kind of pressure.

9. Vote the unwanted out!

Truth About Leasehold Property

2009-07-24T15:16:00.004+08:00

Recently, I received the Sale & Purchase Agreement (SPA) for the house that me and my wife recently bought for our signature. Flicking thru the agreement, then only I discovered the true meaning of a leasehold property. All this while, my understanding about leasehold property was that the land is leased to the house owner for a period normally 99 years from the day the owner takes vacant possession of the house.

However, in my agreement, it is stated that the leasehold period is for 99 years and will expire in the year 2095. What this mean is that the leasehold tenure has started since year 1996. The house that we bought is still under construction and will only be ready by 2011. This means that we already lost out 15 years of the leasehold period. We are only left with 84 years to stay in the house. How did this happen?

The normal practice for developing residential properties in Malaysia is that the developer will acquire a piece of land to be developed. Then, the land will be developed and sold in phases because of capital contraints. The whole development might take up to 20 years to be completed. Even though the development will take up to 20 years, the leasehold period for the whole land will start the moment the developer acquires it. Owner of the later phases will have shorter leasehold period compared to the earlier phases owner.

For certain people, 84 years is a long time. Not many will even reach to that age. As for me, if I were to live another 84 years, I'll be more than 100 years young! So why should I bother about the leasehold being only left with 84 years? Well, it was not a concern in the first place until I discovered something in the current book I'm reading.

In this book, the author stated that for leasehold property with tenure less than 60 years, its quite difficult to get financing from banks. This means, the target market is significantly reduced because only buyers with cold hard cash can afford the property. This also means, since the target market will only consist of a small pool of people, you will be at the losing end if any negotiation takes place. I have yet to confirm this fact with any banker but to me, the reasoning is quite logic. Why should a bank hold onto a mortgage which decline in value? Take note, when I say decline in value means when the leasehold period is lesser than 60 years. Not before that. Should this be the case, it also means that ideally we stay for about 20 years in this property before selling it to fetch a fairly good value (if it rise in value of course) for the property instead of waiting the leasehold to be less than 60 years.

Of course ideally, whenever you can, try to buy freehold property. This way, you will not have to worry about the declining value. But in reality, it has to be admitted that freehold property has become scarce in our part of world today. Even if you can get one, surely you will have to pay a premium for it. As a precaution, follow these steps. It might help:

1. Whenever buying a leasehold property, find out when was the first phase of development started. If the salesperson could not answer this question, request to have a copy of their SPA. It is clearly stated when will the leasehold period expires.

2. Always try to buy early phases in a development. This way you will get more leasehold years.

3. Pray and fingers crossed that the state government will convert all leasehold land to freehold like what the Perak Pakatan Rakyat government wanted to do before they were toppled. Hope the Selangor government will do the same.

4. If possible, try to sell off property before its leasehold period is less than 60 years.

Phitsanulok – the city of recycling

2009-07-17T17:22:00.002+08:00

I read this article from the Sun by Dr Goh Ban Lee with great interest. Maybe it can be a role model to us and our local council. Read on.

MOST Malaysians might not have heard of Phitsanulok, a city of about 160,000 people in Thailand. This is understandable as the provincial capital is 377km north of Bangkok and does not have the tourist products that Malaysians like. This is a pity as there is a lot that one can learn from Phitsanulok.

It is very clean. Many have asserted that it is the cleanest city in Thailand and among the cleanest in Asia. Its cleanliness is not the result of round-the-clock sweeping. Like most cities, the garbage is collected once a day and streets are swept daily early in the morning.

It does have a unique feature – there are no garbage bins along the major roads. The city council removed almost all of them about four years ago as part of its effort to keep the city clean.

Clearly, the residents do not throw rubbish indiscriminately.

The Phitsanulok City Council, especially the long-serving Mayor Premrudee Charmpoonod, should also be applauded. With help from the GTZ of Germany, she was instrumental in setting up the Community Based Waste Management about ten years ago. Solid waste management (SWM) is seen as the responsibility of the communities, with the local council playing a supporting role.

This is in contrast to what is happening in Malaysia. Here, SWM is seen as the responsibility of the government and the appointed concessionaires. As such, many Malaysians are under the delusions that they can throw rubbish anywhere outside their houses and there will be someone to clean up after them.

An important factor in Phitsanulok is that about 90% of the things that make cities dirty, such as used plastic bags, newspapers, paper cups, cans and bottles are collected and sold to recyclable collection outlets. The city is working towards achieving a 100% collection of recyclable materials.

What’s more, some residents with landed compounds practise vermi-composting – the use of earth worms to digest organic wastes to produce composts. There are also plans to encourage the setting up of four or five vermi-compost farms so that all organic wastes, which account for about 40% of solid wastes, do not have to be disposed at the city landfill.

Phitsanulok municipal leaders and researchers in the Naresuan University believe that in the near future, there will be no need for a landfill in Phitsanulok. At the very least, the lifespan of its existing landfill can be prolonged considerably.

Indeed, plastic wastes in the landfill are being recovered for recycling and there is research to treat the remaining soil so that it can be used as compost.

A large part of the success of Phitsanulok in recycling can be attributed to Dr Somthai Wongcharoen who began dealing with recyclable materials in 1974 with a start-up capital of 1,000 baht and an old pick-up truck. His company, Wongpanit, has grown into a multi-million baht enterprise dealing with thousands of tonnes of recyclable materials a year.

Had Wongpanit remained just a very successful waste recycling company, it would not have attracted much attention apart from making one man very rich. The fame of Wongpanit is that Samthai is an ardent campaigner of recycling – both to save the environment and make a living.

He initiated the setting up of material collection centres, which he calls “recyclable banks”, in schools, hospitals and other institutions. People who bring recyclable materials are paid for their efforts. He has also helped many to set up Wongpanit “franchises” all over Thailand.

He has personally trained several thousand Thais and others about running a successful recycling business. His core messages are: know the materials, waste separation and be honest.

As such, Wongpanit collection centres have clearly stated price lists and bold signs declaring that they do not accept illegal materials.

Now, there are more than 500 recyclable banks and more than 100 Wongpanit franchises in Thailand. A branch has been set up in Vientiane, Laos.

Malaysians also want clean cities and to save the environment. Indeed, hundreds of millions of tax ringgit are being spent yearly on SWM and talking about 3Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle.

There is money in waste management. Unfortunately, the attention is on the appointment of contractors to collect and transport waste and manage landfills and who has the power to appoint them. It should be on waste separation, collecting recyclable materials, processing them and selling them.

Tips Dari Kursus Asas Pertolongan Cemas

2009-07-10T18:41:00.003+08:00

Berikut adalah beberapa tips yang saya perolehi daripada Kursus Asas Pertolongan Cemas untuk Industri yang saya sertai beberapa minggu yang lepas:

1. Sekiranya terjadi kemalangan yang melibatkan terpotong jari, tangan atau sebarang anggota badan, bahagian yang terpotong tersebut hendaklah dimasukkan ke dalam beg plastik dan diikat. Beg plastik tersebut kemudiannya hendaklah di masukkan ke dalam bekas berisi ais dan dihantar ke hospital bersama mangsa. Peluang untuk bahagian yang terpotong untuk disambung semula adalah lebih tinggi dengan cara ini. Jangan dimasukkan bahagian yang terpotong tersebut terus ke dalam bekas yang berisi ais kerana ia akan mengembangkan bahagian tersebut dan kerja-kerja penyambungan semula akan menjadi rumit dan berkemungkinan tidak dapat disambung semula.

2. Sekiranya seseorang itu terkena keracunan makanan atau terminum racun, perkara yang paling baik untuk dilakukan adalah memakan pil arang. Pil arang kebiasaannya boleh didapati di dalam peti pertolongan cemas. Pil arang ini akan membantu menyerap segala racun yang diminum dan peluang untuk pulih adalah lebih cerah.

3. Sekiranya seseorang itu menjadi mangsa rogol, perkara yang paling tidak patut dilakukan adalah membersihkan diri. Dia seharusnya terus pergi ke hospital berdekatan dan melaporkan kejadian tersebut. Hospital akan mengutamakan kes-kes sebegini. Badan yang belum dibersihkan berkemungkinan besar masih mempunyai bukti-bukti yang boleh diperolehi oleh pihak polis untuk membantu siasatan dalam kes berkenaan. Sekiranya mangsa mandi atau membersihkan badan, kemungkinan untuk memperolehi bukti-bukti yang dikehendaki menjadi lebih tipis.

4. Sekiranya seseorang itu terlibat dengan kemalangan dan mengalami kepatahan tulang, seelok-eloknya, bahagian yang patah tersebut hendaklah diluruskan secepat mungkin. Jangan tunggu terlalu lama kerana kemungkinan untuk bahagian tersebut tidak dapat diselamatkan adalah tinggi. Kebiasaan masyarakat Malaysia adalah untuk tidak menyentuh bahagian yang patah tersebut. Lebih cepat bahagian yang patah tersebut diluruskan atau dikembalikan ke tempat asal, lebih besar peluang untuk bahagian tersebut untuk diselamatkan.

5. Sekiranya anda memasuki kawasan bencana dan terdapat banyak mangsa, cuba klasifikasikan mangsa-mangsa tersebut kepada mangsa kritikal, separa kritikal, tidak kritikal dan kematian. Mangsa yang kritikal perlu diselamatkan terlebih dahulu diikuti oleh mangsa separa kritikal, tidak kritikal dan seterusnya kematian.

6. Apabila terjadi kejadian dimana seseorang sesak nafas akibat kebakaran atau mengalami alahan yang teruk, cuba masukkan hos atau tiub getah kedalam mulut mangsa sehingga ke bahagian trakea secepat mungkin. Apabila mangsa menyedut asap panas atau mengalami alahan, sel-sel dalam trakea akan meradang kerana ia bahagian yang amat sensitif. Sekiranya bahagian ini meradang, sel-sel ini akan menutup saluran pernafasan dan mangsa akan mengalami kesukaran bernafas dan boleh menyebabkan kematian. Jika terdapat hos atau tiub getah yang berjaya dimasukkan kedalam mulut, peluang untuk mangsa bernafas dan diselamatkan adalah lebih tinggi.

7. Sekiranya anda terperangkap didalam bangunan yang terbakar, cuba tunduk serendah mungkin untuk mencari jalan keluar. Udara sejuk adalah lebih tumpat dan akan berada di bahagian bawah sementara udara panas akan berada di bahagian atas. Ini akan mengelakkan anda daripada menyedut udara panas yang boleh menyebabkan kesesakan nafas.

8. Sekiranya terjadi kemalangan jalan raya dan mangsa perlu dikeluarkan dengan memotong kereta, cuba elakkan daripada membenarkan pihak Jabatan Pertahanan Awam (JPA) daripada memotong kenderaan tersebut. Ini adalah kerana pihak insurans hanya akan membayar ganti rugi sekiranya pihak Bomba yang memotong kenderaan tersebut. Sekiranya pihak lain yang memotong kenderaan tersebut, pihak insurans tidak akan membayar sebarang ganti rugi. Tetapi sekiranya anda perlu memilih diantara nyawa dan harta, pilihlah nyawa. Nyawa lebih berharga daripada harta duniawi.

Amah oh Amah

2009-06-26T17:07:00.003+08:00

1. I was taken aback by the announcement by Human Resources Minister, Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam that domestic maids will soon be given one rest day a week.

2. Just because there are a few maids abuse cases lately and some pressure from the Indonesian government, our minister had the courage to make a decision that will put Malaysian employer on the losing end.

3. Just to state my stand, whatever abuse on a maid is totally unacceptable and should be punished regardless. But just because of a few cases, the minister should not bow to these kind of demands which could jeopardize the safety of the employer's family. Of course there are some improvements that could be done to better the system. But that should not be at the stake of the employer's family.

4. In case our minister don't know, the number ONE fear of a Malaysian employer is when their maids start to mixed around and have their own 'network' which is normally made up of their own countrymen. While having love affair is the maid's personal issue, safety of the employer's family should be a priority.

5. I'm sure you have heard of break-ins that does not even have forced entry marks. How did this happen? Some regard this with "pukau". But I do believe some if not most are the product of 'networking'.

6. Maids are outsiders. It's not easy to entrust an outsider to handle your everyday chores including taking care of the kids and looking after the house. Because of change in priorities and lifestyle, more Malaysians need to hire maids to assist in their daily lives. Since this is an unavoidable trend nowadays, safety precaution on the employers side should be in place. Safety of the whole family is at stake here.

7. I simply can't understand why Indonesian Manpower Minister, Erman Suparno demanded that maids have the right to hold onto their passports. First of all, the reason why employers keep their maids passport is to avoid cases where the maids suddenly disappear without a trace. What can protect the employer if this happen? Money is paid to get the maid but when they disappear, nobody seems to hear the employers cry for a new maid which should be without additional charges. Yet the employer will have to fork out another RM3,000 for a new maid. After all, passport is only used for travelling out of Malaysia, so why they need to keep it? Unless of course they plan to run away.

8. What good will it do for the maids to have a rest day each week? They are already staying with a family. The employer provides food and shelter. Whatever the family do, normally the maid will follow. Why need the day off? Just stay with them and try to enjoy whatever they are doing. They are 'part' of the family already.

9. If having a day off is the issue here where maids should be treated as a normal labour, why not impose 1 or 2 weeks off every 6 months instead? While they are off, they should be sent back to their country of origin for a break. Most of them are here to find money to feed their family back home, I don't see why they don't want to go back when given the chance. Instead of letting them loose every week to loiter with their own countrymen, I think this is a more acceptable option. This way they will work for 11 months for 12 month's pay, what better deal can you ask for? Employer can be assured of their family's safety and the maid can enjoy their working here.

10. By all means if Jakarta wants to stop exporting their domestic maids, let them do it. We can still get maids from other countries. They are certain issues that could be discussed among the ministers to better the system but please do not jeopordize the interest of employers. They are the one doing all of the payments. Their interest should be of most important. Regardless, maids should not be treated as modern day slaves. This is the real issue that both ministers should look at.

Retire Rich

2009-06-17T21:36:00.003+08:00

1. I think Azizi Ali did a great job explaining about retiring in this book. It gave me a better insight on how retiring life will be.

2. In one of its chapters, he explained how to come up with the amount of money to fund your own retirement based on financial planning concept. The only problem for a layman is to come up with the numbers. Unless you have a financial calculator and know how to use it, this chapter can be some how tricky for a normal person. Come and see me if you want. I'll calculate the numbers for you.

3. I think its a must read especially for ladies. Normally, guys are the one concerned with having enough money for retirement. One of its chapters emphasize on why women should be more concerned rather than living this stuff to the guys/husband. If you still think so, you are just inviting disaster to happen.

4. After reading this book, it changed my view about retirement and it makes me wonder whether should I work while I'm still capable to do so rather than retire when I reach certain age. Of course I need to love what I'm doing then.

5. This book give a good sight on what you should be doing if you are not well prepared for retirement regardless of whether you are still young or nearing the retirement age.

6. It lays some basic concept in managing your finance in order to meet the required amount of retirement fund. Of course the key word here will be DISCIPLINE!

7. I do recommend this book to all because we will eventually retire one day. How well we prepare for it will determine what kind of lifestyle we will live during our old days. Does not matter if you are a government servant and opted for pension scheme. It's best if you too start planning for retirement. Your pension will not be enough.

8. The 8th wonders of the world is COMPOUNDING EFFECT. In order to maximize the effect of compounding on your investment, you should start investing at early stage. As time will be on your side, you will not have to save like crazy in order to meet your objectives. So start today, but educate yourself first!

Next Property Hot Spot (Part III)

2009-06-09T21:27:00.002+08:00

In this post, I would like to analyze new property developments in Kajang. As I mentioned in my first post, Kajang if not is already a hot spot considering the developments that has taken place there. However, it is still possible to scout for properties below RM 300k with the speficiations that I've mentioned in my first post. Not many of them though. Let's look at a couple

Kajang Perdana
There is not much information regarding this project though. Nothing can be found on the internet. This is a development by D-Hill Sdn Bhd. From the map that I have, the development is located at Kajang Bypass highway near Kajang Giant. Some info regarding this project as advertised in newspapers:

consists of double-storey terrace (20' x 70') and double-storey terrace superlink (22' x 75')
selling price from RM 279,300
free SPA legal fees and stamp duty for Memorandum of Transfer (MOT)
24 hours guarded
freehold

Jade Terrace
This is a development by JM Land Sdn BHD (don't be confused with IJM Land). The development is called Bandar Puncak Utama Kajang. It's 100% completed with CF. So you can move in immediately. Some info about this project:

freehold
adjacent to Jade Hills (by Gamuda)
selling at about RM 270k
built-up is 1700 square feet

Currently the only entrance to this area is from the Minlon building along Besraya highway. It's about 3km from this junction. I have to say that the only entrance now is quite scary and the roads are badly maintained. Before reaching, you will have to pass thru a few housing projects, few flats, some factories (I don't know whether these are illegal) and under construction roads. The area is gated and guarded though with only 1 entrance currently.

One of the selling point about this project is it's located next to a Gamuda development called Jade Hills. The main point of using Gamuda's name is that they are actually building another access road which will connect this area to Sungai Chua. When this access road is completed, Jade Terrace will have another proper access to this area. Their sales person expect that the road to be ready within a year. She told me that they actually had an agreement with Gamuda to build the access road. My main concern is that what if Gamuda decided not to open access from Sungai Chua to Jade Terrace? Since Jade Hills is a high end project, it's likely that access to the area will be restricted. Even in Jade Hills' website, the access road from Sungai Chua to Jade Terrace is not indicated.

The project is about 40% sold at the moment. For the above mentioned price, only 2 to 3 units left. Their pricing scheme is quite weird though. intermediate units are differently priced without any additional features such as facing field etc. Currently they don't have any promotions besides the normal free SPA legal fees and Free Moving Cost (FMC). You will have to come up with 10% for down payment.

I do think if the access road to Sungai Chua is eventually open, this is a good place to live in and the property price will rise besides it's located near the Kajang train station via Sungai Chua. There's no risk of this project being abandoned since it's already complete with CF. The risk is whether the access road will actually be opened to public or not. In terms of other amenities, shop houses are quite nearby. Although I didn't notice any schools around, it's likely that Jade Hills will have their own schools later on.

Think before you buy

Next Property Hot Spot (Part II)

2009-06-04T00:02:00.002+08:00

Since I already specified in my previous post that I expect Kajang and Sungai Buloh to be the next hot spot, so I'll concentrate on developments in Sungai Buloh for this post. There are a few projects that interest me in Sungai Buloh and most of them I've visited the area and show houses.

Desa Coalfield
Desa Coalfield is a development by Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK) which is located along Jalan Kuala Selangor about 8 km from Sungai Buloh. The township has been there for quite some time. Currently KLK is launching its Avina Homes. Some info regarding this development:

big built up 1,941 square feet
4 rooms with 4 bathrooms
title already issued
show house will only be ready in September 2009
priced at around RM 250k
freehold
about 2 km from Paya Jaras exit on Guthrie Highway
expected completion date is early 2011

The thing about this area is that there has been complaints that the area is polluted with smells from a chicken farm nearby. If you are around that area, you can actually smell something in the air. Its not very obvious but its certainly there. If you can endure the smell, then it might be a good buy for you.

Another draw back about this township is that there is no school in this area. According to the salesman, they have provided lands for the government to build schools since 2002. Knowing the government, they will only start building whenever the township reaches certain population. Unlike other developers which carry out Corporate Funding Initiatives, KLK does not seem to do that. Even for newly wed couples, there's no guarantee that 7 years from now, the school will be ready for your children first day in school. While it is off importance now, it will certainly be important in the near future. It's better to choose developers which takes responsibility to build amenities for the residents and later hand them over to the government.

Seri Pristana
Seri Pristana is located within the same vicinity of Saujana Utama (read below). It is developed by Pristana Property Group. The developer does not seem to ring a bell to most of us because most of its developments has been in Sabah and Sarawak. It seems this is their first project in Peninsular Malaysia. I haven't had the chance to visit the show house and I don't have too many info on this development. There are phases which are already completed in this area. Currently they are launching Seri Pristana Phase 4, Aristana.

What I can really say about this development is that its well located in Saujana Utama. All amenities has been built by Glomac (developer of Saujana Utama) and Seri Pristana just build their houses. No need to worry about amenities. That all has been taken care of by Glomac. It's a smart move by the developer though. Even from the website, I can't really find a lot of info about this development. In case you are interested, there is a sales booth in Giant, Shah Alam. You can get more info from the guy stationed there. He is a helping hand.

Bukit Saujana
Bukit Saujana is a development by Glomac located in Saujana Utama. Saujana Utama is a township by Glomac which they started developing since middle of 1990's. Completed phases are Saujana Utama 1 (SU1) and Saujana Utama 2 (SU2). Currently they are building Saujana Utama 3 (SU3) which is expected to be completed soon. Bukit Saujana is a new development in Saujana Utama. They launched their Lavender Homes a few months back. Some info regarding this development:

priced at around RM 260k
leasehold
built up area of 1,860 square feet
expected date of completion is end of 2010
show house ready

Having been there, I would say that the township is an ideal one. Almost all amenities are already in place. There are petrol station, police station, schools (both primary and secondary), commercial centre and soon to complete SU Mall. Not to forget, Sungai Buloh Country Resort (SBCR) is also located here. What's better is that Metro Bus is already servicing this area.

Furthermore, it's located merely 5 km away from the new UiTM campus in Puncak Alam which is expected to take in their first batch of students in 2009. The campus is expected to house some 50,000 students when fully operational. Developments near institute of higher learning has always been a success and will always appreciate in value. Just look at Shah Alam with UiTM, Skudai with UTM, Bangi with UKM, Seri Iskandar with UTP and UiTM, Kota Samarahan with UNIMAS and UiTM and many more.

People who are familiar with Puncak Alam area will want to argue that there are a lot other developments which are also nearby the new UiTM campus. Nusa Rhu, Alam Damai, Shah Alam 2 and Sunway Kayangan just to name a few. What make Saujana Utama stand up compared to others are its amenities and it's located in between Sungai Buloh and the new UiTM campus. Other developments does not have this direct access to Sungai Buloh except for Seri Pristana of course. And why do I stress on access to Sungai Buloh again? Easy access to Sungai Buloh train station for easier access to reliable public transport.

One drawback (or is it a good thing?) I would say about Lavender Homes is that all 85 units are sold out. However, in case you are interested you might want to keep in touch with their salesman just in case some early birds decided to withdraw from buying the house or they can't get financing. They just launched this house a few months back. So that possibility still exists (trust me). Not too worry though as there are other planned developments for this area. The last time I checked, they are going to launch a Semi-D cluster development priced at around RM 240k somewhere middle this year. Second phase development for Bukit Saujana will also see new launches but quite limited units.

It takes about 15-20 minutes drive from Saujana Utama to Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh. Paya Jaras exit of Guthrie Highway is about 10 minutes away. PLUS Highway Sungai Buloh exit is about 25 minutes away. Proposed new NKVE that will service Puncak Alam area is also on the board. If that is realized, Saujana Utama won't be that badly connected with highways after all.

Out of the three, Saujana Utama certainly tops the list in my book.

Next Property Hot Spot (Part I)

2009-05-23T12:00:00.003+08:00

In a series of post, I would like to share my views on where would be the next property hot spots and the reasons behind them. This might help those looking for affordable houses to stay but at the same time does not want to move far away from the Klang Valley.

1. My 1st criteria that I've set is that the house must be RM300k and below. Reasons behind this is that I think with both husband and wife working with a pay of RM2k each, they certainly can afford this house price. You can try the property affordability calculator to determine your own property affordability.

2. Houses or projects that I will examine will be new developments or newly completed projects. Reason will be its easier to compare new developments rather than comparing the secondary market or sub-sale house prices. Prices of secondary houses differs because lots of reasons. Therefore I would stick to this criteria as it will make this discussion straight forward and simpler.

3. Houses that I will look into will be double-story link houses preferably with built ups of more than 1600 square feet. Most of new developments will include double-story houses because this is the most popular choice among buyers. So there are abundance of projects that I can compare with so there will be more choices.

4. Criteria that I think of most importance is accessibility. In simple terms, if you stay somewhere in Cheras or Subang Jaya (prime areas) and you will need to leave your house everyday at 6.45 every morning in order to get to your office by 8.30 a.m., would it make more sense to move further away from Klang Valley where you can afford cheaper bigger house but because of good accessibility, you still can leave the house at 6.45 a.m. and reach your office in KL by 8.30 a.m.? Which would you prefer? Staying in prime areas but you can only afford a small house or even worse only an apartment or stay in less prime area (currently) but you can afford bigger house?

5. With the deteriorating traffic conditions in Klang Valley, I believe more and more will switch to public transportation once the system becomes more reliable. There seems no sign of relief on what would be the solution to this evergreen problem. Plans of extending the current LRT lines has been on the board for a few years now but yet nothing concrete has materialised. Of course if this project is realised, it will certainly has an adverse effect on property prices in locations such as Cheras, Putra Heights, Kota Damansara and Subang Jaya. Some reports suggest that the project will be ready by 2013. But lets not depend on something that haven't materialised. See map below for the proposed LRT extensions.
6. I look at Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) for solution instead. Since February 2009, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) has begun its shuttle service between Seremban and KL Sentral. This shuttle service will only stop at 6 stations during peak hours compared to 14 by KTM komuter service. The stations are Seremban, Nilai, Kajang, Bdr Tasik Selatan, KL Sentral and KL train station. KTMB has also begun its shuttle service from Ipoh to KL Sentral since April 2009. It also has selected stops which include Rawang, Sg Buloh, Bank Negara and Kepong Sentral among others.

7. Unlike the common complaints about punctuality of KTM Komuter services, shuttle services don't have this kind of problem. I've experienced it first hand while travelling back from Ipoh to KL Sentral using this shuttle service. As promised, 3 hours on the dot I arrived at KL Sentral. The good news is currently the shuttle service is operating using refurbished coaches. When the new coaches start operation, I would expect the shuttle services to be faster and better. The better news is that the fares for this service is the same as KTM Komuter. So why choose Komuter when Shuttle is better? Refer to KTMB's website for more info.

8. Check at KTMB's website indicate that if you board the Shuttle from Kajang at 7.32 a.m, you will arrive at KL Sentral at 8.02 a.m. If you board the Shuttle from Sungai Buloh at 7.30 a.m., you will arrive at KL Sentral at 7.57 a.m. From there on, I do believe its possible for you to reach to your office by 8.30 a.m.

9. With the reasons elaborated, I pick Kajang and Sungai Buloh to be the next property hot spots. Even though Kajang, if not is already considered as a prime area, there are still new houses that meet the criteria that I've set above. Not many would want to live in Sungai Buloh, but in the next post, I would pin point a few projects in Sungai Buloh that you might want to consider buying. Last but not least, these areas are not only connected by trains. They are also accessible via highways. So if you still choose to drive, they are not badly connected after all.

Stop Global Warming

2009-05-16T14:50:00.003+08:00

How much carbon dioxide you'll save doing them:

1. Change a light - Replacing one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb will save 150 pounds of CO2 a year.

2. Drive less - Walk, bike, carpool or take mass transit more often. You'll save 1 pound of CO2 for every mile you don't drive!

3. Recycle more - You can save 2,400 pounds of CO2 per year by recycling just half of your household waste.

4. Check your tires - Keeping your tires inflated properly can improve gas mileage by more than 3%. Every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of CO2 out of the atmosphere!

5. Use less hot water - It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Use less hot water by installing a low flow showerhead (350 pounds saved per year) and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds save per year)

6. Efficient air-cond usage - Turn off the air-conditional's main switch when not in use. You could save about 2,000 pounds of CO2 a year with this simple action.

7. Turn off electronic devices - Simply turning off your TV, DVD player, stereo and computer when you're not using them will save you thousands of pounds of CO2 a year.

8. Plant a tree - A single tree will absorb 1 ton of CO2 over its lifetime.

9. Avoid products wit a lot of packaging - You can save 1,200 pounds of CO2 if you cut down your garbage by 10%.

The climate crisis can be solved. It's all in our hands. Do you think these are difficult steps? Think again!

How to Become A Property Millionaire

2009-05-08T11:26:00.004+08:00

1. This book is basically a continuation from his previous book, "How to Become A Millionaire Landlord".

2. To me, a let down with this book is that few of the chapters are repeated from his previous book. Just that they are summarized. He argue the importance of the facts for him to repeat them again in this book. But for me, I pay for a book for new facts. Not facts that are repeated. When I said A FEW, I mean A FEW. Not 1 or 2 chapters.

3. The chapter regarding Real Estate Profit Gain Tax (RPGT) is beneficial if you are not 1 that's familiar with taxes. It helps individual who plan to invest in properties to see what are the tax advantages of owning a few properties.

4. Comparison between individual and company ownership is also a good in sight of the 2 types of ownership. He briefly described the advantages and disadvantages of the two.

5. If you are looking for info on technicality of handling and owning properties, his previous book is a better one. Info in this book are mostly common knowledge. Only a few are rare knowledge.

Keluasan Menerima Pendapat, Keperluan Muslim Moden

2009-04-30T17:33:00.002+08:00

Dapat dari email. Interesting read

Dahulu atau sekarang, seseorang tidak akan dapat menjadi insan yang adil terhadap sesuatu hakikat dan maju ke hadapan jika dia bersifat jumud dan menutup pemikirannya dari mendengar dalil dan fakta disebabkan sesuatu sentimen. Sikap seperti itu dinamakan fanatik atau taksub.

Mereka yang taksub kepada pendapat seseorang, enggan mendengar pendapat orang lain sekalipun pihak lain memberi hujah dan dalil yang kukuh. Sesuatu pendapat sepatutnya diterima bukan atas nama individu tetapi atas alasan atau fakta.

Fanatik berlaku di kalangan sesetengah umat Islam sejak dahulu sehingga membawa permusuhan sesama Islam. Dalam era ketaksuban dahulu, di Masjidilharam, umat Islam bersolat dengan empat imam yang mewakili mazhab masing-masing. Makmum memilih imam yang sesuai. Seakan-akan solat di belakang imam lain tidak sah. Bayangkan jika hal tersebut berterusan sehingga hari ini.

Selepas Rasulullah s.a.w. wafat, baginda meninggalkan ramai sahabat yang merupakan ilmuwan besar. Namun, tiada di kalangan sahabat menyatakan sesiapa yang mengambil pendapat saya maka dia tidak boleh mengambil pendapat orang lain.

Perkara yang seperti itu tidak pernah didakwa oleh Khalifah yang empat, atau ‘Abd Allah bin Masud, ‘Abd Allah bin ‘Umar, atau ‘Abd Allah bin ‘Abbas atau selain mereka. Padahal mereka lebih memahami syariat Rasulullah.

Malangnya, apabila muncul imam-imam mazhab seperti al-Imam Abu Hanifah (80H-150H), al-Imam Malik bin Anas (93H-179H), al-Imam Muhammad bin Idris al-Syafie (150H-204H), al-Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (164H-241H) dan lain- lain tokoh, tiba-tiba ada di kalangan pengikut mereka yang taksub mendakwa bahawa sesiapa yang mengambil pendapat dari salah seorang imam ini tidak boleh lagi mengambilnya dari imam lain.

Ini seperti pengikut fanatik mazhab Hanafi yang membantah orang Pakistan mengambil pendapat selain dari mazhab Hanafi. Atau pengikut fanatik mazhab Malik membantah Morocco mengambil pendapat selain dari mazhab Malik. Atau pengikut fanatik mazhab al-Syafii membantah orang Malaysia mengambil selain dari mazhab al- Syafii.

Kontradiknya, kita mengakui mereka adalah tokoh-tokoh sarjana Ahli Sunah, tetapi kita menolak keilmuan mereka hanya kerana daerah yang kita duduki. Padahal, para imam itu tidak pernah mengajar demikian dan negara-negara yang wujud ini belum terbentuk pada zaman mereka.

Tokoh terkenal, Dr. Abd al-Karim Zaidan berkata: “Pendapat mazhab-mazhab yang muktabar diterima oleh pengikut mereka di atas andaian benar dan menyampaikan seseorang kepada hukum Allah. Hendaklah difahami bahawa andaian benar ini dikongsi oleh semua mazhab Islamiah yang muktabar, bukan hanya terkumpul pada satu mazhab. Maka tidak harus untuk pengikut salah satu mazhab ini menganggap bahawa telah terhimpun dalam mazhabnya kebenaran dalam setiap pandangan. Lalu menganggap salah sesiapa yang menyanggahi mazhabnya. Ini perkara yang tidak pernah diucapkan oleh mana-mana mazhab, tidak pernah mereka menyandarkan hal seperti ini kepada diri mereka dan tidak pernah menganggap kebenaran hanya terkumpul dalam ijtihad mereka. Bagaimana mungkin pengikut mereka pula mendakwa perkara yang seperti ini?” (Dr. Abd al-Karim Zaidan, Al-Sunan al-Ilahiyyah, m.s. 147, Beirut: Muassasah al-Risalah 2002).

Perbuatan dalam dunia akademik tulen, perbuatan seperti itu dianggap menyanggahi norma-norma keilmuan yang menuntut keluasan minda dan penelitian fakta. Alangkah ruginya sikap sedemikian, yang bererti kita menghalang perkembangan pengetahuan dan kesarjanaan hanya kerana perbezaan nama tokoh dan daerah kita tinggal. Padahal kita berkempen agar mengambil manfaat dari dunia lain.

Kita pernah berkempen “Dasar Pandang ke Timur”, sekalipun mereka bukan Muslim. Kita mengambil ilmu dan menggerakkan negara dari ilmu Barat atau Timur yang membolehkan kita maju ke hadapan, tanpa mengira latar agama. Tiba-tiba ada pula yang menyatakan; anda tidak boleh mengambil pendapat al-Imam Ahmad, atau al-Imam Malik, al-Imam Al-Auza’i, al-Imam Ibn Hazim al-Andalusi, Syeikh al-Islam Ibn Taimiyyah, al-Hafiz Ibn Qayyim al-Jauziyyah, atau tokoh moden seperti Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Mustafa al- Zarqa, al-Albani, al-Uthaimin atau selain mereka kerana bukan mazhab al-Syafii.

Padahal dunia ilmuwan akur kesarjanaan mereka. Jika kita menolak pendapat mereka hanya kerana nama, maka itu sentimen puak atau kejumudan minda bahkan itu adalah pengkhianatan ilmiah juga penghapusan khazanah ilmu.

Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi dengan jelas dalam masalah ini menyebut: “Golongan yang taksub ini tidak membolehkan sesiapa yang mengikut sesuatu mazhab keluar daripadanya, sekalipun dalam beberapa masalah yang jelas kepada pengikut mazhab bahawa dalil mazhabnya lemah. Sehingga mereka menyifatkan sesiapa yang keluar mazhab sebagai tidak berpendirian. Perbuatan ini sebenarnya mewajibkan apa yang tidak diwajibkan oleh Allah s.w.t. Seakan-akan menganggap imam-imam mazhab mempunyai kuasa membuat syariat dan perkataan mereka adalah hujah syarak yang dipegang dan tidak boleh dibangkang. Ini menyanggahi tunjuk ajar imam-imam mazhab itu sendiri, kerana sesungguhnya mereka melarang orang ramai bertaklid kepada mereka atau selain mereka.

“Ini juga menyanggahi apa yang dipegang oleh golongan salaf umat ini iaitu para sahabat dan mereka yang selepas sahabat sepanjang kurun-kurun yang awal yang merupakan sebaik-baik kurun dan yang paling dekat kepada petunjuk Nabi. Justeru itu, para ulama besar umat ini dan para muhaqqiqnya (penganalisis) membantah sikap melampau di dalam taklid mazhab yang menyamai apa yang dilakukan oleh ahli kitab yang mengambil paderi dan pendita mereka sebagai tuhan-tuhan selain Allah.” (Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Al-Sahwah al-Islamiyyah bin al-Ikhtilaf al-Masyru’ wa al-Tafarruq al-Mazmum, m.s 202, Kaherah: Dar al-Sahwah)
Pandangan mazhab sebahagian besarnya adalah ijtihad yang terdedah untuk dinilai pihak lain. Maka kita berhak mengambil pandangan lain yang pada nilaian kita lebih dekat kepada fakta dan mampu menterjemahkan wajah Islam. Umpamanya, pendapat mazhab al-Syafii, yang membolehkan bapa berkahwin dengan anak zinanya, barangkali tidak wajar dipertahankan terutama ketika menerangkan Islam kepada dunia. Apakah Islam yang mengharamkan mengahwini seseorang wanita hanya kerana susuan akan menghalalkan anak zina? (lihat: Ibn Taimiyyah, Al-Fatawa al-Kubra, 3/200, Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah 1987).

Demikian juga jika pendapat awal ulama al-Syafii dikekalkan yang mensyaratkan urusan jual beli mempunyai lafaz, tentu sukar untuk kita membeli minuman atau makanan dari mesin-mesin canggih yang ada. Bahkan di sana banyak perkara yang menuntut seorang Muslim melihat luar dari kerangka mazhabnya terutama tentang hubungan dengan bukan Muslim, zakat, wakaf, perkahwinan dan sebagainya.

Bahkan pandangan-pandangan agama yang menyusahkan tanpa dalil dari al-Quran dan al-Sunah patut dielakkan terutama untuk generasi moden yang mula fobia dengan agama. Apatah lagi yang baru menganut Islam. Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi pernah menyebut: “Perkara yang penting untuk anda mengetahuinya bahawa hukum orang awam mengikut salah seorang imam-imam mazhab ialah harus dengan syarat-syaratnya. Ia bukan sesuatu yang wajib seperti dikatakan oleh golongan mutakhir. Ini kerana tiada kewajipan kecuali apa yang diwajibkan oleh al-Kitab dan al- Sunah. Kedua-duanya tidak mewajibkan seseorang terikat dengan mazhab. Maka tidak menjadi halangan untuk seseorang Muslim bebas dari terikat dengan mana- mana mazhab. Dia boleh bertanya berkaitan agamanya kepada sesiapa di kalangan ulama. Tanpa perlu terikat dengan seseorang ilmuwan sahaja.

“Inilah jalan para sahabat dan sesiapa yang mengikuti mereka dengan cara yang baik pada zaman sebaik-baik kurun. Allah telah selamatkan mereka dari taklid yang dicerca ini. Sebaik-baik manusia untuk bebas dari terikat dengan mazhab ialah sesiapa yang baru menganut Islam. Maka tiada kepentingan mewajibkannya apa yang tidak diwajibkan Allah. Dia boleh bertanya sesiapa sahaja dari kalangan ulama yang dia mahu. Wajib ditulis untuk mereka buku-buku fikah yang memudahkan tanpa terikat dengan mazhab tertentu.” (Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Kaif Nata’amal Ma’ al-Turath, m.s. 83-84, Kaherah: Maktab Wahbah 2001).

Ulama tokoh fikah, Dr. Wahbah al-Zuhaili pula menyebut: “Kata majoriti ulama: Tidak wajib bertaklid kepada imam tertentu dalam semua masalah atau kejadian yang berlaku. Bahkan harus untuk seseorang bertaklid kepada mana-mana mujtahid yang dia mahu. Jika dia beriltizam dengan mazhab tertentu, seperti mazhab Abu Hanifah, atau al-Syafii atau selainnya, maka tidak wajib dia berterusan. Bahkan boleh untuk dia berpindah-pindah mazhab. Ini kerana tiada yang wajib melainkan apa yang diwajibkan Allah dan Rasul-Nya.

“Allah dan Rasul-Nya tidak pula mewajibkan seseorang bermazhab dengan mazhab imam tertentu. Hanya yang Allah wajibkan ialah mengikut ulama, tanpa dihadkan tokoh tertentu, dan bukan yang lain. Firman Allah: (maksudnya): Maka bertanyalah kamu kepada ahli ilmuwan jika kamu tidak mengetahui. Ini kerana mereka yang bertanya fatwa pada zaman sahabat dan tabien tidak terikat dengan mazhab tertentu. Bahkan mereka bertanyakan sesiapa sahaja yang mampu tanpa terikat dengan hanya seorang sahaja. Maka ini adalah ijmak (kesepakatan) dari mereka bahawa tidak wajib mengikut hanya seseorang imam atau mazhab tertentu dalam semua masalah. Kemudian, pendapat yang mewajibkan beriltizam dengan mazhab tertentu membawa kepada kesusahan dan kesempitan, sedangkan mazhab adalah nikmat, kelebihan dan rahmat.

“Inilah pendapat yang paling kukuh di sisi ulama Usul al-Fiqh… Maka jelas dari pendapat ini, bahawa yang paling sahih dan rajih di sisi ulama Usul al-Fiqh adalah tidak wajib beriltizam dengan mazhab tertentu. Harus menyanggahi imam mazhab yang dipegang dan mengambil pendapat imam yang lain. Ini kerana beriltizam dengan mazhab bukan suatu kewajipan – seperti yang dijelaskan. Berdasarkan ini, maka pada asasnya tidak menjadi halangan sama sekali pada zaman ini untuk memilih hukum yang telah ditetapkan oleh mazhab- mazhab yang berbeza tanpa terikat dengan keseluruhan mazhab atau pendetilannya.” (Al-Zuhaili, Dr. Wahbah, al-Rukhas al- Syar’iyyah, m.s. 17-19, Beirut: Dar al-Khair 1993).

Sebelum ini tulisan-tulisan saya telah menjelaskan, betapa keterikatan atau sempit dengan satu-satu pendapat tanpa melihat kepada dalil dan logik akan menjadikan kita tidak ilmiah bahkan boleh menyanggahi sifat Islam yang suka kemudahan untuk umatnya. Umpamanya, ada yang bimbang makan dari bekas hidangan bukan Muslim, kalau-kalau pernah terkena khinzir dan belum dibasuh tujuh kali serta air tanah.

Saya katakan, pertama; kita tidak patut mengandaikan perkara yang tidak nampak. Kedua; pendapat yang mewajibkan membasuh kesan khinzir dengan air tanah hanya pendapat mazhab sedangkan majoriti ulama berpendapat memadai dibasuh dengan air tanpa memerlukan tanah. Tidak ada dalil yang menyatakan khinzir wajib dibasuh tujuh kali termasuk air tanah. Pendapat ini disokong tokoh besar mazhab al-Syafii sendiri – walaupun berbeza dengan mazhabnya - iaitu al-Imam al-Nawawi (meninggal 676H) yang banyak mensyarahkan mazhab tersebut dan diterima pakai banyak karyanya di Nusantara ini.

Kata Sadr al-Din Muhammad bin ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Syafii (meninggal 780H): “Khinzir hukumnya seperti anjing. Dibasuh apa yang ternajis disebabkannya sebanyak tujuh kali. Inilah pendapat yang paling sah dalam mazhab al-Syafii. Kata al-Nawawi: Yang lebih tepat dari segi dalil memadai membasuh kesan khinzir sebanyak sekali tanpa tanah. Inilah pendapat kebanyakan ulama dan inilah pendapat yang diterima pakai. Ini kerana asal sesuatu perkara tidak wajib melainkan adanya dalil syarak.” (Sadr al-Din Muhammad bin ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Syafii, Rahmah al-Ummah fi Ikhtilaf al- Aimmah, m.s 9, Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah 2003).

Bagi saya pendapat majoriti ulama ini di samping lebih kuat, ia juga memudahkan kita berurusan dalam hidup terutama bagi yang makan di hotel, kapal terbang, bertandang ke rumah jiran atau kenalan bukan Muslim. Namun yang menfatwakan supaya diminum air tanah bagi sesiapa yang telah termakan sosej khinzir beberapa tahun lepas, tidak ada akal yang sejahtera yang dapat menyokong hal itu. Apatah lagi dalil syarak. Sepatutnya, kenyataan seperti itu jangan disiarkan dalam media. Hanya memalukan umat Islam.

Tiada seorang sahabat pun yang masuk Islam, baginda Nabi memerintah dia meminum air tanah. Bersikap terbukalah kita dengan mendengar dalil orang lain. Islam dengan tafsiran yang sempit sukar untuk dipasarkan kepada umat moden.

Cuba Jadi Popular tapi Islam Digadaikan

2009-04-26T15:29:00.005+08:00

Baru-baru ini, kabinet telah memutuskan agar anak-anak dibesarkan di dalam agama yang dianuti semasa berkahwin sekiranya salah seorang daripada mereka menukar agama. Ini telah dijelaskan oleh Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Nazri Abd Aziz pada 24 April 2009. Kenyataannya boleh dibaca disini. Keputusan ini diambil kononnya untuk menyelesaikan beberapa masalah yang telah dihadapi apabila ibu atau bapa menukar agama dan melarikan anak-anak mereka.

Persatuan Peguam Syariah Malaysia pula terkejut dengan keputusan kabinet tersebut dan mempersoalkan keputusan itu kerana ia mencampuri urusan perundangan yang sepatutnya tidak dipengaruhi oleh sesiapa pun.

Saya tertarik dengan kenyataan akhbar Ahli Parlimen Kulim Bandar Baharu, Zulkifli Noordin dalam blognya berkenaan isu ini. Dia telah menjelaskan secara terperinci mengenai isu ini dari segi perundangan dan menyatakan contoh-contoh di dalam beberapa kes perundangan sebelum ini. Daripada contoh-contoh yang telah beliau utarakan, ternyata Mahkamah Syariah tidak berat sebelah walaupun defendan nya adalah orang bukan Islam. Jadi, kenapa perlu kabinet campur tangan dan membuat keputusan sebegini? Ia sepatutnya dibiarkan kepada mereka yang lebih arif dalam perundangan negara.

Keputusan kabinet itu ternyata adalah keputusan untuk menjadi popular di mata orang bukan Islam. Tetapi pada masa yang sama ia pasti akan menjejaskan agama Islam. Ini pastinya kemenangan moral kepada penentang agama Islam yang akan sentiasa mencari jalan untuk menghancurkan Islam. Diharap agar kabinet akan mengkaji semula keputusan tersebut. Jangan kerana ingin menjadi popular, amanah Allah yang digadaikan.

Stupidity - Exhibit C

2009-04-23T22:19:00.002+08:00

The Perak government has done it again. It's about the Camry issue again!

1. What is the MB thinking when deciding to sell off the cars by open tender with price starting from RM148,000 and then will buy new Perdana for their use?

2. Check at Proton Edar's website indicates that a Perdana will cost around RM101,500 each. Let say the government will buy 16 cars also, the total will be RM1.62 million.

3. Let's say the Camrys are sold off at an average price of RM155,000 each, total 'gain' is RM2.48 million. What if the cars only managed to be sold off at their reserve price?

4. Is the MB thinking that he is making money by selling the cars and buying something cheaper instead and he is doing a favor for the Perakians? Think again!

5. While I totally disagree with PR led government to buy the Camry, I'm really against what the current MB is doing. This is even stupid! Are the cars stopping him from carrying out his duties as MB?

6. The damage has been done. RM2.7 million has been spent on the Camry's. So live with it. Why must he reverse the decision and make a LOSS OF RM220,000 to the Perak coffers for nothing? Just imagine what this amount of money can do to the poors...

7. Is this another show of power by the MB? Whatever your reasons are, remember that they are the rakyat's money. Not yours! Don't treat them as yours!

8. There are a lot of other areas that he can explore to stamp his mark. This certainly is not one of it. It only shows how short sighted he is and yet he is our MB. sigh..

-Hard time for Perakians-

Play Your Part

2009-04-18T10:51:00.003+08:00

I have to applaud Sime Darby for making initiatives in conserving the environment. This time around, they are going to release a fish for every person who sign up with them in their programs. Therefore, I strongly urged all of you so sign up and help the environment. What more can you ask for? Just sign up and they will release the fish for you. It's that simple.

Pledge your support here.

Please do your bit. You can make a difference.

Who Can Afford a MyVi?

2009-04-09T22:19:00.002+08:00

I've been an owner of Peroua MyVi for more than 2 years now. What I'm going to analyze is the costs associated with owning a car particularly MyVi.

Car price = RM47,708.60
Deposit = RM5,015.80
Insurance = RM1457.20
Vehicle registration = RM150
Loan Amount = RM44,300
Interest (4.10% for 7 years) = RM12,714.10
Total loan by bank = RM57,014.10
Monthly installment = RM679 for 84 months

1st service @ 1,000km = RM214.15
2nd service @ 5,000km = RM105.95
3rd service @ 10,000km = RM108.25
4th service @ 17,000km = RM210.95
2nd year insurance premium = RM1,022.04
5th service @ 23,000km = RM368.85
6th service @ 30,000km = RM112.95
7th service @ 37,000km = RM126.80
3rd year insurance premium = RM749.65
8th service @ 44,000km = RM118.10
Total basic costs incurred for 2 years (24 months) = RM3,137.69
Cost per month = RM130.74

Average monthly petrol consumption = RM300

Total monthly spending for a MyVi = RM1109.74

As a rule of thumb, the monthly installment must 33% or lower of the borrower's gross income to qualify him/her for the car loan. So, in this instance, the borrower gross income should be at least RM3363.

The costs given above are the most basic ones. This does not even include the normal costs of owning a car such as parking fees, tolls, car wash, tyre balancing etc. This does make me wonder why on earth people do own cars, in my terms "they can't really afford"?

Whenever you plan to buy a car or change your old ones, do bare in mind the associated costs involved. I suggest as a rule of thumb, on top of your monthly payment, do factor in another 63% for the associated costs as per the example above. With that, you should know what kind of cars you can afford.

This might sound unfair to car enthusiasts. But I do think spending too much on feel good items such as cars is just a waste of money. It is not even an asset. It will always drain money out of your pocket. So why bother invest in such an item that will depreciate in value as soon as you own it? Always consider practical factors such as your affordability, safety, size and fuel consumption when deciding on a car.

Choose wisely

The Millionaire in Me

2009-04-04T22:24:00.004+08:00

This is another book by Azizi Ali that I've finished reading. My opinions:

1. Another yet simple and fun to read book.

2. It basically outlines what you can do as an employee to still achieve a millionaire status.

3. His idea of ways to become millionaire are quite common such as becoming agents, writing and consulting. But it helps to get a clearer picture of what these kind of part-time jobs can offer.

4. Of course it does include his all time favorite of investing in property, his preferred past time investment tool I reckon.

5. It also has chapters on how to invest your money. But what's frustrating to me is it does not specifically defines what are the good investments are. The normal advice are included such as pay yourself first, learn about the investment before you start investing, etc. I was hoping for a more definite answer on this.

6. For those who wants some guidance on tracking your income and spending habits, there are a few sheets included. It's good to do these. I'm trying to improve the method that I've been using since 2005. I'll try to include it for download once it's completed (still figuring out how to include download files in a blog though).

7. What's more important is his highlight on the need to generate recurring incomes. Learn and master this. It will surely be beneficial.

Yup, I would recommend this book for those who plans to stay as an employee and to those who don't have the guts to be in business like me. The ideas are aplenty. Master it and see which suits you the best. Happy Reading!

UMNO of UMNO - Ubah atau Rebah?

2009-03-28T15:50:00.003+08:00

1. Apa yang bakal ditulis adalah berdasarkan persepsi semata-mata.

2. Jawatan Presiden dan Timbalan Presiden dimenangi oleh orang-orang senior dalam parti. Walaupun banyak yang diperkatakan tentang Presiden, namun tiada apa yang mampu dilakukan memandangkan tiada pencabar yang mampu memenuhi kuota untuk bertanding jawatan tersebut. Terima sahajalah dia dengan harapan dia akan berubah dan membawa perubahan kepada Malaysia.

3. Jawatan Naib Presiden menjanjikan suatu perubahan. Sekurang-kurangnya orang yang dilihat sebagai bersih berada disana.

4. Ketua Wanita juga menunjukkan perubahan yang dimahukan oleh para perwakilan. Mungkin Tan Sri Rafidah sudah terlalu lama berada disitu.

5. Jika UMNO mahukan perubahan, jawatan Ketua Pemuda lah yang paling mengecewakan. Selepas mendapat pencalonan tertinggi, Mukhriz mendapat undian terendah dan Khairy mendapat undian tertinggi. Masuk akal ke?

6. Untuk berubah, UMNO mesti dilihat untuk berubah. Untuk menjadi bersih, UMNO mesti dilihat sebagai bersih. Tapi dengan pemilihan Khairy sebagai Ketua Pemuda, perwakilan pemuda nampaknya tidak mahu dilihat sebagai mahu berubah atau bersih.

7. Cuba tanya sekeliling kita, siapa yang sukakan Khairy? Hampir semua orang akan gagal untuk mendapatkan sekurang-kurangnya 3 orang yang sukakan Khairy disekeliling kita. Ini semua persepsi. Banyak yang telah diperkatakan tentang dia tapi 304 perwakilan Pemuda UMNO nampaknya tidak menyedari tentang persepsi ini dan terus memilih dia sebagai Ketua mereka.

8. Daripada 25 orang yang menang kerusi Majlis Tertinggi UMNO, rata-rata adalah orang yang boleh diterma masyarakat. Tapi kenapa masih lagi ada nama-nama seperti Musa Aman, Jamaludin Jarjis dan Idris Jusoh?

9. Untuk menjadi relevan, UMNO mesti dilihat sebagai relevan. Rata-rata orang yang telah dipilih tidaklah terlalu mengecewakan. Tetapi untuk kembali memenangi hati rakyat, banyak yang patut difikir-fikirkan tentang orang-orang yang telah disebut diatas. Jangan kerana mereka, UMNO akan terus ditolak oleh rakyat.

10. Kenapa dihadiahkan keris Panca Warisan kepada Hishamuddin? Pengganti dia dah tak berani nak cium keris lagi ke? Ia adalah tradisi orang Melayu. Kenapa tak diteruskan sahaja walaupun orang lain tak suka? Bukannya ada orang yang mati kerana perlakuan tersebut. Ia tidak ada kena mengena dengan kaum lain. Kenapa takut?

11. Kalau nak cium keris pun dah tak berani, jangan nanti kalau kaum lain cakap pakai songkok dah tak melambangkan kita sebagai orang Malaysia, jadi jangan pakai songkok lagi bila pergi persidangan. Apa yang betul, kekalkan. Apa yang tak betul barulah ubah. Hanya kerana takutkan kritik, tradisi digadaikan.

-BERUBAHLAH SEBELUM KAMU DIUBAH-

For a Greener Future

2009-03-24T22:03:00.001+08:00

taken from http://afiqdeen.blogspot.com/

hope he won't mind...

EARTH HOUR

2009-03-19T23:22:00.004+08:00

In support of Earth Hour 2009, I would like to appeal to all Malaysians to join this great effort in support of mother nature. Please do your bit to stop global warming and save our earth.

What you can do? Turn off all lights
When? Saturday 28th March 2009 from 8.30pm to 9.30pm (just for 1 hour)

Please don't be skeptical and think that your contribution is insignificant. Together we can definitely make a difference! If you don't think about mother nature, at least think about the electricity bills that will be saved for this 1 hour period.

Fly fm will not be on air during this period. Discovery Channel will cease it's broadcast for an hour. All in effort to save mother nature. So what's the big reason for you not to do so? Do tell people around you yeah!

Show the world that Malaysians are united in fight against global warming. Visit http://earthhour.org.my/main.php to sign up and show your support.

Moral of the campaign? Be prudent in you electricity consumption. Tiny bit in energy saved will go a long way in reducing global warming. Don't just stop here, make it a way of life.

- You have 1 life, do something! -

Tegas Berakidah, Luas Dalam Fekah

2009-03-13T17:24:00.002+08:00

Dapat dari email. Interesting read...

Memberikan ucapan kepada para pelajar yang terpilih dan bijak amatlah selesa dan senang. Mereka memiliki kecerdasan minda dan ketajaman untuk berhujah. Apabila mereka merasai pandangan yang kita lontarkan itu berteraskan alasan yang meyakinkan, dengan mudah mereka bersetuju. Atau jika mereka tidak bersetuju, mereka akan bersoal jawab dan mendatangkan alasan-alasan mereka.

Saya sering mengingatkan pembaca, demikian saya ingatkan mereka bahawa Islam sama sekali tidak dapat menerima pegangan agama yang dibuat atas ikut-ikutan tanpa memahami dalil atau alasan. Tiada takliq buta dalam Islam ini. Tiada dalam Islam senjata beracun yang pernah digunakan oleh sesetengah golongan yang memakai lebel agama iaitu ‘barang siapa yang banyak bertanya, maka lemahlah imannya’.

Jika manusia bijak seperti mereka yang mempelajari bidang-bidang yang sukar seperti perubatan tidak dibekalkan dengan kekuatan kefahaman yang berteraskan fakta dan dalil, siapa lagi yang hendak kita harapkan menjadi benteng Islam di zaman kini.

Dr Zakir Naik umpamanya, dia seorang saintis yang menyumbang kepada penyebaran Islam dengan hujah-hujah saintifik dan pemikiran yang tajam. Kebijaksanaannya telah digunakan untuk menyampaikan Islam. ‘Peace TV’ telah dijadikan saluran media membolehkan manusia memahami Islam yang canggih dan mengatasi zaman.

Lihatlah, ketika sesetengah mereka yang bergelar ‘ustaz’ menggambarkan Islam sebagai agama yang dipenuhi dengan unsur Israiliyyat, hadis palsu, jampi itu dan ini, cerita-cerita lucu kewalian, upah pahala sebagai bisnes dan berbagai pencemaran yang lain, golongan professional muslim yang mendapat disiplin ilmu perubatan, kejuteraan, pembinaan dan berbagai lagi tampil menjelaskan Islam yang sebenar. Islam yang mereka fahami dari sumber yang betul tanpa sebarang kepentingan kebendaan.

Ini mengingat kepada Nabi Sulaiman a.s apabila beliau mendengar ucapan semut betina. Firman Allah: (maksudnya)
“Hingga apabila mereka sampai ke “Waadin-Naml” (lembah semut), berkatalah seekor semut betina: “Wahai sekalian semut, masuklah ke sarang kamu masing-masing, jangan Sulaiman dan tenteranya memijak kamu, sedangkan mereka tidak menyedari. Maka tersenyumlah Sulaiman mendengar kata-kata semut itu, dan berkata (berdoa):” Wahai Tuhanku, ilhamkanlah daku supaya tetap bersyukur akan nikmatMu yang Engkau kurniakan kepadaku dan kepada ibu bapaku, dan supaya aku tetap mengerjakan amalan soleh yang Engkau redai; dan masukkanlah daku - dengan rahmatMu - dalam kumpulan hamba-hambaMu yang soleh”. (Surah al-Naml: 18-19)
Demikian, pengetahuan tentang alam membawa insan mendekatkan diri kepada Allah dan bersyukur kepadaNya.

Di sana, saya dalam banyak ucapan menceritakan kepada mereka tentang dua perkara yang penting. Pertama, kejelasan dan ketegasan Islam dalam perkara-perkara akidah. Kedua; keluasan dan kemudahan yang diperuntukkan oleh Islam dalam soal fekah.

Perkara ini perlu dijelaskan kerana dalam kalangan umat Islam, termasuk di Malaysia ada yang begitu longgar dalam akidah tapi begitu sempit dalam perkara fekah. Maka kita tidak hairan jika menemui di Malaysia mereka yang berserban atau berkopiah dan begitu takut untuk terkeluar dari mazhab fekah kebiasaannya, namun dalam masa yang sama dia masih percaya kuat kepada bomoh, atau gurunya dianggap ajaib, atau masih percaya tangkal itu dan ini.

Saya pernah melihat kumpulan yang berjubah dan berserban sakan, namun pergi memohon hajat di kubur Pulau Besar Melaka. Pengaruh tarekat yang berlebihan, atau kesufian yang melampau sering menjadikan sesetengah pihak gagal untuk membezakan antara batasan iman dan syirik.

Guru, atau bomoh sering diangkat melebihi kadar yang patut. Walaupun dalam masa yang sama, kita lihat mereka ini begitu menjaga sesetengah amalan fekah, sehingga kelihatan sempit dan beku. Maka tidak pelik di negara kita jika ada imam masjid yang masih kuat pegang dengan bomoh, atau terikut dengan tarikat yang bukan-bukan.

Sepatutnya, dalam isu akidah seseorang hendaklah sensitif dan selalu takut akan segala unsur syirik. Sementara dalam soal fekah, ada keluasan yang diberikan oleh syarak yang boleh kita amalkan, namun ramai orang masih takut dengannya.

Umpamanya, di sebelah Eropah ini, pada musim sejuk seperti sekarang, waktu siang agak singkat. Waktu solat mereka berkejaran dengan waktu kelas atau peperiksaan. Sebenarnya, dalam hal yang seperti ini, mereka boleh mengamalkan solat jamak, tanpa qasar. Sekalipun jika mereka menganggap diri mereka sudah tidak bermusafir, mereka tetap mempunyai peruntukan untuk menjamakkan solat tanpa qasar.

Jamak bermaksud menghimpun dua solat dalam satu waktu, samada pada waktu pertama, atau kedua. Ini bagi solat zohor dan asar, atau maghrib dan isyak. Maka boleh dihimpunkan solat zohor dalam waktu asar, atau sebaliknya. Demikian maghrib dan isyak. Adapun qasar, iaitu memendekkan solat empat kepada dua rakaat, maka ia dikhususkan untuk mereka yang bermusafir. Sementara jamak, boleh untuk dilakukan oleh mereka yang sakit, ketakutan, terlalu sibuk, hujan, terlalu sejuk, musafir dan segala kesusahan yang lain.

Dalam hadis Muslim, daripada Sa’id bin Jubair meriwayatkan daripada Ibn ‘Abbas, katanya: “Rasulullah s.a.w bersolat Zuhur dan ‘Asar secara jamak di Madinah tanpa sebab ketakutan atau musafir”. Kata Abu Zubair: “Aku bertanya Sa’id mengapa Rasulullah s.a.w berbuat demikian?”. Jawabnya: “Aku pun pernah bertanya Ibn ‘Abbas seperti mana engkau bertanyaku, jawab Ibn ‘Abbas: “Kerana baginda mahu agar umatnya tidak beban”.

Maka bagi yang kesuntukan masa, seperti pelajar, atau doktor bedah, atau ahli parlimen, atau polis yang bertugas menjaga lalu lintas, atau mereka menjaga jentera yang sukar untuk ditinggalkan, maka peruntukan jamak ada dalam hadis ini untuk mereka. Namun malangnya di Malaysia, ada yang sanggup meninggalkan solat apabila masuk hospital atas alasan sukar untuk solat.

Apa tidaknya, fekah yang diajar diajar begitu sukar kerana ditokok tambah berbagai hukum lain yang memayahkan. sehingga disuruh sesiapa yang sakit tidak mampu berwuduk sepenuhnya untuk wuduk separuh dan bertayamum sebakinya. Orang sihat pun hanya berwuduk, tiba-tiba yang sakit disuruh wuduk dan tayamum.

Para pelajar di sini mempunyai masalah kerana anjing begitu banyak. Ramai yang membawa anjingnya ke sana sini. Jalan menjadi kotor dengan najis anjing yang berselerakan. Berselisih dan bersentuh dengan anjing bukan perkara luar biasa. Demikian juga dengan daging babi yang amat digemari oleh ‘orang puteh’. Kefahaman fekah tempatan kita menjadikan sesetengah pelajar kita begitu gusar dalam masalah ini.

Saya telah memberikan beberapa jawaban untuk mereka menceritakan kepelbagaian pandangan sarjana Islam berhubung dengan nilai najis kedua haiwan berkenaan dan bagaimana kita dapat mengambil manfaat dari keluasan fekah Islam dalam hal-hal tersebut. Apa yang penting mereka perlu tegas dalam akidah dan ambil kemudahan fekah yang diberikan syarak.

Mega CashFlow Game Workshop in Malaysia

2009-03-11T11:14:00.003+08:00

I came across an advertisement yesterday about this workshop. How I wish I could attend but unfortunately I'm in Johor at the moment. Just got back from Shah Alam last week. So, no plans to go back again this coming weekend.

Just briefly about CashFlow for those who haven't heard of it. It's a game created by Robert Kiyosaki, author of the best selling book Rich Dad, Poor Dad. I haven't actually played this game. But it seems to teach us how to manage our money better. That's the whole idea about the game. What's more interesting is, it's only RM49 per person for this workshop. It good to try. Who knows it might change our financial situation.

Date: 14th March 2009 (this coming Saturday)

Time: 2pm - 5pm

Venue: Banquet Hall, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang

-Sharing is caring-

True Wealth Open Day

2009-03-06T08:49:00.002+08:00

I just want to share about True Wealth Open Day (Azizi Ali's company):

Date: 7th March 2009 (this Saturday)
Time: 11 am till 5.30 pm
Place: True Wealth Sdn Bhd, A-2-11 Dataran Glomac, Jalan SS6/5APetaling Jaya, Selangor

Among the benefits are discount up till 70% and spend RM150 and get a free book. I hope I can get a few books at bargain price.

Great Books at Bargain Price anyone?

Stupidity - Exhibit B

2009-02-28T17:11:00.004+08:00

14/2/2009 - Kutipan tol di plaza tol PJS2 arah KL di lebuhraya Pantai Baru (NPE) telah dimansuhkan sejak malam tadi menurut Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed. Ini adalah cara kerajaan menunjukkan rasa cinta kepada rakyat bersempena dengan sambutan Hari Valentine hari ini. Walaupun tol ni tak signifikan kepada pengguna lain, tapi sekurang2nya ia membantu para penduduk Kampung Medan dan Kampung Dato' Harun. Orang luar tak banyak pakai tol ni sebab access dia dari Lebuhraya Persekutuan. Yang banyak orang pakai is tol dari Bandar Sunway ke KL. Tapi takpe la. Sekurang2nya kerajaan prihatin. It's a good start.

24/2/2009 - Plaza tol Salak Jaya arah selatan dimansuhkan hari ini. Ini pemansuhan tol kedua dalam masa 11 hari. Kenderaan yang masuk ke KL sahaja akan dikenakan tol RM1.30. Bagus jugak kerajaan kita ni. Lepas satu, satu lagi dimansuhkan. Walaupun sebelah aje yang dimansuhkan, at least something.

26/2/2009 - Menteri Kerja Raya mengumumkan kenaikan tol di 5 lebuhraya

26/2/2009 - Kerajaan sedang menimbangkan untuk mengurangkan caruman pihak majikan untuk dimasukkan ke dalam pakej rangsangan ekonomi kedua yang akan dimumkan bulan depan. Bukan ke dalam kegawatan ekonomi, rakyat yang patut dipelihara? Majikan pula yang lebih diutamakan. Ni negara rakyat ke negara majikan? Bukan ke banyak lagi kos lain yang boleh dikurangkan atau dimansuhkan untuk mengurangkan beban majikan? Kenapa rakyat yang mesti menderita untuk menyelamatkan majikan?

27/2/2009 - Pak Lah suruh kabinet menimbangkan semula kenaikan tol yang diumumkan oleh Menteri Kerja Raya semalam. Dia cakap keputusan untuk menaikan tol tersebut dibuat 2-3 minggu sebelum ini. Keadaan ekonomi masih tidak berubah. Jadi keputusan tersebut wajar dipertimbangkan semula. Nak jadi hero Malaya agaknya dia ni. Boleh ke keadaan ekonomi yang teruk sekarang ni dalam masa 2-3 minggu aje bertukar jadi baik? Pakai akal la sket beb! Kalo dah keadaan ekonomi tak berubah, janganlah umumkan. Takkan tuh pun nak kena ajar. Ingat menguruskan negara ni pentas drama swasta ke?

28/2/2009 - Kabinet memutuskan untuk menangguhkan kenaikan tol di 5 lebuhraya yang sepatutnya bermula pada 1/3/2009. TPM cakap kerajaan terpaksa membelanjakan RM500 juta sebagai pampasan kepada syarikat konsesi lebuhraya. Pak Lah cakap penangguhan kenaikan tol ini tiada kena mengena dengan 3 pilihanraya kecil akan datang.

10/3/2009 - TPM akan mengumumkan pakej rangsangan kedua untuk membantu rakyat dan negara mengharungi kegawatan ekonomi yang melanda dunia sekarang ini. Ada rancangan untuk pakej rangsangan untuk membantu rakyat, tapi pada masa sama boleh naikkan tol. Cara paling senang nak membantu rakyat dalam masa kegawatan ni ialah dengan jangan menaikkan kos sara hidup rakyat yang telah sedia tinggi sekarang ni. Tak payah tanya pakar ekonomi pon dah boleh tau jawapan ni. Yang pandai2 umumkan naik tol tu kenapa?

-Ntah orang jenis apa lah yang mentadbir negara kita ni...-

Song for Gaza - We Will Not Go Down

2009-02-25T13:36:00.005+08:00

This is a song by Michael Heart dedicated to the people of Gaza. Very touching. Download and send your gratitude to him here.

Lyrics of the song

A blinding flash of white light
Lit up the sky over Gaza tonight
People running for cover
Not knowing whether they're dead or alive

They came with their tanks and their planes
With ravaging fiery flames
And nothing remains
Just a voice rising up in the smoky haze

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die
We will not go down
In Gaza tonight

Women and children alike
Murdered and massacred night after night
While the so-called leaders of countries afar
Debated on who's wrong or right

But their powerless words were in vain
And the bombs fell down like acid rain
But through the tears and the blood and the pain
You can still hear that voice through the smoky haze

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die
We will not go down
In Gaza tonight

Stop using polystyrene

2009-02-23T12:58:00.000+08:00

THE Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) wishes to call the attention of the Selangor and Penang state governments and especially the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, to the widespread use of polystyrene food and drink containers during the recent Thaipusam festival in their respective states.

CAP conducted a study comprising random data collection at both locations where large crowds gathered during the festival to gather information on the number of polystyrene food and drink containers used.

Shockingly, the study revealed that 630,000 and 347,000 polystyrene food and drink containers were used in Selangor and Penang respectively. This data was acquired over the two days of the festival and from the numerous stalls providing free food and drink.

At times, these stalls provided up to 40,000 polystyrene food and drink packages. The data gathered does not include polystyrene package usage in other states such as Kedah, Johor or Perak during Thaipusam.

CAP takes a serious view of the fact that almost 1,000,000 polystyrene containers were used during the two days. Although there have been claims that polystyrene can be classified as non-hazardous to the environment, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims as yet.
Polystyrene is not biodegradable. It not only floats on water but is also borne by the wind, thereby polluting shores and waterways.

According to the California Coastal Commission, it is now a principal component of marine debris. The substance may also be harmful to wild animals if ingested by them.The international environment group, Californians Against Waste classifies polystyrene as a future potential threat to sustainable development.

According to a study by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER), polystyrene which is manufactured using HCFC-22 (Chlorodifluoromethane, a potential ozone depleting agent and potent greenhouse gas) is potentially three to five times more likely to pose a threat to the environment than other waste material.

CAP urges concerned parties in all states to play an important role in ending the use of polystyrene; not just during Thaipusam celebrations but also at official functions and celebrations.

It is regrettable that polystyrene was widely used while there are more recyclable, sustainable and freely obtainable alternatives such as banana leaves and environmentally friendly containers pioneered by Universiti Sains Malaysia.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment needs to be more aggressive in addressing the reduction of polystyrene use at all official functions as well as at national level festivities and celebrations.

As long as there are no aggressive steps taken by the authorities to halt the use of polystyrene, it will be difficult to expect society to embark on a paradigm shift to rejuvenate and preserve the environment.

S.M. Mohamed Idris,
President,
Consumers Association of Penang.

A must read for property investor

2009-02-22T12:40:00.003+08:00

I've just finished reading a book by Azizi Ali titled "How to Become a Millionaire Landlord - Maximize Your Income and Minimize Your Problems". I do encourage whoever wants to be a property investor to have a read on this book. Priced reasonably at RM39.90 at MPH bookstores.

Why I recommend this book:

1. Simple English used.

2. Very relaxed and fun to read.

3. The content includes things that you don't even thought of before.

4. Give an insight on how to vet thru potential tenants.

5. Have a look at his Super Tenancy Agreement and you might think this is what I've been looking for all this while.

6. Things that you should and should not do as a landlord.

7. Things to do when selecting tenants, when they move in, when they move out and getting new tenants.

8. It emphasize more on how to handle your rental property rather than how to get a good rental property.

9. It answers common problem that most of the landlords face during their landlording days.

10. His rewards programme that can benefit both the landlords and tenants.

Are you prepared for car accidents? - continued

2009-02-14T14:39:00.004+08:00

As a continuity to my post titled "Are you prepared for car accidents?", the followings are the documents that you need in case you want to make any claim for your car repair:

1. Copy of insured IC and driving license
2. Copy of driver's IC and driving license (if it's not the insured).
3. Copy of vehicle registration card.
4. Copy of insurance cover note.
5. Copy of hire purchase agreement
6. Copy of police report.
7. Copy of 3rd party police report.
8. Copy of 3rd party insurance info. This can be obtained from JPJ with a minimal cost of RM10.
9. Copy of police investigation report and sketch of the accident scene. This will only be available about 2 weeks to a month after the accident and you need to obtain it from the police station where the report was lodged. Make sure you are in good contact with the officers in charge. It will definitely help you a lot.

If you are not the guilty part, make sure the workshop make a claim to the 3rd party insurance directly. This way, you save on your Non-claim Discount (NCD). Problem will arise if you send your car to authorized service centre, like in my case Toyota Service Centre. For whatever reasons, they don't make direct 3rd party claim (I'm not too sure whether all service centres has the same policy). If this happens, you have the option of claiming thru Own Damage (OD) KFK. I don't exactly know what KFK stands for but in brief what OD KFK means is the workshop will claim to your motor insurance for the repair works and your motor insurance will claim the amount paid from the 3rd party insurance. This way, you still save on your NCD.

But in case, in the 3rd party police report stated that the 3rd party suffered injuries in that accident, OD KFK is not applicable anymore (it seems this is the Bank Negara policy). So, you will have to claim OD from you own motor insurance. This way, you will lose your NCD. In return, you can claim the current NCD that you have from the 3rd party motor insurance. They will pay cash back to you. This claim you would have to do it on your own. To me, either way it's still the same as long as you don't have to fork out any money for the repairs. Just that you have to go extra mile to claim the NCD from the 3rd party motor insurance. Either way, you still lose when it involves car accidents.

I hope this post is beneficial when in need.

Pandangan Seorang Warga Perak

2009-02-07T12:12:00.003+08:00

1. MB Nizar tak nampak kepimpinannya. Apa yang nampak dia diperkudakan oleh DAP untuk mencapai hasrat mereka.

2. Banyak dasar2 kerajaan PR di Perak bukan idea mereka sendiri. Banyak cedok dari kerajaan PR negeri lain. Contohnya, pemberian hak tanah cilok dari Selangor.

3. Selepas hampir setahun berkuasa, kerajaan PR Perak masih banyak belum menunaikan janji2 manis mereka. Contohnya, pemilihan ketua kampung melalui undian.

4. Permainan lompat melompat parti ni start dari Anwar Ibrahim, pemimpin PR sendiri. Kalau orang BN lompat masuk PR, Anwar akan cakap ia adalah tindakan yang betul demi kepentingan rakyat. Tapi bila orang PR lompat masuk BN atau jadi Bebas, Anwar akan cakap mereka telah mengkhianati amanat rakyat. Anwar akan menghalalkan segala cara untuk mencapai matlamatnya. So jangan la tertipu lagik. Cukuplah 16 September 2008 yang tak jadi kenyataan. Dia dah hilang kredibiliti.

5. Lompat melompat parti ni memang kerja orang tak bermaruah. Bak kata Tun Mahathir, tak payahlah undi lagi orang2 ni dalam PRU akan datang. Sekali mereka lompat, selama-lamanya rakyat takkan percaya.

6. Kerajaan Perak sekarang dikuasai oleh ADUN Bebas. Bukan PR atau BN. Mereka berkuasa untuk menentukan siapa yang akan berkuasa di negeri Perak. Hari ni mereka sokong BN. Apa yang boleh menjamin esok diorang takkan sokong PR? Takkan tiap2 2 minggu nak tukar MB kot?

7. 2 ADUN Bebas sedang menghadapi tuduhan rasuah di mahkamah. Kalau mereka didapati bersalah dan dihukum penjara, pemilihan mereka sebagai ADUN akan terlucut. Pilihanraya Kecil perlu diadakan. Kalau PR menang kedua2 kerusi, takkan nak tukar MB lagi kot?

8. Kalau dalam masa sebulan dua, Anwar dapat tarik orang BN untuk melompat parti, takkan Nizar nak angkat sumpah sebagai MB lagi sekali kot? Sampai bila drama ni nak abis?

9. Dikhabarkan ada diantara ADUN Bebas tu keluar dari PR pasal tak dapat kereta Toyota Camry baru. Kalau kerajaan BN tak bagi diorang Camry atau apa2 yang diorang mintak, mungkin mereka takkan menyokong BN lagi. Sambung drama lagi...

10. Kalau PR ambil tindakan mahkamah terhadap Sultan Perak, ingat Sultan Perak nak perkenankan lagi ke Nizar jadi MB pada masa akan datang? Tuanku Sultan pon manusia, ada hati dan perasaan.

11. Kalau nak kerajaan yang stabil, bubarkan saja DUN Perak. Biar rakyat yang menentukan. Biar kerajaan yang dibentuk nanti sebuah kerajaan yang kuat dan stabil. Bukan yang boleh disepak terajang. Buat malu orang Perak aje.

12. Yang penting adalah kebajikan rakyat. Bukan kekuasaan politik yang utama. Ingat tu! Korang semua diundi dan dilantik untuk menjaga negeri dan rakyat Perak. Bukan nak mengaut kemewahan. Jahanamlah orang2 macam gini!

Are you prepared for car accidents?

2009-02-04T22:36:00.009+08:00

On 1st day of Chinese New Year (26th January 2009), I became part of Ops Sikap 19 statistics. Just briefly on what happened and the lessons learnt from the accident.

Me, my wife, my brother, my mom and my dad were on our way from Ipoh to Pendang, Kedah that morning. We were heading to my sister's in law's house to attend a thanksgiving ceremony of her new born baby. We left at around 10a.m. I was the driver. After exiting PLUS highway at Pendang toll, I took the state road from Pendang to Sungai Tiang. That place is about 20km from Pendang. Just about 3km before reaching the destiny, cars in front of me made emergency brake. I realized it quite late and also applied my brakes. I didn't manage to stop on time but I did manage to pull over to the left side of the road avoiding the car in front. But unfortunately, a Kancil from behind rammed into our car from behind and the car fell into the road side drain. The car was badly damaged at it's rear. Everyone in the car was safe. Only my mom and wife had minor injuries. Alhamdulillah.

Condition of the car

From the accident scene, the car was towed to Pendang police station. That's about 20km away. That night, I arranged the car to be towed from Pendang to Toyota service centre in Ipoh. Towing from accident scene to police station costs RM250. But my sister's father-in-law settled it since he's a police officer at that station. Lucky me! According to one of the tow truck guy, to tow the car from Pendang to Ipoh will cost me RM1300. Are you willing to pay that much? Or will you leave the car in Pendang to be repaired there while you won't be around to monitor the progress since it's not your home town? I think most of us would not want to leave your own car at a place that you are not familiar with. So what are the options? Of course tow it back to your own place. But how much will it cost you? I think everybody is aware that towing charges are very expensive especially in accident cases. These fellows will dig deep into your pocket when you are in need.

No body wants to be involved in an accident. Asked whoever, even a drunken driver. I bet nobody want it to happen. It causes a lot of miseries in your daily life. But of course we can't avoid it when it's stated that it will happen to us. What can we do is prepare for it. So are we prepared? How can we prepare for it?

From my real life experience, I only paid RM50 (for the tow truck toll charges) to tow the car back to Ipoh. This is because earlier, I had taken an insurance policy named Road Warrior by Allianz for towing service. That service covers round trip towing of 450km for free. If it's more than 450km, additional charges of RM1.50 per km will be imposed. Furthermore, it also has Personal Accident coverage of RM10,000 per passenger. This service can be used for 3 separate cases per year. I only paid RM70 per year for this service and it's really worth it! Luckily I choose to pay RM70 per year rather than RM1300 per towing.
The most important lesson that I learnt from this accident is to be prepared for one. Don't ever think that you will never be involved in an accident. Only minimal charges are imposed for these kind of services. Here's list down a few of such services that are available in Malaysia for your further info.

1. Road Warrior
2. AAM

Don't trust the free towing services that come along with your auto insurance. The services are very limited and when you really need it, they will come up with all sorts of reasons not to help. Prepare for the worst. Pay minimum and sign up today for a better night sleep.

KHUTBAH: PALESTIN MENGAJAK KEMBALI KEPADA KETULENAN ISLAM

2009-01-22T16:30:00.000+08:00

Ni aku dapat dari email. Bacalah dan fikir-fikirkan

Sidang Jumaat yang dirahmati Allah,

Sekali lagi, umat Islam sedunia dihidangkan dengan pusing seterusnya kekejaman regim Zionis ke atas umat Islam dan manusia di bumi Palestin. Kekejaman yang melampaui batas fikiran manusia, yang tidak lain dan tidak bukan adalah untuk mengiyakan apa yang diamarankan oleh al-Quran, tentang fasad besar-besaran pusingan kedua yang dicetuskan oleh kaum Yahudi ini.

Firman Allah SWT:

“Dan telah Kami nyatakan kepada Bani Israil di dalam Kitab itu: “Sesungguhnya kamu akan melakukan kerosakan di bumi (Palestin) dua kali, dan sesungguhnya kamu akan berlaku sombong angkuh dengan melampau” [al-Israa' 17: 4]

Para ahli Tafsir kontemporari menyetujui bahawa kerosakan pertama yang dilakukan oleh orang-orang Yahudi ini adalah semasa mastautin mereka di bumi Yathrib. Mereka menguasai politik, ekonomi dan sosial di kota tersebut, bongkak dengan impian mereka bahawa Nabi akhir zaman akan diutuskan sekali lagi daripada keturunan mereka, dan seterusnya memanfaatkan kebodohan kaum Aus dan Khazraj lalu melaga-lagakan dua kelompok kaum Arab ini hingga berperang sesama sendiri, mencecah suatu tempoh yang amat panjang.

Kerosakan pertama ini mencapai kemuncaknya, apabila mereka secara rasmi menolak Kenabian Rasul akhir zaman, tatkala tibanya Muhammad bin Abdullah ke kota Yathrib di dalam peristiwa Hijrah. Meleset sekali impian mereka, bahawa Allah telah menetapkan bahawa kaum yang banyak membunuh Nabi dan Rasul ini hilang kebanggaan buta mereka, apabila penutup segala Nabi dan Rasul, diutuskan daripada kaum Arab berketurunan Ismail ‘alayhi al-Salaam, iaitulah Junjungan Mulia Nabi Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

Firman Allah SWT:

“Maka apabila sampai masa janji (membalas kederhakaan kamu) kali yang pertama dari dua (kederhakaan) itu, Kami datangkan kepada kamu hamba-hamba Kami yang kuat gagah dan amat keras serangannya lalu mereka menjelajah di segala ceruk rantau (untuk menyerang dan mengusir kamu); dan (sebenarnya peristiwa itu) adalah satu janji yang benar-benar berlaku” [al-Israa' 17: 5]

Sidang Jumaat, rahimakumullah…

Misi menghadapi kaum Yahudi yang tidak pernah jemu menyebarkan kerosakan di muka bumi biar pun telah diberi peluang berkali-kali oleh Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, disempurnakan oleh umat Islam dengan pengusiran mereka dari bumi Khaybar pada bulan Muharram tahun ke-7H.

Semenjak itu, kaum Yahudi hidup berpeleseran dan sukar diterima di mana-mana sahaja penempatan di muka bumi, di bawah mana-mana kuasa pemerintah, disebabkan oleh perilaku mereka sendiri yang tidak henti-henti mencetuskan fasad di muka bumi.

Namun, di sepanjang sejarah itu, kuasa pemerintah Islam jugalah, dengan keluasan rahmat dan toleransinya menghulurkan bantuan bersyarat kepada kaum Yahudi, termasuklah semasa mereka berdepan dengan pembunuhan beramai-ramai di bumi Andalus pada 1492 oleh kuasa Kristian. Kerajaan Islam Turki Othmaniyyah mempelawa mereka untuk mendapat perlindungan duduk di bawah pemerintah Islam, tetapi Yahudi tetap Yahudi, mereka menjadi duri dalam daging hingga akhirnya berperanan sebagai kelompok terpenting yang menjadi punca kepada kejatuhan kerajaan Turki Othmaniyyah. Yahudi Donme yang hidup talam dua muka, menjadi lubang kebocoran bagi negara Islam terakhir itu, hingga legasi Islam ribuan tahun, tamat secara rasminya pada tahun 1924.

Sidang Jumaat sekalian,

Kejatuhan kerajaan Islam terakhir itulah, titik utama kepada terlepasnya bumi Palestin dari wilayah Islam. Sehingga kini, bumi Palestin itu terus bermandi darah, setiap anak yang dilahirkan, adalah seperti sudah tersurat bahawa mereka bakal menjadi mangsa kekejaman penjajah Zionis yang terus menerus membelakangkan kemanusiaan, menghancurkan apa dan siapa sahaja yang menghalang cita-cita mereka untuk menegakkan negara Zionis dari tebing Furat ke Sungai Nil.

Itulah ’sumbangan’ Yahudi.

Kerosakan demi kerosakan.

Dan Allah SWT telah menetapkan, bahawa kitalah pada hari ini yang berdepan dengan kerosakan besar-besaran pusingan kedua, sebagaimana yang telah dicatatkan di dalam ayat yang saya bacakan tadi.

Jamaah kaum Muslimin sekalian,

Apakah tindakan kita? Apakah cukup dengan hanya menggelengkan kepala, menanti isu ini pudar daripada siaran media selepas seminggu dua, dan kemudian menggelengkan kepala lagi untuk pusingan yang seterusnya?

Sesungguhnya, kita mempunyai 3 bentuk tindakan yang menanti perlaksanaan.

Tindakan pertama, adalah dengan MENGECAM.

Kita boleh dan perlu untuk membuat kecaman. Membantah dan menyuarakan penentangan kita terhadap kekejaman Yahudi di bumi Palestin. Sama ada kecaman itu dibuat dalam bentuk demonstrasi, ucapan, khutbah dan penulisan, kecaman mesti diteruskan.

Kecaman ini boleh menjustifikasikan sokongan dan kebersamaan kita dengan saudara-saudara seagama di bumi Palestin. Ia juga menjadi bukti terhadap kepedulian kita. Ia menjadi tanda bahawa kita bukan terdiri dari kelompok manusia yang disebutkan oleh Allah dengan perumpamaan buruk sebagai BINATANG TERNAK.

Firman Allah SWT:

“Dan Sesungguhnya Kami jadikan untuk neraka Jahanam banyak dari jin dan manusia yang mempunyai hati (tetapi) tidak mahu memahami dengannya (ayat-ayat Allah), dan yang mempunyai mata (tetapi) tidak mahu melihat dengannya (bukti keesaan Allah) dan yang mempunyai telinga (tetapi) tidak mahu mendengar dengannya (ajaran dan nasihat); mereka itu seperti binatang ternak, bahkan mereka lebih sesat lagi; mereka itulah orang-orang yang lalai” [al-A'raaf 7: 179]

Binatang ternak tidak pernah peduli kepada pisau yang sedang diasah untuk menyembelihnya. Binatang ternak hanya memerhatikan rumput dengan penuh nafsu terhadap perutnya. Binatang ternak adalah perumpamaan kepada manusia yang diberi mata tidak melihat, diberi telinga tidak mendengar. Apa yang mereka pedulikan hanyalah lima rukun hidup iaitu MAKAN, MINUM, KERJA, REHAT dan KAHWIN.

Semoga dengan kecaman dan bantahan yang dibuat, menjadi saksi di hadapan Allah, bahawa kita adalah manusia, bukan binatang yang tidak punya rasa peduli dan peka.

Namun kecaman bukanlah tindakan yang terbaik oleh seorang mukmin.

Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam telah bersabda:

Daripada Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri radhiyallahu ‘anhu beliau berkata: aku mendengar Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam pernah bersabda: Sesiapa dari kalangan kamu yang melihat kemungkaran, maka hendaklah dia mengubahnya dengan tangannya. Andai tiada kemampuan untuk berbuat demikian, maka hendalah dia mengubahnya dengan lisannya. Dan jika beliau tidak mampu untuk berbuat begitu, maka hendaklah (dikecam) dengan hatinya. Dan demikian itu adalah selemah-lemah iman [Hadith riwayat Muslim]

Arahan Nabi Muhammad sallalaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam terhadap tindakan kita mencegah kemungkaran, bukan sekadar mengingkarinya dengan hati, atau menegahnya dengan lisan, tetapi bertindak dengan tangan untuk MENGUBAH keadaan. Tindak balas kita mestilah ada upaya untuk mengubah keadaan, dan kecaman masih jauh dari mampu mencetuskan perubahan itu.

Sidang Jumaat rahimakumullaah,

Tindakan kedua yang mesti kita lakukan untuk bertindak terhadap kekejaman Yahudi di bumi Palestin adalah selepas MENGECAM adalah MENCEGAH.

Mencegah boleh berlaku dalam beberapa bentuk.

Cegahan pertama adalah pada usaha mengelakkan diri untuk menjadi mangsa kepada kemungkaran itu. Ia mungkin boleh diertikan sebagai tindakan untuk berhijrah meninggalkan tempat di mana kemungkaran itu berlaku.

Ia mungkin berupaya menyelamatkan diri kita buat sementara, tetapi ia tidak akan dapat menamatkan kemungkaran itu daripada terus menerus berleluasa. Dan segala puji bagi Allah, saudara kita di bumi Palestin tidak bertindak melarikan diri. Jika mereka tidak punya semangat yang kuat untuk mempertahankan diri dan maruah Islam, sudah pasti mereka bertempiaran lari menjadi pelarian di bumi asing.

Namun Allah anugerahkan bumi itu dengan manusia yang kental jiwa. Mereka terus bertahan. Biar pun hanya dengan lastik dan batu, berundur tidak sekali-kali! Sama ada menang, atau syahid fi sabillah.

Mencegah yang kedua pula, boleh diertikan dengan tindakan kita mengekang diri daripada menjadi sebahagian daripada kemungkaran itu. Kita harus bertindak untuk menghalang diri daripada menjadi sebahagian daripada kekuatan regim Yahudi di bumi Palestin. Dan tindakan ini boleh dijustifikasikan dengan kempen boikot.

Secara individu, kita boleh menyekat diri daripada menggunakan barangan dan perkhidmatan syarikat-syarikat yang menyumbang kepada kekuatan ekonomi regim Yahudi Zionis itu.

Firman Allah SWT berkenaan dengan hal ini:

“Kemudian, Kami kembalikan kepada kamu (Yahudi) kekuasaan untuk mengalahkan mereka, dan Kami perpanjangkan kepada kamu dengan banyaknya harta kekayaan dan anak pinak, serta Kami jadikan kamu kaum yang lebih ramai pasukannya” [Al-Israa' 17: 6]

Di era kerosakan kedua oleh kaum Yahudi ini, Allah SWT menjelaskan bahawa kekuatan mereka adalah hasil yang diperpanjangkan kepada mereka berupa harta kekayaan dan sumber tenaga manusia. Ayat ini amat jelas menunjukkan kepada kita, bahawa regim Yahudi Zionis hari ini menjadi kuat hasil sokongan luar yang mereka terima.

Sokongan itu tidak lain dan tidak bukan adalah daripada negara Polis Dunia iaitu Amerika Syarikat.

Laporan http://www.ifamericansknew.org menjelaskan bahawa regim Zionis yang menjajah bumi Palestin menerima bantuan di antara 10 ke 15 juta US Dollar sehari daripada Amerika Syarikat. Jumlah ini mengatasi jumlah keseluruhan bantuan Amerika Syarikat kepada negara-negara Amerika Latin, Sub Sahara Afrika dan Carribean.

Kekuatan utama rejim Zionis di Palestin adalah sokongan Amerika Syarikat. Negara kuasa besar dunia itu berupaya memanipulasi kewangannya sendiri untuk memberikan sokongan dan bantuan kepada rejim Zionis hasil kombinasi beberapa pihak, khususnya media di Amerika Syarikat yang tidak melapor, melapor secara simplistik, atau memberikan laporan yang salah, untuk mengawal kefahaman penduduk Amerika Syarikat tentang isu Palestin.

Maka tindakan memboikot barangan yang menyumbang kepada kekuatan ini, tindakan menghentikan penggunakan matawang Dollar Amerika Syarikat adalah tindakan mencegah yang boleh memberikan kesan kepada hal ini, jika umat Islam dan seluruh warga manusia yang prihatin bersatu padu menjayakannya.

Sidang Jumaat sekalian,

Walau bagaimana pun, tindakan mengecam dan mencegah masih belum mencapai standard yang ditetapkan oleh Nabi Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam kepada kita. Bahawa kemungkaran mesti menerima tindak balas yang bersifat MENGUBAH.

Perubahan itulah yang mesti diperhatikan oleh kita semua.

Apakah kekalahan demi kekalahan yang menimpa umat Islam selama ini berlaku tanpa sebab?

Apakah kejatuhan kuasa Islam hanya disebabkan oleh faktor luar?

Sesungguhnya mencela kaum Yahudi yang melakukan kerosakan, tidak lebih daripada sekadar kata pepatah Melayu, SEPERTI MARAHKAN ANJING MENYALAK BUKIT. Yahudi dan kerosakan sudah sinonim, maka janganlah kita sekadar marahkan Yahudi, sebaliknya cerminlah diri kita, apakah yang sedang berlaku kepada umat Islam sendiri?

Kaum Muslimin rahimakumullaah,

Menjawab soalan ini, saya teringat kepada apa yang telah diungkapkan oleh Abu al-Hasan Ali al-Nadawi di dalam bukunya Ila al-Islam Min Jadeed (Kembali Semula Kepada Islam). Di bawah tajuk “Antara Ilusi dan Realiti” (Bayna al-Soorah wa al-Haqiqah), al-Nadwi telah memberikan suatu analogi yang sangat baik untuk difikirkan bersama.

Al-Nadwi membayangkan bagaimana seorang pemimpin hebat yang telah mati, dikenang oleh pengikutnya dengan membina sebuah patung yang besar dan amat menyerupai rupa pemimpin itu semasa hayatnya. Tetapi pada suatu hari, seekor burung datang bertenggek di atas hidung “pemimpin”tersebut dan melepaskan najisnya. Patung yang besar dan gagah itu tidak mampu berbuat apa-apa terhadap burung yang kecil itu, walaupun di kaki patung itu terpahat nama seorang pemimpin yang semasa hidupnya digeruni kawan dan lawan.

Mengapakah keadaan itu boleh berlaku? Mengapakah pemimpin yang hebat itu terhina hanya oleh perilaku seekor burung yang kecil?

Al-Nadawi mengulas analogi ini dengan mengemukakan konsep ilusi versus realiti.

Patung itu walaupun besar, gagah dan hebat, malah mewakili peribadi seorang pemimpin yang agung semasa hidupnya, adalah hanya “seorang patung”. Ia hanya sebuah gambaran. Sebuah ilusi. Manakala burung tersebut, walaupun kecil dari segi saiznya, ia adalah burung yang hidup. Burung itu walaupun kecil, namun ia adalah realiti.

Sunnatullah telah menetapkan bahawa realiti sentiasa mengalahkan ilusi.

Beginilah perihalnya kita ketika berhadapan dengan musuh.

Jika kita membuka lembaran al-Quran dan mengkaji tentang Yahudi, maka kita akan dapati bahawa keterangan al-Quran tentang karakter Yahudi amat selaras. Kelakuan penakut mereka yang hanya membolehkan mereka menyerang di sebalik tembok, sifat takabbur, dendam kesumat terhadap orang-orang yang beriman, semuanya menepati realiti. Maka orang-orang Yahudi hari ini adalah orang Yahudi sejati. Pertembungan kita dengan Yahudi adalah pertembungan kita dengan sebuah realiti.

Jika kita membaca al-Quran dan meneliti ayat-ayat tentang Nasrani, kita akan dapati bahawa orang-orang Kristian hari ini amat menepati watak mereka seperti yang digambarkan oleh al-Quran. Maka orang-orang Kristian hari ini adalah orang Nasrani sejati. Mereka adalah realiti. Pertembungan kita terhadap mereka adalah pertembungan kita dengan sebuah realiti.

Namun, jika kita amati keterangan al-Quran tentang ciri-ciri orang Islam dan Mukmin, apakah hasil pengamatan kita itu?

Al-Quran menjelaskan bahawa orang-orang Mukmin itu bersaudara. Al-Quran juga menjelaskan bahawa orang Mukmin itu saling menjadi pembantu kepada Mukmin yang lain. Orang Mukmin bersatu padu berpegang dengan tali Allah, mereka tidak berpecah belah ketika mendirikan agama, mereka pengasih sesama mereka dan keras terhadap Kuffar dan pelbagai lagi senarai ciri Mukmin yang diterangkan oleh al-Quran.

Namun, perhatikanlah realiti umat Islam hari ini. Berapakah jarak di antara diri idaman mereka seperti yang digambarkan al-Quran, dengan diri sebenar mereka di dalam realiti kehidupan?

Muslim ilusi berdepan dengan Nasrani realiti.

Muslim ilusi berdepan dengan Yahudi realiti.

Realiti sentiasa mengalahkan ilusi.

Ramainya kita hanyalah sebuah ilusi. Hakikatnya kita sedikit, dan jumlah itu semakin sedikit apabila saudara-saudara kita berbondong-bondong murtad meninggalkan kita.

Kayanya kita hanyalah sebuah ilusi. Hakikatnya kita miskin. Kita miskin jiwa, miskin daya juang dan kemiskinan itu semakin miskin apabila saudara-saudara kita tidak mampu mengawal jual beli harta mereka sendiri yang selama ini mengkayakan musuh.

Cerdiknya kita hanyalah sebuah ilusi. Hakikatnya kita bodoh. Kita masih dibelenggu oleh persoalan-persoalan yang bodoh dan tidak langsung menghasilkan sebarang hasil. Kebodohan kita menjadi semakin bodoh apabila kita tenggelam dalam tajuk-tajuk debat sesama kita yang langsung tidak menggambarkan yang kita sedang berada di medan perang.

Bersatunya kita hanyalah sebuah ilusi. Hakikatnya kita berpecah. Hati-hati kita terlalu mudah untuk diungkaikan ikatannya. Penyakit hati kita sangat menjijikkan. Berpecah belah hanya kerana secawan kopi. Pecah belah rumahtangga, pecah belah jiran tetangga, pecah belah masyarakat sedesa, pecah belah antara negara, perpecahan kita dari hujung daun hingga ke akar umbi.

Ya, jika al-Quran yang menjadi pengukurnya, maka Yahudi di Palestin itu adalah realiti. Nasrani di Rumah Putih itu adalah realiti. Namun umat Islam yang mengelilingi Rumah Hitam di Masjidil Haram itu hanyalah ilusi. Dan ilusi akan terus dikalahkan oleh realiti.

Selagi kita tidak berusaha untuk membentuk diri menjadi Mukmin sejati, selagi itulah kita tidak akan diizinkan oleh Allah untuk melihat pembebasan Palestin dan Masjidil Aqsa.

Tragedi di Gaza adalah seruan Allah untuk kita kembali kepada Islam.

Islam yang tulen.

Ibu bapa didiklah anak menjadi Muslim, jangan dibiarkan mereka menjadi Yahudi, Nasrani atau Majusi.

Kenalkan kepada anak-anak kita apa itu Islam dan apa itu Jahiliyyah. Fahamkan mereka siapa Yahudi dan Nasrani dan mengapa mereka dikutuk Allah. Ajarlah anak-anak mencintai kebenaran, keadilan dan memusuhi kezaliman. Agar dengan jiwa tulen seorang putera Muslim dan puteri Muslimah, Yahudi tulen akan dikalahkan oleh Muslim tulen.

“Dan jika kamu kembali, maka Kami pula akan kembali ..” [al-Israa' 17: 8]

Kembalilah kepada Allah, agar Allah kembali kepada kita dengan bantuan dan kemenangan!

Stupidity - Exhibit A

2009-01-18T12:11:00.000+08:00

I was somehow taken aback with a comment by a MCA central committee member regarding Hudud. Read more here http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/1/16/southneast/3017955&sec=southneast

It shows how ignorant, lame and insensitive MCA leaders can be towards the feeling of Muslims in this country. It is just a blatant statement meant to belittle Islam in the eyes of non-Muslim in Malaysia. The saddest thing is what he is talking about is mere crap and it's an interpretation of Islamic laws from his point of view.

I can fully understand when Karpal Singh is against implementing Hudud laws just because Malaysia is a secular country. So it must abide to the law of the land that is common law. That's a fact. But I never came across any of his statement that belittles Hudud or Islamic law in particular. His statements are all about not being able to implement it from constitutional point of view.

For a MCA leader to come out with such a statement saying rapist will go free if Hudud is implemented, it just puzzles me how certain lawyers interpret Islamic laws from their own perspective just to gain political mileage without even considering the feelings of Muslims. This is disrespectful!

His statement shows that as if there is a big "flaw" in Islamic laws. First of all, I don't think any sane human being would want to implement this law if it truly has such a "flaw" in it. This also shows he only knows the surface of Islamic laws. Hudud can't be viewed as a stand alone law. Under Islamic law, it must viewed as a whole which includes Hudud, Qisas and Takzir. There are a lot of ways to prove a rapist wrong. It is a fair law that will protect the interest of the rapist and the victim. I would not like to go into detail about this because I'm not an expert myself. But you can read details on Islamic law here http://www.pekanrabu.com/zubir/hudud.html

I would like to see what will happen next. Will UMNO take any action against this MCA leader? This statement is belittling Islam, not PAS! Just don't politicize this issue. Take action to whom it is suppose to. In fact, maybe ISA can come into play! It's an insensitive statement that's provoking. It can cause chaos to the country because Muslim will be angry. At least I am! How about you?

-SAY NOT TO MCA-

PPSMI

2009-01-17T08:23:00.000+08:00

1. Kebelakangan ini banyak pihak yang dah mula mempersoalkan Pengajaran & Pembelajaran Subjek Sains & Matematik dalam Bahasa Inggeris (PPSMI) sampai ada pihak yang mahu menyaman kerajaan dan ada yang mahu buat piket besar-besaran. Ada pihak yang setuju dengan PPSMI dan banyak pula yang menentang. Tapi Pak Lah suruh jangan politikkan isu ini. Jadi jangan la kita politikkan tapi tengoklah dari sudut akademik. Kemana arah tuju sistem pendidikan Malaysia yang sudah sedia daif ini?

2. Ada pihak yang meminta kerajaan memansuhkan PPSMI ini dan kembali kepada konsep asal dengan mengajarkan Sains dan Matematik dalam bahasa kebangsaan dan bahasa ibunda. Kemana sebenarnya arah tuju sistem pendidikan kita jika PPSMI ini dimansuhkan?

3. Pengajaran hampir semua subjek-subjek sains, teknologi dan perubatan di universiti dan kolej adalah didalam bahasa Inggeris. Hanya subjek-subjek seperti ketamadunan sahaja yang diajarkan dalam bahasa kebangsaan. Sekurang-kurangnya, PPSMI ini menyediakan bakal pelajar universiti dengan asas yang kukuh sebelum menjejakkan kaki ke alam pengajian tinggi.

4. Jika kita kembali kepada sistem asal, tidak akan ada kesinambungan diantara pengajian awal dan pengajian tinggi. Adakah kita mahu melihat anak-anak muda belajar sains dan matematik dalam bahasa kebangsaan dan kemudian bila masuk U, tukar pula bahasa? Adakah ini satu sistem yang bijak dan bagaimana ia pasti akan menjejaskan perkembangan pendidikan pelajar-pelajar kita.

5. Atau wajarkah dimansuhkan PPSMI ini dan kembali kepada sistem asal dan pada masa yang sama, pengajaran subjek-subjek di U diajarkan dalam bahasa kebangsaan? Tapi pasti akan ada skeptik yang menyatakan sukar untuk belajar jurusan kejuruteraan dan perubatan dalam bahasa kebangsaan.

6. Yang lebih peliknya, universiti-universiti di Indonesia mampu untuk mengajarkan jurusan-jurusan sains, teknologi dan perubatan dalam bahasa kebangsaan mereka sendiri iaitu bahasa Indonesia yang juga serumpun dengan bahasa kebangsaan Malaysia. Kenapa bahasa Malaysia tidak boleh?

7. Kenapa peranan bahasa Malaysia perlu disempitkan dan tidak digunakan secara meluas sebagai bahasa ilmu? Adakah Malaysia mahu jadi seperti Singapura yang mana bahasa kebangsaan adalah bahasa Melayu, tetapi hanya digunakan sebagai simbolik sahaja didalam acara-acara rasmi. Nampak macam Malaysia menuju kearah itu.

8. Jika bukan sistem pendidikan di negara sendiri yang memartabatkan bahasa Malaysia, siapa yang akan berbuat demikian? Pelajar-pelajar Malaysia yang mahu belajar jurusan kejuruteraan di Jepun dan Jerman, perlu mengambil kelas persediaan didalam bahasa Jepun dan Jerman sebelum dihantar ke negara-negara tersebut untuk menyambung pengajian masing-masing. Begitu juga pelajar-pelajar jurusan perubatan yang ingin ke Russia. Tetapi di tanah air sendiri, nak ada satu sistem yang memartabatkan bahasa kebangsaan sendiri pun susah.

9. Hanya sekitar 5-6 tahun lepas, masih terdapat buku rujukan dalam Bahasa Malaysia untuk pelajar-pelajar kejuruteraan di UTM yang dikarang sendiri oleh pensyarah-pensyarah UTM. Pada masa tersebut, pembelajaran masih dalam bahasa Malaysia dan pastinya permintaan untuk buku rujukan di dalam bahasa Malaysia amatlah tinggi. Tapi kini, perkembangan yang sihat ini telah dibantutkan dengan menukar bahasa pengantar di univerisiti kepada bahasa Inggeris. Secara tidak langsungnya telah mencacatkan perkembangan bahasa kebangsaan dan pastinya para pensyarah merasakan tidak perlu untuk mengarang buku rujukan kerana telah terdapat pelbagai buku rujukan dalam bahasa Inggeris. Perkembangan ilmu dalam bahasa Malaysia telah dibantutkan.

10. Memansuhkan PPSMI hanya akan menyelesaikan sebahagian sahaja masalah sistem pendidikan negara. Kalau nak buat sesuatu dasar, tolonglah kaji secara menyeluruh. Cukuplah dengan dasar-dasar pendidikan yang banyak membuat kerosakan daripada kebaikan.

BAHASA JIWA BANGSA

Boikot!

2009-01-07T22:31:00.000+08:00

1. Sejak rejim Israel mengganas di Palestin, banyak pihak yang dah kutuk & buat tunjuk perasaan. Rasanya dah tiba masanya untuk kita melakukan sesuatu demi umat Islam Palestin yang tertindas.

2. Kalau tak dapat angkat senjata, apa kata kita boikot saja produk-produk dari Amerika Syarikat dan Israel atau syarikat-syarikat yang menyokong tindakan rejim Zionis ini. Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM) akan melancarkan kempen boikot terpilih Coke, Colgate & Starbucks. Sila baca di sini http://www.muslimconsumer.org.my/ppim/news.php?item.653.2

3. Adalah diharap kempen ini akan berjaya sekurang-kurangnya melumpuhkan ekonomi syarikat-syarikat yang menyokong tindakan rejim zionis ini. Juga diharap kempen ini dapat menyedarkan umat Islam agar lebih berhati-hati memilih produk harian mereka. Semoga kempen ini dapat diteruskan selama-lamanya tanpa mempedulikan sama ada rejim Zionis terus mengganas atau tidak (mereka pasti akan terus menindaas)

4. Disertakan juga selain Coke, Colgate & Starbucks, produk-produk lain yang biasa terdapat dalam kehidupan kita seharian. Diharap boikot ini akan dipanjangkan kepada produk-produk tersebut selama-lamanya. Kalau tak dapat boikot pon, sekurang-kurangnya kurangkan lah penggunaannya:

- Ambi-pur, BIOTHERM, HUGO BOSS, Calvin Klein, CLINIQUE, CNN, DANONE, Disney, DONNAKARAN, Fanta, 20th Century Fox, GAP, GIORGIO ARMANI, HUGGIES, IBM, intel, Johnson&Johnson, Kimberly-Clark, KIWI, Kotex, LANCOME, Kleenex, LOREAL, McDonald's, Maggi, MAYBELLINE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL, Nestle, NOKIA, RALPH LAUREN, REDKEN, REVLON, KitKat, Sprite, The Sun, Sunkist, Timberland, TIME Magazine & TOMMY HILFIGER.

5. Kalau tak dapat berperang pon, inilah sekurang-kurangnya yang boleh kita lakukan untuk membantu saudara seIslam kita yang sekarang ini dianiayai. Diharap jihad sekecil ini akan diterima Allah kelak.

6. Venezuala pon telah dengan beraninya mengusir duta Israel kenegara itu hari ini. Diharap Venezuala akan memutuskan terus hubungan dengan negara Zionis tersebut.

7. Nak harapkan NAM atau OIC? Sampai kesudah "mengutuk sekeras-kerasnya" aje lah. Nak adakan pakatan hantar tentera pengaman pon susah. Kepada diri sendiri lah sahaja kita berharap. Bersama-samalah melaksanakan tanggungjawab kita dan pada masa sama berdoa agar saudara seIslam kita di Palestin akan bebas daripada penganiayaan ini.

Allahu Akbar!

Say No to Plastic Bags!

2009-01-05T22:30:00.000+08:00

1. Firstly, Happy Maal Hijrah 1430 & Happy New Year 2009. This is the time when most of us make a new year resolution

2. Since the government is carrying out the "I want to quit smoking" campaign for the new year, I would also suggest we start with the "Say No to Plastic Bags!" campaign.

3. Jaya Jusco is also currently campaigning to reduce usage of plastic bags. Full credit to them! You can always purchase their reusable shopping bags at around RM5.

4. Tesco is doing better. Customers who reuse their plastic bags will get extra Clubcard Points. It's rewarding to reuse these bags! So start to get your rewards for reusing plastic bags!

5. Giant hypermarket is a let down. They don't allow customers with shopping bags to enter for security reasons. The bags must be placed at their bag storage counter before entering. Although it's a bit troublesome, you can still do your bit for the environment. When paying, just refuse on plastic bags. Place your groceries in the trolley. Then get your shopping bags at the bag storage counter and transfer all your groceries into these bags. A little bit of sacrifice can go a long way in saving the environment.

6. Always keep your shopping bags in your car just in case you decided to go shopping out of sudden. This way you still have options of not using plastic bags.

7. In case you go groceries shopping without shopping bags, just place the paid items in the trolley and then into your car boot. At home, just transfer it to your kitchen. It's not too much to ask compared to the saving that it will cost, isn't? That's of course if your house is not a walk-up apartment.

8. Take along empty ice-cream containers or tupperwares when shopping at markets. It can be used to place meats, fishes & chickens. Imagine how many plastic bags you can save a year!

9. Remember, plastic bags can be reused over and over and over again. Better still if you have cloth bags.

10. Get your shopping bags today & Say No to Plastic Bags!

Let's make it a success!

Simple things

2008-12-31T23:34:00.000+08:00

Few things that you can do to better our environment:

1. Separate your wastes. You just need a bag for paper wastes and a bag for cans/bottles wastes. That's not too much to ask isn't it?

2. Print on used paper unless it's for official submission. I believe most of the printers in the offices nowadays have bypass tray. So make full use of this to insert used papers for printing.

3. Use cloth bags during shopping and reuse these bags. That will make a huge difference. You will always get cloth bags whenever you go for exhibitions.

4. Plant a tree, be it vegetables or fruits.

5. Read newspapers online unless you like looking at adverts. Contents are the same. Just that hardcopy newspapers has advert all over it. So why waste?

6. Refuse on paper bills such as phone bills or banking statement. Whenever you can, insist on e-bills. I bet you don't even bother to go thru the whole bill.

7. Refuse on receipts at ATM machines when you withdraw money. The only info you can get from the receipt is just your account balance. The receipts will be thrown away anyway. You can always check online for your balance or worst come to worst, insert your ATM card again and enquire your account balance.

8. Print on both sides of papers whenever you can. With the latest available printers in the market, I believe this can be easily done.

9. When driving long distance, try to maintain your speed at RPM 3.0. You'll get optimum speed & fuel consumption. I've tried with MyVI & Vios. It seems to work.

10. Use plastic bags you get from shopping as garbage bags. You don't need to buy garbage bags anymore. Save money, save environment

You can make a different!

Fikir Dulu Sebelum Buang...

2008-12-22T22:26:00.000+08:00

Just some points to ponder...

1. Plastic bags require 40% less energy to produce than paper bags.

2. Paper bags produce 80% more solid waste than plastic and due to modern landfill techniques, don't biodegrade much faster than their polyethylene counterparts.

3. It takes less energy to recycle a plastic bag than paper.

4. Plastic bags weigh less and take up less landfill space than their paper counterparts.

5. Paper bag manufacturing creates more air and water pollution than plastic bags.

6. 1 recycled tin can would save enough energy to power television for 3 hours.

7. 1 recycled glass bottle would save enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes.

8. 1 recycled plastic bottle would save enough energy to power a 6-watt light bulb for 3 hours.

9. 70% less energy is required to recycle paper compare with making it from raw materials.

10. On average, 16% of the money you spend on a product pays for the packaging which ultimately ends up as rubbish.

11. 9 out of 10 people would recycle more if it were made easier.

See where you stand and how can you make the world a better place to live in...

REDUCE, REUSE & RECYLCE PLEASE...

Siapa yang racist?

2008-12-15T22:18:00.000+08:00

Baca kat sini pasal kenyataan Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim pasal cadangan sistem persekolahan tunggal untuk Malaysia. http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/15835/84/

1. Teruk Prof kena bantai dengan bangsa dia sendiri pasal kenyatan dia. Tapi tindakan dia patut dipuji pasal masih ada kaum minoriti yang mampu berfikiran waras daripada berfikir 'along racial lines'

2. Kebelakangan ni, banyak pihak yang sibuk mempersoalkan hak keistimewaan bumiputera konon nya dengan ada nya hak keistimewaan ini, Malaysia jadi tidak kompetitif dan tidak bersatu.

3. Perkara paling pokok dalam perpaduan adalah sistem persekolahan itu sendiri. Tapi bila di ajak untuk menyatukan sistem persekolahan menjadi sistem tunggal, ramai yang melatah.

4. Lebih teruk, presiden Jiao Zong boleh pula buat kenyataan biadap kalau Malaysia gunapakai sistem persekolahan tunggal, kanak2 akan terdedah kepada ajaran Islam seolah-olah Islam itu teruk sangat pengaruhnya. Apa punya bodoh orang macam ni. Kalau ada sistem persekolahan tunggal, bukan nya suruh anak2 belajar agama. Sistem itu aje disatukan. Time kanak2 Islam belajar agama Islam, yang bukan Islam belajar la Pendidikan Moral. Aku sekolah rendah kat Sekolah Kebangsaan. Takde masalah pon pasal agama ni.

5. Kenapa takde tindakan diambil keatas presiden Jiao Zong yang kenyataanya jelas 'racist'? Bila Datuk Mukhriz buat kenyataan nak satukan sistem persekolahan, banyak pula pihak yang melatah dan label beliau sebagai racist. Jangan la nak putar belit istilah 'racist' pula.

6. Kenapa pemimpin-pemimpin kaum ini dalam kerajaan tak berani buat kenyataan pasal cadangan sistem persekolahan tunggal ni? Tapi mereka ini lah yang beria-ia nak mewujudkan parti politik tunggal tidak berdasarkan kaum konon nya atas nama perpaduan. Bila disuruh bersatu dari kanak-kanak dengan satu sistem pendidikan, semua kecut.

7. Janganlah berdolak-dalih konon nya mahukan perpaduan, tapi 'the most basic thing' pon tak boleh nak buat.

8. Memang sistem pendidikan vernakular dilindungi dibawah Akta Pendidikan. Akta tak boleh pinda ke untuk perpaduan negara?

9. Hak keistimewaan yang dah terang-terang termaktub dalam PERLEMBAGAAN pandai pula nak persoalkan dan minta dihapuskan.

10. Di Sekolah Kebangsaan pon diberi peluang untuk belajar bahasa lain seperti Mandarin & Tamil. Jadi apa masalahnya dengan bahasa ibunda? Takde siapa yang melarang bahasa-bahasa tersebut diajarkan. Sekolah rendah aku siap ada 3-4 bahasa asing diajarkan. Takde masalah pon.

11. Kalau niat tu tak ikhlas nak bersatu, tak payah la nak tuduh-tuduh orang racist. Cermin diri tuh. Kalau betul niat nak memartabatkan Malaysia yang tercinta, 'go back to basic'. Cermin diri siapa Malaysian sebenarnya?

-Miss my primary school days-