How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)

Monday, March 27, 2006

A dig at the taxman, wherever they are

Our income tax rules are incredibly one-sided, especially in terms of penalties.
If we did not pay within 30 days, 10% is added; if still unpaid, another 5%. Even if you have reason to believe that they have over-assessed, you have to pay first, sort out later. Yet, for tax refunds, we have to write to ask for it! Anyway, my refund has yet to be sent to me and it is time for submission again - one whole year of waiting in vain. Not earning interest while they sit on it because they are not liable to pay interest - how convenient!

For those who are not fans of Jeff Ooi, I wish to share chartered accountant Radha Vengadasalam's joke which appeared in Jeff's blog:

At the end of the tax year, the Tax Office sent an inspector to audit the books at a synagogue.

While he was checking the books, he turned to the rabbi and said: "I notice you buy a lot of candles. What do you do with the candle drippings?"

"Good question," said the Rabbi. "We save them up and send them back to the candle makers, and every now and then they send us a free box of candles."

"Oh, do you now," replied the auditor a little disappointed that his unusual question had been met with such a practical answer. But on he went in his obnoxious way.

"What about all the matzo you have purchased," he asked. "What do you do with all the crumbs?"

"Ah, yes," replied the Rabbi, realising that the auditor was trying to trap him with an unanswerable question.

"We collect them, send them back to the bakery and every now and then they send us a free box of matzo balls."

"Hmmm..." replied the auditor, beginning to realise that the Rabbi was more than a match for him.

"Well then rabbi," he continued, determined to catch him out, "what do you do with all the left over foreskins from the circumcisions you perform?"

"Here too, we do not waste," answered the Rabbi without a blink. "We save them and send them to the tax office. And about once a year they send us a complete prick."

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