I lost a friend yesterday. She was just 25 years old and taking teaching as profession. It’s a sad day for anyone who knows her. I really can’t believe it when I heard the news this morning. It was confirmed when I read today’s newspaper.

May God bless your soul and I’ll keep you in my prayer.

I hope anyone who read this post can spare a minute or two to pray for her soul. I wish to say thank you to anyone who indeed stop a moment to pray for her and may God repay your generosity abundantly.

They say curiosity kills the cat. I so hope this particular phrase is not true today because, for the love of God, I am very curios.

The front page of The Star today shows a picture of our PM and a caption saying, “We try our best to help the people. We cannot satisfy everyone”. Below that there is a portion showing the changes. The most interesting change is the rebate of RM625 a year for private vehicles with the capacity of below 2000cc.

Just to let you guys know, I was educated in Malaysia, in fact in Sabah, and am not too proud of my achievements as a student but the education provided to me has not failed to provide me with basic counting and thinking abilities. Let’s look at a simple example of how ridiculous this price hike is.

We all know that foreign cars are taxed to protect Proton’s interest in the market and the taxes are pretty expensive. The issue is, we can’t seem to put sniff out the exact amount taxed because the taxation system is sophisticated that it actually takes into consideration the make of the vehicle, capacity, and many other factors. Instead of confusing ourselves even more lets just take a simple car, which can’t be taxed much due to our trade agreements with Japan , and compare how this fuel price hike actually turns out.

As of last month a Toyota Vios would ‘cause a damage’ of about RM 89,000

In the international market, a Toyota Vios is about USD 19,000.

USD 19,000 = RM 62,700 (using the indicative rates of USD 1 = RM 3.30).

That makes Malaysian Vios owners pay an extra RM 26,300.

This RM 26,300 should be cost of operations, profit and tax because the transportation costs have been factored in to the USD 19,000.

RM 26,300 or RM 625 per year translates to a Vios being used for 42.08 years.

I do understand that the RM 625 is a rebate given by the government, but it also means that one has to use the Vios for 42.08 years just to make back the amount paid in taxes for the usage of a foreign car. Would anyone use any kind of car for that long?

Now, with these numbers in front of us, does the subsidy sound like a subsidy or does it sound like a penalty? This just seems to be a heavy increment in our daily cost of living as we are not only charged with high car taxes but also with a drastic increase in fuel price.

With all the numbers listed out, I urge all Malaysians to join me in analyzing the situation. Car taxation is government profit, fuel sales is Petronas’ (GLC – Government Linked Company) profit, which translates into government profit. The government may ridicule us Malaysians by saying look at the world market and fuel price worldwide. Please, we are Malaysians, we fought of the British, had a international port in the early centuries (Malacca), home to a racially mixed nation and WE ARE NOT STUPID!!!

We know the international rates are above the USD 130/barrel. We understand the fact that the fuel prices are increasing worldwide and we also know that major scientists are still contradicting on why this phenomenon is happening. Some blame Bush and his plunders around the world and some blame climate change and there are others who say petroleum ‘wells’ are getting scarce.

Again we go back to numbers. One barrel or crude oil is 159 litres. And approximately 46-47% of a barrel of crude oil will turn out to be the fuel that we use in our vehicles.

46% of 159 = 73.14 litres.

And at the current rate of RM 2.70/litre, this constitutes to RM 197.48 of fuel per barrel of crude oil. This is only 46% of the barrel, mind you. There is another 54% that are still refined and traded in the markets. These products include bitumen, kerosene, and natural gases and so many more.

Using the indicative value of RM 3.30 = USD 1 (it is actually RM3.26 today), we get that a barrel of crude oil produces USD 59.84 worth of fuel. And this makes a balance of USD 70.16 that has not been accounted for. In actual fact, we still pay for this as they are charged in the forms of fuel surcharge by airlines and road taxes for the building of road (because they use the tar/bitumen) and many more excuse charging us but let us just leave all that out of our calculations.

USD 59.84 compared to a barrel of crude oil, which is approximately USD 130, turns out to be 46% of a barrel as well. So this is where I got curios. Where is the subsidy if we are paying 46% of the price of a barrel of crude oil when the production of petrol/barrel of crude oil is still only 46%?

Now, the government has a very ugly predicament in front of them. The taxation of foreign cars to protect Proton has been deemed unfair by these calculations and the price of fuel is currently at world market price. So I hope our PM retracts his statement in The Star as it seems like a joke after all these calculations. Who is helped by this move? Not the poor. Not even the rich. Everyone is affected. Cost of living rises and everyone will feel the pinch.

As far as I know, only the politicians who live in Putrajaya and come for their Parliament meetings in Kuala Lumpur (approximately 60+ km) are the ones to gain as they claim their fuel and toll charges from the money of the RAKYAT. It is so disappointing to see this happen time and time again to the Malaysian public, where they are deceived by the propaganda held by the politicians and the controls they have over the press.

Honestly, to the very last moment before I check my result, I still feel that I might not make it. Praise God, he indeed work wonders in my life. He reminded me of the affirmation which I get from Him. “I did not send you to Uni to fail but to make you someone”, those were the Words which emanate from within me and affirming my purpose and everything that happen in my life.

Everyone can pass exam and graduate but not many have the opportunity to build their character. Well, I did and I praise God for that. If I want to write everything that happen in my life after I met God, I’m not sure whether I can fully express it in words.

The greatest lesson I receive in Uni is not how to design a building or how to do calculus but to learn to listen and trust His word.

People may argue that if you only pray and didn’t do anything then God won’t help you. I agree. When you pray, do you listen? I believe when you listen to Him, He will direct you to do something with your life. Most people do well until the listening part. The hardest part would be to trust. What will you do when everything seem to point out to failure? When you pray and you listen and He told you to just go forward, Will you? Most people will take side-ways or move half-way then turn back.

I did move forward and fail. Seriously, I encounter failure. But He didn’t leave me. Instead He open new avenue for me. All Praise and Honour To Him!

We were not taught about it explicitly in the school. They just mention that Sabahan signed the 20 points agreement to form Malaysia. Well I prefer it to be called the Federation of Malaysia. This Federation includes Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya. It’s nothing to do with Selangor, Johor….Sabah and Sarawak. But somehow Sabah and Sarawak had been downgraded into a mere state like Selangor, Johor and so on.
Don’t you realise why we are bigger than most states. We are a territory with autonomous rights. But because of our ignorance, Sabahan were made to believe that they were just a mere state. We were even made to surrender our immigration rights without much force by using the nationalism agenda. They put into our mind that this control of immigration can spoil the unity in Malaysia.

Sabahan please stop being ignorant. Read your history. From the 2nd richest state in Malaysia, Sabah now have become third poorest in Malaysia. Even state without natural resources like Kedah pipped us from the richest list.

I talk to some people before the general election in March. I was surprised by the level of ignorance by most of these people. Some even have not yet registered as voter eventhough the person is very well almost past 30 years mark. I wonder what is in that person’s mind? Have you no concern at all? Just because you have enough money to buy food now then you don’t have to think about your future generation? If you are just past your 20 then I won’t question your maturity but you are now almost past 30. Wake up stupid!!! Some even talk about how they were given a streetlight by their respective leader. They talk how good the leader is in providing for their needs. Well, I won’t take away the credits which is due to the leader. I believe he has done his job. I believe he has done everything what he suppose to do. Did you know that they were given allocation to do that? That is basically his job. They were paid by you the taxpayer to do that. So, nothing to be proud of. Anyone who sit in his place were expected to do the same thing. It is not a matter of choice. The big question is did he fight for your rights? Unless you know what is your rights you cannot answer this question. So start to learn about your rights and the first step is to know why you are called Malaysian.

1. RELIGION – While there was no objection to Islam being the national religion of Malaysia there should be no State religion in North Borneo, and the provisions relating to Islam in the present Constitution of Malaya should not apply to North Borneo.

2. LANGUAGE – Malay should be the national language of the Federation. English should continue to be used for a period of 10 years after Malaysia Day. English should be an official language of North Borneo for all purposes, State or Federal, without limitation of time.

3. CONSTITUTION – Whilst accepting that the present Constitution of the Federation of Malaya should form the basis of the Constitution of Malaysia, the Constitution of Malaysia should be a completely new document drafted and agreed in the light of a free association of states and should not be a series of amendments to a Constitution drafted and agreed by different states in totally different circumstances. A new Constitution for North Borneo (Sabah) was of course essential.

4. HEAD OF FEDERATION – The Head of State in North Borneo should not be eligible for election as Head of the Federation.

5. NAME OF FEDERATION – “Malaysia” but not “Melayu Raya”

6. IMMIGRATION – Control over immigration into any part of Malaysia from outside should rest with the Central Government but entry into North Borneo should also require the approval of the State Government. The Federal Government should not be able to veto the entry of persons into North Borneo for State Government purposes except on strictly security grounds. North Borneo should have unfettered control over the movements of persons other than those in Federal Government employ from other parts of Malaysia into North Borneo.

7. RIGHT OF SECCESION – There should be no right to secede from the Federation.

8. BORNEONISATION – Borneanisation of the public service should proceed as quickly as possible.

9. BRITISH OFFICERS – Every effort should be made to encourage British Officers to remain in the public service until their places can be taken by suitably qualified people from North Borneo.

10. CITIZENSHIP – The recommendation in paragraph 148(k) of the Report of the Cobbold Commission should govern the citizenship rights in the Federation of North Borneo subject to the following amendments:

a) sub-paragraph (i) should not contain the proviso as to five years residence

b) in order to tie up with our law, sub-paragraph (ii)(a) should read “7 out of 10 years” instead of “8 out of 10 years”

c) sub-paragraph (iii) should not contain any restriction tied to the citizenship of parents – a person born in North Borneo after Malaysia must be federal citizen.

11. TARIFFS AND FINANCE – North Borneo should retain control of its own finance, development and tariff, and should have the right to work up its own taxation and to raise loans on its own credit.

12. SPECIAL POSITION OF INDIGINEOUS RACES – In principle, the indigenous races of North Borneo should enjoy special rights analogous to those enjoyed by Malays in Malaya, but the present Malays’ formula in this regard is not necessarily applicable in North Borneo.

13. STATE GOVERNMENT – The Prime Minister should be elected by unofficial members of Legislative Council. There should be a proper Ministerial system in North Borneo.

14. TRANSITIONAL PERIOD – This should be seven years and during such period legislative power must be left with the State of North Borneo by the Constitution and not be merely delegated to the State Government by the Federal Government.

15. EDUCATION – The existing educational system of North Borneo should be maintained and for this reason it should be under state control.

16. CONSTITUTIONAL SAFEGUARDS – No amendment modification or withdrawal of any special safeguard granted to North Borneo should be made by the Central Government without the positive concurrence of the Government of the State of North Borneo

The power of amending the Constitution of the State of North Borneo should belong exclusively to the people in the state. (Note: The United Party, The Democratic Party and the Pasok Momogun Party considered that a three-fourth majority would be required in order to effect any amendment to the Federal and State Constitutions whereas the UNKO and USNO considered a two-thirds majority would be sufficient)

17. REPRESENTATION IN FEDERAL PARLIAMENT – This should take account not only of the population of North Borneo but also of its seize and potentialities and in any case should not be less than that of Singapore.

18. NAME OF THE HEAD OF STATE – Yang di-Pertua Negara.

19. NAME OF STATE – Sabah.

20. LAND, FORESTS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ETC. - The provisions in the Constitution of the Federation in respect of the powers of the National Land Council should not apply in North Borneo. Likewise, the National Council for Local Government should not apply in North Borneo.

Not to temberang but that’s actually what happen. Some people might argue that those thing are not spectacular at all. For me, everytime I pick up His banner then it is a spectacular stuff.

One of my sister in Christ called me on a very short notice asking whether I will do bantering. The sound of desperation in her voice really makes me feel kesian to her plea. My thought was “my,my really no one ka God. Kesiannya. Ok fine I’ll take it”. Well, It is indeed a very last minute stuff and I just go there and get the job done. I don’t have much time to think what exactly to say and totally new to the thing. It is actually my 1st time because all this while there were just enough people to pick up His banner.

I was so blur with how things should flow and the extra pressure coming from the prospect of which I’ll be singing psalm for the 1st time does not help either. Praise God things run smoothly without any complication just some minor  inconsistency in my  storytelling.haha.

Singing is not always my strong point eventhough I love to criticise one of my aunty. Well, you don’t have to be good in singing to give upbuilding comments right(remember Simon Cowell.lol.). Anyway, basically I screwed up with my tempo on my 1st line but I somehow recover for the next 3 lines. Praise God.

Everyone was talking about it as soon as the mass ended. One by one come with a funny story.haha. Well I don’t mind. Maybe It’s good that I add cheer to some of these people’s life. Some even receive affirmation and encouragement. As for me, I feel freedom and satisfaction in fulfilling His mission.

It’s the 1st time in months and maybe close to a year since the last time I join Lifemass. Today I choose to come back because I have a feeling that there is gonna be a great awakening and God really indeed need every single hand to move His Kingdom. I responded. And He welcome me with a bang. A double bang.haha.

Well to cut things short which I always do anyway, this post is specially dedicated for you and I hope to see those total hits climbing up.cheers.

p/s:Actually a lot I want to write but I leave it for next time.

I was so shocked. I always have this thing which I don’t feel very comfortable standing and become the focus of attention. I rather choose to do something behind the scene or out of the public view. Don’t ask me why because I don’t know why! It is just me.

Maybe I should just go on AWOL. It will save me all the trouble.haha.It’s not the first time though. They will see it coming.lol.

Funny, I even thought maybe they want to earn some money through advert or something. By the way, is it really possible? hehe. Really makes me wonder…

When I do something, I do it with a clear objective. At least that’s what I thought so. As I write my 1st post, I sense purpose. Reason.

The reason I step into this bloggin stuff is to put my thoughts in a readable form (I don’t know whether it is the correct word, english teacher please advise.haha). Of course you expect people to read your blog.

Deep inside my thoughts, I blog because I yearn to be listened and have my thoughts heard by others. I believe I’m not alone in this… It is not because I have no friends or no life but because I have a lot of friends that I want to share the abundance of life which I was priviledged to have.

Thank You God for this gift of life.