Countdown To Merdeka 2018

I normally do not do this kind of thing. I'm not that generous, and not that rich.

But I love my country and she is facing a great difficulty.

I think I can chip in a bit. If everyone chips in .... bit by bit .... we can save our country and make it great again.

Be part of this movement!

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/05/373389/malaysian-starts-crowdfunding-campaign-reduce-govt-debt

Chinese Investments

So what now?

This is nerve-wrecking ... especially for those who have invested their time, energy, money.

Have Some Class, Please

(Updated) 

In this organisation, doing the right thing or following orders can sometimes be seen as doing something wrong. Sigh

(Original post)

When I went back to my office after a day-long training session last week, my colleague with both hands on her hips and raised tone, asked me: "Who asked you to go for the training?"

Human Resource Dept had instructed our Admin to ask me to go for the training, but she (my colleague) who was acting on behalf of the leader, who was not around that day, questioned why I had gone for the training.

Just now it was my colleague's turn to go for the one-day training.  When she came back from training, I asked her: "How was the training?"

Now, who has more class?  I only have this to say: "Thank you Mama and Papa" for the proper upbringing.

Please self-reflect... all those who are bangang, rude and arrogant.  Your colleague is not your child nor your slave.

High Employee Turnover

A close friend of mine once advised me not to write when I am fuming mad, but sometimes  fury fuels the fire to write like there's no tomorrow.

Two people from my department are leaving next month.  The staff turnover rate of this organisation is damn high but new faces keep showing up due to the attractive salary.

I'm NOT angry because these two people are leaving.  I'm quite happy for them actually as I believe they must have found a new pursuit in life.

I've got my quirks but I'm not a bad employee.  I have my talents and strengths and  I have my flaws, just like every other person.  

What got me so mad today was I was given a task and my team leader kept throwing the thing back to me again and again and again and again and again.  All the energy depleted, paper and time wasted ---  it's unproductive!

Maybe you're thinking "well, if you got it right the first or second time, you wouldn't have wasted the leader's time and the company's money".

But if she were a better leader and person, she would've delegated better.  I was the punching bag, all because the Land Public Transport Commission got scrapped.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/05/23/dr-m-spad-to-be-abolished/

She says she has friends in SPAD.  By scrapping SPAD, companies would need to make fresh submissions and re-negotiate terms with other agencies and it is natural to get a little worked up, but to treat your own subordinate like a worthless commodity --- that is so low-class.

Please learn from Sir Richard Branson.

If a team member fails, the team leader should be held accountable too.  A refined person would never talk down to anyone.

My leader is a Barisan Nasional (BN) supporter, so I guess that says a lot about her character.

Tomorrow I will look at this post again when I'm not so angry and see if I should have followed my friend's advice.

Lunch with Dad

I was having lunch with my Dad just now.  

It was an impromptu family gathering of sort.  Totally unplanned.

My brother, sis-in-law, their teenage son and me were with Dad.  He's 59, and eagerly looking forward to retiring once he turns 60.

"I don't need money anymore.  I have enough to get by," he said.

We teased him by asking him to emulate our Prime Minister who is still working so hard at age 92 --- going on 93 in July.

,

Malaysia's 7th Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

Not everyone works for money.  Our PM came back to work again because he loves his country and fellow Malaysians," my brother said.

"I can't wait for Pakatan Harapan to check all those Chinese investments," I said.

My Dad immediately turned to look at me.

"What have you got against Chinese investments?  The Chinese don't go around killing people. Thinking about Japanese atrocities during WW2 still send shivers down my spine till this day, " he said.  

"The Chinese were peace loving. Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty sent his envoy to Malacca which started the friendly ties between Malacca and China, followed by visits by Admiral Zheng He to Malacca.  During the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah, the friendly relations grew and the Emperor even married off his daughter Hang Li Po to the Sultan," he elaborated.

I'm not so much a history buff as I am a fan of  Japanese anime, so I don't really know what my Dad was talking about.

Our conversation continued...

Me: The locals are unhappy that Chinese are buying our land, and freehold status some more.  And Malaysians who work in Chinese companies are treated no better than street dogs.

Dad: My dear, the ones that shout and talk down to their subordinates at the work place... are they really the Chinese?  

Me: Actually most of them are Malaysians but I'm sure the Chinese put them up to it.

Dad: When I was younger, I was bullied by an Indian prefect, so I hated all prefects, especially the dark-skinned ones.  When I got older, I met some benefactors and friends who are Indians, and I learnt that it has nothing to do about one's race.  But I can understand how you feel...when you get bullied by a certain category of people, you tend to generalise and hate that group of people.

Me: Ok, maybe you're right, Dad.  There are good Malaysians and bad Malaysians.  I shouldn't generalise.  And you're ok with Chinese coming to stay here?

Dad: As long as they're law-abiding.  There will be competition but that will only motivate Malaysians to work a little harder.  

Johor Exco

JOHOR EXCO LIST

1. DATUK OSMAN SAPIAN - Johor Menteri Besar and Executive Chairman of Natural Resources, Administration, Finance and Economic Planning and Development

2. AMINOLHUDA HASSAN - Islamic Affairs and Education

3. DZULKEFLY AHMAD - Housing and Rural Development

4. TAN HONG PIN - Local Government, Science and Technology

5. DR S RAMAKRISHNAN - Consumerism, Human Resources and Unity

6. MAZLAN BUJANG - Public Works, Infrastructure and Transportation

7. JIMMY PUAH WEE TSE - Investment and Utilities

8. LIOW CAI TUNG - Women Development Tourism

9. MOHD KHUZZAN ABU BAKAR - Youth, Sport and Heritage

10. DR SAHRUDDIN JAMAL - Health, Environment and Agriculture

11. SHEIKH ‘UMAR BAGHARIB ALI - Entrepreneurship, Cooperative and Creative Economy

Pakatan Harapan (PH) captured Johor by winning 36 out of the state’s 56 seats, with DAP securing 14 state seats, Parti Amanah Negara (9), PPBM (8) and PKR (5).

Umno won 19 seats while PAS won 1 seat, turning them into the new Opposition in the state legislative assembly.

Hail The Tunminator

He said FDI was about bringing in capital, technology, setting up plants, employing Malaysians up to the level of executives and producing goods for the local and export markets.

“We do not consider coming into Malaysia, buying up huge pieces of land and developing towns and cities and then bringing in foreigners into this country as FDI. That is the difference,” he said.

Full article  https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/05/16/mahathir-builtforforeigners-cities-are-not-fdi/

Brilliant, Dr Mahathir. 

Many still say they're fine with this as it was originally sea.  As the land is man-made (reclaimed), it is therefore OK to sell it to foreigners as freehold land.  "They can't take the land back", the defenders say.

Lame retort.

Let's see how this unfolds.

Hail The Tunminator!

New Malaysia

This report "No Royal Interference In Johor, New MB Says" https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/424522 made the little pig cry.  

Whether it's tears of joy or tears of utter frustration, only the little pig knows.

I know some people gave their votes to PH, that got Umno thrown out because the latter failed to constrict interference in the running of the state which caused rakyat interest to be sidelined, but now if it is going to be business as usual ... hmm ... 

But then, this mammoth project is going to put Johor and Malaysia on the world map, like no other project can.  It is creating jobs and business opportunities for locals, and generating income for the state when foreigners come here to retire or for their kids' education.

What's so bad about that?

During Chinese New Year there was not a single picture or replica of a Dog in the development, as the Chinese community celebrate the Year of the Dog.  The Chinese went out of their way to show the locals they have so much respect for us.  Based on that, I am sure they will toe the line in other things.

However, Chinese girls do wear micro mini skirts and some of their boys drive fast cars when intoxicated.  They're pretty hardworking too, and they have cash to spare.

Welcome to the new world.  Better Chinese than any other.

Confusing Headlines

There are numerous anti-FC diehards out there.  I don't understand why.  Is it because it is the biggest development project in Johor?  It is therefore not unusual for it to attract unfavourable views, as all mega projects attract some sort of mixed opinions.

When friends come to visit, I always bring them to this development because I am so proud of this place.  Where else in Johor can you find an attraction that is more alluring and unique than this gem?

The reports below make me want to speak up for the man-made paradise because the headlines are contradictory and can lead to confusion --- locals as well as foreign investors.  More importantly the latter as locals can't really afford it, but locals benefit too in various ways.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/05/11/muhyiddin-says-any-review-of-johor-mega-projects-up-to-state-government/

http://m.utusan.com.my/berita/politik/kerajaan-negeri-baharu-akan-tentukan-forest-city-1.670858

https://komunitijohor.wordpress.com/2018/05/11/projek-forest-city-akan-dikaji-semula/

The newly sworn in Johor MB, if I understand correctly, did not say the project will be reviewed.  He said it will only be reviewed when there is a need to.  There is a big difference here.

"Only when there is a need to" and "will be reviewed" are definitely contradictory.  

Frankly, I don't see any need to.  If every time there is a change of government, and terms have to be reviewed, this will scare away investors.  

We should give investors the assurance that it is ok for them to park their money in this safe haven.

Disgruntled Employee

I wish there are more people who want to skip to work than those who want to skip work.

It's sad when one works in a "meaningless and unfulfilling" job. Looking forward only to weekends, and working solely for the paycheck.

When we feel oppressed, we will vent in our own creative way. Some take to drinking, some just smash bottles.

In some workplace, there are rude and mean-spirited individuals, the ones who give contradictory commands. Yet these "elites" are revered as the crème de la crème of the organisation, either because they know some important people or they are good at claiming credit for other people's work.

The claiming credit part I don't care so much, but making derogatory remarks in a show of authority such as telling people to "use your brains" when the problem arose due to contradictory commands, that is utterly insane.

Yet I've been told that this is CORPORATE culture.  It is normal, and it is happening in other companies too.

When higher-ups shower these "elites" with accolades, awards and promotions, and ignore those who really give their heart and soul to their work, the company has a toxic culture.

Some leaders don't even want to guide their own team members, and only want to find faults.  They fail to realise that when a team member fails, the leader and entire team don't look good either.  Some superiors lash out at their subordinates, even during public events just because they can, not realising that their outburst only reflects their stupidity and low class mentality more than anything else.

You may have worked in such an environment, or are currently working in one. Bet you can't wait to jump ship or pray for the situation to change.

A toxic culture churns out disgruntled employees and this defeats the purpose of companies organising CSR (corporate social responsibility) programmes for the sake of creating good branding and publicity when you can't even treat your own employees right.   

But I believe one can learn from a dysfunctional organisation.  Some of the leaders have their flaws but there are things you can learn from them too. You can also learn the things not to do, and when the time comes to jump ship, you can come out of this nuthouse, hopefully, A BETTER PERSON.

note: Better person not bitter person, ok?  Cheers!