MERDEKA MALAYSIA MERDEKA!!

MERDEKA! MERDEKA! MERDEKA!.... Today, Sunday 31st August 2008, Malaysia celebrates its 51st Merdeka Day!(Independence Day). Yesterday, I took part in the "HIJRAH MERDEKA AMAL MUBARAK 2008", organised by MUBARAK (Majlis Bekas Wakil Rakyat Wilayah Persekutuan), in conjunction with the spirit of Merdeka. (Will elaborate on this event later.)

What was important was the fact that never before have I sang a patriotic song (Jalur Gemilang) and the Malaysian National Anthem (Negara Ku) for so many times in a day! We sang them each time we stopped at our 'kembara' ('adventure') destination and in total there were 6 stops - including having tea with the TYT Yang diPertua Negeri Melaka (Governor of Malacca) and finally, dinner at the residence of YAB Ketua Menteri Melaka(Chief Minister of Malacca). Naturally, the final destination was where we celebrated the much awaited moment! Having sung the song and the national anthem several times already, our patriotic enthusiasm was at an all time high! The minute the clock struck 12 midnite, we excitedly waved our mini flags and sang more patriotic songs with patriotic gusto! It was fun! The food was good too (loved the kambing beryani!) and the musical band that entertained us throughout the whole evening was great also!

We spent the nite in Malacca at the Seri Warisan Hotel in Air Keroh and this morning, many proceeded to see the Merdeka parade, whilst some, including me, decided to drive back to Kuala Lumpur.

As a commemoration to Malaysia's Merdeka Day today, am gonna share some patriotic songs and videos with you. MERDEKA!

Negaraku dan Laungan Merdeka 1957:



31 Ogos by Sudirman Hj Arshad:



Lagu Hari Kemerdekaan Malaysia 51:



Jalur Gemilang:



Malaysia Gemilang:

Budget 2009 - ForThe Well-being Of All Malaysians

WELL MALAYSIANS! HERE'S THE NEW BUDGET FOR US!


August 29, 2008 17:27 PM

Budget 2009 For The Well-being Of All Malaysians

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- The government today tabled Budget 2009 which focuses on measures to maintain the well-being of Malaysians that has been enhanced over the last 51 years since independence, by seeking to strengthen the nation's economic resilience to mitigate the adverse impact of an increasingly challenging external environment.

"Today, as we face a global environment of higher prices and slower economic growth, I am confident, if we remain united, we shall overcome this challenge as well," said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when tabling in the Dewan Rakyat next year's budget carrying the theme of "A Caring Government".

The strategies formulated demonstrate that the government was responsive to the concerns of the people and had taken measures to lighten the burden of all Malaysians, particularly the lower income group, he said.

The approach taken was focused towards support and assistance, which not only improved the quality of life but also enabled all Malaysians to enhance their productivity, he added.

The budget was also in line with the medium-term plan as articulated in the National Mission and the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) to further develop the nation towards Vision 2020.

Abdullah, who is also the Finance Minister, proposed for next year's budget an allocation of RM207.9 billion, of which RM154.2 billion was for operating expenditure and RM53.7 billion for development expenditure, and said the budget focused on the three specific strategies of ensuring the well-being of Malaysians, developing quality human capital, and strengthening the nation's resilience.

He said that in ensuring the well-being of the people, the government would ensure that all Malaysians would continue to benefit from the country's economic growth.

"The government will implement a broad range of measures to reduce the impact of the higher cost of living, particularly among the lower income group and the vulnerables," he said.

As in previous budgets, the government empathised with the difficulties faced by the lower income group, he said and announced that the government had raised the eligibility criteria for welfare assistance under the Welfare Department from a monthly household income of RM400 to RM720 for Peninsular Malaysia, RM830 for Sarawak and RM960 for Sabah.

Abdullah said the government recognised the contributions of pensioners towards the development of the country, and in assisting the lower income pensioners cope with the recent price increases, government pensioners who had served at least 25 years upon retirement would be given a pension of not less than RM720 per month from Jan 1 next year.

The prime minister said the government had always assisted victims of calamities, such as floods and fire, and would now set up a special fund of RM25 million to channel timely financial assistance to families deprived of their sources of income, particularly arising from accidents to breadwinners.

Efforts to eradicate poverty remains an important government agenda in Budget 2009. Abdullah said the government was confident that hardcore poverty would be eradicated by 2010.

He also said that the government would continue to implement programmes to enhance income, as well as provide skills and career development training under the "Skim Pembangunan Kesejahteraan Rakyat" programme.

Abdullah said the government proposed an allocation of RM220 million for the "Program Lonjakan Mega Luar Bandar" rural development programme being implemented in Pulau Banggi, Sabah, and Tanjung Gahai in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, which would benefit 13,300 households.

The provision of housing for the poor was being stepped up with the government proposing a RM50 million allocation to build 1,400 houses and repair 1,000.

Abdullah said priority would be given to senior citizens, the disabled and single parents with many dependents as well as victims of natural disasters.

He also said that hardcore poverty in Sabah and Sarawak was also being given attention in the budget. He said measures would continue to be taken to increase income and enhance the quality of life of Malaysians in the two states by improving basic amenities, such as electricity, water and rural roads.

For this, RM580 million and RM420 million were being allocated for Sabah and Sarawak, respectively, he said.

Abdullah also said that as part of the government's effort to further reduce the financial burden of the lower income group, households which incurred monthly electricity bills of RM20 or less would not have to pay for electricity for the period of Oct 1 2008 to the end of 2009.

A total of 1.1 million households would benefit from this measure which would cost the government RM170 million for the period, he added.

Abdullah said that realising that higher inflation rate had also affected the purchasing power of the lower middle-income group, the government proposed that the current tax rebate of RM350 per person be increased to RM400 for those with taxable income of RM35,000 and below. With this increase, some 100,000 tax payers would be out of the tax net, he added.

Additionally, to reduce the tax burden of individuals, especially those dependent on interest income from savings, the government proposed that all interest income for individuals be tax exempt.

To mitigate the impact of rising prices on consumers, the government proposed to reduce import duties on various consumer durables from between 10 per cent and 60 per cent to between five per cent and 30 per cent. These included blender, rice cooker, microwave oven and electric kettle.

Abdullah also said that the government would reduce the road tax on private passenger vehicles with diesel engines to be the same as those with petrol engines effective Sept 1 this year as, currently, private passenger vehicles with diesel engines owned by individuals and companies were subject to a higher road tax compared with those with petrol engines.

The prime minister said the primary strategy of Budget 2009 was to focus on measures to make employee welfare a priority. He said that to encourage the private sector to give employee welfare priority, the government proposed that the travel allowance for commuting to work provided by employers be given full tax deduction while the employees receiving such an allowance be given tax exemption of up to RM2,400 per year.

Furthermore, the government has proposed tax exemption for private sector employers who give their employees interest subsidies on loans for housing, motor vehicles and education limited to total loans of up to RM300,000 in a move to make employee welfare a priority in the private sector.

Abdullah said tax exemption was also proposed for employers who provided mobile phones for their staff and paid their telephone and Internet bills. It was also proposed that employers be given tax exemption for staff discounts of up to RM1,000 a year on company traded goods, he said.

He also said that the proposed tax exemption also covered staff discounts rendered by the company, such as private schools providing free education to children of their employees. It was also proposed that tax exemption be given for childcare allowance of up to RM2,400 per year.

Abdullah said the government proposed to extend the tax exemption on medical benefits by employers to include maternity expenses. In addition, he said, given the growing acceptance of traditional medicine, namely acupuncture and ayurvedic, the government also proposed an extension of tax exemption to cover such medical benefits.

The prime minister said that to assist civil servants with young children, the government proposed to raise from RM2,000 to RM3,000 from Jan 1 next year the eligibility criteria of monthly household income for those households provided with the RM180 monthly subsidy towards nursery fees.

He also said that the free return air fares to home states, between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak, enjoyed by government servants once every two years to foster closer family ties would be provided every year from Jan 1 next year.

Abdullah said the government would continue to encourage greater utilisation of public transportation, in the context of improving the productivity and quality of life.

"I believe a more efficient, reliable and integrated public transportation, which provides seamless travel and greate frequency of services, is required," he said.

The prime minister said RM35 billion would be expended between 2009 and 2014 to further improve the efficiency of public transportation, which included projects to enhance the capacity of existing rail services, build new rail tracks, increase the number of buses, as well as provide better infrastructure facilities.

Besides increasing the number of RapidPenang buses to 350 next year, he said, the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system in the Klang Valley would be extended by 30 km, that is 15 km respectively for the Kelana Jaya and Ampang lines.

"Upon completion in 2011, the extensions are expected to benefit 2.6 million residents in the Subang Jaya-USJ and Kinrara-Puchong areas, compared with 1.9 million currently," he said.

Abdullah said a new LRT line would be built along a 42-km route from Kota Damansara to Cheras, with a capacity exceeding 300,000 passengers daily when completed in 2014.

He also said that Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) Berhad commuter rail services would be upgraded through the rehabilitation of the existing 20 Electric Multiple Units (EMUs), which was expected to be completed next year, and the addition of 13 new units of EMUs by 2011.

The 7.5-km Sentul-Batu Caves rail track was under construction and was expected to be completed by 2010, he added.

To provide facilities for inter-urban taxis and buses from the northern region, a new integrated terminal would be built, he said, adding that the terminal would contribute towards further reducing traffic congestion in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

Abdullah said the government would continue to help reduce the operating costs of public transport operators.

Besides the recent increase in the quota for diesel subsidy, the government would provide a soft loan facility of RM3 billion under the Public Transportation Fund, administered by Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd, to finance the acquisition of buses and rail assets, he said.

He said the government also proposed to reduce toll charges by 50 per cent for all buses, except at border entry points, namely the Johor Causeway, Second Link and Bukit Kayu Hitam, for a period of two years from Sept 15 this year.

The government would provide compensation to toll operators for their loss of revenue, estimated at RM45 million per year, he added.

Abdullah said bus operators would also be given sales tax exemption on the purchase of locally assembled new buses and Accelerated Capital Allowance on the expenditure incurred while road tax would be reduced to RM20 a year for all bus and taxi operators, including rent-a-car and limousine operators.

To ensure that specific attention is given to efforts for overall development of the public transportation system, Abdullah said, the Public Land Transportation Commission would be established under the Prime Minister's Department to plan, integrate, regulate and improve the overall public transportation services. The commission was expected to commence operations by mid-2009.

Abdullah also said that the government would implement several agriculture programmes to ensure adequate food supply.

For this, he said, the government had provided RM5.6 billion under the National Food Security Policy for the period 2008 to 2010, among others to provide incentives to agriculture entrepreneurs to reduce pollution costs and encourage higher agriculture output.

An amount of RM300 million had been allocated in an effort to increase fish landings. Of the sum, RM180 million was in the form of cost-of-living allowance to fishermen and fishing boat owners as well as RM120 million as incentive for fish landings.

Abdullah said the government proposed that the expansion of chicken and duck farms be given Reinvestment Allowance of 60 per cent for a period of 15 years to help increase poultry output.

An allocation of RM475 million was to be provided in the form of agricultural inputs, fertilizers and pesticides to assist padi farmers, besides proposing that import duty on fertilizers and pesticides be abolished.

Early diagnosis can save lives

The journalist was on his way to a nasi lemak breakfast with a colleague when he slumped in the car seat and died. He was just 41. A pulmonary and critical care physician tells ANNIE FREEDA CRUEZ that doctors are seeing more and more young people with coronary heart diseases.
THE modern sedentary lifestyle is the biggest culprit in the growing number of heart-related diseases in the country.

Kuala Lumpur Hospital's consultant pulmonary and critical care physician, Datuk Dr Jeyaindran Sinnadurai, says for instance, an officer worker will take a lift to his first floor office rather than use the stairs.

"But it not just taking the lift to the office and leading a highly sedentary lifestyle that will increase the risk factor."

Dr Jeyaindran says a combination of many things, such as a bad diet, fast food, smoking, stressful lifestyles and not exercising regularly contribute to the risk.
In fact, researchers in the United States have calculated that by middle age, the average person's heart is five years older than the rest of his body because of the strains of modern life.

K. Ravi, 45, a company executive who has no family history of heart disease or diabetes, suffered a massive heart attack two years ago.

Doctors know why Ravi suffered the heart attack -- he led a stressful working life, never went for regular health screening, smoked heavily and did not exercise.

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a section of heart muscle becomes blocked. If the flow of blood isn't restored quickly, the section of heart muscle becomes damaged from lack of oxygen and begins to die.

Dr Jeyaindran says acting fast at the first sign of a heart attack can save lives and limit damage to the heart. Treatment is most effective when started within one hour of the attack.

The most common heart attack signs and symptoms are:

- Chest discomfort or pain -- uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the centre of the chest that can be mild or strong. This discomfort or pain lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.

- Upper body discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

- Shortness of breath may occur with or before chest discomfort.

Other signs include nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), vomiting, lightheadedness or fainting, or breaking out in a cold sweat, heartburn and/or indigestion, .

About one quarter of all heart attacks are silent, without chest pain or new symptoms. Silent heart attacks are especially common among patients with diabetes mellitus.

"Too often patients attribute heart attack symptoms to indigestion, fatigue, or stress, and consequently delay seeking prompt medical attention.

"Early diagnosis and treatment saves lives, and delays in getting medical assistance can be fatal."

Delay in treatment can also lead to permanently reduced function of the heart due to more extensive damage to the heart muscle.

Dr Jeyaindran says cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) may improve the survival rate but it is not easy to do.

He says people who smoke, suffer from diabetes and high blood pressure, are obese and have high cholesterol level are at higher risk of having coronary artery diseases.

Age, sex and family history are also contributing factors.

An interheart2 study, Global Case-Control Study of Risk Factors for Acute Myocardial Infarction, has identified nine risk factors that account for more than 90 per cent of acute heart attacks -- smoking, lipids, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, diet, physical activity, alcohol consumption and psychosocial factors.

Each person is solely responsible for his health, says Dr Jeyaindran.

"They must lead a healthy lifestyle by exercising, controlling their sugar, blood pressure, weight and cholesterol and go for regular medical check-ups."

- NST Online -

Fill Up For Less!

Aah...! 'Telur Orang Kahwin'...!

Just last August 11th. I lamented about the disappearing Malay tradition in giving away 'telur orang kahwin' isn't it? Well..well..what do you know? I had to attend another wedding earlier this afternoon - the wedding of my friend Leha's son. Aah...at long last .. 'telur orang kahwin'..! Finally, I got to experience the nostalgic Malay tradition again.

You know, when my eyes fell on the 'gifts' handed to me (refer to pic), my... breadth came to a momentary standstill. I could not believe what I was seeing. Telur!! (Eggs!-I excitedly exclaimed to myself albeit, silently, ofcos!) And.. instantly I could feel the excited smile on my lips and a wave of warm, good nostalgic feeling just filled my whole being .. hmmm... I almost hug the girl to give her a kiss of 'nostalgic gratitude' but stopped myself short! Wouldn't want to have curious eyes set on me, do I? In Malay weddings no-one ever kiss the person who gives out the gifts of ... whatever. It's not a habit. Anyway, what I felt was good. Warmly good. In reflection, it is actually little things like this that brings much pleasure and happiness into our lives isn't it? I thank the Almighty for bringing good ole nostalgia back to me today and the happiness I felt...thank you .. amin...


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Limbs Saved By Menstrual Blood?

Advances in science continues to amaze me! Religion (in Islam at least) considers menstrual blood as 'dirty blood'. Even mentioning the very word is considered akin to being shameful. But now .. it can save limbs? Well.. find out more.


LIMBS SAVED BY MENSTRUAL BLOOD STEM CELLS:
Extracted From United Press International

BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Aug. 18 (UPI) -- A U.S.-led study shows endometrial regenerative cells from menstrual blood can restore blood flow in animal models of peripheral artery disease.

Researchers led by Dr. Michael Murphy, a vascular surgeon at Indiana University, demonstrated that when circulation-blocked mice were treated with injections of the cells, circulation and functionality were restored.

Endometrial regenerative cells are stem cells taken from menstrual blood that are capable of forming into at least nine different tissue types, including heart, liver and lung.

"The advantage of ERCs is that they can be used in an 'off the shelf' manner, meaning they can be delivered to the point of care, do not require matching and are easily injectable without the need for complex equipment," said Murphy.

The experiments were performed as a collaboration of the University of Western Ontario, the Scripps Research Institute, Indiana University and several other academic centers.

The findings are reported in the Journal of Translational Medicine.

Warnings for Amylin diabetes drug!

To all diabetics out there, please get to know your medicine. I too am a diabetic but I maintain my blood sugar the natural way cuz I do not trust all them drugs! More often than not doctors do not tell you the side effects. It is up to you my friends to be responsible over your own body and health. Please read this latest news:

U.S. SEEKS WARNINGS FOR AMYLIN DIABETES DRUG:
Tue Aug 19, 2008 6:57pm EDT
By Susan Heavey; REUTERS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health regulators warned of more cases of dangerous pancreas inflammation in patients taking Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc's diabetes drug, Byetta, pounding company shares on fears of lower sales and doubts about a new version of the medicine.

The Food and Drug Administration said on Monday it received six reports of hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis requiring hospitalization, including two deaths. The four others were recovering at the time of the reports.

The FDA said it was working "to add stronger, more prominent warnings in the product label" with Amylin, which co-markets the drug -- one of the most promising new diabetes medicines in recent years -- with Eli Lilly and Co.

Amylin's shares closed down 13 percent at $29.76 on the Nasdaq, while Eli Lilly's shares were down 1.5 percent at $48.05 on the New York Stock Exchange.

It was not immediately clear if the FDA would order new so- called "black box" warnings, the strongest type available, and representatives for the agency did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

The companies said they would work with the agency to update the drug's label.

The new reports follow an earlier warning last October, when the FDA cited 30 reports of pancreatitis in Byetta patients. At the time, it said the drug was suspected in some of the cases, and Amylin agreed to add information about the risk to its drug label and to alert doctors about the problem.

Analysts said on Monday the additional cases could pressure doctors into discontinuing use of the drug, which has already seen prescription growth slacken in recent months, in part because of difficulty adhering to twice-daily injections.

Launched in mid-2005, Byetta was thought to have wide potential use, in part because of its ability to help type II diabetes patients lose weight.

"This is very negative and damaging news for Amylin," BMO Capital Markets analyst Jason Zhang wrote in a research note.

"Growth in demand for Byetta has been lackluster in the last couple of years ... and this development obviously can't help," Deutsche Bank analyst Barbara Ryan said in a note.

The FDA's ongoing concerns also signal a potentially stormy approval path for the experimental, once-a-week version of Byetta. The companies have said they plan to file for U.S. approval by mid 2009.

While the complication seems rare, fewer than 300 patients have been studied in advanced trials, according to Timothy Anderson, an analyst with Sanford C. Bernstein & Co.

"FDA may worry about LAR's effects once it is approved and used in a broader, less closely-monitored, patient population. To us, this creates regulatory risk with Byetta LAR," he said in a research note.

Lilly spokeswoman Kindra Strupp said no link had been established between Byetta and pancreatitis.

"We do remain very confident in the development program of our once-weekly" formulation of Byetta, she told Reuters.

No pancreatitis cases have been seen in Byetta LAR trials so far, she said.

The shares of Alkermes Inc, maker of technology used to develop the new version, known as Byetta LAR, closed down 10 percent at $14.73 on Nasdaq.

Byetta, also know by its chemical name, exenatide, is taken with other diabetes medicines to help lower blood sugar levels by regulating insulin production. The first in a new class of drugs called incretin memetics, it posted $636 million in 2007 net product sales, according to Amylin.

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, which helps aid in digestion by releasing vital hormones. The condition usually subsides within a week, according to the National Institutes of Health.

But in some patients taking Byetta, the condition worsened.

"There are no signs or symptoms that distinguish acute hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis associated with Byetta from the less severe form of pancreatitis," the FDA said.

Doctors who suspect pancreatitis should discontinue use of the drug and monitor patients carefully, it added.

(Additional reporting by Ransdell Pierson in New York and Toni Clarke in Boston; Editing by Maureen Bavdek and Andre Grenon)

Missing The "Telur Orang Kahwin"

August seems to be the most favoured month to tie the knot this year. My August weekends are filled with wedding invitations that peaked on 08.08.08! Triple auspiciousness! The very same day Olympics began at 8.08pm sharp in China too! Ah..weddings... reminds you of beauty.. romance.. love.. and arrghh.. food!! Bless my figure as I can do with a little help of an extreme makeover right now! Anyway, if am feeling just a tad guilty, well .. hope the fasting month that begins on September 1st will more than compensate it eh. Wishful thinking? Hmm... lets see.

Now what about these weddings that I wanted to comment on??.. Oh yeah, wanted to ask "What happened to the good ole "telur orang kahwin?!". When I was little, when it came to weddings (Malay weddings that is), I always looked forward to the "telur orang kahwin" (A hardboiled egg that would be placed in nice little bags or baskets etc..and given away to guests.) cuz somehow the eggs always tasted nicer than home boiled eggs. For Johoreans, it would be "telur pindang" ofcos.(eggs that are boiled with various herbs which gives them a brown colour.) Eventho that used to be the norm in Malay weddings, it has however changed now. Everywhere I went, eggs have been replaced with chocolates, sweets, cakes, cookies, etc.. Wo..o diabetics beware plizz!

Lets ponder a little shall we? Why were eggs given? An egg signifies a new beginning, a new chapter in the life of .... Mr so and Mrs so. An egg contains all the goodness, a complete range of nutrients and ingredients that would bring forth a chirruppy little chicklet. So, an egg represents a new life and with it comes our blessings and wellwishes for the new bride and groom to have a long, happy and productive marriage. Well... how sad to think that a well meaning Malay custom is allowed to die out... just for the sake of convenience... Boy, do I miss the good ole days!

TO ALL THE NEWLY WEDS AND THOSE IN LOVE... HERE'S A BEAUTIFUL SONG - 'DEALOVA' :