I want the stereo with a USB port, iPOD AUX port and with all CDs(MP3/WMA/RM) music player. Please suggest as I am in a dilemma as to which one to go for. There are so many stereos available in the market. Is it OK if I go for the grey market ones as they are cheaper than going for the costly warranteed ones? Please reply soon. Thanks in advance!
Manish Chawla|||Well you just bought a new car and you need a new head unit. Its not going to be cheap because it is a brand new car and you might have to buy a installation kit or a custom one might have to be mad. Right now if you go to best buy they have alot of radios that have usb hookups and ipod aux inport. Pioneer alpine sony make good radios so its up to you on how much you want to spend and what look you want. good luck.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Serious Migrant Problem?
Serious Migrant Problem
‘There is no denying it. It is 1998 all over again. Political situation in the country is all fluid and turbulent. When this is coupled with a downward sliding world economic trend, the result would be a recipe for disaster, economic and beyond.
I know, I have been writing mostly about politics and economy nowadays. For this round, I would like to briefly clarify my views on a somewhat social, but ultimately political and economic local issue which is swirling around us these days.
And that issue is one which is abundantly familiar to all Sabahans, and which has been haunting us for the past thirty years or so. Yes, you guess it right, it is the illegal immigrants issue. I do not intend to provide a scholarly researched piece of work here, but just some basic and (I hope) unbiased points laying out my views.
Money vs. Politics
Let’s first distinguish between refugees and economic migrants. In 1970s and early 1980s, many Southern Filipinos rushed for their lives due to rampant civil wars in their homeland, and landed on the shores of Sabah. They were refugees fleeing political persecution in their homeland, and were recognised as such by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UMHCR), which set up an office in Sabah at the time to handle such cases as well as those of Vietnamese boat people (at least those who were refugees). Refugees are clearly protected by successive international treaties, and UNHCR arranged for their resettlements in third countries.
There were, however, other groups of foreigners coming ashore to Sabah from then till now. They came from the Southern parts of Philippines and also various parts of the Indonesian archipelagos. Facing economic hardships in their homelands, they came to prospect for greener pastures in Sabah. In strict international-law terms, these were not refugees, but economic migrants, who were accordingly not protected as refugees.
Arrival by Design
And these economic migrants chose Sabah for several reasons. One was obviously the long and porous maritime and mountainous borders of Sabah, making undetected entries relatively convenient.
Another, more insidious reason was of course the commonly known attempt by certain quarters during those politically unfavourable times to modify the population and voter structure of Sabah. It was thought that since these economic migrants were of a certain background and creed, they would of course be supportive of their “brethrens” of a similar creed and background. Hence there were all these stories of supposedly illegal immigrants getting ICs and local nationality.
Open Secret
Yes, openly saying the above may get me into trouble, for it is widely known in Sabah yet rarely do commentators dare to speak it up. But just as you thought the previous almost conspiratorial reason was the main one, you were actually wrong. There was yet another, even more unspoken but actually quite obvious reason for the arrival of these economic migrants. Our local labour market needed them in abundant quantity! Let’s face it. You walk into any coffee shop, the waiters and waitresses who serve you are most probably members of these economic migrants communities. This is not to mention the coffee-makers, cooks, dish washers and sometimes even cashiers! Added to that the workers at the construction site and in the estates, and you see why Sabah became such an attractive destination for these economic migrants. They formed essentially a grey market in the Sabah economy.
Simple Math
Yes, according to various sources, these economic migrants now make up more than half, if not more, of Sabah’s population. In fact, you don’t even have to quote sources. If you just make some simple calculations on Sabah’s astonishing population growth since Independence, you would inevitably come to either one of two conclusions. Either Sabah has experienced the world’s highest population growth rate – several times that of India or Bangladesh, for example, or we have “imported” a lot of people!
But don’t forget, they came here almost at the constructive invitation of the then powers. Ask yourself frankly (as I asked myself too), when your ancestors came to Sabah a few decades or even centuries ago (there is no denying that we are ultimately all descendants of successive immigrants settling down in north Borneo), did they come with proper documentations?
Yes, some members of these communities committed very heinous crimes, but some others were quite productive in their work, and generous in their spending. During several previous “operasi” to round up these economic migrants, my local friends who operated sundry shops complained about declining business!
Switch of Allegiance
But of course there are potential threats to national security. Do not forget, these economic migrants are (or were) mainly Filipinos and Indonesians. At times of exigency, despite their similar creed with the majority community in Malaysia, there is absolutely no guarantee of their allegiance to Malaysia. As they are now making up essentially the majority population in the state, what is stopping them from one day engaging in separatism and union with their motherlands? The authorities would be playing with fire in their hands if permissive attitude is continued with respect to the infiltration of these economic migrants.
Of Street Kids… and Adults
And then there were the sorry sights of the street children’s hanging around town, hawking and begging. They were mostly the second or third generations of those economic migrants. Many of them were born in Sabah, yet because of their parents’ non-refugee status, they became essentially stateless children left to wander around town. If they are left to roam the streets since young age without proper education, any wonder they would grow up to be toughened thugs who would haunt our beloved state?
Forced repatriation is of course always an option, but it requires the cooperation of their countries of origin. But since most of these economic migrants were born and travel without proper documentations, their supposed countries of origins also have difficulties recognising and “absorbing” them back. And these countries of origins are obviously reluctant to “take back” those children born in Sabah of their nationals. You can’t just send these people by boat to international waters and push them down the seas and say, “Swim back to your country of origin!” That would both be inhuman and impracticable.
As essentially a host country to these stateless children, we have an obligation to provide at least some of them with basic educational, nutritional and shelter needs. There are many locals who would argue that we don’t even have enough money to educate our own children’s in our somewhat decrepit educational system, what more to accommodate such “alien” children?
Let the Experts Handle It!
Well, there is at least a partial and temporary solution, but one with potentially beneficial implications. There are many international volunteer and aid organizations that were more than willing to take up the unenviable tasks mentioned above. If we cannot handle the basic needs of the stateless children ourselves, then we should open the door and welcome those mostly European and sometimes American non-governmental organizations handle them. These humanitarian groups usually have the passion, the expertise and the resources to accomplish such ardent tasks, and they have done it successfully elsewhere in the world, from Guatemala in Central America to Ghana and Gabon in Africa.
Indeed, we have to bite the bullet and admit to the whole world that we had an essentially screwed-up migration policy and are now seeking to repair the damage done, and then humbly appeal for international help.
Shame in Denial
A partial solution such as the above is not perfect, but it is at least a baby step toward a more comprehensive solution when the time is ripe, such as when Sabah is prosperous enough that it would “coattail” the surrounding economies into comparable prosperity, thus reducing the incentives for these economic migrants to come ashore.
There is no shame or loss of sovereignty in admitting wrongs and attempting to redress them. There is every shame and imminent loss of sovereignty in perpetuating the wrongs and denying them.
Having worked in the humanitarian office of the United Nations, Ei Sun saw first hand the successful and not so successful implementation of various solutions for refugees and other types of displaced peoples around the the world. He hopes and is ready to help to ensure that his own beloved homeland would charter the right course in this regards. He welcomes feedbacks and suggestions at oh@ties.itu.int|||everyone is welcome to a point of view. Not everyone will agree
‘There is no denying it. It is 1998 all over again. Political situation in the country is all fluid and turbulent. When this is coupled with a downward sliding world economic trend, the result would be a recipe for disaster, economic and beyond.
I know, I have been writing mostly about politics and economy nowadays. For this round, I would like to briefly clarify my views on a somewhat social, but ultimately political and economic local issue which is swirling around us these days.
And that issue is one which is abundantly familiar to all Sabahans, and which has been haunting us for the past thirty years or so. Yes, you guess it right, it is the illegal immigrants issue. I do not intend to provide a scholarly researched piece of work here, but just some basic and (I hope) unbiased points laying out my views.
Money vs. Politics
Let’s first distinguish between refugees and economic migrants. In 1970s and early 1980s, many Southern Filipinos rushed for their lives due to rampant civil wars in their homeland, and landed on the shores of Sabah. They were refugees fleeing political persecution in their homeland, and were recognised as such by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UMHCR), which set up an office in Sabah at the time to handle such cases as well as those of Vietnamese boat people (at least those who were refugees). Refugees are clearly protected by successive international treaties, and UNHCR arranged for their resettlements in third countries.
There were, however, other groups of foreigners coming ashore to Sabah from then till now. They came from the Southern parts of Philippines and also various parts of the Indonesian archipelagos. Facing economic hardships in their homelands, they came to prospect for greener pastures in Sabah. In strict international-law terms, these were not refugees, but economic migrants, who were accordingly not protected as refugees.
Arrival by Design
And these economic migrants chose Sabah for several reasons. One was obviously the long and porous maritime and mountainous borders of Sabah, making undetected entries relatively convenient.
Another, more insidious reason was of course the commonly known attempt by certain quarters during those politically unfavourable times to modify the population and voter structure of Sabah. It was thought that since these economic migrants were of a certain background and creed, they would of course be supportive of their “brethrens” of a similar creed and background. Hence there were all these stories of supposedly illegal immigrants getting ICs and local nationality.
Open Secret
Yes, openly saying the above may get me into trouble, for it is widely known in Sabah yet rarely do commentators dare to speak it up. But just as you thought the previous almost conspiratorial reason was the main one, you were actually wrong. There was yet another, even more unspoken but actually quite obvious reason for the arrival of these economic migrants. Our local labour market needed them in abundant quantity! Let’s face it. You walk into any coffee shop, the waiters and waitresses who serve you are most probably members of these economic migrants communities. This is not to mention the coffee-makers, cooks, dish washers and sometimes even cashiers! Added to that the workers at the construction site and in the estates, and you see why Sabah became such an attractive destination for these economic migrants. They formed essentially a grey market in the Sabah economy.
Simple Math
Yes, according to various sources, these economic migrants now make up more than half, if not more, of Sabah’s population. In fact, you don’t even have to quote sources. If you just make some simple calculations on Sabah’s astonishing population growth since Independence, you would inevitably come to either one of two conclusions. Either Sabah has experienced the world’s highest population growth rate – several times that of India or Bangladesh, for example, or we have “imported” a lot of people!
But don’t forget, they came here almost at the constructive invitation of the then powers. Ask yourself frankly (as I asked myself too), when your ancestors came to Sabah a few decades or even centuries ago (there is no denying that we are ultimately all descendants of successive immigrants settling down in north Borneo), did they come with proper documentations?
Yes, some members of these communities committed very heinous crimes, but some others were quite productive in their work, and generous in their spending. During several previous “operasi” to round up these economic migrants, my local friends who operated sundry shops complained about declining business!
Switch of Allegiance
But of course there are potential threats to national security. Do not forget, these economic migrants are (or were) mainly Filipinos and Indonesians. At times of exigency, despite their similar creed with the majority community in Malaysia, there is absolutely no guarantee of their allegiance to Malaysia. As they are now making up essentially the majority population in the state, what is stopping them from one day engaging in separatism and union with their motherlands? The authorities would be playing with fire in their hands if permissive attitude is continued with respect to the infiltration of these economic migrants.
Of Street Kids… and Adults
And then there were the sorry sights of the street children’s hanging around town, hawking and begging. They were mostly the second or third generations of those economic migrants. Many of them were born in Sabah, yet because of their parents’ non-refugee status, they became essentially stateless children left to wander around town. If they are left to roam the streets since young age without proper education, any wonder they would grow up to be toughened thugs who would haunt our beloved state?
Forced repatriation is of course always an option, but it requires the cooperation of their countries of origin. But since most of these economic migrants were born and travel without proper documentations, their supposed countries of origins also have difficulties recognising and “absorbing” them back. And these countries of origins are obviously reluctant to “take back” those children born in Sabah of their nationals. You can’t just send these people by boat to international waters and push them down the seas and say, “Swim back to your country of origin!” That would both be inhuman and impracticable.
As essentially a host country to these stateless children, we have an obligation to provide at least some of them with basic educational, nutritional and shelter needs. There are many locals who would argue that we don’t even have enough money to educate our own children’s in our somewhat decrepit educational system, what more to accommodate such “alien” children?
Let the Experts Handle It!
Well, there is at least a partial and temporary solution, but one with potentially beneficial implications. There are many international volunteer and aid organizations that were more than willing to take up the unenviable tasks mentioned above. If we cannot handle the basic needs of the stateless children ourselves, then we should open the door and welcome those mostly European and sometimes American non-governmental organizations handle them. These humanitarian groups usually have the passion, the expertise and the resources to accomplish such ardent tasks, and they have done it successfully elsewhere in the world, from Guatemala in Central America to Ghana and Gabon in Africa.
Indeed, we have to bite the bullet and admit to the whole world that we had an essentially screwed-up migration policy and are now seeking to repair the damage done, and then humbly appeal for international help.
Shame in Denial
A partial solution such as the above is not perfect, but it is at least a baby step toward a more comprehensive solution when the time is ripe, such as when Sabah is prosperous enough that it would “coattail” the surrounding economies into comparable prosperity, thus reducing the incentives for these economic migrants to come ashore.
There is no shame or loss of sovereignty in admitting wrongs and attempting to redress them. There is every shame and imminent loss of sovereignty in perpetuating the wrongs and denying them.
Having worked in the humanitarian office of the United Nations, Ei Sun saw first hand the successful and not so successful implementation of various solutions for refugees and other types of displaced peoples around the the world. He hopes and is ready to help to ensure that his own beloved homeland would charter the right course in this regards. He welcomes feedbacks and suggestions at oh@ties.itu.int|||everyone is welcome to a point of view. Not everyone will agree
From where i should buy the digital camera?
I am in complete plan to buy a be digital camera SONY DSC-H10 and its market price is Rs16,000/- [rupees]
On buying from an authorized dealer i am getting it at Rs 15,500/-
Also 1GB card free and 3 years warranty {i.e. with bill}
On purchasing from unauthorized dealer i.e. from Grey market I am getting it at Rs 13,000 {with no bill} no free card and no warranty at all
I m unable to decide that from where should buy
Please help me
Thanx in advance|||Try amazon.com or bhphoto.com.
But don鈥檛 buy it at any of these rip-off scam sites that are owned by George Sabato:
www.bestpricecameras.com
www.photodynasty.com
www.beststopcamera.com
www.citywidedigital.com
www.eastcoastdistributor.com
www.hellocamera.com
www.infiniticameras.com
www.infinitiphoto.com
www.infinitycameras.com
www.jandkcameras.com
www.mraccessory.com
www.razzphoto.com
www.regencycamera.com
Check out how many Better Business Bureau complaints there are (1000+). He keeps changing names to avoid ripped-off customers and to trick new customers.
http://search.newyork.bbb.org/reports.as鈥?/a>
|||at best buy|||uhmm i dont really know what you just said but target sells cameras.
(:|||Don't pay for a warranty !
You already have consumer rights and paying for a warranty is just another scam that traders use to get more money out of you.
If budget is an issue, go for the cheapest. Sometimes you're just paying for an authorised dealers name.|||Don't buy one.. Get one for free from cameras.santasgiftsallyear.com We have a great selection. Just do a few offers and refer a few friends.
On buying from an authorized dealer i am getting it at Rs 15,500/-
Also 1GB card free and 3 years warranty {i.e. with bill}
On purchasing from unauthorized dealer i.e. from Grey market I am getting it at Rs 13,000 {with no bill} no free card and no warranty at all
I m unable to decide that from where should buy
Please help me
Thanx in advance|||Try amazon.com or bhphoto.com.
But don鈥檛 buy it at any of these rip-off scam sites that are owned by George Sabato:
www.bestpricecameras.com
www.photodynasty.com
www.beststopcamera.com
www.citywidedigital.com
www.eastcoastdistributor.com
www.hellocamera.com
www.infiniticameras.com
www.infinitiphoto.com
www.infinitycameras.com
www.jandkcameras.com
www.mraccessory.com
www.razzphoto.com
www.regencycamera.com
Check out how many Better Business Bureau complaints there are (1000+). He keeps changing names to avoid ripped-off customers and to trick new customers.
http://search.newyork.bbb.org/reports.as鈥?/a>
|||at best buy|||uhmm i dont really know what you just said but target sells cameras.
(:|||Don't pay for a warranty !
You already have consumer rights and paying for a warranty is just another scam that traders use to get more money out of you.
If budget is an issue, go for the cheapest. Sometimes you're just paying for an authorised dealers name.|||Don't buy one.. Get one for free from cameras.santasgiftsallyear.com We have a great selection. Just do a few offers and refer a few friends.
Can you help me find the hair dye which only targets gray hair?
I'm sure I've seen it in the market before... and now I can't find it anymore... I just want to dye my gray hairs... don't want my natural not gray hairs to get dyed. Please help.|||You can't find it because it didn't work.
Is it worth investing inJubilant FoodWorks has opened its initial public offer (IPO). ?
Jubilant FoodWorks has opened its initial public offer (IPO). The company runs the renowned fast food chain Domino’s Pizza in the country and has 286 stores in 22 states.
The company proposes to raise up to Rs 328.72 crore by selling 2,26,70,447 shares for subscription and the price band for listing is Rs 135–Rs 145 per share. The offer closes on January 20.
Kotak Mahindra Capital Company is acting as the sole book-running lead manager to the offer.
Experts we spoke to were mixed in their opinion of the IPO. While Investment Advisor SP Tulsian said investors should avoid the issue, Manish Bhatt of Prabhudas Lilladher had the opposite opinion.
Tulsian said 82% of the funds raised would go to shareholders who are selling stake via the IPO while the remaining 18% of the proceeds would be deployed in the company — that too for debt repayment. “It means that for any growth, the company will have to use its internal accruals and not any IPO proceeds,” he said.
The issue, at Rs 135 was steeply priced, he said, based on calculation of number of paid-up equity and market capitalization post IPO. “Based on these prices, it works to around a value of Rs 3 crore per outlet, while it does not even cost Rs 50 lakh for an outlet.”
Bhatt, however, said an investor should subscribe to the issue with a long-term view. "The grey market premium of this IPO is around Rs 25 over its issue price," he said.|||I have already written an article on this:
http://www.investingmantra.com/2010/01/j…
It may help you.|||go for it but only with a long term view....india has a big market.|||you can find it in tools on this website http://topfin2.notlong.com/1AAXGg8
The company proposes to raise up to Rs 328.72 crore by selling 2,26,70,447 shares for subscription and the price band for listing is Rs 135–Rs 145 per share. The offer closes on January 20.
Kotak Mahindra Capital Company is acting as the sole book-running lead manager to the offer.
Experts we spoke to were mixed in their opinion of the IPO. While Investment Advisor SP Tulsian said investors should avoid the issue, Manish Bhatt of Prabhudas Lilladher had the opposite opinion.
Tulsian said 82% of the funds raised would go to shareholders who are selling stake via the IPO while the remaining 18% of the proceeds would be deployed in the company — that too for debt repayment. “It means that for any growth, the company will have to use its internal accruals and not any IPO proceeds,” he said.
The issue, at Rs 135 was steeply priced, he said, based on calculation of number of paid-up equity and market capitalization post IPO. “Based on these prices, it works to around a value of Rs 3 crore per outlet, while it does not even cost Rs 50 lakh for an outlet.”
Bhatt, however, said an investor should subscribe to the issue with a long-term view. "The grey market premium of this IPO is around Rs 25 over its issue price," he said.|||I have already written an article on this:
http://www.investingmantra.com/2010/01/j…
It may help you.|||go for it but only with a long term view....india has a big market.|||you can find it in tools on this website http://topfin2.notlong.com/1AAXGg8
My iphone has dent pixels?
5 days ago i upgraded my iphone and i found out that my iphone had a grey line in its display first i thought it was due to to the upgrade.later the line incresed day by day and now it a strech from left to right corner of the display at the top (where it shows the time).can anyone plz help....since i live in india apple does not offer any service to iphone...and when i contacted istore he told me to get done in the grey market.........plz help|||I think you dropped your phone and it needs servicing/repair to rectify the fault. You should contact any good reputed service center, mobile repair shop in your area for this.
hsj
hsj
Is it Safe to buy a Yamaha U10BL upright piano second hand in Australia? HELP!!?
So here's the insight.. i am currently thinking of buying this piano and currently have a deposit on it within a shop here in sydney. After doing some internet research, i have then identified that this particular piano model is one that is maybe from the "grey market" (one not made for the Australia Market) this mainly meaning that it may not be made for the Australian Climate/Weather?
After my knowledge of this, i then called the seller of this
"soon to be my piano" and explained to her my concerns..
she wasn't surprised with this question of mine as apparently many have also asked her the same thing? she then explained that " it would be perfectly fine as many wrongly believe that this will take great affect with the Australian weather apparently cracks due to weather change only happen if drastic weather changed occur. - e.g. Japan (humid) versing Middle East (dry).
so who do i believe? im confused? do i continue with the purchase? please help ? :o
THANKS!!!|||Yamaha makes an incredible amount of pianos each year. They have been doing this year after year after year and consequently the used piano market is flooded with used Yamaha's and Yamaha finds themselves competing with their own pianos. Yamaha wants you to buy new Yamaha's, not used Yamaha's so they created this marketing campaign to scare potential buyers away from buying used Yamaha's.
When August Forster builds a piano they build them all the same. It is up to the buyer to create the proper environment that will suit the piano. If you live in a humid climate then you would need to install a de-humidifier to pull the moisture out of the room and if you live in a dry climate you would need to put moisture into the room. It would be impossible for Yamaha to build a piano to suite every climate. Australia is a big country, if they were going to build a piano for your climate, which one did they pick?
It will not matter if you buy this grey market Yamaha or a brand new Yamaha, the sound board will crack and keys will stick if you do not maintain the proper temperature and humidity ranges. Ideally temperature 21-22 deg.C. Humidity 40%. Keep it away from heating and air conditioning vents. Inside walls are better if your outside wall bakes during the summer or sees extreme cold weather during the winter. Do not let the sun shine directly on the piano.|||First, I wouldn't buy a Yamaha as all the Yamaha's I've played and even competed on, are never any good. The sound is big or loud enough, not full and rounded enough, and just not that fun to play because most of their parts are plastic which feel poorly and effect the sound greatly. As for Australian weather, I would suggest a keyboard, not a piano. Yamaha has excelled in electronic keyboards in that you can get ones that are the size of and look like baby grands. These are much more resilient in harsh weather conditions.|||It is safe to buy unless the piano police are after you.
After my knowledge of this, i then called the seller of this
"soon to be my piano" and explained to her my concerns..
she wasn't surprised with this question of mine as apparently many have also asked her the same thing? she then explained that " it would be perfectly fine as many wrongly believe that this will take great affect with the Australian weather apparently cracks due to weather change only happen if drastic weather changed occur. - e.g. Japan (humid) versing Middle East (dry).
so who do i believe? im confused? do i continue with the purchase? please help ? :o
THANKS!!!|||Yamaha makes an incredible amount of pianos each year. They have been doing this year after year after year and consequently the used piano market is flooded with used Yamaha's and Yamaha finds themselves competing with their own pianos. Yamaha wants you to buy new Yamaha's, not used Yamaha's so they created this marketing campaign to scare potential buyers away from buying used Yamaha's.
When August Forster builds a piano they build them all the same. It is up to the buyer to create the proper environment that will suit the piano. If you live in a humid climate then you would need to install a de-humidifier to pull the moisture out of the room and if you live in a dry climate you would need to put moisture into the room. It would be impossible for Yamaha to build a piano to suite every climate. Australia is a big country, if they were going to build a piano for your climate, which one did they pick?
It will not matter if you buy this grey market Yamaha or a brand new Yamaha, the sound board will crack and keys will stick if you do not maintain the proper temperature and humidity ranges. Ideally temperature 21-22 deg.C. Humidity 40%. Keep it away from heating and air conditioning vents. Inside walls are better if your outside wall bakes during the summer or sees extreme cold weather during the winter. Do not let the sun shine directly on the piano.|||First, I wouldn't buy a Yamaha as all the Yamaha's I've played and even competed on, are never any good. The sound is big or loud enough, not full and rounded enough, and just not that fun to play because most of their parts are plastic which feel poorly and effect the sound greatly. As for Australian weather, I would suggest a keyboard, not a piano. Yamaha has excelled in electronic keyboards in that you can get ones that are the size of and look like baby grands. These are much more resilient in harsh weather conditions.|||It is safe to buy unless the piano police are after you.
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