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Thursday, August 21, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Asian oil sector losing talent to Gulf
SINGAPORE: The Asian oil-and-gas industry is facing a labour crunch crisis amid the lure of higher salaries in the Middle East, a management consultancy’s report said yesterday.
The Hay Group found workers in Asia are paid only a fraction of what a person in the same job would earn in the United Arab Emirates. For every dollar of guaranteed cash that a senior manager earns in the UAE, his counterparts in Singapore and Malaysia earn only 74 and 32 cents respectively, the report said.
The manager in China earns 46 cents and only 17 cents in Indonesia, said the findings from the Hay Group’s compensation and benefits database. Employees in Saudi Arabia and the UAE do not pay tax, leaving managers in these two markets enjoying the world’s highest disposable income, the report said.
Vijay Gandhi, general manager of Hay Group’s Reward Information Services, added a note of caution.
“Although the pay differential is higher between the Gulf countries and Asia, the relative value change for a person to move from Asia to the Gulf is diminishing because of the high cost of living and inflation in the Gulf region,” The Business Times quoted Gandhi as saying.
Home rents and expenses for children’s education have doubled in the last two years, he noted.
Published: Wednesday, 13 August, 2008, 01:28 AM Doha Time in Gulf Times.
The Hay Group found workers in Asia are paid only a fraction of what a person in the same job would earn in the United Arab Emirates. For every dollar of guaranteed cash that a senior manager earns in the UAE, his counterparts in Singapore and Malaysia earn only 74 and 32 cents respectively, the report said.
The manager in China earns 46 cents and only 17 cents in Indonesia, said the findings from the Hay Group’s compensation and benefits database. Employees in Saudi Arabia and the UAE do not pay tax, leaving managers in these two markets enjoying the world’s highest disposable income, the report said.
Vijay Gandhi, general manager of Hay Group’s Reward Information Services, added a note of caution.
“Although the pay differential is higher between the Gulf countries and Asia, the relative value change for a person to move from Asia to the Gulf is diminishing because of the high cost of living and inflation in the Gulf region,” The Business Times quoted Gandhi as saying.
Home rents and expenses for children’s education have doubled in the last two years, he noted.
Published: Wednesday, 13 August, 2008, 01:28 AM Doha Time in Gulf Times.
MAS named world’s 6th best airline (Qatar Airways 7th).
SYDNEY, Aug 14 — Singapore Airlines has been named the World’s Best Airline in the 2008 Airline of the Year awards, with Qantas coming third in the annual survey, up from fifth place last year, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. Malaysia Airlines came sixth.
After a spate of bad publicity for Qantas, including last month's on-board explosion, ongoing maintenance issues and an incident involving drunken flight attendant that led to two staff members resigning, the results bring some good news for the airline.
The awards, run by UK-based aviation research agency Skytrax, are based on the world's largest passenger survey, with 15 million passengers taking part around the world.
Recent reports on Qantas woes did not escape the notice of Skytrax's CEO, Edward Plaisted, who said that the criticism of airlines from within their own regions did not reflect the experiences of global customers.
The global rating for Qantas is interesting, he said. “We do find that many flag-carrier airlines suffer fairly vitriolic levels of reporting in their local regions, and the airline industry remains a business that some areas of the press seem to love to hate.”
Along with placing third in the awards behind Singapore and Cathay Pacific, Qantas also won the award for best first-class lounge, best economy-class catering and best airline in Australasia.
“The lounge concept for both product and staff service has been modelled around the finest quality you would expect to find in a five-star hotel or restaurant, and the best part is that the concept is being so well delivered by Qantas," Plaisted said.
Singapore won the title for the second year in a row and the third time in 10 years. The airline also took the award for best business class.
Business-class standards continue to be upgraded by airlines across the world, and Singapore Airlines managed to retain its title amidst this growing level of competition, Plaisted said.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, who recently expanded its Australian routes, climbed into the top 10 for the first time, placing tenth.
The world's best airlines :
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific
3. Qantas
4. Thai Airways
5. Asiana Airlines
6. Malaysia Airlines
7. Qatar Airways
8. Air New Zealand
9. Emirates
10. Etihad Airways.
Under various categories:
Best First Class — Cathay Pacific
Best Business Class — Singapore Airlines
Best Premium Economy Class — EVA Air
Best Economy Class — Asiana Airlines
Best low-cost airline — EasyJet ( where's AirAsia?? )
Best Inflight Entertainment — Emirates
Best First-Class Catering — Cathay Pacific
Best Business-Class Catering — Austrian
Best Airline: Transatlantic — British Airways
Best Airline: Transpacific — Air New Zealand.
From PACNEWS, the Pacific News Agency Service.
After a spate of bad publicity for Qantas, including last month's on-board explosion, ongoing maintenance issues and an incident involving drunken flight attendant that led to two staff members resigning, the results bring some good news for the airline.
The awards, run by UK-based aviation research agency Skytrax, are based on the world's largest passenger survey, with 15 million passengers taking part around the world.
Recent reports on Qantas woes did not escape the notice of Skytrax's CEO, Edward Plaisted, who said that the criticism of airlines from within their own regions did not reflect the experiences of global customers.
The global rating for Qantas is interesting, he said. “We do find that many flag-carrier airlines suffer fairly vitriolic levels of reporting in their local regions, and the airline industry remains a business that some areas of the press seem to love to hate.”
Along with placing third in the awards behind Singapore and Cathay Pacific, Qantas also won the award for best first-class lounge, best economy-class catering and best airline in Australasia.
“The lounge concept for both product and staff service has been modelled around the finest quality you would expect to find in a five-star hotel or restaurant, and the best part is that the concept is being so well delivered by Qantas," Plaisted said.
Singapore won the title for the second year in a row and the third time in 10 years. The airline also took the award for best business class.
Business-class standards continue to be upgraded by airlines across the world, and Singapore Airlines managed to retain its title amidst this growing level of competition, Plaisted said.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, who recently expanded its Australian routes, climbed into the top 10 for the first time, placing tenth.
The world's best airlines :
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific
3. Qantas
4. Thai Airways
5. Asiana Airlines
6. Malaysia Airlines
7. Qatar Airways
8. Air New Zealand
9. Emirates
10. Etihad Airways.
Under various categories:
Best First Class — Cathay Pacific
Best Business Class — Singapore Airlines
Best Premium Economy Class — EVA Air
Best Economy Class — Asiana Airlines
Best low-cost airline — EasyJet ( where's AirAsia?? )
Best Inflight Entertainment — Emirates
Best First-Class Catering — Cathay Pacific
Best Business-Class Catering — Austrian
Best Airline: Transatlantic — British Airways
Best Airline: Transpacific — Air New Zealand.
From PACNEWS, the Pacific News Agency Service.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
PETROMINWORK/HESS Merdeka Bowling Tournament
Venue : Qatar Bowling Centre
Date : 15 August 2008 (Friday)
Time : 7.30-10.30am
Let's go & bowl!!!
Date : 15 August 2008 (Friday)
Time : 7.30-10.30am
Let's go & bowl!!!
Friday, August 8, 2008
08.08.08
The date has different importance & significance to me. To the whole world, it is the official opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympic 2008 in China.
To me, it was on this date I passed my driving licence in Qatar! Yes, it has been one year since I passed my licence in Qatar. It was a big achievement & relieve to get a licence here. It was like having the key to your freedom. More than one month without car was never easy. The most noticeable problem was to get to work & back. With unreliable public transport, it was a nightmare to commute to work. I still remember I had to book Karwa taxi operated by Mowasalat one day in advance! What a nightmare... Not mention, my little Alisha kept asking me when we would have our own car again.. For one month she bombarded me with the question... hehe. What made it harder to swallow was due to the fact that I had been chauferred driven during my last posting in Vietnam before we came to Doha. Without a car seem unimagineable to Alisha.
A year ago, so many people informed me that not many Malaysians passed their driving test on the 1st test. That sent shivers to my spine. The pressure was so great especially knowing fully well that you had more that 20 years driving experience. To fail the test was not in the equation.
To begin with, I found the whole process of getting the licence unique :
1. You start with the filling up of a form complete with No Objection Letter from your sponsor for you to take the driving licence. Since the form is in Arabic, my Transport Department filled them up for me..hehe
2. 3 photos must be attached to the form (see note 4 below)
3. You must get the blood group confirmation from approved clinic (wonder why they need the info. Till now I still wonder...)
4. Get vision test for your eyes. The funny thing is that, you must make sure your appearance for the test is the same as in the photo in your application form. If your photo shows that you wear glasses, you must come for the vision test with glasses on. Else, the clinic will not proceed to do the test.
5. The completed form must be surrendered together with your valid Malaysian driving licence to the police to allow you to take 12 hours lesson. Without it, you will have to take full lesson ie 24 hours as they consider you as beginner.
6. Once everything is okay, you will be told the time of your class. Mine was from 8-9pm. Totally mencabar..
One driving school informed me that there was a que to enrol with them for the class. Guess how long the que was? 4 months! I almost fainted when I heard it. One month without a car was bad enough. To extend it for another 4 month was crazy. Totally unimagineable.
The learning part itself did not take place without any sweet experience. Some of us kept banging the door when they tried to change gear. Mind you, the gear is on your right hand side as we are driving left hand drive car. It was funny. Back home, we drive on right hand side. Imagine this... after 20 odd years of driving right hand side, you now drive on left hand side for the 1st time. Surely you disciplined and ever obliging left hand and your brain confuse.. The parking lot allocated for the test is also another issue. Back home, you can fit 2 Kancils in the test parking spot. In Doha, the test car can hardly go inside. It is so demanding. You have to stick to the formula. If you try to be creative, you will have to visit the test center again & again & again.. Fail la tu..
Now the test part... There are 4 parts in the test.
1. On the day itself, we have to come very early. The morning session test starts at 6am. We have to be there well before 6 to que to get the test card. Then we proceed to do oral Road Sign Test. In this part, you have to memorise every single road sign as they are written on the card. You are not allowed to use your own word. Imagine you have to say simple No U Turn in this manner - Turning Backward Prohibited. No Entry is called No Entry to All Vehicles. To name but a few... If you fail the sign test, see you again next time in 1 week time. You are not allowed to proceed.
2. If you are lucky, you will go to Slope & L Parking test. For experienced drivers, this is peanuts.
3. If you pass, you proceed to Pocket Parking. The most horrendous part of the driving test. So many people succumbed to this test.
4. Those who pass will proceed to the last leg of the test - on the road test. You need to decide whether you want to go 1st or later. If later, then you have to travel by the bus provided to wait for the car. Normally, the bus will follow the test car. It can be a nerve wrecking experience waiting for your turn. At this point, you really need luck. Sometime, people fail for no reason at this stage. In short, you are at the mercy of the tester.
If you fail at any stage between 2-4 above, you can only sit for the next test after 1 month. Imagine the pressure I was in during the test day. It was like going for a big battle & only luck not skill would decide your fate. If you fail for the 2nd time, you need to take full lessons of 24 hours.
Luckily, I passed 1st time. It was a huge relief... At that point, Merdeka month really meant well for me...hehe
To me, it was on this date I passed my driving licence in Qatar! Yes, it has been one year since I passed my licence in Qatar. It was a big achievement & relieve to get a licence here. It was like having the key to your freedom. More than one month without car was never easy. The most noticeable problem was to get to work & back. With unreliable public transport, it was a nightmare to commute to work. I still remember I had to book Karwa taxi operated by Mowasalat one day in advance! What a nightmare... Not mention, my little Alisha kept asking me when we would have our own car again.. For one month she bombarded me with the question... hehe. What made it harder to swallow was due to the fact that I had been chauferred driven during my last posting in Vietnam before we came to Doha. Without a car seem unimagineable to Alisha.
A year ago, so many people informed me that not many Malaysians passed their driving test on the 1st test. That sent shivers to my spine. The pressure was so great especially knowing fully well that you had more that 20 years driving experience. To fail the test was not in the equation.
To begin with, I found the whole process of getting the licence unique :
1. You start with the filling up of a form complete with No Objection Letter from your sponsor for you to take the driving licence. Since the form is in Arabic, my Transport Department filled them up for me..hehe
2. 3 photos must be attached to the form (see note 4 below)
3. You must get the blood group confirmation from approved clinic (wonder why they need the info. Till now I still wonder...)
4. Get vision test for your eyes. The funny thing is that, you must make sure your appearance for the test is the same as in the photo in your application form. If your photo shows that you wear glasses, you must come for the vision test with glasses on. Else, the clinic will not proceed to do the test.
5. The completed form must be surrendered together with your valid Malaysian driving licence to the police to allow you to take 12 hours lesson. Without it, you will have to take full lesson ie 24 hours as they consider you as beginner.
6. Once everything is okay, you will be told the time of your class. Mine was from 8-9pm. Totally mencabar..
One driving school informed me that there was a que to enrol with them for the class. Guess how long the que was? 4 months! I almost fainted when I heard it. One month without a car was bad enough. To extend it for another 4 month was crazy. Totally unimagineable.
The learning part itself did not take place without any sweet experience. Some of us kept banging the door when they tried to change gear. Mind you, the gear is on your right hand side as we are driving left hand drive car. It was funny. Back home, we drive on right hand side. Imagine this... after 20 odd years of driving right hand side, you now drive on left hand side for the 1st time. Surely you disciplined and ever obliging left hand and your brain confuse.. The parking lot allocated for the test is also another issue. Back home, you can fit 2 Kancils in the test parking spot. In Doha, the test car can hardly go inside. It is so demanding. You have to stick to the formula. If you try to be creative, you will have to visit the test center again & again & again.. Fail la tu..
Now the test part... There are 4 parts in the test.
1. On the day itself, we have to come very early. The morning session test starts at 6am. We have to be there well before 6 to que to get the test card. Then we proceed to do oral Road Sign Test. In this part, you have to memorise every single road sign as they are written on the card. You are not allowed to use your own word. Imagine you have to say simple No U Turn in this manner - Turning Backward Prohibited. No Entry is called No Entry to All Vehicles. To name but a few... If you fail the sign test, see you again next time in 1 week time. You are not allowed to proceed.
2. If you are lucky, you will go to Slope & L Parking test. For experienced drivers, this is peanuts.
3. If you pass, you proceed to Pocket Parking. The most horrendous part of the driving test. So many people succumbed to this test.
4. Those who pass will proceed to the last leg of the test - on the road test. You need to decide whether you want to go 1st or later. If later, then you have to travel by the bus provided to wait for the car. Normally, the bus will follow the test car. It can be a nerve wrecking experience waiting for your turn. At this point, you really need luck. Sometime, people fail for no reason at this stage. In short, you are at the mercy of the tester.
If you fail at any stage between 2-4 above, you can only sit for the next test after 1 month. Imagine the pressure I was in during the test day. It was like going for a big battle & only luck not skill would decide your fate. If you fail for the 2nd time, you need to take full lessons of 24 hours.
Luckily, I passed 1st time. It was a huge relief... At that point, Merdeka month really meant well for me...hehe
Be Happy. It is your birthday, Dood!
On 6 August 2008, we celebrated Dood's birthday. It was at TGI Friday. Original plan was to hold it at The Mint. Unfortunately, The Mint was closed for renovation. We headed to TGI Friday in Landmark instead.
Everything went well except the attitude of the waitresses & the food. We found the foods were not that tastefully cooked and presented. For the price we paid (actually the birthday boy picked up the tap..hehe. Thanks Dood!), we thought the foods were overpriced. Some of the foods looked like daging masak kicap! Yes, we are talking about steaks here. Even fried calamari looked weird. Not to mention the onion ring...
Nevertheless, we enjoyed the dinner largely due to the companies that night. To have everybody at the same time could be a daunting task as some of us work on shift & odd hours especially the QA staffs. That was also the reason why we held the dinner a day earlier than birth date of Dood. To accomodate the family members! We did miss Deen that night though.. hehe.
Happy birthday, Dood. Semoga panjang umur, murah rezeki...
Everything went well except the attitude of the waitresses & the food. We found the foods were not that tastefully cooked and presented. For the price we paid (actually the birthday boy picked up the tap..hehe. Thanks Dood!), we thought the foods were overpriced. Some of the foods looked like daging masak kicap! Yes, we are talking about steaks here. Even fried calamari looked weird. Not to mention the onion ring...
Nevertheless, we enjoyed the dinner largely due to the companies that night. To have everybody at the same time could be a daunting task as some of us work on shift & odd hours especially the QA staffs. That was also the reason why we held the dinner a day earlier than birth date of Dood. To accomodate the family members! We did miss Deen that night though.. hehe.
Happy birthday, Dood. Semoga panjang umur, murah rezeki...
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Program Sumbangan Beras Sempena Ramadan 2008
Program Sumbangan Beras to Vietnam's Muslim Community sempena bulan Ramadan tahun ni. This is an annual donation programme organised by my ex-PETRONAS colleagues in PC Vietnam Ltd, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. They also organise Program Qurban sempena Hari Raya Haji.
They plan to deliver the rice on 3rd week of August ie 1 week before Ramadan.
The two photos attached may give you some insight to the condition of one of the Muslim communities in Vietnam. Extraordinary dhaif!
I would say most Muslims in Vietnam are Malay origin. Most of them are Malay Champa.
They plan to deliver the rice on 3rd week of August ie 1 week before Ramadan.
The two photos attached may give you some insight to the condition of one of the Muslim communities in Vietnam. Extraordinary dhaif!
This is the surau in one of the kampungs (above) &
the kampung (below).
I would say most Muslims in Vietnam are Malay origin. Most of them are Malay Champa. Hopefully we can sedekah a lot more this time around. Last year, we managed to sedekah in total 17,146kg of rice to 64 masjids & surau. On top, sedekah also given to fakir miskin, anak-anak yatim, ustaz etc. seramai 243 people.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Malaysian Food Festival in Doha
Malaysian & Indonesian Food Festivals to be organised by Marriott Hotel, Doha from 16 -31 Aug 2008. Indonesian food will be served from 16-22 August 2008 & Malaysian food will be served from 23-31 August 2008. It will be held between 6.30-10.30pm daily at Asia Live! Restaurant.What a way to celebrate 51st Merdeka month & to welcome Ramadan!
Be part of this deliciously different culinary experience and explore an exciting lineup of exotic Indonesian and Malaysian dishes for your gastronomic indulgence.
For reservations or more information, you can call +974 429 8499 or email DineMarriottDoha@marriott.com
For more information on Marriot Hotel, Doha, please visit http://www.dohamarriott.com/
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