December 31, 2013

Another New Year


Yes, we are at the cusp of a new year again.

2014. The year of the Horse.

What it will bring for us depends on the cards that will be dealt to us.

For those who are naturally "good" and forthright, it will just another year of doing good and feeling good after doing it.

For the majority, it will be the same-whiling away the time God gives us.

For the wise, make time to do what you want.

Be it to travel far and wide, to meet old friends and relatives regularly, or to attempt to keep new year resolutions....just do it!

The best of the new year to all my readers!




December 29, 2013

A Dexter December


This series certainly has its high moments and its lows too.

While the series was more excitement than dullsville, the finale was certainly not up to expectations.

Jennifer as Debra Morgan
This serial killer tv series is downright bloody and watching eight seasons at one go in 10 days in December 2013 did take a toll on one of my eyes. Imagine 8 years of the series in one go; so I got a Red Eye.

Julia Stiles
Definitely a series to watch, it will go into its ninth and final season next year.

The main stars are Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter though the ninth season will not have Carpenter as she was written off  in the eight season-due to death to complication in surgery. I guess it may have to do with the divorce of these two main stars in real life.

Poisoner Hannah Mckay played by Yvonne Strohovski
The Cast
Playing subsidiary and eye candy roles are Julie Stiles, Yvonne Strohovski, Julie Benz,Aimee Garcia, Jaime Murray and Katia Winter.

Dexter with serial killer Hannah Mackay
Let us see what the cat will drag in for Dexter in Season 9.

December 26, 2013

Looking for a Chair


There was once a table.

She was looking for a chair.

After finding the chair, she wanted to change him into a table.

She found it almost impossible.

And so it is with relationships.

The girl who married the boy wanted the boy to change to her ways.

He may conform out of practicality to sustain the marriage or as in most cases, result in marital disasters.

And so the lesson to be learnt here-love a man for what he is.

Never try to change him if he can't!

And that my friend is the secret behind a good relationship or marriage.

So, remember this story of the table and the chair!

December 18, 2013

Ex MOSTE Dinner on 7th November 2013

Band of Brothers
It was a great time to meet up with old friends, have a few drinks, trade stories and to while away the night with songs on the karaoke machine.

We had the dinner in a function room at the Pantai Seafood Restaurant at Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara in the vicinity of Damansara Jaya

The greatest singer that night was Dato' Chang followed by Dato' Leong.

Daniel, Goan Lee, Prof Thiru and I played second fiddle, hopefully to be able to carry off a song or too.

Camaraderie and Bonding
We were so glad to have Frederick and Robert with us.

In fact, Frederick came in all the way from Sarawak to be with us.

Such was his affection to bond with us!

Great times
And so to recapture more of our bygone youth and camaraderie, we have decided to meet once more on 21 February at the same restaurant  to relive good times once more.

This time around we had Dato' Cheah, Dato' Leong, Dato' Chang, Tan Meng Leng, Frederick Wong, Robert Foong, Daniel Chew, Ooi Goan Lee, Prof Thiru, Lee Heng Keng  and myself.

Animated Display of  Friendship
We hope to have a bigger group on 21 February to welcome in the Chinese New Year of the Horse!


A Dismal Male


I was at the Orthopedic Department at University Hospital this evening.

Out of the more than 100 patients awaiting their turns to see their specialist doctors, I notice one glaring thing.

About 95% or even more were females.

I was one of the dismal male.


After all ladies who give birth to children lose their bone calcium to their babies and the aftermath is osteoporosis.

So, what are the males doing there?

How do they lose their bone calcium?

I guess it must be the X Factor for me here.

December 17, 2013

Brace for More Pain

Bleak Year
Well, 2014 may be just a few days away but the negative  reverberations are keenly felt.

As I mentioned in my last post, the current government is heaping it all up until it truly hurts the poor, the retirees, the poor pensioners and those who are already at the end of the financial rope.

While they increase their pay to a few hundred percent, the politicians and civil servants are basking in new found wealth. The lower rung civil servants can only  gloat with envy as they got only tuppence.

Meanwhile, they have increased quietly the renewable energy contribution on TENAGA's bill as well.

Also, they have increased toll charges from 1st January much to the consternation of users after they have promised no new toll hikes for the next 5 years!

Coming soon!

Humongous fare hikes for school bus, buses, taxis and LRT!

Alas, what happened to the life-line slogan of 'Rakyat Didahulukan"?

Dead in the water?

December 09, 2013

Post Election Inflation blues

Cry Fellow Rakyats!
It was not unexpected.

For all the excesses that were promised by the politicians during the elections, someone has to foot the bill.

So, hardly, into the sixth month after the 5th May GE, its payback time.

First, it was the reduction of subsidies for petrol and diesel at the pump, affecting all transport industries that will add to cost of all things. Then the sugar subsidy was taken away en bloc.

The unkindest cut is the 15% rise in Tenaga rates beginning January 2014 with a thumping multi-layered   effect increase for all residential use and industry too. Another inflation booster!

Now there are talks of increased assessment and also toll rate increases.

Can the poor lower income class and the pensioners take this all at one go?

Meanwhile, the politicians and senior public servants are increasing their salaries and allowances by leaps and bounds at the rakyat despair.

So, where do we go from here?

Is the slogan of  "Rakyat didahulukan" dead and frozen forever?

December 07, 2013

Room and Love at The Top

Sensual Love
This two-parter UK made telly series, Room at the Top s is a powerful rendition of the classic book.

As I have not seen the Simone Signoret film version which won Academy award acclaim, I can make no comparison.

The characters and the actors that hone them into flesh and blood make this one a refreshing new outing.
Romp in the Hay
The eye candy is the tragic Alice played by Maxine Peake and the lovable cerubic beauty Susan played out nicely by  Jenna Coleman.


Cerubic Delight
Matthew McNulty takes on the stoic protagonist Joe.

Sadly because of copyright issues, the series was aborted.

December 05, 2013

The Current US TV Series-Wonderful!

Sure, some of the series can be downright engaging, taut and suspenseful.

Then there are the other almost documentary and light stuff too.

Let us look at the suspenseful ones first.

Cat and Mouse
The series Homeland takes the cake here;followed by Boardwalk Empire.

While the first is CIA-centric, fast paced and cat and mouse stuff, the second one based on the life of Nucky Thomson and Al Capone in Prohibition era  Chicago is razor-sharp and bristling with excitement. Both have ended their current season last week and will sea their next seasons in 2014.

Blood and Gore
The second type of series is the smart-talk category. Here we have the English Lord and Lady setting for the fictitious Downton Abbey as well as the legal wrangle called The Good Wife. Both are great series with its twists as well as riveting and downright engaging dialogue.

Naughty and Sexy
Then, there is the lighter series, Witches of East End. A lot of mumbo-jumbo and it can test your patience. It may have its last seasons in 2014 unless it can get a slew of great writers and better editing. Quite fun to see what unfurls in the parallel world.

Hocus Pocus

Of special historical significance is the docu-drama Treme chronicling the rebuilding of the city of New Orleans after Katrina and how the community begin to re-built their lives amidst corruption in the police force and City hall..

Antoine Batiste and his Trombone
Currently in the 4th Season and four more episodes to go before it goes off for good.

Great series.

Halcyon Days
Then, we have another docudrama of historical relevance, The Vikings. It chronicles the early days of Viking society and their raids to bring home bounty. It has just completed Season 1 and Season 2 will be released in 2014.

Violence and tradition

December 04, 2013

The Senior Years

Acquiring new skills at 82!

Yesterday I had the good fortune to run into Mrs Liew.

We just about met each other last week.

So, we spent some time talking when we went together to submit our Genting Warrant subscription at Tricor in North Tower, Mid-valley as well as over a drink at Little Penang.

What I found fascinating is that at 82, she is fit as a fiddle, travels well and can still drive very well.

Driving a storm!

She told me she started driving when I was only 5.

She bought her semi-D  house at a shockingly low price of RM 22K.

Those were the days, I told myself.

I would not walk her path even in my dreams.

She already has 8 grandchildren.

She spends her time exercising in the morning; cooks her own meals and have the occasional liquid diet.

For recreation, she watches the Hokkien series on TV8 and whiles her time away at Aeon Big in Subang Jaya.

She now wants someone to teach her computer skills.

Great senior citizen, this!

November 09, 2013

Only in Malaysia

There is a saying in Malaysia-Malaysia Boleh and now we have another slogan; Endless Possibilities.

We are living both of them now as this cartoon depicts in humour.

Wahla!



USM Dinner for 3 Returning Ladies on 9th November 2013


This is the email I sent out to all our friends who attended the function as well as those we need to keep in the loop.

Dear friends,

I think our USM Dinner went pretty well yesterday night. We had a good time reminiscing the old times at USM during the slide show as well as during the off the cuff speeches.

I am certainly confident that with this meeting, the bond of camaraderie has further strengthened amongst ourselves and it was great, I am sure for everyone, it was an immense privilege to touch base with Kong Huat, Mahendran, Rita, Kee Teck and Saw Imm whom we have seen very little since graduation. We hope to see more of them in the future.

To all our 24 friends who felt that it was important to keep touch constantly when we have already transcended the age of 60, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to them again; especially so to Kwang Chye, Kee Teck, Saw Im, Kong Huat and Mrs Chew for flying in or driving in from outstation. It was a great effort and most encouraging on your part and we would like to say “Bravo and keep attending!”

I also like to thank our good friend, Kwang Chye for graciously footing the bill again this time around.

To Richard, many thanks for emceeing the night and Say Chuan for the unseen background help in menu selection, helping with driving directions as well as putting up the slide show.

To Kong Huat, we appreciate your wondrous gesture to host the next dinner gathering. 

To the three ladies-Esther, Helen and Ruby, it was great to have you back home again and we wish you a pleasant stay and safe journey home. (And thanks for the presents!)

Perhaps 2014 could be a good time, God willing, to change our dinner venue possibly to Penang, Johor Bahru or even to Perth where we have many USM friends residing there.

For your information, our elder brother Bala has also informed that he would possibly organise another larger USM lunch or dinner meet early next year.

All the best again and till we meet again, remember there is always the phone, sms and email to keep in touch!

God Bless


Heng

10 November 2013



October 30, 2013

A Blue Chinese Daughter-in-law

  
Looking for an Online Date
According to a Malaysian Chinese daily, a 57-year-old grandfather invited his female online friend to have sex in a hotel but was shocked when his daughter-in-law showed up.

The man, known only as Wang, was even more horrified when he noticed his son tailing the daughter-in-law at the hotel in Heilong­jiang, China recently, it reported.

With the username “A Caring One”, Wang had been actively chatting with netizens since he retired two years ago.


Chinese Girl on Internet Date

Wang came across a netizen with the username “Lonely Flower” on Oct 21 and they decided to meet in a hotel room after exchanging fake photographs.

Wang’s son found out about the chat-room conversation and decided to secretly follow his wife to the hotel.

The woman was shocked when her father-in-law answered the door and tried to run away.
However, Wang’s son showed up at the hotel room and attacked the both of them.

Wang suffered injuries while the woman lost three teeth.

This can only happen in the modern internet era.

October 25, 2013

GST-Hurting the Poor

How the Cake Crumbles
At long last, GST was introduced in the 2014 Malaysian Budget.

While they are pros and cons of such a wide-ranging tax, the weight of the tax will in all likelihood be placed on the already burdened lower income group.

This article, likely abridged from the Malaysian Insider article of Trinna Leong tells us more about the effects of GST.

GST targets a bigger group but poor hit most, say economists
October 26, 2013

Putrajaya’s decision to finally introduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a regressive move that would largely hurt poor and debt-ridden Malaysians, say economists.

While they lauded the government's move to abolish the Sales and Services Tax (SST) for the GST, the economists argued that the consumption tax of 6% effective April 1, 2015 would in fact do more harm than good in the long run.

“This is a regressive tax where the poor would be taxed more than the rich,” said Lim Mah Hui, from the Socio-economic and Environment Research Institute (SERI).

The lower income group would have to fork out a bigger chunk of their wages in terms of percentage compared with the rich, forcing the poor to pay a bigger percentage margin to the government in the form of the GST, he told The Malaysian Insider.

"The effect to the lower income group is neutral," The Prime Minister told a press conference in Parliament.
Economists said that a low income household earning roughly RM1,800 a month would have to spend more of their pay for necessities, a fact which Bank Negara noted in its Outlook and Policy 2013 report on the BR1M.

The report mentioned that based on analysis, “lower income households are more sensitive to income shocks” and that the poor “tend to have lower savings as most of their expenditures are for necessities”.
By pushing forward with the GST, the government would reinforce investor confidence but burden the people in the long run.

“With a definite GST rate, the market would receive it positively,” said Edward Lee, regional chief economist at Standard Chartered.

Institut Rakyat economist Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin said Putrajaya deserved credit for abolishing the SST instead of running the taxes in parallel but added that the government needed to ensure that it can enforce the GST effectively.

“I'm not certain if the committee tasked to oversee the implementation of GST would have the teeth to enforce the GST on traders, manufacturers so as to curb inflation,” Azrul said.

“In the past, the trend with enforcement has been lacking in Malaysia. It makes you think if enforcement would be better now than it is in the past.”

The GST would require an input and output of tax to be enforced at every level of the supply chain, a tedious and complex task which pundits have said may not work in Malaysia.

But more importantly, the brunt of the tax will be spread out to the consumers, a harsh reality that many Malaysians would not appreciate, they added.

“While this is an efficient tax, we must remember that 80% of Malaysian households are in debt,” Lim from SERI cautioned.

According to financial analyst Jesse Colombo, a columnist at Forbes magazine, Malaysia’s ratio of household debt to GDP hit a record of 83% – the highest household debt load in Southeast Asia.

With the GST, Lim believed that Malaysians would continue to spend more than they earn – a prediction that does not bode well for a country that has 41% of its population between the ages of 25 to 54.

The economists’ warning brushes off the government’s insistence that the GST would reduce the tax burden on the people, especially the low income group, through tax exemptions.

“What's the need to give the BR1M RM300 one-off payment if the government insists that there won't be an inflationary impact?

"If you don't foresee any burden on the low income group then why give the one-off cash assistance?” asked Azwar, referring to the one-off payment the government would pay to the poor when the GST takes effect. – October 26, 2013.

October 23, 2013

Truly Great Gems

Most Governments Operate This Way
Once in a long,long while, you see sparks of brilliance.

Pedal Power Both Ways
There can be in graphics or in both text and graphics.

Reality Check
The thing is they all drive home the point.

Shocking Bills
Enjoy!
True in Malaysia Now!

Never a Debtor Be

So the Bard eloquently puts it.


Yet, our unruly governments have spent us out of house and home.

We have been bombarded to the fact that Greece, Spain and Portugal are the poor and yet the USA is the poorest of them all.

For Malaysia, we are in debt to a tune of RM 17,000 per person or about US$7,000.


Reducing Debt Temptation

Seek financial solace
After only two months of evaluation, I have come to the conclusion that debt is one of the most worrisome problems that can befell me financially particularly in my current status as a pensioner.

This month is something of a watershed for me as I have so far disposed of one of my major personal loan from a foreign bank.

Cut this Out!

Today, I found time to go to another foreign bank to terminate my credit card as well as put the expensive overdraft facility to pasture. Good riddance to bad rubbish!

For me, the next thing to do will be to terminate another two credit cards. Again,both are issued by foreign banks.

I have also made up my mind to review three personal accident policies and perhaps to possibly say good-bye to all of them.

As a major loan repayment schedule looms ahead of me in 2014, the best thing to do is to cut me as much slag  as possible so that I will not become an easy victim of runaway inflation and rising interest rate at the same time.

Innovation and Recycling

These people are truly imaginative and innovative.

Look what have they done creatively to the items which we would all but disposed if they should clutter up the house.

The "Old Lady" Who Lived in a Shoe

Care to Have Tea with Alice?

Puss in Boots?

The Water Pulley?

Sprinkler Extraordinaire!

Amazing!

That 10 million dollar Bra!

Yes, this bejeweled bra is definitely something to hold and behold.

Especially when it is worn by the latest darling of the modelling world, Candice Swanepoel.

So behold!

Lovely is the word!

Charming is the girl



October 15, 2013

My First Pen-pal

Sally is on the left
She was Sally McAnallen from Ireland.

We corresponded for quite sometime during my secondary school days.

She sent me a record by Otis Redding called " Reached Out".

That was my first introduction to black jazz.