The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945. It is currently made up of 193 Member States. The mission and work of the United Nations are guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter. Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations is a member of the General Assembly. States are admitted to membership in the UN by a decision of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. The main organs of the UN are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the UN Secretariat. All were established in 1945 when the UN was founded. 

        Today we would like to discuss about the role of the United Nations. Basically, there are four main roles of the United Nation including maintain international peace and security, promote sustainable development, protect human rights, uphold international law and deliver humanitarian aid.

Maintain International Peace and Security

        The primary purpose of the establishment of United Nation is to maintain international peace and security. Following the destruction and implication of the Second World War, United Nation developed this ambitious aim to promote global peace and security throughout the world. It has the objectives to achieve friendly relations, international cooperation, and harmonization of nation’s action. For example, United Nation covered development, human rights, and protection from environmental hazards as significant preconditions for security and lasting peace. There are several activities conducted by United Nation to maintain international peace and security. 

        Firstly, United Nation plays its role as the preventive diplomacy and mediation. The United Nation acts as an important role to prevent conflicts by using diplomacy, good offices and mediation. The special envoys and political missions in the field are the tools applied by United Nation to promote peace. 

        Secondly, being one of the most effective tools available to the United Nation, peacekeeping assist host countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace. Today’s multidimensional peacekeeping operations are called upon not only to maintain peace and security, but also to facilitate political processes, protect civilians, assist in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants. Besides, it also support constitutional processes and the organization of elections, protect and promote human rights and assist in restoring the rule of law. 

        Thirdly, United Nation promotes peacebuilding where the aim of peacebuilding is to reduce the risk of lapsing or relapsing into conflict by strengthening national capacities at all levels for conflict management, and to lay the foundation for sustainable peace and development. 

        Fourthly, United Nation also functions to coordinate the global fight against terrorism. In September 2006, the United Nation Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy was adopted. This shows that the member states agreed to a common strategic and operational framework against terrorism.

        Last but not least, United Nation also possess the ability to withdraw military forces and weapons where it is known as disarmament or demilitarization. The purpose of disarmament is to allow United Nation to eliminate the use of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

-by Robben-

References

"Peace And Security. United Nations Peacekeeping". Un.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 5 May 2016.

"What We Do | United Nations". Un.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 5 May 2016.

Protect Human Rights

        

        Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.

        The roles and functions of the UN human rights machinery mainly are aimed at developing and promoting rights and to ensure fundamental rights and freedoms for all human beings. The Human Rights Council serves as a forum for states to discuss and negotiate soft law, typically decisions and resolutions, which create or develop human rights norms.

       The Council holds panel discussions, sets up intergovernmental working groups, and provides other mechanisms for the creation of soft law. The creation of a body of international human rights law is one of the UN great achievements. The UN has helped negotiate more than 70 human rights treaties and declaration. Hence, these treaties have created a “culture human rights” to provide a powerful tool to protect and promote all rights. The United Nations is currently considering proposals to reform the treaty bodies and make reporting obligations easier for States, by establishing a single, unified Treaty Body to monitor implementation of all the principal human rights treaties.

           On the other hand, human rights committees that monitor states’ compliance with treaty obligations also play strong roles in developing human rights through general comments, and promoting human rights through concluding observations on individual countries’ human rights records. The human rights organizations also undertake activities that are useful to protect human rights. These activities aimed to protecting individuals from grave violations, whether through resolutions or discussions or special sessions that raises awareness of abuses within crisis situation. Furthermore, organization’s take preventive action to avoid conflict. Fact-finding and information-sharing are keys for protecting human rights.

        Over the past year, human rights officers in the field have provided Member States with technical assistance and capacity-building to promote the implementation of the rule of law on the ground. They have also delivered critical information to alert Member States and United Nations bodies to situations of potential concern. The United Nations human rights mechanisms continue to draw attention to a wide range of human rights issues, both thematic and country-specific, bringing new issues to the fore and providing early warning functions.

 -by Ke Sin -

References

Anton, D. (n.d.). The United Nations Human Rights System and the Protection of the Environment.SSRN Electronic Journal.
HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION: OUGHT THE UNITED NATIONS TO HAVE AN INCREASING OR DIMINISHING ROLE?. (2014). CICERO FOUNDATION GREAT DEBATE PAPER, [online] 14(No. 14/06), p.4. Available at: http://www.cicerofoundation.org/lectures/Rosa_Freedman_Human_Rights_Protection.pdf [Accessed 6 May 2016].

Ohchr.org. (2016). What are Human Rights. [online] Available at: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Pages/WhatareHumanRights.aspx [Accessed 6 May 2016].

Un.org. (2016). Human Rights | United Nations. [online] Available at: http://www.un.org/en/sections/priorities/human-rights/ [Accessed 6 May 2016].

    

Uphold International Law

        One of the most critical role of the United Nations is the responsibility of upholding International Law. An objective in its Preamble by the United Nations Charter is known as to set up conditions under which equity and respect for the commitments emerging from treaties and different wellsprings of international law can be maintained. The work of development and obligation to respect for International law has been a major part of the work of the Organization. This work is to approve peacekeeping missions, impose sanctions, or authorize the power of force when there is a threat to international peace and security. These powers are given to it by the United Nations Charter, which is viewed as a global bargain. As such, it is an instrument of international law, and bound by United Nations Member States. The UN Charter classifies the significant principle of international relations, from sovereign fairness of States to the prohibition of the utilization of force in international relations.

        The principal judicial organ of the United Nations is known as the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This primary body of the UN settles legitimate debate submitted to it by States as per International Law. From (ICJ), advisory opinions on lawful inquiries are given from its authorized United Nations organs and specific agencies to ensure the fairness of judgement. In addition, a wide range of International courts and tribunals are established to act as a classified entities in different degrees of relation to the United Nations. In United Nations, all members have their obligations to follow and respect the International Law to take the responsibilities of States in their conduct with each other, and their treatment of individuals with State boundaries. 

        Its role encompasses an extensive variety of issues of global concern, such as human rights, disarmament, international crime, refugees, migration, issues of nationality, and the treatment of prisoners, the use of force, and the conduct of war. It also manages the worldwide commons, for example, the environment and sustainable development, international waters, outer space, worldwide communication and world trade. This is to ensure global security and a shared understanding of protecting international peace and justice. 

-by Yee Earn-

References

Un.org. (2016). Overview | United Nations. [online] Available at: http://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/overview/index.html [Accessed 6 May 2016].

Un.org. (2016). Uphold International Law | United Nations. [online] Available at: http://www.un.org/en/sections/what-we-do/uphold-international-law/index.html [Accessed 6 May 2016].

Deliver Humanitarian Relief

        One of the roles of United Nations is to deliver humanitarian aid. United Nations started it first help after the Second World War by rebuilding the continent of Europe. However, lately the natural and man-made disasters are beyond the relief capacity of national authorities alone. So, the organization is now relied upon the international community to coordinate humanitarian relief operations.

        There are four UN entities but they are having the same role which is to deliver relief. The examples of UN entities are United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WPF). Each of the entity has their own role in deliver relief capacity.

        The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) responsible in protect refugees and help them to solve their problems worldwide. For example, 750,000 Palestine refugees that had lost their home due to the Arab and Israeli conflict were help by United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which entity created by General Assembly.

        Apart from that, The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) helps many children as much as possible with best and low-cost solutions to reduce threats to their survival. This UN entity also encourages government and warring parties to give out their hands to protect children.

        The role World Food Programme (WFP) is to provide food and funds for transport in order to support the relief operation that managed by UNHCR. Millions of victims of disasters received the help from this UN entity. Farmers will also receive help from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) when their farms were destroying by disaster.

        Last but not least, the role of World Health Organization (WHO) is to provide leadership on global health matters, setting standards, providing technical support to countries, monitoring health trends and many more.

-by Li Houng-

References

UN. (n.d.). Deliver Humanitarian Aid | United Nations. [online] Available at: http://www.un.org/en/sections/what-we-do/deliver-humanitarian-aid/index.html [Accessed 5 May 2016].

Promote Sustainable Development

     Two decades ago, there are almost 40% of people in the developing world are living in an extreme poverty condition. Due to this reason, the UN developed Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and provided big help in decreasing the population of extreme poverty in 50%. During 2000, a number of world leaders promise their nation to attain 8 goals in the MDGs by 2015. Among these 8 goals, it including to halve extreme poverty, to crease the HIV and AIDS from spreading and provide universal primary education. The MDGs successfulness and the disclosure of the need to get rid of poverty prompted the UN to implement a forceful agenda which is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

       The world nowadays in facing the big problem in climate change where the sea-level raising, the glaciers are melting and the weather is changing in an unexpected way. The changes in climate bring challenges in the growth of world’s development. In order to come across with this problem sustainability play an important effect. During 2015, UN established an agreement regarding the universal global climate. They supported efforts to assess the climate science, facilitate negotiations under the UN Framework Convention for a climate agreement. Furthermore, they also are assisting different countries in reducing pollutions and increase the ability to adapt to climate. A financing for development framework was also been developed for the UN to make sure both the sustainable development agenda and climate action are properly resourced. Besides solving poverty problem and climate changes in the world, the UN also work hard on problem regarding gender discrimination. They establish the UN Women which role is to eliminate discrimination against women and girls. From here women get empowerment and equality to be a partner and beneficiary in development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

-by Lin Wei-

References 

Un.org. (2016). Promote Sustainable Development | United Nations. [online] Available at: http://www.un.org/en/sections/what-we-do/promote-sustainable-development/ [Accessed 6 May 2016].

The current tax system is unfair to the middle class and lower income groups. Do you agree?

We Agree...

"First of all, I would like to agree that the current tax system is unfair to the middle class and lower income group, I would like to discuss about Good and Services tax (GST). Daiso Japan before GST is Rm5 shop, what mean Rm5 shop? Because each item they only selling in Rm5 only, that’s why not only during weekend or public holiday, even weekday also crowded in that shop, most of them is from middle class or lower income groups. Can see that Daiso is making another trend to target Malaysia market.
But after Good and Services tax (GST) , We can see that Daiso price From RM5 increase to RM5.30,that’s mean increase the price , that related to customer, customer have to pay extra RM0.30/6% to purchase each item in Daiso. There is influences customer purchase power and increase consumer spending. The customer is more harm than benefit."

F&B line

"The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has now replaced the previous Sales and Services Tax (SST). SST was at 10% for sales tax and 6% for service tax respectively. With GST in place, that means companies should not be collecting service tax anymore.
In other words, the calculation of your restaurant bill is now:
110% (food, drinks and service charge) x 6% (GST)."

What exactly is the service charge? Firstly, it is important to know that service tax and service charge are not the same thing.

"The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has now replaced the previous Sales and Services Tax (SST). SST was at 10% for sales tax and 6% for service tax respectively. With GST in place, that means companies should not be collecting service tax anymore."

By Robben

References:

"About DAISO │ DAISO JAPAN". Daisoglobal.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 May 2016.
Ramachandran, Sonia. "What? Six Per Cent GST On Food Price And Service Charge Too!".Theantdaily.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 May 2016.
"What Is Service Charge? Do I Have To Pay It?". S AYS.com . N.p., 2016. Web. 3 May 2016.

"I agree that the tax system in Malaysia is unfair to middle and lower income groups. Let’s look at the latest tax that implied by Government in Malaysia, GST (Goods and Services Tax). GST is a broad-based tax that will affect most of the Malaysian who are not a taxpayer. Government in Malaysia claims that the implementation of this tax will not burden their people as they did not increase the income tax rate but decrease the rate due to the implication of GST. This action is to alleviate the increasing in cost due to the GST. However, an individual do not need to pay income tax if his or her salary is below RM2, 500. So, the reduction of income tax rate is totally having no affection toward lower income groups. In reality, GST is increasing the burden of them as they are considered as low income groups and are not taxpayers previously. Obviously, their burden is increasing as they need to spend more money on what they purchase due to the implication of GST. Besides, they are now becoming taxpayers by paying the GST. Apart from that, GST also increase the burden of people who are in the middle class. People who are in the middle class need to pay not only GST, they also need to pay for their income tax due to their income are already exist the amount of RM2, 500. According to the Effective Year of Assessment 2016, from 1th January 2015 onwards, the tax rates for individual residents of Malaysia reduced by 1% to 3% in order to alleviate the increasing of goods and service cost. However, it is not a zero sum game. The burden of middle income groups will increase as they need to pay both income tax and GST."

By Li Houng

References: 

Focus, E. (n.d.). Malaysia - Income Tax | ExpatFocus.com. [online] Expatfocus. Available at: http://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-malaysia-taxation [Accessed 3 May 2016].

Gst.com.my. (n.d.). GST Timeline in Malaysia, GST submission date and Consumption Tax Chronology in Malaysia.. [online] Available at: http://www.gst.com.my/gst-malaysia.html [Accessed 3 May 2016].

Liew, H. (2015). Malaysia Income Tax Guide 2015. [online] SaveMoney. Available at: https://savemoney.my/personal-finance/malaysia-income-tax-guide-2015/ [Accessed 3 May 2016].

We Disagree...

"In Malaysia, the current tax system which known as Goods and Services Tax (GST Malaysia) is formally implemented since 1 April 2015 and GST rate is fixed at 6 (%) per cent. On the other hand, sales tax and service tax will be replaced. Actually, the purpose of applying GST is to make a more comprehensive, effective and transparent tax system.When GST is introduced the price of a product will become reduced.

When it comes to the statement of current tax system is unfair to the middle-class and lower-income groups in Malaysia. It is not true that those earning below RM4,000 per month who are not liable to pay income tax because of the implementation of tax under GST. This perception is not correct as the scope of charge for both types of tax is exactly different.

The scope of charge for income tax is based on the amount of monthly income received by an individual whilst the imposition of GST is based on the consumption of goods and services.

In fact, those not liable to income tax still pay sales tax and service tax on goods and services that they consume."

"The problem is, most consumers are not aware that the tax element has been embedded in the price of goods and services sold by the retailers. It means that the final price of consumed goods is actually tax inclusive where consumer will not be charged for a higher rate of sales and service tax under imposition of GST.

As a matter of fact, the imposition of GST will not make any difference to the tax burden of those earning below RM3,000 monthly due to they would only have to pay tax on the consumption of those goods and services. As a result, I disagree the argument of current tax system is unfair to middle and lower incomers due to the reasons mentioned above."

By Yee Earn

References:

Goods & Services Tax - GST Malaysia | NBC Group. (2014). How GST affects you in Malaysia? | NBC Group. [online] Available at: http://www.nbc.com.my/gst/faqs-malaysia-goods-and-services-tax-gst/ [Accessed 3 May 2016].

Kumar, D. (2016). What are the good sides and the bad sides of GST (goods and services tax)? - Quora. [online] Quora.com. Available at: https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-good-sides-and-the-bad-sides-of-GST-goods-and-services-tax [Accessed 3 May 2016].

"According to a professor of USM in economic, the middle class in Malaysia is in the income range of Rm4000 to RM20000 per month while low income groups are people with income that less than that. Individual whose monthly salary is less than RM5000 are not chargeable to Malaysia income tax. This mean that the middle class and lower income groups typically entitle with tax breaks with their tax-free income, which is below RM5000. However, those residents with salary that are above RM5000 will need to pay for the income tax. The rate of the chargeable personal income tax also had been reduced. This allowed the people to get back more pocket money from the government. Nevertheless, the government give financial support to people in these two categories. They launch the 1 Malaysia People’s Assistance Scheme (BR1M) and the 1 Malaysia People’s Housing Scheme (PR1MA) to help those who are unable to afford in buying a house, especially the low income groups. Also, government implemented “The Youth Housing Scheme” which benefit of young couples with a wages of less than RM10000 per month. If they are going to purchase their first properties, they will entitle discount on stamp duty and loan instruments. Moreover, the government will give financial support of RM200 each month for the first two year on their loan repayments. Due to the reasons above, I disagree that the current tax system in Malaysia is unfair to the middle class and lower income groups as they gain more benefits than disadvantages from the tax system. "

By Lin Wei

References:

2015/2016 Malaysian Tax and Business Booklet. (2015). 1st ed. [ebook] p.3. Available at: http://www.pwc.com/my/en/assets/publications/2016-malaysian-tax-business-booklet.pdf [Accessed 3 May 2016].

Mohamed, R. (n.d.). How will you classify salaries in Malaysia as middle class, upper middle class, and higher class with respect to financial stability? - Quora. [online] Quora.com. Available at: https://www.quora.com/How-will-you-classify-salaries-in-Malaysia-as-middle-class-upper-middle-class-and-higher-class-with-respect-to-financial-stability [Accessed 3 May 2016].

S. GREWAL, I. (2014). Malaysia’s middle class challenge - Making Progress | The Star Online. [online] Thestar.com.my. Available at: http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/online-exclusive/making-progress/2014/10/14/malaysias-middle-class/ [Accessed 3 May 2016].


"There are 2 other indirect taxes already present in the Malaysian tax system. One of them is the Sales Tax, and the other is the Service. Combined, they are usually referred to as the SST. The Goods and Services Tax in Malaysia (GST) was initially mooted by the federal government in 2011 to replace the existing Sales and Service Taxes, but was met with much resistance from the public at large, partially due to the implication of a price hike in essential goods and services, but also partially due to the lack of clarity around the current consumption tax systems in Malaysia. In this situation, I agree that GST is unfair to the middle and lower income group. Businesses are expected to continue facing challenges carried over from last year as ongoing subsidy rationalisation and higher raw material prices translate to higher costs in business.
Additionally, the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) is affect the small and medium business and which could unfair to the lower spending. There are some impacts to the lower and middle income business as they are required to have GST-compliant accounting systems. The upgrade will lead to some change of internal processes and procedures.
Also, businesses may need to purchase new ICT hardware and recruit additional employees to handle the GST compliance work. However, businesses with annual revenue not exceeding RM500, 000 are not required by law to register for GST but they still need to pay to the suppliers that are registered with GST. They are not able to claim the input cost on their purchase of raw materials. This may be disadvantage for the small and medium business compare to the company have registered. These issues will cause the old people who do not know to use for the technology and they have to shut down their business due to this reason. "

By Ke Sin

References: 

Ho, Fiona (2015): „To GST Or Not To GST? – What Small-Time Business Owners Need To Know | iMoney“. iMoney Malaysia. Abgerufen am 03. 05. 2016 von https://www.imoney.my/articles/to-gst-or-not-to-gst-what-small-time-business-owners-need-to-know.
Liew, Hann (2016): „GST in Malaysia - How the Goods and Services Tax affects You“. SaveMoney.my. Abgerufen am 03. 05. 2016 von https://savemoney.my/personal-finance/gst-in-malaysia-how-the-goods-and-services-tax-affects-you/.
(2015): „Businesses continue with their preparations for implementation of GST in April - Community | The Star Online“. Thestar.com.my. Abgerufen am 03. 05. 2016 von http://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2015/01/01/the-race-to-get-ready-businesses-continue-with-their-preparations-for-implementation-of-gst-in-april/.
 (2014): „How To Start GST? Get Your Company Ready with GST“. Goods & Services Tax - GST Malaysia | NBC Group. Abgerufen am 03. 05. 2016 von http://www.nbc.com.my/gst/how-to-start-gst-get-your-company-ready-with-gst/.

 (2013): „Nine things you must know about the GST“. KINIBIZ. Abgerufen am 03. 05. 2016 von http://www.kinibiz.com/story/issues/52351/nine-things-to-know-about-the-gst.html.

Inspiring stories: People who have changed the world

Today this blog is going to inspire you and maybe it will help you to learn something new that you can apply in your life - Li Houng

     In this blog I am going to write an inspiration story of a person who has changed the world. Well, my dear Miss Kalai, I first read you title I already have in mind I would definitely choose a foreign person story but not a local one (sorry for my stubborn). So I decided to write about Colonel Sanders. Yes, a KFC founder. If you Google it “people with inspiration story”, from that website, you definitely can see his name. I don’t know you like to eat KFC or not but I do really like it because of the well fried crispy chicken skin. It is very tasty! KFC is one of the successful businesses in this world. But we do know, behind every successful business, there will always have a very hardship of process need to go through. 

     Why I choose to write about the story of Colonel Sanders? Is it solely because of I like to eat KFC? NO! Don’t worry, you are about to know soon. One of the most amazing aspects of his life is the fact that when he reached the age of sixty-five, after running a restaurant for several years, Harland Sanders found himself penniless. He retired and received his first social security check which was for one hundred and five dollars. And that was just the beginning of his international fame and financial success story…

     He was broke, what he got is just a small house and a beat up car. He wants to have a change in his life. He was done with his current life and he was not going to live in that small house and continuously being broke anymore. He decided that he has got to change. Poorly, the only idea he had was just a chicken recipe, which his friends liked. He was going to try his luck with only that idea in his mind by taking massive action.

     To sell his idea, he needs to leave his home which located in Kentucky. He closed his restaurant in year 1952 and he traveled to many states in the U.S in order to find someone who willing to buy his idea. He went to a lot of restaurant and he made deal with the restaurant owner. He told the restaurant owners that he had one chicken recipe which people liked and he was giving it to them for free. But the only condition he requested was the restaurant owners need to pay him a small percentage on the pieces of chicken sold as Colonel Sander’s return. 

     Things do not go under his plan. He got rejections after rejections. The most inspiration one is he does not give up easily. In fact, he got over 1000 rejections. He got 1009 no’s before he got his first yes. With that one first yes, Colonel Sanders changed the eating habits of the whole world with his friends liked chicken recipe, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Yeayea, he does change mine! =P

     What you’ve learned from this short piece of story? I would say that I’ve learned a lot and it really inspired me. I must have self-evident like Colonel Sanders. I do question myself, “If I were him, can I really do something with the only piece of chicken recipe?” Actually I still have a doubt on myself with that question. To me, he will become successful is not solely of he is intelligent. I would say that the right attitude and behaviour were the impeller to make him become a successful businessman. As I know, not everyone will dare to take their first step out just to change his life. But, we should learn from him as he would like to end his poor life by making changes (leave his house, travelled across country to sell off his chicken recipe to make money). 

     Another part of story which inspired me was he does not give up easily although he got rejected by so many restaurant owners. I would like to emphasize on this attitude as nowadays there are many young entrepreneurs fighting for their own business. I wanted to let them know, fight for own business is tough but after they gone through the hardest part, they are going to success. Young entrepreneurs or people who are doing sales like insurance agents we should learn from this story. We do not know we are going to success on the 110 times after we’ve got 109 times of no. We must get rid of all the difficulties or barriers which may stop us from being successful. So, call on all the young people doesn’t matter who you are and what you are doing now, “Do not afraid to change your life and don’t easily give up on doing something”. Only that you will know how far you can go. 

The photo of Colonel Sanders

References:

"Inspirational Short Stories - Success Story Of Colonel Sanders (Aka KFC) - Smilepls.Com". Smilepls.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.

"The Story Of Colonel Sanders And How He Started KFC". YourStory.com. N.p., 2012. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.

Feloni, Richard. "KFC Founder Colonel Sanders Didn't Achieve His Remarkable Rise To Success Until His 60S - Business Insider". Business Insider. N.p., 2015. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.

Inspiring stories: People who have changed the world -- ROBBEN SIAH

     There have been a number of people throughout history whose actions have changed the world. Every one living on the earth might become a great person who brings changes to the entire world. Today, I would like to share an inspiring successful story about a Malaysian whose invention have marked an important development in technology field. He is Pua Khein-Seng, an energetic 35 year old who is well known as the man behind the pen drive.

     When taking about great Malaysian with successful stories, many locals would be surprised to know that the inventor of pendrive is a Malaysian. Well, he was born in Sekinchan, Selangor in the year 1974 and his father is a farmer. Since the age of nine, he was assisting his father by working at the paddy fields. He then pursued tertiary study by taking degree in Electrical Control Engineering at the renowned Chiao Tung Taiwan in 1993. By that time, his only plan was to complete his studies and return home to work in Malaysia. Nonetheless, he completed his undergraduate programme with first class honour and being offered a place to continue masters.

     He worked for about nearly half year in a Taiwanese company after completed masters. Soon and later, he decided to set up his own venture company with four fellow engineers who had studied with him in the same university. Phison Electronic Corporation is the name of the company where the name originated from the collaboration between five of them, two Malaysian and three Taiwanese engineers. Initially, the company was focused on USB technology. He made his mark in the information technology industry by creating the pendrive. Before the invention of pendrive, people have been using former data storage devices such as floppy disks. The floppy disks have limited capacity storage and these disks have becoming less practical and getting eliminated. Meanwhile, their new product – the USB or also known as pendrive has a favourable demand because it is much smaller and capable of storing larger amount of data. In addition, the USB also much cheaper to produce. 

     Phison Electronic Corporation was the first company in the world to develop the USB Drive SoC or System On Chip. Pua and his fellow partners were confident that USB will have great demand in the market. They spent a lot of sleepless night and faced numerous obstacles before they could smell success. Their first challenge was to raise US $1 million in capital. After they achieved that, they tried to hire more engineers. However, many skilled engineers were reluctant to join their company with the reasons that they are new start-up business and did not have experience within the industry. 

     They introduced pendrive in June 2001 but they broke even by August in the same year. There was a great shortage in the global supply of flash memory. The company tried to source its supply from Samsung who is one of two major global suppliers of flash memory. Nevertheless, Samsung refused to supply Phison because they mainly support bigger companies. After being turned down by Samsung, Phison seek Toshiba for help. Fortunately, Toshiba saved Phison from bankruptcy by providing the urgent supplies that the company needed. Thus, Toshiba has become Phison’s largest shareholder and customer. 

     Today, Phison has become one of the top producers of NAND memory circuits in global. The company was succeed in achieving Bloomberg Businessweek’s Tech 100 List of top performing tech companies. As a successful entrepreneur and investor, he is definitely a role model for the younger generation to learn with. He said if one chose to stay in his comfort zone, he would bound to suffer from lack of success. 

“No one will be poor the whole life through; work hard and you will have wealth” by Pua’s father. 

     Last but not least, his success not only changed the world but he also an inspiring soul who have changed my view on life to become a better person. 

References:

"Pua Khein Seng: I'm A Malaysian And I Invented The USB (Pen Drive)". Funnymalaysia.net. N.p., 2015. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.

"Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman". Utar.edu.my. N.p., 2016. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.

"Up Close & Personal With Pua Khein-Seng - Business News | The Star Online". Thestar.com.my. N.p., 2009. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.

Yay~~!! I feel that Dr.Lawrence Walter Ng got a such magic. Every talk he give will change the world.

     DR LAWRENCE WALTER NG has been described as a dynamic and inspiring speaker. Through his creative presentation and humor, his audience have not only benefited tremendously from his teaching but also thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Thus, making learning interesting and effective. The impact of his lively training and concepts have generated greater energy and direction towards the challenge of excellence. Organisations and individuals have improved their performances with his training. Dr Lawrence Walter Ng has over 29 years experience in training and developing people. He was an advertising, marketing and creative consultant and began his focus on training in 1986. Since then, he has personally spoken to more than 2,000,000 participants. His unique methods of training and ideas are designed to take participants on an exciting journey of learning excellence. He has also produced an Innovative Self Learning package on Corporate Excellence and Personal Self-Improvement. Dr Lawrence Walter Ng also founded the concept of the Mental Warrior, an advanced workshop on Brain Power Motivation and the Psychology of Success. Through his research and experience, he discovered certain patterns of excellence that produce effective results through the understanding of both positive and negative thoughts. Dr Lawrence Walter Ng is one of Asia’s top speakers and Chief Master Trainers. 

     Thus, Lawrence Walter Seminars specializes in customizing our award-winning training programs to exactly what you need to ensure that your organisation and the people feel inspired to do the right things positively and as ONE team. LWS strategically designs the powerful flow of positive energy and specialized knowledge so that it aligns with your organisation’s mission and year-on-year growth road map. By doing this, the training greatly accelerates the transformation and even helps you achieve Quantum Results! Most importantly, people will feel the joy of learning, the passion to be great and the desire to work cohesively together as ONE. These may be achieved through team building, management development training, corporate training, leadership training, public speaking, motivational seminars and motivational workshops, are just to name a few. LWS training Group of Companies was incorporated by Dr Lawrence Walter Ng to ensure this greater purpose is attained. For over 30 years, Dr Lawrence Walter Ng and his team of Master Trainers & supportive ‘angels’ has brought his action- packed, high energy training seminars to over 500 companies in 10 countries around the Asia Pacific region.

     Now you can experience why he is one of Asia’s Top Speakers & Master Trainer. You too can invite him to your company or country and allow your people to discover their hidden potential. He will give you the KEY to success that will unlock the POWER inside you. We also invite you to view his Books, listen to the interesting Audio and watch the award-winning Videos in our unique website. “Dynamic, Very Energetic, Impact, Motivating, Focused, Creative, Entertaining & Talented Speaker.” – Comments from participants of the Trainers Meet Trainers (TMT) Conference where Dr Lawrence was invited to speak. Here is an opportunity to discover why he is so successful. When he talks, people listen, they think, they feel, and they realize that they can do better. Invite Dr Lawrence Walter Ng to your next company’s convention or seminar and motivate your team to a higher level of excellence. 

     The Greater Purpose of Lawrence Walter Seminars is to inspire people & organisations to be extraordinary every single day so that they can add enormous value to everyone that they interact or engage with.

      The unique and interactive methodology can make you feel the difference of you before and after developed by Dr. Lawrence Walter Ng. His training uses the participating system of the Art of Learning, the lively concept of Accelerated learning, USA and the precise science of human behavior called Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) to make the training exciting, fast paced, Fun and inspiring you. Get ready to experience Innovative Thinking Games (ITG) which will presented impact fully to enable participants to fully understand what is taught because it involves multi-neuro senses learning and multi-intelligence format. the seminar is not based on the lecture format, rather on active participation and the Co-operative Learning Concept. the master trainer becomes a powerful facilitator guiding you to change towards excellence. these innovative thinking games encourage participants to challenge themselves to create new results. Specially selected videos and movies are used to create special visual learning experiences. Powerful demonstrations make the whole training a wonderful and high experience to the participants.

                   

     Dr. Lawrence Walter Ng has achieved the goals to his customer. For example, after 3 stages of impactful training, Starbucks achieve the highest growth ever. the CEO presenting this award to LWS for helping them to do the extraordinary when many companies are just not doing well. So this is the best time to strengthen the mindset of your team. Lastly, this is the reason why I choose Dr. Lawrence Walter Ng as the people who can inspiring the world. "Team Power is Key, Focus on Being a Mental Warrior" -------by Dr. Lawrence Walter Ng.

Dr. Lawrence with the Starbucks CEO. 

References: 

Dr.Lawrence Walter Ng company profile http://www.lwseminars.com/about-us/company-profile/ [ view: 10 Apr 2016]

Dr. Lawrence seminars and rewards that he achieved : http://www.lwseminars.com/master-trainers/dr-lawrence-walter-ng/ [View: 11 Apr 2016]

Facebook of Dr. Lawrence : https://www.facebook.com/LawrenceWalterSeminars/ [View: 11 Apr 2016]

Linked in profile of Dr. Lawrence : https://my.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-walter-ng-2b5a7572 [View: 11 Apr 2016] 

By Tai Ke Sin

     I have heard about the name of Nicol David since I was in primary school. So far what I know about her is that, she is an excellent squash player in Malaysia. I do not know much story about her until when I am assigned to write an inspiring story about a local people, I choose Nicol David as my title and start searching for more stories about her. 

Who is Nicol David?

Nicol David was born in Penang on 26 August 1983, one of the daughters of Desmond David and Ann Marie David. Her father is an Indian engineer and former state athlete while her mother is a retired Chinese teacher. Nicol academic performance during primary and secondary school was good. She wanted to be an engineer like her father does. At the age of 5, she started playing squash. 3 years later, she won the silver medal in the Under-16 category in the 1992 Milo-Dunlop Sport National Junior Interstate Championship and this was her first national title.  Year by year, Nicol won a lot of championship in different competition, it include:

• 1999 – Women’s World Junior Squash Championships in Antwerp, Belgium (Became the youngest female world junior champion), Champion in British Junior Open, Champion in German Junior Open, Champion in Asian Junior
• 2005 – Win a British Open title and the first Asian to crowned in women’s category, Win in the World Open in Hong Kong
• 2006 – Become the world NO. 1 squash player
• 2009 – Won her second Seoul City Open
• 2010 – Wond the women’s singles final of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi
• 2011 to 2014 – Won a number of championship in different country’s competition, including Hong Kong Open, United State Open, British Open and World Open

Why can She be so Successful?

     During an interview, Nicol recalled that she was travelling around the world, meeting new friends when she was 9 to 10 years old and also, people were telling her that squash can bring her to bright future. This is the reason why Nicol push herself further to perform better in squash. The moment when she won the World Junior title when she was 15 years old, what come into her mind was she thinks that someday she can be a world champion. With a lot of hard work, consistency, determination and resilience, she made her dream come true. 

     Yes! To be success, you have to pay for it! Not paying cash, but pay with effort. Nicol had undergone tough training day by day. She admitted that when you put in the effort, waking up in the morning with body aches, and unable to get out of bed because your body is too stiff and hurting too much; these are the times you wish you could take one day off from training. However, this doesn’t allow her to escape from the training even for one day because she knows that the same feeling will come across her the next day too. This will only slow down her training progress. She believes that, till the end of the day, when she goes into a competition, everything will be fine.

A Turning Point of Nicol

     In the 2002 Asian Games that held in Busan, Nicol lose for the match and failed to retain the gold medal that she had won four year earlier. This was the lowest point of her life. However, failure is the mother of success; this incident caused her to move to training in Amsterdam under a coach name Liz Lrving, who is now her couch too. This couch train Nicol based on her strength. Nicol reflected that “I should not just depend on what I can do, but what I could do with what I have”. With the help of Liz, Nicol succefully ranked in the world’s top 10 within a year after she return to the circuit in 2003. In 2006 she was rank as the world NO.1. No denying, this is the happiest point of her life and she deserve it!

What Inspiring Me?

     This young lady who are able to be the first successful Malaysian athlete that well known in the world make me feel proud to be a Malaysian. I believe she can be a motivation for Asian girl to be as successful as her in the future, no matter in which career. She reminds us that, whenever you have a dream, you have to make it come true with effort and passion. We must be as tough as her whenever we facing with the lowest point of our life. When you feel to give up, always believe that when we get through the toughest time it will be another sunny day waiting you. 

Successful is only deserved for people who are prepared.  

References:

Leaderonomics.com. (2014). Top Of The World: A Chat With Leading Lady Nicol David. [online] Available at: http://leaderonomics.com/personal/top-of-the-world-a-chat-with-leading-lady-nicol-david [Accessed 11 Apr. 2016].

Thefamouspeople.com. (n.d.). Nicol David Biography. [online] Available at: http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/nicol-david-5971.php [Accessed 11 Apr. 2016].

By Lee Lin Wei

An inspiring story of people who has changed the world - Yeeearn

     Talking about inspiring, it must be someone who has made the world surprise with their talents and ideas. It is referring to the people who is able to influence and affect others with successful achievements and results. One of the most inspiring people to the world is one of the top most inspiring Malaysian young leaders- Bryan Loo.

     In fact, if you’re a tea drinker in Malaysia, Chatime, one of the fastest growing lifestyle tea chains in Malaysia would definitely ring a bell. Thanks to CEO, Bryan Loo, who recognized a void in culture of drinking tea in Malaysia. At 28 years of age, Bryan Loo has about 110 outlets of the bubble-tea beverage franchise, Chatime, all over Malaysia. With a completely unrelated degree in Biotechnology, Loo brought to Malaysia the Taiwan-based bubble tea brand franchise three years ago and sparked the bubble tea craze locally. Instead of Chatime, the bubble tea business rapidly raising in the country and many other brands came off and builds a huge business opportunities and competencies in the market.

     It's a business success story that has landed him as the winner for Malaysia’s Ernst & Young “young entrepreneur of the year 2013” award and his hard work paid off when he earned the accolades of “Best Master Franchiser 2012”. Success don’t come easily anyway, Loo was no stranger to rejections when he sent 50 proposals to different shopping malls and was rejected by every single one of them. His big breakthrough came when he opened his very first Chatime outlet in Pavillion KL. The rest, as they say, is history. Now, it has almost become a requisite for every shopping mall to have a Chatime outlet and there are more than 110 outlets in some of Malaysia’s most upmarket shopping malls.

“Don’t waste time working somewhere you hate”

     Loo’s road to Chatime success was a long one. A degree holder in biotechnology from Monash University, Melbourne, he returned to Malaysia after about four years and joined a stem cell company for more than two years where he was doing sales. Back then, the biotechnology industry was so raw and prospects in that field were very dim. So he decided to pursue his dreams and start his own business and it led Loo to look into the possibility of selling bubble tea in Malaysia. With one decision, changed his whole life of being a normal people. Loo stepped out of the job he disliked with his burning passion for business and tackled it head-on, and today he’s one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Malaysia.

     

     In terms of future business plans, Loo is very passionate about the F&B field. He has no plans to stop exciting the market with more F&B outlets. In May 2015, Tino's Pizza Express which serves Neapolitan style gourmet pizzas was established and he recently launched SodaXpress which is the first sparking water machine in Malaysia. As a result, "PASSION CONQUER EVERYTHING” Loo states that passion as the one thing that keeps him going about the journey of starting businesses. He proves that working with passions will actually bring you success! As the fastest growing beverage brand in Malaysia and the fastest growing Chatime franchise in the Asean region, story of Bryan Loo has inspired people with his brand achievement and personal value.

References:

https://vulcanpost.com/315641/8-lessons-chatime-bryan-loo/

http://our-social-network.blogspot.my/2011/05/chatime-what-drives-its-success.html