Little Singapore in Burma

I first heard about it about 1 month ago on Singapore's free paper "Today". The news suggested that Singapore listed YOMA Strategic Holdings Ltd's share price increased due to its activities in the open-up Burma. The news highlight a town development called "Star City" that has been started by YOMA. Nothing more information other than project name. Few days ago, Myanmar local media website uploaded about the Star City Development as a form of good property investment. It said the Star City would be joint developed by SPA/FMI group of companies and YOMA Strategic Holding Ltd. SPA/FMI will own 30% of share while 70% go to YOMA who will invest S$ 91.00 millions. The project will have two major phases, one for residential and another for commercial. The Star city is designed to serve 25,000 residents and target to finish on 2020. There would be 8,000 to 9,000 residential flats and the first phase has been starting now. The sale is open now to public and the price range from 48 million Kyats (S$ 75,000) to 140 million Kyats (S$ 218,750).

The spokesman from SPA said they mainly target to the medium and high income customers. S$ 200,000 is good enough to buy a resale HDB flat in land scare Singapore, I think. Thus, I don't think world's least development nation's medium people afford to buy such expensive flat. Probably there may certain be some super-rich community who can afford that price in Burma since its wealth gap has been wider during last 2 decades. There have seem no medium layer of people in Burma. Two apparently extremes only exist, one super riches and another very poor. The project name itself seem meant to Myanmar's ordinary people as a dream to take a star from sky. It's really dream for an ordinary to be owned. Anyway, we have to welcome such high-end property development as it could create some jobs for our people as well as can plug the gap for the lack of infra-structure for potential foreign direct investment companies. If the Star City project success, there might be so many of its kind going to follow its step and will increase some life style of our country.

From the first glance of project's model on local media website, I thought it look like Singapore's HDB apartment and going to be little Singapore in Myanmar's soil. Time will prove how Burmese are rich and crazy with owning property as an value asset. S$ 91 millions can be deemed a pocket money for cash-rich country like Singapore and it might be worth risk with such amount. Hopefully, from this pioneer project, Myanmar will enable to convince some more investors from the city state who is currently ranked 3rd in the list of World's wealthiest countries in the world. Probably, Myanmar SMEs and cronies own property development companies will gain a good experience from this international standard estate. One of my colleagues was interested to buy one flat in the Star City and compile related data from fellow citizen agent. I herewith share some photos from the brochure of Star City for my friends who are interest with the project.

Reforms revive Myanmar's tourism

Myanmar Hospitality 2

SOME villagers and passer by left us and we are really no idea to escape from the crisis. Fortunately, a mobile crane car is coming to us as we are blocking the way of its route to destination. Thus, crane help us pull our stranded car with its powerful jig. It seems so easy for the apparent 100T mobile crane and our car easily get out of trouble. We all are visibly happy to see our car was eventually freed by the crane. However, our happiness wasn't long enough when we realize that the engine is unable to roar. As a result of irregular and improper sudden pull, our car engine was hit by giant stone below and move a bit forward than its original place. It make the plastic engine fan crash with water tank of the engine that lead irregular sound when our driver start to turn his key to drive. We knew something has been wrong and again headache.

The crane car go forward as it plan while we left alone with some villagers. The man we brought in the sense with his jeep asked his people to push our car all the way to the village from the creek. I can't imagine what's going to happen again and unsure when can it be fine. I doubt there would be a proper workshop at this small rural village. Soon after we push our car, we reach the man's house. Without delaying, his sons and relatives are detaching car engine to trouble shoot. I am not sure if they are familiar with the car repairing or not. But I am unable to stop them doing but seeing hopelessly. They found water tank of engine has been damaged by rotating fans. The engine is not having in its original place. They tried to take it out and repair with super-glue and let water tank dry under sunshine.

The problem started on about 10:30am and now already 1:00pm. The repairing process seem unable to finish within short time. Thus we decided to have our lunch there while waiting for repairing. Luckily we brought one mobile phone and it's still connected. We informed to our relative from home and destination village. They all are extremely worry about us as the journey ahead is mountainous region and rough hilly roads amid forest. We can't afford to break down like this in the forest as it's risky. My sister inform to car owner to report what had happened to us. At 2:30pm, the engine and water tank was reinstalled and the engine can run as usual. We were happy again and really thanks to villagers. I am thinking how much I would be forced to pay for their tireless service. I am just imaging that I'll have to pay whatever they demand me as they're working hard for us.

Once car engine run as usual, I was having conversation with the leader man who is in-charge of household. According to him, he has 4 sons and he builds 4 houses in his compound for each married son. The compound is quite big and those all 4 buildings are surrounded to their original two stories houses. They have some trucks to do business at the village. I asked the man how much we need to pay for their service excitedly. He amazingly answered my question that "no need to pay, my brother". Being a man of cars, I also need to seek people's help when I got problem on the way. Likewise, I help you without hoping any return. I just wish you reach your destination without another problems. I was really overwhelming by his kind words. I didn't expect such words from him. I just expect to bargain if he asked me for too expensive service fees.

Upon my request for taking some fees as a form of recognizing their help, he asked me to give 3,000 Ks (S$ 4.62) to his mechanic son. Again, I felt so shocked to hear that. I gave him 5,000 Ks and tell him not to refund the balance. The man asked his son to take only 3,000 Ks and refund balance. I beg him not to do so as we're really satisfy with the way they treat us. During our stay of about 5 hours, they treat us several village foods as well as beds to rest. I never see such honest people before and didn't expect strangers to kind us like they have shown. After exchanging our contact number, we started to say goodbye by stepping in the car. As soon as car move back, there are another irregular sound come out. This time it is not from engine, it is from the beneath of car body. The car can't backward. What happened to us again? We need to step out of the car again.

(To be continue)

Letter to our factory strike workers

To: Worker's Solidarity League of Burma Stockholm, Sweden 2012-02-14

WE SUPPORT YOUR STRIKE

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

We have never met but our organizations recognize that the cause you are fighting is as much yours as it is our cause. The forces depriving you of your legitimate rights are the very same that workers and friends of justice fight for in Sweden and all over the world. We all share the same desire for dignity, justice and freedom. We also know from experience that only when workers join forces can there be any real change. This is the essence of solidarity and that is why your brave strike is so important, not only to you but also for us.

We would like to express our gratitude for you to taking on the fight against wage dumping and for taking up the fight against inhuman working conditions. Only when people unite across borders can we fight the ruthless exploitation of working people.

People desire for freedom can never be crushed.

In solidarity

Magnus Nilsson
President of the Swedish Social Democratic Students


Ellinor Eriksson
General Secretary of the Swedish Social Democratic Youth

Explore the world, my dear

Dear my daughter, you are as young as one and half years old now. But you have got permission to go out of mother land. I got an email pertaining your passport and it's our pleasure to see you getting passport. Getting passport can be seen the first step of your exploration to the outside world. Your mum and I know that you're mainly kept in the room of our hostel house in the central part of Myanmar. You might be too young to fly at the moment. But time changes everything and you are part of it. We didn't know how does a passport look like until we go out for oversea job after graduation. It's you fortunate that you have affordable parent to show you the world at your age. At the same time, it's our dream to live together our family as much as possible regardless of places. We both want you understand that this attitude of your parent will not be swayed by any other reason.

We are aware on the situation of our mother land so that we could able to decide where you should grown up. As like all parents, it's our desire to provide a suitable environment to you. We feel how you would be missing us especially when you are feeling alone. We feel sorry when we are told that you want to repeat when you see other child call their mother as "Mum". No suitable words to express our feeling to learn that. We sometime feel guilty to leave you alone there despite you are being treated like a queen by our relatives. You may get almost everything what you like. You may get almost every foods what you wanna taste. Only the gap we left for you is parental love. For that, we have a reason and hopefully you may understand us when you are grown up one day.

Your mum and I were never satisfy to view your passport soft copy at our computer. You seem so cute in the passport photo. Your name not short in quality. We feel lucky to see your name spelling got right by somebody else. I asked my Singaporean colleague at office to pronounce your name by showing passport copy. Amazingly, she pronounce quite close as what we call you. The spelling can be read as "Shonn Lai Yee Min". The Chinese colleague said these all four words resemble Chinese name. She added the words "Shonn" is used for male's name in Chinese cultural. "Yee, Lai, and Min" each are also refer to Chinese names. What a coincidence is it? Anyway Chinese influence grow by time, I hope it'll make you feel positive rather than negative impact. First of all, it may help you ease entering Singapore as ICA officer may have thought you are a Chinese race. We hope you'll love to see your name when you grow up. For the moment, your mum and I are starting the count down to greet you at airport. Your mum even thinks what kind of foods and toys should she bring when we go airport to greet you. Of course there are another exciting plan to wow you during your stay in lion city. Thanks for making our life more meaningful and motivated, our little princess.

Wish you a happy and nice holiday here together with your beloving parent.

Protect our worker's rights

TODAY I read a news with regard to the salary rise of town council cleaners, current average S$750 to new S$1000. What a good news for all cleaners? But it come with condition that those cleaners who want to earn more must go training and upgrade their skill. Wonder what kind of skill need to be upgraded as a cleaner. Perhaps minimize man power and increase productivity. The cleaners now should have expected to work not only clean but washing the blocks. I consequently think of a news of our factory worker's plight at back homeland. Yesterday I read a Myanmar online news saying that thousands workers from a Chinese own slipper factory strike for unfair pay cut. The story reveals that the factory was closed one week for Chinese New Year holiday with the will of factory owner. But at the end of the month, workers got their salaries cut by 10,000 Kyats. This unfair cut ignite our workers sit out strike.

I understand from the report that these workers earn 75 Kyats an hour only for their hard working. So I calculate how much they earn per day current as 75 x 8 hours = 600 Ks. Current exchange rate for Kyats is 850 for 1 USD. So converting the daily wages to USD would be 600/850 = 0.706 USD/day = 21.18 USD/month if he/she works everyday. What a poor earning for our worker? In fact, our factory workers are definitely skill workers in related job. I am sure they got more responsible than those full time cleaners in Singapore. What make our workers hugely different from the counterparts of regional countries? Is it because of poor/lack of labour law? Is it because lack of labour union in Myanmar? Is it because our authority ignore the plight of our people? Is it because our authority own some share of those money-making factories. Is it because China can do almost everything in Burma? Any yes answer to above queries would be rated extremely bad.

We, being immigrant workers, are understandable to be bullied by foreign employers as we are working on foreign land. But the factory workers story is different from us. They are working in mother land and suffering from foreign employer's bully. They have no law to protect their rights. Who will step in the case to settle in favor of our poor people? I am sure, this is not unique case inside Myanmar, there would be more similar cases that keep silent due to afraid of sacking their jobs. If we are supposed to go industrialized nation, we must have a labour union and law that cover the rights of our labour. Otherwise, irresponsible foreign investors will keep digging our assets and create the gap between rich and poor. Being authority, it's their obligation to make people life better while the nation is open up. I'ld like to beg our authority to protect our people's right and prevent the scenario of bulliness by their employers. It'ld be wise to set up an office to solve out such problems under ministry of labour. Otherwise, people won't know where to approach when they face unfair at their workplaces.

May our worker able to get what they fully deserve especially when they are working on their mother land.

Sick World

WHAT is happening to our planet? Almost everywhere got problem. US, EU, Middle-East, Asia-Pacific and what else? US seem trying to shoulder the burden of world's security. In the prospect of people's vote in next term, president Obama is introducing new plan in which cutting military budget to save money and trying to create new jobs. It's important for most of exporting countries that US economy remain strong. If it become weak, it's likely to see job retrenchment in those manufacturing countries like China and Singapore. Being immigrant worker,tt's insecure to see locals increasingly voice out for their worry towards job security. May US find a quick solution to resolve current problem and save world economy.

Like US, EU family member states are struggling to avoid possible recession for long term now. Leading countries like Germany and France are seeking help at outside EU particularly in China and Japan. It seem too heavy to shoulder for Germany and France to save its poorer member states. Again, with poor spending power in EU, manufacturing oriented Asian countries suffer. No order, where to send our products? It definitely will shake worker's job which is not good news for us. May EU find a good settlement soonest possible.

In Middle-East, Iran is center of attention by western countries due to its nuclear program. Iran keep saying their nuclear is for the peace purpose such as power generation. But that reason is not enough to satisfy UN & US led western alliance. Following EU's sanction on Iran, Iran response to halt crude oil supply to France and Britain that lead world's oil market see price raised. Israel is most concern nation with Iran's rise in nuclear technology. Israel keep their eyes on Iran's movement. In the wake of Iran's attempt to move their navy ships to Mediterranean sea, Israel is itching to launch its air strike to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities. However, US and analysts were uncertain as if Israel has enough capacity to end the war shortly. Because if Israel is supposed to enter war with Iran, its fighters must travel as far as 1600km to reach Iran's target. In the long journey, its fighter have to avoid Iran's air defense as well as refilling fuel on air. These all hard procedure make US parliament debate on Israel's desire to commence war. Regardless of which side wrong, for sure right now is world's crude oil price has gone 4 years high. The world will inevitably suffer from the shortage of oil and eventually world's citizen will be affected to their daily life.

Look at Asia-pacific region, South Korea is conducting war games with US army under the title of anti-submarine exercise. Following South's announcement on the schedule, North Korea warns south that it'll create more chance to enter war at peninsular. North even threaten that this time invade would be thousand folds of last year shell on South's remote island. Nevertheless, South Korea and US continue their war games as per schedule in yellow sea. Asian countries are seeing the risky games excitedly. No worrisome is good to our society. We don't want war that make nothing good for us. It claims lives, money, time, etc. Just say "NO" to war as we all are citizen of same planet. I wonder why UN is silent on this issue while South Korea is home country of current UN Chief. May Korean find a win-win situation on the table rather than merciless war.

At my motherland, Myanmar, new elected civilian government is busying to reform and convincing foreign direct investment. No wonder the FDI would be harder to come this time compare to last time due to above circumstances. US & EU have their own problems to settle. How do we afford to expect them to come and develop our nation while they are falling in their own troubles? Relatively non-sense if we're expecting to do so. How about wealthy China? China is widely considered by our people that they are nothing than opportunists. They come and take our best assets with little carrot that is only enough for our corrupted leaders. We really do not happy to see China increasingly invest in our natural resources. Hope the world will recover soonest possible and the west society will able to assist our nation's development. At the same time, I hope our leaders are wise enough to open and close our doors for the best benefit of our people. May our planet soon getting well.

Myanmar Hospitality

A Day to remember in life for me was happening during my last holiday trip to Myanmar last month. As usual, we got couple week granted for leave only. We make travel plan before we go for holiday as we wanted to go several places during the short time. This time schedule included to give a paying homage visit to my wife's village. We never get back that village since our welding celebration on January,2009. Thus, my wife was obviously wanting to visit home this time. More importantly, we wanted to show our child to her 87 years old great-mother and grand parent. They also eager to witness their great grand child rather than us this time. Since the village is located amid mountains, the transportation is severely bad especially for a fifteen months old baby girl. The chilly winter make our trip more risky.

Given condition, we have no choice to hire a car for our visiting trip to my wife village. Our car leave my hometown on about 6:30am for whole day long journey. The first two hours was fine as it's still in the territory of good roads. Soon after we cross Irrawaddy river by bridge, we started to notice the rough country road. We passed by several villages along the journey. About half an hour later, we heard a loud sound and the car is suddenly stopped. My sister, wife, daughter and I are riding behind and look out what had happened to us. It was a dry small creek flowing through a road. There is a small pond on the road and our car is trapped in the pond. The driver tried to overcome but no escape. The more he try to drive, the deeper the problem is. After driver understand he can't, he step out and looking around for help.

There are some villagers who are going through the roads. Some are traveling by their motorcycle while others are on their way to agriculture jobs. Some are looking at us with their curious eyes. Altogether on board, there are 6 persons, 3 men, 3 women including our baby girl. Surely we needs external help to solve the problem. Thus, we raise our hand and shout nearby people for help. They without hesitating, come to us and help to move our car. We all push our car while driver again try to drive in front. It seem nothing affected. The section of creek on road has full of stones and our car is lifted by those big stone. After several pushing attempt by some villagers, we realize that it's not a solution. As the time running out, our worry started. One villager suggests us to go village and seek for mechanical help. He told us a name of car owner who live in nearby village.

As there is no choice in the vicinity, I follow on one villager's motorcycle and go village for help. The man was a traveler and can't wait for us. So he dropped me at the said house and continue his journey. I approach the house by the name the villager gave me. When I see him, explain our crisis and ask for his help. He, without delaying, asked his sons and pupil to take all ropes within compound and follow me. He has a jeep car and he drives us all to the creek. I am able to sight after seeing helping family. When we reach the area, he command his people how to do and started to pull by his jeep while the rest all pushing our car. The rode was broken and stop. The villagers try to tie broken ropes. In second time, he asked our driver to drive and try to escape by two engines and existing man power. The result remain unchanged. Again, we're hapless and some villagers who are helping us leave us after giving negative comment. What should we do next? We didn't expect this kind of incident and distraught now.

(To be continued)

We're tax payer

I was appalling to know the status of my application for car permit last night. The buyer of my car permit told me that the application is still pending after couple weeks. He shared a insider news with regard to delaying car permit. He is close to a former army general who is currently take a top position of one resourceful division. He said, currently our civilian government busy with the peace making mission to ethnic minority group. In exchange of halting weapons, the government have to provide thousand car permits to those group who sign peace treaty. Previously, all ethnic fighting group are using illegal cars for their internal transport. After making peace agreement with government, they may not be able to ride such illegal cars on the roads and demanded the authority to give them free car permits. So, the government provide them car permits more than what they need so that they can resell extra permit to generate funds to raise their region's development projects.

As a result, the government hold the application of car permit by tax payers who are sea job and shore job workers like me. If the news is right, it's not a correct move because the authority should have known who deserve such permit more. We paid income tax for government's development. The ethnic groups were fighting government forces for centuries for their political believe. They occasionally purposely destroy public infrastructures to cut government's reinforcement to frontiers. Regardless, their destructive activities are not welcomed by all people who love peaceful life. But now, suddenly after they signs on cease-fire agreement, they are being given several opportunities by government. I don't jealous with the situation that favour ethnic group. But I want authority to understand our feelings.

It's not definitely right to halt our permit application without reason to pave a way for ethnic car permits. Since there are a lot ethnic fighting groups, the government will not afford to use double standard on this issue. Once they give one ethnic group, others may also raise their chance. Then the government will find it difficult to handle. At the same time, pressing the civilian who are not trouble-maker is not wise. It should be level play ground unless tax payers are getting more chances. Such rumors will make our permit attract no buyers. At the end of the day, we're going to be suffer from the wrong movement of authority. As a member of public, I just want to expect for a fair justice generated by our civilian government. The government should not give promises easily if they are not realistic. It's better keep quiet than giving smell of waves to people. In the long run, people will condemn such unfair activities. In general, our political and office holders should keep their words as it'll make them different from the rest.

Is China a good or bad friend for us?

WE have seen a lot of assurance by China that we have been a good relationship for so long history back and want to maintain this whenever they have a chance to express. Is it really reflect the attitude of China toward our nation? I personally doubt with that statement. Let me draw some evidence with regard to China's action in past and present.

Our first ever empire, Bagan, was established in AD1044 and was destroyed by Mongol from China at the end of 13th century. Like any war that time, they purposely destroyed our culture, people to influence their power within region. That took us another 2 centuries to regain strength when 2nd empire was formed in Bago under the King of Bayintnaung. This history said major set back for our nation's development by Chinese invader.

We are geographically located between world's biggest nations, China and India. Fact say that India has no history of invading its neighbor countries. It bold China's incursion mind on its regional smaller and weaker nations. That behavior still alive to date. The territory dispute for South China Sea Islands is a good example to proof my opinion. China's unstoppable rise on its military build up have made regional nations feel extremely insecure. It prompt the Asian nations to increase their military budget visibly. Most recent survey on military expenses suggest that China's total military expenses is bigger than total regional countries expenses. China aims to raise its already high military budget to US$ 238.20 billions. It raise all analysts eyebrows. The only nation which has higher budget is US only with US$ 525.4 billion for next year. While US government is busying with where and how to reduce its defense budget to save its economy, China continue to increase its military budget to boost its military power.

Few days ago, China's one state back media's editor show their worry with regard to current economy open up of its major allies. They are Pakistan, North Korea and of course Myanmar. It show China don't want to see its allies to open up and welcome to western society. Bad enough to rate China an enemy instead of friend country. The editor also emphasis on Myanmar's open to US lead nations that could bring US army to the border of China with Myanmar at worst scenario. Coincidentally, Myanmar military chief has shown its interest to participate in US led world games to get value experience. These all combine news might have made China extremely worried about Burma.

My question is why China needs to worry about Myanmar's attempt to develop nation if they are suppose to be our friend nation as they constantly claim. The unhappiness on our reforms nature suggest the China has dirty tactic toward Burma. They clearly know that they'll not able to influence Burma if we make our progress alive and got west's assistance in future. The democratic new government might not follow the footstep of its predecessor as they know what people exactly want. In brief, it's more likely to rate China as a bad friend than good one. May our leaders aware the attitude of China who is nearest enemy to our democratic development.

Melting Dream

MY hometown has a university of medicine and I open a hostel for male medical students. In Myanmar, medical profession is considered top career and only top scorers from matriculation exam could get a place of those rare university. Myanmar has 4 medical universities in 3 different cities including my hometown. Being medical professional, one can expect a successful work-life balanced career. Thus, most of students as well as their parents are dreaming to become a doctor. Some top students don't interest in medicine due to certain reasons such as fear of seeing bloods. However, they sadly can't afford to against their parent's wills. As a result, they have to go medical university without interesting. In fact, those students eligible to enter medical university can select other professional universities like engineering, law, economic, etc.

Last month, I visited my hometown as we got week long CNY holiday. We usually stay at a room of hostel. I was shocked to learn that there were 3 medical students from our hostel getting kicked out of university for failing their exam as well as supply. What a disappointing news is it? In fact, it's quite expensive to study at medical university. I spoke with a mum of one medical student who accompany with her first year student son at our hostel and ask how much they have to spend for a student. She replied, 3 lakh (USD 353)per month because her son is considered a clever student who doesn't waste money. I was surprising to know such amount to be spent as a student. In Myanmar, that amount can be considered huge for an ordinary family. Under this expensive circumstance, all students should have studied hard, I think.

However, the behavior I witnessed from the students of my hostel make me feel disappointing. They are not serious in studying. They look like coming to the university for leisure. They're spending much of their time at internet, football station, hanging out with girl friend, playing some sports, etc. Most of students need to attend tuition conducted by their lecturers. It's costly to pay tuition fees. Perhaps they think they can pass exam easily if they are attending their lecturer's tuition. May be last time was right that attitude. Now, everything is changing in Myanmar together with reforms. The education sector is not exceptional. Probably it might have affected to those bad students who are not dutiful with their assignments.

As a young school goer, we tried hard our study with the prospect of a place in the medical university. Likewise, the parent invest most of their saving in the education of their child to fulfill their aim. No parent would like to see their child get low grade. The parent and eligible student for medical university are deemed as ideal within their region. They would be awarded by the regional body so as to recognize their continuous efforts to success. Seeing them failed at the early years of medical university will not be expected by all concerned people around them back home. It's really look like their dream eventually become melted to shit.

May all student be able to understand their duty and fulfill their life-dream.

Inferior Permit

WHAT had made shore job car permit relatively cheap compare to 40 years old car exchanged permit? This question is being asked quietly by sea and shore job men despite no official answer. Perhaps the weak policy might have made this happening to us. We all know that old car permit is worth as much as 15 million Kyat. We're surprising to know that our car permit which is considered more advance by condition is valued at around 2 million Kyat only. Then how do they different in real?

The old car permit only can import the car which is not lower than 1995 model and more than 2002. Also the capped the car priced at USD 5,000 CIF that make people afford to buy. The USD 5,000 is exclusive of custom duty and registration fees (175% on CIF price). And those permit holders are real owner of existing old car and got instant permit. It makes potential buyers prefer against shore job permit.

On the other hand, shore job permit has a long journey to go through government offices. Since the permit only allow recent model cars (2007 and above), the importer will have to use much more investment in purchasing cars. Those car can easily cost USD 30,000 in CIF alone. It meaning the shore job worker must have paid USD 6,000 to the government. In real world, it's quite impossible for most of shore job workers because people have avoided their taxes by showing false information. At worse, some have gone through agents to minimize the tax amount to related embassy. Local elites don't afraid of buying expensive cars. The problem is there is not enough tax to boost car permit fees permission.

Another thing is lack of few ten thousands of USD to deposit in the foreign bank account. It make shore job workers fall in trouble. As I mentioned in previous post, one must open bank account and deposit required amount of foreign money before he can apply car permit to authority. So it's compulsory he must find sponsor person to go through this process. It make the permit unpopular among buyers. In contrary, the buyers are quite cautious to sponsor in depositing other's foreign bank account unless he knows him detail. It make another dimension of difficulty for seller to get a successful deal.

Besides, there had been one bad news with regard to seaman car permit. It state, the application of car permit for seamen has exceeded the ceiling of 3,000 cars. Thus, the authority is currently holding for those permit beyond 3,000. It make buyers extremely cautious in buying shore job car permit with the prospect of similar condition despite no announcement had been made. As we all know, in Myanmar, everything can happen without prior notice. Finally these all situation contribute our dream of owning a car or selling a good permit destroyed. At the moment, rumor said shore job car permit has been decreased to less than 2 million in which there are only sellers in the market. That make buyers become upper hand in market status and double sink shore job workers who had loyally paid income taxes to the government.

May our policy makers able to realize the plight of shore job workers and change accordingly to ease those unwanted problems.

V-Day fever

TODAY is February 14 which is better known as "Valentine Day". In the media, there has been V-Day related activities dominating several weeks in advance. The young people might have been impatient for this day and busy with the best idea for their loved ones. As a commuter who travel about two and half hours a day from and to between office and home, I notice that my fellow commuters are today more beautiful and smart compare to other usual day. Perhaps they all might have been a special appointment/date with their loved one this evening after work. Anyway, it's fabulous to see nicer people around and definitely they could make our work a better living place for a day unless it is for every day.

We could smell love in the air today. We could see happy couples around. We could see busy vendor of roses. No other make people happier than Love, I think. Love makes people motivate, beautiful, younger, brave, success, healthy, etc. Who else doesn't wants to see love? Probably nobody. It's expected that some friendship would be promoted to love-affair by tonight. Likewise, some relationship would be brought forward to tie a knot. Today would be a milestone day for some singles who might get green from their loved ones. Anyhow, seeing love is better than seeing divorce/ disputes/ angers around.

May all lovers have a good V-Day without destroying its original meaning. Love is in the air, try to taste it because it comes once a year. You don't need to be single to taste the love. Show your love to your soul-mate as well as your beloved child if you are married. For those singles who has no girl/boy friend also can show their love to the parent or relative. I hope V-day is not only meant to unmarried couple alone. May this year V-day able to fulfill with tremendous couples of love.

Trying to own a car ? 4

LETS say we got an approval from the authority of permit controlling department, we have to go our new capital city for final step. You'll need to bring along all relevant original documents to proof if the officer in-charge has any questions in last minute. To be honest, this is the phase I didn't go through due to time constraint. I just sharing this from the words of my GP who continue processing on behalf of mine. Nobody knows how long processing take to pass and it make us hard to estimate the total duration time from A to Z. Again, assume we receive car permit from Naypyidaw and we need to follow up the consequence. For those who want to sell permit, the journey can end here. But for those who want to buy a car himself, he may need to explore the market to find potential car within his/her budget.

Being lack of experience ? Don't worry, there are several car agents who are opening the door to such customers who has occupied a car permit. They may show several options to be chosen if you approach them. They have some car catalog to explain potential customers. There are two major options, I think. One is choose a car from catalog and pay 1 million agent fees over car's valuation from auction. The agent will find and buy from Japanese resale market for you with his oversea bank account. Servicing fees 1 million Kyats cover from auction stage to Yangon port. The rest is your duty to clear any official clearance. Another simple option is surrender your car permit to preferred agent and take one of their already imported cars at discounted price. You may view the physical condition of their cars at the show compound. The price tag are stick at car wind mirror so the customer can straight away judge.

The below is sample list of the cars above 2007 models with the estimated prices for your perusal.Hope the above I have shown here are in order and able to help you make major decision with regard to the car permit. Wish you may able to import/buy your own dream car sooner than later.

V-Day fashion

VALENTINE Day is at the corner and young couples are busying with the preparation for the love-prone day. It's understandable that couple considered this day as special. Also it can be considered a special day for those who intend to step up relationship to their loved ones. Regardless of purpose, the aim is to pay attention on loves which can make people crazy. The small word but powerful enough to make young people mad. In fact, not only young but old ones. This culture secretly infected to the whole world, even to the dignity-centric nation like our country. There seem no preventive pills to counter the growing trend of this V-day. The young are counting the day while some conservative people are worrying with the news and witness of some activities.

Being Buddhist majority country, our country didn't afford to prevent this ill-affected day celebration as the country started to open up its economy and politic. We have to accept that the global cultural would be entering sooner or later. It will subject to the wisdom of our authority. Today, I read an article written by famous writer in the domestic media website. He highlighted the danger of openness we currently face. He brought an example to emphasis his attention. It is an advertising for a V-day entertainment show by local media agent. They lured the potential audience by boosting that the lucky winning couples will be given lucrative package such as free meeting with astrologer, free bundle of roses, pack of chocolate, fully sponsor holiday package.

He was shocked to learn such advertisement openly to the public especially to the last holiday package for couple. In Myanmar, couple are not encouraged to go silent place before they tie the knot. Also it's discourage to single woman to go alone at night time. Amid such society, a frank advertisement like that can lead our young people think of wrong-doing. He even accused the organizer that they are like legally doing prosecution business by doing so. Free hotel-room for couple means a lot to our people to understand. Imagine what if the woman is your daughter/sister/relative. I'm sure nobody would like to face such answer and will support with the writer's comment. The writer also urged authority to censor such anti-law activities. Some activists urged to boycotts this V-day celebration and threaten to take photos of participants and upload in social media website like Facebook to shame/ downgrade them.

Regardless of purpose, it's not fit with our traditional ways. We all should abandon such challenging activities within our social cycle. Meanwhile, parent and teacher should play their role in guiding what is right and wrong to their children and pupils. Otherwise, weak law-governing will quietly encourage such ill-culture and eventually our country has a risk of becoming a prosecute country as our national hero, General Aung San, said 7 decades ago. It should be seen as not a one organizer's problem but our national identity threat.

May our authority able to foresee the real threats coming to our society to prevent the bright future of our young generation. May our young people be free from dirty-minded business world. May our young students gain a necessary education/wisdom to make them classify what's right and what's wrong for them. In my opinion, the activities of V-day are more likely to become period of hells rather than dream paradise day especially for our minors.

Trying to own a car ? 3

AFTER getting foreign bank account and depositing, you needs to register at ministry of labour under title of foreign worker. It'll cost you FEC-100. Make sure you bring along FEC (Foreign Exchange Currency), not USD because our government office won't accept world's best recognized currency. FEC can be bought in roadside currency traders. After that, you compile the following data in order to able to apply car permit

-passport photo
-bank passbook original/copies (2 sets)
-income tax slip original/copies (2 sets)
-passport original/copies (2 sets)
-national identity card original/copies (2 sets)
-evidence of working in foreign countries original/copies (2 sets)
-pay slip to proof FEC-100 already levied
-speicail power / general power if you are busy to come back for collection

Below is car permit application form duly filled in.To be continued.

Cruel and Deadly Disease

I recently was reading one diabetic related article sadly. She is just 4, but needs at least 5 insulin shots a day to keep her alive. Does it cruel to little babies alone? Not really. One in 9 nine adults in Singapore is diabetic. Not shock enough? The IDF (the International Diabetes Federation) data showed that, as of 2011, 366 million people had diabetes, and that the number would rise to 552 million by 2030 if no urgent action is taken. Diabetes caused 4.6 million deaths worldwide last year. The World Health Organization predicts that diabetes will be the seventh leading cause of death in the world by 2030. Total deaths from diabetes are projected to rise by more than 50% in the next 10 years.

The figures say much more than words. They are the fact that really happened to our world. We all only take care to HIV, Cancer, Hyper-B, etc. Why I am so concern these fact? My mother died of diabetes. My young elder sister is currently suffering from this disease. She cannot control her health by taking pills. Thus she needs to jab insulin shot herself daily in order to maintain her health at normal. She is poor at eating. Most of the foods are not suitable for her. It's look like hell in the live. Then there should be no reason why not prevent this killer disease. As they said, we know the value of health only when we fall in sick. It's not really wise to do so.

I glance other related facts that happening in the regional countries. Among Asean countries, Malaysia has the highest national prevalence of diabetes, with 11.7% of its adult population afflicted. Singapore comes a close second, with a national prevalence of more than 11%. Thailand and the Phillipine are next with 8.2%. Worldwide, China remains the country with the most number of people living with diabetes - 90 million. IDF president Jean Claude Mbanya said, "In every country and in every community worldwide, we are losing the battle against this cruel and deadly disease". If this disease is happening to the most developed countries, no wonder our country's people are suffering despite there are no relevant official data. If we have a system to record, perhaps we are one of the highest in the region because I have heard a lot cases around my reach alone. Since prevention is better than cure. It'ld be wise to take care ourselves before we are not diagnosed with this cruel. How do we know/detect if we have diabetes? The IDF website lists the following warning signs that someone could have diabetes:

-Frequent urination
-Excessive thirst
-Increased hunger
-Weight loss
-Tiredness
-Lack of interest and concentration
-Vomiting and stomach pain
-Tingling sensation/ numbness in hands/feet
-Blurred vision
-Frequent infections
-Slow-healing wounds

May all human being be able to free from Diabetes.

Trying to own a car ? 2

ASSUME you have compiled necessary documents to apply foreign bank account. You are supposed to submit by hand and wait until your name is being called. No surprise if you see Myanmar's sole foreign trade bank staffs are still using Leger instead of widely recognized computerized system. It's really happening to our office that is anti-productivity. The premise to handle those submitting forms are relatively small space packed with about 10 counters back to back. Applicants are squeezed amidst those wooden counters. There are no battery run loud speakers to call right person. It make people unable to leave counters after submitting their application form to open account. Sadly, one table cannot finish things to be done and will ask applicant to go around the office manually. Another headache to lines up while keep questioning each other. No air-conditioned room make people get easily sweat. But still cannot deter people to go there with the prospect of getting a car permit. In brief, it take me about two working days for preparation and another one working day for processing. After getting account, next step is to deposit US Dollar to the brand new bank account. The amount will be calculated by bank staff based on income tax slip.

The formula is 10 times what we have paid taxes to government. Then, the applicant could expect to get 50% of those multiplying amount for grant in ceiling. The rule said shore job workers can import car not less than 2007 model. Above 2007 models are considered recently produce cars and expensive. It make shore job workers unable to afford to buy themselves. It leads them to sell permit to rich people who want to buy new car. It's understandable that shore job workers are mostly from poor family background and their earnings have been used in the daily needs of their family's expenses. Since they are low paid workers, where got few thousand US Dollar in their saving? It's impossible for majority of shore job workers. Thus it's inevitable to sell back rich people in order to make some profit from the rare opportunity.

While exchanging car permit is valued at 100 to 150 lakhs Kyats, shore job permit can draw only 20 to 30 lakhs due to its high model rule. In order to get a good car, the amount can go as expensive as 50,000 USD. It means bank saving have to get 100,000 USD and one have paid income tax for 10,000 which is pretty much and not realistic to most of shore job workers. For instance, I have been working in foreign land for 7 years now and I have paid income tax loyally to date. Even for me, I could able to sum up for about USD 2,500 which mean I need to deposit 25,000 USD and will get USD 12,500 permit if everything goes right. In fact, that amount can purchase for small cars with 1300 cc engine power. I cannot buy luxury car with that amount. Do not misunderstand with that. I can't afford to deposit even USD 12,500 myself. Thus I sell my permit to a rich man and let him deposit for me. I just get some amount for using my tax slips and signature.

(To be continued)

Trying to own a car ?

RECENTLY, our government allowed shore job workers to import a car per head if they have paid duly income taxes loyally to date. The news is welcomed by all shore job and sea job workers. As usual, things related to our government offices are not easy task. Those shore job workers who intend to import a care have to apply car permit first. The problem begins there. The president changes policies to ease people's lives. But the character of government staffs is not match with the attitude of our president. It's understood that the applicant has to compile relevant documents before he/she goes to the office. First of all, the applicant has to open foreign bank account at MFTB (Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank) which is solely place for those who want to get car permit from all over the country. There are some requirements to open bank account at MFTB as follow:-

1) application form duly filled in - attention to MD
2) appointment letter
3) company contract
4) income tax slip up to date
5) passport copy
6) leave form
7) national identity card (to copy front and rare page on a same page)
8) introductory letter by existing MFTB bank account holder (need 2 recommendation)
9) passport photo 2 nos
10) NRIC copy of intended joint account holder (optional)

The form has to be pasted with a 3.00 Ks stamp from internal revenue office. Out of 10 documents required above, only item no.8 is out of reach and easily can find sponsor at nearby platform shops. But it will cost you 30,000 Ks per head. They'll offer full service for 300,000 Ks if you have no time to go long journey of documentation. Regardless of sense or non-sense, you have to entertain those document required by MFTB if you want to get a car permit. This is just the beginning of long journey. You have to be patient, friend. This is Burma.

this piece of paper can be found front counter of MFTB for those who wanna open bank account.

(to be continued)

World's Forgotten Dynasty

LAST week, one survey conducted revealed its discovery under the title of "forgotten destination for tourists". Myanmar's ancient city Bagan was ranked 4th out of 10 forgotten places, mostly from Asia. While our country secure a place of bottom in most of survey in term of every good aspect. I am happy to see our ancient city was ranked within top five worldwide. What a good news to our people. Amid opening economy, I believe the latest survey will bring more tourists to our nation and help our tourism sector.

Bagan is situated on the bank of Irrawaddy river and ideally sit on the heart of Myanmar. It was Burma's first ever dynasty by historian. I was founded in 1044 and sacked in end 13th century by mongol invaders. During its peak time, our prosperous Kings and people were building a lot temple, pagodas to show their admire in Buddhism and wealth. Myanmar was top in the mainland of south east asia until mid 16th century. I am reading a book of famous historic traveler, Marco Polo right now and proudly to know that he reached Myanmar during his discovery trip to Eastward. He drew a map of his traveling later and it become an important book for world's historians. The book was named "the description of the world" and I am very proud to see my country in his map. Other than Myanmar, only Cambodia can be seen in his map. Because anchor is another famous from south east Asia region.

What a deep historian are we? We have deep long history. We're not born recently just like some nations. We have century long history, culture. Our forefathers built temple and pagodas as big as Europe's biggest churches. The different is we made them few centuries earlier than they did. The remain of ruin pagodas in today Bagan suggest how civilian from this region been developed in past. It show how had our people been excel in Architecture, Mathematics, Geography, Building construction, etc. To be realistic, today we are like a forbidden nation. The world sanctioned us like an alien nation. In fact, we should proud of our forefather's achievement and should maintain this rich history to brought forward. Otherwise the soul of our forefathers won't be comfortable from the heaven.

May the world able to explore the beauty of our country and realize the wisdom of our people in past unless it's not for current generation. For this reason alone, I'm really proud of being Myanmar citizen. No matter how poor or least developed nation. The history cannot be changed. It's our heritage and we have to value it properly. May our leaders value those historic structure and make restoration effort to make it eternal.

Ambitious Burma

IT's delightful to know that our leaders increasingly becoming ambitious people. Yesterday, our famous lady who is widely considered people's leader expressed his simple ambition about her country. She admits that we are being behind in the region and will try to get advantage from being behind by taking lessons from the mistake of our neighbours who are already ahead of us. She bravely declared that she hopes her country to be ahead of ASEAN member countries within a decade. Sound hilarious? Let it be. Time will say the truth.

Likewise, our president urged mayor of our biggest city, Yangon, to transform dilapidated city to green city like Singapore. again, hilarious joke? Let it be. At least, he has desire to improve our living standard. It's better to have an ambition than lacking. We all have to support his sincere ambition to come true. Being citizen, it's our obligation to help our mother land keep move forward. Stop blaming each other. It's time to unite and open up.

Who can deny one day Burma can overtake regional nations in term of development? Given condition especially in geopolitical and natural resources which are ideal to develop a nation, it's possible to become everything if we have a strong wills. In a half century time since independence, we never heard such ambitious speeches from our leaders to date. What a good sound to our people even there is still no blue print to fulfill our ambition? Never mind, there is a will, there might be a way. International community are eager to help our weakness in various sectors. We can gain their technological know how and obviously save our valuable time in building our nation. It'll help us mitigate the gap within a relatively short time.

Being immigrant worker myself, I can't stop to count down the day I could able to return home land as I can smell the changes everyday. I can read good news regarding my country which I had no chance to read in past. I can imagine the opportunity being awaits in near future. I can dream doing the job for mother land. I can dream of living together with family. I can dream..............What a good sense is it? Now we all can see a time to return home. In past, we are look like futureless people. We didn't know when we will return home in past. Now, we can able to number our day in alien country.

Thank you, our leaders. Hopefully I could be given a chance to serve my nation one day in near future. Wish you find 2012 is a remarkable year for you and our nation.

Pay hike

WITH the effort of transforming clean governance, our parliament had agreed to review civil service's salaries and increase them so that government staffs are able to focus on their respective job. The new civilian government acknowledged that current salary is not enough to survive daily expenses now. The news follow a good news of limited sanction lifted by US. The government has gained trust gradually both from international community and our people. As a human being, our people might know what is good and what is bad. At the same time, the government introduced the draft law of anti-corruption. The international watch-dog ranked Myanmar as a worst law country to protect FDI that is not a good sign to encourage incoming foreign investment companies. Anyway, we believe that this momentum won't be derailed as long as our leaders are willing to keep political and economical reform. Exceptionally, our rich natural resource and cheap labor will become magnet to those investment companies from outside world.

If we are supposed to go on the way of development, we have to raise our people's lifestyle. Without income rise, it'ld be hard to see immediate impact. Raising wages to civil service will be the best form of pumping money to the market so that their spending power become better. It'll certainly help our cooling economy and investor will find it reliable to domestic 60 million people market. Hopefully, this good news will draw unlimited cheers from our people as well as critic. May our people able to live their lives as comfortable as possible under the guidance of wise leaders.

Vulnerable UN ?

I personally sometime think that who has real power when it come to global concern situation between UN and its permanent security member states. Currently, the western countries are unhappy with the situation in Syria and last week UN security council decided to take action against Syria to protect its innocent citizen. However that decision was barred by Russia and China by its veto power. So what does UN do with its decision when communist minded permanent states disagree with it? Nothing to do but showing their displeasure. This week, Russia and China foreign ministry issued response toward those displeasure with their veto using. Anyway it's sign of vulnerable on UN's power. Who else can deny this?

Next, Iran's nuclear related case. UN constantly showed its objection with regard to Iran's secret attention to become another nuclear power. It doesn't matter what is the reason to hinder Iran's nuclear program me. US, as usual, is producing loudest voice and clearest concern by moving its powerful navy nearby gulf. Regardless of international community's concern, again Russia and China are supporting Iran with the sake of its lucrative oil production. China is energy hungry nation and import visible amount of oil from Iran and don't want to spoil their relationship. Thus, China will not delay to support Iran if they are in need to protect their own business interests. On the other hand, China seems trying to persuade anti-US nations worldwide to enhance its power as far as possible from its shores.

Yesterday, Israel announced to commence its attack to Iran on the ground of their nation's security. No nation nor organisation can stop them doing that as it is considered highly dangerous. It's not just a war between two nation. It's a war of religious as well. If Israel attacks Iran, other Muslim world countries will enforce to Iran to counter Israel. For instance, Pakistan announce that they'll not hesitate to support Iran if Israel attack. Thus, world is concerning that nuclear weapon possession nation like Pakistan will enter the war and it could go beyond control.

On the economic world, EU is trying to survive from its current crisis. If Israel and Iran enter to war, there will definitely affect oil production in middle east particularly in Iran who is one of most oil exporters in the world. It'll prompt the oil supply shortage in market and will inevitably make oil price up. Subsequently, the EU will find themselves falling into the recession, even its strongest industrialization nation, Germany will not able to avoid it. What's good for war? Almost nothing. Who can stop war then? Apparent UN. Does UN has ability to stop those potential wars? Doubtful. Then who else will control those dangerous games? Probably US and its alley NATO. Hopefully some organization able to stop those unwanted wars to save our world regardless of where and reason.

May the world able to stay peacefully by the power of UN authority.

Welcoming News

YESTERDAY, US lifted one of its many sanctions against our country with the recognition of recent positive moves by newly elected civilian governments. In the recent visit to Singapore by our president, he told media that he had committed whatever he can and the rest is for US to lift their sanctions. Does US hear our president's voice through international media. Following our president's state visit, Singapore urged US to lift sanction against us to acknowledge once military rule country's newly elected government effort. It doesn't matter, which sound do US law makers heard to ease sanction against us. The limited sanctions will allow assessment mission and limited technical assistance to be conducted by financial institutions such as World Bank, the Asia Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

I simply believe that this limited sanctions release news will encourage our leaders to keep reform going in our country. Our leaders might have feel the fruitful result of their tirelessly work done since they took highest office in our land. It's undeniable that everybody recognize with the improvement of our country's situation even the most critic previously. Now I could able to read some good news with regard to my country in the foreign media frequently. This condition cannot be imagine in recent past. But it has been real and happy to view the positive news of our mother land.

Wish our leaders may able to keep positive changing on the ground of our people's best benefit.