John 3:16

I received this e-mail from my buddy.....

A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner; the people were in and out of the cold. The little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to sell many papers. He walked up to a policeman and said, "Mister, you wouldn't happen to know where a poor boy could find a warm place to sleep tonight would you? You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and down the alley and it's awful cold in there for tonight. Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay."

The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, "you go down the street to that big white house and you knock on the door. When they come out the door you just say John 3:16 and they will let you in."

So he did. He walked up the steps and knocked on the door, and a lady answered. He looked up and said, "John 3:16." The lady said, "Come on in, Son." She took him in and she sat him down in a split bottom rocker in front of a great big old fireplace, and she went off. The boy sat there for a while and thought to himself: John 3:16...I don't understand it, but it sure makes a cold boy warm.

Later she came back and asked him "Are you hungry?" He said, "Well, just a little. I haven't eaten in a couple of days, and I guess I could stand a little bit of food," The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn't eat any more. Then he thought to himself: John 3:16...Boy, I sure don't understand it but it sure makes a hungry boy full.

She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub filled with warm water, and he sat there and soaked for a while. As he soaked, he thought to himself: John 3:16... I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy clean. You know, I've not had a bath, a real bath, in my whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out. The lady came in and got him. She took him to a room, tucked him into a big old feather bed, pulled the covers up around his neck, kissed him goodnight and turned out the lights. As he lay in the darkness and looked out the window at the snow coming down on that cold night, he thought to himself: John 3:16...I don't understand it but it sure makes a tired boy rested.

The next morning the lady came back up and took him down again to that same big table full of food. After he ate, she took him back to that same big old split bottom rocker in front of the fireplace and picked up a big old Bible. She sat down in front of him and looked into his young face. "Do you understand John 3:16?" she asked gently. He replied, "No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time I ever heard it was last night when the policeman told me to use it," She opened the Bible to John 3:16 and began to explain to him about Jesus. Right there, in front of that big old fireplace, he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there and thought: John 3:16....don't understand it, but it sure makes a lost boy feel safe.

You know, I have to confess I don't understand it either, how God was willing to send His Son to die for me, and how Jesus would agree to do such a thing. I don't understand the agony of the Father and every angel in heaven as they watched Jesus suffer and die. I don't understand the intense love for ME that kept Jesus on the cross till the end. I don't understand it, but it sure does make life worth living.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Stroke

Indicators of stroke from my friend Dr. Dean Uphoff

STROKE: Remember The 1st Three Letters.... S.T.R.

My nurse friend sent this and encouraged me to post it and spread the word. I agree. If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks. Seriously..

Please read:

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:

During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) .....she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food.

While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 pm Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die.... they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

It only takes a minute to read this... A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke... totally . He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR . Read and Learn! Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster.

The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke . Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S * Ask the individual to SMILE.

T * Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. It is sunny out today)

R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. If he or she has trouble withANY ONE of these tasks, call 999/911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue

NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other , that is also an indication of a stroke. A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

STROKE: Remember The 1st Three Letters.... S.T.R.

India Street

India Street, Kuching

Akupun bengang juga bila tengok keadaan India Street, Kuching yang begitu sunyi begini. Kebiasaannya, India Street adalah tempat yang paling sibuk di Bandaraya Kuching. Pelbagai jenis barangan terdapat di sini. Ia menjadi tumpuan sengenap lapisan masyarakat di sekitar Bandaraya Kuching, lebih-lebih lagi semasa musim perayaan...

YUMMY....

Kalau bab makan ni memang aku boleh tahan. Pantang diajak, memang on punya....apatah lagi kalau kena dengan menu yang sedap-sedap. Sure aku tak boleh nak tolak punyer. Kat bawah ni, aku "hidangkan" beberapa menu kegemaran aku. Kalau ada sapa-sapa yang tau tempat makan yang "menarik" silalah kongsi kat sini.....

Red Chilli

Mixed Vegetables

Crab Soup Roasted Duck
Steam Snow Fish

KUSIA

Kuching Spinal Injuries Association (KUSIA) telah didaftarkan secara rasminya pada 18 Ogos 2006, manakala upacara pelancarannya telah diadakan pada 8 Disember 2006 oleh Ybhg. Encik Sim Han Seng yang mewakili YB Dato Seri William Mawan Ikom.

Sehingga kini KUSIA telah mempunyai seramai 50 orang ahli berdaftar. Ahli-ahli KUSIA terdiri daripada mereka yang mengalami kecederaan pada Saraf Tunjang (Spinal Cord) yang tinggal di sekitar Bandaraya Kuching. Selain daripada mereka yang mengalami kecederaan Saraf Tunjang, ahli-ahli KUSIA terdiri daripada pelbagai golongan, seperti doktor, jururawat serta sesiapa saja yang berhasrat untuk membantu pertubuhan ini.

Sepanjang penubuhan KUSIA, pelbagai aktiviti telah diadakan. Di antara aktiviti-aktiviti yang telah berjaya didakan adalah seperti berikut:-

a) Charity Dive 2007-dengan kerjasama Borneo Scuba Diving Adventure
b) Annual Wheel Chair Camp-telah diadakan di Pusat Pemulihan Samarahan (PPS)
c) Pertandingan Ten Pin Bowling-diadakan di Crystal Bowl, Stampin

Main "Belon Tampar"

Alat Bantuan Memandu

Wheelchair Maintenance

Cara Naik Turun Kerusi Roda

Para Peserta Wheel Chair Camp 2007

Orang Kuat KUSIA

Demo Penggunaan Kerusi Roda

Perasmian

Penyampaian Cenderahati

Ucapan Oleh Ybg. Encik Sim Han Seng

The Diving Team

Elaun Agong, PM,Sultan, Menteri

Sebelum ni ramai yang tanya pasal allowances ni semua termasuk allowances untuk kerabat. Aku pun tak boleh bagi info yang lengkap. But now aku dah dapat info yang lengkap untuk share dengan you all.So, mari kita lihat berapa banyak Malaysia habis kan duit untuk bagi pada orang orang ni semua.Aku mulakan dulu allowances untuk Agong dan Permaisuri Agong.

Elaun untuk Agong dan Permaisuri Agong Ini adalah dibawah Undang-undang Malaysia Akta 269 (Akta Peruntukan Diraja 1982).Ini budget tahunan untuk Agong. Akan dibayar secara bulanan kepada Agong. Selain dari elaun untuk Agong ni, mereka masih dapat elaun Sultan di negeri masing masing.

1. Privy Purse - RM360,000 (bermakna bulanan adalah RM30,000).

2. Elaun keraian - RM120,000 (bulanan sebanyak RM10,000)

3. Elaun diraja Istana Negara - RM144,000 (bulanan sebanyak RM12,000)

So, total setiap bulan seorang Agong dapat adalah sebanyak RM52,000.

Elaun untuk Permaisuri Agong ialah:-
1. Privy Purse - RM67,200 (iaitu RM5,600 sebulan).
2. Elaun keraian - RM21,600 (RM1,800 sebulan).
Total sebulan Permaisuri Agong dapat ialah RM7,400.

Selain daripada tu, setiap tahun Agong dapat lebih RM53 million untuk perbelanjaan istana, sambutan tetamu dan untuk gaji pekerja dia.

Breakdown nya adalah seperti berikut:-
1. Perbelanjaan istana dan sambutan tetamu - RM52,259,100
2. Gaji kakitangan istana - RM1,004,880

Elaun untuk bekas Agong dan bekas Permaisuri Agong. Aku tak pernah tau wujud nya elaun ni. Bermakna setiap bekas Agong yang tukar setiap 5 tahun tu akan dapat elaun bekas Agong dan bekas Permaisuri Agong.

Ini adalah dibawah peruntukan Undang-undang Malaysia Akta 270 (Akta Istana Negara Elaun-elaun Diraja 1982) pindaan 2006.Dibawah akta ni elaun akan dibayar kepada bekas Agong dan bekas Permaisuri Agong setiap bulan untuk seumur hidup. Contohnyalah kan, macam Sultan Azlan (bekas Agong), selain dari elaun Sultan dia dapat tiap bulan, dia juga dapat elaun bekas Agong.

1. Elaun Diraja Istana Negara untuk bekas Agong - RM15,180 sebulan.
2. Elaun Diraja Istana Negara untuk bekas Permaisuri Agong - RM4,500 sebulan.

Boleh dikatakan kat Malaysia ni kebanyakan Sultan dah pun jadi Agong, just imagine berapa banyak kerajaan belanjakan untuk kesemua bekas-bekas Agong dan bekas-bekas Permaisuri Agong yang masih hidup? Pencen khas untuk balu Agong.

Ini adalah pencen untuk balu Agong. Bermakna kalau Agong tu mati semasa dia tengah jadi Agong, so balu dia akan dapat pencen ni. Contohnya pencen khas ni Siti Aishah dapat sebab Sultan Selangor mati masa tu dia tengah jadi Agong kan. Kira untung lah Siti Aishah ni sebab dapat pencen khas. Anyway, ini adalah di bawah Undang-undang Malaysia Akta 223 (Akta Pencen Khas Raja Permaisuri Agong 1979).So, ini lah yang Siti Aishah dapat.

1. Pencen seumur hidup - RM4,500 sebulan.
2. Kereta (cukai jalan dan bayaran pendaftaran percuma) atau wang pukal RM250,000 untuk kereta. Juga dapat RM2,590.87 sebulan untuk driver dan maintenance of car.
3. Rumah Kerajaan yang akan disenggara oleh Kerajaan atau wang pukal RM750,000.

Elaun Sultan dan kerabat (contoh Kedah)Elaun untuk Sultan dan kerabat kat setiap negeri adalah dibawah peruntukan negeri masing-masing. Setiap negeri ada Enakmen Peruntukan Diraja. Ini contoh untuk Kedah.

Basically, kat negeri negeri lain pun lebih kurang sama juga amount nya.
1. Elaun Sultan - RM52,600 sebulan.
2. Elaun keraian Sultan = RM15,480
So, setiap bulan Sultan (contoh disini ialah Sultan Kedah) ialah sebanyak RM68,080.

Untuk Sultanah pulak elaun nya adalah:-
1. Elaun Sultanah - RM12,000 sebulan
2. Elaun peribadi Sultanah - RM2,600 sebulan. Sebulan Sultanah akan dapat RM14,600.

Elaun lain lain untuk kerabat ialah:-
Raja Muda - RM13,000
Raja Puan Muda - RM5,200
Tunku Bendahara - RM4,000
Bini Tunku Bendahara - RM1,250
Tunku Temenggung - RM3,500
Isteri Tunku Temenggung - RM900
Tunku Laksamana - RM3,000
Isteri Tunku Laksamana - RM600

Banyak lagi elaun untuk kerabat bergelar. Selain daripada tu kerabat-kerabat lain pun dapat allowances juga. Contoh macam anak anak Sultan dapat allowace dalam RM1,000 sebulan and kerabat jauh sikit (bukan anak Sultan) dinamakan kerabat kategori 2 juga dapat allowace sebanyak RM500 sebulan.

Gaji dan allowances untuk Perdana Menteri, Menteri dan Ahli ParlimenIni semua adalah dibawah Undang-undang Ahli Parlimen (Saraan) pindaan 2005

Gaji untuk Perdana Menteri, Menteri, MP adalah seperti berikut:-
Perdana Menteri - RM22,826.65 sebulan
Timbalan Perdana Menteri - RM18,168.15 sebulan
Menteri-menteri Kabinet - RM14,907.20 sebulan.
Timbalan Menteri-menteri Kabinet - RM10,847.65 sebulan
Setiausaha Parlimen - RM7,187.40
Ahli Dewan Negara - RM6,508.59
Ahli Dewan Rakyat (ni kira MP lah) - RM4,112.79So,

Contohnya macam Pak Lah... dia adalah Perdana Menteri dan juga Menteri Kewangan dan Menteri Keselamatan Dalam Negeri dan juga dia adalah MP,
so monthly income dia ialah= RM22,826.65 + (RM14,907.20 x 2) + RM4,112.79= RM56,753.84.

Ini formula untuk calculate pencen bekas MP.

Pencen:1/144 x tempoh perkhidmatan (bulan) x GajiMinimum pencen dapat ialah separuh dari gaji MP.

Bermakna kalau jadi MP satu penggal pun akan dapat pencen paling sikit pun RM2,056.40. Lagi lama jadi MP lagi banyak pencen dia akan dapat.Gratuity:1/48 x Gaji x 12 x tempoh perkhidmatan (bulan)

GAJI MENTERI MALAYSIA

Gaji Menteri
1. Gaji Pokok RM18,000
2. Elaun Keraian RM10,500.00
3. Elaun Perumahan RM10,800.00
4. Elaun Wakil Rakyat RM10,650.00
5. Elaun parking RM 5,700.00
Jumlah pendapatan bulanan RM55,650.00 yang wajib diterima sama ada sakit atau tidak bekerja:-

Lain-lain kemudahan
1. Bercuti keluar negara sekali setahun terutama selepas persidangan Dewan Negara- semua perbelanjaan ditanggung oleh kerajaan termasuk tiket penerbangan, hotel, duit poket sebanyak RM50,000.00. Kalau tidak bercuti keluar negara seorang menteri boleh menuntut sebanyak RM50,000.00 tanpa resit.
2. Bil letrik percuma ditanggung oleh kerajaan Malaysia
3. Bil Air percuma ditanggung oleh kerajaan Malaysia
4. Bil telefon percuma ditanggung oleh kerajaan Malaysia
5. Peruntukan perkakasan dapor/perhiasan rumah dll boleh dituntut setahun sekali sebanyak RM40,000.00
6. Sebuah kereta Mercedes S320, di lengkapi dgn telefon bimbit,satu pemandu,minyak percuma.Kalau guna khidmat pemandu kementerian, dapatlah duit percuma.
7. Semua pemberian derma seperti kepada perkahwinan, kematian,atau pemberian kepada badan kebajikan kebajikan boleh dituntut.
8. Boleh mengadakan rumah terbuka setiap hari raya, segala perbelanjaan ditanggung oleh kerajaan. Kebiasaan Menteri menuntut sebanyak RM400,000.00
9. Setiap menteri biasanya tuntutan mereka sebanyak RM45,000.00 semua elaun perbelanjaan tidak termasuk elaun-elaun dalam slip pendapatan bulanan.

Slip Pendapatan Bulanan Bagi Timbalan Menteri ialah:-
1. Gaji Pokok RM15,000
2. Elaun Keraian RM9,500.00
3. Elaun Perumahan RM9,800.00
4. Elaun Wakil Rakyat RM10,650.00
5. Elaun parking RM 5,700.00
Jumlah pendapatan bulanan RM50,650.00 yang wajib terima samada sakit atau tidak hadir bertugas.

Dan Menteri:-
1. Pengerusi syarikat/lembaga jabatan kerajaan
2. Pengerusi syarikat swasta yg dilantik
3. Pedapatan dari syarikat persendirian seperti kontrak dan lain-lain
4. Pendapatan dari kroni-kroni peribadi
5. Saham yang diberi khas oleh kerajaan sebanyak 300,000 unit setiap masa.
6. Tidak termasuk dari pendapatan luar negara
7. Lain-lain sumbertu kira pada tahun 1999..dah lama dah..tp kalau benda naik leh naik...tak tahu kot2 gaji pak menteriku turun..

On Dec 3, spare a thought for our disabled...

United Nation's International Day of Disabled Persons, which is celebrated on Dec 3, is yet another wonderful opportunity to promote understanding, increase public awareness of disability issues and to promulgate the importance of independence, ease of movement, integration, dignity, equal rights and the well-being of persons with all kinds of disability.

However, here in Malaysia, a year after Action and Inclusion for the Disabled (AID) wrote a letter regarding the 2006 International Day of Disabled Persons, nothing of any substance has changed. Thus, we fear that this will another valuable opportunity lost.

Accessibility to most facilities, such as buildings, public transport, footpaths and road crossings, even those that have been recently built is not possible, since they have not been properly designed and constructed to be useable by everyone. Access to buildings is still a novelty and is by no means universally available. Some buildings, which were constructed in the past 12 months, are totally inaccessible to any person using a wheelchair.

RapidKL, a new public transport company set up by the government, has introduced so-called “disabled accessible” buses in the past year. But these vehicles have been incorrectly designed. The area designed to accommodate two persons using wheelchairs occupies almost half the available floor space and there are only two seats in this half of the bus.


Furthermore the access ramp is unsafe. The able-bodied could perhaps be excused if they feel angry for having to stand due to the lack of seats. In Penang, the situation is even worse. The new RapidPenang buses are universally inaccessible.

Over the last 18 months, AID has been meeting regularly to discuss routing and accessibility options for the Penang monorail with Melewar Integrated Engineering. We are confident that they have addressed and incorporated the requirements of the disabled into their monorail design.

We sincerely hope that whichever company wins the bid to construct the Penang Monorail will ensure that the monorail system is universally-designed to be accessible to all and that the routing and stops will enable it achieve the goal of serving all Penangites who live along its route.

Most pavements are still inaccessible to persons using wheelchairs, the blind and the elderly. Sometimes, there are ramps of sorts but more often than not they are too steep and or too high. There are obstructions on pavements, such as lamp posts, trees, sign posts, non-flush manholes, open drains, missing tiles, holes and so forth. Tactile markings to guide the blind are sometimes installed, but without thought and totally ignorant of the required specifications.

We have observed recently in our capital city, Kuala Lumpur, a new pavement of about 1.2 metres wide. Where the tactile markings turned ninety degrees left, within few centimetres of a wall, then ninety degrees right, ninety degrees right again and finally ninety degrees left. All this was to go around a grating about 60cm x 60cm.

These guiding marks are confusing and potentially dangerous. It has also been noted that motorcycles use the ramps to access footpaths which they use either as shortcuts around traffic jams or as parking spaces. The parking of cars on footpaths is also a common sight.

Decent work is still a dream for most people with disabilities. Many employers strongly resist employing a person with disabilities believing they will be unable to perform their roles and would not be “cost effective.” This attitude may be rooted in the lack of awareness, ignorance or perhaps, a fear of the unknown. Interviewers, more often than not, focus on the disability rather than on the capabilities of the individual.

Empirical evidence shows that persons with disabilities have high performance ratings, high retention rates and better attendance records than their colleagues without disabilities. Furthermore, the additional cost of providing suitable facilities for employees with disabilities can be minimal with most requiring few, if any, special facilities. Studies have also shown that there are other benefits to employers of persons with disabilities, such as improved workforce morale and increased customer goodwill.

Persons with disabilities experience a very high rate of unemployment in Malaysia. There is therefore an urgent and vital need to reduce the employment and income gap between persons with disabilities and those without. Empty promises and unproductive meetings, seminars and conferences, as we have experienced in the past, are not an effective ways forward.

Half-hearted action, lip service, discrimination and marginalisation will not help disabled persons in Malaysia live an independent, integrated, dignified, equitable, productive, and happy lives during which they can raise a family and contribute to the well-being of their family and the nation.

Effective, well-thought out and wide-ranging legislation and strict enforcement outlawing the discrimination of persons with disabilities will be a concrete step forward. Malaysia needs a comprehensive ‘Disability Discrimination Act’. There are many such acts in force throughout the world that can be used as models. Furthermore, the disabled must be allowed to take part in the drafting process.

The writer is a master mariner and spokesperson for Action and Inclusion for the Disabled (AID)

BUAH KENANG...

Ahhhhh.....pemerinsa nadai nyak alah sebut. Dini-dini pan merinsa meh pengidup kitai. Enti kitai nda kala nyepi pemerinsa, nadai "ümph" pengidup kita di dunya tuk. Semuanya begantung kati gaya kitai empu "manage" pemerinsa nyak. Baka aku tuk, lembau amat ka betusi ke pemerinsa idup diri. Awak ka naka tuk aja aku besebut ke senentang pemerinsa idup.....

Beduduk ari pengidup ti nda meruan baka urang bukai, diak aku bebendar deka ngangkat ke diri, ngambi ke ulih besemekih enggau urang bukai dalam pengidup serta pemansang diri. Aku enggai malik ke belakang agik, aku deka terus mansang ke moa-leju udah pedis.

Tiap peluang ke bisi serta ngecul ba moa aku, sigi aku kena enggau naka ulih. Enggai muai peluang ke bisi. Tak encadi amai-amai meh nyak. Enggai aku putih mata. Isa meh aku ningkap ngerayap ngeraup peluang ke ayan ba mata. "Anang kuak ngahap ke kami tuk belama, kami tuk mansang tuai setuai, adai pun kami ulih mantu kuak belama". Pia ko jako niang inda suba. Jako iya nya jadi ke peransang aku ngiga pengidup ke lebih menyana, awak ke diri nda terus idup dalam merinsa.

"Enti kuak enggai sekulah, di din kuak diau", keno ko apai, sambil nunjuk ke dapur, lebuh iya ninga aku madah ke diri enggai nyambung sekula agik. Tak angat amai asai pending lebuh ninga jaka apai munyi nyak. Asai ke runtuh dada ninga jako kelese apai nyak tadi.

Nyau kelama lama iya, baru aku madah deka nyambung sekula baru. Nyak pan setegal enggai ninga jako anu bala sida apai indai agik. Enti nitik ke ati, sigi tak lembau amai meh deka nurun sekula. Kati nda pia, urang buka bejalai, belanda kin kitu, tudah aku.....ahhhh....tak ngena kerusi roda nurun sekula. Suah ndar aku basah kuyu, nitik ai mata maia ke bekenang ke diri nyelaie ari urang bukai.

Enti lebuh deka birak kemi, tusah ndar ati aku, laban agu di sekula kami nadai bisi "access" kerusi roda. Suah ndar aku ndak nurun sekula enti lebuh perut meragam, enggai ke eksiden dalam kelas.....besambung.