Budget 2012 – Goodies For Middle Class?? Forget it!

I considered myself middle class in Malaysian society, which usually contribute the bulk of income tax to government. As salaried man,the taxes were cut in advance from our salary. Mind you, middle class is not something that most people will proud of.  To say it is a burden, one will call me aggravating it, but the truth is, it doesn’t sound as nice as to be!
The Times latest  edition stated in the US that people who earn between 100k to 500k pay 26% in tax, 500k to 1million lesser than that, but the most insane of all is that, the 400 riches is paying merely 16% tax. ‘Great’ isn’t it?? I don’t have that figure in Malaysia, but I sense that situation is not much different.
Speaking of which, the Malaysian’s budget 2012 had just be announced this evening. And as I usual, I scrambling the online newspaper trying to figure out if there is any goodies for us. But the outcome is not that surprising. Almost none. And to me personally.. zero. Serious!
I’ve no intention to write longer, I’m still quite frustrated, courtesy of TheStar Online, I pick the point that sound relevant to me, but I quite missed it or it is too broad
  • My First Home Scheme will be expanded to increase the limit of house prices from a maximum of RM220,000 to RM400,000 – If you have already own residential property forget it!
  • The theme for Budget 2012 is “National Transformation Policy: Welfare for the Rakyat, Well-Being of the Nation” – I see, ok.. pass
  • In the spirit of “People First,” all subsidies, incentives and assistance totalling RM33.2bil will be continued – All folks enjoy regardless of their nationalities, even imigrant enjoy it what, eg fuel, gas and sugar
  • We will abolish payments for primary and secondary education, making these free for the first time in our history – Good news, but my eldest son is just 3 years old!
  • Full exemption of import duty and excise duty on hybrid cars and electric cars will continue to be given until 2013 – I’m still serving national cal installment that I bought 5 years ago.
  • Budget focuses on developing human capital, creativity and innovation and 2012 will be the National Innovation Movement year – Probably if Mdec still willing to contribute to MNC in cyberjaya
  • RM29.8bil has been allocated for investment in infrastructure, industrial and rural development - Too broad.
  • Govt will identify areas in the vicinity of MRT, LRT and other public transport to be developed by PR1MA - I live in Seri Kembangan, there is elevetead highway passing the town, but not even entrance built to it. MRT?? Out of picture la
  • The Govt will give tax exemption for contributions to educational institutions and all places of worship – No sincerity, but all doing it for the sake of tax exemption icon smile Budget 2012   Goodies For Middle Class?? Forget it!
  • The real property gains tax will be reviewed so it doesn’t jeopardise the ability of low- and middle-income groups to buy homes – Oh man, don’t increase this please icon sad Budget 2012   Goodies For Middle Class?? Forget it!
As comparison, this is what goverment servant receive. Well, I’m not againts them first of all.
  • Civil servants will be given an additional bonus of half-month salary and pensioners RM500
  • 600,000 Govt pensioners will benefit from an additional annual pension increment of 2%

Other point worth noted:

- One-off assistance of RM500 to households with a monthly income of RM3,000 and below will be provided
- For those in private sector earning RM5000 and below, employers’ EPF contribution will increase from 12% to 13%

Commitment to 9-5 Job

4473480846 7d38267836 Commitment to 9 5 Job

In case if you’re wondering why there is no post for the last few days, that’s because I was away with no internet connection. Subsequently, I’ll be on training, testing, and deployment for 2-3 weeks or probably till May. I’ll have very limited time writing post here. I’ll try posting a post per day, but in the mean time, why don’t you read the archive posts.

Unboxing Ipod Touch – For Luqman


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The collection of learning and education apps for our son has grown bigger and bigger, and so does his interest towards iPhone. We decided that it is time for him to have iPod Touch to store all those apps, although he is still 2 years plus.

Considering his age, we go for the cheapest iPod Touch with 8Gb in size.  Machines, one of the Apple reseller in Malaysia which is currently on promotion offering free casing for any purchase of iPod Touch, becomes our choice. The free casing from CAPDASE brand comes with silicon casing, iPod pouch, screen protector and iPod stand.

Here is the pictures of Luqman’s latest gadget.
4429116853 99a6cd1985 Unboxing Ipod Touch   For Luqman

Close Up
4429114143 292a81a8c4 Unboxing Ipod Touch   For Luqman

Ipod Touch with pouch
4429113207 17abb97d73 Unboxing Ipod Touch   For Luqman

Ipod Touch stand
4429111423 4b07c11849 Unboxing Ipod Touch   For Luqman

Our Workstation

4232612006 937f79cd11 Our Workstation

Happy New Year 2010!! I guess those are the words that you’ll listen most today.

So how is your 2009?? Better than 2008? I’ve yet to review my past work especially  blogging for year 2009, but I plan to work on it soon. It is important to know if your effort is worth every single second or cent that you have invested so far. It is even more important to know if your blog starts to bring substantial amount of income for you. Who knows, it could your full time job in near future..

I’m sure you’re now in holiday mood, so do I. I’m not yet ready to write any ‘informative’ post. Instead, in this peaceful evening on first of January 2010, I’d like to share the photos of our workstation.

I have long wanted to share our ‘workstation’ (if we can call it workstation anyway) but you know, time has always became the main constraint (sounds typical).. It’s not a fancy work space, in fact the table set is meant for dining,  but we turned it to workstation. It is of dual purpose anyway, where we can turn it to its main purpose in a split seconds (by throwing everything away icon smile Our Workstation )

We have 4 notebooks (including 1 from the company I work ) where each notebooks serve its own purpose. I’m sure you have more than I have, right?  From left is  HP Pavilion DV2 for blogging/personal purpose (purchased last month), HP NC6320 for office work (not mine), Acer Aspire for my wife’s usage (and me as well before we got DV2 and Inspiron Mini) and Inspiron Mini notebook for mobility. I also own a 3 year old Dell LCD monitor that we use mostly to watch downloaded movies.

Before this, I have been using Dell Latitude D610 for about 4 years, and I proud to say that it is one of most durable notebook that I’ve ever used. It still works until today, at my hometown, in use by my little bro/sis.

So, that’s all folks.. and sorry, I don’t own Mac for the time being.

How Pos Malaysia Blows Away My Job Opporturnity

Notes: This is gonna be a little bit personal..
I was an engineer 2 years back, resigned, and enjoying the moment as a mother of a very chubby son. It’s only recently that the feeling of getting back to work grows again. Since early this year, had started applying for government posts. I really wanted a gov job since it’d be a better job for a woman with a kid, comparing to an engineering job. Of course it’d be less exciting or challenging. Since the job offer seemed to be such a waiting, I started to apply for engineering posts, it’s not that easy to get an interview, but with God’s will, been to a couple of interviews, and currently awaiting the result of the most previous one.

On one sunny day, a letter from UKM arrived in the postbox, it’s an invitation to sit for an exam for one post of Pegawai Tadbir !!! Was so very happy until I discovered the heartbreaking fact, the exam was on 25th November 2009 !!!!

The mail stamped at 19th Nov, with the mail dated 13th Nov, but it got to my hand on 2nd December 2009 !!!!!!!! The route from Seri Kembangan to Bangi would’ve taken only around 20mins by car, and the mail, took 14days. It was really really heartbreaking, especially to someone who missed a desired job opportunity because of a delayed mail. A ‘tragedy’ once published and aired on paper and news, now became one of my experience. Pos Malaysia should really monitor their employees because things like this is not considered a small matter. Nevertheless, it’s the ethics within oneself that determines how one works, and lead their life.