Pain Truth 2

FEW months back, my wife renewed her contract with the mobile operator and she gets new model phone. The phone is Sony Ericsson's model Xperia and we had to pay $95 cash as we took value 100 minutes plan. It's easy to sign new contract here being a valid work pass holder. The problem came to us when she receive the first call. This model is touch screen and it's first time we are experience as we are currently use basic function mobile handset. What happened to us? We really didn't know how to response incoming call so that we can listen and talk to caller. We both see each other and just let ring alone until caller hang down.

We tapped several places but failed. In fact, we are supposed to drag the slide bar to left/right. Instead we tap here and tap there. We were upsetting ourselves and I try to read manual book into greater detail. We feel embarrassing to call and ask one of our friends who may know/ familiar with touch screen phone. It took us two days to understand eventually. Unfortunately, the manual book didn't mention how to answer because users are deemed understand these kind of basic feature. In fact, we both are too simple and not IT-savvy. I am sure even a primary school student could know how to use it.

Lets us go back to the place we left. Owning a hand phone is impossible for a upper middle class person in my country. It's invented only for super rich people, we thought. It's just for high-profile officer and we rate it as a luxury item. Imagine how much will it be? About 7 year ago, being an civil engineer, I earned about 50,000 Ks (S$ 70) per month and that time one mobile sim-card cost our people about 5 million (S$ 7,143). It's not easy to get one even you are afford to pay it. Because the hand phone market are tightly controlled by government. The quality? You can't make a call while you are in the house or car. Only certain part of city can be made a call. You can't make a call countrywide. To be fair, from one year ago, the phone market become a bit flexible after government allow private to invest. But it's still out of reach by ordinary person and consider expensive compare to regional countries market. Nowadays we can get a line (sim card) as cheap as 500,000 Ks (S$ 714) and basic hand set will cost about 100,000 Ks (S$142). But be prepare for unable to make successful call easily while your credit is cut.

You might have been laugh to learn our experience on unable to answer a call previously. But I hope you may understand the situation of us after reading my explanation of phone market in our country. We just have a new government led by a new president. They are going to get a power from the Junta from April 1. Hopefully our newly fake civilian government MPs can bring this to attention in favour of people's better living standard.

May our new president be able to make meaningful policies to ease people's plight and free from anybody's shadow behind.

Mentor's Judgement

I'M JUST sharing a paragraphs from the Lee Kuan Yew's latest book with regard to my country. I believe you will be interested if you are my fellow citizen what he said about our country when an author from ST asked him. Just read it and think it over carefully. For sure, I don't want to offend anybody by posing this.

Q: What is your best guess about Myanmar and whether you see major changes in that society over the next decade or so?

A: You either have revolution by consent or revolution by violence. How long can this leadership stay? How long can the next leadership stay? It will pass on to a younger group of colonels. They are isolated, they can see Thailand progressing. Yes, they are getting richer personally, but the country is getting poorer: poor doctors, no medicines, no education, you want your country to be like that? So if they've got any brains they will open up. And when you open up, you got to educate your people. When you educate your people, certain consequences follow. So I don't see them getting on.

I've given up with this lot. Any American comes, I say, look, speak to the younger ministers. I was speaking to Khin Nyunt, he's the most intelligent of the generals, he was in charge of intelligence and I persuaded him to go the Indonesian way, take off your uniform, form a party, go for elections and present yourself as a political force. They were heading that way. Then Suharto fell. They said this is wrong advice. Don't talk to me about Myanmar. I've already written them of for my lifetime.

Pain Truth 1

I WAS fourth in line in the queue of an ATM machine few months back in Peninsular plaza. One of my fellow citizen is trying to withdraw the cash from his bank card. He took longer than usual and everybody is paying attention on his behavior. So did I. Being same country man myself with him, I could able to understand his plight more than others especially those from other countries who are in line. He is distraught infront of the machine and busy with making calls so that he can get some help from his friends. I curiously starred at him and realize the matter. He talked to his friend through mobile phone......

man : hello, I can't withdraw your money in this machine.
friend: are you sure you press the correct pin no?
man : yes I did.
frd : then what's wrong with you?
man : I didn't know where the money come out.
frd : hmmmmm, is it first time you are using ATM?
man : yes I am, once I saw money, it's too late to collect because it go back to its original slot.
frd : shits
man : what should I do, frd, I have to go KL by this evening and no time ready to catch the bus.
frd : there is a customer helpline phone beside the ATM, use it for help.
man : ok, ok,,,,,,

He step back and looking around for the phone with the fully excitement face. He found it and dial...

officer : hello, how can I help you?
man : hmmm,,,I'm losing my money at ATM,
He tried to talk by halting English and the officer appear do not understand. Man repeated and later he give it up and went away. I saw the situation and didn't help him. It's too bad attitude not to take opportunity to help a man who is in really need somebody's help. Especially being the same countrymen, I should have help him to solve out problem by whatever I can. I recall those incident and regret it. But I fully understand this kind of situation as I myself had personal experience few years back while I was working in KL, Malaysia.

You may never know how difficult is it to get even bank account unless you have been from one of poor countries like my native land. In my country, people widely use the cash in their daily expenses. They even paid by cash for buying a car, an apartment, etc. Because bank facilities are not accessible at all place. Even among the biggest cities, it's just for mega-rich people. So being just an ordinary person, it's not possible to have a bank account. Since my country is always in dark, I mean electricity is not available by 24 hours unless your place is high profile army people's residential area. So few existing banks can't running certain bank service like ATM. The quality of money would be another reason for unable to use ATM machine in my country.

When I was working in Malaysia, we all understand that the safety in Malaysia is too risky and we don't want to keep money in hand or somewhere in the room due to safety reason. I was working in down town area and my office is surrounded by several banks and office towers. I used to walk through ATM machines and I was crazy to get my own bank account/ ATM card so that I can save money in it. But it seem impossible for a foreign worker like me. The bank's rule and regulation effectively bar a foreign worker like me. There is one thing I need to get is having one guarantor who must be locals. It's not easy to have guarantor and my employer also don't want to recognize it. So I just dreamed it. Nothing beyond that.

But when I came to S'pore for working, I surprisingly found that all employees are needed their own bank account so that the employer can pay their salaries through i-banking. Other reason is the government wants to know the cash flow of each company I think. Anyway I finally have a personal saving account that can be use as ATM card as well. In Singapore, it's seem nothing but a normal card to everybody. But for a man from poor country, it's like a dream come true.

There must be a reason

SINGAPOREAN keep complain for influx of foreigners and the government keep explaining them it's a must to maintain island state's dynamic economy until their throat become dry. But its people seem not satisfy and fully understand to these serial explanation. Does it mean Singaporean don't know how to grateful to those whom they owe for their tirelessly contribution? It's obvious that all foreigners are coming here with the prospect of earning more and raising their family's living standard by those famous money because Singapore has been greener and better opportunity compare to their native land. That's why they are willing to work all kind of blue-collar works that are sham by locals. They are happy to work OT while locals even don't want to imagine. Some of my friends need to work even 7 days a week.

No matter how hard work we are, the local see us their rivals who are taking their breads at workplace and schools. I see Singapore's market is much open to all internationals and policy is encouraging to all able person. They, locals, don't need to worry about losing job or missing opportunities as long as they are competent. I believe those who voice loudest are among the grass-root communities who has been less educated. If well educated people are so much concerned with the same matter, then I see there has been wrong with this tiny state. We, foreigners, clearly know that we must hard work for little wages compare to local. There is no choice but hard working to survive here.

If the wages is same, the work load would be likely double or triple, I am sure. Few days back, I read MM Lee's book in which there is one chapter regarding to foreign influx and side affect to local society. He's so much confident with the policy he seriously made with this issue. He seem don't care about the voice of laymen. Since he's an intelligent man, of course he has a thousand answer for a single question that is raised by few ST journalists in the interview. He explained that he know exactly what really concern to Singaporean with those immigrants.

The locals are blaming the government for competition of promotion and salary raise at the workplace. Also they are not happy when the childs of new immigrants are scoring top at school and they think of their own child are going to lose or face difficulties when the PRs students are taking those creams. Top of that, he highlighted that all local company's employers are given $300 subsidy amount for every Singaporean employee they employ. But they (employer) still prefer to keep foreign workers despite they have to pay levies for them. He stresses there might be a reason for taking this decision. The answer is already crystal clear why FTs are needed here.

They (bosses) all know that foreign workers are back bone of their business because the problems are mainly exist with locals usually. Why? Those locals people are jumping one after another if they are offered better packages. It show lack of loyalty and at one point just chasing for money rather than contribution their best to current one who help them when they are in need for jobs. You may not see the same situation among foreign workers. Other than that foreign worker are happy to work beyond normal working hours while locals afraid of it and they don't care how urgent is it when the time come to end of office hour.

The government is extraordinarily smart and they realize that they can't meet their objective of productivity without FTs / FWs. So they remain unchanged whenever there is some type of protest or voices out by some part of communities. It's not permanent problem that the public transport become crowded. The government keep upgrading their infra-structure work and most of foreign workers would return home by the time they are not wanted. We (FTs/ FWs) all know this very well are we are prepared for the day we would be kicked out of this island. But it's not fair to us to seeing them unwelcome to its visitors who came here to help build their home/ road/ gardens/ schools, etc.

We all are social animals and we all can feel those ill treatments. Why shouldn't we deserve their welcome while we are here to fill the void the locals left? We earn hard money and save as much as possible so that we can reunite with our loved ones behind. We know no other place is better than home. Nobody loves to stay away from the home land. We are here doesn't mean we are going to invade and taking the pie who is initially belong to you. If you think like that then you are dead wrong. May be some percentage of immigrant workers adore the environment of city state. Without a better opportunities, who will come and work here? It's normal and that's why brains are draining all over the world. It keep going and will continue in the future as long as the gap is large/ huge.

May all the locals understand the hard truth of foreign worker presence here with a temporary basis.

SME worker, I am

SINCE I arrive to this island state, I have been working with local SME and pretty enjoy in term of job volume and incentive. But it dramatically changed in the wake of 2009 recession as my local company is acquisition by a well known UK based MNC. The new owner initially agreed not to interrupt our prevailing system as my company can make profit more than 20 millions annually and it seems meet their target from the investment of taking over this local company. Since this SME has some degree of reputation among peers especially from the deep foundation sector domestically. We were happy to learn that the new owner will let the existing management staff to continue for at least 3 years onwards.

Being local SME, it's obvious that our system and management are not as good as theirs as they are world's biggest foundation in term of market according to their advertisement. They have several office across the continents and head quarter is existing in the Germany. So my company became a member of their group of company. But the situation started to change after the mother company found out the loose system of us. So they gradually invade to our system and check from all possible angle. Of course we are upsetting being investigated by somebody else. In fact, they are not happy with the way we report to them because our report are not accurate as they expect. Since they caught this weakpoint, they seem loosing confident in us and keep checking on us.

My current company has 3 kinds of ISO certification which mean we are recognized by internationally independent firm in term of quality & management. But I notice that we are committing some offense by not complying the way we are suppose to. Finally we were caught by our mother company, not ISO firm. I'm not shocked to be rated as a bad in reporting sector. We usually don't have such practice before as local company just paying attention to realistic rather than filing/theories. But this company has made some reputation by our own ways. The problem is our owner company is not happy. So do we.

Then what happen to us? We are over assigned without giving extra man power. We need to do extra job in reporting which is not necessary for us. Anyway we know what we have to expect if we can't establish our own business. As long as we are not our own boss, there might have been at least one person who manipulate us. It's inevitable. So I tried to digest those over loaded jobs. The problem is I have no senior or department head. Worse? there are 3 QS in this company and all are same fellow citizen. Since we all are coming from a far poorer country, we are treated with a different categories. Everybody here seem superior to us and they are just playing with the assignments they receive. I mean they just pass here and there to their inferiors. Eventually most of jobs come to us and we have nobody to share our job but do it ourselves.

Who take care of us? Nobody. People would remember us when they have something to do. But they'll stay away for recommendation when the time come for raise or promotion. I feel it's not fair to us. In fact, we can tender resignation if we don't like the environment. But it's easier said than done especially for a foreign worker like me. So I try to swallow all incoming pains and wait for a right time. I honestly do my best within working hours without letting my body to rest. At some time, I even forget to drink water/ go toilet because I am too focus on job. These days, I notice that I am really exhausted after working hour. Sometime it seem not enough to recharge my losing energy by overnight as I am not as fresh as before when I wake up. But I understand I have to take it regardless of like or unlike.

The fact is that while I'm super busy, some of my colleagues who are mostly locals have luxury time to talk about non-sense around. They are noisy neighbour for not. Nothing less. They may think themselves that they are much superior to us and used to bully us when thing goes against them. They always look for me for helping their jobs. They are paid for doing their job. But they still distracting me. If I am confusing, they say I'm not obedient. I learned a lot from them. I understand the different between kind and selfish people. Also I realize how important the management is to succeed the organization. I promise myself not to do whatever I don't like people doing by the time I get upper hand in my life time.

This, too, shall pass away.

When an action meets reaction

ONCE MM Lee told his people that they can't compare with other countries when it come to national defense. He highlighted that a 700 sq km island state has 400 warplanes while far bigger size New Zealand has only 50. It's because Singapore has Muslim neighbour countries who are not happy with the island state's success. Moreover nobody will come help if they are bullied by other because they has no natural resources. He gave one instance that US protected Kuwait from the invasion of Iraq due to its vast oil. This words make me think some time before I could continue reading his latest book.

Logically his saying is correct and it has been proof by other example now. We all know that US and its ally are now attacking Libya by citing the misconduct of ruling government as well as protecting civilian's lives. Any reason they can give for their legal invasion since they are given a green light by UN security council. I don't know what are the rules to comply by the members of UN there. So I can think of layman way that is it a right move by western forces? Probably yes if the Gaddafi has failed to do what the government is suppose to do for its people. Generally we all guess that he is ruling his country against the people desire. It's obvious that he seems so powerful to topple by unarmed people.

After learning recent civilian success around the region of middle east and some part of Africa, people might have thought different ways that they can be a major turning point if they are hugely united in opposing to what they dislike. I believe it gave some braveness to civilian and drive them out of home to demonstrate their will. In this case, it is not more than but a domestic affair between a government and its people. I mean not like an Iraq and Kuwait case. So UN may choose another option rather than intervention. But it's US and some western countries who desperately love oil. It may urge them to force UN to issue a way in favor of theirs.

OK lets us consider it's a good move by NATO and UN. What matter to me is why the same not happening to us when our government seems unfair to us. Is it because we don't have enough oil to convince UN & western ally? Does it mean our government is treating us fairer than what Iraq & Libya has done? Does it mean our people are not as brave as African? It can be either one of above. But for sure, we have vast natural resources as well as geopolitically attractive to any other big boy in this world. I get a lesson from this latest battle that UN can ignore Russia & China's Vito power if they want to take some action against member country in the ground of humanitarian base.

But our people always think that UN is not taking enough action on us. The lucky thing to our ruling junta is that there would have been somethings more important in this world when they are under scrutiny. Nevertheless we all world's citizen especially for those from communist like countries will be eased by witnessing the case of libya now. I believe any government ruling with an iron grip will feel that the world is no longer the same as before and they are shown by Libya crisis. Hopefully all government who treat its people badly may have understand and take a right change with the interest of their own lives.

May all citizen of this planet be free from worry, fear and poverty.

Braves Vs Cowards

I'M Overwhelming to read a news that Japan's PM was rejecting Tepco's proposal of withdrawal of its employees from a stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant soon after it is hit by 9M earthquake and 10m height tsunami. The management company might have assess it's going to be uphill task and almost a mission impossible. But their PM didn't bow their proposal by rejecting it. PM said it is not a just matter of TEPCO but a matter of Japan's nuclear history. So he push TEPCO back on track in save of 4 decades old nuclear power plant. More importantly saving this nuclear plant will give ways to its peer plants to get green light in future. Otherwise the people would ask the government to demolish all running nuclear plants in the aftermath of this twin disaster.

The good things is that the authority put people's lives as a first priority. He can favor TEPCO's proposal as they are professionals and PM won't better understand than what they are. After receiving reject, Tepco used plan B in favor of saving their aging plant by trying their best. Some 200 people offer their willing to fight and top management made 4x 50 people shifts that later well know in the world's media as "Fukushima 50". They are taking this death-sentence like responsibility without being forced by somebody else. What a good professional are they? I would prefer to say them as heroes. Because only those with strong determination or patriotism can handle this kind of situation. There are some people who are not happy with their decision. Who else is it other than their family members? Once I read some messages to and from their family members, I was teary. It's very much sentimental. Just imagine if they are your family breadwinner. We should give super credit to them, not only for their effort to its nation, but for the world's nuclear power reliance countries. Because if they can make it successfully, people will know better about nuclear technology in future. At least they can avoid similar mistake in future by building equake-proof reactors.

Those Fukushima 50 are tirelessly doing within the severely affect radiation compound without enough foods to eat. They need to wear air-tight suit that are not totally prevent them from getting radiation. Their life will not be the same even if they can stop this stricken nuclear plant's crisis. Because they have been infected exceeding limited amount. I don't know how does it effect exactly to their life after that. But I know is they are battling with an impossible mission. While they are struggling with this, some people who are living few hundreds kilometer away from Fukushima plant are busy with fleeing Japan. It makes air-fare surge and even unable to fulfill demanded passengers. Some rich governments are arranging some charter flight for their expatriate citizens.

What a very much opposite mission is it? Some are braving themselves for the sake of its people at the expense of their own lives. On the other hand, some people are running away from potentially danger zone to save their life. We can see the different part of selfish and coward. Anyway people can decide on what they think is right. Only matter is how meaningfully are they. Meanwhile, my fellow citizens who are working in Asia's richest country are upsetting by seeing our own embassy close it's doors. What an frustrating experience is it? What is the purpose of putting counselor service there is it? I think they are not employed just only to take income tax but also need to offer some help when it is necessary. It's unfair to those who pay tax loyally unable to get help when they are fallen into the troubles. I myself is migrant worker in different country and can sympathize the plight of my fellow citizens there.

May the authority able to do their mission meaningfully as they are paid for that.

Show your mercy a bit

ONCE John F. Kennedy said "my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country". Sound so great to hear. I don't know if it is really come out of his innocent mind or not. It's less or more likely to convince people's trust in him since he is a famous politician. I hope it is actual reflection of his attitude as those famous words remain alive few decades after he has been assassinated. I wonder what if he will have said if he was a typical Burmese citizen.

In my country, people can't access a proper education unless they afford the school/tuition fees. So does public health care. The government hospital boast with a signboard which read "only pay for what you used". Meaning patient doesn't need to pay for professional fees as well as room rental fees. But in actual life, it's hard to get a doctor's attention unless a patient is afford. Even a floor cleaner won't do their works properly if they are not given any tip money. The patient would rather like to die at home than going hospital without money. Because all the people know that they may need to buy everything at hospital even a needle. There is no medicine at hospital. As a result, private hospitals are appeared one after another. The doctors & nurses would be found in the private hospitals/ clinic rather than public ones. But their attendance would be full and take salary at the end of month. Let it happen in Burma. Just ignore it.

Education? You can't be graduate unless your family afford. Then what happen after graduation? Not much different with uneducated people. No guarantee to get job either at public or private. Since education's quality goes down to drain, the varsity and college can produce only quantity rather than quality. It look like they are producing burdens for government and society. What has wrong to us? A lack of system. At some area, system is in place, but failed to enforce as everywhere we can't avoid bribery. The govt staff would complain to do their jobs if they don't get tip money. People know their intentional job can be done by the time they pay tea/pocket money.

Communication? I think we have the worst communication service among the region. No other country would experience the news that people can buy hand phone freely in the market. In this world even a primary school student use a hand phone so that they are kept contact with their parent/relatives. In my country, our people need to submit application form to buy a line which is equivalent to SIM card. We need to pay the most expensive for a phone in the region for a flawful line. Most of the time, our hand phone is out of connection. Then what for people are buying it? It's just for proud only. They might feel they are privileged for able to hold a handset in their hand at the present of public. People easily rate a person with a phone as a rich person. Funny enough, right? But it's really happen to this isolation state.

Then what is free in this poor country? Our babies get free injection to prevent certain deceases. It's not because govt subsidies. It's offered by WHO and UNICEF. Where does our tax go then? Probably most of them is absorbed to improve our defense service. And some part will go to public service such as infra-structures. Disaster hit rural areas are still struggling with the getting enough foods and clean water access. They are relying on the assorted NGOs rather than local authorities. The government is busying with two things. One is fighting with ethnic rebels and another is planning to sell our natural resources. We don't know how they allocate those public money. It's totally go blindly and no people are interested in it. It's huge amount of dollars getting from selling our natural resources such as oil & gas, gems, forest products, etc. But our people are still living in hungry.

Being graduate, I need to compensate sudden amount to government for the subsidies amount that is bear by state if I want to go and work at abroad. It's fair to pay and we all understand that. But we need to spend for all government related document in order to get an oversea job. We are fully responsible for all outcomes. Nobody will take it but to swallow ourselves. Once we are working in abroad, we need to pay the world's highest income tax as at 10% of income. Being migrant workers, we are required to pay the reside country's tax as well. It cost us double tax. But paying tax is not stopping to us when we need to buy something in the country. Recently I bought a land in my hometown and build a house for my future. I am asked by custom officer to pay tax. Hmm, I told her it is built by money after paying tax. She insists me pay or later unable to get house permit. It look like I feel robbed. What I can do then? Nothing but pay because I have no power to refuse as well as no place to complain. But we have to live in such environment.

Ok we pay income tax loyally and wonder what if there is some unfair things to us. Are we really able to rely on embassy? Most likely no. I know it from experience. I have heard a lot sad stories related with our embassy since I began oversea work 6 years ago. I am upsetting to learn a news that Myanmar embassy of Tokyo is closed in order to avoid people's seeking helps. I don't know if it is rumour or not but I see it some evidence photo that show announcement. Every embassy is trying their best to save their fellow citizen's lives in Japan's disaster. Meanwhile our fellow citizen who are also tax payer would find our only one authority oversea close is pity. Where to go for seeking help then? Where gone our traditionally genial attitude? Has our people been greedy and selfish? I am not happy to learn such things at any time. Please take responsible because you are paid for that. Understand your salary come from people's tax. So save your breadwinner's lives.

Disaster Nation

OH God!!!!! 6.0 M earthquake hit eastern Japan again within a time frame of few days interval after history made 8.9M merciless earthquake his north eastern Japanese coast. It's too much to handle alone by an any particular state. Even a richest country of Asia like Japan collapsed to its knee and pledge to international community for their helping hands. The first super quake came together with an angry tsunami and has claimed more than 10,000 lives to date and still counting. The blast of nuclear reactor plant make the situation bad to worse. Japanese people are still struggling with a rescue and relief effort, the another 6.0M earthquake hit again.

What did Japanese do wrongly in past? From the angle of religion, they suffer now to reflect the actions of their previous life. I don't know this kind of supernatural matter is correct or not. But I know is Japanese people are the most active people with international donations/ charities. They always think of helping poor countries and sharing their rich with those who need worldwide. They why are they suffering from this kind of tragedy? Why are they being punished like this? If one person's life is suppose to reflect the attitude of he, then Japanese people deserve flawless life I think. But the real thing is they need to handle almost daily with the small earthquake. It make them ever-ready mode people as well as most united people in the world. The media highlighted their attitude that they are not screaming even they are exposed to such mega devastating disaster. They are still cool and looking around quickly. What an amazing people are they? Nobody will think of today disasters happening one day in the country of sunrise.

Since they are not a selfish country, no wonder they are receiving several generous offers from a lot of countries. I trust in the quality of Japan's authority in handling disaster settlement and hopefully they can heal their people's wounds as soon as possible. Wish them overcome this bad moment with the heart of samurai. Good luck Japan. We'll be happy to see you stand up again and lead Asia in the world community. I think this is not first time for you to fall to ground. You have gone through a lot bad moment previously and we believe in you that you can cope with all incoming troubles. Eventually you will come back to world stage as a stronger nation than before.

Chasing A Blue Card

TODAY is 15/03/2011, Tuesday, a day I give second attempt to ICA to get a permanent status. It has been over 2 years I failed in first attempt. Since then, I thoroughly read a situation of giving away new PR from the island state while I am improving myself to secure extra points. But I found there is nothing changes in policy and even make it worse than past. The government keep saying they need foreign talent to attract FDI as well as to fill the void the Singaporean shy to do. Another good reason for importing FT and giving SPR/SC status is in the attempt of fulfilling the national ambition to get substantial birthrate because Singaporean's birthrate is at the alarming level at 1.1%, far lower than replacement rate at 1.6%. So the government opt to newly migrant to settle this problems.

Anyway, the people keep complaining for the influx of FT and government changes some policy that favors significantly to its people. No matter how good is the government is, the people seems no satisfied and the society is much likely to become a demanding society. Being migrant worker, we can't ignore such kind of local issues as they are directly related to us. We can be kicked out at any given time by Authority. The upcoming GE leave ruling party with a less option. It's obvious that they will surely pave the way for its people due to their voting power especially this pre-election time. In view of that, I fully understand the situation won't be back as good as 2008 period.

After visiting friend's son 100 days Birthday two week ago, we decided to resubmit our PR application as we want to live together with our daughter. There is no other ways that can help us bring her in. So I suddenly took E-appointment and today I submitted my documentation. There would be no chance if we don't submit anything. So we step forward though we realize this is not a good time for us to retry. Nevertheless we'll try our best and accept the outcome. We'll let them decide if we are eligible or not. At least they (ICA) will know how serious we are and hopefully we'll get a favourable result this time. With longer residential period, better income, better qualification and of course more attractively with a baby that island state is crazy about, we are very much optimistic this time. No intimidated. How far can you run away from us, Mr. blue card? We're here to bring you down to the earth. :D

Do your part to save our world

IT'S quite clear the world is angry at people and starting to punish back to us. We, people, are not taking care enough of nature given to us as a gift. People seems more demanding from the limited resources of this world and even don't care about the side effects of their activities. Deforestation, continuously emitting of carbon, over fishing, disposal of harmful chemical to oceans, unnecessarily create wars for certain reasons, etc. These all things spoil our world and it seem people are not grateful on their lives. Our planet is originally greenest one in the universe and gives us almost everything we need in life. Gradually this planet become unhealthy due to careless of its residents. Less or more, people from different regions are committing through various type of offense.

Nowadays we all are witnessing artificial and natural disasters more oftenly compare to last few decades. Yesterday a powerful 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japanese main island and devastated the whole regions. The subsequent tsunami made situation bad to worse. Even an earthquake friendly country like Japan can't resist such horrific one as it's history making earthquake. Just think of how many earthquake within a time frame of a week. First New Zealand's Christchurch, then China's Yunnan province and now we are seeing Japan. It's too close to handle by our potential. All these three happening in Asia pacific region and our people should learn some good lessons from those disasters.

We, Asian countries, are boasting as a fastest growing region in the world. Most of the Asia countries are enjoying double digits economy development. They are happy with the rapid recovery from the recent recession. We have to understand that some development are bringing together with negative impact such as environmental issues. Most of the western MNCs are shifting their factories to East where the labour can be available with relatively cheap compare to their native. In this case, some less developing countries has no enough rule setting to prevent them from committing offense of environment. Some companies has no proper plan on how they will manage on the wastages of their factories. Moreover some countries would like to attract MNCs or FDI with the much open and loose rule so that they can create enough jobs for its people. The ruling parties might have thought for a short period as their grip on power can't long enough to experience the side effects of the new investments. They'll deliberately hide the side effect to its people while boasting how they take care of people by creating enough job. They may enjoy instant GDP up but in the long run, they'll end up with the sad story like some countries suffer now.

In the angle of environment issues, the poor country like my native land are most likely to throw away its green land for dollars. Some big countries like China will come investment in small countries who has no strict rules. It'll certainly lead to welcoming disaster in future sooner or later. So I just want to urge our authorities to be wise enough in monitoring FDI if their business is related to our environment. But I think it would be impossible as long as we can't beat corruption and bribery within country. So give civil servants enough salaries and make them free from bribery like Singapore does. On the same time make a reliable governing rules and enforce it at all time. Make sure no one is above the law especially when it come against our environment. It is collective effort to save our world and we have to do our part in putting our world back on its nature.

May all the people on this planet free from disasters.

Help Soft Power

MARCH 8 is international women day and the whole world is celebrating to recognize women's part in building our world. It's good manner to praise them properly since they are irreplaceable people. The real fact is we can survive without men in this world. But imagine what's going to become in this world without them. For sure the birth rate goes down and no replacement source and finally our world's population would reach zero. Lets forget about population, there would be more crime rate unless women exist in this world I think. Because some men will hesitate to do some bad things that women dislike. For example, there is less success rate in only male schools than mix-sex schools. Likewise the same happen in only female schools. There is one saying in my country that "A hand that cradle can rule this universe". How can we have Mr. Obama without his mother? So does Bill Gate.

There are several women who make my life meaningful and enjoyable. They may include my mother, elder sisters, female teachers & friends, wife and of course my little daughter. I won't have been exist in this planet unless my mother was making some attempt to bring in. Thanks mum for her contribution towards my family and me from the day 1 of my life until she departs this world. She taught me how to share good things between siblings. She is not an educated person but she still have some great things to share us. We learned, for instance, the important of honesty among human society from her.

Other than my mother, I have so many women to be grateful in my life as mentioned above. First of all, they must be my elder sisters. Since my father passed away when I was so young and mum was always busy with house-works, they became sole guardian of my life. They are my early teachers as well as my playmates. They raised my life all the ways from KG students to university graduate. We are not a rich family and we need to share most common things in daily life such as clothes, foods, school text-books, etc. I think it makes us bond and united than those who are from economically better families. We help each other when we are doing our daily jobs helping to house works. When I went to institute, my supply source came from my sisters who work in civil sectors. They needed to save their hard earning to enable providing me in necessities. Now we all are quite independent. Some have been married and some still spinsters. But we are loving each other like before when we have time spend together. The time never change our attitude.

Secondly, I have few female teachers who has helped my life through their kindness. I recall my younger days that I can't afford to pay tuition fees because there are so many school children within family. My parent are not working adults. The only thing they can do for money is just selling their valuable items such as gold jeweleries, furniture, etc. By time, these properties are gone and they are helpless to create enough income for 5 school going childs. Of course we are suffering from that, we don't want to take tuition though we need them. In that point, some female teachers who are conducting tuition offered us for free. It look likes a scholarship to us. We would be down when the time come to end of the month in the non-sponsor tuition. The teacher will remind repeatedly to take tuition fees at the end of month. My parent would seek some loans from the relatives to ease the pressure of ours. So I would like to express my thankfulness to those teacher who has a kind heart. I have other kind teachers who helped me pass through difficult moments in life. I will have to write a long story if I am suppose to write them all about.

I can't ignore some friend's effort in stepping my life's ladder. It's most likely to be female friends as I notice that most of clever school-mates or college-mates are women. Since I aim high, it's inevitable to make them my friend so that I can ask for some help. I couldn't have gone further without their helps. They will always be ready to help my problems not only school related but life's matters. I think without some good friends, somebody can't go much further. I appreciate the important of friends but I have few good friends in my life. I am quite stubborn in making new friends as my own ruler to assess new friend appear quite strict. I don't want to friend to those who are not good at academy results. Probably it make me weak in social relationship and effectively impact on my interpersonal skills. Anyway I can't forget the important of my very good friends in my life. I won't have been here today without their contributions.

Another person I have to thank would be my wife. She devoted much of her time in helping me since she was my ordinary college-mate through my life's partner. She changed my life a lot. She always reminds me on things I am not expertise. She'll highlight on the things I am wrongly doing. Without her, my life would be much like a boat without a peddle. She made me a husband as well as a father by delivering our very first child recently. Nobody would have given me better gift as she did. I am very much grateful for her loving kindness and effort to make me more mature man. Without her, how can I imagine a family life? I owe her my life in deed and hopefully I can perform as a good husband for her in the rest of my life.

The last person I want to appreciate is my newly world, called my daughter. She came into my life without signal. She board on this planet in the date she wanted rather than our designation date. What a strange is she? Something more? Yes she is assumed that reincarnation of my best friend. Sound strange? I hope my thinking is not baseless because my deceased friend continuously gave us dream just before we knew my wife has a pregnancy. It was surprise as we had no intention to start family life since we are yet to settle in new life. Being migrant workers, we wanted to make some enough fund to begin family life. But our daughter came at the time she wanted. But we later thanks her for coming early as we both are mid 30 now. We are not considered young couple in deed. Again we face a difficult task to leave her at our home town so that we can go back work for dollar at oversea country. It's quite bitter to taste for a new family. She is just victim and we are failing to give our love to her enough. Thanks her for not creating any problem since she came to our life. She is as smart as it is. We love her so much and we always try to seek a way to reunited with her here now. Hopefully we can manage a day to come sooner or later.

In this world, there have been voice for gender equality. There has been some rules that effectively bar women's right in this world. They are the target of human trafficking and I believe most of unfair stories are not surfaced in favor of male's power. I am disappointed to learn that the a muslim man can marry up to 4 wives officially while the Muslim woman who went wrong can be stoned till death. It's totally wrong concept and unfair I believe. I am surprise to see such kind of unfair rule are still working in this modernized world. I read news oftenly about sexually abusive to them. Some employers rape their maids who has less chance to get justice. Recently Indonesia's maid's murder to her Saudi employer is a good example. She is sentence to death for her defense. I don't think it's fair verdict. It's universal right for everybody to defend themselves if the danger arisen. She should be released unconditionally. The Indonesia government is trying to help her and wish her good luck and get revised sentence. Some teacher are taking sexual advantages from their female student by misusing their power. The most strange news make me shock is father rape their own daughters. What a bullish effort? Such kind of people shouldn't be within our society. Thanks for any justice/ laws that prevent the safety of our women. Hopefully the international communities can seek a better collaboration to generate more relevant rules that can put all possible offenders at they bay.

Give me a second chance

DEAR my precious child, It has been over 4 months since we left you for oversea job. Thanks for keeping your health at optimum that make us a bit comfort here an ocean away. We are happy once we know you are healthy and growing steadily. Up to last month, you are following the way your nanny does and we are surprised your improvement on the way you respond to your guardians. They told me that you have been starting to demand on what you love and to complain on what you hate. As a little girl of 8 months old, it's incredible for us to hearing your action regarding to your daily routine. We of course happy when we are told that you are enjoying your life by playing, eating new foods day after day, sleeping soundly, etc.

For any parent, the complaints of their child would be a music to their ears. But I'm not sure if it is the same to others who take care of you in the absent of us. I sincerely hope they'll give you a close quality of your parent's love as they are also your relatives. Nevertheless your mum and I, being your parent, will never comfort until the day we can live together under the same roof. Your mum still crying at the bed time at night and keep complaining me for making this mission failed. I may need to accept her accusation by listening only. Because I have no proper answer to her merciless questions with regard to our family time. In the attempt of moving a right step, I made e-Appointment to give a try with ICA last week. I'll submit our application on coming Tuesday for second time attempt despite the chance is so tiny for us. I'll let the authority know how keen we are on this application and at the same time hope they'll make a favourable decision to make our family reunited.

Your mum and I wish you may possess a good, healthy, happy, success and prosperous life together with your family ahead. First thing first, baby, Lets see how the karma perform this time.

Don't demolish your home

IF A COUNTRY is considered a home to its people, the ruling party is a household leader. Everything about the situation of this home reflect the ability of this man because all family member rely on him. He may need to out to find bread and butter for his family. He may have to work enough job so that all expenses can be paid. No matter what he does as long as he support this family to his children. He may refurnish the house when he got extra earn. He may sell out some part of heritage when he has short budget. He may try to plant some vegetable in the empty ground behind the house so as to minimize kitchen bills. Anyway, he is skeleton of the whole family and he is responsible for all outcomes regardless of good or bad.

It has been few years our people suffer from extra-ordinary weather. They need to brave chilly cold in the winter days while they need to resist hell-like hot in the summer days. On rainy season, they will be sick and tired of waiting monsoon rain coming the right time for cultivation. They used alternative expensive method to cultivate when the rain appear never come right time. Things become bad to worse when the angry rain come at the unwanted time such as right time to collect crop at final stage. It effectively spoil their whole season efforts and of course severely effect their solely income. They have nowhere to complain but point the faith/bad luck. They have no body who might assist of their relief. They have no idea but swallow all pains coming in their daily life. They sometime seems like a boat without an engine in the sea. Nowhere to reach but accept all troubles that come merciless.

What should have been accused then? What should have been a reason behind such bad things. Of course, we can't control some specific things such as natural disaster. But I do believe we can mitigate them if we are cautious enough. We can reduce effect if we have a good policy with broaden targets. We can block some of them if we have a smart government. We are seemingly given one of the best land in this planet. We don't need to worry for land to cultivate, water to drink, sunshine to warm, weather to enjoy, natural resources to discover and make wealth of nation, gems to polish our lives, people to works, etc. Unfortunately we're still one of the poorest countries in the world. Who is committing most to drive this situation?

I have to go back to a leader of our house. He takes the roof out for selling. Then how can we get a proper roof to prevent troubles like rains? He takes the external walls out to export. Then how can we get a warm home? He even digs our ground for some precious gems, oils & gas in attempt of getting rich. Then where do our child go for play? He might have thought our skin are thick enough to resist natural disaster. He might have thought we are big enough to go out and find our foods without needing his assist. He might have thought the life would be finished after he dies. Finally the heritage house given by our grand great fathers is destroyed apart gradually. Nobody doing this but we do it ourselves. Once we don't know how to dismantle it, he may want to hire our neighbour to help him destroy our home.

We don't know if he has any idea to replace our old house by newer and better ones. It is up to him because he is our breadwinner. We don't know how much his pocket is fat. If he withdraw us from school for work, we have no choice to follow his idea because he is the one paying our tuition fees. If he opt to traditional medicine to cure our wounds, we have no choice but taking it as he will come out with complains of expensive medical bills by western hospital. Our family members use clothes one after another until it become dirty clothes. It meaning our living standard worsen by time as the eldest brother wore new one and all younger siblings have to wear outdated his outfits. We can't imagine for new model as he'll say his pocket is running out for something he love to own. He love to go hunting in the forest and of course he'ld love to spend most of his earn on buying arms. We have no choice to complain his behavior because he is a captain of our house. We try to convince ourselves by thinking we can eat a good meal if he gets some animals from his hunting. But it's hard seeing him come back home with some beast whenever he go out hunt because he's not a good shooter.

Finally, we used to this situation and even fail to look around our neighbours. Because we have to work from dawn to night so that we can have enough foods and no time to judge others. Since no one in our family is educated, it's very much obvious we can't get a good paid jobs. So it's no wonder we all family members become blue-collar workers and have to work until our hairs out for daily necessities. We don't want to think of long future as there are too thicken cloudy ahead and we are not good enough to think of our future. We have been denied to access a good education and we eventually became duds. How much can you expect from duds? Not much, right? But we tried to enjoy our life with the things we have especially with our religious thinking. Being Buddhist is the best ever gift in our life given to us to date, I believe. Who can change our fate finally? Probably only God will know the answer.

Don't cut our life-blood, pleaseee

I AM very much disappointed to see dying photo of our main river Irrawaddy from a local media website page. It's absolutely dead wrong by human mistake, I believe. This 2,170 km long river has been providing foods and water to half population of our country since it was born. We get comfortable life by taking advantage of its strategically very good location that flow from the northern most of country all the way down to delta region and finally end up at the sea. She gives us enough cultivation land on each side of its bank to produce variety of foods. She gives us clean water to use in our daily life. Even she perform as a national water express way to carry different goods from one place to another. Irrawaddy never changed her attitude despite the government changes by time, even during colonial time by British. What a grateful river is she?

But she is now facing severe problem with the people she helped to raise up their live. Her main source of water is effectively cut by the Junta government in favor of hydro-power electricity project developed by bloody Chinese company. This river is initially formed by two small rivers called May Kha and May Likha at her upstream. This two small rivers eventually converge at one place and form a big river and flow through the country as an Irrawaddy River that is famous in not only region but also all over the world. Brazil has Amazon, Egypt has Nile, India has Ganga, China has Yellow River, ASEAN has Mekong, all of them are in safe hand while our Irrawaddy is terribly put in the hand of stupid leader.

In fact, they are earning bloody billion dollars by selling natural resources such as newly discover oil, natural gas, gem, teak, etc. But to them, those billion dollars seem still unable to meet their greedy minds. So what did they do to make themselves richer? Trying to block all the river to build hydropower plants jointly developed by neighbour country and plan to sell all outcoming electricity rather than distributing them on its people. I just want to ask them how much do they able to spend before they die. It's more than enough for them with their existing bank saving account already in the world's banks through alien names. By sense, even a KG student can know it. It's as simple as that.

Let me tell you one real story that is happening in Singapore here. Lee Kuan Yew couldn't sleep enough until Singapore found a NEWater to replace their totally reliance on Malaysia's raw water to give its people enough water. What's newater? It's one type of water can be used in our daily life. It's made by recycling domestic water return from our kitchens after using. Of course it need advanced technology to recycle it and create Newater before redistribute it to municipal pipe line. It's not still enough for the island state people. He heavily invested in water technology R&D and now Singapore is making dollar by selling their expertise to other countries. Today newspaper states that Singapore is going to start its second and largest desalination plant in Tuas. What's that? It's making sea water to drinkable water. Of course it's expensive to do so and they tried to make it cheaper through R&D. Now their first desalination plant able to sign agreement with PUB to sell 4 cents per 1 cubic meter water. What a great achievement is it?

Today Singapore's population is drinking 1.7 millions cubic meter water and the government is thinking the demand of 2060 now. The demanding will double to 3.4 million cubic meter. Now they can be confident of themselves by making fully reliance on water resource. Where do they get it? They will get it from their reservoirs, desalination plant and of course Newater. Why I'm telling you this story is I just want you to know how other people are solving their water problem. You never know unless you are exposure such problem in life. Please value our natural resources and do not kill them if you have alternative option. Please be long-sighted people as a leader. Please do consider the ease of our younger generation as the life won't be end when you die. We are enjoying the natural resources today because our predecessor maintained them properly. Please appreciate our descendant's effort.

I don't expect you to generate the quality of Singapore's gifted leaders. But I do expect you to think twice before you make agreements especially with neighbouring countries. They may show some loving kindness on you for their interests. But it really doesn't mean they love our country and people. It's very much obvious they come invest to our country for their nation's interest. We may benefit a fraction of what they have earned. But it's so much cost to us as we lose our irreplaceable resources. Who suffer finally? Our people, now our river, then what? It's countless victims as long as you don't know what you are doing. I don't want to teach you so much as I am just an ordinary person and you are deemed a smart man since you are the leader of us. Unless it's not matter to you, better pave a way for another able person. The whole world and our lord of Buddha will bless you all the way. There's always got time to be corrected, men.

Please do not kill our natural resources as it's the biggest and most serious ever murder case in our history. I believe no man would like to be a devil to its mother land. Hopefully you are a real man who dare to take responsibility for what you have done in past. We, people, do need a real leader and would love to see constructive change in favour of people. Time has come.

Toothless Devils

THEY call themselves red devil. Probably it meet their name in past. Nowadays nobody afraid of today devil in EPL. In fact they are over-estimating and put luckily on the top of table. Once they thought of they are invincible and now they understand what is their class. Two defeats back to back within a span of 5 days. It's as bad as the performance of teams which are in the relegation zone. Undoubtedly it is a night to party for members of ABU(Anything But United) members all over the world. It's eye candying to see devils ran meaningless riot around the pitch. They are totally outplayed by their arch rival. But luck still seem on their side by making Arsenal being held by Sunderland in a night before.

I'ld be happy to see any other club take this year title other than United. Make EPL more open for title challenges among few top clubs will definitely make fans more exciting in future. What make EPL different from other big boys in this footballing world. Anyway Liverpool at least had showed the devil how to play attractive football if they are really want to be a record breaking club by taking their 19th titles this year. So far their class is nowhere to match with 6th placed liverpool. Thanks to King Danglish for bringing back spike to Liverpool that they recently lost.

Wish you a happy 60th year Birthday and able to stay together with Liverpool as long as possible.

Our Country

FINALLY the poet concluded his poem by convincing people to unite and industrious in building the country which is appear in the wrong hand. He innocently alert its people with the ability of his artistic skill. No matter it is recognized by authority or not, it'ld be dearly remembered by people who love the country. It's arguably the best ever made by local talented artist and should be put the curriculum of our school so that our younger generation can understand how big and long our traditional and probably it'll help them in learning loyalty of country.

တို႔႔တိုင္းျပည္ "Our Country"

ထေလာ့ျမန္မာ၊ Wake up Myanmar

ျမန္မာထေလာ့၊ Oh Burmese wake up

အားမေပ်ာ့ႏွင့္၊ Do not feel weak

မေလ်ာ့လံု ့လ Do not prostitute yourself

သူကစ၍၊ Start by one

ငါကအားလံုး Bring it up all including me

လက္႐ံုးမ်ားေျမာင္၊ With the combination of physical strengths

ဉာဏ္မ်ားေျမာင္ႏွင့္ together with assorted intelligent brains

စြမ္းေဆာင္ၾကေလ lets serve for the state

ဤေျမဤရြာ This land and territory

ဘယ္သူ ့ရြာလဲ Whose one is it?

ဤယာစပါး၊ This peddy fields and products

ဘယ္သူ ့စပါးလဲ Who belong to is it?

ထားေလာ့တာ၀န္၊ Take responsibility in whatever you can

ဉာဏ္ေရွ ့ပန္း၍ without ignoring your talent

တ၀မ္းတစိတ္၊ lets make ourselves as a family

ညီေစသတည္း။ in favor of unity of all the races that lead us drive forward.

I am really feel intimidated by this poem as I have done almost nothing for the country I am born. Is it because of my government's system? Probably yes. But we shouldn't make it excuse for staying away from mother land. I'm currently working abroad and feel selfish by doing so. Because most of my fellow citizen are living in the deep poverty. It seem I'm just trying to escape from it. In reality, what I can do for people as an ordinary person? There would be no impact to attempt in changing system. There must be constructive effort and unity as the poem suggest in last paragraph.

The middle east has shown the world that the power of people can topple the decade long junta. But there is less chance to duplicate them as our people are seemingly less educated and lack to access of internet. They are struggling to survive in their daily life. In Myanmar, everybody in the family must work so that everybody can eat. No working, no eating. Believe it or not? Last time one breadwinner at a family enough. Nowadays the trend has dramatically change even up side down. No graduate are granted to get a job as well as to eat without worry. Finally the middle class society gradually disappear and only two society is born by time. This is very poor and mega rich people. The bad system, as usual, produce a handful of tycoon within country by taking full advantage of their familiarity with high profile generals. The relatives of generals are privilege and they can do almost everything. The justice has been lost and the living standard and educational system has fallen free fall to hell. Fortunately we have a country who can generate the most natural resources. But people seems no benefit from it and only the handful of generals share the fruitful of this advantages.

The new discovery make them more powerful and let them become billionaire. People are remain unchanged and eventually rely on international helps for basis things such as public health care and disaster relief, etc. I am not writing this to disappoint authority. I just consoling my soul by writing this pose as a diary. Hopefully you will understand my feeling and thanks for encouraging me by visiting this blog.