If you take a look at the news on our local papers, you will probably think that we have no news but those stupid elections. It is like our world has stopped revolving and we are all waiting for who get how many nominations, who get voted and all those irrelevant things.
This morning, I was so amused with this news on The Star.
Prepare to lose jobs in Singapore
SINGAPORE: The 300,000 Malaysians employed in the island republic have been advised to gear up for retrenchment if the country continues to slide into a recession.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said that although the technical recession experienced by Singapore has not yet translated into unemployment, it was better for Malaysians to be prepared.
“If there is unemployment due to a recession, our workers will be hit,” he told The Star here yesterday.
“They need to work on retraining and acquiring new skills to ensure they have jobs during such times.”
He said that Malaysians accounted for about 30% of the foreign workforce in Singapore.
Dr Subramaniam said that many of the Malaysian workers in Singapore were unskilled and employed in the manufacturing sector.
Asked about whether the ministry had a contingency plan for such a situation in Malaysia, he said that Malaysia would have excess job vacancies as work presently being done by foreigners could be offered to locals instead.
Note the sentence I bolded? Wuah….if we just look at the surface, it is like saying our country is doing so well, we will not suffer any economic downturn. We have plenty of jobs. Yeah….right….
I do not know about others but I think we are seriously fooled into thinking we are living in good times. There is no sign or indication of any looming recession where Malaysia is concerned. Our Finance Minister keeps telling us we are doing well. When we live in this bubble, it will burst and shit will hit the fans.
Question is, are you ready for that when shit hits the fan? Are we ready?
Out of topic a bit – Just this morning, when I was on my way to Mt. Miriam, I found a big group of men wearing JPA t-shirts outside my apartment unit. Yesterday noon, after just a short downpour, our monsoon drain threatened to overflow again. So, these JPA (jabatan pengairan something department or the department in charge of drainage system, I think) guys are probably here to investigate. There were two Land Rovers, many many officers in their office attire, big group of labourers in their JPA t-shirts and ALL OF THEM are lepaking under the trees, don’t know do what? Maybe some politicians from DAP are coming to investigate, take photos with the press and show us they are working? Dude, only one longkang is clogged, we certainly do not need 20-30 men to sit and observe, do we? We are paying for your gaji, you know?
So, yeah, Malaysia, stopped fooling us we are sheltered and protected from the recession.
Every country is hit by the global economy gloom. Malaysia is no exception. We are not living in Utopia. Maybe, Pak La La and Gang are still living in their Dreamland and they want us to believe we are immune. When ppl start bombing ATMs with their homemade ‘plastic’, it’s a sign of not everything is going well in Malaysia.
The Pak La La has planned to go holilay oleli after Mac 09. Who cares about economy gloom or bloom. And between now and then, he can still stock up his Swiss Account through more purchases and buy over deals with absurb premiums (e.g. Chopper and MBB deals). Though the oppositions are cornering them on these issues, but we know it too well that it will be no case after awhile as new issues keep cropping up.
Work being presently done by foreigners to be offered to locals? Hmm, I wonder if the take up rate will be high.
Like yr story on those JPA guys – same here in my office which is a gaumen ofis, to change a fluroscent light, 5 men came. That is their definition of efficiency and excess vacancies.
You are 100% spot on! We are in a mess and it is getting worse come Christmas. Over the weekend, I finally got to meet up with some of my school buddies who are now lawyers, fund managers and businessman. Usually when we meet up, it is all jokes(dirty) and are usually the loudest crowd in the restaurant. This time, everyone was so moody and all we talked about was what individuals market segment is like and how to go about it but most important thing is, there was this heavy and stressed feeling amongst us all……bottom line is the sentiment out there now is very bad. Apparently we are only feeling almost 50% of the impact, wait till end of the year when we should get all 100% of it.
You can see from the bank share performance, people are panicking and are pulling out there money, worry all their money gone like in the States and Europe….
And guess what, our Super Duper PM and DPM gave assurance our economy is very “sound” and not effected by the States and Europe…..I wonder sometimes if they are really the PM or DPM….
Oy, aunty, don’t you know you live in a place call Bolehland meh?
In Bolehland, the leader can bullsh1t all he wants, and the people would soak it all up.
In Bolehland, the leader can bankrupt the nation, and the people would call him a hero.
In Bolehland, the leader can have his picture torn into bits by some mad fella, and his followers would still vote him to lead the party.
Where were you all these years, aunty?
eh kambong – Can you shut up ah? You are damn annoying, you know?
toolan – Haih….biasa ler…
wmd – Hahaha, five person to change bulb, just like the cartoons.
klaw – And as if when Spore kena, Malaysia will not kena. The investors semua cabut, where to find foreigners to fire and hire locals somemore lah, correct or not?
domino – Yalor, we are always at their mercy.
anak penang – Our Finance Minister very capable mah….Nay, the helicopter issue? Scary lah, these type of people there. So much abuse and yet, nothing much we can do.
“…as work presently being done by foreigners could be offered to locals instead”.
I wonder what kind of “work presently being done by foreigners” refers to.
Foreigners such as those from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand, etc.
Work such as maid, guard, petrol station attendant, etc.
Is it?
Kelwin – Yalor, our ministers all reason like five years old. They never think of the big picture one. Like those people who have gone to Spore still can come back and work as labourers and maids and live happily ever after like that. That’s why it is so frustrating to see them giving simpleton excuses just to fool us.
it will be fine for now. but mark my word… first quarter of 2009, we will begin to read about ppl jumping down buildings…. just like 1997….
the 300,000 out there, if they were to be retrenched… they might just head to HK.
I also thought that it was a bit arrogant for our minister to say stuff like that.
Our soon-to-be PM aka Bapa C4 says we are OK because he is OK. If you tak suka, please ambik tu C4 and bomb sendiri…
Hmmmm… So strange… Next year will be 10 yrs since I started working. And in 10 yrs, I would have gone through 2 major financial crisis. Wah liao… My savings.. 😐
Gawd!
Another Minister spews rubbish!
Just what kinda of education our Ministers have? Standard six?
wtf! Sinkapore is light years ahead of us!!!!!
See? I prefer to write here than to blog at my own spot! Ha!Ha!
Spot on Lilian
Cheers and Regards
Birds Talking Too