A good decision can make different in life

I AM happy to see our old ministry head quarters from Yangon transform to public hospitals. I was also disappointing when they all are being left when its staffs are moving to the newest capital city. It became worse when the government put them on the list of auction in the attempt of privatization of public own properties. The bid price of successful tenderer was shocking to me as it all come by billion figures which we never experienced such huge amount in life time. I don't know where does those money come from. I can't imagine how do those people suddenly became super rich people. Probably only fraction part of those bidders would be traditionally rich people. The rest are most likely to be immediate millionaire by taking advantage of our loose government system.

I have been working in oversea for seven years and haven't owned even a flat in the Myanmar's biggest city. I might be considered a middle class of my country as most of people are poor. It's impossible to own a person who is working in domestic unless he/she is shun from dirty jobs. We all know that most of prime land areas in Myanmar's second largest city are owned by Chinese. Likewise, the downtown area of Myanmar's biggest city is dominated by Indian. Then where do our people goes? They all find it unable to resist the over market rate offer from foreign back business men to sell their residential land. And move to cheaper outskirt area of the town. By this way the original people are apparently become second class citizen by residing slum areas in several big towns.

When I learn how other governments protect the benefit of their own people with regard to the property which is considered the fundamental right for a person. The smart government would ever think of its people to ensure there is a ceiling above them. I'm now trying to buy a flat in my home land and I feel tiny myself to search a good flat with my small budget. My wife and I have saved most of our earns for few years. But we still find it unaffordable and there must have been wrong with our property market. People are extremely poor while some are unlimited earning from various sources. Shall we call it success when only few people are right? Absolutely not. It's strange trend but accept.

What can we do being a civilian person without power? Nothing but seeing things goes wrong and upsetting ourselves. Where to go complain for our plight? Nowhere to be relied. Fortunately, we are living in central area and can avoid conflict between government soldiers and ethnic rebels. Most of refugee come out of Burma are those who are living in the less developed areas and border line areas. Since Myanmar is quite big, the government would find it difficult to fulfill the will of every single person. However, there is a will there must be a way to relief people's life difficulties.

We have to welcome government's move in trying to convert the old buildings of ministries to public hospital because public healthcare is badly needed in our country. Our people find it very expensive to go private clinic and hospitals. The authority should enforce the rule and regulation with regard to our public hospitals. Because most of medical staffs are doing their own business during office hours. They would join with business men and collaborate the establish of their private clinic or hospital. As a result, most patient who go to public hospital find empty service building rather than reliable hospital. Our hospitals are well known for its lack of medicine and Doctors. It's embarrassing our patients need to buy medicine outside hospital to get proper treatment. Hopefully the new government leaders would address these long existing problems in favour of public's health.

Thanks for transforming our beautiful colonial buildings to public hospital. I'ld like to credit to those who initiate this kind idea by this post. May our leaders able to think of such meaningful job and conquer the hearts of our people.

Rely on yourself, not government

HMMM,,,,the busy days has come and gone.....It's inevitable that I have to settle all messy things at least once a month. If things get worse, I would get an abusive things to be done. Sound strange for you? Yes you'll never understand unless you have been working in a more developed country than your own land. Being underdogs, we can't imagine a fair treatment from our colleagues. Some are fair and kind enough while others are abusive. That's the way we have to come across as long as we need to work oversea. Unfortunately, we, FWs, are never welcomed by locals. It's usual that we can read such news on local papers. Last week, there was a head line news surfaced related to foreign workers.

One employment agency advertised as it is. The advertisement mentioned that "Jobs only for PRs and employment pass holders". Meaning the Singaporean are needless to apply for the job. There is no mention what kind of job offer is. The problem begin by the time a local man saw it and pass it to a minister. Then minister notice through the complaint letter and issue warning to the agency which advertise those offensive page. It became hot news for a week and drew a lot people's attention mostly negative way. One said "what a dare agency to advertise like that?" Another said, "if one agency can do, other would follow". Someone told that "I don't think there is such dare agency in any other country in the world". I can't remember all comments but it all come to attack ruling party, PAP. Let it be as this is their business and the way they see their life.

Being a FW myself, it's common and usual to see job advertisement on the paper like that in favour of SCs and SPRs. Most of job advertisements used to end with a sentence read "Only for Singaporean or Singapore Permanent Resident". Sometime, alternatively we can read sentence with different words that "Foreigner need not APPLY". At worst case, I find an advertisement painfully that read "No Myanmar citizen need apply". What an abusive media by letting such advertisement? But we, being underdog, keep quiet and never complain for that despite we, all fellow citizens, are not happy. I don't know what is island state's foreign worker policy exactly. But I know they always protect the benefit of its people. However, we strangely witness that Singaporean still seem unsatisfy with their government's effort.

Probably this agency is foreign drive or carelessly advertised like that. But for sure is it's a rare case and hard to find once a year. I would like the locals to sympathize the feeling of FW, when they see the same advertisement with effectively bars their counterparts from other countries. We all are human being and able to sense feeling. Please do not think you all alone able to be sensitive when things goes wrong against your usual way. Imagine as if you are a FTs who intend to work more developed country in this lonely planet. Then you'll find an answer without necessarily asking somebody else.

May all have a fair ground when it come to competition regardless of race, religious and language. I hope this kind of sentence is no longer strange with all locals as their national song has such notes. Try to improve your ability and rely on your own, not your country. Then you'll never feel insecure with regard to your job. Trust in me.

Grab the best option

THESE DAYS, I am reading several news regarding to my country. I'm not happy to learn the news of fighting each other among own citizens. Kachin, Kayin, Shan, Wa ethnic armies are getting ready to counter-fight if government army make offensive attack towards them. Some news suggested that it's going to lead even civil war which is bad for all the people of Burma. I really don't understand if those fighting are necessary for the developing a nation or not. Why newly civil government is continuing the old method that was used by its predecessor? They should have opted a diplomatic way that international community strongly recommend, I think. As a result of unfinish war between ethnic rebels and government armies, our country have been generating the considerable refugees in the world. Recent UNHCR research showed that Myanmar is fifth from top in the list of refugees host countries. It's embarrassing result. Once we were boasted ourselves as a rich nation in the world and within few decades from independent, that has been upside down.

I have seen a lot of diplomatic people or representative of organization coming to our country since newly elected government has been handed over the power from Junta. As usual, China is early bird to recognize new government in the effort of maintaining good relationship with new government. Then ASEAN, UN, USA, India and now even EU delegates. Every delegate went newly government leaders and discuss on several things that are usually not disclosed. I don't know what are they trying to do. What is their policy. It's China-reliance policy or anti-western policy? Now world seems change in their policy toward our country and why not our leader can't be flexible that they show us? If we have options to be taken, why should we throw away the best possible? To me, making a good relationship with western would counter-balance to China's dominance to us. India alone won't be working for us to counter China's influence.

On the other hand, paving the way for western MNCs will have created jobs that our people severely need within country. By doing so, our government would have stop brain-draining and maintain our top talented people. We can't develop our nation by China way as they are not ranked top industrialized nation. They would be stingy in sharing technology they have acquired to us unless they got enough profit from us. Look the top countries of the region, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippine, they all have a good relationship with western countries especially with US. What do they lose by doing so? They are cautiously relate with China as it's inevitable for a developing nation. Now Vietnam is supporting US to counter its powerful China. No matter how enemy they are in the past, Vietnam can change its policy for the benefit of its people.

Look China back countries in the region, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Sri lanka, Pakistan, North Korea. How many countries of those are wealthy nowadays? Most of them do not have a good relationship with US and China is strategically taking advantage from their weak point. Luckily, our nation is rich in natural resource and located in the best possible geographically. It ease our people from starvation and let government do silly things. We have got independent at the same time with India & China. Now how far we have been behind those Asia's giant? It clearly show the mistake of our old government's policy. Now time to change and build our nation in the right way.

The world is interesting us and coming to see you at your door step. Please take this opportunity for the sake of our people. People would follow you when they trust in you. Action speaks louder than words. Stop talking so much and do action by constructive way. Time has called us to change and lets change together. Be honest on deciding critical decision that can change nation's future. People will know your effort and remember you for ever. Believe me.

Our Priceless Joy

DEAR my little princess,

If I can call your mum as home-maker, I would like to call you our family-maker. Without wife, I could not have a home. Also without a child, a couple can't imagine the joyous of family life. You bring us a bundle of joyous moment. You bring us a brightness future. You bring us a definition of life. You bring us unaccountable dreams. You make us dream with regard to you. You make us direct the way we are going in life. You make our work more meaningful. You make our earning more valuable. In brief, you have changed the way we think of our life. You could be our princess. You could maintain our hope alive. Perhaps you can survive without us in future. However we'll find it very hard to spend our remaining life without you. That's the way your parent are thinking of you. You're always in our mind. We might have failed to call you in the past few months. It's not because we're forgetting you. It's not because we're getting cool of our hearts. In fact, our hearts become fonder by distance. Some say the time will make people less remember. I have to argue with that especially when this come to relationship between parent and their children. We're now more responsible with our own families as we have learned the deep of parental love since you have arrived our world.

You are now as young as 11 months old. But you are powerful and already influence our life. We have give up our habit of stingy when it come to you. We are unconditionally generous when we think of you, even for those who take care you in the absence of your parent. We two need not to discuss so much to spend on something for you. We cancelled the plan to buy camcorder when we are going back for married. But now, we are easily decided to buy camcorder for you as we would like to see you in action. We would like to hear your sound. The still photos of you make us always excited. Now we are aware that you started to recognize your environment and people. For that reason, we would like you to familiar with us by someway. That make us buy a digital photo frame on which you can see us moving with background music. We want to be in your little memory. We want you to remember us by not far frequent. We're now busying with taking photos around the city. It's not our way before, but we have to do it as we want you to see your parent's nice photo. If you enjoy with our photos and remember us, our goal would have been fulfilled.

We're preparing to give your the best since you are born. Whatever we do will belong to you. We know the important of living together as a family. We imagine how sorrowful would it be for you to stay away from biological parent at your age. We are not happy when we think of you. We are happy when we heard of your progressive in term of physical and mental through mobile phone. My eldest sister would tirelessly tell us about you when we are giving a call her. We're never satisfied to listen about you. Your mother still find it hard not to cry at night. She is wonderfully dreaming about you every night. She'll share me about her dream in the early morning. I'm not feeling well to see her like that. We are grateful to you for maintaining your good health. Otherwise we'll not be comfort by staying an ocean away from you.

Life is changing and we sincerely hope the day will arrive in favor of our union sooner than later. We wish you a happy 1 year old Birthday in advance, our dear.

Pain Truth 9

PEOPLE always said no other place is better than home. If so, I want to duplicate this as no other land is better than homeland. It's not going to be easy to return home being immigrant worker for us. There are a lot of things need to be done so that we can comfortably go back home. Once we think of return home, first headache is to clear income tax. Then other things would follow such as present for relatives, survey for cheapest airline with reliable safety, leave available, etc. Being immigrant workers, we are already sick and tired of hectic life and why don't we deserve to return home comfortably? Outside mother land, we are treated strangely by our international peers and it's understandable as we are deemed underdog. It's ok to be treated by foreigner and it's not fair to be treated by such manner by our fellow citizen who are government staff once we arrive our own international airport. We are paying income tax. They (immigration & custom staffs) are taking salaries from the tax collection. Then who is financially more contributing to the nation? It's obvious we are in the better place compare to them.

But they are treating us like their slaves when we get our homeland. No matter you have cleared income tax or not, they'll try to find our fault unless we pay bribe. On the other hand, you'ld be saluted if you pay some dollar without taking necessary action they are considered to take. Some might afford to pay such tip while other are not because they are not earning so much in foreign land. The officers might have thought all home coming people are richer than them. In fact, we are going foreign land to work because we can't find a proper job in domestic. Israel people are known that they are affectionately kiss their homeland as soon as they arrive their mother land from outside world. For us? We would be greeted by a treatment of terrorist. It's not really comforting. The custom officers would open all incoming briefcase by citing safety reason. However we can auto pass if we pay bribe. It's not good practice for people as well as nation because foreign people can misjudge our people's attitude on the doorstep.

The immigration and custom officers are naturally riches and those pose are highest demand in government created jobs. The government job is not a place to make money illegally. It should be rated a job to be performed rather than money making job. End of this month, I'm going to return home to visit my daughter's Birthday and start to headache again. Why don't I happy to return home? The above some reasons would have answered mine. We are eagerly look forward the days we could able to return peacefully. Hopefully our new government would address this matter in order to align with their anti-corruption policy.

Please fight back intruders, not own brothers

THERE is one Burmese proverb that "wild cats happy when the forest fire". It make me think if it's leaving to remind our current situation. Why..? let me try to explain. These days, there have been sea disputed news among ASEAN countries and China in the world news. In the worst two incidents was surfaced by the Philippine and Vietnam. Philippine accused China's navy ship has intruded their territory and claimed that China navy shoot at their fishing boat. In the meantime, Vietnam claimed that China navy cut their oil & gas exploration ship's cables without giving any reason. The Philippine responded their angers by lodging two accusation to international court while Vietnam showed their unhappiness by holding live-fire drill at the same time. In fact, there are other nations who are claimants of these disputed islands. Those nations include Taiwan, The Philippine, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and China. So 4 nations from ASEAN involved. The world is worrying to learn how China's navy are quickly modernizing including recent disclose of its own carrier. Despite China constantly insist their development is just to protect their national interests, the world especially its neighbours are considerably not happy. The recent incidents of spratly and parcel islands disputed news are a good reason for why some nations are overly concerned with China.

After reading that news, I was a bit relax as my country is not involve in the claimant list. I thank God for letting our coastal area far away from China. However my pleasure won't last even for a month. It spoil when I read a similar news today. This time, of course Myanmar is concerned and who is committing offense this time? Bangladesh signed a deal with US oil giant to explore natural gas in the bay of Bengal where Myanmar and India also claimed this is their territory. If India is doing such thing, I could understand by seeing world's map. However, a small nation whose coastal area is very small dare to do is something like challenging its bigger nations. I don't know how India will address this latest matter. In the meantime, Myanmar is super busy with fighting with its ethnic rebels at the state of Chinese border. Also strange US dollar depreciation related matters are still put on the table unsolved. I wonder how my country response on this matter.

I see this Bangladesh totally intrude our sea territory. I remember the news state that Bangladesh navy gave warning shoots to oil & gas exploration ships of Korea company when they went there for searching possible oil & gas offshore. Then the ships were unable to continue and went back in order to avoid international tension and fighting. This time, I don't see any respond by our government navy. Why thing happened like that? If India or China bully us, it's understandable. But a poor country like Bangladesh assault our sea, I'm much suffering. Our army always shout that they're always ready to protect our people and land. This is time to proof their philosophy. Please turn your weapons to intruder rather than own brothers. Please try to unite and build energy to fight back intruder. Please do not waste your energy in fighting own brother. The real threat is coming and you are about to protect your mother land.

Come on, brave soldier. If you have shown your brave on fighting own people, why not dare to push back intruder? We all want to see your fighting spirit for our nation. This is time to take a chance for you to regain people's trust. We all would like to join you should you need our strength in fighting intruder. We'ld like to cheer your heroic effort. Lets protect our nation from others till our last blood exist. You don't need to make new law for national service. Our young people will join you if you are a good leader by fighting upfront. I'm sure they will follow you till they all went back. Remember, our Kings always conquer those nations in history and this time, it's our obligation to protect our nation. Hopefully you all know what is real threat and can move in the right way.

Cease Fire

ONCE our national leader General Aung San told in his speech during campaigning for national unity of our 134 races. He said how our people are miss braving in using their physical and mental strength. He continued that our people are brave enough in fighting each other. However they'ld ever hesitate when the nation needs them to fight back intruder (refer to British that time). He stressed people not to use their energy wrongfully by telling this speech. Wonderfully, his speech is absolutely still right for our people after we got independent for 63 years. He tried all the way to get back independent for our nation. Sadly he didn't enjoy real independent because he was assassinated by fellow colleague who is crazy at power. Since then, our nation's unity was effectively divided to unlimited parts to date.

Now, our new government's army is combating with northern sizeable ethnic rebel for a certain reasons and it have become world's news recently. It's embarrassing effort to conduct like that rather than solving the problem on the table. They have claimed that they are fully civilian government since they won in recent general election. But the action they carry out are not normal civilian government do. If the new leader is not wise enough, our country's solidarity is at the stake because it can lead to civil war if all ethnic rebels fight back as an alliance. It won't be easy to counter all ethnic rebel simultaneously for government army. The best way I could understand is only diplomatic way. Our national hero had proof the power of diplomacy by getting back independent without firing any gun. If he could able to make it from foreign government, why not our generation leaders cannot afford to substantiate our peaceful state by diplomatic way?

As long as they continue to fight, I am sure our country's attempt to develop nation would not be realistic. The world has got lesson from past that fighting alone is not feasible to acquire target/ambition. We need to be cohesive if we really want to make our nation developed. Otherwise our people would suffer from the war and the neighbouring nations are to take fully advantage from our weak points. Look, China seem privileged in our country as they can take whatever they want from us. They are widely known that they can even influence on our leaders. I'm appalling to read that Ethnic rebels are demanding China government to settle the current troubles as a powerful witness. Why do we need China while we can settle it ourselves? Why can't we trust each other? Please just ignore our races, religions, we all are Burmese and brothers. It's embarrassing to let other country interfere our internal matter. Don't we have able person who can settle the current crisis? If so, I'm so sorry to learn the real situation of my mother country.

Being a member of public, I would like to beg both sides to restraint for the sake of our nation, our people, our children, our natural resources and above all, for our independence. Otherwise our pass away national heroes won't be happy to see our situation if they could able to see us from somewhere else. Please detach your proud, anger and selfish. Then you will find we all are the same. Since life is short, we have no time to fight, even for quarrel. Lets appreciate our life by doing meaningful things. No matter your effort is big or small, be initiate and part of the right move.

We are already far beyond others and we have to try as hard as possible. Cease fire and halt doing unnecessary things. Let our nation deserve a respectful place among world's nations just like our forefathers did in past. I sincerely hope you all hear my voice by mean of sense or whatsoever. Wake up Myanmar.

Pain Truth 8

I JUST read an article on local media website regarding how poor knowledge is dangerous by highlighting his own experience. In the article, the writer share his recent holiday experience. The incident was happening on the way back home by air. He flied with local air line from Chaing Mai to Yangon. In the middle of journey, he noticed that one Stewardess rush like a sprinter from tail to middle of the plane. The problem arise as two of the passenger sitting beside Emergency door try to open the switch without concerning the real risk concern. This dangerous action urged Stewardess to rush and block their action. In fact, the two passengers are not terrorist and willing to make all passengers in trouble. They might have thought the emergency door as a toilet door or otherwise. They are Myanmar citizen and the plane's emergency door has warning language both in English and Burmese. It show they should have understand the meaning of this emergency exit. However the action they committed make other passengers and staffs extremely worried. The Stewardess herself also not sure with emergency switch and she just afford to change those unusual passenger's seat and hold the switch in the effort of ensuring the door close. Eventually the chief pilot arrived and settle the problem. The writer is very sure that those committed passengers have no intention to make trouble for all including themselves by judging their action upon changing seats. Because they show no strange action for their embarrassing and dangerous effort.

After reading this article, I also remember my own experience while I went back home on flight. One of my friend asked me to take care his mother on the way back home as he purposely bought air ticket on the same date with me. So we all check in together and got the same row seats. She is an officer in a government factory and this is her first time oversea visit and flying. So she was nervous and relax to know that she could able to return home with me as we are from the same village. She followed her son when she come to Singapore and so there was no problem. During the journey, we both talked about general things from village's condition to Singapore's development. Once we got Yangon International Airport, she wanted to go rest room and asked me how can he use toilet facilities. I explained her how to use the facilities including how to close the door. However he didn't lock the door and use toilet. Unfortunately one foreigner pulled out the door and surprised to learn there is one user inside. Both shouted loudly and Stewardess noticed and rush at toilet and help her finish. It's understandable as she is old woman and first experience in flying. No issue.

However, I do got the same experience in the return trip back to Singapore alone. This time, I'm the one who open the door as I see marking is green. Green mean there is no user in general. So I confidently pulled the door and surprisingly found a young lady who is deem my fellow citizen. I just only able to shout and push back. I don't know where my urine went as I feel a bit shame as well. Once the lady come out, I turn my face around in the effort of mitigating both shame. But I asked myself why this modernized lady don't know simple thing? She seem already working in Singapore and even don't know to close the toilet door while using facilities. But this too disappear soon after. Now I just recall after reading the similar story in the local media website.

You can go original article in the following link if you wish.

http://www.first-11.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8853:2011-06-09-06-56-06&catid=78:2009-11-13-06-25-17&Itemid=135

Wrong message can kill one's dream

SINGAPORE's economy has been in good shape since in the wake of recession and still going robust now. The static show its GDP overtaking its Asia pacific main rival Hong Kong by citing recent survey done by international firm. As economy boom, the jobs are created to match boosting industries. The first quarter of 2011 has made Singapore's jobless rate the lowest level at 1.9% in few years time. And it's still going to be strong, said Analyst. Today newspaper state that the jobs vacant is more than the job seekers available in the market. It's unbelievable at 137 : 100 across all sectors. It's generally good news for those who intend to find a job here regardless of any country. But I noticed that construction sector is less enjoying from those stakes, most enjoying sectors are from banking, financing, hotel, service, manufacturing, etc. So I don't want my fellow citizens especially for those who are smelling the job market's condition to misunderstand with the latest news. They usually rely on local newspapers as a source of news and sometime our agents and journalist misinterpret the market condition rather than as it is.

For oversea job agents, I do understand why they intentionally do it as they have to lure their potential clients to assign them in finding a potential oversea job. However, I don't understand when I read some paper press wrongfully. Is it because their translation skill poor or they did it as a part of advertisement paid by aforesaid agent. Nonetheless, the wrong message can suffer to job seekers from my homeland. It will hurt them so much if things goes wrong after they are landing in foreign land. So I would like to suggest them to carefully survey what they are trying to do through friends who are already working in oversea. The modern agents are sometime merciless as they mainly focus on their interest. There are so many speculation in the atmosphere. Not only job hunters affected but those young bright people who intend to study in oversea institutions.

Recently news of lifting sponsorship for some media is welcoming news to improve our media quality. For a country with less infra-structure need a reliable media. Most of our people rely on hard copies rather than internet news. It doesn't matter to know news few days later as long as they are true. Meanwhile, the quality of our journalist and their freedom in chasing news will be another crucial matter. Hopefully our new leaders could able to address this problem in order to prevent benefit of public.

May our people free from wrong message and brain washing.

Forbidden Island

DEAR my kid,

A country your Dad & Mum stay and work is beautiful and save to live in. But life in this tiny state is totally hectic. It have become a paradise of the people especially from poorer countries. In the effort of easing our life's difficulties, people used to take risk by working in alien country. It's not necessarily true to be life in rich country are always right and prosperous. We have seen a lot terrific stories through my 7 years working experience in other countries. I tried not to under-estimate my native country just because I am enjoying a good life-style in a developed country. If my mind tend to go negative, I tried to remind myself that there are unrivaled things in my country. Currently we are rated as one of the poorest country and we shouldn't say bad country for this only. I see this as a temporary crisis and it can be changed easily once we are getting back on the right track by a right leader in future. In realistic, there would not be a perfect country to live in. The sweet and corn are mixing always and we have to take care of it if we want to succeed in life.

Of course, rich is good and being poor is disaster. That's why we are here today by leaving you an ocean away. For the sake of you, we have tried to block our wills so as not to grow till uncontrollable. However I got valuable lesson here by learning around. They have owned two opposite value in life. They got rich but poor in character. They got world-class infrastructure but they don't know how to appreciate it. They have world's best government but they always find a weak point. They are excel in technology and they can't control their child's declination of moral value due to those technology. They can access world class schools but they are lacking innovation. They have world class auditorium but they have no home-grown brand. They are boasting 3rd generation army but all weapons are imported. They downgrade people from mainland china but their roots are there. They are enjoying fast foods and now they are facing the problem of obsess. They are boasting of richness but they still sending their parent to nursing homes. They are thinking of first class society but they are framed by fines everywhere. They think of polite but the authority need to put considerate sign board everywhere. I can't conclude the list by short time and this is some matters I would like to highlight you.

In view of above, please do not sad if we fail to take you here. Please try to appreciate the life you possess there. Please try not to underestimate the rich of our culture. Please try to survive in the midst of chaos. In brief, life is not all about money. There are other things in life that can make us happy. As long as our attitudes are right, we won't ever never be disappointed for sure. So don't worry, be happy. At the moment, I'll be there within one month time from now. Lets celebrate your 1 year Birthday together happily. I can't wait time to return home. You know, I already started count down.

Appreciate your helping hands.

ONCE LKY said 1st class of talent goes MNCs while local SMEs attract 2nd and 3rd tiers of talent pool available in the market. I paused reading for a while to let my brain think of my place there. I found it easily that I'm not in the list of 1st class as I am working for local SMEs. In the meantime, I am not sure whether I'm 2nd or 3rd or whatsoever. He continued to explain what's the meaning of talented people. We have mistaken thought that talented people mean bright and smart people of any given population. I also didn't fully understand it until I read his explanation. He said talented people is not only academically excel people but those who have done well in sport, music, art, etc. So I herein understand why Singapore national athletes are multi-racial. At first I feel strange to see some African and European people in their team.

Being a person from third world country myself, I'm easily rated as a blue-collar worker by locals. They don't recognize our University certificate and would easily reject our work pass application by citing it. It has been long time true trend for immigrant workers to work in local SMEs as a stepping stone unless he is from 1st world country. We came here with the prospect of better live and expected fair ground to be found. However we are sometime treated in different category rather than based on our own merit. We are seen by locals as foreign workers, even they might refuse to label us foreign talent which is more polite way to address visitors.

Being migrant workers, they sub-divided into two major classes. One is highly earner called Expatriate and another is low earner foreigner workers who do the jobs they shun so called 3D job. In practice, those two type of immigrant workers contribute their country by one particular way. May be Singaporean can survive their lives without those highly rated Expats but I don't think their lives would be the same without those FW who do 3D job. Then I can summarize who is more essential to them. I may not need to answer for this question as it's crystal clear. But I am always frustrate to learn their serial complain of FW/FT. They never stop in blaming those inferiors who came here to help them. It's not graceful for those who are considered higher educated people.

May people can able to see life as it is.

We need food, not weapon

TODAY world's headline news publish that US Navy ship was tracking suspected North Korea cargo ship heading to Myanmar. It eventually stop at dead sea and reversed to its home port. Despite US Navy tried to inspect on board, ship master refused to do so. However, the action of reverse rather than going designated port suggest that the ship is carrying illegal things which is most likely to be nuclear/rocket technology. In the route it heading, no other nations are deemed welcome to this communist country ship. The ship was going through South China Sea and it's amazing why not China intercepting or inspecting while US and other nations aware so much. Probably both exclusive nations are friends of China.

Being a citizen of Myanmar, I am not happy to see such news that bring negative image. I rarely see my country news on international paper. May be once a few months and it usually stand out when things goes wrong only. We don't have a good news to be published? In the meantime, our new government and army is busying to battle with ethnic rebels in the several parts of border lines. We thought, newly elected civilian government is going to approach diplomatic way to seek a national resolution. It's disappointing to see them fighting between the same nationalities who has different ambitions. We have tried to fix it by fighting each other since we got independence in 1948 but failed. We should have understand it well by past experience. However the action of our government reflect the accusation of Western media is right.

In the domestic, there is another hot button to be solved out these days. It's extremely appreciation of local currency without reflecting commodity price. Our government seems struggling to fix the problem. As a result of US Dollar depreciation, agri-product price goes down and our farmer and peasant are suffering from that. Likewise the export garment factories are close and likely to fire its staff. So we are seeing more jobless and hungry people and they would want to get foods rather than weapon that government is trying to acquire. The ethnic civilian are fleeing across the border and definitely they'll find terrific experience thereafter.

In view of above, I'ld like to request my government leaders to do in the right way whatever they try to move. Be understand what our people need and what they are expecting you to do. The newly acquisition weapon cannot be eaten and it won't help easing people's starvation. Please try to relax their lives before it bust and erupt like middle east/ north Africa. I just hope you all know what to do next as a government. Please forget crazy dream of possessing nuclear weapon and set feasible target to improve our condition. It has been too far behind we are from the regional countries. Lets not waste our energy by putting it wrongfully. Thank you.

Exercise and Me

I AM not a sporty man and stay away from exercise in my life. I tried to do it but failed because I always have enough excuses to throw that idea away. In fact, I'm not a healthy man compare to my peers of my age. I wondered why I'm frequently and easy to fall in sick. Only one possible answer I got that being born by late parent. My mother was 44 and father was 65 when I came to life. My schoolmates used to tease me for that. I wasn't strong enough since I was young boy and I fortunately avoid insufficient brain for that reason. I never smoke and drink. But I am not as strong as those who does these unhealthy practice. Finally I realize that I have to take extra care myself so that I can be a healthy man. I can't compare to other due to aforesaid reason. Let it be.

I have one Indian hostel mates at my hostel. He is Engineer and also working in the same company. So we become friends shortly after we met. One day, our land lord wanted to shift their furniture from one place to another. So she asked us to help moving and we two made it for her. It took us just about 10 minutes. After moving it to desired place, my Indian friend was so sweaty and he begin to notice that I wasn't sweat at all. He was surprising to see me like that. He understood that it is not because I am too strong. He know that I am feeling a bit tire too but I am not sweaty. That time, he used to run early morning before going work alone. So he suggests me to join him in morning exercise.

I initially can't answer his offer and told him I have no running shoe. He said, it can be easily bought and affordable. He seriously advised me to do exercise. For the sake of friendship, I mutually agree with him and promise him to join after buying shoe. Next day, he bring me a store and help me buy a new shoe. From that day onward, I woke up early and started to run early morning with my friend. He was quite good at doing exercise and teach me how to warm up, release muscle after exercising, how to warm blood. He even boasted me that he had got a certificate of fitness from his native land. I just follow his instruction and try to keep it alive. Later he absent from exercising due to late sleeping and I went alone to the park.

I started to enjoy doing exercise and notice I feel relax the whole day at work. Also I surprisingly found my dandruff of hair disappear. Previously my skin are not smooth and sometime it has even fungus related disease. Since I do exercise, those unwanted sign all gone and it seem permanently good bye my body. Last time I had to take several medicine to ease them as it affect my personality. Of course it cost me too and now I can enjoy saving of that money. As an office worker, I need to work the whole day under air-conditioned room and it's not possible to be sweat. I have been working in oversea for 7 years and all that time are working under ceiling. So my job needed me to sit and see at computer for the whole day. At the end of the day, I feel pain at body muscle and eyes.

Now, I understand that they are no longer with me as long as I maintain my habit of exercise. Few months later, my Indian friend resigned from work and return India. But I try to keep this habit as it help me to become healthy person as well as active. Now I have changed hostel and also changed my second running shoe. To be honest, I run because I already bought a shoe at earlier days. Later I changed my mind that I am running because I appreciate health. So I want to suggest my friends who are not in the mode of exercising, please just start doing it. It'll carry forward you in next step. Also recommend to buy a shoe as a first step. Otherwise you'll show lack of shoe as a reason for not doing exercise. Anyway, being immigrant worker, we can't afford to be unhealthy and it's a good practice to do exercise when we have any spare time.

May all working people do love exercise.

If India can, why not us?

I HAVE one indian colleague at my work. We both bring lunch boxes and eat together at the meeting room. So we used to talk about our stories during our lunch time. He recently went back India and I asked him if everything fine with his family as formal greeting. He was so fresh after coming back from home going trip. At one point, I ask what kind of business does his his family do. He replied traditional agricultural job, they are doing. Then I ask if there is any supporting role from state government for farmer. He said, yes they got some help from government by the beginning of the cultivated season. I understood from him that the farmers are given loan by state bank based on how much they have farmland. It means, the more farming, the more assistance from bank.

I was amazing to learn that and continue to ask him.
Me: How much do the farmers need to pay interest?
Frd: No need, it's interest-free.
Me : Wow,,,so good, your government.
Frd: Beside, the farmer are supposing to return half amount of the loan they have taken.
Me : It's unbelievable....are you sure or not?
Frd: Yes, it's for sure.
Me : Then, do the farmer must sell the agri-product to government with far below market price?
Frd: No need, it's not compulsory to sell government.
Me : Then how do the farmer sell their product?
Frd: Usually farmer sell their product to government.
Me : Your government give market price?
Frd : Yes they pay as per market price. Otherwise the farmer won't sell them.
Me : What a lucky your country men to have such government?
Frd : Last year, the farm were spoiled by adverse weathers and severe drought and floods.
Me : So,,what are consequence of that?
Frd : Our government withdrew their loan to all farmer.
Me : Wow,,,so clever and responsible government, friend.
Frd : Yes, farmer are hopeless but seeing their spoiled cultivation.
Me : I have seen a lot similar stories in my own country.
Frd : Then what does your government do that?
Me : Hmmmmm,,,,,our people just blame their fate rather than expecting our government to do something for them.
Frd : It's not fair for people being ignored by the government tho took their tax.
Me : But this it the way we are living with.
Frd : Nobody complain ?
Me : Who dare to complain against authority must be brave enough to live in Jail.
Frd : Oh God.

My indian friend and I were paused for a while as we are thinking what to say next. There are other stories shared by him about his country. When I listen their life, I understand the right of people better. We grow up amidst unfair environment and we were effectively ignored by a group of powerful people. Our country has over 60 million population and 67% of them are living in rural areas and doing agri based jobs. Our country was once known as a rice bowl of Asia because that time we exported our rice the biggest quantity among other rice-exporting countries. However, nowadays the life of farmer and peasant become poor and they are just finishing their life as a grass root society. They are not getting enough support from government. In the meaning of support, they need not only financial support but technology to catch up the demand of market. Without technology, the production goes down by time as farmland become less fertilize. As a result, the farmer need more fertilizer to use and it make them unaffordable in long term because the product become lesser. These days, climate are unpredictable. Every year the monsoon rain become inconsistency as a result of deforestation. Irrigation is not reliable in most of the farm area. So most of farmer rely on natural weather such as rain and snow. If the weather goes unexpected, they suffer to dead. Then whom they can expect to come and relax their heavy burden? Nobody but they have to swallow all incoming bad taste. It can lead them pull out their school age children from school before they end school. By this way, their life become worse after worse by time.

May our new government find a proper solution to ease our farmer's life.

Divided ASEAN

ASEAN is made of 10 nations and seem there are some categories among its member rather than cohesive. The core members might have thought they are privilege and want to dominate in the cases of group's matters. Some new members are still struggling with their domestic affairs and can't catch up the leading members after joining for decade. I see some nations are rich while other are still fighting poverty. Some nations are republic while others are still believe in communist. Some are widely globalized while some are still prefer to close their doors to outside world. Some are enjoying bilateral, multilateral policies while some are still practicing monopoly in trade. Some are making friendship all over the world while some are still busy with fighting their own ethnic rebels who are trying to separate as federal government. Some are taking opportunities from poorer nation's weakness while latter suffer from losing not only natural resources but human resources too. Some are building up their living and education standard while other are going on the opposite site. Some are trying to acquire latest weapon and trying to show its muscles to neighbours while some are going back 19th century generation army. Some are competing to lure foreign investment and technology while some are afraid of such things.

Above all, there are, in my opinion, two big divider wall that is some are trying to make alley with Western countries while some are approaching China. China is likely to befriend those countries that are sanctioned by US led countries. By doing so, China tried to gain its power in the region. Some member states are very much concern with their move and they are trying to match it by enhancing their tie with US. Every country say their improvement or building up of their military is just for own defense. This weekend Singapore host Security summit among world's defense ministers. Everybody talked about peaces but the action suggest people are more worry than past time. The Philippine and Vietnam accused of China's invasion in the South China Sea. China seem trying to bully by using its rising naval power.

Luckily, my country is not one of claimants country for disputed islands in the south china sea. But recent agreement seem our new government is going to allow China's navy ship to dock our off-shore. It seem China can do almost everything they like in our Territory. Feel so bad. Why they are being allowed? No matter the reason, our army should take responsible for defensing our land and sea and skies. If we think of weakness ourselves, why not US who has world's most advanced technology. Moreover they are much far away from our land. China is just next door and they'll virtually colonialism our nation by doing so. I don't think our leaders are stupid and hopefully they can find a way to solve it out.

There is a will, there is a way.

Strange Appreciation

IN THE normal circumstance, appreciation of currency is a good news for its country people. However my fellow citizens are not acting the same when this kind of scenario. Of course, everything in Myanmar is strange from outside world. These days, the news of our currency's appreciation was spreading online and several reports has been the same unwanted comment. That is domestic commodity price is not reflecting the appreciation of our own currency. Then what's been affected by this news? People find short of monetary flow in the market and hard to earn enough wages to cover daily expenses.

The migrant workers like me were among the list of top hit from this news. Because we need to send back our foreign wages to home at the end of the month and seeing exchange rate drop sharply make us considerably upset. What can we do but accept the situation? For those who can afford to retain their dollars might avoid the unwanted exchange rate with the prospect of rising sooner or later. Some economist guessed this is due to vast incoming foreign money from different sectors such as FDI at our natural resources, trading of heroine and gems, recent auction of privatizing from government own land and properties. I don't know which reason is right as I am not an economist. But I know for sure is we suffer from this appreciation that make our household income less.

In the past, the domestic traders would increase the rate of things when our money depreciated and they would cite dollar appreciation as a reason. Now the appreciation of our own currency against dollars and nobody bother it to reduce their rate. Instead, they continuously loud for their suffer from foreign trade. As a result, rich people become richer and grass-root people become falling into the deeper of poverty. What the new government can do in the effort of mitigating impact of this for the benefit of people? We don't think so that necessary action would be taken by authority. As we all are very much used to such situation and we'll think as usual that 'This too shall pass away' finally.

May our currency able to enjoy its appreciation as it is.

Exchange Rate at a glance.

1 US$ = 1,000 Ks (before) ; 785 Ks (now)

1 SG$ = 900 Ks (before) ; 650 Ks (now)