Vokkswagen slashes price of 2012 Passat by $7,000 (RM22,000), undercutting Japanese rivals

Here is the news. Unfortunately for us this news is from the USA . .

Volkswagen on Thursday announced that it is cutting the price of the redesigned 2012 Passat by $7,180 (RM22,760) versus the 2010 Passat, thus undercutting the base 2011 Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

The base 2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.5L starts at $20,765 (RM65,825) compared to $27,945 (RM88,585) for the 2010 Passat.

The top-of-the-line 2012 Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium starts at $33,720 (RM106,892), including shipping.

The pricing strategy slots the new Passat — which is longer, wider and roomier than its predecessor — below the base Camry and Accord.

The 2011 Toyota Camry starts at $20,995 (RM66,554).

The 2011 Honda Accord starts at $21,930 (RM69,518).

VW offers a choice of three engines in the Passat, including a four-cylinder turbodiesel that is expected to deliver 43 mpg on the highway, the company said in a statement. The Passat with the 2.0-liter TDI starts at $26,765 (RM84,845), including shipping..

VW is providing free scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles..

Read here and here.

Folks, you can drool or salivate. But I think we should be getting angry. What does this mean? It means that we are in the Third World.

How do you describe a Third World country? A Third World country is a country where the people (who want to become the First World) handcuff themselves or tie themselves up with silly policies which actually makes them poorer when compared to the First World (which they are aspiring to be).

How do they become poorer compared to the First World ? Well in the Third World, the people are silly enough to tolerate paying FOUR TIMES the prices for basic goods and services compared to the First World . This is a good description of silly Third World people.

So if the First World pays RM1.00 for a cup of 1st Class Baskin Robbins Ice Cream, we are willing to pay RM4.00. Why? Because we are the Third World . This means we are not clever. We are silly. Nak kata bodoh pun boleh lah.

So please read this. A 2.5 Litre super duper Volkswagen Passat is now selling in the United States for RM 65,825 ONLY. That is less than the price of a Proton Waja in Malaysia or slightly more than the price of a Perodua Alza.

Folks, they also throw in free scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles. The Camry sells for RM66,000 and the Honda Accord 2.4 sells for RM69,000 in the US.

Over in Malaysia the Volkswagen Passat 2.0 (NOT the 2.5) sells in excess of RM245,000. This is FOUR TIMES the price they pay in the United States.

Their cost of living is much higher. Their land costs are higher than Malaysia, rents are higher than Malaysia, salaries and labour costs are higher than Malaysia, transport and logistics costs are higher than Malaysia, yet they can sell the same car FOUR TIMES cheaper than we suffer here in Malaysia.

Ini tak masuk akal langsung. 

Why are we willing to suffer paying FOUR TIMES the price for cars? Because we are silly. We are not a clever people. We tolerate silliness. WE tolerate the bankrupt AP regime where cronies get APs to import cars which sends the prices of cars to the sky. We tolerate silly duties and taxes all of which are levied to protect a domestic car industry that is becoming increasingly NOT viable - day by day. .

It is becoming more ridiculous. .

Kepada sahabat-sahabat yang tak faham niaga, yang tak faham kira kos sara hidup dsbnya - here is some basic comparison..

The Americans pay RM65,000 for a 2.5 Litre VW Passat - a marvel of modern engineering "Made in Germany ". In Malaysia , you pay RM245,000 for the same car. But lets forget about the VW Passat.

In Malaysia, even if you buy a WAJA you pay about RM70,000. Sekarang cuba fikir ok, if the Americans pay ONLY RM65,000 for a VW Passat 2.5L, then how much do you think they will pay for a WAJA in their country? RM15,000? RM20,000? They will definitely NOT pay RM65,000 for a WAJA.

If they pay RM20,000 for a WAJA, then they save RM45,000 already (COMPARED TO YOU THE MALAYSIAN CAR BUYER). So for the same car, we are paying much, much more than the Americans, FOUR TIMES MORE. We pay more but we get less. Why? Because we are Third World - we are silly.

So the Americans save RM180,000 on the VW Passat alone. For the WAJA they may save RM45,000. That is a lot of money.  With the money that they save (compared to us) the Americans can send their children to private schools, to attend music classes, to college, for overseas holidays, they can buy more things to make their lives better. We cannot. We make ourselves poor because we pay FOUR TIMES the price for the same car. With the money they save, the Americans can also come to Malaysia on holidays, sit in the hotels where our sons and daughters become waiters, to serve them food and drinks. Sometimes the Americans may give our sons and daughters some tips - for which we feel grateful. Baiknya Mat Salleh..

Why? Because we are silly. Nak kata bodoh pun boleh. 

I once sat beside the man who at one time ran Proton (not Tengku Mahaleel).  I sat beside him for about an hour and we spoke about Proton and his other business ventures. 

He said quite proudly that he loved to "turn around" failing Government businesses. Most of these businesses were monopolies. His trick was very simple. He bought the failing Government businesses at cheap, fire sale prices. When the business is sold so cheap, and it has a monopoly licenses (for example express bus company with lucrative routes) of course you can turn it around. Even the "orang buta yang main music" at Jalan Masjid India can turn around this type of business. .

But that is what this ex-Proton Boss was saying quite happily. He did not seem to realise (or rasa malu sikit pun) that he was actually profiting from a huge subsidy. His own value added was almost zero.

Folks, if the Government sells Malaysia Airlines to me at RM1.00 - I can turn it around in a week. OK maybe not RM1.00 but some other deep discounted price lah - if the Government slashes the price far enough, yes of course I can turn around MAS.

Here is some simple arithmetic. Say MAS tak untung and tak rugi - zero profit and zero losses - just breaking even. Say the company is worth RM10.0 billion. Say hutang is RM5.0 billion. This means tolak hutang, the net value of MAS is RM5.0 billion. I will buy MAS from the Government for RM5.0 billion. But I have connections. I tell the Government I will buy MAS for RM2.0 Billion only. The Governmnet agrees. This means I already make a 'buta profit' of RM3.0 Billion. 

How do I cash out? First I buy from the Govt at RM2.0 billion. Then I sell MAS to a real airline company for say RM4.0 billion. I pocket RM2.0 billion. The airline company will pay the RM4.0 billion beause they also get 'buta' value RM1.0 billion.

That is the business model the ex-Proton Boss was talking about. This is not business lah kawan. It is called m.a.k.a.n s.a.b.s.i.d.i. At the cost of the taxpayer. At the cost of silly Third World people like us who are willing to pay RM245,000 for a VW Passat when the car should actually cost RM65,000. 

Third World silly people who are willing to pay RM70,000 for a tin can car when for the same amount of money they can buy a VW Passat 2.5 Litre 'Made in Germany' car. .

So we remain poor.

Monday Humour

THE DOCTOR TOLD ME :

"YOU CAN HAVE JUST ONE CAN OF BEER A WEEK ! "

SO I ORDERED ONE !

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEW STOCK MARKET TERMS

*CEO* --Chief Embezzlement Officer.
*CFO* -- Corporate Fraud Officer.
*BULL MARKET* -- A random market movement causing an investor to mistake himself for a financial genius.
*BEAR MARKET* -- A 6 to 18 month period when the kids get no allowance, the wife gets no jewelry.

*VALUE INVESTING* -- The art of buying low and selling lower.
*P/E RATIO* -- The percentage of investors wetting their pants as the market keeps crashing.
*BROKER* -- What my broker has made me.
*STANDARD & POOR* -- Your life in a nutshell.
*STOCK ANALYST* -- Idiot who just downgraded your stock.
*STOCK SPLIT* -- When your ex-wife and her lawyer split your assets equally between themselves.
*FINANCIAL PLANNER* -- A guy whose phone has been disconnected.
*MARKET CORRECTION* -- The day after you buy stocks.
*CASH FLOW*-- The movement your money makes as it disappears down the toilet.
*YAHOO* -- What you yell after selling it to some poor sucker for $240 per share.

*WINDOWS* -- What you jump out of when you're the sucker who bought Yahoo @ $240 per share.
*INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR* -- Past year investor who's now locked up in a nuthouse.
*PROFIT* -- An archaic word no longer in use

Malaysia vs Indonesia, and these are the facts

Some years ago, I had an invitation from one government agency to travel to Kota Bahru to conduct a series of training programmes. Prior to the commencement of my journey, there was so much apprehension in me as I would be traveling to an Islamic state administered by PAS.  After a few days stay, my fears became totally unfounded as everything that was highlighted by MCA, Gerakan and UMNO, turned out to be false.  The truth is we could get bah kut teh along Jalan Besar, beers and stouts were sold openly but minused the promotional signboards.  You could even feel safe walking around the town without being mugged.  After I returned to KL, I told my wife that our next holiday would be Kota Bahru.


Now what about Indonesia, a nation which is predominantly Muslim. Anyone who knows Indonesia well can confirm on the facts mentioned and just hope that the gloomy prediction do not come too soon.

Differences between Indonesia & Malaysia from a retired German
lecturer P. Feisenberg who had worked in Penang during Tunku's days and in Jakarta in Suharto's time. An interesting account of his observations & gloomy prediction of the future of a young nation ...

A big divide between the two countries yet they live next to each
other and both are Muslim countries.

Is this because there is a Mahathir ( and an UMNO ) in one whereas there is none in the other?

I always tell my friend that Indonesia is not the best country in the world to work and live but since working in Indonesia for about 5 years, I don't have the feeling that I am living in a Muslim country despite 93% of Indonesians are Muslim. 99.9%  of my colleagues are Muslim and we go for lunch and dinner together and sometimes to a Chinese restaurant that served pork and there is no fuss about it. (For your information - the people who sell pork are Muslim -  bosses are Chinese and employ Indonesian Muslim to cut and sell pork in the wet markets)

All 5-star hotels served pork bacon and ham for breakfast and are
prepared by Muslim.

Alcohol is sold everywhere in the street… and Indonesia No 1 selling beer is "Bintang" and is brewed locally and is consumed by all Muslim openly. No issue….

During fasting month the Muslims are free to decide if they want to fast or eat as normal No issue at all and no one catches them.

The president and vice president are elected by the people and so are the governors of the city (in Malaysia we call them Mentri Besar). No one is appointed by the President or in Malaysia by the PM.

National holidays - Hari Raya Idul  Fitri is 2 days and Chinese New Year is 1 day but Christian enjoy 3 days  - Christmas, Ascension of Christ and Good Friday. The Hindu in Bali has 1 day for Hari Raya Nyepi celebrated only in Bali . Wesak day is also a public holiday.

A Muslim can convert to a Christian tomorrow and then to a Buddhist the next day…and back to a Muslim. ….no issue at all.

In supermarket pork is sold side by side with chicken and beef….no issue at all.

I can go on and on ... in short Indonesia is a very liberal Muslim country.. definitely not Malaysia . FYI our Malaysian senior government officer "suka Indonesia" … you know why!!!



So now the question is, are we moving forward or are we going backwards?

Everyone, say a big "Thank You" to MCA for giving us the opportunity tot study at KTAR and UTAR

Read this letter written by one "Ho I" :


My fellow Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman (KTAR) and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) students, we must feel indebted with MCA as proposed by Negri Sembilan state MCA chief Dr Yeow Chai Thiam because we're studying at a MCA-initiated university. More so, for me, someone who has studied at both institutions.

This whole thing came about when Yeow was questioned by DAP that MCA is not doing any significant work. In reply, he highlighted that DAP's MP Teo Nie Ching's mother had sought Negri MCA’s help in medical fees, and that MP Chong Eng had studied at TAR College.

Yeow, do you expect Teo's mother to personally call the press and thank you? And that Chong Eng represent MCA instead by virtue of her having studied at an MCA-initiated institution?

Please wake up from your fantasies! It’s your job as a doctor; attending to the sick and needy comes first, you should never ask for reciprocation. Where is your ethics as a medical professional? Clearly, you're a politician instead of a doctor.

As for Chong’s educational background, we must consider this - under the constitution, no universities, colleges, schools or any other educational institutions should be affiliated to any political party.

Yes, MCA initiated the KTAR and UTAR. But please be reminded, MCA initiated, not owned. It’s already a breach under the constitution that a MCA member (we all know who) was the board member in KTAR and UTAR. This is absurd!

Besides, being a member of the opposition does not mean that they do not appreciate MCA's help. Ask yourself this - why would people question your credibility and responsibility? One of the reasons is that they could not see the effort being put into the community. Day in, day out, what we see from MCA are political spats.

Lets take a look at Lim Guan Eng in Penang, how many people question his credibility. Or have questioned Mahathir's credibility during his reign? He might have been an authoritarian but the state prospered under his tenure. If only politicians can shut up and do their job. Only then, the rakyat will truly prosper.

From Yeow’s actions, we now know that MCA's policy is to help those who would vote for them instead of helping those who need help.

They are asking for reciprocation, while it is their responsibility as representatives is to ensure we are all given the fair treatment regardless of political alliances. Once again, where is your stand, MCA? You scratch my back, I scratch your back?

Dear God,  my prayer for 2012 is for  a fat bank account and a thin body.  Please don't mix these up like you did last year.  AMEN!

Next stop, the Malay heartland

A screenshot of the videos taken from Haris Ibrahim's People's Parliament website. (http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com)

Frustrated by rural Malays’ poor access to alternative sources of news, an anti-Umno coalition has launched an online video it hopes will break Barisan Nasional’s (BN) media monopoly in key heartland areas.

Jumping between archive photos and documentary footage, the 104-minute “DN Tumbangkan BN” video by Asalkan Bukan Umno (ABU) hopes to undercut Umno’s claim that it has always fought for Malaysians and the good of the country.

ABU comprises the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM), Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) and the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM), among others.

The central theme of the video is former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s alleged abuse of the New Economic Policy (NEP) to enrich cronies, which ABU claims not only resulted in persistent poverty but also worsening race relations.

The NEP was introduced in 1971 following the bloody May 13, 1969 race riots to foster national unity by reducing the wealth gap between the races.

“Had the aspirations of the New Economic Policy been carried out, Tunku Abdul Rahman’s hope that Malaysia remain a democratic, independent nation based on freedom and justice... would have been realised long ago,” said the video’s narrator.

“Unfortunately, the Umno-BN government, beginning with the leadership of Dr Mahathir Mohamad from 1981 until now, has abandoned the principles of the Rukunegara and played up racial and religious sentiment to ensure the people are not united so they can remain in power.”

It also slammed Dr Mahathir – “the world’s biggest liar” – for allegedly undermining key national institutions to stay in power, presenting as proof the chain of events which began with the deregistration of Umno in 1988 following fractious party polls.

But the video also struck a more positive note amid the Umno-bashing, highlighting the alternative vision for Malaysia held by leftist political parties which fought for Malaysia’s independence from Britain in the 1940s and 1950s.

It noted that such groups, including the Malay Nationalist Party (PKMM) and Malayan Democratic Union (MDU), had worked together politically for a race-blind Malaysia even before BN’s predecessor, the Alliance, was formed.

“The unity we talked about never mentioned race, as is emphasised nowadays. All we wanted was that all the trade unions, all the workers, all the women, all the organisations should join in a broad front to oppose the return of the (British) Governor to rule the country,” MDU founding member Lim Kean Chye said.

Special attention was paid to the All-Malaya Hartal of 1948, which MCLM president Haris Ibrahim described as “the most graphic evidence” that Malaysians of different races have always been able to cooperate.

“It’s amazing that they managed, even then without internet, to pull off something on that scale. We’ve never had a race relations problem in this country. It’s just Umno and its sidekicks,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

ABU will kick off its campaign to disseminate the video among rural Malay voters at Kolej Universiti Islam Zulkifli Muhammad (KUIZM) in Gombak tonight.

According to Haris’s website, the group has already distributed some 200,000 hard copies of the video in villages in the past month alone.

[Source: The MI]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I guess this must be one of the best tactics to apply to date in overcoming the propaganda of UMNO via the msm. The only reservation I have is whether the rural folks would feel angered enough when watching the video as at the end of the day, it is still the $$$$$ that will hold sway. However, to breach this barrier, it must be shown that the benefits they obtained are but only a tiny fraction (contrast against the corruption that enriched the 'selected few'), and this will eventually have an impact on them and their children's future. Still I am heartened by this new move, even from a NGO.

Now I don't feel lonely anymore

iPhone4s aka "Siri" will soon be hitting our shores and from the looks of it, many are going to have loads of fun with this upgraded version. "Siri" is voice interactive with a stern female voice but if you are in the UK, you will get a male voice instead. Lucky us. However the drawback is that it cannot understand Singlish or Manglish and you may end up either frustrating "Siri"" or yourself.

SIRI can get emotional too ...

So the next time I feel lonely, I can always chat with "Siri". Heard that certain people have even become infatuated with Siri. Talking about falling in love with technology.