rat race: even if you win the race, you’re still a rat.

accordingly to wikipedia, rat race is a term used for an endless, self-defeating or pointless pursuit. it is just like a rat trying to escape whilst running around a maze or in a wheel.

in an analogy to the modern city, many rats in a single maze run around making a lot of noise bumping into each other, but ultimately achieve nothing (meaningful) either collectively or individually.

it is a term often used to describe work or excessive work in particular. if one works, one is in the rat race. this terminology contains implications that many people see work as a seemingly endless pursuit with little reward or purpose.

the increased image of work as a rat race in modern world has led many to question their own attitudes towards work and seek a more harmonious work-life balance. many believe that long work hours, unpaid overtime, stressful jobs, time spent commuting, less time for traditional family life, has led to a generally unhappier workforce to enjoy the benefits of increased economic prosperity and a higher standard of living.

are you stuck in the rat race? if you work minimum 8 hours a day and trade your time for paycheck in order to pay bills, there is a high possibility that you are caught in the treadmill.

escape from the rat wheel? why? don’t get me wrong that rat race is something very bad that you must escape from it. it is your choice whether you are happy to stay on the treadmill or not. the only challenge that I see in rat race is that even if you win the race, you are still a rat.

source: http://www.inspiringjourneytofinancialfreedom.com/RatRace.html

p/s: gong xi fa cai

First-Past-The-Post (FPTP)

The First-Past-the-Post system is the simplest form of plurality/majority system, using single member districts and candidate-centered voting. The voter is presented with the names of the nominated candidates and votes by choosing one, and only one, of them. The winning candidate is simply the person who wins the most votes; in theory he or she could be elected with two votes, if every other candidate only secured a single vote.

Along with the UK, the cases most often analyzed are Canada, India, and the United States.

Source: http://www.aceproject.org/ace-en/topics/es/esd/esd01/esd01a

SYSTEM OF ELECTIONS IN MALAYSIA: Since 1957, Malaysia has retained a multi-party political system whereby the political party which secures the majority of the Parliamentary seats (House of Representatives) or the State Legislative Assembly seats can form the Federal or State Government as the case may be. The system used in Malaysia is based on the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) System. This implies that the candidate who secures a simple majority will be declared the winner in that constituency.

Source: http://www.spr.gov.my/index/process.htm

This source helps us to understand more about FPTP.

But, The Voice of the Majority is not a Measurement of Truth

BN confident of winning polls

PUTRAJAYA: Barisan Nasional is confident of winning a two-thirds majority in the upcoming general election, its deputy chairman, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, said yesterday. The deputy prime minister, who is also Umno deputy president, said despite the current issues being played up by the opposition, BN was confident of achieving it.

"Yes, of course. We are positive (about winning) and we must have that positive attitude," he said after chairing the National Social Council meeting at the Implementation and Co-ordination Unit in the Prime Minister's Department.

"Obviously, we are hoping to get more than that (two-thirds)," Najib said, adding that voters would not be easily swayed by accusations hurled against the BN by the opposition.

He said the opposition would make all sorts of promises to entice voters.

"In the first place, do we need to respond to their antics? Their promises are nothing and unrealistic."

The latest gimmick by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was that it would pay allowances to housewives if the party won in the general election.

Najib said voters knew BN's track record and appreciated what it had done to improve the quality of life of the people.

© Copyright 2008 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad. All rights reserved.

PAS to contest 60 parliamentary seats

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 (ES) – The Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) will be contesting in 60 parliamentary seats in the next general election, widely expected to feature one to one fights between the opposition and the ruling coalition.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang hinted that the party would need to be "practical" in its campaigning in the next general election, in view of the limited seats at the parliamentary level that it would contest.

The next general election is expected to be held next month. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi however has the prerogative to hold the election as late as next year. Malaysia has about 220 parliamentary seats.

"What's important (for the party is to highlight) the objective (of justice for all, drawn) from practices that is acceptable to all races," Abdul Hadi said in an impromptu press conference held at the party headquarter here today.

Also present was People Justice Party (KeADILan) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Several high ranking party officials from both parties were also present. MORE HERE

Expats go to court over 'dream homes'

An expatriate, who bought what he thought was his beach-front dream house, is taking his nightmare to court.

Roger Crowhurst, a 65-year-old journalist for a four-wheel-drive magazine, his wife from Sabah, Nyuk Ling@Semenanjit, and four other expatriate couples filed an application for judicial review against the Papar district council and the Local Government and Housing Ministry.

They are looking to have the respondents take responsibility for their homes in the Palm Beach Villas in Kinarut, which have been left in a dilapidated state. "We have been trying to get our developer to look into various aspects of our living conditions such as general maintenance, safety and common facilities servicing these villas, but they have declared themselves free of responsibility," said Crowhurst.

He said basic facilities such as lighting, road, drainage, security, garbage disposal, sea defence, and common facilities of the residential area had not been taken care of. The judicial review seeks to get the two respondents to take up the duties in respect to all the safety and administrative functions of the housing residence.

It also seeks to get the ministry to replace the management of the Papar district council and appoint a party to repair or demolish the boardwalk servicing the housing residence which had become dilapidated and hazardous. "When we bought the place, we were promised a paradise, but now it is not even decent living. "The boardwalk is damaged from coastal erosion, the beams are falling apart, the lights are out, no one is sweeping the debris on the road or collecting the rubbish, and no one is taking responsibility for all this.

"Everyone we approach says they are not responsible for our problems. We feel abandoned and after spending our hard-earned cash on these properties, we are getting a very raw deal," said Crowhurst. Rodney Parsons, a 60-year-old helicopter engineer who in here under the Malaysia My Second Home programme said that he was disappointed with the shoddy treatment from the authorities.

"We have asked several people to help with the repairs for six months, but nothing is being done," he said.

Source: http://www.emedia.com.my/detailnews.php?nid=918&cid=N01

Bab Modal Insan Ulul Albab: Kekalkan burung pada sarangnya

Terasa manisnya buah fikiran ini yang menyinggung cara berfikir masyarakat kita dalam menghadapi sesuatu musibah. Ianya dibuahkan oleh penulis dalam menghuraikan tajuk Jadilah Ulul Albab, bukan pemilik fikiran lembab. Kami di blog ini mengutip buah yang dilemparkan beliau dalam hubungannya dengan bab Modal Insan dan hubungan babnya dengan hadith tentang burung, kemudian di berikan tajuk sendiri, moga ia berbuah lagi. – ed.

Apabila Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi menyebut dalam salah satu ucapannya pada tahun 2006 tentang generasi Ulul Albab, tidak ramai yang memberikan sambutan sewajarnya. Kecuali di Terengganu kedengaran slogan Ulul Albab itu berkumandang dan diberi perhatian yang baik. Saya tidak pasti kenapa. Barangkali…

Nilai-nilai yang negatif cepat sahaja berkembang dalam masyarakat, padahal kebanyakan kita mempunyai latar pendidikan yang bukan sembarangan. Barangkali pengajian kita lebih banyak menegaskan soal penghafalan fakta, dan kurang pula membentuk kemampuan menilai fakta secara matang dan berprinsip. Lalu ramai yang hanyut dalam ‘cakap orang’. Al-Quran dalam mensifatkan golongan Ulul Albab menyatakan: (maksudnya) Katakanlah (Wahai Muhammad): Tidak sama yang buruk dengan yang baik, walaupun jumlah banyaknya yang buruk itu telah mengagumkan engkau. Oleh itu bertakwalah kepada Allah wahai Ulul Albab supaya kamu berjaya (surah al-Maidah: 100).

Di atas kelemahan minda analisis sesetengah masyarakat Muslim, maka tidak hairan jika dalam keadaan kita ingin membentuk pemikiran matang dan bertamadun tiba-tiba media kita menyiarkan cerita para bomoh meramalkan tentang Adik Sharlinie yang hilang. Kita amat bersimpati dengan kehilangan Adik Sharlinie dan mendoakan agar Allah mengembalikannya dengan selamat. Namun penggunaan bomoh yang seperti itu amat mendukacitakan.

Apabila saya melihat mereka menggunakan burung yang dilepaskan ke udara dalam mencari adik berkenaan, mengingatkan saya tentang amalan masyarakat jahiliah dahulu yang menggunakan burung untuk meramalkan nasib baik dan buruk mereka. Apabila Nabi s.a.w. diutuskan, baginda melarang perbuatan jahiliah ini dengan berkata: Kekalkan burung pada sarangnya (riwayat Abu Daud dan al-Hakim dalam al- Mustadrak, dinilai sahih oleh al-Zahabi).

Kata al-Imam al-Syafii (meninggal 204H): “Dahulu golongan jahiliah apabila ingin bermusafir akan mengambil burung dan melepaskannya ke udara. Sekiranya ia terbang ke kanan maka mereka pun keluar atas anggapan tuah tersebut. Jika ia terbang ke kiri atau ke belakang, maka mereka akan menganggap sial lalu berpatah balik. Maka apabila Nabi s.a.w. diutuskan, baginda menyeru orang ramai: Kekalkan burung pada sarangnya. (Abu Nuim al-Asfahani, Hilyah al-Auliya, 9/95, Beirut: Dar al-Kitab al- ‘Arabi).

Ertinya Nabi s.a.w. berkempen membuang pemikiran karut seperti itu dari masyarakat jahiliah. Jahiliah bermaksud bodoh iaitu dari perkataan jahil. Setelah seribu empat ratus tahun berlalu, tiba-tiba kebodohan itu muncul semula dengan liputan yang meluas di dada-dada media dalam sebuah masyarakat yang ingin membina tamadun. Kita kadangkala bukan sahaja mengutip perangai jahiliah, tetapi khurafatnya sekali.

Saya selalu berkata; drama kebanyakan bomoh hampir sama. Heronya ialah bomoh itu sendiri, penjahatnya adalah hantu dan sesiapa yang berkait dengannya. Sementara mangsanya adalah pengadu yang akan membayar ‘pengkerasnya’. Maka apa penyakit pun, jika kita berjumpa bomoh, kebanyakannya akan menuduh hantu itu dan ini. Jika anda menghidap ketumbuhan dalam perut yang disahkan oleh doktor pakar, anda bertemu bomoh, dia akan beritahu anda hantu sedang menggigitnya. Sehingga saya rasa mungkin hantu-hantu juga banyak yang tertekan dan kecewa kerana mereka asyik difitnah oleh bomoh sekalipun dalam perkara-perkara yang mereka tidak lakukan.

Untuk mendapat perspektif sepenuhnya tentang tajuk asal, sila baca di minda mufti atau pena mufti

Najib denies knowing anything about Dr M’s agreement

Reiterating his support and loyalty to the prime minister, Datuk Seri Abdul Najib Razak said today he did not know anything about an alleged agreement that Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stay as premier only for one-term before stepping down in favour of his deputy.

"No, I don't know. I really don't know about that,” said the deputy prime minister after opening a seminar for Felda mosque officials at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. “However, I am committed to support (the prime minister) and remain loyal to the prime minister. I don't know. You (reporters) have to ask the parties concerned."

Najib was responding to reporters’ questions on whether he knew of the "gentleman's agreement" between Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah. The agreement, according to the former prime minister yesterday, was made with Abdullah in 2003. However, Dr Mahathir conceded that he had no way of proving the existence of such an agreement.

The understanding, Dr Mahathir said, was for Abdullah to serve as a prime minister for one term before passing the baton to Najib. Dr Mahathir was quoted by AFP as saying, "That was my thinking since (Abdullah) was older than Najib, he should be PM for one term and then Najib should be able to take over."

Najib, also the Barisan Nasional deputy chairman, stressed he was committed to support and remain loyal to the prime minister. At the same time, he said his focus was on the coming general election and to ensure the BN’s victory.

Source: http://www.emedia.com.my/detailnews.php?nid=908&cid=N01

Related news analysis: Perjanjian lisan tidak valid!

LATEST DEVELOPMENT: Wed Feb 06, 08 5:16:44 pm MYT: PRU ke 12: Peluang tipis Najib untuk gantikan Abdullah sebagai PM. Apakah Dato' Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak berfikir, kesetiaan yang ditunjukkan beliau kepada Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi akan membantunya menjadi Perdana Menteri Malaysia yang ke-6? Mesej sebenar yang hendak disampaikan bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad adalah, jika Abdullah diberi mandat melanjutkan khidmatnya sepenggal lagi, Najib mungkin tidak berpeluang menjadi PM dan Presiden Umno.

Now, it's the whole world's turn to save the US

AMAZING, how policy prescriptions change when the shoe is on the other foot. The policy prescriptions to solve the economic problems in the United States today are the exact opposite to those recommended to Asian countries in 1997-1998.

During the Asian financial crisis, the affected developing countries were asked to tighten fiscal policies, increase interest rates, impose austerity measures, cut back on subsidies and close banks with problem loans. It was argued that these measures were necessary and critical to prevent "moral hazard" and contain the contagion.

Now that such problems are affecting the world's largest economy, as a result of the subprime mortgage crisis, the policy prescription is for looser fiscal expenditure, reduced interest rates and aggressive economic stimulation.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and Larry Summers, the former US deputy treasury secretary, called for relaxation of fiscal policies to stimulate the economy.

This is the opposite of what was prescribed to Asian economies, which were tighter fiscal policies. It did not matter then that the prescriptions and the "one-size-fits all" and "cookie-cutter" policies were tantamount to "screaming fire in a packed cinema hall", with investors seeking the first and nearest exit and "flight to safety".

The irrational behavior and the IMF's stringent and bitter pill brought the "ambulance to the front door and it sent people running", causing even more destruction, according to Jeffrey Sachs, then director of Harvard University's Centre for International Development.

The cure and conditions imposed were not commensurate with the disease. They made the problem even worse and led to "creative destruction" in the region. Read the rest of Hardev Kaur's column here.

LATEST DEVELOPMENT(S): The US Senate failed Wednesday to advance its own version of an economic stimulus program, boosting the odds for a White House-backed version approved last week by the House of Representatives. The economic stimulus plan proposed by President George W. Bush has failed to find enough support in the Senate. By a single vote, Senate Republicans on Wednesday, 2/6/08, blocked an expansive fiscal stimulus package championed by Democrats, as partisan rancor engulfed the effort to inject a quick burst of spending into the slowing economy. Read the rest of nytimes’ report here.

Thursday, 2/7/08 02:10 PM ET- Economic Stimulus Plan Divides Democrats: Republicans said they didn’t block the proposal, they said, "We just said there's a better way to go and there's an alternative." And Democrats said, "There's no reason for any more delay on this." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., siding with Republicans on an economic stimulus package, called on the Senate Thursday to stop its infighting and pass a bill that would add checks for 20 million seniors. With the Senate in a procedural and political tangle over a bill to pump up the economy with tax rebate checks, Pelosi, D-Calif., has sided with the White House and GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky in efforts to limit Senate add-ons to the House-passed stimulus bill. In doing so, Pelosi, D-Calif., is splitting openly with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who's backing a more expensive package.

Thursday 2/7/08 04:02 PM ET - Stimulus Breakthrough in Congress: Democrats Drop Some Demands to Pass Bipartisan Measure ---- After Republicans had narrowly blocked a larger, more generous economic stimulus package in a vote that brought the Democratic presidential candidates scurrying to Washington, lawmakers came together Thursday around a stimulus plan hashed out in January between House leaders on both sides of the aisle and President Bush. Senators are expected to vote later this afternoon on an amendment to add benefits for as many as 21 million seniors and 250,000 disabled veterans to the $146 billion House proposal, at a cost of an extra $9 billion over two years.