Goodbye 2008 ...&... Hello 2009

Another year gone and now looking forward to another brand new year ahead.

Another year to reflect on what we have done, should have done and could have done.

Another year gone by with the wink of an eye as we braces ourselves to move forward....

Come what may..... 2009, as we braces ourselves for what's in store for us in the future.

EPF & Valuecap

My posting on November 12 on the same subject matter refers.

I suppose the truth will eventually comes out but for now, I'll give it the benefit of doubt. But coming from the DPM who seems to have a credibility issue, my perception on this is rather negative.

Having said this, my money is still stuck in the EPF. Damn, I can only withdraw 1/3 at 50 and the balance until I reached 55. I would rather splurge it on my own then to leave it in EPF to let someone else 'blown' it.

Pesta Blogger 2008 Indonesia, I wuz there!

I finally made it to the venue, BPPT Jl. Thamrin at about 11.20am where the event was held. Of course I was late after my mobile phone alarm rang earlier in the morning and I guess the snoozing bit was better.

Getting in was easy enough after finding Mbak Pasha with whom Unspun left my invitation ticket. I must admit that I can feel a sense of camaraderie among the bloggers as I walked by. With my eagle eyes scanning the auditorium, it was easy enough for me to spot Unspun. I moved over next to him seated behind YB Jeff Ooi and the other 4 invited foreign bloggers.

My first encounter with YB Jeff Ooi was indeed a pleasant one. Being Penangites, we clicked immediately. We chatted a bit despite Jeff being busy with his LG hand-phone text messaging.

In the course of our conversation, I managed to give him my 2 rupiah worth of opinion about the development projects that falls in the heritage zone of Penang. I opined that it is imperative that the heritage status must be protected at all cost and I am sure all Penangites like me will support the PR government to protect it. “The inflow of development funds will be good for the island but not at the expense of the status, do not be penny wise and pound foolish” I said.

The key difference between Indonesia and Malaysia about blogging is that the Indonesian government fully engaged and encouraged bloggers where not 1 but 3 Ministers were there to address them. This goes to show how far and matured the Indonesian have come in the democratic process and freedom of “responsible” speech in just 10 years after the new order regime. While in Malaysia, we still have Ministers who are the exact opposite and still in the slumber mode (…just like me this morning perhaps… ☺)

For this, Indonesia 1, Malaysia 0

Anyway, I did not stay very long and disappeared by about 2ish.

Pesta Blogger 2008

It's already 9.57am on Pesta Blogger day in Jakarta and yet I am still at home. As usual, wait until the very last minute to check at pestablogger blog for information and found out that the event is on until 5.30pm with lots of talk, interaction etc.

Better move my butt and go over to BPPT now, as I just finished smsing with Pak Ong since I am oh his invite list.

Looking forward to meet up with YB Jeff Ooi too.

Have a good laugh

Wakakakaka :)

Globalization Insights

Came across this video from http://diskopi.wordpress.com/ titled "The New Rulers of The World" on the pros and cons of globalization and the hidden hands behind the economic power house and the profound effects and implications it created for Indonesia.

The bottom line is that the rich gets richer, the poor gets poorer. What a world we live in.

Go to the link. It is a must watch video.

There goes my EPF savings

Damn, they are going to use the little money that I have left in my EPF for my retirement in a stock broking company. Why is the government toying around with my money? EPF itself has an investment team who has been doing a pretty decent job investing my money giving me between 5% to 8% yearly interest returns. I have no complaint about that.

But when the government is using my EPF money to put into some 'not transparent' company with the shareholders apparently owned by the government themselves, then I have a big problem.

If ValueCap is so good with their investments promising better returns, why take EPF money? take Petronas money lah. Being ignorant about stocks and investment, this deal certainly smells fishy.

Damn it!

If only I can withdraw all my EPF savings now, you bet, I will do so.