Long break ends...sigh

Finally....Raya break of 4 days ends today. After tonight, I will resume the hectic working life just like many of you out there. Hopefully I can fast fast settle my pending work so that I would not be so rush like last week for there will be another holiday this coming Thursday.... It was a really really nice 4 days of rest, breakaway from work and just relax, eat and sleep....

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2010

To all Malay friends and Muslim people out there, have a safe, enjoy and happy festive Hari Raya 2010 !!! Wishing everyone happy holidays and safe journey travelling for those who are going back to their respective kampung :)

EPF Q2 investment income up 23.4pc

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) recorded an investment income of RM5.93 billion for the second quarter of this year, up 23.47 per cent from RM4.80 billion in the same quarter of 2009.

Chief executive officer Tan Sri Azlan Zainol said the positive performance was mainly due to the country's robust economic growth in the first half of the year.

"The increase in performance was primarily encouraged by improvements in both domestic and global equity markets and supported by the higher interest rates compared to the previous corresponding period," he said in a statement here today.

He said the growth was led significantly by equities that contributed RM2.72 billion.

Loans and bonds was the second largest contributor with an income of RM1.90 billion, an increase by 4.72 per cent over the RM1.81 billion earned in the same quarter of 2009.

However, there was 1.02 per cent decline in income from investments in the Malaysian Government Securities which contributed RM1.10 billion, compared with RM1.11 billion previously.

Investment income derived from Money Market Instruments, meanwhile, posted the most significant increase at 94.23 per cent to contribute RM183.10 million against RM94.27 million in second quarter of last year.

The increase was attributed to higher asset holding and interest rates.

EPF also saw higher income from properties where it rose by 9.37 per cent compard with the previous corresponding quarter, contributing RM22.76 million.

Going forward, Azlan said although EPF had performed well in the first half of this year, the pension fund remained cautious over the outlook in the second half.

"Nonetheless, we will continuously seek to optimise returns and add value to members' retirement," he added. -- Bernama

Can we get 6% or even 7% dividend for year ending 2010? Can we can we?

AirAsia offers '2 seats for price of 1' promo

AirAsia Bhd has launched a "Two to Go" promotion which offers guests two seats for the price of one.

In a statement today, AirAsia said the promotion would be available for travel period from Sept 14 to Nov 15 this year.

"The promotion is a special reward for fans for their support with exclusive promotions via social media platforms," it said.

It said the offer covered domestic and international destinations inclusive of Perth, London, Chengdu, Mumbai, Delhi, Bandung, Hat Yai, Colombo, Hong Kong, Langkawi, Terengganu and many other destinations from as low as RM19 (one-way travel only).

AirAsia said the guests could also receive real-time updates on its latest promotions, events and other information via Twitter (www.twitter.com/AirAsia) and its blog (www.blog.airasia.com). -- Bernama

Got money...can book and travel happily :)

SEPT: A month of art in Penang

Penangites will be treated to a month of contemporary art which features 13 exhibitions and workshops in 10 venues.

This is in conjunction with the Penang chapter of 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism’s ‘Sparkles In Penang’.

One of the biggest events is a major exposition of Universiti Sains Malaysia Fine Art Collection themed ‘Contemporary Art Campus’ at several locations in the main campus.

The Penang International Print Exhibition is the major exhibition which will be held in the USM campus as well as the Penang State Art Gallery.

A seminar is also scheduled to take place at Eastin Hotel entitled ‘Penang as a sustainable international hub for contemporary art tourism’ on Sept 28 and 29.

Other events will include talks, exhibition tours and workshops to engage the public and community with contemporary art.

Rest your mind, go see people's creations, skills and relax yourself :)

Facelift for Cecil Street Market...my favourite FRIED SAGO :)

Traders in one of Penang’s oldest wet markets — Cecil Street Market — can look forward to selling their produce in a conducive and comfortable environment when the market’s upgrading works are completed by April next year.

Currently, the market houses 189 stalls which sell items from fresh fish and vegetables to household items.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of the upgrading works at the site on Wednesday, said that the works would benefit all the traders and hawkers at the market.

“They can look forward to enjoying a cleaner and comfortable trading place next year,” he added.

“In line with making Penang a state which boasts of international standards, the state government feels that market places should also have similar standards, especially in terms of their cleanliness,” said Lim.

Following public complaints about the disorganised stalls and littering, the state government together with the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) came up with an upgrading plan.

Lim said the current condition of the Cecil Street Market was so bad until it cost MPPP RM40,000 last year just to maintain it.

He said the council hoped to upgrade all of the 23 markets on the island over the next four years.

Penang pushing for 90-day maternity leave...LET"S HOPE !

The Penang government is pushing for the implementation of the 90-day maternity leave for mothers here.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state had written to Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Sharizat Abdul Jalil four months ago and had yet to receive a reply.

“Our neighbours like Indonesia are already implementing three months maternity leave while it is 90 days in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.

“Singaporean mothers are enjoying 12-week maternity leave and Vietnam has four to six months,” he said while showing The Star’s Focus report yesterday.

Lim added that the state government was unable to implement the longer maternity leave on its own as the civil service was under the control of the Federal government.

“I hope the Federal government will implement the international maternity leave standard of 90 days as there is no reason not to,” he told reporters after presenting aid to a mosque and surau here yesterday.

Receiving the aid were Masjid Kampung Baru (Jalan Air Itam) chairman Md Hamid Merican and Surau Villa Sri Melati’s representative Rohaizat Hamid. The surau is located in Rifle Range.

Bravo Penang government! Bravo all mothers !!!