Buttonwood on Credit

It has been a long time since I last read anything from the Economist. My subscription ran out sometime last year and since we were moving to Melbourne I didn’t renew it. I recently visited the website and reacquainted myself with the very informative pieces I used to read regularly.

Buttonwood for example, was always fun to read and he had useful opinions too. This time around he suggests economically, things don’t look too good. Days of easy money or cheap credit are ending, if they have not already ended. Tough days are around the corner. Hmmm… where does this leave a new migrant still trying to find his feet in a new country, new firm (which itself is trying to find its feet) and hoping to buy a new home soon? Lately there has been articles in the financial and investment pages which suggest that home ownership is a false security. It is more sentimental than anything. You could for example (so the writers say) rent for the rest of your life and invest the money you would have otherwise paid towards your mortgage in superannuation and come out better than the home buyer. In any event I guess the signal is to wait it out a little longer at the very least. We will continue to look at houses I guess, but only to get even more ideas and kill some idle weekends.

Corrupt Malaysian Judiciary

I remember the mid 90’s when the Malaysian court suffered yet another loss of confidence. A big corporate litigation was heavily tainted with hints of corruption. This time around it is yet again tainted. I guess it doesn’t raise an eyebrow anymore. This big wick was purportedly the owner of all kinds of vice businesses. He just got away from the sort of detention that no one expects to. Of course, fruits of his unholy labour means he has loads of resources at his disposal and the article I read was not trying to shy away from hints of another rotten house of Denmark here. Like my blog title says: Malaysia Boleh.

Oxfam concert

Kiddo took part in a musical event last Monday. Well sort of. She was part of a “drumming” group representing her school in an Oxfam concert in Box Hill. No she isn’t a drumming genious. Anyone who could follow some basic beats could be part of the group. About 40 of them were. Theresa and I spent $10 each for the ticket and it was an enjoyable night watching children from Laburnum, Box Hill and Canterbury schools performing various musical items.

Kak Endon

Someone just emailed me, like 30 seconds ago, saying the PM’s wife has just passed away. I wonder how he will hold up. He has a very close relationship with her and her passing would do nothing for his weak tenure to the prime ministerial position. No doubt he would be closely observed within the next few weeks and if there are signs he is not holding up or no longer has the hunger or desire for the job, people like Najib would be smacking his lips.