The one with individual taxi permit

Reading this piece in The Star today, I loud the Entrepreneurial and Cooperatives Ministry for this proposal to allow individual licenses for taxi drivers in our country especially in the KL area. The consortium mechanism that has been a practice all this while doesn’t really work in addressing the needs of taxi drivers. My agreement on this is purely on the earnings that will be generated by the taxi drivers, just that. You know, taken into consideration all the issues behind the increase of food prices, petrol and high cost of living. All the mechanism behind awarding the individual permit, I believe the ministry in their wisdom can really thrash it out and come out with a full-proof system.

During my occasional rides in the taxi, I met with a lot of taxi drivers with 1001 grouses. The one that always strike me was on the income that they gain everyday. I found out that they are really struggling on everyday basis. They work long hours but earn very little and they also need to pay the consortium owning their taxis ranging between RM30-RM50 per day which is about half or three quarter of their earning everyday. Sometimes, after talking to them, I made a simple calculation, say they earn around RM100 per day, minus taxi rental RM50 and minus NGV RM10 thus they have around RM40 a day to bring back home. So RM40 x 30 days = RM1,200. Plus sometimes no EPF, Socso and stuffs like that. That is such a small amount and please bear in mind that the amount I calculated was on the basis that if they work rain or shine, very long hours and for one solid month! No wonder they broke the law in order for them to gain extra money.

So, purely on this, I think this measure is quite right. Hopefully, if this proposal passes through, we have a better taxi service in the near future.

Champions again!

38 matches, 80 goals scored, 20 conceded, 87 points and we came to this … Manchester United is the champion of Barclay English Premier League. Chelsea after so much hoo haa, fall short yesterday by drawing with Bolton but it didn’t matter at all because United won the final match beating Wigan 2-0. United finished two points clear of Chelsea. A true champion and deservingly so, I must say!

It was United’s 17 championships in all and 10 title under Ferguson reign alone. What a remarkable achievement! And so many records broken throughout the season. Goals Ronaldo scored, record appearances for United by Ryan Giggs etc.

Glory-glory Man United, glory-glory Man United, glory-glory Man United as the Reds go marching up! up! up!

Welcome to the world ...

Welcome to the world my nephew, Muhammad Elman! Born on Monday, 5 May 2008 in Taiping.

Congratulations to you Ija! 4.1 kg! Wow! that's big. Anyway, may the newest addition in your family brings you greater peace, wealth and prosperity!

Mum would be proud!

The one with basket of fruits

When I was in Accra, Ghana for a UN conference recently, I stayed in this lousy hotel (2,3 stars) due to the unavailability of better hotel because so many people from all over the world came to Ghana for the conference. My room was okay I guess, I had better room before but I won’t complaint much. Simple guy!

Well, I was there earlier from the rest of Malaysian delegation since I was supposed to ensure everything is up and running by the time my big boss arrived in Accra. Anyway, I have a bit problem with the suite that they prepared for my big boss. The suite they provided was unsurprisingly very bad and I was kinda worried. So after some discussion with the Malaysian High Commissioner there, she was kindly enough to put her own carpet in the room just to make it nicer. She also prepared a fruit basket to be placed in the suite, so that when big boss came, look bit better with carpet, fruits basket and stuffs.

Thus we arrived at the fruit basket story ….

That afternoon, High Commissioner prepared the fruit basket by herself I may say, you know with grapes, oranges, apples, bananas etc and some decorations, it was nice with basket and all. So on the way to the airport to pick up the big boss, she stopped at the hotel and asked her driver (who is a Ghanaian) to go up to the suite and place the fruit basket on the coffee table.

So this guy went up, did what he was asked to do, came down and get into the car.

High Commissioner asked him, have you put the fruit basket in the room? He said yes, and dengan selambanya told the High Commissioner “here is your basket back!” High Commissioner was shocked and surprised and immediately asked the driver, what is this basket doing here? (of course with high pitch la) The driver replied “ooh, I have put all fruits in the fridge and I’m giving back your basket to you”.

Seriously I can’t hold my laugh that night ….