Addressing issue

Sunday September 30, 2012

Addressing issue of minimum wage

THE article “Minimum wage saga continues” (The Star, Sept 27) raised some issues in anticipation of the implementation of the Minimum Wages Order that will come into effect on Jan 1, 2013.

Currently, there are not many employees who are being paid monthly total wages of less than RM900.

Nevertheless, there are some employers in certain industries that pay low “basic wage” that would be supplemented by various cash allowances and cash incentives with the intention of enhancing the employee’s productivity and performance.

It is these employers who are mostly affected by the Minimum Wages Order which makes it mandatory for employees to be paid no less than RM900 of basic wage per month beginning next year.

In recognising these issues, the Minimum Wages Order 2012 has allowed employers to restructure wages before the date of implementation of the national minimum wages by converting some of the cash allowances and cash incentives as part of the basic wages.

Furthermore, should the employers face difficulties in completing the restructuring exercise prior to the deadline, the Minimum Wages Order 2012 has made provisions to allow employers to apply for a deferral of the implementation date.

Employers intending to apply for a deferral should either submit their applications by post to: The Secretary, National Wages Consultative Council, Human Resources Ministry, Level 7, Block D3, Complex D, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62530 Putrajaya; or fax to 03-8889 2377 or e-mail mpgn@mohr.gov.my.

The documents required to be submitted with the application are: Company information form issued by the Companies Commission of Malaysia; audited financial statement for the past three years; and information on the number of local and foreign workers together with the amount of their last drawn monthly wages.

The deadline for submission of the application is Oct 2.

The National Wages Consultative Council (NWCC) formed a sub-committee to handle applications for deferral of implementation date from employers. For further queries, employers should call 03-8886 5156/ 5162.

In addressing this issue, the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) conducted a series of seminars on National Minimum Wages nationwide to provide guidance to employers on the steps to be taken to meet the requirements of the Minimum Wages Order 2012.

The concerns of employers over the provisions of the Minimum Wages Order and the subsequent guidelines for implementation that were issued by the NWCC were discussed and explained in the well-attended seminars.

In a unionised environment, among the strategies that the MEF propagates would be to renegotiate a restructuring of wages before the Minimum Wages Order comes into effect.

In this instance, MEF provides its members consultancy services should the need arise.

However, should the negotiations end in a deadlock, for unionised company the trade dispute would be quickly referred to the Industrial Relations Department for conciliation, and if not resolved, the trade dispute would be referred to the Industrial Court.

With every new law that is being introduced, there is bound to be teething problems that would need to be sorted out.

MEF is alert to the issues and challenges being faced by the business community and MEF is actively engaged with the relevant ministries and agencies to ensure that the implementation of the Minimum Wages Order 2012 will not negatively impact the productivity and competitiveness of employers.

SHAMSUDDIN BARDAN

Executive Director

Malaysian Employers Federation

Summary & Opinion

Guidance of addressing issue at  minimun wage had been provided in a series of seminar by Malaysian Employers Federation so that the employers had guidelines about it .

It is important for the employers to have guidelines at minimum wage.

Heejun Han

AMERICAN IDOL: Happy in his own skin

By Suzieana Uda Nagu | suzie@nst.com.my

LEND An EAR: American Idol Season 11 finalist Heejun Han talks about battling depression and how he conquered it al
l

“Today I don’t feel like doing anything
I just wanna lay in my bed
Don’t feel like picking up my phone
So leave a message at the tone
‘Cause today I swear I’m not doing anything.”

SO goes the first verse of The Lazy Song by singer, song-writer and Grammy Award-winner Bruno Mars.

Although Mars was singing about having an unproductive day in the catchy tune, not wanting to get out bed can be a symptom of depression as is the case with American Idol Season 11 finalist Heejun Han.

“I wanted to stay at home. I didn’t want to meet anyone. When I woke up in the morning, I didn’t want to open my eyes,” says Han, 23, recalling his depressive episode .

Han — who is best remembered for his soulful vocals and goofball sense of humour in the reality television singing contest — was diagnosed with depression last year following his unsuccessful attempt at breaking into the Korean entertainment scene.

Born and raised in Anyang, Geonggi, South Korea, Han migrated to the United States with his family at age 12.

Han, who has always dreamt of being a “rock star”, decided to return to Korea at 20, lured by the bright lights of Kpop (Korean pop) stardom.

But after 2½ years in Korea, Han was making little headway with his career. He returned to America last year with little to show for and a severely dented self-esteem.

Breaking into showbiz anywhere in the world is tough but the Korean entertainment industry is particularly gruelling.

Yahoo! Entertainment Singapore recently reported that young aspiring Kpop stars go through intense 14-hour boot camp-style training sessions that “start at 7am and involve hours of gym, dance, singing and swimming”.

Singaporean Elaine Yuki Wong, 24 — who beat 3,000 other hopefuls in a mass audition by a Korean talent management agency in 2010 — told the media that she had to adhere to a strict diet, which consists of breakfast, no lunch, snacks (low-fat biscuits, lettuce and bananas) and dinner (such as boiled chicken breast and salad); and no water after 7pm to avoid bloating.

This ensures that trainees, as the teenaged hopefuls are known, conform to the usual stereotype of a Kpop idol — stick-thin and attractive.

Those who cannot keep up or do not fit into the mould often dropped out and headed home, like Wong did early this year.

Han, on the other hand, would have sunk deeper into a whirlpool of depression if not for his cousin, who stays near him.

His relative told him of “a place that he might want to go” — Milal Mission in New York, a faith-based non-profit for children with special needs.

Han initially visited the organisation once a week to help the children but he instantly “fell in love” with them.

Soon, he was volunteering on a daily basis; eventually he became an employee, organising and MC-ing events for the charity.

Han credits the children with helping him pull himself out of a depressive funk.

“Their unconditional love cured (me). They are so genuine and sincere to their friends. I learned I have so much. That made me realise I was just afraid of (coming) out of my shell,” he says.

His desire to give back to the children and create more awareness of Milal Mission drove him to audition for American Idol.

“I wanted to prove to them that, no matter what their disability is, they can do anything if they try hard enough.”

Han auditioned in Pittsburgh and sailed through to Hollywood. He became the first Korean American to be in the Top 12 of the highly rated show and secured a spot in the American Idol Live! 2012 tour — which ended in Manila, the Philippines recently — after finishing at ninth place.

It is clear from the montages shown before Han’s weekly performances on Idol that the children have a special place in his heart.

“I work with the kids to make sure they know they are being loved. They are truly genuine and amazing kids who deserve every love they get,” he says.

Being an American Idol finalist has made it possible for him to promote Milal “as much as possible” although he is no longer working for the charity.

Han, who is currently in Los Angeles working on his solo album, hopes to eventually “support all special needs children and their organisations”.

After all, working with special children has enabled Han to put his own issues into perspective.

He now looks back at his stint in Korea as a “learning opportunity”.

“It was all about timing. I needed to learn more because I was so inexperienced”.

Han has also discovered a thing or two about showbiz — and himself — from being on tour for the last three months.

“I’ve learned to stay humble and not forget where I came from. I started with nothing and now I have many fans who will support me no matter what. I will never forget their support and how it all happened,” he says.

He vows to stay true to himself no matter what happens in his career.

“Being successful is being happy with who you are. I was just being myself on Idol,” he says.

Everyone should be comfortable in their own skin too.

“Asians tend to be depicted as passive, shy and insecure people who are only good at Maths. But we can be fun, sexy, or fun and sexy at the same time — like me. We don’t have to fit into the mould the society created. Go out and be yourself,” he adds.

With his singing career picking up, Han is now in a happier place. But he will never forget the time when he needed help the most.

If you are suffering from depression, Han advises not to “keep it to yourself”.

If you know someone with the condition, lend them a sympathetic ear.

“They want to be heard. Listen to their story and just be their friends. Don’t be condescending; just be there for them,” he adds.

http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/holiday/american-idol-happy-in-his-own-skin-1.150235?cache=03D163D03edding-pred-1.1176%2F%3FpFpentwage63Dp%3A%2Fhe3D03Dn63F%2F7.192944%3Fpage%3D0

Summary & Opinion 

This article fully describe and tells the story how he get through from the darkest moment in his life and finally he stood up. He learned a lesson and he encourage people to chase their dreams no matter how big is it as long as they work enough hard on it. 

The Kpop Star which use to be familiar among youths give youths an impact on appearance. Youths need to be seen thin,slim and sexy for girls and six packs, tall, good looking for boys in order to fall into beautiful and handsome category. Before this, what was on my mind was korean artist usually went through plastic surgery      

to get pretty or good looking guy. Seriously, I do not know the stereotyping for Kpop begins so seriously and almost every Kpop fans think about this. Through this, I can see the Kpop's consequences and hope that the Kpop artist manage to bring the right attitudes for the youths.

Sea Turtle

GREEN: Conservation blues

By Zuhaila Sedek |  zuhaila@nstp.com.my

Sea turtles are still facing an uphill struggle for survival especially in Terengganu, writes Zuhaila Sedek

SEA turtles are magnificent. They have journeyed the world’s oceans for more than 175 million years, outliving dinosaurs. Given the fact that they are descendants of ancient reptiles and have lived far longer than humans, they more than deserve our respect and care.

Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Besides being hunted for food, their eggs are gathered and sold for consumption too.

Luckily this happens only in Terengganu. Elsewhere in the country (Sabah, Sarawak, Pahang, Kelantan, Johor, Negri Sembilan and Malacca) there is a a ban on turtle egg trading.

Life & Times recently interviewed Abdul Khalil Abdul Karim, director of Terengganu’s Department Of Fisheries (DoF) and Syed Abdullah Syed Abdul Kadir, head of Turtle & Marine Ecosystem Center (TUMEC).

The interview was made possible with the help of WWF-Malaysia, a major champion of  turtle conservation in the country.

START WITH EGGS
Our country is home to four out of seven species of sea turtles in the world — leatherback (penyu belimbing), green (penyu agar), Hawksbill (penyu karah) and Olive Ridley (penyu lipas).

Abdul Khalil says the DoF has no power to impose a ban on turtle egg trading. This is because turtle conservation falls under the jurisdiction of State governments and Terengganu State’s enactment clearly states that turtle egg trading is legal. DoF is under the Ministry Of Agriculture And Agro-Based Industry.

“However, we can continue our conservation efforts. So far, we have done well in that respect,” he says, adding that DoF awareness programmes have been well-received by the public.

Abdul Khalil says sale of turtle eggs in Terengganu has been going on for generations.

“According to a recent survey, the older generation still eats turtle eggs. However, most young people are not interested. My prediction is that the act of eating turtle eggs will be less significant in future,” he says.

There are more than 35 beaches in the State and 13 are managed by DoF. Rangers patrol these 13 beaches regularly and monitor turtle landings.

They also collect eggs and send them to hatcheries. Every beach under DoF has a hatchery where the eggs are incubated and the hatchlings released into the sea.

However, more rangers are needed as villagers often steal the eggs, hampering conservation efforts. At beaches without rangers, DoF has appointed licensed egg collectors to collect the eggs. These are either bound to DoF or WWF-Malaysia. They  collect the eggs and sell them to the two organisations. Prices vary according to species. It’s RM5 each for leatherback eggs, RM4 each for olive ridley and hawksbill and RM2 for green turtle eggs. Those with WWF-Malaysia are paid extra if the eggs they have collected hatch.

Abdul Khalil says egg collectors have to meet a quota set by DoF. They are required to sell 70 per cent of their collection to DoF. The remainder can be sold elsewhere.

“As long as the quota is met, our conservation work will run smoothly,” he says.

Last year, 377,494 eggs were hatched by the department.

“Although the number of turtles coming to our shores is decreasing, we are still able to meet the target set for our conservation work.”

LIGHT POLLUTION
Meanwhile Syed Abdullah fully supports the effort to promote the ban on the sale of turtle eggs. By doing so, the National Plan Of Action For Conservation And Management Of Sea Turtles will be able to meet its aim for a national ban on commercial sale of turtle eggs.

Because there is no ban right now, the government has to buy turtle eggs collected to carry out its conservation work. Even so, some of the eggs are still sold for consumption.

“I hope multinational companies, especially those with power plants in Terengganu, will donate money for turtle conservation work,” he says, adding that this will enable DoF to buy all the eggs for incubation.

Power plants are mostly located in Kerteh. According to a WWF-Malaysia representative, the stretch where the power plants are located were once sandy beaches.

“The plants are the main reason for the decrease in the number of turtles. They emit too much light and turtles hate this,” says Syed Abdullah. Turtles prefer quiet, dark and clean places to lay their eggs.

MAN-MADE THREATS
“Research shows that of 1,000 olive ridley hatchlings released into the sea, only one will live to be an adult and return to its place of origin,” says Syed.

Turtles face many natural and man-made threats. Natural threats include being eaten by predators such as sharks and other big fish. Crabs eat hatchlings too.

But man-made threats can be controlled, says Syed Abdullah. These include pollution, unbalanced development, turtle meat consumption, sale and consumption of eggs and poor hatchery practices.

Many turtles are also found dead and stuck to rubbish thrown in the sea. Syed Abdullah explains: “Plastic bags, for instance, can suffocate them. Turtles need to come out from the sea once in a while.  When they are caught in plastic bags, they struggle to release themselves and end up dead.”

Unbalanced development also causes too much noise and light pollution which is harmful. Another threat comes from fishermen as many turtles get trapped in fishing nets and lines and are killed.

“Poor management of hatcheries is also a problem. Proper handling of eggs is crucial to ensure a high success rate. It is important to train workers properly,” says Syed Abdullah, adding that many turtles also get hit by ships.

One major threat to turtles is the consumption of its meat. Sea turtles are a delicacy in many parts of Asia, especially China, Fiji, the Philippines, Vietnam and Timor Leste where it is believed that eating turtles offers longevity and increased fertility.

TO SELL OR NOT TO SELL
Although Malaysians do not eat turtle meat, many still consume the eggs. And for this, they head for Terengganu.

Syed Abdullah says the people have to change their mindset about Terengganu as the place to buy and eat turtle eggs as otherwise, the demand for turtle eggs will never stop.

I am told that one of the most popular places to buy turtle eggs is Pasar Payang in Kuala Terengganu. When I am there, I am offered bags of turtle eggs “from Terengganu and Sabah”.

Those from Terengganu cost more as they are considered fresher.

“Yes, trading of turtle eggs is legal in Terengganu, but the eggs from Sabah shouldn’t have reached the market here. They should have been detected at the airport and not permitted to leave the State,” says Syed Abdullah, adding that Sabah imposes a strict ban on turtle egg trading.

He hopes Terengganu will soon be added to the list of States that ban the sale and consumption of turtle eggs.

“If the other States can do it, why not us?” he wonders.

SEA TURTLE FACTS

•     Sea turtle eggs are extremely high in cholesterol.
•     The last leatherback turtle seen in the country was in 2010, at Rantau Abang, the country’s turtle sanctuary.
•     Some sea turtles that came here to lay eggs have been tagged so that their movements can be monitored.
•     Other types of sea turtles in the world are Loggerhead, Kemp’s Ridley and Flatback.
•     Although cloning is very controversial, it may be the only way to prevent the extinction of species such as the endangered leatherback.
•      Recognisable turtles are known as far back as the Triassic Period (at least 180 million years ago), before the Jurassic Period.

Why do sea turtles cry?
Turtles have glands in their eyes that remove excess salt and these “tears” also wash away sand from the eyes.

http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/live/green-conservation-blues-1.149697?cache=03D163D03edding-pred-1.1176%2F%3FpFpentwage63Dp%3A%2Fhe3D03Dn63F%2F7.192944%3Fpage%3D0



Summary & Opinion 
Sea turtle has come to extinction nowadays due to some celebrities stole sea turtle eggs for business purpose and light pollution occurs and this problem increase seriously these few years.

We have to protect the sea turtles and prevent it falls into business industry. But how? I think we should use the power of advertising effectively. I think maybe we could spread the messages through advertising industry so that it help to create awareness to the masses. We have the responsibility to protect sea turtle so that the next generation manage to feel the beauty of nature themselves.

Introduction to Journalism

 Journalism

What can I do for it ? Maybe I could write, but I do not like to write articles that all about robbers, kidnaps, abuses, rape, politics and so on. It is so boring. Although as a journalist, we have to report those things happen around us but I am not picking journalist as my future job scope. Therefore, I change my mind, from "could write" to "could read". I could read articles during journalism lessons. I will try my best to read lots of article and learn the way to express truth in a proper manner through journalism classes. Hope that through reading lots of news article could help me express my words from "can not" to "better" .

My Profile

My Profile

A baby girl was born in 12th December 1994. 18 years later, she turned to become a real girl. A girl that packed with a lot of good and bad personalities, attitudes and mindsets. She had taught to be independent since young due to she was the eldest among the children.  She was taught to be responsible in every single thing so that her little sister and little brother can followed her steps. She grow up in a disciplined and well-mannered family. Everything had to be perfect before she turned 18 years old. She hold freedom deeply since young and she wanted to escape for long time ago. Here come the chance, right after the SPM examination, she had make a great decision. Although her parents do not fully supported her due to her parents think this industry did not had bright future, she still insists on her decision, she picked Mass Communication as it was always her first interest. She studied herself alone at Inti International College Subang, Selangor all the way from Kuantan. She managed to take good care of herself, then she thanked her mum, she thanked her for the attitudes that she had been taught since young, the independents and the responsibilities. She managed to make new friends as time pass through. She turned lazy. Assignments that given by lecturer always did it at the last minute. She even started late entered classes although she had been taught punctuality since young. She did not notice that she had changed until she get the results from small test of each subject. She wonder why her result was so terrible compared to her friends. Then she found what's the problem. She had too much free time right after classes ended. Again and again. She decided to work as a part-timer at Coco Fresh Juice And Drinks right after she discussed with her mum. Lazy problem get fixed one week later because she had no extra free time and she had to study hard to catch up the lessons. Four month later, she quit Coco. She worked on night shift, the shop closed at 12 am and it take 30 minutes to clean the shop, she reached home 1am four days a week. She realized that she was always in tired mood during classes, she felt her body get weak and weaker compared to those days, she felt stress during work too. These were the reasons that she quit Coco. She learned a lesson and this lesson take her 6 month times. She think all the things that she had been through was worth for her on the way to grow more mature. YES. I am that girl. I find my way now. Nice to meet you, I am Dolphin Ng Rui Yan.