An accident or intentionally caused?

On Thursday morning, 23 April 2015, my friend and I decided to try out the new road leading to Cameron Highlands from Gua Musang rather than go through Lipis and Bentong to Putrajaya.  We were informed that there'll be less traffic and the journey would be much more comfortable.

As we entered the junction leading to Lojing we were a bit apprehensive at first.  There was a sign board at the junction stating that the road is closed at km something.  We came across similar signboard further on.  My friend drove cautiously.  After all, it was a road never travelled before as far as we were concerned.  We just couldn't imagine what might lie ahead.

We were especially apprehensive because there was no oncoming vehicle.  Another car was tailing us, also seeming unsure of the condition of the road ahead.

But as soon as a car came from the opposite direction, the car tailing us then sped past, disappearing in the distance soon after.

My friend still drove cautiously because we came across another sign board informing of a road closure ahead.  Sure enough, a stretch of the road was reduced to single lane due to a landslide that occurred last December.

Afterward we thought that the rest of the journey was going to be pleasant. 

 

Unfortunately, as we were approaching Lojing, past two men on a motorcycle, something appeared from nowhere and sounds like something fell or was thrown towards the car.  We didn't see anything suspicious on the road.  No piece of rock or object was visible.

Soon after my friend pulled over because she sensed something wrong with the wheel.  True enough, when I checked, the left rear wheel was flat. 

 

 

We noticed the two men on the motorcycle passing by, but we didn't suspect anything then.  They were also on the wrong side of the road, which was strange.

 

My friend tried to stop approaching cars.  Non stopped.  As she was unloading our luggage from the boot to get the tools for changing the tyre, I noticed a motorcycle approaching.  I hailed him over and thankfully he stopped.

 

The young men assisted us to change the flat tyre.  He was on his way to work.  He advised us to drive slowly and get the spare tyre changed with new ones at Kg. Raja, the nearest town from where we were.

 

After a very slow and careful drive, we finally found a workshop.

 

THE FIRST MOSQUE IN ENGLAND

I never knew that the first mosque ever built in England was in Liverpool even though I studied there during the early 80s.   I only learned of its existence from my daughter. 

"On Christmas Day 1889, the Liverpool solicitor and Muslim convert William Abdullah Quilliam opened the doors of what is England's first mosque."



The mosque stopped running in 1908 when Abdullah Quilliam returned to Morocco.

The terrace was subsequently bought by the city council, and used as a register office until the beginning of July 2000.  No wonder I didn't know of its existence during my stay in Liverpool.

Members of the 'Abdullah Quilliam Society' managed to raise enough money to buy the building and renovated it as a Muslim heritage centre.

In 2009 the mosque was restored with a budget of more than £3m. 

 The building is now recognised as part of British Heritage.

Reminiscing Years in Primary School

I began schooling in 1967.  I never went to a preschool prior to Year 1.  Cik Gu Jamaluddin was the class teacher of Standard 1C, and the one who introduced me to A, B, C and 1, 2, 3. 

The following year I was in Standard 2A. I can't remember who my class teacher was.  I do remember Cik Gu Asmah. Then there's Miss Lau.  She lived in the government quarters up on the top of the hill.  My friends Aziah, Rozita, Rihanum, Mahizah and I used to go to her house where we used to dance a go go.

I think Miss Lau taught arithmetic because I remember one day Cik Gu Salahuddin came down to our class to correct Miss Lau in teaching addition.

Miss Lau was kinda pretty and a very nice teacher.  We all loved her.  We also used to gossip about her and Mr Lau, not her husband though they had the same surname..  He was kinda handsome and we kinda thought that the two were made for each other.

Such beautiful memories of these two.

Unfortunately, my memory of Cik Gu Asmah isn't that wonderful.  She often pinched my tummy as a punishment for being very talkative in class.

My class for Standard 3 was on top of the hill.  The class teacher was Cik Gu Abas.  Can't remember what he taught though.

Standard 4 was at the far end of the bottom of the hill.  The class teacher was Cik Gu Hanif.

Can't remember what Cik Gu Hanif taught.  But I do remember being punished by him for always not being able to answer his questions.

Another teacher who I was often a victim of was Cik Gu Aishah.  She taught Arithmetic.  I usually couldn't answer her questions either......mental arithmetic....sigh!  For punishment she would pinch my tummy.

There was this one teacher who was very kind to me.  Cik Gu Shahidan.  He let me resit for a test in Tawarikh (History) when I failed the previous attempt.  The truth of the matter is I didn't even know there was ever a test in the first place!!  I was too busy enjoying my childhood to bother about studying.  I didn't even know what studyng was all about.

My class went back to the top of the hill for Standard 5.  I can't remember who my class teacher was.  The following year I was in Standard 6.  I think the class teacher was Cik Gu Halim.



I can't remember what Cik Gu Halim taught either.  Seems like I don't really remember much about learning during my years in the primary school.  But I do remember having such wonderful times with my friends doing all sorts of things that children used to do for fun.





Rugby anyone?

When I was doing my A-levels in Swansea I had the opportunity to go to a rugby game.

My three friends and I got the opportunity to go to the game with our English teacher, Mr. Griffith.

The rugby field is just down the road from our house.  So we walked to the game. 

On the way, we stopped by a pub.  A typical Welshman, dear ol' Mr. Griffith just had to have his glass of beer.

Mr. Griffith had his beer, but my friends and I settled for orange juice instead.  We didn't even enjoy being in the pub.  The smell of beer and cigarette smoke wasn't at all pleasant.  Thankfully, we were in there for only a few minutes.

At the game Mr. Griffith explained to my friends and I the rules and the scores of rugby.

 

It was a memorable day for my friends and I.  Thank you Mr. Griffith for giving us the opportunity to watch a real rugby match. 

PERCEPTION TOWARDS THE TEACHING PROFESSION

INCIDENT 1
A few years back a couple of school friends organised a reunion.  Some of us, especially me have not met each other since we left school...that was for about 20 years.

I can still remember what one of the guys said when we were talking:

"Belajar sampai over sea....balik jadi cikgu je?"....then he works with PETRONAS at the twin towers!! 

 Does he still work there?  Who cares !!

INCIDENT 2
I was not trained to teach the subject that I was teaching in school. So, to ensure that I get the required knowledge I took a part time post graduate course at a local university.

When I was attending a class, this one lecturer was going on how she did a course in education and came back as a lecturer.  On the other hand, she continued...the likes of me and a few others, went over seas to do a course in Engineering or Accountancy or whatever, when we returned we end up as only teachers.

FYI...both lecturers and teachers are educators.  The difference between the two are the level of education they provide.....primary....secondary....tertiary.  All play a part in providing education.

INCIDENT 3
When I was a school teacher, the teachers are not allowed to operate the Photostat machine which was located in the administrations' office.....nanti rosak!!!

There are many other incidents belittling the teaching profession that I experienced.  These are all for now. For sure....



Indeed that's what we educators are.  Else you wouldn't be able to even read this.

THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Blogs...Facebook....twitter...whatsApp...to name but a few.  Via these media, news travel at the click of a finger.  They can be very effective when we need to spread whatever information...be it call for assistance...ideas...information...advertisements....you name it. 

Some has resort to blogging to air their grouses....or to seek justice . 

To get the message to wider audience the posting is then shared on Facebook...then on whatsApp.  It got passed on to various groups. 

That certainly put the message across to whom it may concern.

The social media has certainly proven to be very effective in spreading news...though sometimes the news being spread can be false.

When it comes to getting people together...social media is the most effective tool.  You only need to send to one group of friends.  Each will then send to another group of friends....and it goes on and on.  To get wider coverage, get the message posted on Facebook.  Once it gets viral the outcome will be awesome !

Social media when utilised with responsibility will definitely benefit the mass.  But once abused it can definitely create chaos.

OPPORTUNITY AND RISK TAKING

Been a long time indeed since my last posting.

I've been involved in several business ventures since I can remember when.  Profitable?...Yes...but not that much.

Middle of last year, another business opportunity came along by chance.  Not very convincing then.  But what the heck...here is the part where I took a risk.

I parted with almost RM5k in late July last year.  Money changed hands at a foodcourt.  TawakkalAllah....

It turns out to be very legit and most profitable.

 

 

The investment I made is for a one year contract to post 5 ads for a company based in the USA.  For each advertisement posted I get paid USD20 per week.

 

 

It only takes about 5 minutes to post all 5 ads per day and I get paid USD100 per week.  Pretty neat eh?

 

 

After 52 weeks I will get a total of USD5200 for an investment of USD1425.  Do the maths!

 

 

Risk?

 

 

Ofcourse there's a risk.  There's always a risk in whatever business we venture into.

 

 

For this particular investment, I've already crossed that threshold.  After 3 and a half months, I've got back my USD1425.  I'm now reaping the profit from this simple yet very rewarding business.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Tracing the Roots of Sabah Claim - Part 2

By Dr Paridah Abd Samad

THEN Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos made a dramatic move towards normalisation of bilateral relations in 1976, just prior to an Asean summit meeting, when he stated that the Philippines no longer intended to press its claim to sovereignty over Sabah, though he did not officially drop it. The pronouncement, however, was never followed by any concrete action.

The dispute dragged on into the Corazon Aquino administration, which tried to resolve the problem through revising legal and constitutional provisions to drop the claim. The Philippine Constitution of 1987 no longer includes the phrase "by historical and legal rights" as part of the definition of the national territory. Also, Senate Bill No. 206, redefining the archipelagic boundaries of the Philippines, called for amendments to Republic Acts 5546, and it particularly excluded Sabah from Philippine territory.

However, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III's denouncement of Aquino's government for endorsing the bill without consulting him and bungling by the newly installed administration kept the bill from getting through the Senate, denying Aquino a diplomatic victory of the Asean summit in December, 1987.
The Philippines cannot just drop its claim to Sabah to patch up differences with Malaysia, as it must first consider the repercussions of such a decision on the politically unstable Sulu Archipelago. Sabah and Moro are interrelated in prolonging settlement of the dispute and in deepening the security concerns of the Philippine government.
The transmigration of mostly Filipino Muslim refugees to Sabah has put the Philippines in a favourable position because this has significantly contributed to reducing the Muslim population ratio and its resistance strength.
In 1970, Tunku Abdul Rahman played an important role in promoting international support for the Moro cause. As secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (now Organisation of Islamic Cooperation), he endorsed the Moro case submitted to him in 1972 and asked King Faisal of Saudi Arabia and (Libyan) president (Muammar) Gaddafi to help in persuading other OIC member states to support it.
But Malaysia's optimism and hope for a new and brighter chapter in Malaysia-Philippines relations remain unfulfilled. While the Aquino administration made the effort and took the initiative to drop the sovereignty claim on Sabah, it was unable to push through its initiative because of stumbling blocks. Senate Bill 206, which excludes Sabah from Philippine territory, remains unenacted.
Since no law has yet been passed on the dropping of Sabah claim, the Philippine government still has the option to actively pursue the claim through internationally accepted norms. By pursuing the claim, the Philippine government could promote the Philippines' historic rights and legal title over Sabah, as well as the proprietary rights of the heirs of sultan of Sulu.
However, the 1930 treaty between the United States and Great Britain drew a precise boundary to separate their island possessions off the northeast coast of Sabah. The allocation of islands defined in these treaties was enshrined in Article 1 of the Philippine Constitution of 1935.
The Philippine claim has no known international support while Malaysia is morally supported by Great Britain and the Commonwealth of Nations in rejecting this claim. Even the US has assumed a position of neutrality. The other Asean countries, though discreetly distancing themselves form the issue since it involves two of their fellow members, also seem to silently acknowledge Malaysia's right to the disputed territory.
For the Philippines to drop its claim to Sabah without concessions would mean outright recognition of Malaysia's sovereignty over Sabah. Taking this position might also jeopardise the proprietary rights of sultan of Sulu. In general, choosing this option appears to be damaging the national integrity.
Malaysia gave a solemn commitment to satisfactorily resolve the proprietary claim with recognised Sulu heirs once the sovereignty claim is legally and finally dropped. It sees no linkage whatsoever between the two claims. Malaysia has always insisted that sovereignty and proprietary rights over Sabah are two separate questions.


The writer is a former lecturer of UiTM Shah Alam and International Islamic University Malaysia, Gombak

Malaysia-Philippines unnatural relations - PART 1

By: Dr Paridah Abd Samad

THE level of irritation in the relationship between Malaysia and the Philippines is considered unnatural for two immediate neighbours who belong to a common regional grouping. The Philippine's claim on Sabah, one of Malaysia's 13 states, is an issue that has remained unresolved for nearly 50 years.

Once a part of the Sultanate of Sulu, Sabah's land area exceeds 29,000 square miles, smaller than neighbouring Mindanao by about 8,000 square miles. Its centuries-old ties with the Philippines are indicated by the fact that inhabitants of both came from the same racial stock and have similar customs and traditions.

The Sultan of Brunei originally ruled this part of Borneo, but in 1704, the Sultan of Sulu helped suppress an uprising there and, as a reward, North Borneo was ceded to Sulu. Subsequently, Europeans came to Southeast Asia for the valuable minerals, spices, and other rich sources of revenue, and in 1878, two of these enterprising merchants leased North Borneo from the sultan. Soon the British North Borneo Company was formed and awarded a royal charter.

In the course of laying the groundwork for Philippine independence, the treaty signed in 1930 by the US government and the British Crown, circumscribed the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippine Republic. It did not include Sabah within the boundaries of Spanish, American, or Philippine jurisdiction.

Six days after the Philippines was granted independence (July 10, 1946), the British North Borneo Company turned over all its rights and obligations to the British government, which in turn asserted full sovereign rights over Sabah through the North Borneo Cession Order.

There was no advancement of Philippine claims to Sabah from 1946 to 1962. Within that period, successive Philippine administrations conducted low-keyed investigations on the merits of such a claim, and a study of these and other documents convinced Diosdado Macapagal, then chief of the Legal Division of the Philippines' Foreign Affairs Department, that a claim on North Borneo could be filed.

The first official Philippine act on the matter -- House Resolution No. 42 adopted on April 28, 1950 -- stated explicitly that North Borneo belonged to the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu and authorised the president to conduct negotiations for the restoration of sovereign jurisdiction.

But it was June 1962 before the Philippine government notified the United Kingdom of its claim on Sabah, and the following December the two agreed to hold talks on the issue. The promulgation of the claim brought the Philippines into diplomatic conflict with the British, who regarded it as a nuisance in relation to their own plan to change the status of North Borneo from a colony into a state of an expanded federation of Malaysia. The British government rejected the Philippine position in view of the overriding need to form the Federal Republic of Malaysia, ostensibly to contain communism in Southeast Asia.

Sabah Chief Minister of Sabah, Mr. Donald Stephens (second from left), in national Kadazan costume, being sworn into office by the Chief Justice at the Malaysia proclamation ceremony in Jesselton, Sabah, on Sept 17, 1963. On the right is the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, representing the central Federal Government.

Meanwhile, since Sabah has a total land area of 74,398 square kilometres and is only 16km from Sulu, it was a Philippine security concern. Such concerns, may have moved President Macapagal on April 20, 1963 to write to President John F. Kennedy stressing the importance of North Borneo as vital to the security of the Philippines.

At the first ministerial conference on the claim, held in London in 1963, a joint communiqué was issued by the foreign ministers of Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines stating that the inclusion of North Borneo in the Federation of Malaysia "would not prejudice either the Philippine claim or any right thereunder". This joint statement was ratified by the leaders of the three countries when they met later that year in Manila, and Macapagal's participation in it, jeopardised the Philippine claim to Sabah.

In any case, the Federation of Malaysia came into being on September 16, 1963, and due to the physical possession of Sabah by Malaysia, the Philippine government refused to accord diplomatic recognition, contrary to its solemn commitment in the Manila Agreement. When Soekarno started his "confrontation" against Malaysia, Manila reduced its representation in Kuala Lumpur to consular level.

The claim was relegated to the sidelines when it became entangled within the wider context of the Republic of Indonesia's "confrontation" with Malaysia and the Sukarno regime's threat to resort to military means to crush the fledgling nation. Upon termination of the confrontation, the dispute over Sabah was carried to Bangkok, where bilateral negotiations aimed at its resolution were abruptly aborted. In the United Nation's General Assembly, the disputants exchanged contentious charges and countercharges.

Various unsuccessful efforts were made to reconcile Philippines and Malaysia until the two finally agreed to restore full diplomatic relations in June 1966. Ironically, President Ferdinand Marcos recognised the formation of Malaysia, after he took over political power in the Philippines.

With the inception of the five-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), there was a tacit agreement between Malaysia and the Philippines that the issue be shelved in the interest of regional solidarity, and they agreed that it should be finally resolved through Asean.
In March 1967, the Philippine government was invited to send observers to witness the first direct elections in Sabah, but Manila refused on the ground that this might prejudice its position on the claim. The refusal did not, however, impede the participation of the Philippines and Malaysia in the formation of Asean in August 1967, and the following January President Marcos and his wife paid a state visit to Kuala Lumpur.

But deterioration in bilateral ties, again involving Sabah, led to a rupture in relations in 1969. The Philippines's institutionalisation of the claim through enactment of Republic Act 5546, incorporating Sabah as part of the territory of the Philippines, triggered Malaysian suspension of diplomatic ties. However, in the spirit of regional cooperation, relations were restored on Dec 16, 1969, during Asean's third ministerial conference.

***Dr Paridah Abd Samad is a former lecturer at UiTM Shah Alam and IIUM Gombak

WANG UNTUK KECEMASAN!

Oleh: Irfan Khairi

Minggu lepas ketika saya memberi ceramah kekayaan di sebuat intitusi pengajian tinggi dan satu soalan yang diajukan oleh pelajar kepada saya adalah "En Irfan Khairi, apakah yang dilakukan dengan sejuta ringgit pertama yang diperolehi?"

Teringat saya lebih 10 tahun lalu bila pendapatan perniagaan Internet saya mencecah RM1,000,000. Untuk memperolehi untung sebegitu bukannya mudah, dan mengambil masa lebih 2 tahun juga. Oleh kerana mengenangkan masa dan tenaga yang telah dilaburkan untuk mencapai keuntungan sebegitu adalah tinggi, amat sukar untuk saya belanjakan secara boros.

Walau bagaimanapun, jawapan kepada soalan yang diajukan oleh pelajar tersebut dapat menjelaskan prinsip kewangan yang amat penting. Jawapan saya, "Saya membeli sebuah kereta tempatan kecil dan sebuah apartment kecil secara tunai"

Mengapa yang kecil sahaja dan tidak yang besar? Itulah silapnya ramai usahawan kita. Bila mendapat durian runtuh, terus membeli kereta mewah dan rumah yang indah. Pastinya, membeli secara berhutang dengan bayaran ansuran bank bulanan yang tinggi. Yang penting, standard mesti kena jaga supaya orang lihat kita nampak gah!

Tetapi, berkali-kali saya terdengar kisah usahawan yang hutang keliling pinggang oleh kerana ingin tampil hebat cuma, apabila perniagaan gagal, kereta kena tarik, rumah kena lelong. 

Amat penting untuk kita melindungi diri kita terlebih dahulu. Mengapa saya membeli kereta kecil dan apartment kecil? Oleh kerana ingin melindungi diri dan keluarga sekiranya rezeki tidak berpihak pada diri saya, dan perniagaan gagal, sekurang-kurangnya sudah ada kereta dan rumah- walaupun kecil!

Prinsip kewangan yang disebutkan adalah untuk melindungi diri kita daripada apa jua kecemasan yang mungkin berlaku. Dalam hidup, malang tidak berbau. Berbagai-bagai perkara boleh terjadi yang akan mengakibatkan masalah kewangan. Tugas kita yang pertama sekali adalah melindungi diri kita.

Pastikan kita mempunyai simpanan kecemasan yang boleh digunakan sekiranya sesuatu terjadi. Berapa banyakkah simpanan kecemasan yang diperlukan? Jawapannya adalah, hitung perbelanjaan bulanan anda, dan gandakan dengan 6. Angka tersebut adalah simpanan kecemasan minima yang perlu anda miliki. Sekiranya perbelanjaan bulanan anda adalah RM1,300, maka simpanan kecemasan anda perlu ada adalah sekurang-kurangnya RM7,800. 

Berapakah jumlah simpanan kecemasan anda kini? Sekiranya tidak mencapai 6 bulan perbelanjaan anda, anda adalah dalam keadaan yang amat merbahaya!

RM100 to clean a Proton Satria!

One Sunday I decided to get my newly painted yellow Satria cleaned because grey streaks had began to form on the sides of the car.

I planned to send it to this car wash in Sek. 7 Bandar Baru Bangi because of its location which is opposite Restoran Hasan which is famous for its ayam kampong goreng.

Soon as I drove into this car wash, one of the staff appeared asking for a minute to demonstrate his service.  I was hesitant but he was persistent.  So, he smeared some liquid on the hood and wiped vigorously.  This went on four times and the result was a square patch of shiny yellow.

I told the guy that I only wanted a regular wash and did not plan on spending more than RM10 on getting the Satria cleaned.  He explained that they don't do regular wash at weekends.  They only do packaged service!  It was then quite late for lunch and I was starving.  I also did have a few other things to get from the shops nearby. So, I chose the cheapest package they had, i.e. RM40 for washing and something to do with "nano" that's supposed to remove any odour in the car.

After about half an hour later, after I've completed all the task that needed done, I went back to the car wash to collect my car.  I was very shocked to find that the car did not look like its been cleaned and there's this square patch on the hood.  To top it all the interior was NOT odourless as the service claimed!  I was very angry and demanded to see the towkey.  I told the staff I'm not going to pay.  He pursuaded me to wait for his towkey to return.  I told him I'll give him 10 minutes.

The towkey did return and I told him off for the quality of service offered.  I paid him RM40 and told myself to never again go to this particular car wash.  I was still pissed off so I went to another car wash in Warta.  I spent another RM60 on wash and polish.  It was well spent because the car was then really cleaned.

KAD ATM HILANG!

Setiap petang Khamis ada Pasar Tani kat BBBangi.  Balik keje tadi plan nak beli capati  kat situ. Malangnya hujan. Jadi terpaksa tukar "menu".

Plan nak gi Warta beli sandwich kat Pizza Hut.  Sambil tunggu ble pegi cari thumb drive.  Thumb drive asyik ilang je. Kena singgah kat ATM dulu sbb dlm wallet ada dalam RM20 je.

Masa tiba giliran kat ATM, keluarkan wallet untuk ambil kad ATM.  Cari punya cari, tak jumpa kad tu! Cemas kejap.

Terpaksa tuka plan.  Mampu beli sandwich je. Thumb drive kena cancel..

Balik rumah da masuk waktu Maghrib. So mandi dulu, lepas tu solat.  Sebelum tu charge dulu iPad.

Lepas solat, makan sambil tengok SVU. Selesai makan baru get online untuk cari no. tel. bank. Lepas buat laporan, cek acc online.  Alhamdulillah, no further transaction after the last one two days ago.

And how did my ATM card go missing?

Silly me.  I must have left it at the ATM slot! No one was using the ATM after I did, so there's no one to alert me that I've left my card.

Tips for Online Shopping—Before You Buy

Online shopping can be a convenient and fun activity, provided you take a few precautions to ensure that your information and money stay safe. Take the time to review these tips on what to do before making a purchase in order to have the best experience possible.

Before You Buy

Comparison shop—Use comparison sites or a search engine to look for the best deals, but be wary of deals that sound too good to be true. If an online merchant’s prices seem unusually low compared to others, look for tell tale signs that you could be on a fraudulent site. Are there any typos on the site? Does the company ask for unnecessary information such as your passport number or date of birth? If so, consider looking around for a different merchant to buy from.

Do background checks on the e-tailer—Make sure that the e-tailer has a physical address and phone number listed. If you are suspicious about the site, call the company's phone number to see if a representative is available. Also, look for information such as how long the company has been in business, customer service policies, and whether they offer warranties, repairs, or returns.

Read customer reviews—Another important step in investigating an online merchant is to do a search for customer reviews. If there are multiple complaints about the company, proceed with caution.

Understand the shipping policies and delivery times—Look into shipping and handling fees and make sure they seem reasonable to you. You want to make sure that you understand all your shipping options and how they will affect your total cost.

Since you may need your purchase by a specific date, you should investigate the time it will take for delivery. Some merchants take time to process the order before they ship, so look at their shipping policy to determine the actual delivery date. 

You will also want to check to see if they have shipping insurance. If you are buying from a foreign merchant, check to see if they ship internationally.

Some merchants even offer free shipping so look into this before you make a final purchase decision.

 Know your options when it comes to returns and exchanges—Since it is difficult to determine things like quality and fit when shopping online, it is important to check out the merchant’s return and exchange policies. Is there a time limit or other restrictions on returns? You should also see if there is a restocking charge in case you need to return an order.

If the merchant does accept returns, you should find out if they will fully refund the charges or if you will get store credit. If the merchant only offers store credits, see if there are any time restrictions on using the credit.

Review the company's privacy policy—Look to see how the merchant uses your personal information and check to make sure that it will not be shared with third parties. You should only disclose facts necessary to complete your purchase and not any additional information about yourself.

By following these tips, and doing a little homework ahead of time, you can expect a safer shopping experience.

- McAfee Security Advice Center -

3 TABIAT KEWANGAN SIHAT

Apa yang membezakan orang kaya dan berjaya dengan mereka yang kurang berjaya dalam kewangan? Bezanya adalah, mereka yang berjaya dalam kewangan mempunyai tabiat kewangan yang sihat.

Berikut adalah 4 tabiat kewangam sihat yang anda mesti miliki!

Bayar diri sendiri terlebih dahulu

Untuk berjaya dalam kewangan, tabiat kewangan yang sihat diperlukan. Tabiat yang paling utama dan penting adalah untuk membayar diri sendiri terlebih dahulu. Ertinya tidak kira perbelanjaan bulanan kita, sebahagian daripada pendapatan  kita perlu diketepikan untuk diri sendiri SEBELUM melakuan bayaran bil, kereta, rumah, dan apa sahaja perbelanjaan. Dan pastinya, sebahagian ini bukan juga untuk dibelanjakan!

Buku-buku kewangan menyarankan sekurang-kurangnya, ketepikan 10% daripada pendapatan kita untuk diri sendiri. Namun, angka 10% ini adalah untuk permulaan. Apabila kita berjaya menanam tabiat menyimpan untuk diri sendiri, lama kelamaan, peratusan ini boleh dinaikkan sehingga 20% dan lebih!

Ada juga yang bertanya, apa perlu kita lakukan sekirnaya 10% pun kita tidak dapat menyimpan oleh kerana tanggungan perbelanjaan bulanan adalah tinggi? Jawapannya, mulakan bayaran kepada diri sendiri pada 2% dulu. Dan secara beransur-ansur, naikkan nilai ini sehingga 10%.

Kaedah menyimpan sebegini adalah amat penting supaya hingga satu masa, menyimpan tidak menjadi sukar dan ianya menjadi tabiat.

Tabiat menjejak wang masuk dan keluar

Kekayaan bukan sekadar berapa banyak kita perolehi, tetapi, ia juga bermaksud, berapa banyak kita belanjakan. Sekiranya kita berpendapatan RM10,000 sebulan, tetapi perbelanjaan RM15,000 sebulan (jangan terkejut, ramai yang sebegini!), maka, kewangan kita gagal!

Setiap hari, amalkan tabiat mencatat segala perbelanjaan kita. Dengan mencatat perbelanjan, kita tahu secara terperinci ke mana kewangan kita pergi. Tabiat mencatat segala wang keluar setiap hari akan membolehkan kita menjejak wang kita setiap minggu, dan setiap bulan. Dengan mengetahui segala wang yang keluar, kita boleh melakukan analisa sikap perbelanjaan kita - dan pastinya kita akan tahu di mana perlu kita kurangkan perbelanjaan sekiranya perlu.
  
Tabiat menambahkan aliran pendapatan

Untuk menjadi kaya, hanya dua sahaja perkara yang boleh dilakukan, iaitu:
i.  kurangkan perbelanjaan, dan
ii. tambahkan pendapatan.

Melalui ilmu yang dimiliki daripada tabiat membaca dan belajar, fikirkan cara-cara menambahkan pendapatan kita. Dengan memiliki pelbagai aliran pendapatan yang berlainan, bukan sahaja kita bersikap berhati-hati  sekirannya salah satu rezeki pendapatan kita terputus, tetapi, dengan mempunyai aliran pendapatan berganda, kekayaan dapat dibina dengan lebih pantas.

Aliran pendapatan boleh terdiri berbagai bentuk, termasuk pelaburan, hartanah, menjalankan perniagaan, royalty, komisyen dan sebagainya.

Kebanyakan orang kaya dan berjaya bukan sekadar mempunyai satu punca pendapatan sahaja, tetapi mempunyai banyak aliran pendapatan yang berlainan. Jadikan tabiat ini, sebagai tabiat anda!

Oleh: Irfan Khairi

Motivasi bermula di minda

Fikirkan masa hadapan

Mereka yang berjaya mempunyai visi dan sering memikirkan masa hadapan.  Kebanyakan masa dihabiskan dalam melakarkan visi yang positif di masa hadapan. Kurangkan fikir tentang apa sahaja yang sudah lepas, sama ada kejayaan ataupun kegagalan lepas oleh kerana ia tidak lagi relevan.

Apakah gambaran hidup anda satu, tiga, lima atau sepuluh tahun akan datang? Seringkali lakukan senaman ini oleh kerana mereka yang mempunyai minda positif akan sedia mempunyai jawapan yang jelas kepada persoalan ini.

Punyai matlamat dalam minda

Miliki matlamat yang jelas setiap kali dalam minda. Memikirkan masa hadapan sering kali berorientasikan jangka panjang, manakala mempunyai matlamat adalah sesuatu yang lebih spesifik untuk dilakukan dan dihasilkan.

Adakah anda mempunyai matlamat hidup? Sekiranya ada, tahniah oleh kerana anda adalah antara 2% yang punyai matlamat hidup. Sekiranya tidak, maka, dapatkan pen dan kertas dan tuliskan dengan spesifik apa, bila dan bagaimana anda ingin mencapai matlamat anda.

Komitmen kepada kecemerlangan

Berikan komitmen kepada kecemerlangan. Mereka yang berjaya sering memikirkan cara untuk menjadi hebat dalam industry mereka. Walaupun, belum mencapai kecemerlangan, fikirkan ke arah itu.

Dalam apa sahaja industri sekalipun, telah terdapat mereka yang berjaya dalam bidang tersebut. Tidak kira apa pun bidang anda, lakukan penyelidikan ke atas mereka dan ketahui teknik dan strategi yang telah digunakan. Beri komitmen kepada minda anda bahawa untuk berjaya, kecemerlangan perlu diutamakan - dan  kecemerlangan memerlukan ilmu. Minda hebat, kejayaan pun pastinya hebat!

 

Oleh: Irfan Khairi 

Scientists reveal new uses for Gum Arabic

Scientific studies have recently revealed new uses for Gum Arabic , categorizing it as a food product that provides the human body with important nutrients and contributes to combating many diseases.

Scientists have revealed that the Gum Arabic, which have been used as a resin over the years, is actually a food supplement of great importance for the body and also a food for the good bacteria as it supports it in the face of harmful bacteria.

Gum Arabic is a prebiotic and constitutes an important food supplement that provides the body with energy and helps enhancing the performance of the intestine. It produces short-term fatty acid which provides the body with energy and helps in enhancing the function of the intestine.

Medical advantages

Medical research conducted at Ahmed Qassim and Ja’far ibn Aouf hospitals in Sudan and at al-Qasr al-Aini in Egypt on Gum Arabic have proven that it is effective in treatment of many diseases such as the intestine diseases. It has also been proven to be incredibly effective in the treatment of sensitive skin diseases, constipation, diarrhea, dryness, nerve colon, diabetic, oestomalacia of children, hyperactivity and cholesterol.

Gum Arabic has been used in the treatment of diseases such as flu and diarrhea in some African countries. of Gum Arabic has also been proven to be effective in reducing the infection rates of heart diseases and cholesterol besides increasing the insulin efficiency.

To order: sms 0193804477

SEBAB-SEBAB MEMBELI EMAS

1. Pulangan yang lebih tinggi berbanding ASB @ pelaburan lain

 

Emas adalah pelaburan yang berpotensi memberikan pulangan  yang lebih lumayan berbanding    ASB, Tabung Haji dan unit trust. Walau bagaimanapun, kenaikan harga emas tidak boleh dibandingkan dengan instrumen pelaburan yang lain dalam jangka masa yang singkat.

 

2. Emas digunakan untuk tujuan simpanan bermatlamat

Emas disimpan bagi mencapai objektif tertentu. Selepas objektif dicapai maka emas tersebut dijual dan tidak lagi disimpan. 

 

3. Emas mengelakkan kebocoran wang

Jika ada wang sebanyak RM100 ribu maka banyak idea datang untuk menghabiskan wang tersebut. Tapi kalau wang tersebut ditukarkan kepada emas, maka tak boleh belanja sesuka hati. 

 

4. Emas sebagai aset @ harta

Aset adalah harta yang nilainya semakin naik. Contoh harta berbentuk aset ialah tanah, emas dan perak, rumah sewa, perniagaan dan harta intelek. Kelebihan emas adalah ia adalah harta yang mudah dikumpulkan secara kecil-kecilan berbanding tanah atau rumah.  Emas boleh dibeli dalam kuantiti yang kecil (contohnya 1 dinar, 10 gram, 20 gram).  Asal ada duit, tukar jadi harta emas.

 

  5. Emas boleh memberikan keuntungan jangka masa pendek

Emas adalah komoditi yang didagangkan di pasaran antarabangsa dan harga emas ada turun naiknya. Walaupun harga emas adalah “long term bullish” atau meningkat untuk jangkamasa panjang, namun dalam jangka masa pendek harga emas boleh jatuh banyak (buying opportunity).  Keuntungan boleh diraih sekiranya ada kemahiran analisis teknikal atau pun menggunakan sejarah harga emas (historical price) untuk mengenal pasti peluang memborong.

Setiap individu ada sebab tersendiri membeli emas.  Walau apa pun sebabnya, yang pasti mesti untung!

Beli emas sekarang!  Jangan tunggu kerana harga emas akan sentiasa meningkat.  Jika pun harga emas turun, penurunannya hanya sedikit dan tidak akan turun seperti harga hari ini.

Hubungi Hiriyati di talian 0193804477.

Jika anda terus ke cawangan Public Gold untuk membeli emas atau jadi dealer, catatkan dalam borang nama introducer HIRIYATI BINTI ABD. GHALIB PG025395.   Harga emas adalah tetap, tetapi jika anda tidak  mencatat nama introducer, komisyen TIDAK akan diperolehi oleh sesiapa.  Tapi, jika catatkan saya sebagai introducer, kita sama-sama dapat komisyen .

Terima kasih.