corrupted

I'm in a service oriented business.

I've been in the business for about 9 years now.

Year in and year out, I would say, my firm has been doing ok. Not too great....not too bad either...

But I want to improve. I believe, some if not all of my staff and colleagues, would love to improve.

We don't want to stay stagnant and wait for something to happen...

However, as we go on and try to secure more business for ourselves, we've met with a lot of challenges.

One of the challenges is our inability to 'suap' the people involve in the decision-making.

Of course, it is our very own fault in failing to get 'close' to the people involve in the decision making.

I found that to do business such business of ours in Malaysia, it's all about networks and who you know.

Your degrees, MBAs, Chartered or whatever doesn't really carry a lot of weight if you wanna secure the business

It's all about getting close and give 'em what they want.

Sometimes I felt frustrated and I felt trapped in a room with no doors.

At times, they would just say, we will consider your request and have a look at your profile. Obviously, we would never see or hear from them again.

At times, when we call to make an appointment, the answer that we get was 'we will review the panelship in bla bla bla....till that moment comes, you can submit your profile and let us review....

Now, it'll be a totally different story if we have the ability to 'rub' their backs and say....hey listen, if you could give us X amount of business, we would be happy to give you some token of appreciation.....

Sometimes, I really don't know what to do...but I'll have to keep on fighting for the sake of myself, my family and my colleagues...

Shall I follow the others and do what they do....or what?...


errrrrrrrrrr....rant over....

Bersawang

Hahahaha...

I've been away for far too long.....too long..............

Doubt anyone ever reads my blogs anymore....hehehe

Anyhooss.....what's up everyone? How's 2012 treating all of ya?....Good??...Bad?

I had some interesting stuff that has been happening around my life....especially business wise....

Obviously, for the past couple of years, it's all about improving myself financially and as well as emotionally and now for the remaining months of 2012, I aim to expand my business together with my contacts to a new level.

Previously, I used to get worried about meeting new people as well as strangers. I realized that, in order to go far in the business world, I need to go out and mix around with different people. It's all about the relationships. Human-relationships that is.....

Anyways,...I'll try to update my blogs as much as I can from now on....

Have a good day

Hello

Hello folks....

Wow...it's been ages since I last updated my blogs....I'm out for some soul-searching for the last couple of weeks....I'm looking for answers to questions that I don't even know in the first place. Hahahaha. Conflicting remark I must say....

Well to be honest, I needed time to re-focus and start thinking of doing other things. Alhamdulillah, I've achieved some, if not all, things that I wanted to achieve. Hence, now, I'm looking to do more. I believe I can.....

You know, at times, you dreamt of achieving something and then, you work towards it and finally, you managed to achieve it. That's how I feel nowadays. You achieve that little goals that you have and I felt slightly stagnated.

Anyways, I'll keep on searching.

Have a good day

17A girl?

So...what's the fuss this Amalina girl is creating eh?

Sudah2 lah tuh...I think we cannot impose our good values to other people.....

Pandai2 jaga diri dah lah....kan??

2012

Hope it's not to late to wish everyone a happy new year....

I've been super busy for the last month or so....

Actually, there's so much to talk about but sometimes I just don't have the 'mood' to write...

This year, will be a testing year for me...in terms of my business of course....

So far, I've touched very little on what my job is....maybe, for 2012, I'll try to talk a wee bit on it....

Anyways.....hope everyone's doing fine and let's pray for a good & prosperous 2012....

Have a nice day

Switchblade

Last weekend, I had dinner at a Switchblade restaurant in Dutamas with the family...

To be honest, I love western foods and my favorite restaurants will be TGI Friday's and Chilli's. Hence, when I saw an ad about this restaurant at FB the other day, I decided to give it a try.

Upon reaching the place at Dutamas, I wonder how does the owner pays the rental for this place. It could cost him loads of money!! I would assumed that the overheads in operating such operating at an expensive location would be enormous!! I salute him for taking a big risk in running the food business!!

Anyway, I like the way the owner sets up the restaurant. It's totally different from any other restaurants that I've been too.

With regards to the food.....I have to be honest...it's freaking delicious weii!! Habis semua diet2....hahahaha.....No doubt it's a little bit pricey but that's understandable.

I will certainly come here again...but not so soon lah.....

Dough-nuts anyone??

I'm not a fan of doughnuts.....but when a colleague of mine bought some from Big Apple, I thought it was good, although it was super sweet....

Jemput makan......

What???

How things have changed eh?.....Wonder how life was in the 50s or 60s....

Nov 2011

Right.....

It is now Nov 2011. In a about an month and a half's time, we would celebrating the new year.

New year means new resolutions. New aims, new objectives and so forth....

I think it's a good time to sit down and jot down your achievements for the last 11 months or so. Not to forget, to write down the things that you should've done and the things you wanna do for the next couple of weeks....

Perhaps, it's a good time to start planning what you wanna do for 2012.

For me, in terms of investing, it has been very 'stale' especially from the property side. No doubt that I've save some money that I invest in various places but I think I could do more....Earlier, I planned to add another 2 properties under my name but haven't be able to do so. Nahh, I won't blame it on BNM with their ruling but I blame myself. It's ok as I think I learn my lesson.

2011 for me is about discovering new things in investments especially being a landlord. Previously, you only read stuff from the books and hope you learn bits and pieces from it. But to be honest, nothing beats experiencing it by yourself. There are things that I should've done but for some strange reason or another, I didn't.....

Whatever it is, I thank Allah for opening my eyes in becoming an investor. I had nothing prior to 2008. Nothing...Zero....Zilch...even my ASB balance was pretty depressing to see....I had very limited savings.....but now, I guess, I can be a little proud of the efforts that I had put in for the last 3 years. However, I do realize that my journey is still at its infancy stage. I hope I can double up my efforts, take a wee bit of risk and pray a little harder for 2012....

Some time, my friends asks me why would i be an investor (part time that is....)...My answer is simple, to make sure that the financial being of my daughter is taken care off when the time comes. Having a kid changes your perception towards life. Especially when you start to think about her education, her needs as well as her wedding day. Hahahaha. I'm told not to worry about it but how can I not...:P

Anyway, at this moment, all I'm thinking is to maximize my wife's ASB savings. If I can achieve that, that's a big, big achievement. Hehehehe. On my part, since I wasn't able to purchase a property this year, I might do it next year....but having need to pay 30% deposit with your own money, I don't think it's a wise move....Thank you BNM!!

Have a nice day

Spelling mistake?

During my way back to Ipoh for the short raya holidays last week, we decided to skip the highways and hit the old trunk road from Behrang uptill Tapah as we received some news stating that the PLUS highway's traffic was bad....

Hence, we decided to have our lunch at some nasi kandar restaurant in Slim River. And over there, I found this rather disturbing 'advertisement'....

Is that how you spell kuay teow nowadays? I'm not even sure whether I spell it right or not. Heehehe....Anyways, the food wasn't great at all but the teh tarik was good!!!

By the way, the traffic was bad on Saturday. The heavy rain didn't help either. We took about 5 hours to reach the destination....huhu....I dread to think if I were to use the PLUS highway, it might even worse at Tapah....

have a good day

Hell-o-ween parteeee

Last weekend, myself, wifey and kecik attended a helloween party at Royal Bintang, The Curve.

To be honest, I've never been to a big scale helloween party before. And I really thought, the party was just for kecik and her classmates. But to my surprised, the party was held in the grand ballroom of the hotel and everybody seems to be dressed up except me and wifey.

I felt a bit out of place though but I thought everyone were sporting enough to dressed up. It was an interesting event and I was wondering, the organizer must have spent easily more then RM30k. Loads of free gifts, free foods, games, face painting, monsters, ghosts, smurfs, pharaoh, cat women, you name it.......and booze for the drinkers as well...

Anyways, kecik enjoyed herself and was playing around with one of her classmates. It's bit unfortunate we came a bit late as most of her classmates has returned home. Perhaps, if we are invited the next time around, I'll dressed up like a rock star!! hahaha

Stamping of tenancy agreement

For the last couple of years, for the purpose of stamping of tenancy agreement(s), I would ask the help of a friend. So I would pay him some of amount of money and he gets the things done for me. Usually, he will take about a week.

Anyways, since I've just leased out my desa view condo to this new tenant about a couple of days ago, I decided to stamp the agreement myself. I have to be honest here, I've been a property investor for about 3 years now (I know, i'm still a baby...and still learning) but I've yet to do this stamping thingy on my own. Pemalas would be the exact word!! Hahahaha

So I spent a couple of hours yesterday settling this matter and pretty much a wee bit proud of being able to do it myself. Save me a few quid instead of asking some friends to do it for me....

Just a short note on the procedures for stamping of tenancy agreement

Step 1. Upon signing of the document between you and your tenants, you need to calculate the stamp duty required for stamping. So how do you calculate? I can only talk about my experience as I think there's more to it than what I already knew...

Supposed the monthly rental is RM850. So annual rental income is RM10,200.

There's an exemption of RM2,400 to be deducted from the annual income which comes to RM7,800 (10,200-2,400). Assuming the agreement is for one year period hence, the rate of the stamp duty will be RM1 for every RM250 exceeding RM2,400.

So, the stamp duty payable for the agreement is is RM7,800/RM250=RM31.20. (Rounded of to RM31). Hence, what you need to do is to go the post office and buy the setem hasil. Easy?

Step 2. Go to the LHDN office together with the original tenancy agreement, in which for my case, I went to kg Attap. I think if I can remember correctly it was on the 20th floor. Went straight to the stamping office. I was told to fill-in a form and need to wait a wee bit as the crowd can be large at times. I waited about 40 minutes before they call me up. Hahaha

So there you go, never that I thought it would be that easy but time consuming at the same time. I know that if we ask someone else to do it for us, they will certainly charge an amount but I think, it's better to do it yourself. Agents would probably make hefty money from offering this services to the masses. That's my opinion anyways. But again, if you don't have the time, you can always ask the agents to do it for you, and of course, it comes with a price.....

Finally...

Finally, my cozy little condo at desa view tower has been rented out.

I think I started to advertise for the place about 3 months back. Anyway, I'm happy that I finally met with this young family and hope we can a have a nice 'working' relationship for the next one year....

So to Shahizan & family, welcome on board......

On the other hand, the tenants in my other place at Unipark condo has moved out about 3 days ago. I had some major issues with the tenants at times, but never did I expect to see the condition of the house after they moved out. It was bad. It was so bad that I need to employ 3 Indonesian clearners to clean the place.

A lot of people have been saying against renting the place to college boys and I certainly felt that they did not take good care of the place as they should be. Well, boys will be boys with posters in every rooms. One good thing though, they pay their rents on time. Hahaha...

Anyways, who said that it's gonna be a smooth ride all the way kan?? The place now is clean and I'm going there again later today to check out the place.

Have a good week ahead...

Hit for six

Sounds like a name for a movie but no....it's not a movie....

In fact, for me, it was a joyous moment!

Can't believe that I witnessed the drubbing of Man Yernited by Citeh!!!

6-1.....wow....again, I can't believe the score line but yeah....it was 6-1....

Hopefully, we can see many more stuff like that especially when yernited is playing!!

Anyways, Liverpool.....oh dear.....a draw against Norwich?....Clearly not the result all liverpool fans would have wanted but, it happened...

It is pretty obvious if Liverpool wants to be in the Champions league, they need to get the result from these kind of games. It has been mixed results so far but I guess, I would be happy if the team goes to europe next season.

Hopefully they'll beat Stoke in the carling cup!!

Metallica...in KL?

Rumors has been flying around saying that Metallica will be in KL on the 2nd Dec 2011.

Whether it's true or not, I don't know but if indeed they are coming....I'll definitely going....

No doubt I've seen them live before but seeing them 'live' in KL will be something else....

To be honest, we need more live acts here. For the past few years, Kreator and Nofx has made their way here but we still need more. I would love it Iron Maiden were to make their stop here sometime in the near future!!

Have a good weekend...

Chomski....:(

Chomski has been part of my family for the last 6 years.

She was adopted from SPCA when she was still a kitty.

Unfortunately, she was put to sleep yesterday evening.

She was suffering from leukemia.

We'll miss you choms!!!

2005-2011

Saturday against the blues....

So far, Liverpool has played 6 games, gained 10 points, lost twice and drew once. Not bad considering the fact the first eleven players that has been playing most of the the league consist of a couple of new players....Especially in the midfield area where only Lucas was the surviving member of the Rafa/Hodgson era.

This is the area that I have most of my concerns though. It is not as compact as it was during Rafa's era. Only Downing and Lucas seems to be at ease at their positions and the other two, Henderson and Adams can sometime drifts apart as the game went on. Let's hope King Kenny has something up his sleeves with regards to these two players. A plus point though, Stevie is back but it remains to be seen whether he can get back to his old playing styles during Rafa's era.

The team now has a good strikeforce with Bellamy, Suarez and Carrol up-front. On paper, it should scare the shit out of most teams in the league. The amount of chances created and the way the team played especially during the first half of most matches proves that Kenny now has assembled a good team. However, the team seems to its focus during the second half which most team has now taken advantage when facing us.

Anyways, I'm hoping for another 3 points against the 'friendly' neighbors. It won't be easy but if I have it my way, I'll opt for Suarez to lead the line again....and with 5-man midfield consisting of Downing, Adam, Lucas, Bellamy and Kuyt. A 3 man back line consisting of Carragher, Coates and Skrtle should be good enough to balance the team on the defensive side.....

Good morning....

HOw was everybody's weekend?

I had a nice and busy weekend.

Spent later part of Friday night lepakking with some friends. It's been ages since we last met but we certainly had fun!!

Nevertheless, I was home quite late and was up and running again on early Saturday morning. I went to play golf at Tiara Melaka, of which, I think I played rather well....Considering the fact that I was playing like a beginner for the last couple of weeks before....hahahahah

Anyway, I'm expecting a busy week this week!! I have all the appointments lined up till Saturday.

I hope to get a new tenant for Desa View Tower before the end of next month, and obviously, if I can get another tenant for Unipark Condo before November will be a super bonus!!

Have a good week everyone!!

In flame....

As I was on my way home after picking up kecik from her a school, I witnessed an extraordinary 'incident'. I have to be honest to say that I rarely see a Lamborghini on Malaysian road but to see one with flames all over it is something else.

I pity the owner and the car itself might costs almost RM1m. A truly rich man's toys!!

Ultra Magnets.....

Fridge magnets....I love 'em.....

Wherever I go, I'll try to make sure I get at least one fridge magnet from that particular place...Hehehe....