Biting the Bullet?

Winds of Change?

Perhaps this may be the first time that the denial syndrome of our awful education performance viz-a -viz other nations has been put aside. There is an indication that the winds may be changing.

There is also a vindication of our DPM and Education Minister that our heads cannot forever remain deep in the ground of feign ignorance.

It has come to pass. Muhyiddin at once admitted that he was shocked with the poor performance of Malaysian students in international assessment tests, despite the tons of money we have spent on education.

If, in the past, he has praised the system, today he has courageously called 'a spade a spade'.

Reports of assessment like Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) showed that the performance of Malaysian students were consistently not up to par.

Even though, our students on the surface appeared 'smart' as testified by our education system, sadly when they are asked to perform in international assessments, they failed to show that prowess. In such international assessments, Malaysian students lagged in the bottom one-third.

The Education Minister seems to have accepted the reality that something is not right with our students particularly the system that has cultured them.

In his speech today at a school in Shah Alam, though he believes that our education standards seemed alright, it is certainly not good enough.

The education system of Malaysia have seen more brickbats than accolades in international comparisons.

According to Pisa's 2012 results, Malaysian students scored below average and ranked 52 out of the 65 countries. In contrast, students in Vietnam ranked 17 out of 65.

– March 13, 2015.

The Positive Truth

Innocence

  Heavy rains remind us of challenges in life 
  Never ask for a lighter rain
  Just pray to God for a better umbrella.
  That is the attitude!

   Life is not about finding the right person
   But creating the right relationship.
   It's not how we care in the beginning
   But how much we care till the very end.

   Some people always throw stones in your path
   It depends on what you make with them
   A Wall or a Bridge?
   Remember you are the architect of your life.

   Search for a good heart
   But don't search for a beautiful face
   Because beautiful things are not always good
   But good things are always beautiful.

   It’s not important to hold all the good cards in life
   But it’s important how well you play with the cards you hold.

  Often when we lose all hope & think this is the end
  Remember God and pray
  It’s just a bend, not the end. 
  Have faith and have a successful life.

 One of the basic differences between God and humans is
 God gives, gives and forgives.
 But human gets, gets, gets and forgets.
 Be thankful in life.

 If you think it is your alarm clock that woke you up this morning
 Try putting it beside a dead body
 And you will realise that it is by the Grace of God
 That woke you up. 

What Will LPI's price ex-Bonus?

Riding A Curve Ball of Profits

Today's AGM and EGM meetings of LPI was certainly fast and furious.

It started at 11 am and the whole thing including the extraordinary meeting  finished just before 12 noon.

As usual, after the highlights of the financial year and the MSWG questions, you get only praises for Teh Hong Piow and how much money LPI is making from year to year.

So, the bonus of 1:2 has been approved by capitalising the reserves.

After a sharp fall of more than 50 sen in the morning, LPI settled at a price of RM 22 when trading stopped at 5 pm.

The bonus will go ex on 20th March and the entitlement date will be 24 March.

What would be the ex-bonus price of LPI be?

For a person holding 1000 shares, he will receive another 500 units.

RM 22,000 divided by 1,500 units comes to possibly RM 14.66 per share.

Anything above that price will be a bonanza.

Assuming that LPI goes ex- bonus at RM 15, that means a 1,500 holdings will fetch RM 22,500.

RM 500 is a small bonanza.

MOSTE Dinner 7th March 2015

Extra Supertanker Restaurant at The Club Bukit Utama

Though we had a long lead time for planning this dinner, the fall-out could be felt. From 14 persons who answered in the affirmative, we had three 'casualties' during the 24 to 48 hours.

First casualty was Ooi who came down with some health problems. Then Prof Thiru had some social engagement. Today, at the 11th hour, Daniel text that he just could not make it at the last minute.

Thank God, Boon Khee managed to whittled down the  food to  11 persons.

The food was ordered by Siok Eng and Boon Khee and it was a fresh spread suitable for our palate.

The first dish was a plate of grouper fish which was cooked to just the right texture. Taste was excellent.

Next came the tiger prawns and they did not disappoint.

Chive leaves and mushroom was next on the menu.  Taste was also up to expectations.

The venison cooked with a slight pinch of pepper was magnificent.

The braised pork that was  served subsequently was singularly great.

The kungfu chao of noodles and vermicelli was also up to the mark.

Dato' Leong brought some bottles of red wine and we all hade a swell  time enjoying the fullness and goodness of it.

Before we left, we tipped the waitress  RM 20 and promised to meet again in three months' time.

Those who attended are:

Tan Choo Lan
Lily Hor
Cindy Tan
Dato'Leong
Dato' Cheah
Loh Koh Fook
SK Soo
Teo Boon Khee
Heng
Kam Teik Beng
Dato Dr. Yap

Looking Closely of Risks for Malaysia

The above matrix is a pointer to the quo vadis of the Malaysian economy down the road. It displays the likelihood,transmission and impact of risks as well as suitable policy measures to manage these risks. The risks range from high to low.

Let us look at six indicators.

Side Effects from surge in financial volatility- High Possibility. This will invite capital reversals, the depreciation of the ringgit and falling export volumes. In the medium term the high share of foreign holdings in sovereign and BNM securities should be off-set by domestic buying. On the policy domain, stabilise the exchange rate as a shock absorber, provide liquidity support while temporary fiscal consolidation should be mounted upon well-targeted areas of the economy.

Financial Imbalances- in the medium term, the likelihood will be capital inflows and pressure on the exchange rate. Also there could be growth in leverage. On the low to medium scale, the high household and corporate debt will continue to make Malaysia vulnerable to external shocks. The recommended policy measures would include quickening the pace of fiscal consolidation, taking on macro-prudential measures while monitoring shadow banking.

Persistent Dollar Strength-In the medium term,disorderly readjustments can affect trade channels, cause contagion effects as well as result in capital outflows. As external debt are mostly in local currency, risk is low to medium. Also, on the positive side,  it has been a practice  to hedge by local resident companies. The policy instrument would be to stabilize the exchange rate as a shock absorber.

Protracted Slower Growth in Advanced Economies and Emerging Markets-The likelihood and transmission of such risks is high. It may affect trade and result in  second round adverse effects on domestic demand. The expected impact is expected from low to medium. It would likely dampen domestic demand, lower growth, diminish housing and asset values and weaken corporate, banking and sovereign balance sheets. Policies for adoption would include adjustment to a slower rate of growth, start-up upon infrastructure projects as well as implement structural reforms.

Implementation Risks with GST-There exist the possibility of a low to medium risk with implementation of GST that could adversely affect the credibility of fiscal policies. On the risk impact side, this can result in higher financing costs,high public debt, public debt sustainability issues and potential sovereign downgrades which can then result in capital outflows. Counter- cyclical measures will have less effects. The exchange rate can be relied upon as a shock absorber.

Sharp Decline in House prices-The real economy could be affected by weaker household and banking balance sheets;there would be negative wealth and low confidence. The medium term risks takes the form of high household debt at 86% of GDP; of which 50% are mortgages. Policy initiative should include easing of monetary policy, having a flexible exchange rate as well as the provision of fiscal stimulus to support growth.

Being 63

By the Grace of God!

Time sure flies!

And what do you know?

Today, I turn 63 on the Gregorian calendar.

Sharing  blessings of the day with me are my elder sister and a close friend, Lena.

I received an angpow from my Mother as well as another from my sister, Shaline.

Looking back, there are days of goodness and days I just want to forget.

No great feats though and really no calamitous occasions to fret too!

Generally, my life continues to be blessed by God Almighty.

I thank him for His Grace,Provision and Favour.

May 2015 be a great year for me and my family!

Buying a New LapTop

Our new HP with  Pre-loaded Windows 8.1

A few days ago (to be precise, last Wednesday-11 February 2014) my lap-top finally gave up the ghost.

Apart from a flat battery, the battery charger which had been given a short lease of life of something like two years by some handyman work of my son,also decided to call it a day. It was double jeopardy!

We bought that HP unit some 7 years ago when I was doing some project. Since then, except for some minor issues, it hasn't failed me at all.

So, we went to Plaza Low Yat last Thursday. Believe me, there are all kinds of smart-alec oil salesmen who will do their corniest best to influence you to buy from them.

For instance, there was this one Pakistani fellow who promised to take in my old set for RM 400 as a trade-in if we would buy a new HP laptop from him. He told us all we needed  to do was pay him  RM 1,700 for the new HP.

Today, after doing plenty of research, my son decided to give this Pakistani computer salesmen his business.

He went to Plaza Low Yat this morning again.

However, the Pakistani changed his tune. As far he was concerned, the price of a new HP unit has just gone up by RM 200 and the trade-in will now only be RM 100. What a crap!

So, we scouted around and bought it from another merchant. It cost me RM 2, 099 with up to date features and capacity. They also took in my old lap-top at RM 150.

I do hope the new lap-top will last us for another 7 years.