Starbucks at IPTAs???

I was dumbfounded after reading this article, which appeared in today's Sunday Post, p. B3 under the heading: Body receptive to foreign franchisees opening outlets at local varsities.

Apparently, the Higher Education Ministry has given permission to franchise holders like Starbucks, Kopitiam and Dunkin Donuts to open their outlets in public institutions of higher learning. Okay, as a business student, it means better opportunity to franchisees but to me, if I were to subsidize, I doubt I would call this an opportunity. Well, if I subsidize, yes, more customers=more revenue (which may not equate to higher profit). If I don't subsidize, less customers as it's too expensive and not many students can afford to patronize it minimum, once a week.

That aside, I don't think it is a good idea. I mean an average Starbucks coffee would cost about RM10 per cup. RM10 for a cup of coffee isn’t cheap, at least for me. How many students are earning their own money or do not have to rely on their parents or guardian for pocket money?? If students are not relying on their parents or guardian for pocket money, fair enough- they can go indulge themselves in a cup of gourment coffee to compensate for their hard work. If they aren’t and are currently relying on FA-MA@father mother for their pocket money, aren't we encouraging them to spend what-is-not-their-money-in-the-first-place lavishly and soon, FA-MA would have to remit more money to their kids?

Deputy Minister of Higher Eduction, Dato Idris Haron claimed that by opening Starbucks on campus, would help provide a more comfortable place for the student's to study with wifi internet connections. Is he trying to say that local universities does not have campus-wide wireless connection?? I don’t know as I’m not a local uni student. HECK, they didn’t want me in the first place because my academic intelligence level according to the Malaysian public exam (which does not cover cognitive thinking skills and ability to think-outside-the-box) was below their standard. From what I heard from my friends, most local universities eg. USM has wireless coverage in most parts such as the library, lecture halls, main hall and etc. and all hostel cafes have wi-fi.

In my point of view, opening a Starbucks on campus would just add different social classes among the students.
Class 1: those who can afford Starbucks and enjoy it,
Class 2: those who can't afford Starbucks, and watch jealously at those who can afford it go there,
and Class 3: Wannabes; those who don't have that much discretionary money, but heck, since everyone's going, I so have to go or Class 1 would not want to be my friend. (those who succumb to peer pressure easily).
So in short, I think it's just not good for the students.

Imagine this scenario:- doing assignment in a group. The group consist of Group 1, 2 and 3 students. The Class 1, being the leader, decides to go to Starbucks for assignment discussion since they can't discuss in the library as library is too full of groups that comprise of Class 2 students. Class 3 student agrees (got to please the Class 1 leader so that he/she would not look down on me). Thus, majority wins so Starbucks is the place. Both Class 1 and Class 3 students are drinking the Ice Blended so Class 2 student is somehow compelled to order a drink too (plain water excluded). Class 2 student orders the cheapest drink unwillingly and is thinking of eating Maggi mee for dinner tonight to cut cost. Is there a possibility that this scenario would happen?? I don't know but I hope it is only hypothetical scenario.

Okay, the Malaysian Franchise Association chairman, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir was smarter to say that local coffee franchisees should be given the same opportunity. Well, that’s a better idea as I expect our local coffee franchisees to be cheaper as compared to Starbucks, albeit different quality. Thus, it wouldn’t be that painful on the students’ pocket (Don't get me wrong, I’m not trying to imply that price is a surrogate indicator of quality).

Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir then continued, “University students would loiter outside the campus. So if we allow them (franchisees) to open the outlets in the campus, what more with wi-fi facilities, it will help the students to stay in the campus to enjoy the gourment coffee." After reading that line, I thought his IQ level dropped one notch. I’m not insulting him or what. But why is Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir worried about UNIVERSITY students loitering? University students should be matured enough to think. HELLO, they are UNI students, NOT secondary school students. The youngest of them all should be around 19 years old. Is he trying to imply that some uni students are still immature and often spent their time doing something unproductive. If yes, how did they enter Local Universities which is actually more difficult to gain entry as compared to private institutions of higher learning???. This makes me doubt the standards of our local universities. Students actually have the time to loiter… Heck, when I was doing the diploma course before (and even now), my weekends were dedicated to assignments, tutorials, revision for upcoming quizzes, and some leisure activities eg online, tv and window shopping to relax. I had/ have practically no time to loiter...

PS: I’m not trying to insult any local university students here but Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir actually used the word LOITER, which somehow gave me an impression of how free students are over there. Therefore, my sincere apologies if I have hurt your feelings. I had no intention to do so as I only said some local u students are immature.

By the way, are university students who spent their time LOITERING a product of the Pendidikan Moral syllabus? Has studying and memorising the 36 "nilai moral" and their definitions in any way made us more virtuous?? Do moral decadence, juvenile delinquency, vandalism, drug ingestion and abuse, glue sniffing, gangsterism still exist in schools, universities and the society?? Has Pendidikan Moral really made a better moral society??? Cadit qauestio.

HOLY-days

BEWARE: This is a "jealousy-inducing" post for those who are not on holidays. Please proceed at your own risk. Thank you.

Finally!!! After a long semester, I can feel an utter sense of liberty at last. No more encumbrance. No studies to worry for the time being. Indeed how nice it is to be liberated from all bondages!!!

I'm having my God-blessed semester break. It started 6 hours ago, exactly as 10:40am after the invigilator collected my CB exam answer script. With God's blessings, it was okay as I managed to "bull-shit" my way through with examples as I had forgotten some theories!! God is faithful, praise Him. The rest was history. After all, I'm on holy-days now. Don't worry, there's no spelling error or typo error here or in the title of this post. Uni has taught me well to appreciate holidays. That is why I call my much-needed semester breaks as God-blessed holy-days as they are as pure as holy water. Semester breaks=No more assignments, no more lecture/tutorials, no quizzes, no exams.... free from the period of reckoning. Ah, the day I have been waiting for since the beginning of the semester has finally arrived. Pure bliss, pure satisfaction.

Maybe that's one of the highlights of being a student. We have holy-days besides the normal weekends or public holidays. But weekends or public holidays aren't holy-days for us as most of the time, we still have assignments or quizzes to worry about so those holidays aren't holy-days at all. Well, life is all about of giving and taking...Thus, God is fair for rewarding students with holy-days after a long semester of hard work and _________. God is great.

F-R-E-E-D-O-M!!
(yay, I can spell the word FREEDOM!!!)

Anyway, it's time for me to go now. Got to get ready for tuition now (replacement for Monday since I couldn't make it and I don't want my employer to deduct my pay..., times are bad.....)

Till then, adios.

A sign that you have been studying too much...

You hear this calling that there will be CLASS on a SUNDAY NIGHT during exam period...

It's NOT Me.

It's E and C, 2 course mates of mine. E sms-ed me at 1:50pm, informing me that there will be class tonight from 7-9pm. I was shocked. WHAT??? Class on a Sunday NIGHT?? What on earth has happened?? I called her to reconfirm and she told me that C, another course mate of mine, told her that there will be revision class tonight and C heard it from God-knows-who.

So I sms-ed the lecturer asking him whether it was true that there will class tonight. I think he was laughing his head off upon reading the message. (Yeah, I know it was a total insult to my sanity and intelligence to ask such a stupid question when I could guess the answer myself but I wanted an answer from the most credible source. Who knows, somebody might get overly dedicated so better be safe than sorry...) Still, he had the courtesy to reply the stupid question, though it would be an insult to one's intelligence too by doing so (blame it on those two students of yours, Sir. Me excluded. Yes, I was conducting a source credibility experiment!!!!) No class..... Duh, why would there be class tonight, right? After all, it's a Sunday- a day of rest. Everyone needs a rest including the college and the lecturer (who became a subject of my course mates' hallucination!!). Having classes on Saturday nights, Sundays (and the eves of any festivals too) should be condemn as tenable for eternal damnation- That's the rule of thumb of every student and I'm sure every human knows that.

Several possibilities how E and C got that news earlier on:

- C and E must be missing classes or the lecturer too much that they think about it (or him) 24-7 ever since the last class and they probably had some wild thoughts that there would be class tonight because class=can see lecturer...roflmao. my friends are real hardcore fans of classes/ the lecturer, which is which?!!. PS: Lecturer's attached, people. No longer S&A, if you know what I mean..

- Side effects of studying too much. Studying can cause you to be delusional as proven by my 2 friends.

ARRRRGH, my course mates are scaring the wits out of me.

Freedom....wait up

Prelude: I never understood why people would just take the short cut to commit suicide. When I read cases of it in the newspapers, I would just ignore the news cos after all, our lives are already miserable enough so there's no point reading another miserable news. However, after reading Cedric's post, here, I somehow felt sad for a student from my former school, St Thomas. I do not know him and neither did he know me but what struck me was how lonely he must have felt. How painful it must have been to have gone through the whole of secondary school without friends - without people he could talk to and people he could trust. And how he could even put on a smile when I don't think I'd be able to if I were in his shoes. To Voon Hian Cherng, May you rest in peace. At least your troubles are over and you can truly smile from high above.

PS: To all my wonderful friends, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING..... Not to worry, I'm NOT contemplating suicide. I'm still sane, normal, and free from any psychopathic tendencies. I might be stress due to exams but it's not to the point of suicide, certainly. I'm just compelled to restrain my urge to scream to the rooftops and strangle someone- Neh, I'm just joking

because.................

2 papers down, 1 more to go...

I can taste and smell the sweetness of freedom on next Wednesday. -it smells like perfume: you know the smell of acriflavine..

How are my papers so far??

Er....??? Leadership was EXTREMELY HARD. My connectivity with the textbook faltered. Nevertheless, both papers should be Pass-able, I guess but I wrote my answers with the world's most amazing, crappiest, unintelligible handwriting EVER. Hopefully the ever-so-merciful examiner would be able to decipher what I was trying to write when my hand was hurting, sore and numb. I couldn't hold my pen properly after 20 minutes through the exam. Hopefully my handwriting would somehow become legible and readable.... Wish I am an ambidextrous. Well, my fault for not learning how to write using my right hand when I was a kid.

Time to start reading up on CB...

FREEDOM, WAIT FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm coming.........

Good Luck, KJ and to all other Aussie uni students. Good thing most of the Australian unis are having exams around the same time. At least I'm not the only one...

**KJ prays fervently for a decent mark for her MR Assignment 2**

On a lighter note, I love analyzing data using those non-parametric and parametric tests of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) due to one solid reason: MR Assignment 2!! Come to think about it, it wasn't that bad after all......
*Runs off to do a victory dance*

Daddy Geniuses

Daddy is really a bright spark with a big heart. He wasn't highly educated. In fact, my sister and I are even more academically qualified than him or Mum (thanks to his financing, though), but this does not make us (or only me) more knowledgeable than Dad in all aspects of life.

Every Sunday, Dad makes it a point to buy Sunday Star for our reading pleasure to complement the Borneo Post. I bet you Dad would rather buy Sin Chew Daily since it's cheaper than The Star and has a wide coverage of both local and national news with some added bits and pieces of information that can't be found in English dailies. But being an accommodative person that he is, Dad would spend RM1 more to by Star because of my linguistic ability in the Chinese language that is beyond salvage. Yes, saya seorang rakyat Malaysia berbangsa Cina tetapi tidak fasih bertutur, membaca and menulis Bahasa Cina. For the record, I can speak a bit of my mother tongue (often with inaccurate pronunciation) and understand some normal everyday conversations but I have lost the ability to write and read Mandarin characters in Primary 4 (the day I finally managed to convince Dad to let me quit Mandarin tuition since it was pointless sending me there as I consistently failed every tests and a nice egg for my spelling test that I call the "listen, write". I could have passed if the teacher did not help me jumble the words up during test time!!!). Yup, I'm a gone case. Therefore, I should change my bangsa to Pisang the next round I fill in any forms. I'm proud to be a banana.

Anyway, last Sunday, as I was flipping through the Sunday Star, I saw the word "caveat emptor". Thinking that it was some legal term like stare decisis, res ipsa loquitur, obiter dicta, ratio decidendi, per incurium, mens rea, or something related to caveat on land, I asked dad what it meant as he knows some legal terms too. He's not a lawyer, doesn't have an LLB nor a diploma, did not study Commercial Law or Company Law unlike me, but he's one street smart guy, I have to say.

Me: Hmm, caveat emptor.... D [short form for Daddy], what is caveat emptor?

Dad: You know the answer
Me: Huh? If I knew the answer, I wouldn't be asking you.
Dad: You know the answer..

Me: *silent* (tried recalling back where did I hear that word.) Oh yeah, caveat emptor and caveat venditor. Yup, I learnt it in Consumer Behaviour lecture. (Heck, how could I forget the words caveat emptor and caveat venditor? Mr Alan was trying to drum those two terms into our saturated brains that night while I related the word venditor to vendetta as in V for Vendetta. Problem is I have forgotten what it meant.). *ran to get my CB textbook and start flipping through the pages to find that word. Why must it be so thick??*

Me: Oh yeah, caveat emptor means let the buyer beware. Profit maximization, subjected to legal constraints. Consumer interests less favoured. The antonym is caveat venditor which means let the seller beware. Consumer interests favoured.

Dad: See, I told you that you know the answer.
Me: Ya lah, but I forgot ma...
Dad: *smirks* Forgot. Exam's coming up, ar you....

Me: Aiyah, I haven't started my revision for Consumer Behaviour. I will start as soon as Leadership's over. Wait a minute, D. How did you know that I know what caveat emptor is? Have you been reading my Consumer Behaviour textbook?

Dad: Just a wild guess. Why would I be reading your textbooks, anyway??

Dad's a genius, man.

Position of:

"the world's most loving, caring, considerate, understanding, thoughtful, smartest, best-est and all those other characteristics that make a father a one-in-an-infinity position"

is hands down filled by my Dad :)

Happy Father's Day, D.

You are the best daddy.

老爸, 我爱你.

God is Great

God is great.

My exam starts on Monday. Another paper on Thursday and the last paper's on the 25th. Yup, I know, the days are drawing nearer and stress is building up. The flux of info into my brain isn't high enough...

I dread exams. I never had the adrenaline rush or the excitement of facing a challenge and using my wits to tackle all the difficult questions. The only adrenaline rush I have is to get done with the final paper so that my HOLIDAYS are here. I tried so hard to find it since Primary 1, but alas, it was to no avail!!!

I'm mentally exhausted. Attending a meeting this morning only to find that there will be a club open day or some sort like it next week was enough to shamble my mind. Seeing how the rest of the clubs were going on with the preparations stressed me out. GAWD, YEC would be the worst club and Mr Alan is sure going to get hell from the management, all thanks to his lucky stars for making him have deal with a sucky, useless, brain-less president. Okay, Mr Alan told me about it earlier on. About a month ago to be exact but I moseyed blithely to it since it was just in the planning stage at that time. Today, the date was confirmed and wham, I was in for a big time. Tech Club was in full force. They had everything all planned out already. Then there was this person who was in high-spirits, thus making me look like a lifeless idiot. I gave the "aiyoh, so ambitious and lively" look to Benson when that high-spirited person was suggesting for someone to organize a trip to the parliament to hear them debate, just like in US, that was what he/she said. I signed at Benson, he signed back. Then I told Julian, "Oh yeah, let's go see Barack Obama debating with John McCain when the time comes." "Yeah, it's more interesting...", he replied. Then the worst thing happened. Pay back time. The high-spirit individual asked me, "Oh you are from the YEC. How do I start a shipping company? I want to be a boss of a shipping company, y'know with at least 30 fleets of cruise/shits." What?? That's even bigger than Star Cruise. I don't think Genting Group owns 30 fleets of cruise. Okay, they own Genting Highlands and a whole lot of other properties. Anyway, I was blur about the answer. I don't even know how to start a company myself. All I know were the stuff thought in Company Law which are all in theory. Anything to do with business, don't ask me. Go ask my genius adviser. I have no hands-on experience. I'm only studying Business from the textbook. *sigh* If only I had paid more attention when The Genius was talking...... But I was all alone to answer the question. How I wish I could tell him/her, "Oh, that's bigger than Star Cruise. Wow. Go read the book entitled My Dream about the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong or maybe you can ask Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, the CEO of Genting Group, for some tips. Till then, all the best in your endeavour" But I couldn't. I replied, "every company starts from a small company. Go to the Companies Commission of Malaysia to register a Sdn Bhd first. Get your lawyer to draw out your company's Memorandum and Articles of Association and then, ermmmmm. **trying hard to remember the stuff I learnt during Company Law 3 years back**" Thank God the SC adviser interfered in time to carry on with the agenda. He said, "okay, guys, remember next week, I want it to be like an Open Day. Be creative with your booths. Make it attractive and make sure that there are people mending it. Distribute brochures about your club......." SH_T. I'm having my exams next week. Got a paper on Thursday and I gotta study. How am I going to decorate the booth?? I suck in art. I'm not creative. I'm an ee-dee-yot. Thank God, Mr Alan smsed me in time to save me from further horror thoughts. At a time when I was all alone to fend for myself, worrying how am I going to get through the event when the other clubs have their members to help them out, an sms saying that he has planned everything and I do not have to do anything for he has gotten a committee member to help, lifted a burden off my shoulders. **smirks** *sigh of relief*. God is great. Mr Alan has saved me from one worry so that I'd be able to concentrate on my exams. How nice having such a good adviser.. :) Wait a minute, Thank Goodness the meeting was held at the Common Room and front is glassed up so everyone who's going to the WC can see what you are doing inside..... So Thank God for giving me Goodness!!!!

However what I'm worried now is whether I can lift up to everybody's expectations. I fear that I cannot even pass as there seem to be a whole lot of stuff to cover. Taking three subjects is really stressful but if I don't take it this semester, I'd have to wait for next year since it wouldn't be offered in Semester 2 or 3. I don't want to wait till next year. I WANT TO COMPLETE THIS DEGREE PROGRAMME BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

And this brings me back to a conversation with Mr Alan just now,
M.A: You will be around next year, right?
Me: What? Here until 2009?? NOoooo WAY, man. If all goes well this semester, then I want next sem to be my final sem here. Final sem as a student. I'm sick of studying for exams...It's hell having to study for exams. can't wait till I graduate...
M.A: *silence* Okay, I think we got to arrange for a handover of position.
Me: Oh yeah, thank you so much. Anyway, the reason why I'm rushing with 3 subjects per sem is because I'd have to wait till the Uni offers the subject again if I'm not going to get it dump and dusted now. I don't wanna wait. It elongates my tenure as a student. Student=studies=assignments=exams. I hate studying. I hate exams (and God knows how many times I repeated that statement in a period of 10 minutes!!!) It's tough but I would rather go through the hell of it once and for all. Then I can let out a sigh of freedom and relief...**flashes an evil grin** (Postgrad studies can wait till I have made my money and I miss the joys of studying.......... )

I do enjoy the perks of getting good results. Well, everybody does. The praises that I was lavished upon, time and time again by lecturers, family members and the college alike were aplenty. But I'm no longer the bright-eyed person as I used to be during my diploma days. I begin to feel more and more wrung out with such a heavy burden. It feels like I'm living a big lie, because I was never an academically inclined person. I got to study my ass off to get a decent pass in my exams. I spent 1 month doing a 1 month assignment unlike the rest who can complete it within a week and still score higher than me. I'm not inclined or talented in anything as a matter of fact. Never was, never am, never will be. Period. If you asked me to choose between going online or reading my textbooks, there was never any doubt which my choice would be. I detest the banality of reading the dry textbooks. I'm no longer in the mood to study my ass off. No doubt my lecturers would be satisfied if I pass (yay, don't need to see KJ in my class anymore), but it's the satisfaction you see on their faces if you get more than a pass. That is why I'm striving for more than a mere pass so that Mum and Dad's dreams wouldn't be dampened. At least their financial investment in my education has not gone to waste. At least they would not feel ashame when their friends brag about how well their kids are doing in uni, or working and self-supporting themselves. At least I can look at my lecturers with confidence, letting them know that their sacrifices has not gone to waste.

All in all, it has been a very straining and strenuous week. I hope I can manage one last push, after all exams will be over on the 25th. But the phrase I learnt in way back in St Mary's remains: Just do your best and God will do the rest.

Thanks be unto God the Father, who has been the source of my strength, wisdom and guidance all this while. (and proven this morning).

Blessed are my eyes for they see and blessed are my ears for they hear and blessed for my brains for they help me remember....

God is indeed great.

PS: Sorry, I'm emo and stressed out at this moment. I'm overwhelmed by the greatness of God and thankful to Mr Alan for his help. Thanks Sir.

I'm off to clear my head.

Time to hit my books.

*GAH*

Prelude: I liked the subject economics at Diploma level, though I found macroeconomics easier than microeconomics. Partly because I had a good lecturer. [You know the Swinburne University (Sarawak campus) economics lecturer, Mdm Heng, yup, she WAS my econs lecturer!!!]. Anyway, one reason why I did not consider becoming an economist was because I cannot bring myself to see eye to eye with other economists especially those highly paid - PhD economists, "think tank" experts and ivory-towered academicians who in typical fashionable "high-flown" rhetorical arguments are taking the side of the government's decision on recent fuel hike.

There was an interview with two economists about the fuel hike. Abstracts below are taken from here.

This is what RAM Consultancy Services’ chief economist Dr Yeah Kim Leng said.

Dr Yeah: No doubt the 40 per cent increase is the biggest jump in the history, it's significant and sizeable, but if it is properly channel for development projects and for the improvement of public transportation, the public will be able to support it.
I say: Do you know why I am all against this price hike? In 2006, the government promised us hat they will improve our public transportation. But did they improve it?? I do not know, but I'm very sure that the public transportation in Kuching, Sarawak has not been improved.

Dr Yeah: The government had no choice but to allow the price to increase as it had been holding back such a move or adjustment since one and a half years ago, despite the higher fuel prices.

“It has resulted in the budget deficit to go to an unsustainable level. So today, you see a 40 per cent adjustment, which is significant but it still comes with some form of subsidy,” he said.

I say: Hmm, the government had no choice?? Read what Tun Dr Mahathir said here. Note that Tun Dr Mahathir is the adviser of Petronas so I'm sure his words and figures can be trusted right? Oh yeah, the subsidy. Thank God for that. But like what I mentioned earlier, it's still not enough...

Dr Yeah: For the middle and higher income groups, the increase will not be significant and will only slightly dampen their demand. They can afford it but with a reduced in saving, which means, real income will be lowered.
I say: WTF?? Increase will not be significant. HELLO, the increase was a 40.6% for petrol and a 63% for diesel. You call this not significant. And you go on by saying the middle-income group and higher-income groups can afford it. Higher-income groups (like you??), I agree. Middle-income groups?? I personally don't think so. Wait a minute, you said earlier on that the increase of 40% is significant. Then you say that the increase will not be significant for middle and higher income groups. So are you trying to say that you do not belong to either the middle or higher-income group?? Thus, which group to you belong to? Lower group? IF that is so, I shall categorize myself as a hard-core poor then.

Dr Yeah: For the lower income group, the government’s proposal for the rebate was a relief as it would help them cope with the increase. They will be a reduction in spending too and definitely there will be impact on the consumption.
I say: Ok, no comments. I agree on this.

And this is what economist Prof Dr. Mansor Jusoh has to say:

Prof Dr Mansor Jusoh: The cash rebates to Malaysians who owned private cars or motorcycles would benefit the middle and lower income groups.

I say: Benefit us?? Rubbish. The RM625 annual rebate works out to be a rebate of RM52.08 per month. Is it enough to sustain our ever-increasing cost of living?? Let the people be the judge.

Prof Dr Mansor Jusoh: However, the benefit of the cash rebates would not be felt by the poor who had no vehicles but had to face the increase in the price of essential items following the fuel price increase. He suggested that the government put in place a special mechanism to help the poor.

I say: Okay, thank God Prof Dr. Mansor Jusoh has some common sense this time. At the very least, he's compassionate in some sense.

Prof Dr Mansor Jusoh: The government’s decision to maintain the price of liquefied natural gas and natural gas at RM1.75 per kg and 63.5 sen per litre respectively, would benefit the power-generation industry.

“So, the electricity tariffs should not increase and Tenaga Nasional Bhd should be able to absorb the fuel price increase in the global market,” he said.

I say: Correct, correct, correct. I am of the same view as you, Prof Dr. Can you please tell Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that??? Datuk Seri said that the increase in electricity tariff for Tenaga Nasional Berhad will enable TNB to absorb the fuel cost for gas and coal. So as an economist, please tell our YAB Perdana Menteri that. I'm sure Malaysians will remeber your kind deed.

Prof Dr Mansor Jusoh: The increase would however impact the public transportation in major cities and towns.

I say: Funny... Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad told Malaysian Insider this: "No, the public transport operators, there is a RM1.43 price for diesel. It's being maintained for all transportation, transport companies and all the groups that used to get subsidised diesel. You see, what has happened with diesel is that there used to be three prices for it – RM1 for the fishermen, RM1.20 for river transportation and RM1.43 for road transportation. So, we have moved it to one level, which is RM1.43, and taken out the fishermen to be looked at and looked after by the LKIM (Fisheries Development Board). So we are still maintaining the subsidy for diesel for the various economic sectors, the critical economic sectors like transportation, public transportation, you know, various categories." Isn't Datuk Shahrir trying to imply that the fuel hike will have no impact on public transport operators?? Well, we've been told the Lorry Association are going to increase their transportation costs.

Anyway, like what NoktahHitam said, those who voted Barisan Nasional should not be complaining cos their wish has been granted. I have to say that those who did not bother to vote last elections should shut up too. They did not participate in the process of selecting who will legislate and administer the country on their behalf. Therefore they have given up their rights to criticize the manner on how they will subsequently govern them.

Okay, did I vote for Barisan Nasional during the 12th GE, one may ask. My answer: You bet. Else, I wouldn't be ranting here again. The fuel hike is enough to dampen my mood to study. Well, I voted but I lost.

If fuel hike was indeed inevitable, I'd be in support of the reduction/removal of the subsidy as long as the savings from it would be put to GOOD use. I'm just unhappy with the fact that:
1. Datuk Shahrir initially said that price of petrol will NOT be increased until August, and what happened the next day??

2. The drastic increase. At least a gradual one would not be so painful...(that is if there is a need for increase in the first place. C'mon, we are not a bunch of uneducated or heartless people. If the government can reason it with us why a fuel hike is inevitable, I'm sure we will understand. Trust me, nobody is that free to go protesting but the reason why some DAP MPs went protesting today was because they know that this fuel hike is ridiculous especially after learning from the advisor of Petronas's statement. So is the price hike inevitable?? Go ask yourself? I need not say more)

3. Announcement that price of petrol and electricity increase at the same time
4. The you-know, I-know stuff, thanks to Tun Dr Mahathir in his remarks here made me realised that I cannot accept the rising world crude oil price as an excuse.

Anyway, happy World's Environmental Day, people.

Towards a BETTER Malaysia.

Fuel hike

I had no intention to blog actually but over dinner just now, my sis received an sms from her friend that fuel price for RON 97 will increase by 78 sens per liter and diesel will increase by RM1 effective midnight. This is not a rumour. Star Online and RTM news has confirmed it. The petrol stations are jam packed with cars, all thanks to the new fuel subsidy scheme that was announced today. How do I know when I'm sitting here blogging, one may ask. Well, I just came back from a car ride. "Wah, so rich until can go for car ride, huh?" one may ask. Well, I accompanied mum out in hope of going to the nearest petrol station to pump full tank for her car since what will serve every Malaysian a full tank at this point of time will only get us slightly more than half full by midnight. Anyway, it was done in vain attempt as the queue to the petrol station was more than 1km long. So we gave up because we thought it was pointless to join the queue and burn more fuel while waiting. The petrol station across the road ran out of fuel... That was at 8:05pm.

Ironically, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad announced yesterday that Malaysia is planning petrol price hike in August. In early April, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said there would be no increase in the petrol price as this was the wish of the people. Then I stumbled upon this blog archive that mentioned that Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad had told Reuters in Putrajaya on 15th April, 2008 that Malaysia aims to keep fuel prices unchanged under a reform of energy subsidies to be launched this year by curbing wastage and smuggling in a move that could cool inflation. Furthermore, on 24th May, 2008, Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said that the government has NO plans to increase fuel price despite the price hike of petrol by 30% in Indonesia. On 31st May, 2008, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak quashed talks on petrol price increase. (Maybe he's not wrong cos priced of petrol is going up by 78 sens not 40 sens!!) And what happened today?? Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced an increase of 40% in the price of petrol. That’s the biggest increase in petrol price in the entire history of Malaysia.

But why am I complaining?? After all, our Prime Minister was the one who told the press on 12th February, 2008 that parliament would not be dissolved the next day. Then on 13th February, 2008, the 11th parliament was dissolved. Reason given for telling a different story on 12th February 2008: Agong's consent needed....

Each time the government calls for a petrol price hike, they tell us that a fuel hike is inevitable due to the rising crude oil price and that the oil price in Malaysia is still lower than other countries because our kind government is still subsidizing it. But who are they trying to cheat?? Read this to get my point. Increase the minimum wage rate in Malaysia and I shall reconsider my words. As if the salaries of those working in the private sector would be increased by 40%. Anyway, when the world crude oil prices fell below US50 per barrel in January 2007, did our government lower the fuel prices in our country??. Ask yourself. The onus is with you to decide.

Well, in 2006, when the Government announced an increase in the prices of petrol and petroleum products by 30 sen a litre causing RON 97 petrol to cost RM1.92 a litre, diesel RM1.581 a litre and LPG RM1.75 a kilo, Datuk Seri Abdullah defended the hike, saying that the estimated RM4.4 billion savings from fuel subsidy reduction would be used to improve the public transportation system. I'm currently residing in Sarawak, which is a state in Malaysia. Has the public transportation system here in Kuching, Sarwak's capital, been improved?? I don't think so but MAYBE the government did not allocate some money to improve the public transportation in Sarawak since Sarawakians are paying one sen less than our West Malaysian counterparts....

Today, Datuk Seri Abdullah announced that to offset the higher fuel price, the government will offer rebates to motorists. Under the scheme, vehicles below 2,000cc will receive a RM625 rebate annually to compensate for 800 litres of fuel used under the new price. Motorcycles will be given a rebate of RM120. Okay, thank you very much, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, for the rebate (I really appreciate it but I would further appreciate your kindness if the rebate was more.) but is it enough to sustain our living especially with the cost of everything that will increase since Higher petrol price = higher logistics = higher cost = higher price in everything. Your guess is as good as mine.

Meanwhile, I shall have to change my lifestyle: go out unless necessary and really heed Agriculture and Agro-Based Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed's advice to eat less rice. But the price of flour has increased. The price of noodles has also increased. So what is left for me to eat?? Answer: eat fresh air and drink drain water to survive. Wait a minute, fresh air?? In the name of development, the environment is being sacrificed, and soon, Malaysia's green lungs will be snatched away right under our very own noses. Oh well, I will just have to starve in time to come. As if the government would care if I starve to death. For all I might know, they would be happier. Population control, they may call it. 27.19 million citizens minus 1.

But my question still remain: if our government can't afford to continue on subsidizing that much for our fuel, how could they spent RM792,325.20 for the use of executive jets by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak between Feb 24 and Mar 7?? And I'm also wondering like this author here.

Anyway, who am I to complain?? I will just have to sit here and bemoan the fact that the majority had voted for this excellent government. After all, the 78 sen hike or 40 per cent increase for the RON 97 petrol is still below the anticipated RM4 per litre price projected earlier and among the cheapest in Asia, right??? If my memory serves me well, I remember learning in my Form 1 Geography that Malaysia produces oil too, thanks to Miri in Sarawak, Ketih in Terengganu and Sabah. Oh, my memory did not fail me. This site has proven my statement right... Hence, Malaysia can be considered to be an oil-producing country, isn't it? So is the new petrol price still one of the cheapest among the oil-producing countries?? Scroll down this website to find the answer.

For those who are still blur about the new petrol price, RON 97 will cost RM2.70 per litre and diesel will cost RM2.58 per litre effective midnight on 4th June 2008. If this is not enough to break your heart, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also said that Tenaga Nasional Bhd would be raising electricity rates by 18% for homes and 26% for business users. Fellow Sarawakians and Sabahans, don't be too happy because in the media statement issued by the Prime Minister's department, "Satu struktur tarif baru akan diumumkan tidak lama lagi bagi Sabah dan Sarawak."

I foresee a rippling effect: Increase in the prices of everything EXCEPT for our salaries....But if all businessmen can think like our brilliant Datuk Shahrir Samad, then there wouldn't be a spillover effect caused by the fuel hike. Price of goods wouldn't go up- that is IF all businessmen share the same view as our honourable Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister. Wait a minute, in March 2006, the then Human Resources Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn, suggested that employers should find ways to help their workers absorb the impact of the recent fuel hike, like increasing their transport allowance or implementing salary adjustment. As a pessimistic business student who isn't blessed with a brilliant mind unlike our honourable Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister or Dr Fong Chan Onn, I cannot bring myself to agree with their statements or thoughts. That is why I'm ranting instead of studying, and that is why I'm not the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, neither do I have a PhD in Operations Research/Industrial Economics (Heck, I'm only an undergraduate). Hmm, how I wish Dr Fong is my employer....

For now, I have to agree with Lim Si Pin that Datuk Seri Abdullah has created a name for himself just like his predecessors. From today onwards, I reckon that Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will be known as Bapa Inflasi.

To all Malaysians, (*no comments*). You be the judge. The onus is with you, once again.

**Off to look for a less jammed petrol station now. Round 2**

By the way, will there be any round of fuel price hike in August 2008?? I don't know but I'm fearing the worst after reading from here that the government will scrap ceiling prices on petrol and diesel in August, and allow market forces to determine pump prices.

*sigh*
As if we are not feeling enough of the pinch of inflation.

Times like this and I wonder why I'm still living in Malaysia or why am I a Malaysian to start off with.
__________________________________________________________________
Updated at 12:30am 5/6/2008: Queued up for half an hour at the Shell petrol station at BL at 10:05pm. Accompanied mum there again at 11:05pm to fill her car up only to know that we can only pump RM30 worth of petrol (at RM1.91 per liter). Still, it's better than nothing. Praise God. The queue at GR and Rock Road was Still SOoooooooo long when I was on the way home at 11:35pm. Thank you very much, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his cabinet. I hope you will have a good night's sleep.... ZZZZZZzzzzzzZZZzz...........

Important notice

If you scroll down the page, you will notice that I have written three posts for today.

1.) Inundated by memories
2.) OLD
3.) This post.

The reason why I'm blogging thrice today is because I won't be able to blog as much as I usually do for the coming three weeks or so because to one sadistic reason: EXAM -the dreaded period of reckoning.

It’s going to be one heck of a month this June and I really do hope that I would not literally kill myself while whipping my brain cells dead with the constant mind-numbing effects of studying.

One thing that I'm constantly injecting into my brain to prevent myself from having a nervous breakdown is the fact that the much-needed, God-blessed semester break begins exactly at 10:40am 25 June 2008 (provided I did not screw any of my papers up!!). Something to look forward to nonetheless. YIPPPIEEEE….

Expect very little posting in the three coming weeks of temporary hiatus. However, if I do post a lot as usual, that means I've given up hope on ever succeeding……

So Good Luck, KJ and to everyone else whose life have been dominated by ASSIGNMENTS, QUIZZES and EXAMS. ….

But for now, I shall take my leave, for my body is weak and my mind, unrested.

Still, it's time to get back to serious revision.

PS: I turn into a nocturnal animal during pre-exams periods but I go into hibernation during post-exam periods.

OLD

When I was a kid, I wanted to grow up fast. I looked forward to my birthdays as it meant one year older (Note: the saying one year wiser does not apply to me). When I was a teenager and old enough to be cynical about the political environment in MALAYsia, I was dying to reach the age of 21 so that I will eligible to register as a voter. The day I turned 23, I waited impatiently for 8th March to cast my vote for the very first time. After that, I waited impatiently for the results to be announced... During those times, I wanted time to pass faster.

Lately, Dilys and I had been having a debate about turning 23. I've turned 23 3 months ago but I don't feel 23 yet because I'm in a denial mode.

Time passes by real fast NOW.
It's already the middle of 2008.
Exam's in less than 2 weeks time (and here I am in no motivation to study at all).

My days are numbered as I will soon transform into an an old lady wallowing in loneliness...

Recently, my personality has taken a change for the worst. I've become more pessimistic, doubtful of myself, cranky, irritable, impatient, angry, and prone to making scathing remarks. I have became more emo as seen by this piece of writing!!!!

In time to come, I will miss writing 2 as the first digit of my age.
I will miss being young, for soon I will be old.
It will be an occasion worthy of mourning.

Inundated by memories......

Currently listening to No Air (Jordin Sparks feat Chris Brown).

Assignments for this semester are DONE. All my quizzes for this semester are done (Praise God). Results so far are okay.. (Praise God, again)

Exam revision??
Exam??
What exam?? What are exams??

oh, You mean Ezam as in Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor, the former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Youth chief who recently rejoined UMNO, is it?? Yeah, Ezam was sacked from UMNO in November 1998 for his harsh criticism against then party president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Now he is ready to contest the UMNO Youth Chief.

Anyway, it's a one week holiday for me. YAY.. I do not have to see the stupid bimbotic librarian who complained to me that my assignments aren't as important as cutting newspaper ads. WTF.. No wonder she ended up becoming a bimbotic librarian at SCS. BTW, Ms Tudung-nger Bimbo, I haven't told anyone about you and the rest of your Bimbo gang who catch snake too and spent one hour finding your lunch partner. Too bimbotic to eat alone, is it?? BTW, your job is also to cut the newspaper ads too and just because you are scared of dirtying your hands, then you dump that job to me, lah... WTH?? Anyway, what can i say, you belong to that creed of people who thinks that the government owes them a living...

To clear the air of obscure thoughts, SCS stands for SEGi College Sarawak. I'm technically no longer a SEGi student anymore as I have completed my diploma *bravo*. I'm now doing my final year of degree under University of Southern Queensland, based in SCS. The only relationship I have with SCS is because of the partial scholarship bond (and thanks to that, I have to see Ms Bimbo & Co every Thursday).

Other than that, SCS isn't that bad actually. Okay, if we minus Miss Bimbo, it is NOT bad AT ALL (just that I will consider it my disclaimant group when I'm feeling cranky. So if I have complained about SCS, part of it is due to my crankiness. maybe I was PMS-ing at that time??? So blame it on the hormonal rage...). I had the time of my life during my diploma days. Had the chance to experience the new vistas of feeling and thought and taste of becoming a student club president though it was discovered through an unceremonious kick in the butt back in 2006 by one of my marketing maestro, Mr Jefferson.

yeah, it's the famous college that had a free publicity through Kenny Sia's blog because of their spelling creativity!!! But don't worry, the spelling or typo errors in the admin forms does not reflect the standard of English of the lecturers. Try Mr Brendan and his Queen's English out and see what I mean. He's Ausssie, you may say, but there are other Malaysian Chinese lecturers who are as Malaysian as me, probably went through the Malaysian education system like me, but speaks proper English unlike me. Proper ENGLISH, not Manglish, not Singlish. They teach (not read from the powerpoint slides or textbooks) with completely zero feelers. Perhaps a product of Toastmasters??? Take commercial law class for example, only God knows how many new words I have learnt from Mr Kho besides those legal terms throughout the 14 lectures cos my command of the English language sucks.

Okay, there are complains about the lecturer turn-over rate. Well, I completed my diploma last year and out of all the 10+ part-time and full-time lecturers that have taught me, only 4 are still around. The rest have left for better offers. Is it because of the college?? I don't know but it was through them that I learnt the 3+2 rule. (3+2 rule= work in an organization for 3 years- the MOST (only applicable if after the 3rd year, you are still stuck with the same job/task/salary since Day 1). If you think that there is room for promotion or personal growth, wait for another 2 years. If there is still no room for promotion, LEAVE. But after the third year, if you discover that there is no room for promotion, then LEAVE). Therefore, all I can say is that my former lecturers were applying the 3+2 rule. I'm not quite sure about the new breed of noble educators there as most of them have not taught me before.

To say that the lecturers aren't dedicated would be a lie. All my lecturers be it part-time or full-time were quite dedicated and caring in their own ways or in one way or the other (at least towards me. OMG, I WAS loved). Most of them have spent (and will probably spent) like half or three quarters of their life in educating students. I mean, which lecturer would ever have class on Christmas Eve night?? Answer: Mr Raymond Chai of SEGi College Sarawak. How do I know?? Duh, that was where I spent the night of Christmas Eve in 2007 from 7pm-8:30pm under the tutelage of the ever-so-enthusiastic Mr Raymond with 3 other students. Yup, Mr Raymond continued on with lecture as usual with only 4 students in class (including the ever-so-kuai KNS, man!!! yours truly) but ended an hour earlier so that the Christians would not be late for their mass. Off course, he ended the lecture with countless apologies for destroying our social life since all of us could not start our party earlier. Well, sad to say, he has left but I'm sure that is not the end of the breed of dedicated lecturers in SCS. I wasn't in time to bid him farewell but I hope my A for M.O. would be enough to thank him for his dedication. Off course, there's good old young Mr Alan again, the advisor of the YEC too, who purposely delayed all meetings and activities until my exams are over. But this means that if I do not get a reasonable grade for CB and the rest of my other subjects, Mr Alan and most importantly, my parents, would have a HUGE FIT and I'll probably never see the light of day again.....

Facilities aren't that bad, except for the lift that have been out-of-order since time immemorial (but they are installing new ones now). The reason for the delay in repairing the lifts: unknown (probably to make all of us keep fit). My only complain is that the flushes in the ladies do not work (I'm not sure about the gents. I've never entered and don't wish to enter either). WiFi at night at the third floor and reading room has improved tremendously since the first time my friends and I gave it a try, though the WiFi in the library sucks big time (else my partner-in-crime and I would not move into the reading room during our final week of MR assignment 2 rush).

Cafeteria food is edible if you are too lazy to walk across the road to SCR, Secret Recipe and etc. Hock Hai, the famous tua pau place, is nearby too. For those having morning lectures, you can go there during break, though I never went there throughout my 2-years diploma stint.. kuai mah, don't want to be late for the second session... neh, I eat my daily intakes of oats every time before i leave for class and this would last me till 12:30pm (though I may be peckish before the end of class. That is when I start cursing my IM lecturer and telling him, "lead me not into temptation", for making us go through all those delicious food brochures as part of our tutorial questions..

Another famous question is "is SCS haunted??". Truthfully speaking, I don't know. Ever since I entered SCS since Day 1 until today, I haven't met any of the good brothers, neither have I felt their presence. My seniors did tell me stories that the building is haunted but I can't comment. The college is perfectly fine when I leave at 9pm (or 9:30pm during USQ's summer semester).....No eerie feelings or spooky sounds or what.

Anyway, I do wish that I can do my final semester in Toowoomba but studying in SCS for UG is not THAT bad.... Class size this semester was small.
-Quite small if compared to MO last sem.
-Extremely small if compared to diploma classes.
-Insignificant if compared to on-campus.
-So it's minute for that matter. So do you know what does small class size means???

1. More room space
2. More oxygen, less carbon dioxide in the room
3. Everybody’s bag gets a seat of its own, except for the lecturer’s stuff.
4. Colder…
5. Less students=everyone has an equal chance of answering the lecturer’s question especially during CB…No, my CB lecturer does not use probability sampling in choosing the lucky student. Everyone has to give their answers/views for every question posed.
6. Can’t escape from answering questions. Even if you go to the toilet in hope that you can escape from answering the question because you are clueless to answer the call of nature, you will have to answer the question when you come back or unless you disappear off until 9pm.
7. More personalized attention from the lecturer. Thus, your cerebral blood flow would never drop to 20-25mL/100g of brain/ minute [I read from a medical student’s blog that if you fall asleep in class, it means that your cerebral blood flow has dropped from a normal level of 50mL/100g of brain/ minute to a level of 20-25mL/100g of brain/ minute.].
8. I swear that the lecturers know whether you are paying attention or not. If you are lucky, they would not bother to distract you from your dream. But more often than not, I am unlucky to be caught with my pants down especially during MR class. [Note: caught with my pants down is just a metaphor.]. But why always me, wan??
   

But the only problem is that sometimes we have to do self-study if there are no classes for that particular subject due to the small number of students.

Where is SEGi College Sarawak?? In Sarawak, duh. It's that pink short building situated in between Somerset Gateway and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce at Kuching Eye Hill Road. The side of the new 23-Storey, 388 rooms Novetel Interhill hotel, which is under construction now, overlooks it. Whenever I go to college now, it brings me back memories to beginning of 2006 when I took Intro To Tourism together with a bunch of boys who said that the building was one of the 7 Wonders of the World because of the carvings on the walls outside. It sent shivers down the lecturer's spine and the next thing I knew, he printed out notes about the 7 Wonders of the World for us during the next class (as in the old one where Angkor Wat was in and Christ the Redeemer in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil wasn't in). Okay, maybe it was really in his lesson plan to enrich our minds about the 7 wonders of the world on the following lesson....

Anyway, I’m inundated by work.

**KJ is slowly immersing herself back again into the wilds of the pre-exam world.**

*sigh*

Got to start my revision now, EZAM EXAM's in 2 weeks time.
But how to study???

Found this here:

study = no fail....(1)
no study = fail...(2)
using simultaneous equation: (1)+(2);
study + no study = no fail + fail
factorize;
study(1 + no) = fail(1 + no)
cancel(1 + no) on both sides,
therefore, study = fail..

Like that, don't study....

PS: The reason why I'm writing about the past is because I miss the past. I want to go back to my diploma days...But i can't. We must all progress somehow..........Anyway, the saving grace about exams is that it marks the completion of a subject: one step nearer to graduation..(quote and unquote from my dad's friend)

okay, time to answer the discussion board question before I exit the virtual world for today.