Malaysia and Global Financial Turmoil

Many politicians from the government claimed that the current global financial crisis will not hit Malaysia since we have strong economic fundamentals. Our domestic sector is strong and we have enough liquidity.

While I do believe that our domestic sector is strong and we have enough liquidity in the market, the external sector worries me. Our economy is much of export-driven, so international trade is very important and vital to our growth. Domestic sector alone is not enough to support our growth. Many of the goods that we produce are for international market. When these countries can no longer buy as much goods as before, basically we cannot sell our goods. Then the chain reactions start. When domestic businesses lose their foreign buyers, they will face potential losses. To avoid that, they will start to cut off productions. To do so, they will have to lay off some of their workers. When people lose their jobs, the domestic economy will be affected.

To say that we will not be affected by the global financial turmoil is a bit exaggerate, I think. I would rather say that the impact will not be felt in Malaysia as quickly as others had faced it. Thank God we have a system that prohibits debt trading. It's time to go back to God. Say no to usury.

Canadian Federal Election 2008

Canada had their 40th General Election last Tuesday, 14 October 2008; and Mr. Stephen Harper managed to secure enough votes to continue ruling the country, a stronger minority government than in the previous term. First world leader to be win an election after the current financial crisis in U.S. and elsewhere.

Can this be a sign of rise of conservatism in Canada? Maybe. If this is true, maybe their Republican counterparts in U.S. that share the same ideologies will continue to hold White House. Or is it because Harper is young? Then Obama might have a greater chance to be the next resident of White House.

Sumimasen vs Gomennasai

Q. When do you use "Sumimasen" as "I am sorry"? And when do you use "Gomennasai"?

A. Like Question Vol.5 (difference between "Sumimasen" and "Arigatou"), these two phrases are a matter of personal preference whether to use either "Sumimasen （すみません）" or "Gomennasai （ごめんなさい）." There are still a few situations I can tell you about.

• "Sumimasen" is a little more formal than "Gomennasai."
  
  
• When you apologize to the higher or the senior, "Sumimasen" is used in general.
  
  
• Among the family members or close friends, it is common to use "Gomennasai." "Gomen ne" or "Gomen" can be used in a more casual case.
  
  
• Older people tend to use "Sumimasen" more than younger people.

Both "Gomennasai" and "Sumimasen" are used when you have made some mistakes or inconvenienced someone. "Sumimasen" is also used when expressing a feeling of gratitude, but "Gomennasai" cannot be used in such situations. Also, "Gomennasai" can be used when apologizing to someone with whom you have a close relationship. But when speaking with superiors or people with whom one is not very close, "Sumimasen" or "Moushiwake arimasen" are used instead, since "Gomennasi" can have a childish ring to it.

p/s: Now I know it. This question was in my head for such a long long time. Dulu kan suka tengok anime Jepun... :-) dulu-dulu la...

The Bald, The Beard & The Ugly

Who should be blamed on the current financial crisis in the U.S.? A nice article from Salvatore Dali:

The Bald, The Beard & The Ugly

Based on this article, the blame game is as follows:
30% - Management of Investment Banks & Mortgage Lenders
15% - Alan Greenspan
35% - Ratings Agencies
15% - The Regulators
5% - US Treasury chief Henry Paulson & Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke

I think those banks and people who are affected should have known the risk associated with their investments a.k.a. usury-based transactions. Financial market is a place where great fortunes are made, and of course great losses also happen. English people say: No pain, no gain. When an individual losses in the financial market, we say that it is normal that people make money and loss money from it, so no need to help him. But when big banks loss, we quickly say that we need to bail them out. Otherwise the economy will be badly affected. Huh?

Malay translation: Siapa yang patut dipersalahkan atas masalah kegawatan ekonomi yang melanda Amerika Syarikat sekarang ini? Yang botak, yang berjanggut & yang hodoh. Siapa tu? Yang botak ialah Henry Paulson, Setiausaha Perbendaharaan A.S.; yang berjanggut ialah Ben Bernanke, Pengerusi Lembaga Gabenor Bank Pusat A.S.; manakala yang hodoh ialah Alan Greenspan, mantan Pengerusi Lembaga Gabenor Bank Pusat A.S.

Maryam's Language Part III

Penang's Family Words:
1. To-wan (tokwan, grandpa)
2. Tak-tok (maktok, grandma)
3. Ngak-ngah (pakngah, middle uncle)
4. Aa-chik (pakcik, youngest uncle)

Eidul Fitri 1429H Collection

Maryam

Aiman

Maryam's Language Part II

First Alphabets:
1. B
2. I
Object Words:
1. Bu-lai (bulan, moon in English, while pointing her index finger to the sky)
2. Bintang (star - pronounced correctly)
3. Loyy (Lorry)
4. Metto (Motorcycle)
5. Air-plane (Aeroplane)
6. Beg
Command Words:
1. Sit Down
2. Nak naik (I wanna go upstairs)
3. Pegang (hold it!)
4. Jom balik (Let's go home)
5. Habish (habis - finish)
6. Ba-bab (pukul - I'll hit you)
7. Mee-num (drink it)

Baby words:
1. Baby
2. Bay-besh (diapers - time to change it!)
3. Shu-shu (susu - milk)
4. Shuuuuh (while holding her index finger in front of her mouth - keep quiet, my brother is sleeping, and I'm the only person allowed to make noise)
5. Na-nish (nangis - cry)
Animal words
1. Betty (cat, originally Betty is the name of her grandma's cat in Penang, but she end up calling all cats Betty)
2. Shuh! (go away cat! - whenever she see a cat or if someone mentions Betty in front of her)
3. Bird
4. Koo-koo (if someone mentions bird near her)
Best Word: Baa Baba (latest version of I love Baba!)