Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Are you a stumbling block to others?

Yesterday I was watching ntv7 where an aged HK actress Helena was decribing the whereabouts of Vatican, and she mentioned things about her faith (Catholics). I watched excitedly as she explained the history behind the churches' buildings there, how they run things there, Mother Theresa and etc. But the show lost me when she raised an issue about her occupation, as an actress.

She remembered that years ago a friend of hers once asked her, "You're a Catholic, a believer of God and Jesus Christ, but you've played so many characters as sorcerers and many ghost movies which contradicts your faith, isn't that bad?"

She felt really bad when she heard this question, so she went to consult a priest/father (Paderi Feng). To my horror, this was his response.

Priest: Are you an actress?
Helena: Yes.
Priest: So, what does that have to do with your faith? You're just doing your job. Just do it!
And Helena was relieved.

Do you really think that what she did was right? She's an actress, but she CAN CHOOSE which type of movie to act in. Say, a pornography actress. If this pastor is confronted with the same question and gives the same response, I'll faint.

"Do not cause anyone to stumble..." Thus says the Holy Bible, 1Corinthians 10:32.

Remember, we are all created by God, and thus to God we shall return. Whether Christian or Catholics, we are all FIRST, the child of God. Second, whatever role you play on Earth, and that includes being an actress, you shall abide and remain in God's words.

I repeat, we are FIRST - a child of God. This means that whatever we do, especially in our daily day life and career, we should abide by God's words - the Holy Bible.

By acting as sorcerers and performing magics in movies, she has become a stumbling block to many of her viewers. And that, needs to be rectified.

To make things worse, the priest/paderi gave a response which was against what the Holy Bible says. He's merely trying to satisfy Helena, not God.

His response stirred a question in my heart: How close was His walk with God?

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Of jerks and saints

I was driving home from work today along a main road. On nearing an intersection, I saw a car driving towards the main road. I had expected him to slow down, as the general rule of the traffic is, if you're joining a main road, you give way to those cars on the main road.

However, this guy did not slow down and zoomed on towards me. I was shocked, but I couldn't slow down nor brake coz I was already in the middle of the intersection. So I kept right to allow his car through.

We drove side-by-side for about 10 metres, when suddenly he started chipping into my lane. Initially I thought it was a careless swerve, but he continued his way towards my car, as if he's about to bang my side.

Quickly I braked and honked him. To my dismay, he retaliated with a honk and returned to his lane. What a jerk?!

Immediately the thought of Nick Vujicic came into my mind. And i thought, hey.. i've never seen this man frown. *smiled. I remembered the video of his talk in front of some college students in korea. He purposedly fell down, and I remembered clearly how he gathered his strength to push himself up again. *smiled.

Boy, the thought of such an inspirational man can easily lift me up.

I need to surround myself with inspiring people.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Malaysia income tax e-filing, zakat

I found this info in the internet. I didn't know this until now! Wondering now if it's true... Anyone has any idea about this?

"In Malaysia, there is an income tax. Money paid to “zakat” or the obligatory alm Muslims must give to the poor reduces the tax to be paid while money paid to other religions under similar circumstances is not given similar treatment:

it reduces tax only if the particular beneficiary has obtained such status from the government, which is difficult in practice.even then, if money is donated to a non-Muslim religion it is only deducted from the income on which the amount of tax is based, while zakat is deducted from the amount of tax itself.

For example, suppose a person earning RM 50,000 owes a tax of RM 3,000, and donates RM 1,000 to his religion. If he were non-Muslim he would then adjust his assessed income to RM 49,000. If he were Muslim then he would only have to pay RM 2,000 as the RM 1,000 would be deducted from the amount owed.

Did you know that? Wow, that way I can avoid paying all tax, by giving to charities! I always felt that this country is run by taxes paid by non-muslims. This shows its true."

Source: http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/04/08/security-flaw-suspend-income-tax-e-filing-system/

Monday, March 23, 2009

Never Argue with a Woman - fishing, reading,warden.

Never Argue with a Woman

One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out.

She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book. Along comes a Game Warden in his boat.

He pulls up alongside the woman and says, 'Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?'
'Reading a book,' she replies, (thinking, 'Isn't that obvious?')
'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her.
'I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading'
'Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.'

'For reading a book,' she replies,
'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her again,
'I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading'
'Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.'

'If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault,' says the woman.
'But I haven't even touched you,' says the game warden.
'That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment.'

'Have a nice day ma'am,' and he left.

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Wow! isn't tat wonderful! She's so right in every sense. I love women! =)

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Zaid urges King not to make Najib PM Zaid urges King not to make Najib PM

Date: Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Subject: Zaid urges King not to make Najib PM Zaid urges King not to make Najib PM

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/20643-zaid-urges-king-not-to-make-najib-pm

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 - Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has made an impassioned plea to the King to not appoint Datuk Seri Najib Razak as prime minister, and instead appoint someone else from Umno "to bring us back from the brink."

The former de facto Law Minister urged the King to used his judgment to appoint as PM someone who is "beyond reproach in his dealings both official and private," in a scathing attack on his former Cabinet and party colleague.

"A prime minister must have the confidence of the majority of the rakyat…For this to be the case there cannot be anything in the mind of the greater public that, correctly or otherwise, associates him with matters of criminality, wrongful action, improper conduct or abuses of power," he said in a speech to the Rotary Club here today.

Zaid's remarks will certainly put pressure on Najib as he prepares to take power first as Umno president next week before taking over from Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi as prime minister the following week.

The former minister's comments also come a day after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also piled on the pressure on Najib by saying he did not shine as a deputy prime minister and acknowledging the baggage he carries into the job.

In his speech, Zaid also made reference to what has been described as the kind of baggage that no other Malaysian leader had on entering office.

He has been linked on the internet and by political rivals to the brutal murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu although he has firmly denied involvement and there is no evidence to tie him to the death.

Najib's popularity rating also stands at just 41 per cent, according to a recent poll by the independent Merdeka Centre.

Zaid said that while he did not intend any accusation, he felt that Najib was not beyond reproach in the collective mind of the rakyat.

"The rakyat has doubts, fuelled by the unanswered allegations against him. It is not a mere trifle in the minds of the rakyat that despite a direct challenge from a member of parliament recently, the deputy prime minister remained silent," he said.

Zaid also cited the RM400 million in commissions reportedly paid by the Defence Ministry while Najib was minister for the procurement of submarines, and pointed out that Abdul Razak Baginda, the DPM's friend was an agent in the deal.

The Altantuya murder was also cited by Zaid, who pointed out that there were many unanswered questions which the public deserved to be told about.

He also described the recent power grab in Perak as an unmitigated disaster.

"They (the public) now equate him with the high-handed tactics that were employed to seize power.

"With all of this and more, how are we not to feel anxious? How are we to sleep peacefully at night?"

Zaid said that while the King is required under the Constitution to appoint the person who commands the confidence of the majority of the members of parliament, it is a matter for His Majesty's judgment.

"There is no constitutional obligation on His Majesty to appoint the president of Umno as the prime minister. "There are still well qualified members of parliament from Umno who can be appointed PM to bring us back from the brink."
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Hi guys... pray for our beloved nation. Pray for a righteous, just, and corruption free government who loves the PEOPLE more than their personal needs. After all, the government is the PEOPLE'S SERVANTs. We should be the one CONTROLLING them. why are things happening the other way round here in malaysia?

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Dear Readers,

For those who do not know who he is, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim is a prominent Malaysian lawyer turned politician and is a former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of legal affairs and judicial reform. He is also a Senator in the Dewan Negara, the upper chamber of the Parliament of Malaysia.

Datuk Zaid was appointed to the Cabinet by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi a few days after the polls, to give his reform agenda some legitimacy. However, he resigned when it became obvious that Abdullah's reforms were making little headway. There were overwhelming resistance from die hard UMNO members with long entrenched vested interest in maintaining the status quo of "money politics and self-service" rather than true service to the nation. He therefore found himself hopelessly outnumbered, and was instead, perceived a 'heretic" and hence a threat to the rotten established order of the UMNO old guards. Not surprisingly, he found himself ousted for siding with the Opposition when he openly spoke his mind on the issue of reform and greater accountability to the people.

Upon leaving UMNO, he went on to campaign with Opposition Pakatan Rakyat during the Kuala Terengganu by-election and has started a foundation to make Malaysia a just and fairer place for all.

Read above his impassioned plea to the King not to confirm Najib as the next PM of Malaysia. If you ask me, it must surely require a man with immense courage and tremendous fortitude to confront someone the likes of Najib.

Eddy.

Monday, March 16, 2009

I'm enjoying my guava!! yahoo...

One thing i like about my job is, when we get a pet well - sometimes, a small number of clients will bring food and fruits for us.

The simple gesture motivates me to strive to a higher and better pet care in our workplace. Knowing you're appreciated is always fun.. and sweet. =)

Some of them brought us cakes, buns, breads, seremban cha-siew pao... chocolates, wow.. each time i think of them I just feel so sweet... and now.. i'm enjoying guava. Thinking of it, it has been such a long time since I last enjoyed guava, and furthermore, this guava is seedless, fresh, crunchy! Tip top quality!

Lurrrrv it!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Khalid unveils Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo's travel expenses

Khalid unveils list of ex-MB’s travel expenses

(Source: thestar online)
By WANI MUTHIAH and EDWARD RAJENDRA


SHAH ALAM: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim made more revelations at the State Assembly yesterday, giving a summary of the travel expenses incurred by former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.


Khalid, who was replying to Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Azmin Ali on the quantum of the travel expenses, said RM349,134 had been spent on the Mentri Besar’s overseas trips to 21 destinations from 2001 to January 2008. RM350 000 on travelling alone!!! I thought we still have so many poverty issues down here?


He added that RM19,563 and RM19,735 were spent in 2001 and 2002 respectively on air fares to London. I wonder how a person can spend RM40 000 on air flights alone. I wouldn't care if he's using his own pocket money.. but he's claiming it from the people's pocket!!!


The then Mentri Besar also spent RM49,874.50 to fly to Tokyo, Guangzhou, Kunming, Osaka, Fukuoka and London in 2003 and RM74,972.00 in 2004 to go to Bangkok, Dubai, London, Beijing, Amsterdam, Milan and Venice. This guy truly makes me gawk with wonders...


This was followed by RM41,064.00 in 2005 to visit Paris, Geneva, Toronto, Los Angeles and Dubai and RM91,466.00 in 2006 to go to Seoul, Chicago, London, Amsterdam. Stuttgart, Beijing, Shahghai, Osaka and Tokyo. Oh help me.. I can't possibly read on...


A sum of RM20,231.00 was spent in 2007 to go to Perth, Seoul and Taipei and RM32,229.00 in January last year for a trip to London. While people are eyeing for discounts and promotions to fly to these places... he's taking RM50 000 of the people's money to do so...


Khalid said the travel agency which arranged the trips in 2006 and 2007 was Green Adventure Holidays Sdn Bhd. Holidays???


He said that his office was looking into the expenses incurred for accommodation and other requirements during the trips. Oh.. please do so... I believe the report is not meant for the weak hearted ones...


Khalid also said that the state government had asked Tourism Selangor Sdn Bhd to arrange all official visits undertaken by the state.


Dr Khir was not in the house to reply to the claims. Now this is the most interesting statement of all... why was he not in the house?

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/3/13/nation/3472345&sec=nation