Monday, 8 March 2010
Apabila kita penat balik kerja
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Children Learning: the Naza way
Adapted from -
Faisal's drive: From VW to Maserati
By Mustapha Kamil and Zuraimi Abdullah
bt@nstp.com.my2009/02/28
His father, the late Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin, then reminded Faisal that the poor guy who bought the car was his eldest son's customer and it was his duty to attend to his needs.
(Lesson #1 - taking responsibility and actions to put it right)
It was some of Faisal's early education in customer relationship, lessons which later proved useful in ensuring that people will continue to visit showrooms of the Naza motor empire.
Events of 16 years ago also help build the trust put into a company he now heads by no less than two of the world's foremost craftsmen of premium cars - Ferrari and Maserati.
Faisal, now 29, is also heading a company that distributes the American spirit of the open road bike, the Harley Davidson, and the Italian road runner, Ducati.
These are but some of the high performance makes that companies under his charge have in the sprawling showroom in Petaling Jaya, and as special that these makes are, it takes equally special skills to market them.
A potential Ferrari buyer doesn't walk into the showroom asking whether or not the cars have airbags. Their knowledge of the cars, at times, beat that of even the salesperson's.
"When can I get my car?" would be the primary question, Faisal said.
Depending on the extent of personalised configuration a customer asks for, the soonest a brand new Maserati is ready to burn rubber on asphalt would be about four months.
Herein lies the challenge for Faisal and his team of piston heads - to manage understandably eager customers who wouldn't bat an eyelid in pumping RM1.2 million for a Maserati or almost twice that for a Ferrari.
And when someone signs for a car with the trident or the prancing horse emblem on the hood, its not only a sale but the beginning of a lifelong relationship.
The buyer will automatically be a member of a closely-knit club of people who appreciate cars much more than just as a mode of transportation.
The folks at Naza Italia have one advantage though. Many of their businesses are from repeat customers, people who have in the past bought such cars from the company and are satisfied with the services rendered.
Take the guy who bought the Volkswagen from Faisal, for instance. He has since then bought several more cars from the company, either for himself or for people close to him.
Such was the trust built on the company with a solid foundation laid out by the late Nasimuddin, whose successful life in the motor trade business is well documented.
Faisal, his brothers Nasaruddin and Faliq were constantly reminded to have their feet planted firmly on the ground, no matter how successful the business would be.
(Lesson #2: Always be grateful with yourself)
All three are now in charge of their own stable of companies under the Naza Group and are designated group chief executives and also chief executives of the respective companies they head.
Faisal himself heads 24 companies, mostly trading in the upmarket vehicle makes, including Naza Italia, Naza Prestige Bikes, Naza Motor Trading and Naza Brabus.
All the brothers report to a board of directors, which comprises themselves and close family members.
Faisal's prowess in sales was nurtured early. In his university days, both in the UK and later the US, he would try to sell just about anything for some extra pocket money. His father sent STG250 (RM1,318) a month when he was in the UK and about US$250 (RM923) when he was in the US.
(Lesson #3: Let your children learn how to earn their living. Give them enough to start.)
At such a young age, he became the first to import a right-hand drive Nissan Skyline into the US, for a buyer in California.
It wasn't a good move importing a right-hand drive vehicle into a left-hand drive country and Faisal had to spend quite a bit before the car met American standards.
Needless to say, he lost money but nevertheless gained much insight into the workings of the vehicle import market.
(Lesson #4: Help the children learn from their failures - it is how they respond that make them a better person.)
Today, the Petaling Jaya showroom which is also home to Naza Motor Trading, has anything from imported used Porsches, various models of the Mercedes, BMWs, Audis, the American Humvee, some Japanese premium makes, Bentleys, right up to brand new Ferraris and, now, the Maserati.
In other buildings within the huge compound lie the Harleys, from the Softails to the V-Rods and its merchandise section.
There is also a cafe named after a city in Wisconsin, the US, where the bikes come from. There, Harley owners congregate and perhaps dream of one day making it to the celebratory annual "Ride Home" to Milwaukee.
And elsewhere in the compound, one can also come, even just to admire, the Ducati, an Italian bike that is now pushing the Japanese makes to the rear grids in the superbike GP circuit.
Source: http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/smfaisal/Article/index_html
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Four capacities of education
From: Curriculum of Excellence, Scotland
http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/curriculumforexcellence/sitegeneral/printfriendly.asp?printid=tcm%3A4-480552-64&dir=whatiscfe
Saturday, 3 January 2009
Stocks picks for 2009
Stocks picks for 2009
Stocks picked for 2009 include IOI, Tan Chong, AirAsia, PPB Group, Petronas Dagangan, Fraser & Neave, Resorts, Petronas Gas and Public Bank.
IOI Corp Bhd
For exposure to one of the best managed conglomerates in Malaysia and a proxy to a recovery in crude palm oil (CPO) prices, there are few better stocks than IOI Corp Bhd.
The catalysts for a recovery in this include CPO prices increasing to a more reasonable range of between RM2,000 to RM2,500 per tonne, and the launch of its Sentosa Cove projects.
IOI was the worst casualty during the recent sell-off in the plantation sector due to its high level of foreign shareholding, recent foreign exchange losses and departure of key management personnel. It is trading some 20% lower than early 2007 but given the estimates that this plantation heavyweight is due to earn 25.2 sen, it is trading above the forecast price/earnings ratio for Bursa Malaysia in 2009 but that could be pinned to the premium the stock has commanded of late.
Tan Chong
Motor Bhd
Tan Chong’s nine months to September 2008 net profit of RM217.6mil beat the market’s estimates and its performance among motor firms is to be admired.
Its third-quarter revenue also hit the RM1bil mark for the first time in a single quarter, or a 69% increase to RM1bil, thanks to higher car sales driven by more launches of new models.
Despite a more challenging year, Tan Chong is expected to guard its margins in the range of 8% to 10% underpinned by higher efficiencies in production and yearly increase in autoparts localisation (from 20% now to a targeted 50% by 2012).
This will lead to further improvement in costs which will also be the company’s competitive edge to hedge against the strengthening of yen against the ringgit moving forward.
Tan Chong will continue to launch three new models every year for the next three to four years given its strategy to garner more market share going forward. And while its profit for 2009 is projected to be lower – it is expected to earn 26.2 sen a share – Tan Chong’s valuations will be at a deep, and somewhat unwarranted, discount.
AirAsia Bhd
Airline shares have had a rough few years as one woe after another has hit this sector. From sky-high oil prices to cut-throat competition, airlines have had to manoeuvre to stay aflot during these trying times.
AirAsia has not been spared as it, too, took a financial hit in 2008 but clearer skies might be just over the horizon for this counter.
A merger between Qantas Airways Ltd’s Jetstar and AirAsia Bhd, if talks end up with the airlines having some form of cooperation, will be a positive for AirAsia.
The other benefit for AirAsia is that despite the economic slowdown, demand for short-haul services remains resilient and low-cost travel is benefiting from downtrading from full-service carriers.
Costs will also be much lower for AirAsia as fuel prices have collapsed. AirAsia will be paying spot prices – US$40 – from January.
The risk of a cash call has also dissipated with the successful financing for a further 37 aircraft, and the airline is projected to post a profit to the tune of 10.2 sen a share in 2009.
PPB Group Bhd
In times of uncertainty, it is always good to look at a company that goes back to basics and PPB Group, a diversified palm oil-based company, offers investors exposure to a number of industries that would benefit in this downturn. This is a steady consumer-oriented stock maybe well known for its exposure to plantation giant Wilmar International Ltd but its other less glamorous businesses will be pulling in the profits as crude palm oil prices remain depressed.
PPB has a sizeable operations in flour milling, sugar refining and feedmills to go with an increasingly profitable cinema operations. These commodity processing businesses will see margins improve as commodity prices remain low and would offset a decline in CPO-related earnings from associate company Wilmar.
Estimates have this stock earning 81.3 sen a share this year and the dividend is forecast to be a healthy 30.3 sen a share.
Petronas Dagangan Bhd
It’s not a sexy stock but its steady earnings and rock-solid business model is something investors might want to have a look at during a period of economic uncertainty.
Petronas Dagangan is the leading petrol station operator in the country and its margins, even though they fluctuate, and its nature of business give investors the security of investing in a profitable business.
Its gross profit may take a hit with the decline in pump prices but volume growth, from an ever growing number of petrol stations in the country and lower fuel prices, will offer stability of earnings.
For its 2010 financial year (its 2009 year ends in March), the company is forecast to post higher profit of 75 sen a share and dividend of 44 sen a share.
Petronas
Gas Bhd
This is another stock that has a boring label tattooed onto itself but its defensive nature will offer investors protection during times of market and economic volatility. Deriving earnings from the volume of gas sold, the risk to its earnings is small even though an economic slowdown may lead to lower a consumption of gas. That is because there is already a shortage of gas in the country.
The shuttering of petrochemical plants in the east coast may see lower demand for industrial gasses from its centralised utility facilities but the impact is expected to be small. Helping future earnings will be the company’s foray into the power generation business via its maiden power plant in Sabah.
The steady nature of Petronas Gas’s business is reflected in its forecast earnings, as estimates derived from Bloomberg has pegged the company earning 54.5 sen a share for its 2010 financial year and declaring a dividend of 47.7 sen a share.
Public Bank Bhd
It may be among the most expensive banking stocks in the world but that does not mean the stock should be ignored. The fact that it has attained such a status when banking stocks around the world are looked at with more suspicion means there is something worth looking out for in this bank. The high valuation is also a sign of confidence in this counter, signalling the market is putting a high degree of certainty that this bank will survive.
The strength of Public Bank makes it a stock worth watching out for. Its business is deeply consumer and small business centric and it has ridden the wave of lending activity in those two segments for nearly the past decade, chalking up strong double-digit growth rates and super low non-performing loans along the way.
Whether this will continue bears watching but it will be tough picking against the most defensive-natured banking stock heading into 2009. It has a forecast earnings of 72.2 sen a share for 2009 and a dividend of 69.5 sen a share.
Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd
One look at the stock chart of this counter and it’s almost a no-brainer pick. This stock has gained year-on-year for the past five years and the company’s profits continued to rise during the time.
It has without much fanfare done the business of giving growth while maintaining the hallmarks of good management. Expansion into neighbouring countries plus the steady defensive nature of its business - the company is a major bottler of soft drinks in the country - augur well for shareholders of this company.
As one analyst remarked, the major shareholders of this company are long-term investors and for good reason. The company is forecast to post earnings of 51.6 sen a share for its 2009 financial year ending Sept 30 while dividends are strong at 50.8 sen a share.
Resorts
World Bhd
With a net cash per share of 78 sen, Resorts World Bhd will still be viewed by investors as a safe stock to own during troubled times.
Resorts’ image was recently blemished by related-party transaction issues when it acquired 10% of Walker Digital Gaming (WDG) and 100% of Digital Tree (which earns royalties from WDG) for RM250.5mil.
If investors are willing to see beyond this “dishonour”, Resorts actually offers a cheap exposure to the solid domestic gaming operations, which continue to do well even in trying times.
It is also for this reason, that during market upturns, the stock tends to outperform the broader market, rendering it a firm favourite among foreign investors.
One broker said Resorts’ net cash hoard of more than RM4.3bil could be used for more acquisitions and capital management initiatives.
A check showed that 66% of analysts polled by Bloomberg have a buy call on the stock and have forecast the company earning 22 sen a share and declaring a dividend of 7.2 sen a share.
Source: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/1/3/business/2881919&sec=business
Saturday, 29 November 2008
Happy learners
Happy learners
By WONG LI ZA
Learning can be made fun and effective for young children.
PARENTS tend to forget that learning to write or buttoning a shirt can be difficult for a young child.
“Sometimes we can be impatient with our young children. In this fast-paced life, speed is everything. We want our children to walk, eat, dress, learn and grow up faster,” said Dr Goh Chee Leong, dean of the Behavioural Sciences Faculty at HELP University College.
Last Friday, Dutch Lady Malaysia launched World of Effective Learning, a 12-day exhibition aimed at educating parents on the challenges that children aged one to six face. The experiential learning event is organised in association with HELP University College’s Child Psychology Department.
“Empathy is an important part of being an effective parent. It is being able to see things from your child’s perspective and understand how your child feels, particularly the problems, struggles and difficulties they face in performing the simplest tasks,” said Goh.
The exhibition features activities like the “Unsteady Walk”, which allows parents to imagine how a child feels when taking her first steps. When adults try to write with the 4ft (1.2m) tall “Giant Pencil” at the exhibition, they will experience the difficulties their kids go through in the early stages of writing.
Children have different learning styles. Parents should try to find what works best for their child. Goh said parents today faced a fair amount of pressure in terms of their children’s education, particularly urban parents.
“They are very conscious of their child’s performance and the competition from other students in class, their friends’ children or relatives’ kids. When their child performs poorly, it’s like a loss of face for them,” said Goh.
In the first 10 years of a child’s life, there are huge variations in her progress, added Goh.
“The pace of development is different in every child. Some are faster, some are slower but in most cases, the child arrives at the same time.
“Parents should think long-term and (be satisfied) as long as the child has had a good education by the time he is 17 or 18.’
Goh stressed that parents’ role is to encourage, not pressure, a child to learn. “I don’t think parents should be overly stressed or worried when their kids are not the top students in school,” he said. “However, parents should take an interest in their child’s education. Check their homework, help them prepare for exams and cover the syllabus.
“The key is to motivate children to learn but not pressure them until they hate school and homework, or do homework because they are afraid of their parents,” said Goh.
He added that effective learning involves opening a child’s mind, curiosity, interest and joy in learning.
“Most children have natural intellectual curiosity. It is important not to kill their joy of learning,” he said. Some danger signs of this include a child losing her love of reading, ceasing to ask questions like before or starting to dislike things she used to love, like drawing or doing homework.
The long-term consequence is that the child will lose her natural sense of curiosity and become an adult who does not learn new things unless forced to.
“Some adults lack interest in general issues such as politics, economics or culture, but people who are interested are usually more successful and well-rounded,” said Goh.
He also stressed that children have different styles of learning.
“Some children are more visual while others more verbal or action-orientated. Parents should try everything and find the best method for their child.”
Obtaining balanced learning and development is the key, said Goh, who highlighted two of the biggest mistakes parents make.
“Parents still tend to emphasise academic development rather than the creative, social, moral and emotional aspects. The work environment today requires well-rounded individuals.
“Secondly, parents do not spend enough time with their children. They need to spend at least an hour of quality interaction a day with their kids, talking, communicating or reading with them,” said Goh.
Parents should also make an effort to engage in fun learning activities with their children.
“Ask them what they want to learn today and if it’s animals, take them to the zoo or if it’s aeroplanes, go to the airport or buy a book. Make sure they have a balanced time-table, which is not just filled with (school work) or indoor entertainment like television or computer games.”
Goh said parents need to be firm yet encouraging and understand the developmental stage of their child.
“At each stage there are different behaviours. It is important to engage in their child’s learning, which is more than just the school curriculum,” he said.
The World of Effective Learning event is on until Dec 2 at the Exhibition Centre, 3rd Floor, MidValley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur. The exhibition is open from 10am to 9pm. Admission is free.
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2008/11/26/lifeparenting/2594728&sec=lifeparenting
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Doa Nabi-nabi Dalam al-Quran
Doa Nabi-nabi Dalam al-Quran
Oktober 27, 2008
Doa Nabi Adam AS
“Ya Tuhan Kami, Kami telah Menganiaya diri Kami sendiri, dan jika Engkau tidak mengampuni Kami dan memberi rahmat kepada Kami, niscaya pastilah Kami Termasuk orang-orang yang merugi.”
(Surah Al A’raaf :23)
Doa Nabi Nuh AS
“Ya Tuhanku, Sesungguhnya aku berlindung kepada Engkau dari memohon kepada Engkau sesuatu yang aku tiada mengetahui (hakekat)nya. dan Sekiranya Engkau tidak memberi ampun kepadaKu, dan (tidak) menaruh belas kasihan kepadaKu, niscaya aku akan Termasuk orang-orang yang merugi.”
(Surah Hud :47)
Doa Nabi Hud AS
”Sesungguhnya aku bertawakkal kepada Allah Tuhanku dan Tuhanmu. tidak ada suatu binatang melatapun melainkan Dia-lah yang memegang ubun-ubunnya. Sesungguhnya Tuhanku di atas jalan yang lurus.”
(Surah Hud :56)
Doa nabi Ibrahim AS
Wahai Tuhanku,jadikanlah aku dan anak cucuku orang-orng yang tetap mendirikan sholat.Wahai Tuhan kami,kabulkanlah doaku.Wahai tuhan Kami ,berilah keampunan kepadaku dan dua ibu bapaku dan sekalian orang orang mukmin pada hari berlangsungnya hisab(nanti)”.(SurahIbrahim :40-41)
Doa Nabi Yusuf AS
“Wahai Tuhanku! Sesungguhnya Engkau telah mengurniakan daku sebahagian dari kekuasaan (pemerintahan) dan mengajarku sebahagian dari ilmu tafsiran mimpi. Wahai Tuhan yang menciptakan langit dan bumi Engkau Penguasa dan Pelindungku di dunia dan di akhirat; sempurnakanlah ajalku (ketika mati) dalam keadaan Islam, dan hubungkanlah daku dengan orang-orang yang soleh”. ( Surah Yusuf : 101 )
Doa Nabi Ayub AS
“Wahai Tuhanku,sesunguhnya aku telah di timpa penyakit dan Engkau Yang Maha Penyayang di antara semua penyayang”.(Surah Al-Anbiyaa’:83)
Doa nabi Yunus AS
“Bahwasanya tiada Tuhan yang patut di sembah melainkan hanya Engkau,Maha Suci Engkau,sesungguhnya aku adalah termasuk orang-orang yang zalim(Surah Al-Anbiya’:87).
Doa Nabi Musa AS
Nabi Musa berdoa dengan berkata: “Wahai Tuhanku, lapangkanlah bagiku, dadaku; “Dan mudahkanlah bagiku, tugasku; “Dan lepaskanlah simpulan dari lidahku, “Supaya mereka faham perkataanku; ( Surah Taha : 25 -27 )
Doa nabi Sulaiman AS
“Wahai Tuhanku,berilah aku ilham untuk tetap mensyukuri nikmatmu yang telah Engkau anugerahkan kepadaku dan kepada kedua ibu bapakku dan untuk mengerjakan amal sholeh yang Engkau redhai dan masukkanlah aku dengan rahmatMu kedalam golongan hamba-hambaMu yang soleh”.( Surah,An-Namlu : 19 )
Doa Nabi Zakaria AS
Dia merayu dengan berkata: Wahai Tuhanku! Sesungguhnya telah lemahlah tulang -tulangku, dan telah putih melepaklah uban kepalaku; dan aku - wahai Tuhanku - tidak pernah merasa hampa dengan doa permohonanku kepadaMu. Dan sesungguhnya aku merasa bimbang akan kecuaian kaum kerabatku menyempurnakan tugas-tugas ugama sepeninggalanku; dan isteriku pula adalah seorang yang mandul; oleh itu, kurniakanlah daku dari sisiMu seorang anak lelaki. Yang layak mewarisi daku, juga mewarisi keluarga Nabi Yaakub; dan jadikanlah dia - wahai Tuhanku seorang yang diredhai serta disukai”.
( Surah Maryam : 4-6 )
Doa Nabi Isa AS
Nabi Isa ibni Maryam (pun berdoalah ke hadrat Allah dengan) berkata: Ya Allah, Tuhan kami! Turunkanlah kiranya kepada kami satu hidangan dari langit, untuk menjadi hari raya bagi kami, iaitu bagi kami yang ada hari ini dan bagi orang-orang kami yang datang kemudian, dan sebagai satu tanda (mukjizat) daripadamu (yang menunjukkan kebesaran dan kekuasaanMu); dan kurniakanlah rezeki kepada kami, kerana Engkau jualah sebaik-baik Pemberi rezeki”. ( Surah al-Maidah : 114 )
Doa Nabi Muhammad s.a.w
“Wahai Tuhan kami! Janganlah Engkau mengirakan kami salah jika kami lupa atau kami tersalah. Wahai Tuhan kami ! Janganlah Engkau bebankan kepada kami bebanan yang berat sebagaimana yang telah Engkau bebankan kepada orang-orang yang terdahulu daripada kami. Wahai Tuhan kami! Janganlah Engkau pikulkan kepada kami apa yang kami tidak terdaya memikulnya. Dan maafkanlah kesalahan kami, serta ampunkanlah dosa kami, dan berilah rahmat kepada kami. Engkaulah Penolong kami; oleh itu, tolonglah kami untuk mencapai kemenangan terhadap kaum-kaum yang kafir”.
( Surah al-Baqarah : 286 )
Sumber: http://aki2004.wordpress.com/2008/10/27/doa-nabi-nabi-dalam-al-quran/
