~ Coverage of what is posted on the internet for the non-partisan surfer of benign viewpoints, upright character building and promotion of all things gracious and benevolent.
Kudus to registration of citizens at token fee or free of cost, and also not charged for lab and medicine after medical consultation. A government-run hospital having a specialist wing provide even more services like surgery and physiotherapy at no cost to citizens. Basic clinical examination and follow-up treatment of sports orthopaedic-injuries cost more than RM2000.
A second case illustration: The Asian Development Bank on 26 September 2017 mentioned Malaysia’s economic outlook to be one of the most robust because global trade recovery helped boost its exports. Two days later, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib announced one-off grants of RM30,000 for every Area Farmers Organization (AFO) and Area Fisherman’s Organization.
In late 2010 after approaching two AFOs to supply organic fertilizers, it was found their subsidized price tags to be credited to farmers’ accounts far exceeded market commercial rates. There were no complaints from the participants of AFO programs because they received fertilizers and pesticides free of costs. It would be fortunate if they received even 50% of what the grants could purchase on their behalf.
You need to understand the wastage due to leakages in fund utilization and programs implementation inefficiency start from building infrastructures and distribution of land lots. The price tag of the bags of fertilizer given to participating farmers in AFO programs are inflated. Their supply chain management cannot match an independent fertilizer supplier delivery price.
In the manufacturing and service sector as well as in farming, upgrading management competencies to track performance and react quickly to lead indicators will improve overall effectiveness of the system, for instance ensuring crop rotation in replanting. To stay on top of things is reacting to negative performance indicators and initiating improvement in the most worthwhile opportunities.
In the first case illustration, registration of patients enables the hospitals to claim fees to be paid by the Ministry of Health. Thus the more medicine given out the greater amount the Health Ministry has to churn out. Tax payers wonder if surgery performed generate a big portion of total claims of a hospital and a doctor’s recommendations go to KPI tracking and annual bonus payment. Will the Health Ministry reduce its annual budget with strict SOPs claims entitlements?
In the second case illustration, the AFO hierarchy needed the price margins to stay afloat. What is important is that the AFO top management track the number of participants who failed and dropped off. Why they could not be as successful as Chinese private farmers who received no fertilizer subsidies and free farm lots?
Another case scenario is why a GLC retail chain cannot be as successful as SpeedMart 99 which can even match hypermarket retail prices for some items? The armed forces cooperative stores ought to add better value for members patronizing them.
In the case of Covid-19 and flooding wreckage a wrong indicator such as new cases of coronavirus led to measures to reduce travel, social visitations and events, to name some which affect low wage earners due to SMEs and micro-enterprises closures. The Effectual Recovery Rate of say 98.8% ought to be the lead indicator which has not significantly changed since 11.9.21. The real or effectual recovery rate for 11.9.21 was 98.8%, comprising of Total recoveries (1,700,733) divided by 1,721,149 (total cases of 1,960,500 less active cases of 239,351). Active cases do not lead to deaths if the infected are properly treated.
It’s time for a full blown transformation alert program (TAP).
In a preceding posting (before the revised TAP post) “Consultant with Proudfoot grounding, Adam Rasheed Mowe recommends a primary indicator “Effectual Recovery Rate” to solidify strategies and measures to upend Covid-19 devastation garnered more than 480 views.
What good are sleepy-headed PM advisors and KPI experts being silent? Instead account for transparency and close loop on alternative strategic measures to upend flooding and Covid-19 turmoil. Tax payers then can be more contented that welfare and well-being of the people are sincere concerns of politicians. Public interest is not deflected.
Relief handouts are never enough and do not reach everybody. National recovery plans must be show results. Tax payers wonder if seepage and corruption account more than what is reached to those in need. There must be no corruption in the land.
Wake up sleepy heads. Support the leadership better by probing all comments and galvanize ideas and suggestions of merit pertaining to KPI tracking and implementation follow-up. Effectual outcomes must be in place to strategic measures and there is no leakage of budgeted resources.
SAGE is a new title published by A.R.Mowe in Amazon.com kindle edition.
A worried group of ordinary folks looking at the big picture of Malaysia in the Covid-19 era are in disarray because of haphazard measures
The corona-virus pandemic is depicted a plague apocalypse as foretold in revelations. The Uncle Zed’s trusted quirk tales (a past published manuscript) was rehashed in the light of Covid-19 & flooding wreckage in Malaysia. Malaysian authorities were incapable of enacting measures to promote overall goodness. Tax payers wondered if seepage and corruption account more than what is reached to those in need. SAGE would appeal to readers who placed a high value on sage wisdom.
Policies by the Malaysian cabinet members must be right. Opposition leaders must tackle stimulus packages under shadow cabinet portfolios. Expenditures on increasing treating severe breathing difficulties, cough and flu as well as costs of additional related facilities must be the focus to ensure that the Effectual Recovery Rate do not significantly worsen.
Poplars grow in the valleys and sage brushing thrives along mangrove thickets. Together with forests and wetlands around towns and villages nature is helped in managing extreme rain water run-off thus reducing flood peaks which can inundate homes.
The biographical Zed persona is a venerable person of sound judgment. Nearly a profound philosopher his varied anecdotes on economy and the word of God can prompt scriptural interpretation rethinking beyond common dogmatic religious norms and governance in the face of two years of ruin affecting households and the poor in Malaysian communities. Too many SMEs and micro-enterprises closed and the resulting un-employed cannot assist in any national recovery plan.
There is no cure for patients infected with the virus. By all means intensely treat breathing difficulties, severe cough and flu as done before even without Covid-19. How much can be saved from excessive testing, quarantine and relief measures?
On 6 January 2022 Heath Ministry Khairy Jamaludin was asked to comment if the government was considering enforcing a lockdown in the wake of the increasing Covid-19 cases triggered by the Omicron variant in the country.
“Of course, there will be zero cases in the event the country returns to imposing a lockdown. However, at what cost? The economy of the country as well as the mental health and wellbeing of the people will be affected.
“That is why we do not want to mention the ‘L’ word. We want to avoid that,” he said.
“We must respond to the situation with the most effective measures that are not extreme. The response (the country’s response to the emergence of new Covid-19 variants) must be calibrated and proportionate.
Measures to contain the domestic spread of the Coronavirus, combined with weak investment and low tourism receipts due to the pandemic have significantly reduced economic activity by 31.3.2020. Is there not a need for a Covid-19 Revolution? Devastation from lockdowns could wreak businesses struggling to break even.
Then in December 2021 extreme rainfall inundated many areas, closing highways and business operations. If the Malaysian authorities fail to re-open the economy in the Covid-19 pandemic era and flooding destruction all business aid and stimulus packages as well as personal relief measures come to naught.
Taman Sri Mudah paid the price when the historic rainfall left it submerged for days. A Transformation Alert Program would reduce resource waste and improve mandate of government agencies, GLCs and State government departmental operations.
Authorities must acknowledge that true bliss can be attained when we mitigate development wreckage to help keep nature balance in place. In respect of communities not having the right policies such as restricting over development at hilltops, coastal corridors and extreme forests clearing for commercial cultivation it will result in more frequent and more devastating flooding and landslides occurrences.
Q30: . . . Evil has appeared on land and sea because of what man’s hands have accomplished so God may let them taste something of what they have earned, in order that they will turn back in repentance.
The above depiction is clearly a consequence of Cause and Effect.
The short stories of one recalcitrant pipe piper’s quest to expound scriptural guidance for the layman to absorb universal noble values interspersed in story telling is a refreshing approach to entice young and adult minds. In this manner it enriches the approach to garner a seamless understanding of the core message of the scripture without being distracted by apparently haphazard not sequential narratives of divine guidance and decrees in the Quran. Readers could juggle and combine the process to suit their preference and style.
The preceding posting “Consultant with Proudfoot grounding, Adam Rasheed Mowe recommends a primary indicator “Effectual Recovery Rate” to solidify strategies and measures to upend Covid-19 devastation garnered more than 400 views. “If a wrong indicator such as new cases of coronavirus is pivotable, the focus will be on measures to reduce travel, social visitations and events, to name some which affect low wage earners and SMEs.” Read: Linkedin.com/in/adam-mowe-b8a68335/
The Transformation Alert Program (TAP} write up is as follows:
Transformation Alerts for more effective work culture.
Transformation Alerts can relate to (a) The flow of work to highlight the breakdown in any element of a plan; for example, manpower not available with the right skills, work not being received from previous steps as scheduled, etc. (b) A system to highlight the breakdown of a specific procedure; for instance, late or inaccurate reports, plans not communicated on a timely basis, training program not producing the desired results, lack of buffer stocks, etc. (c) A work station or individual. Work not being accomplished as planned due to expectations not clarified, no proper tools, etc. (d) Improvement opportunities such as employee suggestions for method changes, and these could be related to the above #a, #b, #c or Shutdown Preventive Maintenance or Product Change Over.
They become a structured communication process, which facilitates resolving of problems through identification of action needed situations and monitoring progress of action items being brought to fruition.
In essence, problems are opportunities for improvement provided if acted upon and eventually resolved. Upper Management can recognize, evaluate and act upon problems and improvement opportunities through continuous lesson learning. Follow-up at various levels of management, operating problems with degrees of complexity are channeled to specific individuals in the best position to resolve them. Once that individual is alerted, the commitment must be made to take action.
Transformation Alerts as a program is “problem driven”. Through the Management Operating System (MOS), significant variances which are due to cross departmental issues will be considered to be recorded as an Action Needed. All recurring “problems” which cannot be resolve at the unit level and need a task force to examine relevant data and institute appropriate action will also be included.
As we are all aware, problems or variances to set performance targets will never end. As such, the Transformation Alert Program (TAP) will not die off. It reduces any adverse effect in future. Focusing on specific problem resolution in relation to various unit or sectional operations all significant variances from planned performances would be the focus at Weekly Review Meetings.
TAP guarantees an action to either change a procedure or to improve a checklist or to provide an answer to every Action / Improvement Report. If un-resolved at a departmental level, the Program will involve upper management for direction.
Contact Adam (018 3854241) for TAP (a) responsibility to ensure that all significant variances are focused upon (b) frequency of variance reporting for reviewing actual performance against planned A master file for all Action Reports is maintained to ensure that “nothing gets lost”. (c) weekly Result Committee Meetings which provide upper management with what is moving or stagnant. The Chairman clarifies “This week / next week priorities”.
The focus persons in the health and finance ministries ought to step up to see the merits or discuss with the author to clarify his contentions. What good are PM advisors and KPI experts being silent? Instead account for transparency and close loop on alternative strategic measures to upend Covid wreckage. Tax payers then can be more contented that public interest is not deflected.
Covid-19 Revolution (ASIN: B09B2LZHMM ) is now available on Amazon.com
Part One extract of Covid-19 Revolution: As at 31 May 2020 new COVID-19 cases remained at second digits. It dipped to single digits three days in a row in June and subsequently the third wave starting from 20 September led to above 1300 new cases for some days in November 2020.
There is no cure for patients inflected with the virus. By all means intensely treat breathing difficulties, severe cough and flu as done before even without Covid-19. There must be increased resources and centers of treatment because the country’s capacity to accommodate active cases were now just a hair under 40,000 in mid-February 2021.
You will find in this manuscript 3 lines of action to support the strategy of:
a) Cummulative Covid-19 cases less active cases is the effectual recoveries rate. It must be recognized as the prime KPI (active cases do not mean deaths if the infected are properly cared for); b) Come to terms that Covid-19 is endermic, which requires booster jabs every year; c) No broad lockdowns in NRP.
Khairy Jamaluddin (Malaysia should change the way it reacts to the high daily number of cases and instead switch its attention to the hospitalization and death rates.), Wan Judnaidi (Survey shows SMEs closure due to lockdowns) and Rafidah Aziz (“think next generation”) have given their viewpoints. The political will of Boris Johnson’s UK economic recovery before the winter months set in 2021 is missing.
Share this post. Prompt your FB friends to click on the like button. All likes when reaching 100,000 will get the government cabinet attention. The manuscript is a synthesis of experts and economists’ opinions.
Covid-19 Revolution (sub-title: Nite time read for the elderly) book review.
Khairy Jamaluddin, the sharp Malaysian cabinet minister stressed on 10 July 2021: “Malaysia should change way it looks at daily Covid-19 cases as more get vaccinated. Malaysia should be prepared to change the way it reacts to the high daily number of Covid-19 cases and instead switch its attention to the hospitalization and death rates.”
Part One extract of Covid-19 Revolution: As at 31 May 2020 new COVID-19 cases remained at second digits. It dipped to single digits three days in a row in June and subsequently the third wave starting from 20 September led to above 1300 new cases for some days in November 2020.
There is no cure for patients inflected with the virus. By all means intensely treat breathing difficulties, severe cough and flu as done before even without Covid-19. Millions are spent by the Malaysian government on Covid-19 testing, now more millions planned for vaccines and the involved logistics. Ought not some of the millions be put to care for those affected by breathing difficulties, cough and and flu, and only then as a next prudent step carry out Covid-19 tests and track all confirmed cases after discharge? There must be increased resources and centers of treatment because the country’s capacity to accommodate active cases were now just a hair under 40,000 in mid-February 2021.
As at the end of the second week of February 2021, Malaysia’s Covid-19 cases stood at 264,269 with deaths reaching 965 or 0.36%. Interestingly the data includes current 49,490 active cases which means the recorded cumulative cases without deaths can be taken as 214,799.
Cumulative total recovered and discharged cases reached 213,814, making the real or Effectual Recovery Rate 99.54% (213,814 / 214,799) against the nominal recovery rate of 80.9% (213,814 / 264,269).
Against this backdrop, Aristo stressed (on 3 February 2020) in his blog, Hope Tribute Malaysia: The Effectual Recovery Rate 99.5% ought to be the lead indicator which has not significantly changed since 22.12.20 when it was first measured to be 99.4%. As long as it does not deteriorate and the economy improves public interest can be deemed as the priority of cabinet actions.
Measures to contain the domestic spread of the coronavirus, combined with weak investment and low tourism receipts and the like due to the pandemic, have significantly reduced economic activity by 31.3.2020.
Policy makers must revive the economy by increasing aggregate demand such as public and private consumption and investment. The entrepreneur development division under the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development should be proactive and present to the cabinet committee developments to promote employment in small businesses and the services sector to break the vicious cycle of reduced demand due to the rising unemployment factor leading to further GDP reduction.
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which employ the bulk of daily wage earners must not be devastated. The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development must take action to ensure that SMEs are not stymied with slow roll-out of programs.
Costs of vaccine related logistics and lock-down measures as well as policing have opportunity costs. Would even half of the trajectory costs be better allocated to medical centers equipped with ventilators and the bed capacity of the nation increased to treat active cases? The effectual recovery rate in Malaysia is about 99.5% and this key statistic must not worsen.
In Part Four, strategic planning to keep the pandemic in check in Malaysia is appended. There are three lines of action.
Even up to 20 June 2021 the Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was emphasizing that Malaysia’s target to achieve herd immunity as projected by the national recovery plan (NRP) can be completed as scheduled following the increase in the supply of Covid-19 vaccines by the country’s major suppliers. He reckoned that by working harder to achieve herd immunity the National Alliance government could proclaim political success.
The politicians against him stressed the need for parliament to be reconvene as if they had ideas and strategies for eradication of the disease or to help the economy recover.
Even with more stringent lockdowns new covid-19 cases have risen to above 6000. What’s to become of the benchmark 4000 before restrictions are relaxed? Can NRP stipulated condition that the number of daily cases is below 2,000 for phase 3 and daily cases below 500 ever be reached?
A System Concept framework can facilitate policy execution to be more transparent and enforcement units will conform more effectively to reduce corruption. Without a proper implementation framework we have little basis for effectual review and evaluation – a major policy making pitfall. Khairy or someone else, rather than calling for a superman a structural change is needed.
Increased new cases do not mean that deaths will increase proportionately. If the facilities are up to mark for caring of the infected people deaths will be contained, thus the effectual recovery rate is more reflective of recorded cumulative cases without deaths and should be the primary indicator.
New cases hit more than 9000 on 9.7.21. Let’s have a structural change instead of a flight of fantasy.
Don’t leave the sinking ship behind. Daim Zainuddin recently stated that the multi-billion ringgit tourism industry is “bleeding to death” and out-of-the-box strategies are needed to save this crucial industry.
Inclusive of other sectors there ought to be a freeze or a moratorium on all repayments to financial institutions, government agencies and GLCs, including monthly interest, penalties or lease payments by struggling pandemic hit companies. In a crisis, Daim said, there was a need for all resources to be employed at the right places to overcome the problem.
Otherwise there’s a hell wish in the making. “Covid-19 Revolution” is a compilation of short stories expressing the same sentiments. Part One extracts: How can the flabbergasted morons set the re-set of things to work? . . . Left in shambles do we give in to darken days where the gravy train is still latched on by governors? . . They hint at better days with enormous allocations to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic. . . actions to address the Covid-19 pandemic must not become lurking economic and corruption crisis. Reading between the narratives readers will realize that leaders need to gain power with justice in mind and goodness for all irrespective of racial or criteria of creed.
The manuscript biographical character, Aristo provides unputdownable anecdotes in connecting the dots of new norms situations in making the difference in the corona virus pandemic.
“Five-year plans and new deals . . Wrapped in golden chains,” Aristo wondered “Who’ll stop the rain.”
Without a proper implementation framework we have little basis for effectual review and evaluation – a major policy making pitfall.
Devastation from lockdowns could wreak businesses struggling to break even. Malaysian authorities were incapable of enacting measures to promote overall goodness. All focus was on Movement Control Order (MCO) restrictions and costs of enforcing a high rate of compliance did not factor in loss of livelihoods, collapse of businesses and social impairments.
This post consolidates the earlier Hell Wishes series updated in my Hope Tribute Malaysia.
Covid-19 Revolution, sub-titled ‘Almost a hell wish’ is now available in Amazon.com. The ASIN: B08X39R86R eBook format is priced at $5.00 and the ASIN: B08WZCVC7M paperback book is priced at $8.50
If the Malaysian authorities fail to re-open the economy in the Covid-19 pandemic era all business aid and stimulus packages as well as personal relief measures come to naught.
As at the end of the second week of February 2021, Malaysia’s Covid-19 cases stood at 264,269 with deaths reaching 965 or 0.36%. Interestingly the data includes current 49,490 active cases which means the recorded cumulative cases without deaths can be taken as 214,779.
Cumulative total recovered and discharged cases reached 213,814, making the real or Effectual Recovery Rate 99.5% (213,814 / 214,779) against the nominal recovery rate of 80.9% (213,814 / 264,269).
Against this backdrop, the Effectual Recovery Rate 99.5% ought to be the lead indicator which has not significantly changed since 22.12.20 when we first measured it to be 99.4%. As long as it does not deteriorate and the economy improves public interest can be deemed as the priority of cabinet actions.
Are the Communications and Multimedia ministry and the Education ministry working hand in glove on study online issues. Are issues raised by suffering industries addressed by the Entrepreneur Development ministry. The public and students must not feel abandoned by the government.
We are a worried group of ordinary folks looking at the big picture of Malaysia in the Covid-19 era. Due to severe health and economic crisis the Prime Minister of Italy resigned. In France there would be an inquiry into the way an ex-Prime Minister handled the Covid-19 pandemic. Policies by the Malaysian cabinet members must be right. Opposition leaders must tackle stimulus packages under shadow cabinet portfolios. Mohd Redzuan was Minister of Entrepreneur in the Perikantan Nasional administration under the same current Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
Expenditures on increasing treating severe breathing difficulties, cough and flu as well as costs of additional related facilities must be the focus to ensure that the Effectual Recovery Rate do not drop. Movement Control Order (MCO) measures must not become lurking economic and corruption crisis. There could be less Covid-19 tests but tracking of all confirmed cases after discharge must be intensified.
Malaysia’s Covid-19 infectivity rate (R0) was 0.88 on 11 February from 1.05 on 28 January. As of 14.2.21 there are 260 patients are being treated at the Intensive Care Units, with 111 on ventilator support.
Hell Wishes book preview and Follow through on Hell Wishes published on my blog https://hopetributemalaysia.wordpress.com/ have garnered about 550 views since 27 January 2021. This 3rd posting is about how to make the difference re Covid-19.
The knowledgeable experts need to be involved in brainstorming lab workshops to facilitate the relief programs and focus with one mind on addressing the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the previous postings we noted that there is no cure for patients inflected with the virus. By all means intensely treat breathing difficulties, severe cough and flu as done before even without Covid-19. Millions are spent by the Malaysian government on Covid-19 testing, now more millions planned for vaccines. Ought not millions be put to care for those affected by breathing difficulties, cough and flu, and only then as a next prudent step carry out Covid-19 test and track all confirmed cases after discharge. There must be increased resources and centers of treatment the country’s capacity to accommodate active cases that were now just a hair under 40,000. The lab workshops can confirm the data.
On 26 January 2021 Malaysia had 190,434 cases, deaths 700 (0.36%). Recovered 149,160. 190,434 – 40,574 active cases = 149,860 The effectual recovery rate hence can be taken to be 149,160 / 149,860 = 99.5%. Experts need to embrace this as the lead key indicator and not the nominal recovery rate of 78% or death rate of 0.36%.
As mentioned in the two posts, the number of category four and five Covid-19 patients, i.e. those with respiratory infections requiring ventilators and those critically ill with accompanying organ issues were now (third week of January 2021) five times what they had been at the height of last year’s second wave. The key 99.5% recovery rate must not worsen. Infections in category three must be hospitalized for treatment too.
MCO2 was first said to cost RM600 million daily versus RM300 million for MCO1. Even half of RM300 daily expense could be better used to keep deaths low. Malaysia’s Covid-19 deaths of less than half a percent compares well against global stats of above two percent. Malaysia’s Finance Minister is maintaining its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth target will not be below 6.5% for 2021. What outcome from the emergency declaration and the second round of the movement control order (MCO2) enforcement can be highlighted to deflect pessimism.
Merely lifting the conditional movement control order will not be enough to revive the economy if the people are not convinced it is safe to go out and spend to increase demand for businesses in the Covid-19 pandemic. The country also did not implement better contact tracing to help reduce the number of daily cases as well. Malaysia is currently in the 29th spot in the list of countries with the highest number of Covid-19 infections in a two-week period as at January 25. when there was a four-digit hike in daily cases. Malaysia also recorded the second highest cumulative Covid-19 cases per one million population in Asean of 5,773 but is behind Singapore with 10,145 cases. Several European countries have toughened movement restrictions and implemented tighter nationwide curfews in a bid to stem the spread of Covid-19, and Malaysia has failed to learn from Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, where society had continued to function without harsh lockdowns.
Restricting restaurant table to two persons in food and beverages is a less harsh lockdown. There can be some discretion for customers coming from the same home. Will this lead to bigger devastation?
Think inter district travel harming the economy and many customers like Harris will say he misses his favorite breakfast eatery because there is barricade in place blocking his five minute drive to the eatery. We must not lose sight of reviving our small businesses and what better way to promote to the community than making hawker food flourish once again.
Indeed we need a Covid-19 Revolution to adapt measures to the pandemic otherwise livelihoods vanish and without money to spend the masses cannot help drive the economy.
Extracts from Part One: A host force from the East
The masses who longed for change now in January 2020 sense that they were on the cusp of a new norms. Work-from-home set-ups have become more optimized but conflicts in international trade alongside global unemployment levels rose in tandem in all nations to become quite a real hell wish.
In Malaysia about 40 percent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) would have to wind up their operations if the COVID-19 chain of infection worse scenario persisted for three to six months or up to August 2020. After the outbreak entered the second wave on 16 February 2020 a Movement Control Order (MCO) was imposed resulting in devastating impact on small businesses and daily paid individuals. The supply chain was disrupted and some bigger production firms had also stopped operations and worse still, laid-off workers as they were unable to bear the costs.
How to revive the economy by increasing aggregate demand such as public and private consumption and investment. This would help to stimulate economic growth through the multiplier effect and reduce the hike in the unemployment rate. The overall economic recovery was stymied with slow roll-out of programs. In addition, sagging tax revenues connected to the new coronavirus lock-down resulted in slashed services and payroll expenditures.
. . . Harris was an agnostic for most of his teenage life although he was raised a Catholic. As he dabbled in business and productivity improvement in his early career he embraced the notion that God ought to be striven with sincerity and with all our efforts that the Omnipresence’s name should be superior.
. . . The unassuming righteous fisherman or industrious farmer relishes the simple pleasures that the coffers from their honest livelihood provide. To the uninformed take note that the recompense sources you cannot imagine have no connection with lottery winnings or becoming kings and queens. Your character becomes your seal of approval among others. Then, the universal law which permeates all creation will shape and cause you to reap the abundant life of true wealth, which could include wholesome worldly riches.
When you strive to live in a state of serenity, opportunities and consequently money await you wherever you venture out because you will be blessed for your personal attributes. You will start to become the kind of person who respects and attracts money for the right reasons in conformance with the Cause and Effect ordainment
Extracts from Part Two: Albatross of hereafter peace
. . . The UK’s duty-free golden goose will become an albatross. In Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” the protagonist inexplicably shoots an albatross that had hitherto acted as his ship’s lucky charm. In 2021 a similar fate is set to befall one of the UK’s golden geese: duty-free perks for foreign tourists. The government’s decision to upend a benefit that might have provided a handy post-pandemic boost could become a symbol of its messy break from the European Union.
Covid-19 predominantly attacks the lungs, but with young people it goes straight for the wallet.
. . . The size of our circle of competence must not distract us in pursuit of an abundant life. Like Warren Buffet said, knowing its boundaries is vital. If you are restrained (perhaps due to lack of intellect or just being disabled) focus with ferocious intensity on something simple (yet noble) which is within your capacity to excel – and spare not your basic capacity (Aristo: ‘rousu’ which also relates to “of your wealth”) until you yourself are satisfied that you have reached your forte in life, within your skills range.
Harris’ agnostic viewpoint for coreligionists: “Each person’s skills-range expertise sets him ablaze to play his role in God’s grand scheme of things. One’s life is uplifted.
Extracts from Part Three: Fighting rogue windmills – a need for a Covid-19 revolution.
. . . The Covid-19 pandemic was reckoned to have reached Malaysia in January 2020. Measures to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 through social distancing and lock-down rulings hit the Malaysian economy with lost billions of dollars.
. . . He certainly thought that the entrepreneur development division under the ministry could be proactive and present to the cabinet committee developments to promote employment in small businesses and the services sector to break the vicious cycle of the unemployment factor in reduced consumption leading to GDP reduction.
. . . Harris also noted that in respect of economic system, ethics and governance only five percent of the population in many economies control or hold the economic pie and the elite perpetuates the dire condition through nepotism, cronyism and “keeping it within the family or clans”. God ought to be striven with sincerity and with all our efforts that the Omnipresence’s name should be superior.
. . . What was the Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development ministry doing? What efforts were put in place to stabilize economic recovery? The Central Bank of Malaysia had announced on 30 March 2020 regarding the allocation of a RM5.0 billion Special Relief Facility-i (SRF-i) to assist SMEs affected by COVID-19 outbreak but most commercial banks in mid-May informed the public that the facility had been fully utilized and as such would no longer be offered.
. . . A survey done by SME Association in March highlighted that nearly 82% of SMEs predicted a loss for the financial year 2020, which means tax collection will be much lower. The latest statistics from the Department of Statistics showed that 68% of firms reported zero income during the MCO.
Despite 92% of the RM6.3 billion allocation of soft loans for SMEs had been utilized, it benefited only 14,075 SMEs. That is merely 1.5% of the 907,065 establishments of SMEs in Malaysia.
. . . After the outbreak entered the second wave on 16 February 2020 a Movement Control Order (MCO) was imposed by the Malaysian government resulting in devastating impact on small businesses (SMEs) and daily paid individuals. Measures to contain the domestic spread of the coronavirus, combined with weak investment and low tourism receipts and the like due to the pandemic, have reduced economic activity.
Policy makers must revive the economy by increasing aggregate demand such as public and private consumption and investment. The entrepreneur development division under the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development should be proactive and present to the cabinet committee developments to promote employment in small businesses and the services sector to break the vicious cycle of reduced demand due to the rising unemployment factor leading to further GDP reduction.
Small and medium enterprises which employ the bulk of daily wage earners must not be devastated. The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development must ensure that overall economic recovery is not stymied with slow roll-out of programs.
. . . There is no cure for patients inflected with the virus. Merely lifting the conditional movement control order will not be enough to revive the economy if the people are not convinced it is safe to go out and spend to increase demand for businesses in the Covid-19 pandemic.
By all means intensely treat breathing difficulties, severe cough and flu as done before even without Covid-19. Millions are spent on Covid-19 testing, now more millions planned for vaccines. Ought not millions be put to care for those affected by breathing difficulties, cough and flu, and only then as a next prudent step carry out Covid-19 test and track all confirmed cases after discharge. There must be increased resources and centers of treatment rather than mere physical distancing. Malaysia’s Covid-19 deaths of less than half a percent compares well against global stats of above two percent.
. . . We must not lose sight of reviving our small businesses and what better way to promote to the community than making hawker food flourish once again. All Covid-19 relief measures and expenditures must be reviewed.
. . . The key lead indicator, for instance Effective recovery rate of 99.4% as at 22.12.20 must be taken into consideration. Expenditures on increasing treating severe breathing difficulties, cough and flu as well as costs of additional related facilities must be weighed against the planned RM 3 billion for vaccine purchase and logistics, costs of sustaining measures to reduce travel, social visitations and events, on-going Covid-19 tests and tracking of all confirmed cases after discharge.
The number of category four and five Covid-19 patients, i.e. those with respiratory infections requiring ventilators and those critically ill with accompanying organ issues were now (third week of January 2021) five times what they had been at the height of last year’s second wave. The two categories as well as patients with severe acute respiratory infections in category three must be hospitalized for treatment, adding further pressure to the country’s capacity to accommodate active cases that were now just a hair under 40,000.
How much is saved from excessive Covid-19 tests, quarantine and relief measures? Is the recommended vaccine effective with coronavirus mutations. How much has the unemployment rate dropped? What about the GDP? We need a Covid-19 Revolution to adapt measures to the pandemic.
. . . Costs of vaccine and lock-down measures as well as policing have opportunity costs. Would even half of the trajectory costs be better allocated to medical centers equipped with ventilators and the bed capacity of the nation increased to treat active cases. The effective recovery rate of 99.4% is still valid in January 2021 and this key statistic must not worsen.
. . . MCO2 will cost RM600 million daily versus RM300 million for MCO1. Malaysia’s Finance Minister is maintaining its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth target of between 6.5 per cent and 7.5 per cent for 2021 despite the emergency declaration and the second round of the movement control order (MCO2) enforcement. Along Harris’ thinking was: Unbelievable! China’s economy was up 2.3% for 2020. Malaysia was likely to be a contraction of more than 5%. The Minister’s 7.5% target growth rate is more applicable to China 2021. MCO2 lock-down devastation on the economy especially in retail and restaurant sectors will result in people who are daily paid facing hunger.
Extracts from Part Four: Economics and governance for the abundant life
. . . The specific strategies and policies would then take consideration of the stage of development of any one nation, as well as current knowledge of the most prudent practices and supporting technology and prevailing financial resources relative to other nations, competing products, logistics leverages or shortcomings. In development of agriculture and commerce we must not over expose the environment and balance of nature.
For the greater good of society policy objectives must also promote innovation, proper use of available arable land and natural resources. There must be some liberal sharing of scientific knowledge and no racial discriminatory policies on commerce, livestock breeding, crop cultivation, fishing and such. Here too there must be a control framework for ensuring no unsustainable farming or harmful forest clearing occurs. In plain words, the earth is to be developed by man so walk along its byways and eat some of what God provides.
After publication date:
Global Covid-19 cases on 28.1.21 reached 100,739,720, deaths 2,170,237 (2.1%) Malaysia 198,208 cases, deaths 717 (0.36%). US Gross domestic product had the biggest drop since 1946.when it decreased 3.5% in 2020. The GDP 2.2% growth in 2019 and was the first annual decline in GDP since the 2007-09 Great Recession.
California state residents can now dine outdoors and salons are allowed to open indoors.as test positivity rates have fallen from 20% to 8%. The Governor rescinded the stay-at-home order even though deaths due to Covid-19 have not decreased.
The effective recovery rate of 99.4% in Malaysia must not be ignored. In promoting overall goodness for the community, leaders must enact actions for having ample bed facilities, ventilators for Covid-19 treatment and perhaps vaccine programs for front liners.
Malaysia is currently in the 29th spot in the list of countries with the highest number of Covid-19 infections in a two-week period as at January 25. when there was a four-digit hike in daily cases. Malaysia also recorded the second highest cumulative Covid-19 cases per one million population in Asean of 5,773 but is behind Singapore with 10,145 cases. Are these information the pertinent ones for Malaysian leaders to take note?
Reported in webinars, the U.S. economy contracted at its deepest pace since World War Two in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic depressed consumer spending and business investment, pushing millions of Americans out of work and into poverty.
Though a recovery is underway, momentum slowed significantly as the year wound down amid a resurgence in coronavirus infections and exhaustion of nearly $3 trillion in relief money from the government. The moderation is likely to persist at least through the first three months of 2021.
The economy’s prospects hinge on the distribution of vaccines to fight the virus. President Joe Biden has unveiled a recovery plan worth $1.9 trillion, but some lawmakers have balked at the price tag soon after the government provided nearly $900 billion in additional stimulus in late December.
Nearly every sector, with the exception of government and the housing market, contracted last year. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the economy, plunged 3.9%, the worst performance since 1932. The economy tumbled into recession last February.
Delays by the government to offer another rescue package and renewed business disruptions caused by the virus restricted GDP growth to a 4.0% annualized rate in the fourth quarter. The big step-back from a historic 33.4% growth pace in the third quarter left GDP 2.5% below its level at the end of 2019.
With the virus still raging, economists are expecting growth to slow to below a 2.0% rate in the first quarter, before regaining speed by summer as the additional stimulus kicks in and more Americans get vaccinated. “We foresee record-breaking consumer spending growth in 2021 with households benefiting from a watered-down $1.2 trillion version of Biden’s rescue plan, vaccine diffusion gradually reaching two thirds of Americans by July and employment accelerating this spring,” said Gregory Daco, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics in New York.
Lack of jobs and the temporary expiration of a government weekly jobless subsidy curtailed growth in consumer spending to a 2.5% rate in the fourth quarter after a record 41% pace in the July-September quarter.
But business investment grew at a 13.8% rate, with spending on equipment rising at a 24.9% pace. Spending on nonresidential structures rebounded after four straight quarterly declines. Businesses also accumulated inventories last quarter, contributing to GDP growth. But the inventory build pulled in more imports, leading to a larger trade deficit, which subtracted from output. The housing market recorded another quarter of double-digit growth, thanks to historically low mortgage rates. Government spending was weak.
Malaysian leaders must take heed of the above flaws and re-look the matters worth championing.
Sub-titled “Covid-19 revolution”, the new corona-virus of China is noted as a plague apocalypse and not the arrival of an army of two hundred million from the Orient in context of Revelation prophesy. Buddha’s four noble truths aimed at eliminating perceived sufferings on earth sums up the Covid-19 conundrum becoming a mere distraction in the full circle of life. Indeed we need a Covid-19 Revolution to adapt measures to the pandemic otherwise livelihoods vanish and without money to spend the masses cannot help drive the economy.
Read more in Part 3 and Part 4.
This short stories compilation might start a cultural evolution driven by some memes explored in Harris’ anecdotes. The quixotic main character in passive enthusiasm churns up situations where commoners can excel in their role of fulfilling their obligations to their maker and provoke the layman to view scriptural philosophy beyond dogmatic religious notions.
With regards to a nation the economic pie must be for the betterment of all and there are specific endeavors to cater to the poor and all in need. Fair-play, mercy, righteousness and good governance come to mind in witch hunting of hell wishes. Evil from the stealthy whisperer vanishes when we remember God. Harris had a guru Aristo whose Creed of Abraham modules are quoted. Being conversant with Module 1 to Module 114, Harris referenced them as one scriptural source of divine rules and customs for mankind to avoid any hell wish.
A well known sedate liturgical reading at the death bed is spiced up as a celebration of a person’s life on Earth in conformity with the teachings of all scriptures. In the Bhagawad Gita (Vedic scriptures) what is stated about every man can be perfect by following his quality of work is narrated “By worship of the Lord who is the source of all beings and who is all pervading, man can in the performance of his own duty or occupation attain perfection.”
Its 24 January 2021 and Harris now aged 67 years spent much time watching a television series “Ertugrul” about ancient fighting skills, gaining power with justice in mind and welfare for the community. Through the day he replied to well wishes “Thank you for birthday greeting . . May your day be blessed with goodness too.”
In line with Part One of the short stories, if communities want the grace of the omnipresence people must re-look the matters worth championing and discard aggressive, almost brawling over policies which in fact are bad. Sadly Malaysia had weak leaders in the face of its Covid-19 pandemic devastated economy. There must be some liberal sharing of scientific knowledge and no racial discriminatory policies on commerce, livestock breeding, crop cultivation, fishing and such.
Policy makers must be enlightened that costs of vaccine and lock-down measures policing have opportunity costs. Would even half of the trajectory costs be better allocated to medical centers equipped with ventilators and the bed capacity of the nation increased to treat active cases. The effective recovery rate of 99.4% is still valid in January 2021 and this key statistic must not worsen.
On 23 January Covid-19 new cases of 4275 cases was reported for Malaysia. New cases are not likely to dip below 100 in coming days and interpretation of such statistics could lead to Covid-19 lockdowns extending beyond 4 February. This dire prospect is set to have serious economic ramifications. The country’s key engines of growth – domestic consumption, private investment, government expenditure and exports – are all faltering. The leaders are incapable of enacting actions to promote overall goodness.
Postscript: Commonplace business operations citations and other scenarios with actual developments of an impending new world order aim to better reflect the nature of what is written in the scriptures relative to modern times.
Hell Wishes is now available in Amazon.com. The ASIN: B08V3GX9QF eBook format is priced at $5.00 and the ASIN: B08TZK8R5N paperback book is priced at $10.00
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