Yoga Bear

I had never imagined this yoga issue can make national headlines.

Millions of people in Malaysia have been banned from doing yoga because of fears it could corrupt Muslims. – BBC News, Asia Pacific

But these statements which had me pondering and laughing-out-loud at the same time.

Walaupun pada dasarnya, saya bersetuju ada unsur agama lain dalam yoga, pergerakan senaman itu tidak seperti air yang sudah tercemar yang sukar untuk dipisahkan. Tanggalkan yang bertentangan sahaja, samada pergerakan, bacaan atau kepercayaan. Kekalkan pergerakan yoga yang baik untuk kesihatan – Dr Asri Zainul Abidin

Personally, I don’t care very much if you stand on your head or stand on your feet. It is not as if by performing yoga you immediately become a non-Muslim – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

Litmus Test

Now the people can opt to chose if they want the EPF contribution to remain at 11% or reduced to 8%. This move is a litmus test to decide how the interest rate should move come January 2009. As it is now, the Government just do not know how to measure actual public consumption. Inflation rate (“CPI”) is purely artificial since basket of goods is not reflective of actual price movement, whilst consumer sentiments and business conditions index do not explain much about private consumption. This explains why Bank Negara Malaysia (“BNM”) keep holding the interest rate since the economic chaos started. BNM simply cannot decide since they are unable to gauge what is happening on the ground. Hence, as a solution, the Government throws the ball back into the public’s court.

Come January 2009, based on the new EPF 8% take-up rate, the Government will be able to assess if the public wants more money in the system or not. If the take-up rate of the extra 3% of EPF saving looks overwhelming, then BNM may reduce the interest rate to spur public consumption. Good for the banks too, since banks can loan to each other at a much cheaper rate. But your savings will suffer. So, you decide.

Sesat DiKala Siang

Sudah lama kutak bicara dengan mu
meskipun acapkali kucium bumi.
Tapi kau tetap bisu.

Kuharap kau hanya merajuk
kerna diri ini tak sanggup merasa
yang kau telah putus asa

Adakah kerna kulupa?
Mengetuk jendelamu
biarpun singgahsanamu
lebih dekat dari kukuku

Atau adabku ini buta?
Bak hud-hud terbang tanpa hala
Sesat dikala siang
Sedangkan jalan ini sudah terang.

Smart Learning Centre Open Day

To whom it may concern,

You are cordially invited to the "Open Day" of Smart Learning Tuition Centre. The details are as follows:

Date: 9 November 2008 (Sunday)

Time: 10.00 am -3.00 pm

Venue: Smart Learning Tuition Centre

No. 28 A,Tingkat 1, Jalan 9/7

Seksyen 9, 43650 Bandar Baru Bangi,

Selangor (Refer Map)

Your attendance is appreciated.