TPPA

Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations was participated by 12 countries. We will see more nations working towards trade liberalisation, free markets that will give benefit the participating nations.

By reducing trade barriers, TPPA will provide Malaysia-owned businesses wider access to international markets and it will strengthen the country’s economic growth. The negotiated agreement will provide local businesses with the first Free-Trade Agreements between Malaysia and US, Canada, Mexico and Peru, in addition to enhancing access to eight other markets. They also will have opportunities to participate in government acquisition in TPPA member countries. Indirectly, it promotes competitive neutrality and a level playing field among TPPA members.

Furthermore, it can give benefit in Malaysia’s textiles, apparel, commodities and the electronic industry. Malaysian SMEs will have accelerated growth opportunities as the multilateral trade agreement will enable improved uniformity for selected regulations and harmonised standards in several areas.

Malaysia currently is the third largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Asean and TPPA provides Malaysia a competitive edge among Asean countries to enhance futher investment.

Malaysia has established strong foundations in technology, ecommerce and financial services. TPPA will boost Malaysia’s vision of becoming an ecommerce and high-tech hub within the region. It can help  Malaysian SME’s to better participate in the global marketplace.

The TPPA is a historic multi-lateral trade agreement and a significant milestone to US- Malaysia relations benefitting both countries.

Mudslide in Kuala Lumpur - Karak Highway

The landslide at kilometer 52.5, near Lentang - Bukit Tinggi in 11 November 2015 cause Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway was closed to all vehicles, apart from resulting in tremendous traffic jams in both directions. In the incident at about 6.45pm, the landslide also caused these routes are filled with mud. Even the alternative routes through Jalan Bentong-Kuala Lumpur also interrupted due to a landslide that also occur there due to heavy rain. Because of that the Karak Highway was closed for four days.In Saturday 14 November 2015 the highway was reopened at around 1pm.

Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia president Datuk Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil were visited the Karak Highway and claimed that the rivers in the area were all muddy.She said although there was no logging activity now, this did not mean that it had not caused the mudslide.

“There could have been logging in the area several months ago and only now are the consequences showing.“Even the rivers in the area are all muddy. This is a clear sign of illegal forest clearing,” she told reporters.

She stressed that more awareness needed to be raised on the effects of illegal logging and forest clearing.“Who is going to step up in order to save our natural wonders? We need to start now before it is too late,” she said.

Shariffa Sabrina said the love for nature needed to be inculcated in children from a young age.“We are aware that logging and land clearing is occurring in Janda Baik, Genting Highlands and here in Lentang. She also urged the authorities to take action immediately before disaster strikes again.

“Electronic cigarettes or vape are as harmful as regular cigarettes” – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said the statement during his keynote address at the 26th International Federation of NGOs (non-governmental organisations) for the Prevention of Drug and Substance Abuse (IFNGO) conference and the concurrent 22nd IFNGO ASEAN NGOs Workshop here Monday.

Electronic cigarettes or vape are as harmful as regular cigarettes due to the nicotine content in the products, says former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad."Believe me, vape is bad and equal to cigarettes. Vape has a nice smell and it’s tasty. When you smoke cigarettes, you just get the smoke smell. But when you vape, you get a nice smell like strawberry and mango."The good smell is the way to promote the vape products".

In addition, Dr Mahathir also called on the public, especially parents, to teach the younger generation and make them understand that drugs can ruin their health and life.

"Parents must tell them drugs will shorten their life and instil positive teachings to hate drugs. If they (the younger generation) are brought up by believing in the values, they themselves will fight the temptation to use drugs," he said.

Today, people take drugs because they are addicted and want to change something in their lives, he said."It is worse today because drugs lead to crimes, such as stealing and killing. For example, if a boy has been deprived of money by his mother or father to buy drugs, he would not hesitate to kill them."To get drugs, he would steal money and in the process of stealing, if he meets resistance, he would use weapons to kill," Dr Mahathir said.

He also called on the international community to cooperate to eradicate the distribution of drugs. 

Floods in Shah Alam

A few areas in the city were flooded after torrential rain for two hours starting at 1pm causing dozens of cars got stuck. Some of these areas are of Section 13, Section 9, Section U8 and Batu Tiga, causing the route was impassable to light vehicles. Motorists and staff several factories and small companies along Pavilion U8 / 88 also could not get through it after the water of the Sungai Damansara overflowing on the road. Commuter train services and goods were also affected when the track nearby Batu Tiga flooded. A spokesman for the Malayan Railway (KTM Berhad), when contacted, confirmed that the route is now impassable than commuting services had to turn back.

4 seriously injured in accident in East Cost Highway (LPT2)

Lately, there are many news about accident in East Cost Highway (LPT 2). Until now we didn't know why the road become an accident area. Recently, there are also occurred accident in LPT 2 where it involved three students and a bus driver were seriously injured when their bus rammed a trailer at Km 292.2. In the 2.15 am incident, the double-decker tour bus, carrying 54 students and seven teachers from Sekolah Menengah Islam Hira' Jeram Kuala Selangor, was heading towards Kuala Terengganu. Kemaman District Police chief Supt Mohd Said Ibrahim said the bus rammed the back of a trailer which was laden with wood and boards."Initial investigation revealed that the school bus delegation was going to Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (Unisza) Kuala Terengganu for a study tour," he said when contacted by Bernama here. He said all the students, who sustained serious injuries, were sent to the Kemaman hospital for futher treatement while those with light injuries, including the trailer driver received out-patient treatment.

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Baby dumping

Baby dumping. This issues had never stop yet it become increasing year by year. Our country are rapidly developing in all aspects, whether economic, political or social, in line Vision 2020. However, we are experiencing social problems for a long time, like a baby dumping. The severity baby dumping is become rampantly.

Recently, police arrested a woman believed that mother of a day-old baby was thrown in the washing machine in a house in Kampung Ulu Tray Kechil, Yan, Kedah. The results of the investigation, the suspect, 38-year-old was admitted that she give birth in a bathroom in the house which is shared with the father-in-law, without the knowledge of her husband and father-in-law. 

In addition, there is also a dead baby wrapped in plastic, suffocating a baby before being planted, thrown into the toilet bowl, there is even willing to bury the baby alive.

The reasons teenagers trapped in baby dumping are because of the pressure from their peer and promiscuity, they liked and wanted to try sex, too much trust in man, exposed the rampant sexual activity through the Internet, and raped. The cause of the irregular social situation is also closely linked to the tenuous relationship between children and parents. 

Therefore, the alternative for this issue are providing baby hatch where mother to a baby can send the baby to this place instead of kill the baby. Moreover, parents also should play a main role in educate their children by giving enough religion knowledge to them.

                                             

Unemployment. What are the causes?

It's about 216.048 (56%) Unemployed University Graduates Out of 385.800 unemployed persons in Malaysia. What causes & problem?

They are educated but there are no vacancies and employment. They also be burdened debt at RM15,000 and above based on the cost of study in each place.

Unfortunately, the "beautiful dream" to expect young people and university graduates to fill the vacant posts as soon as possible, actually not as easy as they thought.

The results generated by Jobstreet show here are some of the factors that many university graduates are still unemployed outside. Among the causes are:

The problem of unemployment among university graduates:

• The application of English is poor: 56%
• Attitude problem in themselves: 37%
• Expect unrealistic salary: 33%
• Skills that are not commensurate with the needs of the market: 30%
• Too choosy when choose companies: 28%
• Do not have problem-solving skills: 26%
• Poor level of knowledge: 24%

While today's employers find and evaluate candidates to meet the criteria set out below is based on a survey conducted by Manpower Inc. in 2008, among others:

1. There is integrity and honesty
2. Able to provide the work and the best quality service
3. Ability to communicate effectively
4. Can ensure customer satisfaction level of the best companies
5. Highly motivated
6. Being able to do the job and assignment without undue reliance hope with others.

Therefore, as a graduate we must grab all the good skills that we had learn in the university as there are many competitors around us that always compete to get job with us.

Budget 2016: The price of house is high and not affordable

Budget 2016.One of the aspects that will be the focus is affordable housing.
Malaysians, especially the youth in this country are often expressed their concerns about the affordability of housing is said to be in line with the basic needs after their career, and subsequently married.

In a survey conducted by AWANI, the average social media user experience in house prices is very high and unaffordable.

Netizens also feel that affordable housing is hard to find.

In fact, according to them, the salaries of graduates were 'too low' and rising home prices makes it difficult to own at a young age.

"Fresh graduates salary of RM2,500. KL area home RM250K and above. Housing loan for the private sector and only 90%... need to find another 10% and the money to pay for legal fees. How much longer are we going to save? 3,4 years? "Asked a Facebook user named Muhammad Nuranis Suhaimi.

Meanwhile, some have claimed that the conditions set by the banks makes it difficult for young people to obtain loans, thus becoming an obstacle to their own homes.

According to them, the terms of home loans led to extreme youth prefer to purchase a car from the house.

Netizens also expressed that the savings Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has not helped them in the first house.

Sheila Shakira, although EPF savings can be used to use to pay house deposit, but the house prices rose faster than their wages.
"Every month the EPF money to grow, but home prices still continue to rise causing us to wait EPF savings to achieve solvency deposit," he said.

In addition, there are also urging the government to increase affordable housing and stop luxury housing projects so that all groups are given the opportunity to own a home.