Learning English Through ASTRO

I just read today's paper (THE SUNDAY STAR) and found out that ASTRO will be running a programme to teach English. I think this is a good intitative from this private sattelite station.

Reading the brief write-up, I know they are on the right pathway. Learning English should be fun. So, through their programme, viewers will be exposed to language games, cross-word puzzles and other interactive learning styles.

English teachers especially those teaching the subject in government schools should pay heed to this programme and use what is useful to promote the teaching, learning and usage of English among students.

I do hope ASTRO is getting the right guidance on the scaffolding activities that can be used in a classroom environment.

Blog and be Rewarded in USD

I have been doing this for quite sometime. At first, I thought it was just another scam but then it has been paying me without fail for many months.It pays a few cents for out posts but it adds up to quite a sum after a period.

I do not know how long it will last but so far it has accumulated some 200,000 members world-wide. I guess, they are in some way similar to FACEBOOK and all the rest of the social webbing sites.

If they sell out for a handsome sum, the buyers  will have a ready clientele base for any internet business as well as blog stories to be sold serially on a thematic basis.

GST Backpedal

After so much public discourse of the negative effects of the GST on the poor, the government has backtracked once more.

We do not know the reason why the GST Bill would not be tabled in the current Parliamentary seating but I guess every one is heaving a sigh of relief. There is just too much inflation in the market.

We do not need any more pressure on the prices of basic goods as much as the government wants to assure us that basic goods will be outside the purview of the imposition of GST.

Again, the finger points to the impending Sarawak State Elections and a possible 13th General election close on its heel.

Driving UnChaperoned.

Well, the time came. Today my daughter drove to college unchaperoned by me.

I think there was certainly some initial feelings of apprehension but she did okay.

So, now it is to hone those skills towards becoming a better and more confident driver.

Malaysia: Improved Industrial Production

Malaysian industrial production rose 12.7 pct in January from a year earlier, its fastest growth pace since March 2004 and beating market expectations for a 11.3 pct rise.

The Statistics Department's data today showed that industrial production, a measure of manufacturing, mining and electricity output, was up 2.9 pct from a month ago. The number is not seasonally adjusted.

The annual growth in December was revised to 7.5 pct from 8.9 pct announced in January.

Japan: Lower 4thQ,2009 But Still Ok

Japanese gross domestic product (GDP) grew a revised 0.9 pct in October-December from the previous quarter, against economists’ median forecast for a 1.0 pct expansion.

The downward revision from a preliminary rise of 1.1 pct was due to capital expenditure rising less than initially reported and private inventories subtracted from growth.

The revised GDP deflator stood at a record low of minus 2.8 pct in the fourth quarter compared with the same period a year earlier. That compares with a preliminary reading of minus 3.0 pct.

The revised GDP figure translates into annualised growth of 3.8 pct in real, price-adjusted terms, against an initial reading of a 4.6 pct annualised increase.

We do hope the second largest global economy will gain traction and move forward more vibrantly in 2010.

Free Hospital Board for Civil Servants and Pensioners

Why is it that it  takes a sitting PM to do this obvious thing?

No wonder the politicians have no trust in the so-called 'quality' civil service in Malaysia for so many years. They could not even take care of their basic health care benefits.

In Kuala Lumpur and other big Malaysian cities,civil servants lined up as second to politicians in government health facilities. As for the top civil servants, they get the best,so why bother about the rest. Such selfishness have pervaded the civil service for some 40 years. If's either a 'devil may care attitude' since these top civil servants often got their way  'pushing their weight around' because of their top positions or they were fearful of raising it,hopefully to be seen as immensely patriotic to the government of the day.What silliness!

Then what about CUEPACS? Wasn't this ever brought up?It may just  be a trifling a RM4 a day thing but it can amount a lot to the lower rungs of the civil service. Again, these so called champions of the ordinary civil servants have been found to be wanting. They  must have been molly-coddling with the creme de' la creme of the civil service and the politicians of the day. Shame to them as well.

I thank PM Najib for his caring initiative in this area. Charity begins at home.

So, when are special scholarship categories going to be considered for the children of civil servants?

In these times, there is little that can be gotten from pensions. It will be welcomed by all pensioners.

The following is the news item from the SUN.

Hospital ward fees for govt officers, pensioners abolished

KUALA LUMPUR (March 10, 2010): The government will abolish ward charges for public service officers and pensioners in government hospitals effective April 1. Director-General of the Public Service Department (PSD) Tan Sri Ismail Adam said via a PSD circular the abolishment was also applicable to the family and parents.

"The abolishment does not affect the eligibility for ward as set for officers based on their grade," he said in a statement here today.

He said the eligibility for high ranking officers Grade 45-54 was First Class (single room); Grade 31-44 (First Class twin-sharing); Grade 21-30 (three to a room) and Grade 1-20 (Second class).

The eligibility for family and parents is based on the eligibility set for the officer concerned, he said.

Ward eligibility for pensioners and family members is based on the last grade of officers before they retire.

Ismail said if public servants, pensioners, family members or parents request to be admitted to higher class wards from their eligibility, civil servants or pensioners need to pay the ward charges as per members of the public.

"Officers and pensioners are also to place a deposit before admission to a higher class ward according to the rate set," he said.

He said with the enforcement of the circular, the C2 clause related to eligibility and payment rate in appendix C8 of Service Circular No. 4, 2002; clause 11 related to daily ward charges in Appendix 0 Service Circular 10 1991; and Division J related to spending application for treatment abroad in Appendix B of Service Circular Clause 21 2009 were canceled.
Ismail said the circular issued also applied to state public services, statutory bodies and local authorities. -- Bernama