Sunday, October 21, 2012

Thoughts

“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth”

– Buddha




- wong chee tat :)

Maybank tops M'sia valuable brands list

Maybank tops M'sia valuable brands list

The Business Times
Sunday, Oct 21, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR - Three banks and three telcos have topped Interbrand's study of Malaysia's Most Valuable Brands with Maybank emerging the champion, according to Malaysia's Business Times yesterday.

The Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As) and Media Prima, joint presenters of MMVB 2012, evaluated the candidates' financial performance, role of brand and brand strength.

The study, the fourth in collaboration with the 4As, was undertaken by Interbrand, one of the world's foremost brand consultancies that established the proprietary brand valuation methodology.

The total value of all 30 brands this year is RM80.2 billion (S$32 billion), representing a 49 per cent increase from 2009. The top two brands - Maybank and CIMB - registered more than 100 per cent growth since three years ago. AirAsia, ranked 12th, posted 257.3 per cent growth, the biggest increase among the 30 listed brands.

"To thrive in today's economy, brands must possess the ability to connect emotionally with consumers and engage them with a meaningful experience," Deputy Minister of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry Mukhriz Mahathir said. "Brands must function as the economy/s growth engine. Advertising firms and marketers must encourage this creative democracy to enable our economy to flourish, to the extent that both our products and services are sought the world over," he added.

Brands listed in the valuation must be consumer- facing, originate or be first launched in Malaysia, and be owned by companies listed on Bursa Malaysia. The brand must be an economic asset and contribute to the overall financial well-being of that company.

Maybank's campaign, "Humanising Financial Services Across Asia", an aggressive programme of mergers and acquisitions, helped elevate the nation's leading bank to pole position.

Among telcos, Maxis enhanced customer satisfaction by introducing innovative services that generated additional revenue streams.

This year's study saw the entry of IOI, F&N, SP Setia, and Old Town White Coffee and TM.

Said 4As president Tony Savarimuthu: "While brands have a commercial focus, they are a force for positive change in the society. Driven by consumer expectations of corporate behaviour, the role and value of brands has evolved.

"While the valuation is based on rigour and methodology, there are no finite answers. It is, however, an important bellwether on the state of the nation's brands, provokes debate of best practices and acts as a key platform for discussion and strategy in boardrooms, especially in the media."




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Alvin Tan: I have only one regret

Alvin Tan: I have only one regret

By Pearl Lee
The Straits Times
Sunday, Oct 21, 2012

SINGAPORE - The university scholar whose sex blog has garnered attention and criticism on both sides of the Causeway claims to have only one regret - that his institution's name was dragged into it.

"I don't feel good about NUS being dragged in. It was never my intention to let that happen," Mr Alvin Tan Jye Yee, 24, said yesterday.

"This was just my own personal thing," the National University of Singapore law student added.

Mr Tan, a Malaysian, will go before a university disciplinary inquiry on Oct 31. It will comprise three senior academics elected by the university senate and two student representatives elected by the students' union.

They will decide on the appropriate action to take on the undergraduate, who is on an Asean scholarship but has been on a leave of absence since August last year.

He has not received any scholarship funds since.

Last Sunday, he publicised on a local forum the link to his blog. It featured sexually explicit photos and videos of himself and his Malaysian girlfriend, Miss Vivian Lee, 23.

The blog has since been taken down after objections from both their parents.

Mr Tan continued to be defiant about his actions yesterday.



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Alvin Tan to face NUS Board of Discipline

Alvin Tan to face NUS Board of Discipline

By Esther Ng
The New Paper
Sunday, Oct 21, 2012

SINGAPORE - By all estimations, it would have cost the Government at least $110,000 to fund Asean scholar Alvin Tan Jye Yee's seven years of education here.

A check on NUS's law school website shows that it costs around $23,300 a year in tuition fees for foreign students.

According to a Ministry of Education (MOE) spokesman, around 170 undergraduate scholarships have been awarded annually to Asean students in the past few years.

"The scholarships, which cover school fees and accommodation, are between $18,000 to $25,000 per year, and do not include tuition grants," MOE said.

The ministry did not say how many undergraduate Asean scholarships have been revoked.

As an Asean Undergraduate scholar since 2008, Mr Tan would have received a living allowance of $5,800 per academic year for three years until he took a Leave of Absence in July last year to start his own firm, an online site offering daily deals.

According to the MOE website, there is no bond attached to the Asean Undergraduate scholarship.






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Netizens wants sex blogger to give up place in NUS

Netizens wants sex blogger to give up place in NUS

By David Sun
The New Paper
Sunday, Oct 21, 2012

SINGAPORE - For being an Asean scholar for the past seven years, he would have been given more than $110,000 in allowances, accommodation, transportation, school fees and more.

But now some say it has been entirely wasted on him.

The netizens' comments come after Mr Alvin Tan, 23, a National University of Singapore (NUS) law undergrad, hit newspaper headlines for setting up an explicit sex blog with a friend, Miss Vivian Lee, also 23.

To add to their chagrin, the Malaysian had also bad-mouthed Singapore on his Facebook, despite having studied here for seven years.

NUS said it is investigating the case and may take disciplinary action.

In the meantime, Mr Tan met and spoke to The New Paper yesterday, speaking eloquently and giving candid responses.

He acknowledges that many netizens have asked for his scholarship to be taken away and the money to be repaid, but his response is a simple "Why would I?"

"Why should I pay back if I'm not required to?" he asked.

"There are people who have been saying 'Take away his scholarship and make him pay back; take away his place in NUS and give it to a more deserving Singaporean'.

"If anyone thinks that they can do any better in law school, they are welcome to try."


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Sex blog couple blasted for giving a 'free show'

Sex blog couple blasted for giving a 'free show'

The Star/Asia News Network
Sunday, Oct 21, 2012

The topic of sex blog couple Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee found its way into the MCA Youth and Wanita annual general meetings.

MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the blog was a "rude shock" and he found it hard to accept such a culture.

"We are not that advanced or daring. We have to consider the consequences of such actions, especially if school students can be exposed to it," he said when asked about the blog.

While Dr Wee acknowledged that it was the couple's right to express themselves, he pointed out: "You have the right to sing a song. But you can't sing in the middle of the night as you can create a nuisance to others.

"I think most people wouldn't want to give a free show or have their sexual trysts exposed via YouTube. I, for one, wouldn't do that," he said.

The sex blog couple also became one of the topics of debate at the Wanita MCA annual general meeting.

Oh Ho Kiew, from the Kangar division, said the blog had attracted a lot of attention and criticism among the people.

"There are young people who are not bothered to take our culture and moral values as part of their life.

"Although putting sex photos on the Internet is no longer a new thing, it does not mean that we should take our culture and values lightly," she said.

Oh said the country had many talented people overseas whom the rakyat could be proud of.

"Education is the key that makes a person responsible, who has self-respect and who is capable of respecting others," she said.

Tan and Lee have been in the limelight over the past week after Sumptuous Erotica, the blog they shared, made headlines in several newspapers here and in Singapore.



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Options Basics 101 - Lesson 6



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Brian Johnson - You are good









You are good by Brian Johnson/Bethel Church, from the album "Be lifted High"

I want to scream it out
From every mountain top
Your goodness knows no bounds
Your goodness never stops
Your mercy follows me
Your kindness fills my life
Your Love amazes me

I sing because You are good
And I dance because You are good
And I shout because You are good
You are good to me to me

Nothing and no one comes
Anywhere close to You
The earth and oceans deep
Only reflect this truth
And in my darkest night
You shine as bright as day
Your Love amazes me

With a cry of praise my heart will proclaim
You are good You are good
In the Sun or rain my life celebrates
You are good You are good
With a cry of praise my heart will proclaim
You are good You are good
In the Sun or rain my life celebrates
You are good You are good




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