View of Star Cruise Superstar Virgo's roof deck from the cable car ride we took to Sentosa.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Sunday, June 05, 2005
COLA?
Apparently, the government is planning to implement a 5-day work week for civil servants. And, they'll be re-implementing the COLA - cost of living allowance - which was stopped in 1974.
Question 1 : Does a 5-day work week mean that people like us now have to take leave in order to get things done at government offices? Even now, Saturdays are the busiest days at most government offices.
Even if they implement an extra half-hour worth of work to replace the non-working Saturday, it's not going to help much. Particularly as it may probably just give an extra half-hour of "minum" time.
In actual fact, it really doesn't matter if they get things done really efficiently and work productively during the normal working hours. I mean, the Immigration department can do it so efficiently, how come the NRD or other such depts seem to lack behind in providing timely service?
Question 2 : How do you calculate a COLA?
Do you do it like how you calculate the Consumer Price Index - CPI? Where you take a basket of basic goods and measure its price increase percentage?
Again, it'd be a non-issue if productivity in the civil sector was at a reasonable level. Give them a raise for productivity if you need to. Or promote efficient staff. Do what the private sector does and reward those who should be rewarded. I don't see why taxpayers should pay for the living allowance of civil servants.
"The paper said Cola should be a very reasonable amount, especially for the lower income group, which had been badly hit by the escalating cost of living brought about by rising fuel prices." (The Star, June 2). And who foots our now-increased cost of living??? (Yes, still bitter about the fuel increase. Especially fueled by rumors of another 10-cent increase within the year).
But, no actual plans have been announced yet. So, maybe my shallow understanding of what COLA really is may have tainted my opinion.
My opinion on what's happening in the country is not at its optimistic best right now. Did you read about the RM 1 billion that the country loses every year in import taxes for luxury cars because special permits had been given to a select group of unnamed individuals to pay less taxes? Hmm, I always wondered why the Naza showroom near my house could have such beautiful luxury cars displayed in the windows just like that.
Question 1 : Does a 5-day work week mean that people like us now have to take leave in order to get things done at government offices? Even now, Saturdays are the busiest days at most government offices.
Even if they implement an extra half-hour worth of work to replace the non-working Saturday, it's not going to help much. Particularly as it may probably just give an extra half-hour of "minum" time.
In actual fact, it really doesn't matter if they get things done really efficiently and work productively during the normal working hours. I mean, the Immigration department can do it so efficiently, how come the NRD or other such depts seem to lack behind in providing timely service?
Question 2 : How do you calculate a COLA?
Do you do it like how you calculate the Consumer Price Index - CPI? Where you take a basket of basic goods and measure its price increase percentage?
Again, it'd be a non-issue if productivity in the civil sector was at a reasonable level. Give them a raise for productivity if you need to. Or promote efficient staff. Do what the private sector does and reward those who should be rewarded. I don't see why taxpayers should pay for the living allowance of civil servants.
"The paper said Cola should be a very reasonable amount, especially for the lower income group, which had been badly hit by the escalating cost of living brought about by rising fuel prices." (The Star, June 2). And who foots our now-increased cost of living??? (Yes, still bitter about the fuel increase. Especially fueled by rumors of another 10-cent increase within the year).
But, no actual plans have been announced yet. So, maybe my shallow understanding of what COLA really is may have tainted my opinion.
My opinion on what's happening in the country is not at its optimistic best right now. Did you read about the RM 1 billion that the country loses every year in import taxes for luxury cars because special permits had been given to a select group of unnamed individuals to pay less taxes? Hmm, I always wondered why the Naza showroom near my house could have such beautiful luxury cars displayed in the windows just like that.
I've got the latest Coldplay album - X & Y :) I shall now turn all melancholic and temperamental while lasting this phase :)
Yesterday was spent traversing the PLUS highway. Took 4 hours to drive to PD (it was bumper-to-bumper from before Sungai Besi toll and all the way till I exited at the 2nd Seremban exit). Argh. Spent 6 hours in PD and then decided to head back home (thankfully, it was only a short 90-minute drive home to PJ). Reason why was because of paranoia. The ground floor apartment had, like, five exits / entrances - the main door, the sliding door, the fire exit, the rear exit, the dry area exit. Argh. And with only me, my mum, my li'l brother and the maid, it didn't seem very safe to remain there. So, headed back home to the supposed safety of home and a peaceful night's sleep.
Yesterday was spent traversing the PLUS highway. Took 4 hours to drive to PD (it was bumper-to-bumper from before Sungai Besi toll and all the way till I exited at the 2nd Seremban exit). Argh. Spent 6 hours in PD and then decided to head back home (thankfully, it was only a short 90-minute drive home to PJ). Reason why was because of paranoia. The ground floor apartment had, like, five exits / entrances - the main door, the sliding door, the fire exit, the rear exit, the dry area exit. Argh. And with only me, my mum, my li'l brother and the maid, it didn't seem very safe to remain there. So, headed back home to the supposed safety of home and a peaceful night's sleep.
Friday, June 03, 2005
Lotsa stuff happening.
House alarm triggered one night. I heard noises in the study room next to my bedroom. Called my mum and she called the police. Police came (amazingly efficiently in 5 minutes) and scouted our house for us. Hobbled around and we lost about 2 hours of sleep that night. On a work day some more :P
Therefore, this episode has suddenly made me realise why people say you pay maintenance charges (when you live in apartments) for security. The word security now has a different meaning to me. At least in apartments you don't have to be afraid of people climbing down through your ceiling boards to scare you out of your sweet dreams.
Handed in my 3rd assignment for the semester. One more to go, due end of this month. But right now, this weekend, I'm free. For a while. Mummy requested me to drive her and my brother down to PD for the weekend. So ok lor.
Note for all of us : it's the beginning of the middle of the year.
House alarm triggered one night. I heard noises in the study room next to my bedroom. Called my mum and she called the police. Police came (amazingly efficiently in 5 minutes) and scouted our house for us. Hobbled around and we lost about 2 hours of sleep that night. On a work day some more :P
Therefore, this episode has suddenly made me realise why people say you pay maintenance charges (when you live in apartments) for security. The word security now has a different meaning to me. At least in apartments you don't have to be afraid of people climbing down through your ceiling boards to scare you out of your sweet dreams.
Handed in my 3rd assignment for the semester. One more to go, due end of this month. But right now, this weekend, I'm free. For a while. Mummy requested me to drive her and my brother down to PD for the weekend. So ok lor.
Note for all of us : it's the beginning of the middle of the year.
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