Belt Tightening 2014 and One Hard Cry!

Shocking price upheavals at the kopitiam

Yes, when it rains;it pours.

After the fireworks of welcoming in the new year, a sombre mood awaits.

Thanks but no thanks to the government of the day, Malaysians will be roundly rustled by an aggressive butt-kicking inflation.

What with the withdrawal of gasoline and sugar subsidies, the rise of Tenaga tariff by more than 15%,the 20-30% school bus hike in February, expected toll and LRT fare increases, expect the worse. Parents of school going students will also have to face a 20% increase in stationery costs.

Do not be surprised if public bus and taxi fares moved up too!

Then there is the implementation of the minimum wage making it more expensive to do business in Malaysia.

As such, expect prices of food and drinks at the local kopitiam to go sky high.

Already drinks have been increased by 20% in KL, PJ and Penang while a bowl of noodles or rice up a hefty 50% beginning 1 January 2014!

Local economists are now forecasting three difficult years ahead with the GST kicking in on April 2015.

While RM 3,000 would be just ' nose above water ' in 2003 for the KL-PJ metropolitan area, the new numbers bandied around is RM5,000 to RM 8,000 for mere survival.

With a shrinking rinngit in your wallet, there is nothing to do but to get a second job or lament and cry hard!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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?