A sky high property market

OH my God!!!!!! What happened to me? I am just shouting for surprise. What make me surprise? It is a price list given by a property agent in last Sunday Myanmar property road show. I was talking so much to marketing staff without checking the price list first. I thought that some property rate would be reachable for a person who is working in a developed nation. I wouldn't have talked to staff had I read the list first. Because the price are sky rocketing and out of our budget so far. Have a glance some of the list.

Land plot = Ks 350,000 (S$ 510.00) per square feet. (Yangon, prime area)

Land + house = Ks 36,433 (S$ 53.00) per square feet. (Thanlyan, nearboring city of Yangon)

Condo Apartment = Ks 154,545 (S$ 226.00) per square feet. (Yangon, suburb area)

Condo Apartment = Ks 205,892 per sq ft (Yangon, close to city area)

Low Cost Apartment = Ks 51,429 per sq ft (Thanlyan Tsp)

Surprisingly, Myanmar is 2nd most expensive place to buy properties after Singapore. How do ordinary people of least developed nation afford such crazy price to own a place to call home? Recent and on-going labour strike show how deep the plight of industrial workers have gone in Myanmar. A general worker who work in garment can expect basis salary not more than Ks 50,000 per month. Given living cost, it is sadly enough for one person to survive. People are struggling to find such a job. But its property price go sky high definitely will make rich and poor gap more wider. No wonder we have seen a lot slum across the suburb areas of all round Yangon. It is obvious that internal migrant workers can't afford to rent a flat to live in. Because they are mostly uneducated workers and earn less. So they mostly rely on living in slum an it have been increasing.

Hope the authority will look into the unusual property market and step in to cool property price by creating low cost housing for public. At the same time, I hope the government introduce the housing scheme for its people to afford buying a roof over their heads.

Disqualified Agent

FIRST time in my life, I went to property show last Sunday in lion city. I have come across a lot property related news on local newspaper. The different for this property show is meant for Myanmar citizen who are working here. The show is organized by one of Myanmar construction company. They are marketing their own-built housing apartment as well as landed properties in some biggest cities of Myanmar. With the prospect of finding one suitable within my budget, I approach to one counter for inquiry. As it is crowd, I direct approached to a marketing person who is sitting at counter. I raised my hand to get attention by a sale personnel. Upon one's attention, I began a question-

Me: Hi, bro

Sale person: yes, may I help you.

Me: How much do we need to make for downpayment?

 SP: 25% Sir

Me: As at paying that 25%, how much physically done on site?

SP: it is considered deposit to enter contract between builder and customer.

Me: So...what does it mean, can you explain a bit more?

SP: At that stage, most likely the project still on paper, yet to start

Me: Then, how do we know when the project is going to start?

SP: it depend situation, can't say for sure

Me: Okay, then what is installation plan?

SP: you have to pay another 25% by the time the project begins.

Me: I see, then how long do you take to finish a project?

SP: mostly 2 years in Myanmar, Sir

Me: I see, when do we pay next payment?

SP: you have to pay in 2 stage during construction for balance 50%.

Me: I see, what if the project stopped half-way?

SP: Ummmm,,,,we usually go as plan.

Me: any condition for compensation clause if builder fail to deliver within agreed time?

SP: Umm...I am not sure as I am not from contract department

Me: Is there any service to link with local banks for financial assistance for customer?

SP: No, it is not our business, you got to deal with them. We only see if you pay in time or not.

Me: I see...then any liability period for any default within certain period?

SP: Umm I am not sure with that question.

Me: Ok never mind, thanks

I step back to let other fellow prospect buyers in after questioning some to sale person. Meanwhile, I notice there are few booklet on the table. When I ask for one copy, another sale person told me with unexpected answer. Sorry, Sir...they are limited edition and we have few copies. They are meant for those customers who are interested in landed properties. I am defeated by a horrible sale person within few minutes frame. I just wonder how did they prepare for oversea marketing. I just eventually console myself that it is because they came from my country. We need to learn a lot to become a professional in our respective sector to give maximum service to our customer unless it is for extra-mile.

May our young generation able to access proper education to make themselves ready for the competitive market.

Corruption Thought

HE is Oxford educated law professor and working for a top Asia's varsity, NUS. She is a law student who study at NUS. Two years after she graduates from school, the scandal has been disclosed by the media. I am interesting to read the news as it involved highly regard law professor who has worked for government as well. He is being charged for gratification. There are total 6 charges he is facing in court. The trial is on-going and it have been headline news these days. In the highly competitive world, students have been extremely crazy to achieve their ambition of getting top job after school. To get a place in top firm, he/she must pass in upper class honor in their respective field. What if the student wants the grade more than his/her qualification? This court case become a modern sample and make parent aware of their varsity-going children.

Look at what are the six charge.

1) Mont Blac Pen worth S$700+

2)  iPod worth S$160+

3) 2 pairs of tailor made shirt worth S$ 700+

4) paying bills worth S$ 1700+

5) sexual intercourse worth priceless

6) sexual intercourse worth priceless

In return, the professor has to access in favor of female student. It is very clear that he is easily afford to buy above items but the last two. She is as young as his daughter. The professor is 41 and she was about 19 when incident took place. It is really disgrace to the reputation of NUS. This incident had cost him suspension from his current post with NUS while the trial is on-going. Likewise, the greedy student's degree certificate has been voided by NUS as well as she lost her current job with top law firm. Nobody is winner from this sad story. But this case make me think of my country's education system.

Other than the last two, the first four items are nothing but common in our student-teacher relationship at all level, from kindergarten to university. As a buddhist nation, it is part of our culture to pay tribute to our teachers together with some presents occasionally. Some deliberately gave present to their teacher to get their favor in return. Some to show their gratitude in the performance of teachers. If accepting present is rated crime under corruption, I think most of our teachers have to go prison. It is partly due to system error. Our teachers are paid very low salaries and they can't survive without such under table practice. Some might give extra tuition outside classes in order to gain extra income to support their daily needs. Despite giving tuition is not recommended by authority, it is widely continue as a way of survivor. No wonder Singapore has reputation for its rule of law. Hope our country's law makers learn something from tiny state so that we could have a clean governance and good government as our president pledges always.

Know where you are

YESTERDAY, I read an article with relate to salary of fresh graduate in local paper interestingly. It may help us find where do we stand currently at our respective workplace. Sometime, one's success could be measured through gaining experience, facing new challenges and how much financially please, among others. It is obvious that cash is still the King because it empower us in doing things we like/want. In order to gauge our level, it is good to know market rate of salaries for different walks of life among industrial workers. As a foreign workers, we cannot breast the locals who has upper hand in term of education and language as well as government's policy favor. But,I believe knowing the fact help us to capture the place where we stand for. The following facts are shared from the yesterday Today paper's publishing. All findings below are meant for average starting salaries according to report conducted in 2012.

Diploma holder - S$1,866

Degree holder - S$2,678

Degree holder with honours (lower second class and below) - S$2,766

Degree holder with honours (upper second class and higher) - S$2,882

Hope the above fact will help you evaluate your salary if it is under/over against your contribution to your firm, especially for those who work in lion city.

source: today newspaper on 31/07/12

Interview thought

LAST night, my wife and I waited for our president's exclusive interview with Channel New Asia on TV. We hardly watch TV here. But today is special and we eager to watch how our president answer and how Channel New Asia's staff questioning. It take only about 20 minutes in total. As a person who chase the news of Myanmar, most of words he talked with interviewer are already known before. He talked 100% mother language to English speaking journalist. His words are translated and shown on TV with English sub-title. There are three major parts during interview, political, economical and ethnic problem. They are each sandwiched by advertisement. The interviewer is quite motivate and so does our president. It is good to speak mother language if he cannot excel in English. It is nothing wrong as long as his mindset is right. It is not for shame. There are so many world leaders who do not speak English. However if he speaks English well, it would be value added for him.

The day I remember when our young MP who follow ASSK in her European tour talked in one media conference. He didn't use translator and tried to talk English to attendance. He is quite young and seem lack of political experience as well as public speaking. He find himself difficult to find proper words while he attempt to explain what he wants. Some attendance seem boring to listen him. Perhaps, people might have expected him of somewhat quality of ASSK has shown. In fact, it is just typical youth of Myanmar. Nothing else. However, it would be easier to get first impression if he excel in English. I am sure most of our MPs will not be competent in world language. Hope they will try to learn and improve their halting English so that they could promote the communication skill while they keep in touch with others. Our country has opened up and now is just very beginning. There will be storms of visitors who come and see our MP in search of business opportunity as well as collaboration in possible sectors. Our young generation should have a proper access to recognizable education system so that their skill will not repeat their senior who have come across the darkest part of our history. 

Tomorrow never die and there is always time to do something we wants if we are really serious. It is better late than never. Please upgrade our education system for the sake of our country's future. Otherwise we will never stand ahead of our neighbors. Hope our MPs will look into this matter seriously so that our younger generation will not taste the bitter experience they are encountering right now.