What a farewell during the last moment of the year 2009. Not to forget, the word “embrace” actually comes from the year that we are going to say good bye very soon. During the past few months, we have been emphasizing on how we should embrace each on coming new months. So started with October, November, and December, when the clock ticks to the 11.59:59 tonight, we will officially embark onto a brand new year, a brand new journey and many brand new hopes.

“Two-Thousand Nine”, how can I actually summarize, or rather to “qualify and quantify” all the happenings throughout the year? Economically, 2009 has been a year of ups and downs. Although, mainly on economic recovery, the economy remains resilient and worrying. As we cross over to 2010, economists expect the economy to return to the green bar. Politically, 2009 was a relatively stable year compared to 2008. With new Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on power, and bringing the whole Malaysia as “1 Malaysia”. However, there should be more efficiency and performance by the current administration, only then the potential can be attained. Hopefully, 2010 will bring a more prosperous and more stable political landscape in Malaysia and the world. Individually, 2009 will be termed as the year that I have learnt, experienced and grow. Of course, the year has been a relatively great one. It changes the people that I mix with, it changes the environment that I am in, and not to miss out, it changes for who I was, for the better.

January 2009. As far as I can remember, it was a month of studying and studying. Struggling about whats not complete. However, for this year, I think I will struggle more in the sense that I am really far behind for all my revisions. LOL. That month, it was my first clubbing after so many many years. Went to Zouk for a dance competition. After that, got ourselves like liquor and got ourselves drunk like hell.

February 2009. A total cam-whore period for all of us. Whether it happened in school or during Chinese New Year, my photos updates were like “tonnes”. Went back to Malaysia for Chinese New Year, had a great time with cousins and relatives, taking so many funny posing pictures, and of course had many great food. After back from Malaysia, played with Felix’s camera, kept shooting until today. And of course, SHINE Models and Talents got me into the experience in becoming a model. Its a super LOL stuff though. HAHA! But I learnt and experience something beyond what I learnt in school. Of course, during that month, I had my Marinate Kaki like Audrey, Yu Bin, Zhi Hui and of course Felix they all to accompany. I would say that its a month that I will never dare to forget.

March 2009. The big memorable one was the time when we went to DBL O with the Secondary School Friends. That night was a mad one. As in seriously, we were all so drunk, and were like dancing like mad people. Thats the purpose of clubbing right? HAHA! And Felix had to do a project and got my photo “The Making of a Economist” being exhibited at the SIM atrium. Super LOL too. That Month was also a super worrying month for all of us because we had our prelim examination. Although its Prelim, I think I did not really go and attempt it seriously. I even skipped some of them. Haha! All of us were so stressful and I remembered Ploy also cried because of SYOG stuffs and studies. We also went for a meeting for SYOG, was a great insight on the prestigious on coming event of Singapore in 2010.

April 2009 & May 2009. A very busy and stressful month for all of us as examination gonna start so soon. And for us, I remembered it was the first time that I went for K-session with my bunch of Malaysian friends. Did not managed to get into REDBOX, so went to somewhere which I forgotten where, and we had a great time too. And its so cheap, think only RM 3 per person! WTH! HAHA! After which, its time to tone down and get ourselves ready for the UOL Finals.

June 2009. A month to celebrate for our end of UOL EXAMS! Haha! Its such a good time for us to enjoy and relax after months of studying and revisions. Undeniably, as far as I can recall, I did not actually celebrate at all because the planned clubbing session was canceled due to some reasons. However, got a chance to meet up with YJR! We had a great catch up time at Marina Square Kenny Rogers. Super not nice and I can still remember the taste so clearly. Hmm, long time dint meet up with them already. Hope that we will meet up soon. =) After which, traveled back to hometown at Tapah to celebrate Grandma’s Birthday. It was a great one, and it has always been great time mingling with family and relatives.

July to August 2009. This was the month which I were so anti social. Not really because of anti social la. Haha. Too busy working with with Dad and the routine was so flat, everyday wake up work till evening then home and rest again. Hmmm, learnt lots of stuffs and of course in the midst of working, I do prepare for school to start. During this period of time, I also donno why I joined into the SIM GE Casting Call 2010. It was also the month that my SIM GE Scholarship has been approved by the school and was being selected to be the SIM GE All Rounder Student (ARS) Development Programme. And I already knew by that time, that this new school term will be a super different one. And it just did. And of course, we also went for the ISR 2009 IMMIX Presentation.

September 2009. A month which school reopens and a new term debut. Participated for the Casting Call 2010 results announcement day. Its such a surprise because I was selected for it and became one of the five online winners. Super LOL again. Apart from that, went to East Coast Park with Secondary School Friends! It was a great time because it was a full day programme. Sun bathed at ECP, cycled, photosession, and dinner at night, (Still can remember Lili very angry tt Ben keep taking us to somewhere far)…and K session at some ulu place, then our sudden plan to club at Clarke Quay! HAHAHA! Not to forget the SIM Screen Test experience for SIM Marketing Video. Then, attended for Ting Ting’s 21st Birthday. I think its the first 21st Birthday that I have attended so far. LOL! It was also the month which we went to Marina Barrage for the first time to fly kite and photo taking. HAHA! Great time great memories. Lastly, we also have the SIM Student Week. Its like tonnes of fun during then.

October 2009 to December 2009. Months of celebrations with so many October Babies and festive seasons. Its just the months which I played toooooo much! The movies, dinners, townings, tea times, laughters, cam whorings, ding tai fungs, Butters, Timbres, no monday blues mondays, birthday surprises, playing with gabe’s tiffany, SIM Marketing Video shoot, Funky Grad interview, SIM Casting Call 2010 photo shooting session, Jill Lowe’s meaningful course, International Student Night 2009, unlimited K sessions, Ya Kun Breakkies, Xin Wangs at ION, SIM GE Scholarship Award Ceremony, Estee’s 21st, and ARS Christmas Gathering, plus a party for Pre Christmas at Butter.

And now, waiting for 2010 to come in a few hours. Although, 2009 wasnt a smooth sailed one, but no life is a smooth sailing journey afterall. Only when we deal with obstacles, only then we will learn and grow. I have to thank 2009 for giving me such a dynamic year, for teaching me the values that I should instill myself with. These few weeks, many things happened, I have to admit, I still got lots of things to learn. I am not perfect, but I will perfect myself.

For a new year, a new resolution for the year. I should have more patient in everything, and of course to become a better-tempered Shane. 2010, will be a year to unfold many changes. A year which I will be graduating from University, the year which I will be facing a great transition in life. Once again, I would like to thank everyone, who have helped me and encouraged me in any way which brings me to who I am today. As we continue to move on to a new year, we should have new perspectives and of course to make ourselves to be a better one. To family and friends, thank you so much and wishing you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010!

A year look forward, a year of continuing dynamics.

Lets together, EMBRACE 2010!

(PS: My hair and looks really changed from the start! LOL!)

Its the first day of December. It have been 3 months since school reopened.

What have I done actually?

Nothing significant I supposed.

Lack of motivation, discipline, initiative, responsibility, and a crisis in my time management.

When it is needed, will it come back eventually?

Need to stay, need to focus and concentrate.

And road down the journey, will be moments of worries.

I once saw,

“whenever one met into an obstacle, we must embrace and honour it, simply because it makes us into a stronger and better person.”

and yet, say is better than to be done “practically”.

Anyway, the results will be coming out supposing to be on Friday, which is tomorrow but ended up to be 1st of September. But, who cares?! LOL! It will be out anyway, and what I can do is to pray hard and what Lily said, “welcome and embrace the future”. Whatever will be, it will be. Seriously, its FREAKING me out!

So, before the D Day, I would like to pen down the recent happenings. At least, I was back in school few days ago for a club presentation (International Student Reception). It was a success. Weehee! Okay, most importantly, we did our job! Thinking of new events still, hope that this year will be a dynamic one, gonna enjoy to the fullest for this “hopefully” very last year of studying! Before that, let the pictures do the talking:

The day started with the three little children:

After the event, Jet, Audrey and me headed to town for lunch. Took the bus, down to town. Decided to settle it at Ding Tai Fung Paragon. And after which, went walking around like three “workers” or “operators”, (OPPS)! HAHA! Then went Orchard ION! Jet and myself are both busying trying out the

(STOP HERE FOR CHECKING UOL RESULTS)>>>>

“Wah lao eh”! Its a spam!!! LOL! Got cheated into the scene. But still, we did saw some changes in the student portal. It has been verified that the results are in the hand of SIM! Oh for god sake, and results will be released only on 01 September 2009 (London Time), which means its around evening time in Singapore and Malaysia, which then we can access our results thru the UOL External Portal. Go SIM Student portal to get the link to UOL Student Portal. =) But still, managed to see something from the student portal just now, although cannot confirm what I see, but results are being updated.

(Okay continue……)>>>

so, we were busying trying out the clothes and jumpers etc and poor Audrey, shes damn tired and sleepy and not in the so called shopping mood. Of course, shes so helpful that she helped us carried our bags while we tried out. WOOHOO! Lets see her nice posture, with honour!

Thank you Audrey! And its at ORCHARD ION! Damn them. Although its our second time there, we got to their so called “Washroom” for the first time! Damn, its not washroom, its bigger than my living room! That is so enjoyable, especially for the “shitters”. Muahaha! And heard from Jet, “Lotsa Privacy”. LOL!!!

Oh god oh god, just cannot believe the results are coming out. Hopefully everything will be alright for us! Called Dad to bring me to Temple after work to pray for myself and friends! Let us be together and face it, and everything, “BY RIGHT!” should turn out well! Remember, we must graduate together! But seriously, those people who released the news that “RESULTS ARE OUT” and “THEY SAW THEIR RESULTS” should however, give themselves a good tight slap! Making the damn lousy server of SIM to experience heavy traffic and causing ME being kicked out a few times! Buahaha! But still, I have enjoyed the “fright”. =)

Alright. More are coming up. School gonna start as soon as the results are out. Gonna decide upon what subjects to take and so on. Gonna hit back to school life, and of course, to join friends’ 21st Birthdays. I missed quite a few, in fact quite a lot! HAHA! And gonna meet up my MSL buddies soon this coming September. Ting Ting is going to host her 21st Birthday too! Gonna get myself busy. Oh ya, not to forgot, gotten myself into the school’s annual event, CASTING CALL 2010 for SIM Global Education!

So, if you can, do vote for me, think the last day to vote will be 31 August 2009. To vote, you must go here:

http://www.facebook.com/simcasting

and become a fan! Then press on the picture to go to the link for my pic, press LIKE to vote!

Thank you so much! Remember to vote for others that you like! =)

Alrytes, end off here. Gonna be back with the real results! Oh gosh, let me say again, its freaking me out!

Scanning thru media like news from prints, Television, radio broadcast and the internet, its always about the economy and the H1N1 pandemic. The world today has become much more of a challenge to the younger generation like me. Expectedly, the force of increasing stress and difficulty will be much more stronger for the much younger generation. Undeniably, it is a phenomenon that we all have to face. As titled, “Will 2010 be a better year for everyone?” is an ambigous question, or I would say, “it depends”. Well, just a random thought of mine which was sparked by the daily news headlines.

The economy data of the United States has not been fully disappointing. There are still awful ones which will really hit hard on the confidence of the people, but nevertheless, we are able to see some light at the other side of the tunnel. Demand for houses are back. Same goes to commodities. Singapore, recovered as much as 20 percent reported recently. Properties prices appeared to be on the green side. People are now buying, and buying and buying, as long they have the money, they buy simply because it is presumed (probably to be true) that everything is cheap. Will this create bubbles? Or will this create an incorrect view of the outlook of the world’s economy? No one knows.

Identically, the stock markets. As everyone could see, the Dow Jones Industrial Avergae (DJIA) has rise 40 percent since March 2009 to a level of 9,154 points. While the Straits Times Index (STI) gained more than 80 percent since March 09 too. Will this phenomenon continues to persist or is it just a market buying spree? Once again, no one knows exactly. Will the market once again plumet? Or will they really stay and grow stably. Well, hope so.

Businesses. Some are getting better in shape, some still adjusting to the changes, some are still on a downward slope. But fortunately, we can say, all of us has already been affected from this recession. Unemployment data continues to rise to a few years high. Economists and experts predict that there will be a second wave of people losing jobs. Whether the level of genuinity of the predictions, whether economists and experts are being pessimistic and hoping for a better than expected actual results, the road ahead for us, especially us, the younger generation, who will be completing their education, ready to join the workforce, will be seriously tough. I would say, we are a stronger batch. We will go smoothly and progress onwards.

What is in the future for me and us, we do not really know. Now as long as we make money, its positive sign. Because, only we,  people (consumers), are the best indicator to the economy.

2010, a year for us to anticipate. Of course, what is in 2010 is what we did in 2009!

Its time that we have to challenge. Whenever we think of wanting to pause, ultimately the greatest challenge is to meet up the time that limits us from everything. Frankly speaking, I have been very busy recently, working six days week with Dad. No wonder, my mind has started to deteriorate in terms of thinking the unnecessaries. Nevertheless, time flies. So fast that I have realised, I missed out a lot of things. During this period, I know precisely how people will think of me. Especially to friends who have been so kind to invite me to outings and celebrations, yet I really couldn’t fork out the time. Not because I am full of excuses, yet I have my personal responsibilities and personal goals to achieve.

Yes, it sounded selfish. When you have something to hold, you will lose the other.  I will plan well. Busi-ness described everything. Sometimes, when I see invitations, my mind just tell me that not to think of anything. Not because I am ignorant, its probably because I wouldn’t want my initial goals to be derailed. Partly, I am lazy to think.

Have to enter Singapore on next Tuesday for an interview by SIM. Have been selected for the All Rounder Student Development Programme (ARS) interview round. This is another great opportunity for me as the programme alone is already beneficial to every fresh graduates. However, confidence is not by my side. How should I describe this? Probably, I am not up to the word “All Rounder”. Its not purely just a beneficial programme, the price that I have to pay is responsibility and contributions. Its another load for my life. If I am successful in the interview, and being selected, the road ahead may be a bumpy one, but one thing is for sure is that this “investment” returns are unmeasurable. Now, have been asking myself if it is right that I applied for it. Whatever it is gonna be, interview appointment has been confirmed, next Tuesday 2.45 pm. Just try out my luck.

Finally had my spectacle changed. Had been facing problems seeing clear. I am being lazy. I remembered how long I have been wanting to get it changed (I think Audrey will remember). Wahaha! Have been sticking to the stock market lately. Was another active week for investors. Will the economy be better than we expect? This remains still as a question.

I have learnt a lot of things recently. Valuable experiences that we will never be able to capture in school. I can proclaim myself, being a person who have been enriched. Have been browsing through some friends’ blogs. And something that really strikes me here is that, she said:

But one thing is certain, when it finally reveals itself, the future is never the way we imagined. At the same time, you also realize that the future is happening now, not after graduation. – May Wong

True and practical enough. Yes, sometimes we should plan for our future. However, one should ever realise that the so called future that we plan for at the moment normally will turn out to be a personal goal. And when the time comes, it it never the way we think, nor the way we have planned. It will be better than expected or worst than planned. Two words, “Success” and “Failure”. But NO!, I see both as success. There was once incident which a person asked me, “How do you term your way of being successful”? Without doubt, I replied him that as long as I did not give up in everything that I am doing, that means success. Managed to attain or unable to achieve is just a result from the learning process. As long you do not give up, there is still hope. When there is still hope, no matter the outcome, you are being a successful person. How many people around us managed to do it?

Giving up is easy, but persisting onto a task that is being perceived as difficult is much more of a challenge.

If you managed to persist on, you learnt and experienced the process, which brings your life path to another level and thats success. Nevertheless, everyone have different perception and perspective while we continue to realise the future. For me, I will not only realise, I will embrace the future.

Our destiny changes with our thought; we shall become what we wish to become, do what we wish to do, when our habitual thought corresponds with our desire.

Live to the fullest for where we are now, only then the future can be embraced.

I donno what to really say here. But I got the feeling to blog my things out. However, I don really know how to fully express how I feel now and then, because even myself don really understand myself well. I can see that, SHANE is really under hell load stress.

He is damn messed up with many things. He is feeling helpless. Andmore importantly, he just do not know what to do. He is thinking of giving up. Giving up about many single stuffs. Rather, he also felt that its not right to give up too. Contradicting I know, but then, this is what he really feels every moment right now. He somehow had a great sleep yesterday, but then, when the time he woke up, tonnes of problems flooded back to him. Because, still, its the reality that matters. What is suitable to for him and what is not, he know very well, but he do not know how to decide and what to do next.

Think he should pause for the moment. The crucial time is here. I really hope that he will wake up and find back his fighting spirit. He is seriously hidding himself from the real world, sleeping soundly behind the real self. I hope that he will be able to stand up once again and fight again. He needs to do so, really,so much that he cannot give up. Shane, please, do what is the right thing now. You need to implement your decision, and move forward, whatever will be after two months, then decides about it. Not the time to Multitask.

Right now, SHANE need to push aside every single things. Whether is dreamings, playing or nonsensical stuffs, no more. Time should be fully devoted in studies. And thats for the next two months. Get it done and move on!

Somehow “Missing-In-Action” these few days. Think it has been a week since I last blogged. Still stoning in Malaysia actually. Was so into “Holiday Mood” and I nearly forgotten when school starts again. After waking up for just a while, scanning on the calendar, its already Christmas and it will hence pass in less than four hours. Time really flies like nobody’s business, I need more time for holiday. Rather, I do paused for a moment these few days, trying to imagine I am back to studies, back to those books and notes in front of me…oh my god, scary and lazy to study. Tell me how? Maybe and hopefully, I am able to start my engine again, very soon.

There are quite alot of photos to upload actually. However, will not upload here first. Will do it when I am back to Singapore. Urm, how to summarise my week. Eh, went shopping with family, shopping with family and shopping with family. Then just celebrated “Dong Zhi”-A chinese traditional festival which we eat “Tang Yuan” – Glutinous balls. Nice. Once a year thingy. Then, was raining these few days. So cold. Well, I am blabbering nonsense. Ok, just to write something here. Anyway, will update everything soon. Less than five days, its gonna be New Year 2009. Woohoo.

PS: was watching “Miss No Good” by Wilber Pan and Rainie Yang. So funny. =)

Tc of yrself..

Don’t skip class unnecessarily… lol

Hope you get well soon! :)

wow this is cool!

pass me the lenses tmr! :)

& study hard lar for god’s sake.

stop refreshing yr blog countlessly LOL.

 

Citi analysts: Singapore recession will last several quarters

SINGAPORE, Oct 3 – It’s no longer a question of if but how severe, and not just "technical" in nature.

The recession widely expected to have set in here may not be short and shallow but could well last several quarters, say Citigroup’s Singapore economists.

And that’s several quarters of year-on-year contraction in GDP, not just quarter-on-quarter dips, with the worst likely coming some time in the first half of 2009, the Citi analysts, led by Chua Hak Bin, write in a Singapore Strategy report published this week.

A technical recession in Q3 – with two consecutive quarters of GDP declines – had pretty much been on the cards even before the negative August manufacturing data released last week all but confirmed it. Economists across town have cut their estimates of Singapore’s 2008 growth to sub-4 per cent.

Among the more bearish, Citigroup economist Kit Wei Zheng pared his GDP growth forecasts to 2.8 per cent for 2008 and 2.5 per cent for 2009. He reckons the upcoming Q3 flash estimates will likely show a one per cent dip from a year ago, and a 7.4 per cent fall from the preceding Q2.
Declaring that they are "not ready to call the bottom", his Citi analyst colleagues say the severity and duration of the recession is still unclear, and will depend on how the global downturn and global credit crunch pan out.

"A protracted downturn, with a continued contraction in Q4 2008 and early 2009, cannot be ruled out," they say.

Bear markets typically do not hit bottom until the economy is at or past the worst quarter of a recession, they note, and the current slump is only in its 50th week, still short of the average 85 weeks in previous bear markets with recessions.

The 1985-86 and the 2001 recessions each saw four quarters of year-on-year GDP contraction, while the 1997-98 Asian crisis had three. The 2003 Sars recession was a ‘short’ single-quarter downturn, due largely to successful disease containment rather than economic factors.

But now more than half of the world’s economies (notably the major and big ones) are at risk of recession – with the US and the UK, in particular, on the brink of a systemic financial crisis.

Singapore’s financial services will soon feel the impact of the credit crunch and global consolidation – and job growth may turn negative next year, the Citi report says.

Standard Chartered Bank economist Alvin Liew also believes the recession at hand here will not be short and shallow, as the externally driven Singapore economy lacks "buffer" sectors such as commodities to help offset some of the global slump.

His forecasts see a small 0.4 per cent Q3 GDP growth from a year ago, but one risk is that the sequential contraction could be slightly deeper and could well lead to a year-on-year contraction – "something not seen since June 2003", he notes.

Stanchart’s GDP forecasts for Singapore have been slashed to 3 per cent for 2008, and 2 per cent for 2009.

"This is not just about export competitiveness, but … the implications of a protracted external demand collapse, and subsequent impact on domestic demand," Liew says.

Furthermore, inflation is not easing fast enough, he notes. Imported inflation "is still hounding us", with core inflation remaining elevated at 5.8 per cent in August, he estimates. It would, therefore, be premature to switch entirely to an easing or even neutral monetary policy, he says.

Amid the gloom and doom, one economist who remains relatively, if cautiously, optimistic is Daiwa Institute of Research’s Prasenjit K Basu.

While conceding that a technical recession "unfortunately, looks rather likely", he maintains that it will be just that – a short technical recession, one due largely to the volatile pharmaceutical sector. The latest investment commitments in Singapore have been the strongest yet, he points out.

The financial turmoil will likely take its toll here in Q4, with reduced turnover volumes and growth, but the overall impact will not be huge, in his view.

Indeed, Basu believes Asia’s ‘relative strength’ will show up amid the global and US financial meltdown.

"Even in the near term, we believe Asia will stand out as a relative pillar of strength in the global economy, supported by the resilience of intra-emerging economy demand," he said. – Business Times Singapore

How long more does this storm from the United States going to pour? Everyone stated that the recession in US will not hit Asia seriously because of strong economic powerhouse like China and India. However, that does not seems to be true as time is concern for now. I realised we, Asia are still in the state of "shifting" our key economic power bases from the west to the eastern countries like Japan and China. In which Malaysia has just announced that US is no longer the key economic house for Malaysia. Instead, the trading with Japan and China has relatively increased.

Now, we have not even feel the true disastrous situation like in the West. However, we must ever note that, the storm has not end yet. We are still in the midst of the rain. Whether it is to be a tough one, I think this will depends on luck. Every economic performance is best determined by every little individual like us, how we are going to react from this? To keep all your money in the bank? or to spend it like nobody business? May god bless us!