What is it to be Truly Malaysia??

(Kheng Kheng)

What is mean to be Truly Malaysia?

Whether you are Malay, Chinese, Indian or even foreigner working or studying in Malaysia you would still go to mamak stores. What make mamak stores so unique in Malaysia because most of the people would go mamak store watching football in night or midnight. So this only happen in Malaysia which there are many mamak store who are open 24 hours so most of the people will go mamak store enjoy their football matches with their friends. For example, I often go mamak store watch EPL matches and also order maggi goreng and the Tarik so that I can enjoy my dinner and EPL match at the same time. All this culture you only could experience it in Malaysia.  

Durian is the most famous fruits in Malaysia. It also known as “King of Fruits” in Malaysia. In my opinion, durian is a significant symbol for Malaysia, if you want to be Truly Malaysia then you must try this truly awesome durian stuff although it a bit smelly but when you taste it then all that smelly stuff will convert durian into the King of Fruits. Meanwhile, the best durian only produced in Penang, Malaysia because here got the best condition to let durian trees lived compared to other countries who also produced durian. For me the Malaysia Durian’s is the best in the world.

In Malaysia our hand can be played an important role on the road, parking. Yes, your hand in Malaysia can be as powerful as Barack Obama because when we driving in Malaysia our hand can be used as signal to let other vehicles stop. For example, when I am driving my vehicle and I want turn to left directions then I will raise up my hand to asking the other directions vehicles to let me turn to left and the cars will stop and let me drive by so to say thank you to that kind driver, I will raise up my hand again to that driver to show my gratitude and they would do the same gesture as well and this mean a welcome. So you know why our hands are important in Malaysia because it can be thanks, welcome, greeting, or even use your hand to scold other people. So hands in Malaysia equal powerful hands.

Thus, Malaysia had a lot of races and culture so most of the Malaysian can speak many languages like Malay, English, Chinese, Hindi, Hokkien and also Cantonese. This could show that Malaysian people are able to speak many languages but it also made Malaysian does not speak a proper language because they already ‘campur’ it. For example, later supper eat where ah or later eat hami ah which this called Malaysia accents so to be truly Malaysia sometimes it hard for some foreigners but when you get used to it, you will found it this is interesting.

(Ying Jie)

You call everyone “boss”.

And you don’t work for any of them. Your lawyer, your barber, the guy serving you at the mamak – they’re all your “boss”. For example, we might say, “Boss, kuah lebih sikit!” to a mamak waiter. It makes no sense at all, but it’s friendly and respectful. In Malaysia, we’re all bosses and that’s the way we like it.

                                    

You hope for a public holiday whenever we win at sports.

This is the new I very like it when I secondary school because can get free holiday haha

Whether it’s our badminton stars at the Thomas Cup, our football team at the AFF Suzuki Cup, or our athletes at the Olympic games – you hope for a public holiday if we do well. When Lee Chong Wei won in the recent Thomas Cup Final, Malaysians jumped joyously in their living rooms, believing a public holiday would follow. A sports victory is a big deal and the nation should celebrate it by being allowed to… sleep in.

You arrive at least 30 minutes late for anything.

Whether it’s an office meeting, a wedding, or even a mamak session with friends, we’re always 30 minutes late. At least. We call this ‘Malaysian timing’. And how many times have we told others via phone that we're “on the way” when we were really not?

You end sentences with “lah”.

Can lah. No lah. Come on lah. "Lah" is as adaptable as we Malaysians are. You can use it for the weather - "So hot lah." You can use it for price - "So expensive lah." You can use it for disbelief - "Where got lah?" Anytime, anywhere... if you're Malaysian, just say lah.

(Kevin)

Halal Logo

As a Malaysian, we all know and understand what mean of this word "Halal". We can see the "Halal" logo at some of restaurant in Malaysia. When Malaysian saw this logo, we will know this restaurant is do not have serve Pork. Why we know they are not serving pork food when the restaurant have this logo, because our Malaysia have three race of people, and our Malay friends is could not eat pork, so when the restaurant have this "Halal" logo, that mean Malay can eat their lunch or dinner in that restaurant and they sure no selling any food of pork in their restaurant.

We prefer our food as spicy as they come

As a Malaysian, we like to eat spicy food. No matter is what type of food, we must prefer our food as spicy. For example, Malaysian is like to eat food with chili sauce, peppers, chili padi and sambal. Like when we eat pizza or fried chicken, we like to eat with chili sauce, when we eat fried rice or fried noodles, we like to add some sambal or chili padi. Curry also is the one of favorite spicy food for Malaysian. We like our food as tough, dramatic, and sweat inducing as a wrestling match.

Favorite Malaysian Recipes

Malaysia has a lot of delicious foods. Chicken Satay, Asam Laksa, Nasi Lemak, Roti Canai and Char Kway Teow are the favorite of Malaysian recipes. In Malaysia, we have different races and different culture of people, but we have some same type of favorite food that make us are truly Malaysian. No matter is Malay, Chinese or Indian; we all like to eat Nasi Lemak. In Malaysia, you can see has some small stalls beside the road or some food court, there has many different races of people are sitting together and eat Nasi Lemak or other foods.


(Louis Foo)

We are always in awe of the awesome roti man who can balance more than 100 things on his motorbike and shows up every evening around the neighborhood.

Every evening at approximately 5pm, you will hear the tell-tale bell signalling the arrival of the roti man with bulging plastic bags of bread, buns, biscuits and snacks hanging off his trusty ol' bike. Some 'roti men' would beep their horn while shouting "Roti! Roti!" to draw kids and housewives to his collection of goodies.

Those who have tried the 'roti man's 'roti bengali', enjoy it with generous dollops of thick Planta and kaya would likely agree that no other bread tastes better, barring its hardly-chewable crust.

There are many snack to get from the roti man. Such as, Apollo Stick Wafer, Choki Choki & Nyam Nyam,

The original Malaysia bread which serve with kaya, which we call "Roti Kaya".

Eyeglass Candy is the most special item which can get from the roti man There’s nothing quite as satisfying as punching the foil with your fingernail and popping these chocolate beans

Besides, we still can get another type of crunchy bread which is "Roti Kok. Tosted with generous amount of margarine and sugar.

“Pasar Malam” which stand for Night Market in bahasa malay. These markets are a streets which have been converted for one day only in a week into a market-place. Commonly found in housing estates and residential areas, they became very popular as they enabled locals to do shopping for their household needs without having to go too far out of their residential areas.

Pasar Malam a space that attracts people of all ages, and all walks of life, the pasar malam is a delightful treasure trove of all manner of goods. From vegetables to fruits, snacks to beans, clothes and household ornaments, toys and CDs, there’s nothing you can’t find here.

Reference:

Iqbaal Wazir, 2016. Why Mamak Stalls Are So Special In Malaysia? 2016. [E-Journal] Available at: http://www.malaysiandigest.com/features/517000-why-mamak-stalls-are-so-special-in-malaysia.html.[Accessed 20 March 2016].

World tour cyclist stops for durian – Borneo Post Online | Borneo, Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News | Largest English Daily In Borneo. 2013 [E-Journal] Available at:http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/06/05/world-tour-cyclist-stops-for-durian/. [Accessed 21 March 2016].

Ong Kar Jin, 2011. I sound Malay
sian lah, so what? | LoyarBurok. 2011. [E-Journal] Available at: http://www.loyarburok.com/2011/10/24/sound-malaysian-lah-what/. [Accessed 21 March 2016].

10 Things to Buy from the Roti Man - HungryGoWhere Malaysia. 2016. 10 Things to Buy from the Roti Man - HungryGoWhere Malaysia. [E-Journal] Available at: http://www.hungrygowhere.my/gallery/10-things-to-buy-from-the-roti-man-*gid-5e703101/. [Accessed 21 March 2016].

Best Night Markets to Visit in Malaysia - Malaysia Asia. 2016. Best Night Markets to Visit in Malaysia - Malaysia Asia. [E-Journal] Available at: http://blog.malaysia-asia.my/2015/08/best-night-markets-to-visit-in-malaysia.html. [Accessed 21 March 2016].

Apple(AAPL)

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While Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is the world's largest company by market capitalization, it has not been able to avoid the global equity selloff in 2016. The company's stock closed at $94.02 per share on Feb. 5, 2016, which is near the lower end of its $92 to $134.54 per share 52-week range. The company's quarterly earnings report for the fiscal period ending on Dec. 26, 2015 indicated that its iPhone sales rose under 1% compared to last year's rate, the product's slowest year-over-year sales growth. Apple's current valuation ratios are extremely attractive, thanks to its price slump. It also has steady, attractive profitability ratios.

Apple's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 10.01, which is lower than the 10.5 average for the consumer electronics industry, as well as that of the S&P 500 Index. Apple's P/E ratio experienced an 11.4 low and a 43.5 high over the past 10 years. Since its trailing 12-month P/E ratio is well below its 10-year average of 20.46, its stock is worth consideration as a small portion of a well-diversified portfolio. Additionally, the company is rumoured to release the coveted iPhone 7 in late 2016, which will almost surely increase the company's revenue.

Apple has raised its annual dividend for three consecutive years. It has also maintained a dividend pay-out ratio below 30%, which indicates the company could raise its dividend. Its trailing 12-month dividend pay-out ratio is 21.6%, as of Feb. 5, 2015, which is extremely attractive since it has $21.12 billion in cash and cash equivalents, based on its most recent annual report. The company's dividend yield is in line with the industry's average at 2.16%. Apple's earnings are poised to rise with the new iPhone's release, which will likely cause the board to raise its annual dividend per share for the 2017 fiscal year.

Apple's return on equity (ROE) is near the upper end of its 10-year range, which makes the stock very attractive. The company increased its net income from $39.51 billion during the 2014 fiscal year to $53.39 billion during the 2015 fiscal year. Its shareholders' equity only increased from $111.55 billion to $119.36 billion over the same period.

Apple had a 33.61% ROE for the fiscal period ending in September 2014, which is down from 46.25% during the 2015 fiscal year, though that was its 10-year high point. The technology giant is poised to generate even more net income with the potential increases in demand for the iPhone in 2016.

As of 2016, the best-selling technological product in the United States is the iPhone 6 from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). This small handheld device has a large impact on culture as well as the economy.

Impact on Apple's Bottom Line

Apple reported a record $51.1 billion in revenue and $11.1 billion in profit during its fourth fiscal quarter of 2015, which equates to $1.96 in profit per diluted share. The company significantly outpaced its 2014 fourth quarter numbers, which were $42.1 billion in revenue, $8.5 billion in profit and $1.42 in profit per diluted share. Fiscal year 2015 was the most successful in Apple's history, and those figures don't include the 2015 holiday sales for the highly anticipated iPhone 6S or iPhone 6S Plus.

Break down the balance sheet into net sales, and total iPhone sales account for a whopping 63% of all Apple revenue. Apple is one of the most valuable companies in the history of the world, yet nearly two-thirds of its revenue is dependent on one product line. IPhone sales are historically resilient, partially because Apple makes it difficult for customers to adapt to alternative operating systems.

IPhone Component Pricing: What It Costs to Build

Apple's sourcing model is one of the reasons it generates astronomical profit margins. The company makes very little of its own products. Instead, components and materials are gathered from around the globe and sometimes even from direct competitors, such as Samsung. This significantly lowers capital expenses for Apple, saves the consumer a bit of money and lets shareholders benefit from the difference.

Apple displays come from Japan, the Touch ID sensor is made in Taiwan, and an accelerometer comes from Germany. All told, there are more than 200 suppliers of individual software or parts around the globe.

According to disclosures filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the typical iPhone model sells at an average price of $603, and a 64 GB iPhone 6 Plus goes for around $749. Estimates put the phone's building cost at around $200 to $240, not including marketing costs, research and so on. According to Tech Insights Quick Turn product estimates, the new A8 processor and Qualcomm modem cost about $60. The 5.5-inch touch screen is another $51. Depending on the model, the non-electric components are between $10 and $18. Cameras run for $16, and the battery is approximately $5.50. Power management and audio devices only add around $7. Connectivity features are about $13, and supporting materials cost another $5. Assembly and testing adds $11, while a broad category called "other" makes up $34.50. SDRAM and NAND features add about $14.

Economics of IPhone Carriers

Of course, most iPhone 6 buyers aren't paying the $600 to $750 price tag. Instead, they utilize carrier-subsidized deals from companies such as Verizon and Sprint. The lowest-cost plans, as of January 2016, were around $50 for basic use-and-return policies, though most are considerably higher in the $200 to $400 range. Customers can choose Apple's upgrade program if they want to avoid contracts with a specific carrier.

Offers from Sprint and T-Mobile in early 2016 ranged $20 to $22 per month for plans. AT&T used installment plans at $37.45 per month, or $199 for a contract-subsidized price. Depending on the model, Verizon iPhone 6 packages could go as high as $35 per month, or $499 for a two-year plan.

IPhones and Economic Growth

Around the start of 2015, it was reported that Apple's iPhone 6 sales were responsible for 10% of all U.S. economic growth. Several major outlets reported this in one form or another, including Forbes and the New York Times.

The claim featured a 1.9 to 2.5% growth rate for the U.S. economy between 2014 and the first quarter of 2015. Based on pure mathematical estimates of the productive value of all final American products, as well as the revenue generated from iPhone 6 sales, the Apple device was seemingly responsible for 0.25% or 0.3% of the change in the United States' GDP. On the surface, this meant iPhone 6 sales were 10 to 15% of conventional economic growth.

GDP is actually a very rough, overly simplistic and problematic estimate of growth. Moreover, revenue from iPhone sales isn't the same as domestic product from iPhone sales, since domestic product tries to capture value added, not just incoming dollars. Even if the statistic is wrong (it probably is), it is still an interesting way to express how huge Apple sales numbers were.

Analysts have mostly been bullish about Apple as a growth stock in recent years. Their opinion, at least for this quarter, is no different. For example, some analysts expect the company to report $78.61 billion in revenues and an EPS of $3.06, while professional analysts expect the company to earn $76.48 billion in revenues and an EPS of $3.43.

There are two factors that will weigh heavily on the company's earnings this quarter and in the future: The first one is China, an especially important for Apple's growth as it constitutes an ever-increasing share of the company's profits. The country accounted for approximately 25 percent of total sales in last year's record January quarter. “If China falls, so does Apple,” said Daniel Ives, analyst at FBR Capital Markets. “They've really bet the house on the China growth opportunity.”

Then, there is Apple's reliance on the iPhone. The device accounted for approximately 63 percent of its total sales last quarter. Flagging sales prospects for the device this year have revealed a gaping hole in the company's revenue stream. Put simply, no other product in the company's portfolio comes close to replicating the consumer experience, market share or margins for the device. “Apple has become a victim of their own success as the blockbuster iPhone 6 product cycle was hard to replicate as many customers are either buying an older, cheaper iPhone 6 or waiting for the iPhone 7,” Ives said in an interview with Reuters.

On the other hand, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster considers the stock a buy. “We believe the similarities between the situation in 2013 and today are stark given a relatively disappointing iPhone 6S cycle, the wide expectation for down y/y iPhone units in Mar 16, and the expectation for multiple single digit growth quarters looking forward,” he wrote in a note this morning.

Apple's stock has been riding high for the last couple of years on the back of outsized expectations for the iPhone. The current economic pullback has acted as a corrective of sorts for the company's investors and management. Apple's future performance depends on growth in emerging markets, such as China and India, and also a new product pipeline that resonates with consumers.