A slap on the wrist — by Dina Zaman

Article copied from Malaysian Insider-http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/breakingviews/article/a-slap-on-the-wrist-dina-zaman/

A slap on the wrist — Dina Zaman
July 27, 2010

JULY 27 — Eyzva Ezhar Ramly’s one week imprisonment for being part of the cow-head protest last year is a slap on the wrist, for him and others who were also part of the protest. Four others were discharged after they pleaded not guilty to the charges and when the deputy public prosecutor decided not to press any further against them.

This, unfortunately, tells us Malaysians this: you can commit a crime, disrupt peace and harmony in this country, and get away with very minimal punishment. And sadly, this is not the first time such a thing has happened.

As a friend said, how would Muslims feel if they felt they were a minority in this country and under siege, and the most Holy symbol of Islam — the Quran — is desecrated in a similar manner?

Admittedly such an action was carried out by callow, insensitive and unthinking youths, who were a minority by themselves. My friends, who vote and represent the various political parties Malays are part of, expressed dismay and regret when news broke. And now this. What is there to say?

We can write reams of columns and op-eds about this. We can talk about this in public and among friends and families. We can debate and fight over this until the cows come home (pun intended), but the truth of the matter is, this is one very bitter incident that will linger in our memories for a long time to come. Our parents still talk about the Dark Days of May 13, 1969. The past few years may have liberated Malaysians and allowed them to express themselves more freely, but at the same time, many incidents have angered us all and distrust each other more.

Reading this piece of news this morning has impressed upon myself even more that in this country, the bad get away with murder. When will good prevail? I had to remind myself on the LRT that living in my country is not like a DC Superhero comic — when truth triumphs all, and justice is served. As a Muslim and Malaysian, I feel ashamed and very sad. I also know by my self-imposed campaign to tell any and everyone that Islam is a religion of peace and justice may be met with great cynicism by non-Muslims.

What an apology to the affected communities and neighbourhood.


Note : I write this article, very well written, and hence wanted to share here.


Choong, Beijing

When Sales Do Not Know What Sales Is All About

I do not know why people want to be in Sales line here, when they do not know what is the meaning to be a professional sales and how to work hard to be one.
The only thing that comes to their mind is glamourous job, having the chance to travel around and talk, and eat and relax, that's all.

If you ask them the following, you will see their eyes, staring in the blank, like they almost fainted?
1) how to achieve sales
2) back-up plans
3) Pending orders mgt
4) collections
5) Handling customer complaints
6) Getting payment before shipments or deliveries
7) Follow--ups on samples
8) Finding new customers

And they will tell you, summer is too hot, winter is too cold.

What else can I say.
I grew up in the environment where working hard for success is a must, and believe the saying which go like this, ‘先苦后甜‘but it seems the locals here (in fact I think it is a global phenomenon for the youngsters born in the 80s not to even know this meaning well. All they want after is good life, easy life, comfortable life and everything nice. Nothing more.

God bless.

Choong, Beijing....

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http://www.futurefastforward.com/component/content/article/3928-us-is-insolvent-and-faces-bankruptcy-as-a-pure-debtor-nation-by-washingtons-blog-26710


I read this article from the above-linked website, please read it yourself, as I do not want to copy and paste it.

Happy reading, and start investing in gold, haha:).

Choong, Beijing

My Best Friend Visit-CheeSoon + His Family

Cheesoon, my oldest buddy, one of my best and still keeping in touch friends and buddy, were in Beijing from 16-20th July 2010. We have know each other since our Form one day, until now, that was many years back...... And we did together, a lot of things, going to same school, watching movies together, cycling together to many places, later on, motor-cycles, then later, car, eating together, and many more things.... a there seems to be never ending topics to talk to each other, anytime, anywhere, even if we had not met each other for some time, we would still have many topics to catch up with each other. That is how far our relationship goes.....
And I know her mother well, cooking a lot of food for me to eat.
And also it is good that his family joined along as I have chance to get to know his wife, Yung peng and his son, Liangyong more.

Some pictures to share here:














Choong, Beijing

Dear Dear Dear, Oh Dear

Oh Gosh, I am just back to office and I miss my blogging activity so much. When I don't write, mostly because I am in the country and busy and not in the office usually, as I can't have any access to Blogspot.com in China except through my company server. Or I have to wait when I go out of China for my blogging.
May be I should consider moving my blog to local server here in China, so that more people can read what I write here:).

Last 3 days were horrible for me, as I was in Helanshan for signing a big contract which will give our EBIT a big boost this year, and I have to almost drink close 4-5 bottles of red wine, and may be 1-2 bottle of beer. I think beer mixing with wine is the worse, as the gaseous from the beer makes your stomach really feeling very uncomfortable. The negative point was, I was almost collapsing, and vomited a few times, as the impact was very bad, and I think the cold beer make my stomach worse. Yesterday, luckily I was back to my nest in Beijing, and now recuperating. And positive part is, we secured the contract.
I wrote a sms each to my friend in Taipei, Devil, and a local friend here, Tony.
Both asked me to take care, for sure I will do. But one point was that, at that point of time, I was thinking, why should I still need to subject myself to this, after working in Sales for close to 18 years. I thought at my present position, I need not too. But after discussing this and considering it, I think it is because of my professionalism that I do that. Besides taking cheers from the customers (7 of them), I also helped my colleague who could not drink that much (may be it is 义气，code of brotherhood).
But then I was asking myself, how good it is, if we do not have alcohol at all, but then again, this is also an important disinfectant. I just wish alcohol is not needed in any business dinners. I just hate it.........


Choong, Beijing

Article Of Interest, Please Read

KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — Malaysia was the second-least-favoured destination among global emerging market (GEM) fund managers, according to a poll by Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Research released this week.

The July survey had Taiwan, Malaysia and Chile as the most underweight markets for GEM investors. They were also slightly underweight on China due to slower growth prospects.

In financial markets, the term underweight is used by analysts to advise investors to reduce their holdings.

The findings of the survey could potentially signify a setback for Malaysia’s bid to become a more competitive destination for global portfolio investment.

The Najib administration has been trying to lift Malaysia’s profile as a destination for foreign investment to help the country achieve an average gross domestic product growth of at least six per cent per annum over the next five years, in an effort to become a high-income nation.

The country’s foreign direct investment rates have fallen faster than other regional players like Singapore and China, and at the same time, capital outflows have dampened private domestic investments. Net portfolio and direct investment outflows had reached US$61 billion (RM197 billion) in 2008 and 2009 according to official data.

Asia-Pacific fund managers that were surveyed, though slightly underweight on Malaysia, held a more favourable view of the country and were looking to cut back the most in Korea, India and Australia instead, while China, Indonesia and Taiwan were the most-favoured markets.

There was an increased pessimism among the fund managers overall on the economic outlook, with a net 12 per cent expecting weaker economic conditions over the next 12 months, as compared with a net 42 per cent expecting a stronger global economy in a survey two months ago.

The fund managers also expect China’s prospects to worsen, with a net 39 per cent expecting weaker growth, as compared with 60 per cent seeing stronger growth in January of this year.

Malaysia’s economy grew by an impressive 10.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year but the prime minister had on July 6 cautioned that growth in the second quarter could be slower due to deteriorating external circumstances.

The local stock market had been on a seven-day winning streak and neared a two-year peak before succumbing to profit-taking yesterday.

About 200 global fund managers with portfolios worth from US$250 million to over US$10 billion had participated in the Bank of America Merrill Lynch survey.
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Note : Article taken from Malaysian Insider, at http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/global-fund-managers-look-to-trim-malaysia-holdings/.

In Memory Of-Mr. Teoh Beng Hock

Time passes, and he has left us, already one year for now.
May you rest in peace and may the truth prevails.


Sincerely,

Choong, Beijing

It Seems My Blog Is Working Now

Hei all,

It seems like to can continue accessing my Blogsite from the company server again, which means good news for me. WIll update later, as I just got back from ChangbaiSan and very tired and busy. Will write about my trip later.

Thanks.

Choong