This Guy was My Teacher in Form 2 SDH

Some years back, about 2002 or 2003, I met him at masjid AnNur in Christchurch after Friday prayer. He was attending a conference in Christchurch. No I didnt recognised him, until he speak, which sounds familiar.

The I remember he was my teacher in Matematik for a few month ( he was a cikgu sementara back then) before he continued his studies to USA. Originally from Kg Tiram Buruk, Tanjong Karang. Used to wear red kopiah when he was teaching. That night I went to his hotel and chat about old times for a few hours.

Funny thing, when I told him who I am, who is my father, he knows my father too.

He is the one who told me that Selangor Menteri Besar Khir Toyo was his student at Sek Men Dato Harun, so does Dato Noh Omar.

Not that I knew them.

Name
:
Mohd Omar Abdul Kadir
Major
:
Environmental Technology
Qualification
:
BS, MS (Mississippi), PhD (Michigan)
Room No.
:
106
Phone (ext)
:
2175
Email
:
akmomar@usm.my

Prof. Mohd Omar joined USM in 1989 and is a professional Chemical Engineer active both in engineering research of Supercritical Fluid Technology as well as in the area of industrial wastewater treatment plant design and built, environmental audit and hazardous waste handling. He has a patent in supercritical fluid technology in palm kernel oil extraction and is also an active member of the Japanese Supercritical Research Group of Tohuku University. He is widely recognised in the area of industrial wastewater treatment. He is a consultant to many local and international companies in the same area. He is currently supervising 8 PhD and 10 MSc students while more than 13 Masters and 5 Doctoral students have graduated under his supervision. He has over 150 papers in refereed journals, proceedings, presented at international and local conferences. He is a committee member of the National Air Quality Committee, member of American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChe), U.S.A. since 1993, member of Specialist Group on Small Wastewater Treatment Plants (IAWQ), United Kingdom and others.

Highest OCR in Western World

New Zealand bank interest rate is so high. The Reserve Bank has been trying its damnedest to dampen the economy so as to tame the inflation to target rate of 0-2%.
Much of this high inflation figure in contributed by the rising property values. For the past year alone average house prices rose by 10%.
The latest OCR rise prompted 2 large manufacturing companies to move manufacturing plant to China and Thailand, Fisher & Paykel and Click Clack.
The New Zealand Dollar also rise to the highest level in 25 years, fueled by hot money from Asia and Japan, the so called Yen carry trade.

So the focus now is the VERY high property prices. It is simply locking out first home buyer from getting their foot into property market. The Govt rightly identify this as possible problem in the future because it creates disenchantment and a group of people feeling disenfranchised, not having a stake in the country.
But the solution so far is far from solving the problem.

You see, from my view this is a classic problem of supply and demand. Regulations, environmental restrictions imposed by local councils, slow 'follow the maze' rule at local councils in the past decade has restrict new house supply. New immigration and Kiwis returning from overseas further compound the demand side. What is worse, residents associations and local council deliberately does not approve new land for housing to restrict supply (so that their property values increase faster) in the early 90's and 2000's.

So far the Govt solution is throwing money into it; eg new scheme of no/low deposit loan called Welcome Home Loan, and the proposed Government Equity Scheme. Throwing money will simply add fuel to the fire.

I am still waiting for the classic solution of 'build more housing for the people' for first home buyer, low income group and the homeless. Simply more money for Housing New Zealand to build more houses or apartments in cities.
And for goodness sake, cant Housing New Zealand just sell their high value properties to release capital?

Date 26 April 2007
The Official Cash Rate (OCR) will increase by 25 basis points to 7.75 percent.
Recent indicators confirm that the resurgence in economic activity that began in late 2006 has continued over recent months, with domestic demand continuing to expand strongly. As we noted in March, demand is being fuelled by a buoyant housing market, increases in government expenditure, a rising terms of trade, ongoing net immigration, and a robust labour market.
The lift in domestic demand is placing further pressure on already-stretched productive resources. Firms report that capacity is very stretched and that they are again experiencing increased difficulty in finding both skilled and unskilled staff. Consistent with these pressures, non-tradables inflation has remained persistently strong and has recently shown signs of re-acceleration.
The trade-weighted exchange rate has risen further, which will exert some downward pressure on medium-term inflation. The exchange rate is now at levels that are both exceptional by historical standards, and unjustified on the basis of medium-term fundamentals. Parts of the export sector continue to face challenging conditions, but the recent sharp lift in world dairy prices is expected to provide a boost to incomes in that sector and tourist arrivals are continuing to grow.
There has already been a recent rise in fixed mortgage interest rates. This further increase in the OCR is aimed at ensuring that inflation outcomes remain consistent with achieving the target of 1 to 3 percent inflation on average over the medium term.
For further information contact:
Mike Hannah
Head of Communications
Ph 04 4713671, 021 497418, mike.hannah@rbnz.govt.nz

Hari Buruh 1 Mei

This is PM's speech:

Kerjasama majikan-kesatuan galak pertumbuhan ekonomi
Oleh HABIBAH OMAR
PUTRAJAYA 30 April – Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi berkata, kerjasama antara majikan dan kesatuan sekerja dalam mengekalkan persekitaran perhubungan perusahaan yang harmoni mampu menggalakkan kestabilan dan pertumbuhan ekonomi negara.
Perdana Menteri berkata, keharmonian hubungan majikan dan pekerja itu selaras dengan dasar kerajaan mahu menjadikan negara ini maju melalui komitmen setiap lapisan masyarakat terutama bagi menarik lebih banyak pelaburan asing.
Dalam perutusan Hari Pekerja 2007 yang akan disambut esok, beliau berkata, masyarakat pekerja perlu sentiasa bekerja keras dan memperkayakan diri dengan sifat dan sikap masyarakat yang berminda kelas pertama.
‘‘Saya ingin mengambil kesempatan mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua pekerja, kesatuan sekerja dan majikan atas komitmen serta kerjasama yang telah diberikan.
‘‘Kita akan berjaya sekiranya kita terus berusaha dengan penuh keazaman dan iltizam untuk membangunkan negara bersama-sama ke arah menjadikan Malaysia negara yang makmur, progresif, adil, berdaya tahan dan berdaya saing.
‘‘Saya ingin menekankan bahawa komitmen dan tindakan bersama setiap warga kerja Malaysia adalah perlu bagi memastikan keharmonian masyarakat dan kejayaan pembangunan negara demi menjayakan Misi Nasional,” kata Abdullah dalam satu kenyataan yang dikeluarkan oleh Pejabat Perdana Menteri di sini hari ini.
Dalam perkembangan berkaitan, beliau berkata, penekanan Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK-9) terhadap aspek pembangunan modal insan merupakan satu peralihan yang tepat pada masanya.
Beliau berkata, Malaysia tidak boleh terus bergantung kepada kos tenaga buruh yang murah kerana ia memerlukan pekerja- pekerja terlatih, berkemahiran dan produktif dalam pelbagai bidang.
Katanya, tenaga mahir di negara ini juga perlu dilengkapi dengan jati diri tinggi yang penuh dengan sifat-sifat jujur, amanah dan berwawasan serta mengutamakan kualiti pekerjaan.
‘‘Malaysia memerlukan tenaga kerja yang produktif, berpengetahuan, berkebolehan dan lebih berdaya saing bagi memastikan negara mencapai kemajuan dan pembangunan sosioekonomi yang lebih mapan,” katanya.
Mengenai slogan ‘Pekerja Produktif Negara Kompetitif’ yang dipilih sebagai tema Hari Pekerja pada tahun ini, beliau berkata, ia bertepatan dengan peranan penting setiap pekerja untuk bersama dengan kerajaan dalam usaha memajukan negara.
Beliau berkata, kerajaan berharap tema itu dapat dihayati oleh setiap pekerja dan majikan kerana selain membawa maksud yang mendalam, ia juga boleh dijadikan asas untuk mencapai produktiviti yang optimum.
‘‘Kemampuan negara untuk bersaing di pasaran global yang semakin mencabar terletak pada tahap produktiviti para pekerja di negara kita,” katanya.


Begini komen saya:

Year after year the onus is on the workers to improve, work harder, increase productivity, learn new skills and the list is endless. And the benefit is being reap by the country, and of course the employers. We have here, rich country with foreign reserve reaching RM300billion (has it reached that figure yet?), rich companies with market capitalisation reaching billions not to mention rich billionaires...
What about the other side of the equation?
Have there been any call on the Government to improve on their service delivery? Of course there were ongoing improvement, any result? Dismal at best.
Does the Government try hard to reduce the cost of doing business? Eliminating corruption? Etc. More reported corruption so far.
Has the Government try hard to reduce capital cost? Lower interest rate and inflation?

Has employer return fair portion of their profits to the workers, instead of hogging lion share to management and capital owner? What is fair share?

Hari Buruh 1 Mei

berikut adalah perutusan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim:

Anwar Gesa Satu Piagam Baru Untuk Buruh
May 01st, 2007 Category: Anwar, Hebahan, Media
Penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menggesa supaya ditubuhkan satu ‘piagam baru untuk buruh’ yang mengambil kira kesan globalisasi dan pertambahan perdagangan dunia tetapi pada masa yang sama, melindungi hak para pekerja untuk bebas berpersatuan dan mendapatkan gaji yang berpatutan.
Dalam satu perutusan sempena Hari Pekerja, Anwar berkata walaupun beliau mengakui bahawa globalisasi dan perubahan dalam perdagangan dunia telah menghakis kuasa kesatuan-kesatuan sekerja, namun ‘hak-hak tertentu pekerja tidak boleh dinafikan dan masih tetap utuh.’
‘Hak para pekerja untuk bebas membentuk kesatuan tidak boleh dicabuli sementara hak untuk mendapatkan upah yang berpatutan untuk sesuatu kerja yang dilakukan juga mesti diakui,’ kata bekas menteri kewangan itu yang kini menjadi pemimpin tidak rasmi pembangkang Malaysia.
Anwar berkata dalam beberapa sektor penting ekonomi di Malaysia, kedua-dua hak untuk membentuk persatuan dan menerima gaji yang berpatutan bukan merupakan sebahagian dari isu hubungan majikan-pekerja.
“Ini merupakan bintit hitam buat negara – iaitu setelah lima puluh tahun Merdeka, masih ada pekerja-pekerja yang dihalang daripada menyertai sesebuah persatuan dan bergelut untuk mendapatkan gaji untuk menyara hidup,” kata beliau dengan nada kesal.
Beliau berkata Keadilan komited terhadap penggubalan undang-undang gaji minimum dan partinya akan ‘menggunakan setiap saluran moral’ bagi memujuk majikan dan pengurusan supaya tidak membubarkan kesatuan selain membayar gaji yang setanding dengan keperluan hidup.
‘Piagam baru kami bagi buruh akan mengiktiraf hak asasi mereka untuk bebas berpersatuan dan menerima gaji yang berpatutan tanpa perlu melalui saluran perundangan,’ kata beliau lagi.
‘Kuasa kerajaan untuk menggunakan pengaruhnya tanpa melalui saluran perundangan adalah sangat besar dan PKR akan menggunakan asas moral ini bagi menyokong hak pekerja untuk bebas berpersatuan dan menerima gaji yang berpatutan.’
Beliau berkata hak lain yang seumpamanya adalah perumahan yang memuaskan yang mampu dimiliki, di mana beliau menegaskan, tanggungjawab menyediakannya terletak di bahu kerajaan.
‘Peruntukan perumahan yang mencukupi mestilah menjadi satu keutamaan bagi sesebuah kerajaan yang peka kepada keperluan rakyatnya,” tegas beliau.
’Sektor perumahan tidak sepatutnya dianggap hanya sebagai enjin pertumbuhan ekonomi. Mestilah ada tanggungjawab sosial dalam peruntukan perumahan di samping kerajaan dan sektor swasta juga mesti mengiktirafnya.”
Anwar berkata sebagai sebahagian dari piagam baru Keadilan untuk buruh, Kumpulan Simpanan Wang Pekerja mesti membayar pencarum-pencarum dividen tahunan yang tidak kurang daripada 8 peratus. Dia juga berkata bahawa piagam baru itu turut akan memberi mandat untuk membayar elaun sara hidup buat pekerja-pekerja sektor swasta jika COLA dibayar kepada pekerja sektor awam.
“Kesetaraan adalah perlu apabila terdapat keperluan yang mendesak seperti harga minyak dan tol yang meningkat yang membebankan orang ramai.”
Tamat

Begini komen saya:
Saya ingin merakamkan terima kasih saya kepada DSAI kerana membawa ketengah isu isu pekerja. Tidaklah semestinya pekerja yang berpendapatan rendah itu kerana produktiviti mereka rendah, tetapi mungkin kita atau majikan menilai rendah sumbangan mereka. kalaupun produktiviti mereka rendah, kita boleh meningkatkan produktiviti mereka dengan melabur lebih dari segi skill dan kapital. Ini akan meningkatkan total produktiviti.
Saya sokong tentang gaji minimum dan hak berpesatuan pekerja. Tentang perumahan pekerja, jika pekerja berpendapatan berpatutan, mereka akan mampu membeli rumah sendiri. Jika kos tanah, bahan binaan dan kos faedah pinjaman berpatutan, tidak mustahil golongan pekerja akan mampu membeli rumah sendiri.
Saya tidak setuju jika kita mahu KWSP membayar dividen tidak kurang 8 peratus, kerana ini akan memaksa KWSP melabur dalam pelaburan yang risiko tinggi. Biarlah KWSP melabur dalam bentuk pelaburan yang rendah risiko, kerana ini adalah pelaburan hari tua pekerja. Kita tidak mahu KWSP rugi dan pekerja hilang caruman mereka.

Same Day, different Year

As it turn out, Not only Melanie was born on 1st May, my youngest sister was also born on the same day, back in 1983.
Noraziati Khairiah binti Hamzah was born in 1983, back then I was in my first year in New Zealand, at Mana College, Porirua in Form Six.

Updating the story of my sick sister:
Got an update from Maslina today, she said that kak Sal got better today, got off her oxygen mask, but too tired and weak to talk.
Her stone in the kidney is about 1.5cm in diameter.
No operation so far, probably they are planning to flush out.

Melanie's Birthday

Today is my first daughter's birthday. She was born on 1992, on this day, at Christchurch Womens Hospital. Colombo Street, Christchurch.
The old hospital facility is now closed and moved to a site next to Christchurch General Hospital.

My Sister is Sick

this picture was taken at Fauziah's wedding.

My oldest sister Siti Salmiah has been sick for the past few days. It was 4 days ago when Maslina text me saying Kak Sal has been warded at Hospital Tanjong Karang.

She said that it was kidney problem, she also said that Kang Ron said about the possibility of blood poisoning from mouse urine.

Today, she text and rang saying that Kak Sal has been transferred to Klang General Hospital. The problem is gallstones in her kidney and she is in critical condition.

Checking the Wiki, gallstones in kidney could be removed by operation, and be flushed out by drinking a lot of water.