On average, foreign workers send back RM720 per month, the total being Rm9.12 billion up to June 2008. According to Deputy PM Najib, its expected to reach RM18.1 billion by year end. The number of foreign workers up to July 31 is 2.1 million (which in Bolehland means it can easily be double of that!).
Imagine a foreigner sending back RM720 per month (yeah, I know, on AVERAGE). If his/her cost of living is about RM500, that would mean a take-home pay of RM1200. I doubt this includes expatriates as they are in different category.
Do you know that RM720 is the newly revised household income value criteria used by Welfare Department to provide welfare assistance in Peninsular Malaysia?
The Government empathises with the difficulties faced by the lower income group, arising from the higher cost of living. In this regard, the Government has raised the eligibility criteria for welfare assistance under the Welfare Department, from a monthly household income of RM400 to RM720 for Peninsular Malaysia, RM830 for Sarawak and RM960 for Sabah. With this increase, the number of eligible recipients is expected to double from 54,000 households to 110,000. This includes an increase in the number of eligible senior citizens from 14,000 to 40,000. For this purpose, an additional RM500 million is allocated.
Obviously for a foreign worker, there are less “side” expenses. Most things are free – provided by the employers.
What do you make out of this – the amount a foreign workers sends home is same as the amount a poor family earns (following Welfare Department criteria)?
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from: Poobalan to: TERESAKOK@selangor.gov.my, DRXAVIER@selangor.gov.my, RONNIELIU@selangor.gov.my cc: KHALID@selangor.gov.my, Y B Manikavasagam Sundaram , date: Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 12:08 PM subject: Status of Investigation by 3-man committee over demolition of Ampang Mahakaliamman Temple mailed-by gmail.com Dear Sir/Madam,It has been nearly a month since the 3-man non-Muslim religious affairs committee was supposed to investigate the demolition of Ampang Mahakaliamman Temple. According to Mr Ronnie Liu’s statement in the Star:
“We are expecting the investigation results by Monday and we will look into the next course of action after that,” he said when contacted yesterday.
ref: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/30/nation/2150967&sec=nation
I would like to know the status of the investigation and how to obtain a copy of the investigation report. i hope it is not classified as official secret.
Regards,
M Poobalan
“SAY NO TO ALCOHOL”
Q1: How long would it take to get a reply from anyone of the recipients?
Saw the news on TV3 yesterday night. Buletin Utama started by saying “HINDRAF buat kecoh lagi”, but unfortunately, the video clip did not show any negative actions. There were crowd of about 50-60 people who wanted to enter the court room Of course, knowing TV3, you can’t take their news seriously. The news did not mention why people were crowding to enter nor the pre-and post-happenings after the video clip.
A small commotion in the courtroom preceded today’s hearing when the case was moved to another court, but before the same judge.
Hindraf supporters were unhappy when they were not allowed into the new courtroom. A shouting match ensued between the supporters and the police, with Uthayakumar – wearing a white shirt and tattered blue pants – joining in.
Kapar MP S Manikavasagam was among those shouting, insisting that the police should stop “harrassing the supporters”.
A woman fainted in the ensuing disorder and was taken to a hospital in an ambulance. Surendran claimed she had been “elbowed” by a police officer.
However, the commotion died down after 20 minutes, when more supporters were allowed to enter the courtroom where they sat on the floor.
More than 100 Hindraf supporters – clad in orange T-shirts with slogans like ‘Abolish ISA’, ‘Keep walking’ and ‘Makkal sakthi’ – had gathered at the court complex since early this morning.
A commotion broke out at the entrance of the Criminal Sessions Court here when police barred Uthayakumar’s supporters from attending his sedition trial.
Earlier, when the hearing began at the Civil Sessions Court at 9am, the room was packed with 70 well-behaved supporters. How-ever, when the courtroom was changed to the Criminal Sessions Court just before 11am, police prevented the supporters from entering the court and a shouting match ensued.
A police officer had told the supporters that they needed to be registered to enter the courtroom but the latter countered they had the right to enter an open court.
It was a circus on the first day of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P. Uthayakumar’s sedition trial yesterday. A woman fainted in the courtroom after she was allegedly roughed up while a pen was thrown at a police officer’s head.
The commotion began about 11am when proceedings stood down.
The proceedings were supposed to be heard in Civil Sessions 6, but the venue was changed to Sessions 6 Criminal.
Both are on the third floor. About 100 supporters squeezed their way into the courtroom.
As they were waiting for hearing to resume in the second courtroom, Uthayakumar’s counsel, N. Surendran, alleged that a police officer had grabbed a woman by the neck during a scuffle, causing her to faint.
The woman was taken to a room and an ambulance called. She was sent to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
Soon after, riled-up supporters began chanting and calling out Uthayakumar’s name.
A police officer tried to calm them down but a pen was thrown at him. The officer remained calm and told them to respect the court.
Uthayakumar, who was in the dock, also tried to calm his supporters. The 47-year-old lawyer, who was wearing a white shirt, torn blue pants and a pair of flip-flops, looked unkempt with his thick beard.
Despite looking like a “vagrant”, he was in a cheery mood.
The case of Uthaya alleged to published a seditious letter to British PM is postponed till next year February.
Photos of the events at the court is over here.
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I read that History subject may be taught in primary schools following PM Badawi’s suggestions recently. Of course, its just an idea, and various groups will have proposals and objections. I’m more interested in who’s version of History would be taught. Which period of history would the subject cover – circa 1957, circa 1500s, or circa 1970s?
As its commonly knows history is written by the winners.
Universities in Malaysia have been urged to create a new co-curriculum to explain issues regarding the social contract which has often drawn the attention of various parties off late. Umno vice president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said explaining the issues to the younger generation especially university students was important so as to avoid confusion.
“The important thing is not to question the social contract but to give an explanation so that they understand what the social contract is all about especially among the younger generation, because not all understand the social contract.
“Therefore, giving the explanation with proper methods and linking it with the country’s history is important,” he told reporters after delivering a lecture on Malay-Muslim Politics – Crisis and Solution at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) here today.
Besides, he said, university lecturers should play a crucial role in giving the explanation.
“An effective explanation is important because when the students leave and mix around with the community, it will be easy for them to understand the concept of democracy and the constitution that we have,” said Muhyiddin who is International Trade and Industry Minister.
He said the social contract issues had been solved long ago and all parties should accept it.
One can easily wonder if this is nothing more than a brainwashing exercise to enforce master-slave relationship. One can only wonder.
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I was feeling a bit guilty for not attending any of Mindsblog gatherings so far due to busy schedule (and the fact that I’ll be the oldest fella around didn’t exactly motivate me). So, when the Mindsblog admin announced a photoshoot outing at Batu Caves, I gave my standard “will try to come if nothing else crops up” reply, but told myself I’ll be there.Latest update showed 11 people confirmed (minus myself), so I was hoping to meet many new faces. And I won’t be the oldest since Selian was coming too 🙂
Thus, on Saturday morning, managed to drag myself out of bed, settle dog-walking, garden watering, and a quick breakfast before speeding off to Batu Caves. Had to utilise my racing skills to reach Batu Caves at 9.13am (left at 8.36am, that means 37 mins from Puchong to Batu Caves).
I was ready to apologise for being late, but to my utter dissappointment no one was there! Immediately called the person in charge, who was on the way. Next person to arrive was Rames. I’ve seen his blog before, and he is good. As for me, hmm…like land and sky, if compare with him or Selian.
Anyway, managed to get some tips and advice from Rames, and we decided to start shooting away while waiting for others to arrive. The weather was cloudy and quite a number of tourists were milling around. We did not go up the stairs, but just took photos at ground level. The main attraction without a doubt were the pigeons and the monkeys. Oh ya, Lord Muruga’s golden statue as well.
I was tired by around 10.00am, and told Rames that we should take a break. By then, the organiser arrived – Amutha, who brought a guest, Parimala. We adjourned to Rani Restaurant. Being the ever-inquisitive (kepoh) person, I think I may have irritated the rest with many questions. Sorry guys 🙂
We resumed our activity at about 10.40am, and decided to go up the stairs into the main cave. Selian joined us halfway up the stairs. So, that’s 5 people already. We spent more than 1 hour in the cave taking shots. While up there, another two people turned up – Pushparaaja and Sundra (hope i got that correct). Up to 7 people now.
We came down at about 1pm. Took some group shots. The next activity was to enter the Kalai Kudam (Art Cave) but since I have other commitments (well, have to show I’m busy person ma!!!), I took leave.
Ok, that’s for the reporting part. Now the comments and opinions:
1. I think those who promised to come must inform the organiser if they can’t make at last minute. This will spare us from waiting unneccesarily. No point giving your name, but then go AWOL. Especially the models. 🙂
2. In future, a small tutorial/lecture/talk on photography concepts will be useful so that it will inspire bloggers to learn more about their camera. Nothing heavy, but some basic ideas and theories will suffice (err..are theories considered heavy?)
(update: Ronaldo scores. Man Utd 2-0 WBA). So, now you know what I’m doing at 2.00am.
3. Should structure the event so that we have a timeplan and focus. For example, 1 hour at ground level, 1 hour in cave, and so on. Will ensure better use of time.
Overall, I had a good time and met new friends. I liked Rames and his positive attitude. He is easy-going and willing to share his knowledge. Parimala was vivacious and bubbly (hehehe…i hope its the correct English word to use!), a welcome addition to the group. Didn’t really got a chance to talk to Pushparaaja and Sundra. Fret not, we shall meet again.
(update: Berbatov scores his first goal for Man Utd. 3-0 now).
Ok, I’m going off-tangent here. The main reason for the outing was to take PHOTOS, not chit-chatting with people. I’ve uploaded the pics at Picasa. I’m not into editing, so its WYSIWIS (What You See Is What I Shot). Images are JPG and resized from 700-800kb to 70-100kb. Originals are in RAW.
(update: Nani scores. Man Utd 4-0 WBA. Looks like the Big Four all scored at least 3 goals)
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