Natural Occurences

In the weeks leading up to the UMNO AGM, a few UMNO related counters are experiencing a flurry of activity. As what we call in layman terms, the trend which represents 'frying' a stock.




Pictures from The Star. Idaman Unggul(1112)
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Probably a sign, but nevertheless.. fishy..

-Another boring filler post! Yay!- Someone please kill me I'm dead bored.

Owned by Oxford

Earlier this afternoon I had a little chat with David who's actually really a smart guy although you might see him slacking once in a while. You see, there's a reason Oxford accepted him with a requirement of a D in Chemistry.

See, my tutor provided us with a paradox in his tutorial, which 20 students couldn't answer.

HK : teehk.blogspot.com says (1:04 PM):
i've got an economical paradox for you
HK : teehk.blogspot.com says:
well say, it's perfect sense to think that with a rise in income, satisfaction and utility rises right?

david ng (&) says (1:05 PM):
... yeah?

HK : teehk.blogspot.com says:
however, in the long run, as proved by national studies, since 1950 income has practically doubled but satisfaction has only gone sideways (remained stagnant)

david ng (&) says:
assuming that at least one good with a positive price exists.

HK : teehk.blogspot.com says:
so.. any means on how this is achieved

david ng (&) says:
hm. inflation leh.
david ng (&) says:
that is money income

HK : teehk.blogspot.com says:
yea excluding inflation

david ng (&) says:
or?

HK : teehk.blogspot.com says:
well relative income

david ng (&) says:
hmm

HK : teehk.blogspot.com says:
of everyone in the system

david ng (&) says:
and the satisfaction is measured how? =p

HK : teehk.blogspot.com says:
assume, tastes remain the same, a rise in income e.g x2 = x2 the amount of everything bought
HK : teehk.blogspot.com says:
satisfaction is measured thru house to house surveys

david ng (&) says:
not necessarily =p
david ng (&) says:
and uh. satisfaction != utility

HK : teehk.blogspot.com says:
! =?

david ng (&) says:
not equal to
david ng (&) says:
! is not =p

HK : teehk.blogspot.com says:
oo
HK : teehk.blogspot.com says:
why isn't it
HK : teehk.blogspot.com says:
utility is the relative level of satisfaction gained from using something isn't it.. or so my tutor says

david ng (&) says:
... did your tutor ask you to find an answer to this? =p

HK : teehk.blogspot.com says:
nah, he gave us the answer
HK : teehk.blogspot.com says:
but i'm just asking u
HK : teehk.blogspot.com says:
hehe

david ng (&) says:
well
david ng (&) says:
I'd first point out that satisfaction surveys do not measure utility

HK : teehk.blogspot.com says:
welll he didn't quite say that i made it up myself

david ng (&) says:
and second
david ng (&) says:
that utility is relative, not absolute
david ng (&) says:
and third,

HK : teehk.blogspot.com says:
great u answered the question

Owned X.X

P.S: This is a very boring post to fill up my blogspace. Try your best not to read it. And if you do read it and fall asleep, don't blame me. At this point, you probably read it already anyway. Har Har.

Tough Times Ahead

You're asking, why am I getting even more boring and socio-political in my posts? Because I am pissed, because I am trying to outline the stark facts, and to let as many people know as to how mismanaged our economy and country is, and no, my arguments do not run on the lines of racial and emotional fallacy.

I'll start out by reiterating my point that the coalition government WILL hold an election by the end of November this year. Why? Because of tough times ahead, and if you are one who uses your brains, you'll know that the 'feel good factor' is the ultimate tool that favours the current government.

Picture this, the Australian government under the stewardship of PM John Howard is betting on this 'feel good factor' that the Australian economy is booming. (which was not because of his policies like lowering the minimum-wage/stripping away workers' rights but because of their commodities and China.) New Zealand put a new PM in office just because the All-Blacks got kicked out of the RWC. Gordon Brown called off an early-election and screwed up the foundation he laid in the previous 3 months, having to start up again from scratch.

The below is a severe-case (but not worst-case) scenario.

So, what's in it for Malaysia? With oil prices reaching a record last week, gold and platinum recording all-time highs (which is the traditional sign of safe haven), we can expect the real inflation rate to jump next year, even though we are an oil-exporter country. Although the official government statistics for 2007's inflation rate is at ~2.2%, we can well expect it to be at a staggering 4%.

With so many items under price control, it's only logical to assume it to be higher without the price ceiling right? So if inflation is at 4%, the money that we are storing in our banks is effectively shrinking. Banks only provide an FD rate of 3-3.6% at the moment. So, put it this way, disposable income is at most going to grow at a snail's pace, or remain stagnant. So, if oil prices rise, electricity tariffs will rise, pump petrol price will definitely rise. The increase in transportation costs will definitely raise the prices of essentials such as flour, bread and rice. Small traders will pass on 100% of the increased costs to the end-consumer. In the end, the prices of food will rise, along with the cost of living, particularly in the city.

However, with prices of commodities and agricultural products at a high currently, the effect wouldn't be very much felt in the rural areas. (With the exception of prices of fertilisers that have gone up) It's the city folks that will feel the pinch.

So back to macroeconomic indicators, if national growth remains at 5.5-6% (which if compared to our neighbours is considered a laggard), effective growth will only be at 1.5-2%, so if inflation jumps up by 1%, we'll only be experiencing a growth of 1% at most. By all means this means that we have to spend more out of our pockets while disposable income will most probably remain stagnant.

Remember also that we have Christmas holidays as well as CNY next year, which the latter will definitely shoot prices up. And if the government prefers to keep the people happy, they'll have to do it at an expense of the country's coffers, by shooting people up into space (although this is something to be proud of), launching new submarines, new satellites, and absorbing petrol price increases.

So, keeping this in mind, I dare say that the government has a strong chance of calling an early election.

People have remained ignorant, on how much power has shifted to the executive when power should have remained with the people. How much have the citizens been robbed of, how much money has been transferred to the executives, how everyone is being treated as a fool. Of course, then again, it's probably a futile effort to spread awareness. Everyone's either thinking of running, or not even caring. "Why bother to vote for opposition? They'll not win anyway", "Aiya Singapore better lah", "I wanna leave this f***ing country" Nazri has told opposition parties not to count on the EC (Elections Commission) because "who says it's independent?". The practice of the EC has always been wide open for scrutiny, which brings us to the Mass Rally on Nov 10th.

So all in all, enjoy your time now while you still can. =)

Mass Rally @ Dataran Merdeka

I got ahold of this piece of news today. Anyone else know of this yet?

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Sekretariat Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil (BERSIH)
4A Jalan Sepadu, Taman United, 58200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: (03) 7980 6571, Fax: (03) 7980 2697, URL: www.bersih.org

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) will hold a mass rally on 10 November (Saturday), starting from 3 pm, at Dataran Merdeka to press for electoral reform. A memorandum will be subsequently submitted to the Yang Dipertuan Agong.

This latest citizen action organized by BERSIH will demonstrate the growing public demand for the four immediate actions necessary to reform the flawed electoral process: (a) a thorough clean-up of electoral rolls; (b) the user of indelible inks to prevent multiple voting; (c) the abolition of postal voting for military and police personnel; (d) fair access to mass media for all parties and candidates.

The memorandum to be submitted to the Yang DiPertuan Agong will outline both immediate and long-term reforms needed in the Malaysian election process including the adherence of "one-person one-vote" principle.

BERSIH has chosen yellow, the colour for citizen actions worldwide and the colour for press freedom movement (yellow ribbon) in Malaysia, as the colour for this rally. Citizens may indicate their support with the rally's t-shirts, posters, yellow armbands, yellow ribbons or any creative expression.

Free and fair conduct of elections is fundamental to democracy. Flawed elections frustrate the functioning of democracy, resulting in corruptions and incompetence of the government. The losers are none other than the people.

To date, the Government and Elections Commission however have arrogantly ignored all demands other than indelible ink. The Chairman and Secretary must honourably tender their resignation if they cannot discharge their constitutional duty to ensure genuinely democratic elections.

BERSIH, a coalition of 64 civil society groups and five political parties, urges all concerned citizens to join in the mass rally on 10 November which will be attended by leaders and representatives of civil society and political parties.

For enquiries, please contact the secretariats; Faisal Mustaffa 019-2232002 or Medeline Chang 012-2192010.
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There'll probably be lots of disgruntled Malaysians at that gathering lol. And zzzz Bodohwi will probably talk about something else, and say "I don't know". And Nazree will probably bash everyone at the gathering, labelling all this as an opposition gimmick.

Basically, it's a show of appeal to the Agong to overhaul the system. Push for electoral reforms, and whatnot. Wear Yellow! Oh and there's word that Parliament may be dissolved by 9 Nov and the elections held on 25Nov. I need to make a mental note.

A few important things to know, after learning from history at Pantai Batu Buruk and the judiciary march.

• Wear bright yellow bullet-proof vests.
• Smile at the police officers, and greet them nicely.
• Watch out for agent provocateurs, and tell them nicely to shut the f*** up if they are acting out of control.
• Don't leave any rubbish behind.
• Prepare umbrellas and rain jackets in case got rain or water cannons.
• Bring bicycles along in case the FRU blocks the way, so you can avoid exhausting yourself.

Resolution

I want to justify myself and break out of everyone's stereotypical me. It's time to prove all those people wrong. I'm not what you think. I'm not who you assume. I'm someone else. And no, I'm not afraid to change your perspective of me. I'll be myself from today and change everything you ever thought of me. I don't need your thoughts, and I don't need your sympathy.

Time to go on a trip.

(This is not an emo post. More like letting out at my other self.)