How this stay at home mom made $13900 monthly income? Believe it or not?

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Julie investigates a single Mom who makes over $13900+/Month. She reveals her secrets to us.

By Erica Jones 

Amy Livingston of Penang , 09 never thought that she would consider it, until curiosity got the best of her and she filled out a simple online form. Before she knew it, she discovered her secret to beating the recession, and being able to provide for her family while at home with her three children.

I read Amy’s blog last month and decided to feature her story in our weekly consumer report. In our phone interview she told me her amazing story. “I actually make about $15,000 to $17,000 a month working from home. It’s enough to comfortably replace my old job income, especially considering I only work about 15-18 hours a week from home right now.

Working online has been a financial windfall for Amy, who struggled for months to find a decent job but kept hitting dead ends. “I lost my job shortly after the recession hit, I needed reliable income, I was not interested in the “get rich quick” scams you see all over the internet. Those are all pyramid schemes. I just needed a legitimate way to earn a living for me and my family. The best part of working online is that I am always home with the kids, I save a lot of money.”

“I actually make $15,000 to $17,000 a month working from home.” – Amy Livingston

I asked her about how she started her remarkable journey. “It was pretty easy, I actually received an email that sparked my interest, so I went to the site, filled out a short form and signed up for a work at home program where I got instant access to everything! Since they offered a 365 Day Money Back Guarantee – I figured I really had nothing to lose. So, I started the program and within four weeks I was making over $5,000 a month. It’s really simple, I am not a computer whiz, but I can use the internet. I followed the instructions, and I don’t even have to sell anything and nobody has to buy anything. This is a very stable system and they are recruiting, you should try it.”

Consumers purchase Billions and Billions of dollars worth of products each year online. Every time people use the internet, go on facebook or do a search, someone is making money. This program will teach you how to get a piece of this money and free yourself from the 9-5. The internet economy has grown by leaps and bounds in the recession, so why not take advantage of the gold rush? There are plenty of scams on the internet claiming you can make $50,000 a month, but that is exactly what they are… scams. From my conversation with Amy, “I am making a good salary from home, which is amazing, under a year ago I was jobless in a horrible economy. I thank God every day that I signed up for this program.”

“I am making a good salary from home, which is amazing, under a year ago I was jobless in a horrible economy. I thank God every day that I signed up for this program.” – Amy Livingston

Quickly, Amy Livingston was able to use the simple The Online Income System to make it out of the recession.

Amys Step by Step Guide:

Amy had never shared her story before, and with her permission, are putting it public. Here are the steps she told us to take:

Step 1
Visit the following website and review the newsletter with all the details you need to change Your life, as it has Many others. The Online Income System (Universal).

Step 2
Follow the directions and set up an account. You will then be given all the tools you need to start posting links, and making profits. Everything is tracked in a system that will show you how much money you are making (see images above).

Related links:

The Online Income System - Official Website (Rated 2011 Top Oportunity)
Discounted Promotion Ends: Thursday, May 31, 2011

Continue To The Official The Online Income System Site »

User Comments Showing 15 out of 138

Read Responses For: How a Small Investment Turned Into $13900+/Month.. We Investigate

Taylor says: 10:50 AM May 29, 2012

The timing of this couldn’t be better, my wife and I are struggling too and this could be our answer.

Jennifer says: 12:35 PM May 29, 2012

Thanks for the info, just started this 3 weeks ago. I’ve gotten 2 checks for a total of $3900, pretty cool.!

John says: 2:38 PM May 29, 2012

Has anyone tried this yet? Looks promising.

Keri says: 4:44 PM May 29, 2012

@John, I’m using it now and it’s working pretty well actually! I paid a dollar for shipping, got it in a few days, signed up for my account and have been cranking along ever since. My first week I made a whopping $288 and the second week I doubled that then it kinda snowballed to $500 a day! I’m gonna grow this puppy as big as I can. Here’s a screen shot of my stats, my wife is in shock.

Gina says: 6:55 PM May 29, 2012

Is this for real? I tried one thing and it didn’t pan out. I made about $500 a month but that was 2 years ago. I’m going to give this a shot.

Amy says: 6:05 PM May 29, 2012

I think this is great and will come in really handy right now. I’m not the best computer user but I think I can post links!!!

Tina says: 7:23 PM May 29, 2012

I just got my first check for $2800.00! How cool is that it took about 2 weeks for me to get the first check.

Amy says: 7:38 PM May 29, 2012

this is a pretty cool article. I like that fact that it uses the internet!

Julie says: 8:31 PM May 29, 2012

I don’t know. Im still kind of worried about the entire thing. Ive never worked from home

Wanda says: 9:45 PM May 29, 2012

Does anyone know if you have to have any programs or a certain computer to make this work?

Trey P says: 9:58 PM May 29, 2012

Hi Wanda,

Hey Wanda, the answer is No. Any computer you have will work, I currently use this system on an old laptop and it works great. You just need the kit that the author named in the article.

David K says: 10:35 PM May 29, 2012

I hope this works because i really hate my boss!!!!!

Ben says: 10:47 PM May 29, 2012

The timing of this couldn’t be better, my wife and I are struggling too and this could be our answer.

Jen says: 11:11 PM May 29, 2012

I wonder how well this will work if I only do it a couple hours at night? I still have my day job( which I would love to quit, lol ), but right now I only have time for a couple hours a night. Ill reply back and let you guys know!

Michael Nguyen says: 11:57 PM May 29, 2012

This is amazing! I wish I knew about this 5 years ago.

Teach and Learn!

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GEORGE TOWN: Lecturer Leong Kit Hong wants to go on teaching. And to do that, he will go on learning.

The 67-year-old INTI International College Penang physics lecturer is now pursuing a degree in Telecommunication in Wawasan Open University here.

He already holds a degree in Physics, Mathematics and a Master’s in Physics.

Meaningful gift: Leong (second right) and other lecturers choosing their syngonium plant at the Teachers Day celebration at INTI International College Penang Wednesday.

Leong, who joined the teaching profession 40 years ago, said the best way for him to serve the community was to be a good educationist, and he felt that all educationists should have the right blend of skills and the latest knowledge.

Leong, who is one of the college’s pioneer lecturers, said his greatest satisfaction “is seeing my students do as best as they can be”.

“When they do well in their studies, they will be able to serve society well later on,” he added.

Asked about his retirement plans, the grandfather of two said he would continue to teach as long as his health allowed him.

Leong, who has been teaching at the college for the past 18 years, was among the lecturers who joined the Teachers Day celebration at the college yesterday.

College chief executive principal Dr Michael Yap Sau Moi said 80 full-time lecturers were presented with a syngonium plant each.

“Teachers plant seeds of knowledge that grow forever,” he said. “As such, we chose to honour our lecturers with this plant instead of the usual roses.”

By KOW KWAN YEE
kowky@thestar.com.my

Video: Teach and Learn!
Lecturer Leong Kit Hong has embarked on a life-long learning quest so as to continue imparting quality knowledge to his students.

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1

Kopitiam, truly Malaysia Boleh!

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Ah, for that nice cuppa in the good old kopitiam

I GREW up drinking coffee like plain water. Kopi-Owas served from morning till late at night in my home in Penang. And the best coffee was the one we bought from the nearby kopitiam.

An open-air kopitiam (coffee shop) in Bendemeer, Singapore.

It was common, in those days, for us to tar-pau coffee by the kettle. So when there were visitors, or when the men sat down to play mahjong, the young ones usually had to bring an empty kettle to the kopitiam for it to be filled to the brim, minus the sugar.

Where I grew up, there was even a small coffee mill nearby, and I enjoyed watching the men at work. Rumour has it that they added some special ingredients into the coffee to make the people addicted to their brand.

So where do you think are the 100 best kopitiams in Malaysia?

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen has challenged the Malaysia-Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors General Association to compile such a list to showcase to the world.

And the minister is correct to say that our kopitiam is a unique heritage that can only be found in Malaysia and that it is time to promote the kopitiam globally.

The kiasu people across the Causeway might disagree but I believe we should quickly trademark this heritage by taking a leaf out of the “Malaysia, Truly Asia” tagline and declare this heritage, “Kopitiam, truly Malaysia”.

Some of us may think that the franchise upmarket coffee houses like Starbucks, Coffee Bean and San Francisco are on the top of every country’s list but if you do a search on the Internet, you will find lists for the best coffee shops in the UK, the US, Japan, Australia, etc. and these global brands will not be found there.

Seriously, I do wonder why people want to spend so much money for a cuppa when the real thing is actually found at our humble kopitiam.

I am glad that our own Malaysian versions of franchised coffee houses have sprouted up. Whether their roots are from Ipoh, Kuang, George­town or some other old town, they have cleverly linked their names to the ubiquitous kopitiam.

So when you enter these places, where I am told the wifi access is the fastest, you still get a tinge of nostalgia as the layout and ambience al­­ways pull you back into a different era.

I am indeed quite curious as to where the list of 100 top kopitiams will come from. Will they be the modern-day kopitiam or the real thing nestled in some small town throughout our country?

The minister has mentioned that tourists prefer to patronise the franchise outlets because of better hygienic conditions. So it is time for the association, set up in 1946, and with more than 20,000 members, to push their mem­bers to adhere to high standards.

And financial institutions should do their part to help them groom kopitiam operators and instil greater professionalism among them.

Instead of a crowded franchise at KLCC, I would rather be in a friendly small town set-up, like Sitiawan, sipping kopi-O while having my roti bakar with kaya and butter and two half-boiled eggs.

Except that I will also have my faithful iPad2 next to me connected to a highspeed wifi while I engage in conversation with the owner, in his white singlet.

I will be sharing YouTube videos with him while he tells me his grandfather stories. And as he browses through The Star, I will show him how the newspaper can talk to him because of iSnap. That, truly, must be a kopitiam that should be on the top of the 100 list.

SUNDAY STARTERS By SOO EWE JIN > Deputy executive editor Soo Ewe Jin wonders why he can no longer take coffee after lunch because it keeps him awake at night, unlike during his growing-up years when he had to take coffee as a nightcap.

Putting things into perspective – investment in Malaysian property

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Is this anti-foreign investment sentiment justified? Currently, 98% of residential properties are owned by Malaysians while foreigners own only 2% in Malaysia.

SHOULD Malaysia follow suit just because of Singapore’s recent moves to stabilise its property market by increasing stamp duties and stopping rich foreigners from becoming permanent residents?

Singapore’s situation is very different from Malaysia. Firstly, in terms of size Singapore is smaller than Perlis, Malaysia’s smallest state but its population is 20 times bigger. This is in contrast to Malaysia which has a low population density but large land size.

Secondly, Singapore has been very successful in attracting talents and expatriates for the last 30 years, a route that Malaysia has only started to embark upon.

Foreign interest: The foreigners who are buying properties in Malaysia are no longer the British but from countries in the region including Singapore, Indonesia, China and South Korea.

Between 1970 and 1980, the size of the non-resident population in Singapore doubled.

The trend has continued and non-residents constituted 26.8% and permanent residents 10.2% of the population in 2011, reflecting the highest proportion of foreign workers in Asia.

This small island has already increased its population from four million to 5.2 million in 2011 in just a decade. While there are plans to raise this to 6.5 million within the next 20 years, this may be stalled.

Singapore has managed to increase its share of knowledge workers from 51% in the 1960s to 59% in 1990s through liberal immigration policies, affordable yet comfortable accommodations and house ownership.

Anti-foreigner sentiment began to build up as one in every three persons living in Singapore is a foreigner.

The Government is now able to pull the brakes on foreign property buyers given their past successes. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong expected a slower 1% to 3% growth in the Singapore economy and said that “admitting fewer workers means forgoing business opportunities and slower growth.”

Malaysia, on the other hand, is a long way from achieving the 10 million population it plans to attract to Greater Kuala Lumpur from the present six million by 2020. The country has only started to embark on this high income path two years ago.

Lowest paid

According to the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) statistics, expatriates have been falling at a compound annual growth rate of -9% per annum from 2000 to 2008. Expatriates working in Malaysia are among the lowest paid compared with regional peers, according to a HSBC Bank survey.

Is this anti-foreign investment sentiment justified? Currently, 98% of residential properties are owned by Malaysians while foreigners own only 2% in Malaysia.

Statistics show that there is an overhang of property priced below RM150,000 for the past three years.

The foreigners who are buying properties in Malaysia are no longer the British but from countries in the region including Singapore, Indonesia, China and South Korea.

Similarly, Malaysians are snapping up properties, companies and banks in the region as well as in the United Kingdom.

Bank Negara statistics show that there is more money leaving the country than entering in 2011. Through fostering friendlier ties with Asean and Asean+3, Malaysia wants to enter foreign markets in Asean, China, South Korea and Japan.

Malaysian companies want to be regional players. If that is so, we also have to tread carefully on policies when others are entering Malaysian territory.

Who are the real culprits behind the rise in property prices?

If speculation among locals account for rising property prices, then Bank Negara’s move to place restrictions on loans and net income instead of gross income would sufficiently contain the price increase.

Bank Negara has been very effective in curbing volatile rise in property prices as seen in the steady and gradual rise in prices of Malaysian versus Singapore house price index. (See chart)

Why are expatriates good for the country? Ultimately, every Malaysian wants to enjoy a higher income per capita.

High-income nation

As Malaysian wages are no longer competitive to China, India and emerging Asean member countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, the only route for the future of the country is to embark on a path towards a high-income nation.

In order to do this, Malaysia needs sizeable talent pool to attract multi-national companies to relocate their outsourcing industries here.

Malaysia needs to attract both returning diaspora and foreign talents because of our very small number of highly-skilled population in contrast to those available in China and India.

Expatriates can provide skills that our local population may not have. If we want our universities and research to be ranked anywhere within the top 50 globally, we need foreign talents. Foreign businessmen create jobs when they invest here.

The nation has made the right moves in reducing the cost of doing business, liberalising equity requirements for listed stocks as well as property. All these have gradually made an impact on foreign investors. Last year, Malaysia moved into the international investors’ radar and the nation’s foreign direct investment hit an all-time high of RM33bil.

To backtrack on its more liberal policies now would simply douse the renewed foreign interest in Malaysia.

Historically, every time Malaysia tightens its property policies, it triggers a downturn in property values. “When Malaysia removes restrictions, investments take a spike. When Malaysian reinstates restrictions on foreign investments, the market will over-correct,” said a Singapore analyst.

Look out for Malaysia Property Incorporated’s (MPI) solutions to increasing residential property in the price range of RM500,000 to RM1mil in next week’s column.

COMMENT By KUMAR THARMALINGAM - Kumar Tharmalingam is the CEO of MPI. MPI is a public-private initiative set up by the EPU to promote and facilitate foreign investment in Malaysian real estate. MPI’s raises Malaysia’s profile in the international investment radar through constantly updating foreign investors on Malaysia and real estate information.

Penang to raise price cap for foreigners

By HAN KAR KAY hankk@thestar.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Government has proposed to raise the cap for foreign purchases on all properties in the state.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the current limit of RM500,000 would be raised to RM1mil, except for landed properties on the island that would be raised to RM2mil.

He added that the RM500,000 imposed on permanent residents would be retained.

Lim said this is to give locals priority to purchase cheaper properties, and to stop speculation.

“The state hopes to implement the new ruling by June or July. There will be exceptions and avenues for appeal which must be submitted to the state government on a case-by-case basis.

“We are willing to listen to the Federal Government’s objections, and at the same time, get feedback from and opinions from non-governmental organisations, property developers, foreigners and the public,” he told reporters yesterday.

Lim said the state was the first to come up with such a proposal.

Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (Penang) chairman Datuk Jerry Chan when contacted said the proposal was a drastic move but good as it would protect local interests.

On April 14, StarBiz reported that the Government was considering raising the minimum floor prices of houses foreigners are allowed to buy to RM1mil.

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Invest in Malaysia’s Real Estates

Health is wealth! See you at the Star Health Fair

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Health screenings reveal many have chronic diseases

KUALA LUMPUR: A quarter of those who went for health screening last year were found to have a chronic condition they were not previously aware of.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said 25% of 317,766 people who went for a health screening in government clinics and hospitals found out they had conditions such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

“It is an alarming figure,” he said after launching the Star Health Fair at the MidValley Exhibition Centre here yesterday.

However, he said most of those who discovered they were suffering from such diseases were over 30 years old.

Liow said it would be difficult to provide free health screening to all Malaysians.

“It would be costly to screen everyone,” he said, adding that the ministry, however, is implementing a pilot project to enable village heads to give basic health screening.

“We’re trying to train them to do simple tasks like taking blood pressure and the Body Mass Index (BMI),” he said, adding that the project is being carried out in two areas for now.

Liow also commended The Star for organising a fair specially dedicated to health.

What’s hot?: Visitors checking out the booths at the health fair at the MidValley Exhibition Centre.

“It is my sincere hope that The Star Health Fair will not only be the first of many such fairs, but will also achieve success, perhaps even surpassing the Star Education Fair!” he said.

Star Publications (M) Bhd group managing director and chief executive officer Ho Kay Tat said in his speech that The Star Health Fair complements what the newspaper offers in print.

“As The People’s Paper, The Star believes in serving the community and what better way than to help them lead healthy, active and productive lives,” he said.

In Penang, The Star also held a two-day health fair at the Straits Quay ending today.

By REGINA LEE
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

Penang Fair Packed with healthy fun

The Star Health Fair kicks off at Straits Quay in Penang with something for everyone.

FROM yoga to Wing Chun and salsa to gymnastics, The Star Health Fair 2012 in Penang has something in store for everyone.

Starting today at one of Penang’s newest hotspots, Straits Quay, the two-day event is jam-packed with exciting events running from 7.30am to 10pm on both days.

Line dancing will kick off the fair’s schedule today on the scenic pro-menade facing the Straits Quay marina from 7.30am to 9am.

This will be followed by a mass aerobics session at Quay North at 8am. During this one-hour session, participants will get the chance to shake it loose using a variety of different styles and moves.

Kickboxing, Latin dancing, bhangra, senam silat, zumba, dang-dut, Thai dancing and Bollywood dancing are just some of the diffe-rent styles that will be incorporated into the lively session.

Events will then move into the Straits Court located just inside the mall’s entrance.

After a fitness demo, martial arts will take centre stage from 9.30am till noon.

Expect action-packed moves as self-defence exponents go all out to show their Silambam, Ip Man Wing Chun, Kendo, Jodo, Shao Lin, Jiu-Jitsu and Silat Cekak skills.

There will also be free health checks from 10am to 6pm at the Straits Court while free health talks will be conducted at the 1st floor lobby from 11am to 5pm.

Among topics that will be discussed are stress management, how to prevent and survive heart attacks, understanding cancer, and autism.

There will also be a talk on yoga while a mass family yoga session by yoga master Yogacharya Prof Prabhuji will be held at the main lobby from 5pm to 6pm.

Free refreshments will be offered throughout the fair, including Milo drinks and Fitnesse breakfast cereals from Nestle Products Sdn Bhd, drinking water from Keluarga Utama Sdn Bhd and F&N Seasons drinks from F&N Beverages Marketing Sdn Bhd.

These companies will have booths at the venue. Other participating companies such as Takasima and Tesco, hospitals and pharmacies will also have booths at the fair. The public can sign up as Tesco Clubcard members at the Tesco booth.

As the sun sets on Straits Quay today, it will be time to slip on those dancing shoes.

All visitors are invited to cha cha, samba, waltz and tango into the evening with the first of two dance performance sessions from 6pm at the main lobby.

The dancing will then move to the floating stage near the marina for the day’s finale with belly dancing, Bollywood dancing, Zumba and Pop Jazz.

Put on your walking shoes for the second day of the fair tomorrow as there will be a 3km Fun Family Walk. Participants will enjoy a brisk tour of Seri Tanjung Pinang that will kick off at 7.30am.

The walk is open to those aged 13 and above. Those interested to participate are requested to come early to book places as the event is limited to 500 walkers.

Those who complete the walk in an hour will be eligible for an attractive lucky draw where Sony tablet computers, global positioning system (GPS) devices, Takasima exercise equipment and Tesco vouchers will be among prizes up for grabs.

The lucky draw is also open to those who participate in The Star Health Fair 2012’s other mass activities such as the mass aerobics sessions and family yoga sessions.

Aside from a fitness demo and martial arts demo, Day Two of the fair also holds a Kids’ Segment at the main lobby.

During the one-hour session that starts at 5pm, Master Q and Friends will make an appearance followed by modern aerobics and gymnastic dancing, modern dancing and Latin for kids.

There will also be free medical checks on the second day from 10am to 6pm at the Straits Court and free health talks at the first floor lobby from 10.30am to 5pm.

Among the highlights of these sessions is a blood donation drive by Gleneagles Medical Centre and talks on qigong, traditional Indian health remedies, kidney transplants, knee arthritis, menopause and prostate cancer.

There will be dance performances from 6pm, first at the main lobby until 7pm followed by the floating stage from 7pm to 8pm. The dances include the genres of rumba, paso doble and jive.

The Star Health Fair 2012 is orga-nised by The Star and endorsed by the Penang Municipal Council.

Takasima and Tesco are the fair’s main sponsors, Straits Quay the official venue host, while Pantai Hospital Penang and Gleneagles Medical Centre, Penang, are the event partners.

Admission to the fair is free.

RM1.7b spent on generic drugs last year

The Sundaily April 7, 2012 Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had his blood pressure checked by Columbia Asia nurse Muzarith Sofia after officiating the Health Fair, April 7, 2012. BERNAMApix

KUALA LUMPUR (April 7, 2012): Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said a total of RM1.7 billion was spent by the government last year in purchasing generic drugs, mostly to cater for the increasing number of non-communicable diseases (NCD) patients nationwide.

He said the government expected the expenditure would increase every year.

“Why the sudden increase… because of NCDs, because of high cholesterol, hypertension and so on. Patients have to take Levithol and all kinds of medicine. Everyday you have to take the medicine and it is very costly,” he told reporters after launching The Star’s Health Fair 2012 here today.

Liow explained that most of the generic drugs were supplied by local manufacturers but some were imported.

“It’s more cheaper (to use generic drugs), in fact this is the trend in the world now, most hospitals in the world are using generic drugs…efficiency of the drugs is the same and we can help more people. In Malaysia, in terms of percentage of generic drugs used, it is about 50%, “he said.

Thus in efforts to reduced the number of NCD patients Liow said the government was planning to organise 80 health carnivals at the community level nationwide by the end of this year to create awareness among the people to go for regular health screening every year.

He also recommended that Malaysians over the age of 30 instead of 40 undergo regular screening for NCD risk factors every year, due to many cases of NCD being detected in the early stages.

“This is important because NCDs do not kill you quickly. It is a silent group of diseases, slowly killing you with heart disease, kidney disease and much more,” he said, adding that one in seven Malaysians were diagnosed with diabetes.

Other than that, Liow said the government was also making efforts to train community and Neighbourhood Watch leaders to represent the ministry in conducting health screening at grassroots level.

He said a pilot programme on this had been conducted in Pahang and that it proven to be effective. — Bernama

Good dose of healthy fun

Stories by WINNIE YEOH, HAFIZ MARZUKI, CAVINA LIM, JEREMY TAN, KIATISAK CHUA and ROYCE TAN Photos by GOH GAIK LEE, GARY CHEN, LIM BENG TATT and CHAN BOON KAI, The Star April 9, 2012

THOUSANDS of people spent their weekend in a healthy manner by making a beeline to Straits Quay in Tanjung Tokong, Penang, which was the venue for the inaugural The Star Health Fair 2012.

Activities started from as early as 7.30am and lasted till 10pm on both days.

Many took part in mass line dance and mass aerobics sessions.

There were also martial arts demonstrations such as lion dance, silambam, Ip Man Wing Chun, Japanese Kendo and Jodo, Shao Lin traditional martial art, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, silat cekak, kickboxing and praying mantis boxing.

Visitor Sharon Lim, 27, who was among those who witnessed the martial arts demonstrations, said she missed out the happenings on the first day.

“A friend from outstation visited me on Saturday. However, I made it a point to come today as I am a red belt holder in Taekwondo,” she said yesterday.

Family outing: Participants enjoying a leisurely walk during The Star Health Fair at Straits Quay.

Earlier, some 500 people turned up for the Fun Family Walk. They took a 3km walk around the Seri Tanjung Pinang.

Another 200 people also joined in the mass aerobics session at the North Quay.

There was also a blood donation drive to replenish the blood bank of Gleneagles Medical Centre.

Visitors also attended health talks on subjects such as ‘Stress Management’, ‘Understanding Cancer’, ‘Does My Child Have Autism’, ‘Menopause’, ‘Prostate Cancer’, and ‘Health Remedies Following Ancient Science and Vasthu Sastra (Indian Geomancy)’.

The kid’s segment where cartoon characters Master Q & Friends came to greet children was also a big crowd-puller.

Parents were as excited as their children to meet the characters and many opted for family photo shoots.

Crowd-puller: Ervin and Eelynn Kok keeping the audience mesmerised with their slick samba moves at Straits Quay’s main lobby.

Ballroom dancers took centre stage with several couples showing off silky moves in samba, cha cha, rumba, jive, waltz, tango and paso doble.

It was followed by sensual belly dance, Bollywood dance, pop jazz and also the exciting zumba party.

Infectious mood: The crowd joining in the Zumba dance party in the open air at Straits Quay.

On Saturday, more than 200 people turned up in the Straits Quay promenade to take part in the mass line dance.

Shirley Ong, 71, said line dancing had been her hobby for the past 12 years.

“It keeps my mind alert and it is also a good form of exercise. I also get the opportunity to mix with more young people,” she said.

An instructor Lily Tan, 47, said she picked up the dance 10 years ago as it was simple and suitable for people from all walks of life.

She added that she had incorporated other dance moves into line dancing.

“I visit other dance groups to exchange ideas. I also like to add in some ballroom dancing style,” the grandmother-of-two said.

Healthy beverages were provided to visitors by F&N Beverages Marketing Sdn Bhd and Keluarga Utama Sdn Bhd.

The fair was organised by The Star and endorsed by the Penang Municipal Council with Straits Quay as the official venue host.

Relaxing moment: Visitors trying out Takasima’s range of massage chairs on display.

Takasima and Tesco were the main sponsors while Pantai Hospital Penang and Gleneagles Medical Centre, Penang, were the event partners.

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Shandong workers driven to despair!

Aaron Ngui newsdesk@thesundaily.com

GEORGE TOWN (March 28, 2012): Driven to despair by alleged ill-treatment from her employer, a mother of two from China tried to take her life on Tuesday afternoon by jumping off the busy Jalan Aziz Ibrahim flyover.

Wang Li Mei, 38, was however persuaded by police, who had been alerted by passers-by, to change her mind.

She was among four women from Shandong province in China who came to Penang three years ago to work as reflexologists and who claimed to have been mistreated and their pay withheld by their employer.

The other women are Duan Li Hong, 23, Jiang Yong Ken, 38, and Zhang Ying, 38.

Speaking on their behalf, Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Sim Tze Tzin said the final straw for Wang was when she tried to get her pay, which had been withheld since last December, but was rebuffed.

“She was so upset that she resorted to this desperate act,” he told a press conference today after their plight came to light following the incident.

Sim said the four were owed more than RM10,000 each by their employer and claimed they had to work “day and night” from 11am to 1am at the centre near the popular Queensbay Mall here.

He said the four were also not allowed to go anywhere and were only given 45 minutes twice a week to shop for groceries.

“They have to sleep in the centre which is locked from the outside and they do not have a key to exit the building,” he said.

All four have since lodged police reports. Sim urged employers to treat employees with respect and dignity.

He said an application for a protection order would be made at the magistrate’s court and he would contact the Chinese embassy to assist the four.

When approached, Wang said she missed her two daughters, aged 10 and four, very much.

“I came here to work to lighten my family’s burden. Now I just want my money and to go home,” she said.

South-west district police chief Supt Mohd Hatta Mohd Zin, when contacted, said police were investigating the case under section 13 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act 2007.

Boss who allegedly ill-treated Shandong workers out on bail

By WINNIE YEOH  winnie@thestar.com.my

BALIK PULAU: The man who had allegedly mistreated his four Shandong workers at his reflexology centre in Bayan Baru has been released on bail.

The 36-year-old was earlier detained for two days at the Southwest District police station here. Balik Pulau OCPD Supt Mohd Hatta Mohd Zain said investigations were still ongoing.

Four Chinese nationals, Duan Li Hong, 23, Wang Li Mei, Jiang Yong Fen and Zhang Ying, all aged 38, had lodged police reports against the man for mistreating them over a period of three years.

They claimed that they had to work 364 days a year and had not been paid since December.

When Wang resorted to attempting suicide, the man brushed aside the threat, telling her to “go ahead”.

He even offered to inform the Chinese Embassy after her death. Frustrated, Wang tried to jump off an overhead bridge along Jalan Aziz Ibrahim but was stopped by policemen

The four have been sent to a women’s protection centre in Kuala Lumpur and will stay there for 14 days to facilitate investigations. Meanwhile, the man, who wished to be known only as Lim, denied mistreating the four.

“They earned about RM1,800 a month and they were not locked up in their workplace at night.

“There are two more Indonesian workers staying there and the key is left at the counter,” he said. He also denied that he had told Wang to “go ahead”.

“I don’t know how she cooked up the story. I do have a CCTV footage showing Wang and Duan having a fight in the shop on the same day when Wang threatened to jump off the bridge. I was having a meeting in Tanjung Tokong at that time.”

Lim also claimed that he had helped Duan to send RM60,000 back to China over the past 18 months.

“I keep the receipts of every transaction. I don’t know how she could have so much of money,” he added.

Now, buggy for Hospital, how about Golf ?

 Buggy boost for hospital

PATIENTS and visitors to the Penang Hospital no longer have to walk far to the hospital’s multi-storey car park with the introduction of a buggy service.

The hospital’s Board of Visitors chairman Lim Thoon Deong said the hospital was the first government hospital in the northern region to use golf buggies for the service.

He said the buggy service would operate within the hospital compound.

Lim said that the buggy, which cost RM42,000, was sponsored by a company which supported MCA.

“The service aims to save patients and visitors time walking some 100 to 200 metres from the car park to the hospital lobby and vice-versa,” he said.

Number one: Project coordinator Datuk Lim Gim Soon (right), Thoon Deong (seated), Dr Yasmin and Komtar Barisan Nasional coordinator Loh Chye Teik (second left) posing for a photo with the buggy at Penang Hospital

Lim, who is also Penang MCA Public Complaints Bureau deputy chief, said the service would begin today.

He said the service was also aimed at making it convenient for handicapped visitors and patients.

Lim said the buggy would be able to transport six people including its driver each time at five-minute intervals between the two stops.

“We will consider seeking sponsors for more buggies if there is an overwhelming response to the service,” he told a press conference after going for a ride on the buggy at the hospital yesterday.

Hospital director Dr Yasmin Sulaiman said the service would help solve parking problems in the hospital compound.

“It will prevent visitors from parking randomly in the compound and encourage them to park at the multi-storey car park because they can now use the buggy service to get to the lobby,” she added.

By HAN KAR KAY hankk@thestar.com.my  Photo by ZHAFARAN NASIB

Related post:

Golf, a good walking game!

Malaysia needs more engineers

 The experts: Dr Goh (left) with Kim Hor giving their talk on engineering at The Star Education Fair 2012 at Penang International Sports Arena.

THE country needs at least 200,000 engineers by 2020 in order to attain the status of a developed nation.

Institute of Engineers, Malaysia (Penang Branch) immediate past chairman Prof Datuk Dr Eric Goh said there were now only 70,000 registered engineers in Malaysia.

Dr Goh was speaking at a talk on Engineering held on the final day of The Star Education Fair 2012.

The institute’s electronic engineering technical division advisor Dr Tan Kim Hor who spoke during the second half of the talk said the engineering profession had great prospects as it was now high in demand.

In a talk about law, barrister-at-law Mureli Navaratnam said that although the country had sufficient supply of practitioners, there was a need for specialists in the field of arbitration and shipping law.

At a talk on medicine, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr K. Suresh said a medical career means lifelong learning while his co-speaker Dr S. Bina Rai stressed on the importance of doing proper research before choosing medical schools.

Another co-speaker Dr Tan Kok Joo said one must think carefully before deciding to take up medical courses.

Stories by WINNIE YEOH, KOW KWAN YEE, HAFIZ MARZUKHI, JEREMY TAN, KIATISAK CHUA and ROYCE TAN
Photos by NG AH BAK, GOH GAIK LEE, CHIN CHENG YEANG, LIM BENG TATT, CHAN BOON KAI and ZHAFARAN NASIB

Soaring high: A large replica of an aeroplane set up above Advanced Tourism International College’s booths at the Star Education Fair 2012 which concluded yesterday at the Penang International Sports Arena.

Phison’s silicon wafer plan; Mandarin, Hokkien, the main lure

Phison’s silicon wafer plan  

By DAVID TAN  davidtan@thestar.com.my

Its partner Silterra may produce essential components in Kulim

GEORGE TOWN: Phison Electronics Corp‘s partner Silterra Malaysia Sdn Bhd may undertake the production of silicon wafer in Kulim Hi-Tech Park for the flash memory chips to be developed and designed in Penang.

Phison chairman and chief executive officer Pua Khein-Seng told StarBiz that Silterra was now studying the feasibility of manufacturing the silicon wafer for the Phison’s unit, which would be established in Penang in three to six months.

“The unit will undertake the development and design of flash memory applications and solution products. Our other partner, Index Diversified Sdn Bhd, will distribute and market them in the local and South-East Asia markets,” he said.

“The assembly of the finished flash memory products would be outsourced to small and medium enterprises in the country. We will decide on the volume of units to be produced six months later,” he added.

 Pua: ‘The assembly of the finished flash memory products would be outsourced to small and medium enterprises in the country.’

Pua also said that the investment of US$1mil to US$3mil would be for the salaries of engineers and purchasing the necessary equipment.

Also present were Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Silterra chief executive officer Dr Kamarulzaman Mohamed Zin, and Silterra Sales and Marketing (L) Ltd, Taiwan Branch senior vice-president Lai Yit Loong.

Lai said the flash memory product, which could be in the form secure-digital and smart cards, would be used in tablets, ultrabooks.

“The flash memory products will also be targeted for use in mobile payment platform and in video recorders for automobiles,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lim said the importance of Phison’s investment was that it would lead to talent and technology transfer to Penang.

“The Phison unit will likely be located on the island, and the state government will provide the necessary assistance for the group to establish its presence here,” Lim added.

Phison Electronics Corp was established in November 2000 at Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Starting with the world’s first single-chip USB flash drive IC, Phison is now a market leader in NAND Flash controllers and applications including USB, SD, eMMC, PATA and SATA products.

In 2010, the company shipped over 500 million controllers worldwide and topped US$1bil in sales revenue.

Phison also offers system and OEM services for major retail brand names. Founded in November 1995 as Wafer Technology Malaysia Sdn Bhd and renamed as Silterra Malaysia Sdn Bhd in December 1999, the company offers complementary metalic oxide semiconductor design and a broad range of fabrication processes for integrated chips in advanced logic, mixed signal and radio frequency and high voltage applications.

The principal investor of Silterra is Khazanah Nasional Bhd.

Mandarin; Hokkien, the main lure

By TAN SIN CHOW sctan@thestar.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: The Hokkien connection has once again put Penang in the limelight, albeit, this time on a positive note.

Taiwan-based Phison Engineering Corp has chosen to set up its first Malaysian branch in the state this year because the Hokkien dialect is widely used here.

According to its chairman and chief executive officer Pua Khein-Seng, who was raised in Sekinchan, Selangor, the Mandarin and Hokkien dialects were among the reasons for setting up their Malaysian unit in Penang.

Given a choice, the 38-year-old Malaysian said he would have chosen Kuala Lumpur as it was nearer to his hometown. “However, the move will not be viable as my working team from Taiwan only speaks Mandarin and Minnan (which is similar to Hokkien).

“I have a lot of engineers, some of them Malaysians, who do not have a strong command of English or Bahasa Malaysia as they have been based in Taiwan for far too long. They will not be able to survive in Kuala Lumpur.

“It is better for them to be here as the Chinese community here speaks Mandarin and Minnan,” he said during a question-and-answer session during his talk on “Driven to Success Road to Build a $1billion Company”.

Just last month, the Hokkien connection put Penang in the limelight when police busted a Taiwanese-led international Internet syndicate which had chosen the island as its base so that its members could blend in.

Pua said another plus point was the many well-trained engineers and industry players available here. “Here, materials are easily available from the semiconductor and electronics companies.”

Pua, who describes Malaysia as his motherland and Taiwan as his second home, is the inventor of the pen drive when he was only 27.

Phison was set up in November 2000 and within six months Pua had come up with the invention.

Related post:

 Taiwan’s Phison IC design project, a ‘brain gain’ for Malaysia

Golf, a good walking game!

Make it a good walk

Golf is an enjoyable sport as long as there is an element of exercise involved, like walking, otherwise it’s just a parlour game.

The phrase “Golf is a good walk spoilt” is often attributed to the famous American scribe Mark Twain, who was said to have used it to describe his frustration with the game.

The truth is that Twain, whose real name is Samuel Langhorne Clemens, never uttered those words but it seems a US magazine in the 1930s attributed the phrase to him because “it sounded like something Twain would say”.

Regardless of who is the original author, we golf mortals, who find the simple instruction of keeping the ball in a straight direction an impossible task, find so much truth in that phrase.

Bukit Jambul Country Club in Penang has issues with members now not allowed to walk the course.>>

Even a demi-god like Tiger Woods is struggling to keep his game together and often refers to the present state of his game as military golf because he keeps hitting the ball left and then right and then left and then right again – like soldiers marching.

However, all of us continue to chase after the white dimpled ball because we want to get better at it and it is probably the only form of exercise we get after hours in the office. Thus, it’s a good walk spoilt – a good exercise pursuit interjected by bad golf.

This brings me to the recent controversy surrounding the Bukit Jambul Country Club in Penang where the management company running it has decided to ban golfers from walking.

The actual ruling is not a ban on walking but rather that all golfers taking to the course must rent a buggy.

The clash between the golfers and the club operators – Taiyo Resorts – has descended into all sorts of battles from name calling at press conferences to disciplinary hearing against members who opposed the buggy only ruling which took affect on Feb 1.

It all started when some 100 members voiced their displeasure over the compulsory buggy-use rule at the golf club.

According to the club’s liaison committee chairman, Stanley Park, from that day walking hours were restricted to after 5pm (only on Monday and Tuesday). Many other clubs around the country also restrict golfing to non-peak hours but none have enforced it as strictly as BJCC.

“However, the club has already made known to the members of the Liaison Committee during one of our regular meetings, that BJCC shall be a full buggy course as soon as the renovations of the fairways gets completed,” Park said in an interview.

More than 100 disgruntled golfers protested at the club on Feb 2, saying the ruling was not suitable due to the way the course was built as it was designed for golfers to walk and not intended to be a buggy course.

They also complained about the increase in the buggy rental rates from RM22 to RM37 for the first nine holes.

Taiyo Resorts’ managing director Datuk Eiro Sakamoto argued that majority of the club’s 2,800 members did not object to the new ruling and it was just a few golfers who were making noise.

It cannot be denied that the “buggy only” ruling is a way for the company to increase their ancillary income – after all it had promised the state government, which owns the course an increase in profit.

However, most visitors to Bukit Jambul would rent a buggy as it is quite a commando course with hilly and tight fairways that are quite sapping for those unused to such conditions.

But for golfers, seeking a good workout, Bukit Jambul is the perfect course to keep fit and to test whether you can avoid playing Tiger’s military golf.

Making money from running a golf club is not an easy thing especially when you have a course built into the top of a hill. Maintenance, I expect, would be high and the green fees collection cannot be much.

The subscription is just over RM90 and with 2,800 members, this works out to be RM252,000 per month. The extra revenue from F&B plus ancillary income like golf buggy rental becomes important.

However, the management of BJCC must take cognisance of the importance of walking when playing golf.

It improves your game because it keeps the rhythm going when one walks:

•  This is how the game is supposed to be played and this way the game finishes faster as the golfer walks straight to the ball.

• It improves the fellowship among the flight of golfers because all four of them can walk and talk at the same time.

I hope that the matter can be resolved amicably as golf is a gentleman’s game with proper rules.

So till next month, walk the course and truly enjoy the view.

Keep Walking.. Keep Walking…Keep Walking

Keep Walking…..

Because…

The Organs of your body have their sensory touches at the bottom of your foot.

If you massage these points you will find relief from aches and pains as you can see the heart is on the left foot.

Typically they are shown as points and arrows to show which organ it connects to.

It is indeed correct since the nerves connected to these organs terminate here.

This is covered in great details in Acu-pressure studies.

God created our body so well that he thought of even this.

He made us walk so that we will always be pressing these pressure points and thus keeping these organs activated at all times.

So, keep walking……. LIVE LONGER !!!!!

Golfer or not, you must see this clip.….

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=aw-nt0eTb2w

It’s all in the balance… (He plays off 3!!) And he walks the course!!!!!

Is there something unreal with our fliers at the club?

Hear that members are filing court action for some declaration of rights to play golf the way it was meant to be played?

Perhaps some of you LC members can show this clip to the presiding judge. Thanks

Related posts:

BJCC Golf Club management Fiasco: challenges …

BJCC management fiasco: ‘Outsourcing not the fair way …