Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by moonhowler

Real man. Mana pi feminist?

moonhowler — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 22:06:49 +0800

[YOUTUBE]ZeL16prds68[/YOUTUBE]

Jakim UNITEN tahfiz quran engineering course

moonhowler — Thu, 06 May 2021 10:44:36 +0800

No judgement but who has taken this course?
Can review if u are taking or graduated?
How's finding job like, hard or easy?

https://www.uniten.edu.my/programmes/huffaz...on-engineering/

Working with Bersatu backfired,

moonhowler — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 20:24:33 +0800

GEORGE TOWN: DAP today reiterated that there would be no political cooperation with Umno in the coming elections although it would continue working with the party on certain issues.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng cited the formation of the Perak and Johor state governments as examples of its joint cooperation with Umno.

He said these two states allowed development allocations to be given to opposition constituencies.

However, Lim said DAP’s stance on not working with Umno had not changed and the party’s central executive committee (CEC) had affirmed this policy.

“Unless the CEC decides otherwise, this is our stance now,” he said in his opening address at the Penang DAP convention at the Spice Arena in Relau today.

“DAP and Pakatan Harapan will also work with Umno MPs who want Parliament to convene. We can cooperate with them on issues affecting the people.

“But let me state that DAP will not work with kleptocratic leaders in the coming 15th general election.”

Lim described Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s “new deal”, being offered to Malaysians based on social justice, as a “raw deal”, with hefty fines imposed on those flouting Covid-19 rules and racist politicking.

He said the only way to defeat such policies was for Parliament to convene quickly so that unjust and arbitrarily decided laws could be debated and quashed.

Lim said while the people wanted a repeat win by PH, following its victory in the 2018 general election, a winning formula for GE15 must unite all Malaysians to stop PN from making the country a “failed state”.

He said uniting parties against PN would not be easy but hoped all opposition parties could work together on this.

“This winning formula must not include kleptocratic leaders. We are proud that not a single of the 42 DAP MPs elected in the 2018 general election has defected to support PN or Muhyiddin,” he said.

Lim said DAP had already identified weaknesses in the party after GE14.

The party, he said, had problems in relaying its policies to the public, especially when it was in power under PH for 22 months after GE14.

He said people were watching DAP closely, and urged Penang members to close ranks and support the leadership of chief minister Chow Kon Yeow.

A total of 1,632 of the 2,103 eligible delegates were present for the convention. The hall at the Spice Arena can seat 10,000.

The state party elections are being held to select 15 committee members from among 44 candidates

donate sanitary pads to poor women

moonhowler — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 14:47:52 +0800

Malaysian woman kickstarts initiative to donate sanitary pads to poor women and girls during MCO
Thursday, 23 Apr 2020 12:38 PM MYT

BY TAN MEI ZI

Vimala Kanagaratnam was driven to help after receiving a heartbreaking text message from a father who couldn’t afford to buy pads for his daughters. — Pictures courtesy of Vimala Kanagaratnam
Vimala Kanagaratnam was driven to help after receiving a heartbreaking text message from a father who couldn’t afford to buy pads for his daughters. — Pictures courtesy of Vimala Kanagaratnam
PETALING JAYA, April 23 — A Malaysian woman is spearheading an initiative to deliver sanitary pads to women and girls in need during the movement control order (MCO).

Vimala Kanagaratnam said that while many families needed food and household essentials during the MCO, it was easy to forget the needs of women who have their monthly periods.

The social marketer was previously working on distributing baby formula and groceries to underprivileged families living in public housing project (PPR) flats when she received a plea for help from a father who could not afford to buy pads for his daughters.

“I know some families are struggling during the MCO and some of them now have zero income after losing their jobs.

“I received a text message in Malay one night from a father who said his daughter was menstruating but they didn’t have any money to buy sanitary pads.

“It really broke my heart when I read that message. It’s already so difficult for these families to put food on the table, what more to buy sanitary pads,” Vimala told Malay Mail.

As a mother with a teenage daughter, Vimala said she understood the worries and anxieties faced by women who could not afford to buy essential feminine hygiene products in these difficult times.

Within 24 hours, she managed to gather seven boxes of pads sponsored by her friends and she hoped to get more people on board to expand the scope of her donations.

Vimala emphasised that she does not accept cash donations and has asked Good Samaritans to order the sanitary pads online and have them delivered to her address so she could distribute them.

She also noted that Malaysians could still help even if they did not have the means to join her initiative.

“You don’t have to send the pads to me, you can even just buy pads for your next-door neighbour if you know they can’t afford to buy them right now.”

She is currently helping families living in PPR flats in Kelana Jaya and hopes to lend a helping hand to those in Desa Mentari as well once more donations come in.

If you are interested in joining Vimala’s initiative, message her on Facebook or contact her via WhatsApp at 016-9088939.

IF one would call DAP racist,

moonhowler — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 22:29:53 +0800

bincangkan

Children’s Commissioner: AGC must explain call to

moonhowler — Sat, 19 Oct 2019 20:48:55 +0800

My feeling is AGC scared press charged because relate to Rehat dan Rawat ....

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/201...-school/1801827

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 — The country’s Children’s Commssioner has urged the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) to explain the decision to dismiss the case of an alleged sexual assault that took place at a tahfiz school in Ipoh, Perak.

Datuk Noor Aziah Mohd Awal from the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) reminded the AGC in a statement that the incident was of great public interest, and called on Attorney General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas to clarify why he decided against pressing charges.

“In the public interest matter of the alleged sexual abuse against a minor at a tahfiz school in Manjoi, Ipoh, Suhakam urges the Attorney General of Malaysia to explain without delay the reason for the decision to drop criminal charges,” she said.

“Given the grievous nature of the alleged offences, the Children’s Commissioner believes that the mother of the victim is fully within her rights to commence legal action against the tahfiz school,” she added.

On Monday, the Magistrate’s Court in Ipoh made an unexpected ruling to dismiss the case of alleged sexual abuse against a minor at a tahfiz school in Manjoi, Ipoh, merely two months after recognising that an offence did take place.

Magistrate Mohammad Afifi Mohammad Deen said the ruling followed a letter from the Perak State Legal Adviser’s Office containing a directive by Thomas, who reportedly evoked Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution to justify the decision to dismiss the case.

In a stern reminder directed at the AGC, Suhakam said the rule of law should apply fully to children as it does to adults, and that all children have a right to equal protection under the law.

“The Children’s Commissioner underlines that the concept of dignity requires that every child

is recognised, respected and protected as a rights holder,” Noor Aziah said.

“And as a unique and valuable human being with an individual personality, distinct needs, interests and privacy and is determined that children who are victimised in crimes of such magnitude receive justice in full.”

Suhakam also directed its criticism at the media, calling for more sensitivity over its coverage of sexual abuse cases.

“The Children’s Commissioner cautions the media that in reporting a case of this nature the name of the mother of the child victim must not be mentioned as it may lead to the identification of the victim,” said the statement.

“Accordingly, the Children’s Commissioner advises the media to adopt appropriate and ethical rules of conduct to protect the victim’s identity.”

Section 15 of the Child Act 2001 prohibits the identity of sexual abuse victims to be revealed.

On August 7, the court had acknowledged that a violation had taken place based on the complaint made by the victim’s mother on the same day.

The case at the time was mentioned under Section 377E and Section 14(a) of the more recent Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which handles physical sexual assault on a child.

The court then instructed the Deputy Public Prosecutor to attend Monday’s proceeding to explain why the investigation paper was closed previously with no suspects identified, despite the victim being able to recognise the suspects.

The alleged offence took place three years ago in Maahad Tahfiz al Barakah, a tahfiz school teaching Quran memorisation, then owned by popular preacher Datuk Kazim Elias.

Umno-PAS charter ‘moderate’

moonhowler — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 14:15:52 +0800

I guess it depends what they defined as 'moderate'

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/...n-says-analyst/

PETALING JAYA: The charter signed between Umno and PAS, formalising the cooperation between the country’s two largest Malay Muslim parties, is “moderate” in nature, despite initial fears it would have extreme leanings, a political analyst said.

Awang Azman Awang Pawi of Universiti Malaya said the charter, in fact, was based on the spirit of the Federal Constitution.

“It was not too focused on Islam. Contrary to claims the union (between PAS and Umno) posed a threat to Malaysia’s multiracial community, the charter took a central right approach.

“It was neither too left nor right,” he told FMT.

Awang Azman described the left as being linked to socialism and progressivism, while the right equated with capitalism and conservatism.

He said he found the moderate approach taken by the two parties as surprising as many feared their alliance would impact race relations.

The national unity charter – Piagam Muafakat Nasional – signed by the PAS and Umno presidents yesterday seeks to uphold the interest of the Malays, Islam as the official religion, and Malay as the national language.
It vows to restore the confidence of the people in the “leadership of Islam, the Malays and the Bumiputeras”.

Awang Azman also said it was clear that the PAS-Umno alliance was meant to take on Pakatan Harapan and not challenge the non-Malays.

The two parties, he said, were aware that apart from issues related to the Malay community, voters were also unhappy with the ruling coalition, especially when it came to education and the civil service.

“They are offering an alternative to the rakyat,” he said.

He also saw the charter as a re-branding of the opposition brand whose narrative will revolve around the people’s dissatisfaction with Putrajaya.

However, he said the two parties will push youth leaders to the fore, while Umno needs to address the infighting.

Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Azmi Hassan says the alliance will put PH under pressure, especially its two components PPBM and Amanah, which are tasked with wooing the Malay electorate.

He cited the increasing support for the opposition in the recent by-elections at Cameron Highlands, Semenyih and Rantau.

He said PH has failed to win the support of the Malays despite being in power for over a year.

Nissan Navara 2.5L V A/T (used, 2018)

moonhowler — Sun, 01 Sep 2019 14:40:39 +0800

Item(s):
Nissan Navara 2018 2.5L V A/T, Silver

Package includes:

Price:
bought for ~RM117k nett
letting go for RM86k.

Warranty:
available from date of purchase ~ Mar 2018

Dealing method:

Location:
Klang Valley

Contact method/details:
pm
---

Item(s) conditions:
Very good

Picture:

Reason for sale:
Relocate

120 kW or 160HP @ 3600rpm
Torque 403Nm @ 2000rpm
Full spec here ya (refer DOUBLE CAB 2.5L V A/T)
https://www.nissan.com.my/vehicles/navara/prices

milage @ 48k. Seldom go in offroad.
travel on PLUS highway most of the time
fitted with Carryboy G3, worth about RM5k
Tinted (Agard worth rm2.3k)
Very comfortable, all suspensions are the independent spring+damper type (instead of the truck's leave-spring type on the rear)

very sayang this car...
Service in Nissan only (normally i take whatever recommended coz maintenance cost is covered by company)
Always use Euro 5, only occasionally non Euro 5 when no station can be found.

If interested please pm, got free gift
(not umbrella or other stuffs that you might not need)..

Teaching Science and Math in English

moonhowler — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 11:39:20 +0800

Disclaimer: TS agree to teach in english, but can't go on switching back and forth forever. must stick to one. From English -> Malay--> English --> Malays ---> now study if wana switch back to English again...

come on............ make up your mind

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/...psmi-kata-dr-m/

KUALA LUMPUR: Kementerian Pendidikan sedang mengkaji secara terperinci cadangan untuk pelaksanaan semula dasar Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik Dalam Bahasa Inggeris (PPSMI).

Perdana Menteri, Dr Mahathir Mohamad berkata kajian itu perlu dilakukan kerana penggunaan Bahasa Inggeris merupakan bahasa antarabangsa.

“Kementerian Pendidikan sedang mengkaji secara terperinci pelaksanakan semula dasar ini dengan menyediakan sistem baru yang digunakan melalui IT iaitu pengajaran yang direkod oleh guru yang terbaik yang akan diguna di semua sekolah, supaya kecekapan guru yang terbaik dapat dinikmati semua murid.

“Kementerian Pendidikan juga mengambil kira kepentingan penguasaan pengajaran dan pembelajaran dalam bahasa Inggeris, kerana bahasa Iggeris sudah menjadi bahasa antarabangsa dan diperlukan untuk pengurusan dan perusahaan.

Penguasaan bahasa Inggeris diambil kira dalam peluang pekerjaan,” katanya menjawab pertanyaan Fahmi Fadzil (PH-Lembah Pantai) yang meminta pendirian kerajaan berhubung PPSMI sama ada ia akan diperkenalkan semula.

Mahathir berkata, pelbagai pandangan diutarakan pelbagai pihak termasuk mereka yang menyokong dan menentang pelaksanaan semula PPSMI.

Ahli Parlimen Langkawi itu turut memberi gambaran subjek Sains dan Matematik lebih sesuai dalam bahasa Inggeris kerana ia diterokai orang berbahasa Inggeris.

“Kita menerima pelbagai nasihat dan pandangan, ada ramai yang nak supaya pelajaran Sains dan Matematik dibuat dalam bahasa Inggeris, ada juga berkeras untuk terus dalam bahasa Melayu.

“Sains dan Matematik bukanlah sesuatu yang diterokai dalam bahasa Melayu, sebaliknya diusahakan oleh orang yang berbahasa Inggeris, kalau tak faham bahasa Inggeris itu agak sukar untuk kita terjemah dalam bahasa Melayu, sebab itu kalau belajar bahasa yang digunakan oleh peneroka ilmu, maka ini dapat diakses secara langsung,” katanya.

Terdahulu, kesatuan guru membantah rancangan melaksanakan semula PPSMI, dasar yang dilaksanakan pentadbiran Mahathir pada 2003 sehinggalah ia dihentikan pada 2012 berikutan bantahan meluas.

Rasional dasar itu penguasaan bahasa Inggeris akan memudahkan perolehan ilmu dalam bidang sains dan matematik, tetapi Kesatuan Perkhidmatan Perguruan Kebangsaan (NUTP) berkata ia tidak menyelesaikan masalah asas penguasaan bahasa yang lemah dalam kalangan pelajar.

Presidennya, Amiruddin Awang sebaliknya menggesa kerajaan mengatasi kebimbangan mengenai kualiti guru dan mengkaji semula sukatan pelajaran dan mata pelajaran bahasa Inggeris.

World oldest modern Republic. guess where?

moonhowler — Mon, 06 May 2019 10:22:01 +0800

i am not sure how many are surprised to find that one of the world's oldest modern republic was founded in,.... Malaysia.....

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanfang_Republic

The Lanfang Republic was one of the earliest modern republics in the world.

The sultans of Western Borneo imported Chinese laborers in the 18th century to work in gold or tin mines. A number of mining companies (kongsi) enjoyed some political autonomy,[1] but Lanfang is the best known thanks to a history written by Yap Siong-yoen, the son-in-law of the last kapitan of the Lanfang kongsi, which was translated into Dutch in 1885.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][excessive citations] None of the other Chinese mining settlements in western Kalimantan left written accounts.[13]

The settlers subsequently elected Luo as their inaugural president. Luo implemented many democratic principles, including the idea that all matters of state must involve the consultation of the republic's citizenry. He also created a comprehensive set of executive, legislative, and judicial agencies. The Republic did not have a standing military, but had a defense ministry that administered a national militia based on conscription. During peacetime, the populace mostly engaged in farming, production, trading, and mining. Lanfang's administrative divisions included three tiers (province, prefecture, and county) with the people electing leaders for all levels.

No wonder Perak remains second poorest state

moonhowler — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 18:13:14 +0800

Koon Yew Yin - March 30, 2019 3:13 PM

Last night, I saw this report: “Perak to build National Rocket and Aerospace Innovation Centre”.

It is about the Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP), through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Perak 4.0 Industry Sdn Bhd (Perak 4.0), collaborating with Lestari Advanced Technology Sdn Bhd (LATSB) to develop the National Rocket and Aerospace Innovation Centre.

Perak 4.0 CEO and director Mohd Ariff Yeop Ishak said through the collaboration, LATSB will develop the innovation centre on a 31ha industrial land owned by PKNP in Tanjung Batu, Manjung, in Perak.

“This project is set to become the country’s first local rocket and propulsion technology centre in the defence industry,” he said after signing a memorandum of understanding.

Ariff signed the MoU on behalf of Perak 4.0 while LATSB was represented by its managing director, Ahmad Joahari Abu Bakar. It was witnessed by Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

Ariff said the development of the first phase of the innovation centre is expected to cost between RM30 million and RM40 million and is expected to be completed in 2024.

“The development entails the construction of administrative office, chemical, propellant, structural and production, and avionics and electronics buildings, as well as their designs,” he said.

He said the second phase of the innovation centre is expected to commence in 2024 involving the construction of additional buildings, and their cost have yet to be ascertained.
Besides investment from LATSB, the first phase of the project is expected to attract domestic and foreign direct investment of RM200 million, he said, adding that 1,000 highly-skilled jobs will be created by 2020 and 8,000 by 2040.

I want to state that Perak was once the richest state. After I read the above article, I do not wonder any more why the Perak MB stopped my appointment as one of the economic advisers. I have also stopped wondering why Perak remains the second poorest state in Malaysia.

Malaysia was once the largest tin producer in the world and Perak produced more than half of the total production. The first car was registered in Perak. That is why “A” was the number plate of the first registered car in Malaysia.

All Malaysians, especially the Perak elected members, must know that the USA, the richest nation in the world, has already spent billions of dollars on their space programme.

As of 2018, there have been 18 astronaut and cosmonaut fatalities during spaceflight. Astronauts have also died while training for space missions, such as the Apollo 1 launch pad fire which killed an entire crew of three. There have also been some non-astronaut fatalities during spaceflight-related activities.

In early January 2019, China had succeeded in sending a rocket to land on the far side of the moon.

I am very disappointed with our elected members.

During the last general election, I donated more than RM100,000 to each of the four component parties of Pakatan Harapan. Moreover, I campaigned for each of them.

If Perak does not stop wasting RM30-40 million and 31ha of industrial land, I am very sure Perak will lose in the next general election to Barisan Nasional.

I hope our Prime Minster Dr Mahathir Mohamad will stop Perak from wasting money and land on this aerospace project.

Koon Yew Yin is a retired chartered civil engineer and one of the founders of IJM Corporation Bhd and Gamuda Bhd.

will JB be affected by the latest Pasir Gudang

moonhowler — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 15:34:38 +0800

anybody in the know can inform if Johor Baru will be affected by the contamination?
i will be going to Pasir Gudang next week.

Credit Card Terminal

moonhowler — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 12:00:50 +0800

Our shop based at Ipoh.
Anyone can intro best solution for terminal that accept credit card payment.
please do pm me.
we also wish to accept e-wallet payment such as boost, grab, tng etc

thanks

Who cheats in the race between rafizi and azmin?

moonhowler — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 08:04:14 +0800

With all the misappropriation in this voting, who are the one that is cheating? Either One of them or both side also got cheat?

Collapsing Gulf

moonhowler — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 10:05:42 +0800

source: https://voiceofthemarkets.blogspot.com/2018...Hkrnt0.linkedin
TLDR: The gulf went on from being the world richest to the verge of collapsing
Government of Saudi Arabia (until few years ago that was the richest country in the world) is taking loans. This is like blasphemy.

The GCC refers to the countries that belong to the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The GCC countries are now collapsing. Here is the story:

We have been warning our clients and investors about the complete collapse of GCC since 2015.

(OSTB : I have been warning about the Club of Doom - The Collapse of the Islamic Countries Since 2006!!)

Thousands of businessmen across GCC have gone into turmoil ever since
property prices have collapsed and
thousands are in jail or have run away or
are involved in multiple litigation

while Governments are not making payments leading to freezing of thousands of business.

Trump is openly humiliating and challenging Saudi Arabia
Etihad Airlines is at the verge of a slow death like collapse and
bailouts of large corporations and entire countries are in full swing.

Last week, we elaborated how bad things were in the UAE.

Multi Billion Dollar Companies Continue Their Collapse In UAE: 3 More Banks To Merge

In all, at least 19 major banks have merged across GCC within the last 12 months approx.:

8 banks have announced mergers in the UAE alone (2 completed in 2017 and 6 shall merge in 2018).

3 merged in Qatar in Aug 2018.

2 merged in Kuwait-Bahrain in Aug 2018.

Now the 2 oldest banks have merged in Saudi Arabia in Oct 2018.

Saudi banking mega merger reflects Kingdom’s reform agenda

2 banks were merged in Oman in Aug 2018.

Merger of two Omani banks will form an entity with 25% share of loan market

Yesterday, 4 Oct 2018 was a terrible day across GCC.

2 more banks were merged in Oman.

Two Omani banks announce agreement to merge

Aside from banking mergers, sovereign fund closures/mergers, aluminium company mergers, the largest petrochemical companies in Saudi are also in trouble and are now being merged.

These companies are and were the heart of the Saudi and UAE economy and they are almost all insolvent.

Saudi petrochemical firms sign $2.2bn merger deal

Early this week, a major USD200b solar power project with Japan was also shut down despite being launched just in early 2018.

All these are signs of :
rapidly evaporating trust of foreign investors and
fleeing of local assets and
lack of any cash in the Saudi Govt to even save their own reputation
never mind their corporations.

Saudi shelves $200 billion SoftBank Solar project: WSJ

To prove that what we say is true, Government of Saudi Arabia (until few years ago that was the richest country in the world) is taking loans. This is like blasphemy.

Saudi sovereign wealth fund takes on rare $11 billion loan

Never before has a rich country gone downhill so fast in just 3 years since 2015.

USD 11b is needed by Saudi Arabia every month as their deficit.
This is just one month's worth of borrowing.
Their public sector salaries
and Govt spending on empty shell towers and mini cities
and security are enormous
and completely unsustainable

Ejecting expats is not the solution because expats were paid the lowest while locals are paid the highest. But how can the Saudi Government eject the locals?

However, the Saudi Government did the unthinkable when they arrested the top 2,000 princes, royals and elites and took way their financial and real assets worth a trillion dollars or more.

This is a complicated subject because it is linked to Trump, the petro dollar, US hegemony status, price of oil (which went above $60 after this event and broke our unbroken perfect record that oil will stay between $20-60 since Dec 2014) and is also linked to the US military over which Trump is now very upset, accepting yuan for oil and China, Russia etc.

In June 2018, Jordan was bailed out with USD 2.5 billion.
Yesterday, 4 Oct 2018, again Jordan was bailed out.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE deposit over $1 bln in Jordan Central Bank

And by the afternoon of 4 Oct 2018, Bahrain also had to be bailed out (again!)

Gulf allies set to sign $10bn aid deal for Bahrain
On 4 Oct 2018 again, Dubai announced that two multi billion dollar projects were halted
and one major Abu Dhabi fund (despite a merger with IPIC recently) also went into a default (whose fancy word these days is "restructuring" since 2008).

With EXPO 2020 approaching
the collapse of Schon Properties who was building several towers in that area
and now the shut down of Al Maktoum airport expansion

it seems like things are worsening every month for the over marketed EXPO 2020 project.

And we have not even talked about the high chance of increase of VAT from 5% to 10% by next year in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Dubai's $36 billion Al Maktoum airport expansion put on hold: sources

Sobha Group launched this new project last year and promised in April 2018 that they will do ground breaking by Oct and when October arrived, they shelved the massive project as well as put their future 2021 IPO on hold due to "financial consolidation".

Sobha Group halted a USD 6.8b development in RAK

Things are so bad on 4 Oct 2018 in Saudi the King cancelled the plan for Aramco IPO last month (which also we had predicted that it will never happen).

Security Forces Clash with Striking Workers in Saudi Arabia (+Video)

4 Oct 2018: Saudi police fires at angry workers protesting over unpaid salaries

Another author wrote about Saudi Arabia as a failed state where ISIS and Al Qaeda are taking hold, also on 4 Oct 2018.

This is mostly due to the economic collapse that will allow the unemployed and the disenfranchised to join the militants instead of getting to work.

Well, we have predicted this since 2015 and it is now building up, so no surprise to us.

Is Saudi Arabia the Middle East’s Next Failed State?

For multiple reasons, the GCC have been forcing expats to leave in millions that has created a massive problem for all sorts of businesses from banks to retailers to hotels and Govt services.

Yesterday, 4 Oct 2018, FT opined on this matter which we have said since many years that if expats leave, it will not bring back the good ones.
Locals can fill the gap but barely 10-20%.
Which leaves a massive gap of 80% plus due to which service levels, business levels and investment levels will plunge to such pathetic levels that it will be beyond alarming.

All we can do is wish good luck to all the businesses and customers operating or residing in the Gulf because they will never find good employees (due to tensions/missiles/wars in the region and lowest wages being paid over the last 5-6 years) and will also never find good employers (since employers don't get paid by their customers or the Government hence they cannot pay exorbitant rents and hefty business costs and decent salaries causing them to run away, go to jail or simply collapse).

Ask anyone in the Gulf and they will all say the same thing - there is absolutely no business (except a little bit in online e-commerce or a bit of tourism). But shhhh, there are laws in the Gulf to arrest and give multi million fines for anyone who speaks of the harsh reality.

Skills gap prompts Bahrain to shift focus to schools

"Businesses complain of a mismatch between their needs and young workers’ abilities"
Meanwhile, Etihad Airlines is in terrible shape.
This week they shut down their Business and First Class Lounge in London, the world's most important city for travellers.
They will close many more lounges every week in the weeks ahead.

They have turned into a budget airline where
one needs to pay for food
are closing exclusive lounges
have shut down several destinations
sold 20 plus planes
shut down limo services in almost all countries except UAE
reduced several meal types
as well as many amenities on board

STRUGGLING ETIHAD AIRWAYS CLOSE FIRST & BUSINESS CLASS LOUNGE IN LONDON

The investors in Etihad are fearing a collapse and just today, 5 Oct 2018, they have written a letter to Etihad and Dept of Finance (and most likely copied to the Ruling Family of Abu Dhabi) to help them get their billions back.

It will be wise for Abu Dhabi to bail out Etihad investors but the million dollar question is, how can they do so if they simply don't have enough cash?

And if they pay off one bond, then the second bond holders will come forward who were defaulted last year. They are doomed if they pay and doomed if they don't!

Etihad bankrupted Air Berlin and Alitalia last year and could not pay off that bond, therefore, chances are very low that they can help Etihad bond investors who are demanding USD 1.2b in two bonds while the next interest payment date of 29 Dec 2018 is coming closer every day. The bond is now trading at the USD57 level, which is at severe distress levels.

There are almost no solutions to the problems of the GCC because they are so acute and almost all are self created.
They cannot print money nor borrow more and don't have much cash to pay for all their margin calls either.

The house of cards is crumbling down faster and faster in 2018 across GCC and proving us correct in our prediction for every year about the GCC since 2015.

We can only warn everyone that the worst is yet to come.

Be safe!

Njoi

moonhowler — Sun, 07 Oct 2018 17:23:24 +0800

my njoi decoder is broken.
anyone of u all knew how this can be fixed or where can i buy one new decoder ?

i am sure the decoder is faulty as i exchange with other decoder and it worked

edited:
i called ASTRO they say must register new one and pay RM416 , no sell decoder.. MCB!!!

New ProTiga car release by 2020

moonhowler — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 14:06:29 +0800

How to sound my protest?

https://www.malaymail.com/s/1679239/ministe...t-model-by-2020

CYBERJAYA, Oct 4 ― The New National Car Project (NNCP) will introduce its first model in under two years time, Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohd Redzuan Yusof.

Mohd Redzuan said the first car may even arrive before 2020 due to the “disruption” model planned for the project.

“This is because we are not starting from zero and we intend to use pre-existing infrastructure to manufacture the cars,’’ he said at a media briefing the on the NNCP here today.

Mohd Redzuan said the national car project will be privately funded, with the government and federal agencies providing its “ecosystem”.

He said the car will be semi-autonomous and will be inspired by suggestions from the youth.

“We aim to make the project that everyone came be proud off. It is a product that is Malaysian made for the global market, “ he said.

He acknowledge public criticism of the project first announced by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in June, but said the country must be bold.

Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (Might) chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman said a prototype will be ready early next year.

“We already have the expertise and the technology to produce such cars. The NNCP aimed to be a platform not just to produce cars but any other mobility products such as trains or other transport craft, “ he said.

As such Mohd Yusoff explained that they are in talks with companies such as Sillterra and CTRM, among others to produce the car.

Kicau

moonhowler — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 15:57:49 +0800

Who knows that re-tweet in Bahasa is 'ulang kicau'?

that made:
twitter: pengicau
tweeting : sedang mengicau
tweet : kicau

should i disconnect car battery if away for 2wks?

moonhowler — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 16:09:06 +0800

per title, car to be left idle for 2 weeks. shall i disconnect my car battery? how many of you would or do not bother? just to catch general feedback and knowledge

my car is a 4wheel pick-up, Nissan Navara.

thx

Handover of PM’s post from Tun

moonhowler — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 15:46:18 +0800

TAWAU: The handover of the prime ministership from Dr Mahathir Mohamad to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim boils down to a consensus reached by Pakatan Harapan, a PKR vice-president said.

Rafizi Ramli compared it to the time when the ruling coalition decided that Mahathir would be the seventh prime minister.

“The matter (transition of power) will be brought to the Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council, although it has been agreed that the seventh prime minister would be Tun M (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) while the eighth prime minister is Anwar Ibrahim.

“The period and timing for the transition will be discussed at the council,” he said after a Reformation Talk here last night.

According to Rafizi, the transition of power will be resolved once Mahathir (PPBM), Anwar (PKR) and Shafie Apdal (Parti Warisan Sabah) come to an agreement.

Meanwhile, on Sabah, Rafizi said the state needed special attention on its rights and development.

“I will stay in Sabah to assist the Warisan-Pakatan Harapan government in the 15th general election,” said Rafizi who was barred from going to Sabah during the 14th general election (GE14).

He said the discussion on the development agenda as well as the rights of Sabah should begin now so that the assistance to the state could be channelled accordingly.

“I am more familiar with the politics and economy of Sabah compared to other states in Peninsular Malaysia as I have been involved in several Petronas projects, including in Kimanis and Petronas Methanol Labuan,” he said.

Kecian DAP terpinggir