Blog Topics

I have not been blogging partly because I've run out of topics to write.

I note popular posts are those that provide useful, practical information to the average Joe/Jane like the Retrenchment payout and Writing complaint letter series. So, if you have anything which you need some research/info or have any suggestion topics, please do let me know

Voting while overseas

We were told that overseas Malaysians cannot vote in the general elections because it will be a logistical nightmare and these Malaysians (having lived abroad for so long) are “out of touch” with the current state of affairs of the country. Honestly, I can’t follow the logic.

Well, our neighbors Thailand and Singapore certainly did not think it was a logistical nightmare or believe that their citizens abroad are “out of touch”. In fact, Thai embassies even conduct campaigns to encourage Thais abroad to vote and have set aside a budget of 45 million baht for overseas voting. Even the country that started the Arab Spring, Tunisia allows its citizens living abroad to vote. And recently in Oct-2011, a Cairo (Egypt) court ruled that Egyptian citizens living overseas “should be allowed to vote” in the nation’s upcoming parliamentary elections. Even Pakistan is joining the bandwagon - a few weeks ago, Pakistan’s special inter-ministerial committee agreed to introduce postal ballot system for overseas Pakistanis on similar fashion as the system of postal balloting works for government servants and armed forces personnel within the country.

Nations where its citizens abroad can vote Voting in person @ overseas polling stations Voting by post Voting by proxy

Australia

Canada

Singapore

United Kingdom

United States

New Zealand

Thailand

Philippines

Tunisia

Egypt (to be implemented in next elections)

Pakistan (in the process of implementing)

Eight ways how Air Asia can charge travellers more

Oh no…Air Asia said it plans to increase non-ticket revenues by 20-30%. That means more bad news to consumers / budget travelers - very likely, we have to pay more for something, somehow.

When Air Asia first started, it only charged booking and administration fees. Now, AA charges for almost anything and everything that it can think of and justify for. AA customers now have to pay for more if they want:

• Priority boarding
• Counter check-ins
• Meals and drinks (during flight)
• To book seats
• To check-in their luggage
  
• To check-in their baggage
• Extra baggage
  
• To call AA's call centre and be assured that their calls are (promptly) attended to (calls are charged by the minute)
  
• To pay via credit cards (AA calls it convenience fees)
  

Are these justified? AA can argue that these are optional items and travelers need not pay anything more if they choose not to have these “extra” services

So what more can AA can offer us travelers and then charge us for them? A lot more!

Here are the eight ways AirAsia can increase their non-ticket revenues:

• Priority to alight from planes (when you arrived at your destination airport) – those who pay can alight first, need not queue like the rest

• Use of toilets /lavatories (either basic and premium) during flight – you know, like shopping malls

• To purchase toilet papers / hand-wash soap etc. – else, bring your own

• To re-heat meals - normal meals will be served cold/ at room-temperature

• Priority, home-like service (during flight) – you pay if you want better treatment from the flight stewards/stewardesses. They will greet you, smile more and attend to your needs promptly. If flights are canceled/delayed, you will be informed first

• Priority, home like service (ground) - pay if you want to be first to be informed about flight cancellations/delays via personal phone-calls (rather than cold, distant SMS), frequent timely flight updates, priority hotel accommodation (on AA) if flight's disrupted, request for any refund would be prioritised etc. -- essentially just better ground service
  

• Extra passenger weight – tickets bought are only valid for certain weight limit. If you are overweight, you will be charged extra. Self-weighing machines will be placed at waiting terminals, with date/time and weight stamps that will be checked upon prior to boarding

• To take photos of AA planes and stewardess/steward (or together with them)

11.11.11 (11th day of November, year 2011)

Today is a special day - it is the 11th day of the 11th month of year 2011 or in short 11.11.11
We were told to mark what we do at 11.11 am

What was I doing? Took short break to make a short prayer in my heart
May everyone be well and happy!

Eight ways of knowing that you are working in a GLC

This is meant to be a light hearted article – do not take it too seriously. Also, note that what’s written is not be representative of all GLCs, so don’t get defensive. :-)

Eight ways to know you are working in a Government Linked Company (GLC):

1. Your workplace is all abuzz over a poison-pen letter: Posion-pen letters are common in GLCs and one of most frequently used medium for disgruntled employees/ex-employees to air their frustrations / grouses openly. Just don’t be surprised if the letter/email is about you. No one is spared – not even the CEO / directors
2. Your workplace is all abuzz over an explosive blog article on your co: Another channel for employees / ex-employees to air their grievances….just whisper into any prominent blogger’s ears. Even if no one whispers, a blog article may still appear as any issue (big and small) related to a GLC tend to be played up by the media/politicians/external stakeholders. Don’t be surprised to see a dedicated blog on your company (e.g. GLC Watch
3. You spend a lot/most of your time playing politics: The higher you are in the organization hierarchy, the more “wayang kulit” you have to witness / perform.
4. Oh no, not another consultant: Chances are you will, at some point during your employment period, encounter an external consultant hired by the Co (you can’t miss them – well-paid, polished, speak well, dress well with air of confidence). A friend who worked in a bank GLC said he has met all the management consultants in town – McK, BCG, Bain etc. But the funny thing is nothing ever changes. All they end up with is a stack of “books” which are largely ignored (no buy-ins?)
5. Spend, spend, spend: Even before your company starts earning money (Start-up GLCs tend to splurge on office renovation, expensive company cars etc). Spend (on entertainment, overseas trips, first-class/business class tickets, anything and everything that you can “justify” charging the company for) before the money runs out and in some cases, even after the money runs out – one of the perks enjoyed by the senior management staff / company directors. Meanwhile, the lower level staff is told to save, save, save (no wonder the surat layangs).
6. It’s not all about profit: Worried because your GLC company has incurred losses since inception? Don’t worry – likely, it won’t be closed down – management would somewhat argue that the investment brings strategic value to the country and politicians are too worried about the political implications of closing down company. If it is a private entity, there’s no question as to what will happen. So, the decision-making process is TOUGH in a GLC—one gotta also weigh in the social and political considerations and sometimes, commercial considerations take a back seat. And everyone wants a say (management, employees, politicians, public at large, cabinet ministers, NGOs etc) as to how the GLC should be managed
7. CYA (Cover Your Axx) mentality : Hence, the need for consultants and papers after papers to be written/submitted before any decision is taken
8. Your chairman/director is an ex-politician/ former high-ranking civil servant (or good friends with one)

Generous Giving

I am not rich nor am I poor / struggling. I supposed one can say that I lead a “comfortable” life. I do try to make small little donations to charities/society every year, if possible. I wish I could have been more generous, but it is hard when one has to think about saving for one’s retirement and old age – after all, the financial planners have been telling us all that we need RM 1mil to retire! Plus we Asians tend to feel obligated to leave part of our wealth to our family members / children after we have passed away.

Hence, I have great admiration to those who have little/barely enough but still make it a point to donate whatever little they have for good causes - these are the generous poor. I think their donation is much more meaningful than mine and that of the rich, especially those who donate only millions when they have billions.

The heroic efforts of these generous poor seldom make it into the news. One exception – a Chen Shu Shu from Taiwan, who was voted one of Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People in 2010. Ms Chen, a vegetable seller in the market, earns little but donates her savings regularly to those who need.

Of course, then there are the extremely generous rich who had donated/pledged to donate their entire fortune i.e. 100% (or at least 99%) of their wealth for noble causes during their lifetime and/or after they have passed away. The extremely generous rich include:

America’s Warren Buffet – this investor who frequently makes it to the list of the richest man in the world had said “More than 99% of my wealth will go to philanthropy during my lifetime or at death”

China’s Chen GuangBiao who is the CEO owner of a recycling co in Jiangsu. Chen said he will donate his entire fortune after he dies. He currently donates 50% of company’s profits to charity every year.

China’s Yu Pengnian – a real estate tycoon who gave his entire fortune estimated to be over $1 bil to charity, his heirs received nothing

Russia’s Vladimir Potanin - Announced that he will donate all his wealth to philanthropic purposes over the next ten years. First Russian entrepreneur to do so

India’s Dorabji Tata – one of the founders of the Tata Group, the second largest conglomerate in the world. Donated his entire wealth to a philanthropic trust

UK’s Anita Roddick – founder of Body Shop. Ms Roddick, who had passed away, left nothing to friends and relatives in her will as she had already given it all to charities

Celebrity actor Jackie Chan – who also said that he would donate all his assets to charity

Celebrity actor Chow Yun Fat – who said he’ll donate 99% of his fortune

Of course above list is not comprehensive, as some of the rich may prefer to give away their entire fortune quietly. Anyhow, hopefully, this will inspire/encourage all of us to be more generous.

The GivingPledge (founded by Buffet and Bill Gates) lists wealthy Americans who have pledged to donate at least 50% of the wealth away. See www.givingpledge.org

Exhilarated to learn someone's reading this blog

I have not blogged for the past week or so. Not so much because I am busy but because I have ran out of topics to write about. But I do still check my blog almost everyday (sometime more than that), just to look at the statistics. How many page views I had that day, who are the audience etc.

I am happy when I know someone (whom I don't know) sorta browsed thru this blog. Of cos, I can increase traffic by telling friends, family, acquaintances about my blog. But you see, I didn't tell anyone....some of them that I do blog, but don't know my blog website

Back to blog topics.
* Politics --- I try to stay away from political topics not because I am not interested (in fact, I follow several political blog sites) but because so much have been written and said by both sides of politics. What else can I add?
* Food - well, i am exactly a food lover and don't eat out that often. Not knowledgeable in this area enough to write about it
* lifestyle / IT - gee, i am not trendy nor into gadgets. Don't have iPhone, Berry, iPad etc.

I like to write about something *which I care about and/or *can add value by doing bit of research and analysis and/or *can help someone somewhere out there. Thought social-cultural and other issues which affect our daily lives would be a great start.

Retrenchment Fund - will it ever be a reality?

It was reported in the local papers a few days ago that the Government is prepared to set up a retrenchment fund. This “big” news did not trigger much reaction nor raised many/any eyebrows.

This is because the Government has been talking about setting up such a fund since 2007 but there has been little progress thus far - see table below.

Date	What the Government Said…..	Source
Oct-11	Government is prepared to provide a retrenchment fund but needs to first devise a mechanism to sustain it. “We have always wanted to start the fund. It’s just that we do not know how long (the fund should support its receivers)” “(There are) people who are forced into unemployment when some enterprises suddenly closed and are unable to take care of the needs of the workers, including the payment for retrenchment” “We cannot keep using public money to help the workers out. Maybe in the initial period it is ok but subsequently, we need a sustainable system”	News article quoting Human Resource Minister
Mar-10	“We are already in the process of introducing the Retrenchment Fund for private sector workers”	News article quoting Human Resource Minister @ certificate presentation ceremony for training course conducted by the ministry
May-09	The setting up of the Retrenched Workers Fund will be likely realised after the International Labour Organisation (ILO) completes its risk assessment report on it by the end of this year "We are open on this, if what the ILO suggests meets our needs and can be implemented, the government is willing to go ahead with it".	News article quoting Human Resource Minister @ Titiwangsa MIC delegates meeting
May-09	The government, through the Human Resources Ministry and the minister concerned, was continuing discussions with all parties involved. "And when the ministry is ready, (they) will come up with a proposal to the cabinet (for further action)"	News article quoting PM
Oct-08	The Government is in the midst of studying the implications of setting up a retrenchment fund for workers before going ahead with it “ The ministry has held discussions at various stages and we have now asked actuarial and International Labour Organisation experts to help us” “The study will take six months after which we will make a decision and implement the fund based on its findings”	MOHR website article - Human Resource Minister, Parliament reply
Jan-07	The government would go ahead with its plan to set up a retrenchment fund for workers despite objections from the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF),	News article quoting Human Resources Minister @ ground-breaking ceremony of Socso HQ

At this rate, I very much doubt that Malaysia would see the implementation of such fund any time soon.

Why is the proposed Fund all about? How would it help retrenched workers?

· Retrenchment Fund is also known as “Unemployment Benefit Scheme” or “Unemployment Insurance”

· Fund was first proposed by Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) in 1998 following the Asian financial crisis which saw some thousands of workers losing their job

· How workers will benefit (based on MTUC’s proposal)

o Payments of retrenchment benefits to workers where companies fail to do so – e.g. company A closed down and did not have sufficient funds to pay workers, Fund could be used to pay workers their retrenchment benefits as provided by law

o Fixed monthly allowance to retrenched workers (who are continuously unemployed for more than 3 months) till they secure a new job

· MTUC further suggested the Government provide a dees capital of RM 500mil to Fund and employers and workers each contribute RM 1 (yes, only one ringgit) to Fund per worker per month

· Similar funds/schemes have been implemented in China, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Vietnam , India

More economists are getting gloomy on the global economic outlook. Malaysia is also at risk, and may see more workers (especially in the vulnerable export-led sectors) being retrenched in the near future. Let’s hope the proposed Retrenchment Fund is put in place soon