Monday, June 28, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Trying out MonaVie for my knee problem.
Well just sign up for the new so called MonaVie "Juice Of Life". I am taking the Green Bottle - Active for my knee problem. My wife will be trying the Purple Bottle - Original.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Najib's style further raises Chinese support
KUALA LUMPUR: Since taking office as prime minister a year ago, Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak has made various direct approaches to win back the Chinese support for the federal government.
Besides attending traditional events such as the Chinese New Year open house, his “walkabout” approach of going directly to the people has found a lot of favour.
Najib’s style is seen to be more appealing to the Chinese community, where a sizeable number had ditched the Barisan Nasional in the last general election in favour of the Opposition.
For example, Najib was the first prime minister to attend the assembly of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia or popularly known as Hua Zhong, the influential and prestigious umbrella body for Chinese associations, guilds and clans in the country.
“The prime minister’s visits to Chinese independent schools, temples, Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown in Petaling Street and officiating Hua Zhong’s cultural festival have portrayed him as a leader close to the Chinese community, close to the people,” said Hua Zhong president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah.
Pheng said Hua Zhong, whose members include some of the biggest movers and shakers in the Chinese community, felt that Najib’s 1Malaysia concept has wide acceptance among the Chinese community and it had so far impressed the general public.
“I strongly believe that as long as it (1Malaysia concept) is fully implemented by all, it would bear ‘big fruits’ (for Malaysia),” he said.
In line with his 1Malaysia rallying cry and spirit, Najib also made another unprecedented but heart-warming gesture when he arrived at Pandamaran, a former Chinese new village, for the national Chinese New Year celebrations in February.
These actions are seen as “giving face” or according respect or consideration to the Chinese community, and they augur very well because “giving face” is regarded as a key tradition in the Chinese culture, and more particularly so during an auspicious period such as the lunar new year.
“The Chinese community has a very positive image of Najib. Two factors have contributed to this: first is that he appears to be pro-active on day-to-day issues like health and transport. The Chinese like that very much,” said political analyst Prof James Chin.
Secondly, he said, a lot of Chinese people had completely lost confidence in the Barisan Chinese-based parties but Najib has been seen as a saviour in reaching out to them.
Chin said the only long-standing issue perceived by the Chinese community that Najib needed to tackle vigorously is the New Economic Policy (NEP), which is sometimes seen as a stumbling block in terms of fairer distribution of wealth and opportunities.
But he said the initial response from the Chinese community for the New Economic Model has been very positive.
“On the surface, they are quite happy as they are eagerly waiting for more details,” he said.
As Najib marks his first anniversary as prime minister Saturday, many political analysts believe that he will continue to be in touch with the people, including the Chinese community; feeling their pulse, listening to their problems and aspirations to drive home the point that he is an inclusive leader.
Najib is seen to be genuinely working almost tirelessly to accomplish a lot of things for the rakyat. But some analysts say that Najib still has to face the reality that there has been a generational shift in the Chinese political thinking as the community is more influenced by issues rather than loyalty to any particular party.
“The Chinese nowadays no more just interested in business. They are already looking at things from a wider perspective, especially the younger and middle age generation as their prime concerns are not only jobs and income but also their children’s education and future,” said another political analyst.
This explains why some Chinese voters even voted for a party which had been promoting its aspiration of an Islamic state in the last general election as well as several by-elections after that as they had adopted a different political thinking from that of their parents, he said.
“They have more options and these make them more independent in their political choices.
“Therefore, if Barisan wants to win big, it needs to win back Chinese support. The Chinese are very, very much issues-based. If you can deliver on issues, they will give you their support. If you don’t, then they won’t to give you the vote,” said another political analyst Datuk Cheah See Kian.
Some believe that after a year under Najib’s leadership where he introduced some radical changes and transformation plans like the 1Malaysia concept, National Key Result Areas (NKRA), Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and New Economic Model (NEM), there is an urgent need for him to produce results.
“People are hungry for implementation and end results. He has to provide quick results. Therefore, in his second year in office, he has to produce results out of the various strategies he has introduced,” said another political analyst Dr Sivamurugan Pandian.
Producing end results aside, there is also other similarly important challenge that Najib has to address -- to put the house in order with regard to Barisan component parties in order to face the next general election.
“He needs the (full) team, not only from UMNO, but also all in Barisan. Najib has been seen as a popular leader as a result of his approachable outlook,” he said, adding that this had also been reaffirmed by the latest survey by the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research.
The survey showed that “Najib is in a stronger position today than he was 12 months ago when he took office as proportion of Malaysians satisfied with his performance stands at 68%, the highest ever.” -- Bernama
Besides attending traditional events such as the Chinese New Year open house, his “walkabout” approach of going directly to the people has found a lot of favour.
Najib’s style is seen to be more appealing to the Chinese community, where a sizeable number had ditched the Barisan Nasional in the last general election in favour of the Opposition.
For example, Najib was the first prime minister to attend the assembly of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia or popularly known as Hua Zhong, the influential and prestigious umbrella body for Chinese associations, guilds and clans in the country.
“The prime minister’s visits to Chinese independent schools, temples, Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown in Petaling Street and officiating Hua Zhong’s cultural festival have portrayed him as a leader close to the Chinese community, close to the people,” said Hua Zhong president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah.
Pheng said Hua Zhong, whose members include some of the biggest movers and shakers in the Chinese community, felt that Najib’s 1Malaysia concept has wide acceptance among the Chinese community and it had so far impressed the general public.
“I strongly believe that as long as it (1Malaysia concept) is fully implemented by all, it would bear ‘big fruits’ (for Malaysia),” he said.
In line with his 1Malaysia rallying cry and spirit, Najib also made another unprecedented but heart-warming gesture when he arrived at Pandamaran, a former Chinese new village, for the national Chinese New Year celebrations in February.
These actions are seen as “giving face” or according respect or consideration to the Chinese community, and they augur very well because “giving face” is regarded as a key tradition in the Chinese culture, and more particularly so during an auspicious period such as the lunar new year.
“The Chinese community has a very positive image of Najib. Two factors have contributed to this: first is that he appears to be pro-active on day-to-day issues like health and transport. The Chinese like that very much,” said political analyst Prof James Chin.
Secondly, he said, a lot of Chinese people had completely lost confidence in the Barisan Chinese-based parties but Najib has been seen as a saviour in reaching out to them.
Chin said the only long-standing issue perceived by the Chinese community that Najib needed to tackle vigorously is the New Economic Policy (NEP), which is sometimes seen as a stumbling block in terms of fairer distribution of wealth and opportunities.
But he said the initial response from the Chinese community for the New Economic Model has been very positive.
“On the surface, they are quite happy as they are eagerly waiting for more details,” he said.
As Najib marks his first anniversary as prime minister Saturday, many political analysts believe that he will continue to be in touch with the people, including the Chinese community; feeling their pulse, listening to their problems and aspirations to drive home the point that he is an inclusive leader.
Najib is seen to be genuinely working almost tirelessly to accomplish a lot of things for the rakyat. But some analysts say that Najib still has to face the reality that there has been a generational shift in the Chinese political thinking as the community is more influenced by issues rather than loyalty to any particular party.
“The Chinese nowadays no more just interested in business. They are already looking at things from a wider perspective, especially the younger and middle age generation as their prime concerns are not only jobs and income but also their children’s education and future,” said another political analyst.
This explains why some Chinese voters even voted for a party which had been promoting its aspiration of an Islamic state in the last general election as well as several by-elections after that as they had adopted a different political thinking from that of their parents, he said.
“They have more options and these make them more independent in their political choices.
“Therefore, if Barisan wants to win big, it needs to win back Chinese support. The Chinese are very, very much issues-based. If you can deliver on issues, they will give you their support. If you don’t, then they won’t to give you the vote,” said another political analyst Datuk Cheah See Kian.
Some believe that after a year under Najib’s leadership where he introduced some radical changes and transformation plans like the 1Malaysia concept, National Key Result Areas (NKRA), Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and New Economic Model (NEM), there is an urgent need for him to produce results.
“People are hungry for implementation and end results. He has to provide quick results. Therefore, in his second year in office, he has to produce results out of the various strategies he has introduced,” said another political analyst Dr Sivamurugan Pandian.
Producing end results aside, there is also other similarly important challenge that Najib has to address -- to put the house in order with regard to Barisan component parties in order to face the next general election.
“He needs the (full) team, not only from UMNO, but also all in Barisan. Najib has been seen as a popular leader as a result of his approachable outlook,” he said, adding that this had also been reaffirmed by the latest survey by the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research.
The survey showed that “Najib is in a stronger position today than he was 12 months ago when he took office as proportion of Malaysians satisfied with his performance stands at 68%, the highest ever.” -- Bernama
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Dato Seri Najib, PM, Malaysia
I have always wondered how Dato Seri would faired as our Prime Minister.
I would like to give him an A for his strong and fair administrative actions. He is able to turn around quite a number of policies and curb a lot of wrong doings. He is like a broom sweeping clean the dust and mess. He makes wise decisions and enable more and more people to believe in him and would want to strive along with him.
1 Malaysia.
The lifelong dream of Malaysia's 6th Prime Minister, Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Hj Abd Razak, is a united, peaceful and prosperous Malaysia, with abundant opportunities for all citizens.
This is what I would like, we as Malaysians can eat, drink and play together. Just like old days, when we play Buah Guli and Gasing in the playground no matter what Race, Malay, Chinese, Indian or Singh. I remembered 2 goods friends Amran and Rajender Singh, we used to play Kites and catch Peacock fish from rivers and big drains.
This is what I would like, we as Malaysians can eat, drink and play together. Just like old days, when we play Buah Guli and Gasing in the playground no matter what Race, Malay, Chinese, Indian or Singh. I remembered 2 goods friends Amran and Rajender Singh, we used to play Kites and catch Peacock fish from rivers and big drains.
Last but not least, overall Dato Seri Najib, PM of Malaysia, is doing tremendiously well in managing the Rakyat and Country.
1Malaysia.
Malaysia Budget 2010
Malaysia Budget 2010
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CURRENCY CONVERTER
2010 BUDGET BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS
* Malaysia economy to grow 2-3 per cent in 2010
* Mining to grow 1.1 per cent, manufacturing sector 1.7 per cent, agriculture 2.5 per cent, construction 3.2 per cent and service 3.6 per cent.
* Private consumption expand 2.9 per cent while private investment 3.4 per cent
* TNB to spend RM5 billion to implement electricity generation, transmission and distribution projects in 2010.
* Individual tax relief on broadband subscription fee up to RM500 a year from 2010 to 2012.
* Public-private collaborations to include an integrated immigration, customs and quarantine complex in Bukit Kayu Hitam, construction of six UiTM campuses and the development of MATRADE centre
* 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) will establish a corporate social responsibility fund totalling RM100 million as a start to finance community activities
* Government to allocate RM899 million to intensify tourism industry.
* Government to enhance tax incentives for healthcare service providers who offer services to foreign health tourists with income tax exemptions of 100 per cent on the value of increased exports from 50 per cent previously.
* Individual taxpayers to be given tax relief on broadband subscription fee up to RM500 a year from 2010 to 2012
* Civil servants are eligible to apply for computer loans once in every three years and up to a maximum of RM5,000 from the government once in every five years
* Formulate Halal Act in collaboration with State Islamic Religious Councils.
* To corporatise the Halal Industry Development Corporation as an agency under MITI
* Intensify Halal Certification by the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (JAKIM) by collaborating with international institutions to obtain standards certification such as HACCP ad GMP.
* To provide RM24 million to develop halal products anti-smuggling system at three entry points and three main ports.
* Allocate RM137 million to upgrade and improve drainage and irrigation infrastructures in paddy fields involving 180,000 farmers.
* To provide RM70 million to build the Paya Peda Dam Project in Terengganu to increase water supply capacity to paddy irrigation scheme in Besut.
* Allocate RM82 million to modernise aquaculture industry and conduct entrepreneurship training scheme for aquaculture breeders with focus on production of fish fry and ornamental fish.
* “The stock market will be further liberalised to enhance its efficiency as well as attract domestic and foreign investment. For this purpose, the government will undertake the following measures: First, liberalise the commission sharing arrangements between stockbrokers and remisiers in 2 stages to encrouage retail participation in the stock market. The first stage, which takes effect immediately, allows flexible brokerage sharing at a minimum rate of 40 percent for remisiers. The commission sharing will be fully liberalised in the second stage, effective 1 January 2011.
* “Allow 100 per cent foreign equity participation in corporate finance and financial planning companies compared with the present requirement of at least 30 per cent local shareholding.
* “Islamic banking assets account for 18.8 per cent of Malaysia’s total banking assets while takaful industry assets contribute 7.7 per cent of total insurance and takaful industry assets. To ensure rapid development of financial services, particulalrly in Islmaic finance, the government proposes that the existing tax incentives be extended to 2015.
* “The government is currently at the final stage of completing the study on the implementation of goods and services tax (GST), particularly to identify the social impact of GST on the people. The purpose of this study is to ensure that if GST needs to be implemented to stabilised Government finance, it will not burden the population. “If the government implements GST, it will replace the current sales tax and service tax as well as exemption will be granted to the low income group. The GST rate to be imposed will be lower than the current sales tax and service tax rates.
* “The government needs to ensure that the Malaysian tax system is equitable and able to generate revenue for development purposes. In line with this, the government proposes that a tax of five per cent be imposed on gains from the disposal of real property from 1 January 2010.
* Effective Jan 1 2010, government agrees to allow agencies to retain 50 per cent of rentals received while the remaining 50 per cent will be remitted to the government as revenue.
* The Government will implement fuel subsidy management system in early 2010.
* The Government proposes the maximum income tax rate to be further reduced to 26 per cent from 27 per cent effective from the 2010 year of assessment.
* Maximum tax rate for cooperatives will be reduced to 26 per cent while the fixed tax rate for non-resident individuals will be cut to 26 per cent.
* Personal tax relief will be increased to RM9,000 from RM8,000 effective from the 2010 year of assessment.
* The Government also proposes income tax on employment income of Malaysians and foreign knowledge workers residing and working in Iskandar Malaysia be imposed at 15 per cent compared with the maximum 26 per cent for the rest of the country.
* Government to launch a scheme in January 2010 that enables EPF contributors to utilise current and future savings in Account 2 to promote house ownership.
* RM14.8 billion is allocated to manage, build and upgrade hospitals and clinics.
* The Government will issue 1Malaysia Sukuk totalling RM3 billion.
* The Government will establish the 1Malaysia Retirement Scheme to be administrated by EPF.
* Employees EPF contributions will be raised again to 11 per cent on a voluntary basis with immediate effect. However, from Jan 1, 2011 employees' EPF contribution will revert to 11 per cent.
* The Government proposes existing personal tax relief of RM6,000 for EPF contributions and life insurance premiums be raised to RM7,000.
* Government allocates RM2.3 billion to build and upgrade infrastructures in rural areas.
* Government provides RM41 million to improve income and quality of life of the Orang Asli Community by implementing various projects.
* Budget 2010 allocations totalled RM191.5 billion, of which RM138.3 billion is for operating expenditure and RM53.2 billion for development expenditure.
* Federal Government revenue in 2010 to decline by 8.4 per cent to RM148.8 billion.
* Budget deficit at 5.6 per cent of GDP compared with 7.4 per cent in 2009. - Bernama/Reuters
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
John King Egg Tart in Penang
John King Egg Tart established in Hong Kong is now in Penang. Located at the Basement Floor of Gurney Plaza right in front of Yan Wo Wang Birdsnest Shop. The Egg Tarts are smooth and tasty. Never had such a smooth Egg Tart before. Everyone should try.Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Rothschild's new fund
Rothschild Said to Start Fund; Chairman’s Son Joins (Update1)
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By Jacqueline Simmons and Anne-Sylvaine Chassany
Sept. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Rothschild, the largest family-owned bank, plans to raise a 500 million-euro ($711 million) investment fund as chairman David de Rothschild’s son joins the firm, two people familiar with the plan said.
Alexandre de Rothschild, 29, moved to the family bank from Argan Capital, Bank of America Corp.’s former European private equity division, to work on the project, said the people, who declined to be identified before the fundraising is completed. Rothschild Managing Director Marc-Olivier Laurent, 57, will oversee the fund, the people said.
The two-century-old firm, which is run by 66-year-old David de Rothschild, plans to buy minority stakes in closely held companies after the pace of global mergers and acquisitions dropped 46 percent in the past year. The fund’s backers include Rothschild partners and clients. It will target companies valued at 100 million euros to 500 million euros, the people said.
“It’s normal for them to bring in family members to ensure succession,” said Anis Bouayad, founder of Paris-based advisory firm AB Conseils. “The bank has always found a way to promote its own, while also bringing outside talent to the top jobs.”
Javed Khan, who joined Rothschild from New York-based private equity firm Blackstone Group LP in June, and Emmanuel Roth, a former executive at investment firm Paris-Orleans, will also manage the fund, the people said. Rothschild plans to complete the fundraising before the end of the year, they said.
‘Family is Fine’
“In a business, the key is to have the best people,” David de Rothschild said in a 2005 interview, addressing the subject of succession. “The family is fine as long as they do a good job. If they don’t, it has to be someone else.”
David de Rothschild took managerial control of the U.K. side of the bank after his cousin Evelyn retired in 2004, cementing control of both the Paris and London businesses by a French Rothschild, a first for the family firm.
David’s younger brother, Edouard, stepped down in 2004 after helping to expand the French bank. Today, he oversees France Galop, the country’s horse-racing association. David’s cousin, Eric, is chairman of Rothschild’s asset-management and private-banking units and also runs the family’s Chateau Lafite vineyard.
Mayer Amschel, founder of the Rothschild banking dynasty, started out buying and selling old coins in a Frankfurt Jewish ghetto in the late 1700s and built an embryonic banking business by extending credit to clients. In the early 1800s, he sent his five sons to establish bases in London, Paris, Naples and Vienna, in addition to Frankfurt.
His great-great-grandson, Guy de Rothschild, rebuilt the French business in the 1950s and 1960s after reclaiming the bank, which had been seized by the pro-Nazi Vichy regime. In 1981, the French bank was nationalized by Socialist President Francois Mitterrand. Two years later, David persuaded the French government to grant the Rothschilds a new banking license. From Bloomberg.
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By Jacqueline Simmons and Anne-Sylvaine Chassany
Sept. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Rothschild, the largest family-owned bank, plans to raise a 500 million-euro ($711 million) investment fund as chairman David de Rothschild’s son joins the firm, two people familiar with the plan said.
Alexandre de Rothschild, 29, moved to the family bank from Argan Capital, Bank of America Corp.’s former European private equity division, to work on the project, said the people, who declined to be identified before the fundraising is completed. Rothschild Managing Director Marc-Olivier Laurent, 57, will oversee the fund, the people said.
The two-century-old firm, which is run by 66-year-old David de Rothschild, plans to buy minority stakes in closely held companies after the pace of global mergers and acquisitions dropped 46 percent in the past year. The fund’s backers include Rothschild partners and clients. It will target companies valued at 100 million euros to 500 million euros, the people said.
“It’s normal for them to bring in family members to ensure succession,” said Anis Bouayad, founder of Paris-based advisory firm AB Conseils. “The bank has always found a way to promote its own, while also bringing outside talent to the top jobs.”
Javed Khan, who joined Rothschild from New York-based private equity firm Blackstone Group LP in June, and Emmanuel Roth, a former executive at investment firm Paris-Orleans, will also manage the fund, the people said. Rothschild plans to complete the fundraising before the end of the year, they said.
‘Family is Fine’
“In a business, the key is to have the best people,” David de Rothschild said in a 2005 interview, addressing the subject of succession. “The family is fine as long as they do a good job. If they don’t, it has to be someone else.”
David de Rothschild took managerial control of the U.K. side of the bank after his cousin Evelyn retired in 2004, cementing control of both the Paris and London businesses by a French Rothschild, a first for the family firm.
David’s younger brother, Edouard, stepped down in 2004 after helping to expand the French bank. Today, he oversees France Galop, the country’s horse-racing association. David’s cousin, Eric, is chairman of Rothschild’s asset-management and private-banking units and also runs the family’s Chateau Lafite vineyard.
Mayer Amschel, founder of the Rothschild banking dynasty, started out buying and selling old coins in a Frankfurt Jewish ghetto in the late 1700s and built an embryonic banking business by extending credit to clients. In the early 1800s, he sent his five sons to establish bases in London, Paris, Naples and Vienna, in addition to Frankfurt.
His great-great-grandson, Guy de Rothschild, rebuilt the French business in the 1950s and 1960s after reclaiming the bank, which had been seized by the pro-Nazi Vichy regime. In 1981, the French bank was nationalized by Socialist President Francois Mitterrand. Two years later, David persuaded the French government to grant the Rothschilds a new banking license. From Bloomberg.
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