Entries from August 2008 ↓

A recent workforce development survey by Rutgers University found out that the American’s confidence in the US job market is at an alarming low rate.

More than half thinks that the current period is a bad time to find job, and even there are job vacancies around, many of them are low quality jobs. Many are comparing the current situation with their last recession in between 2000-2002.

The study also discovered that for every three workers interviewed, one does not have adequate money to spend and sustain their daily life. Some were drawn into a more dangerous situation after finding that their credit card debts combined are higher than their retirement saving.

The US employment rate has increased to 5.7%, the highest level since the year 2004, while claims for unemployment benefits has surged.

9 local universities in the country are now battling to claim the APEX (Accelerated Program for Excellence) status. 7 of them are public universities, and the remaining 2 are private.

Only one will be granted the APEX status.

The nine are Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), International Islamic Universiti (UIAM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universiti Sains Islam (USIM), Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) and Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten).

UTP and Uniten represent private universities.

The APEX university status will be granted to the most promising institution, and the one with the most potential to break into the world’s 50 best university ranking. With the status, the university will be given access to resources that can improve facilities and attract the best students.

At the moment, Universiti Malaya (UM) is considered the country’s best university. However, it’s world ranking of 246 is far cry from what had been hoped for. In stark contrast, the the neighbour’s National University of Singapore (NUS) is ranked as one of the top 20 universities in the world.

The civil servants will be getting a one month bonus, or a minimum of RM1,000 this year.

The Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, told the news while presenting the Budget 2009 last night.

The bonus will be credited into the payroll twice towards ending of the year. The first payment is to be made on September 2009, and the rest on December 2009.

The government employees have been enjoying an average of 1 month bonus for many years before it was stopped last year. The halt came after the government decision to exercise a huge salary increase of between 10%-35% to the public servants.

Below is the Ramadan timetable 2008 (fasting month) for the Federal Territory of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur and those neighboring areas sharing the same time zone.

For those who are in other states and areas, feel free to use the e-solat.gov.my website to find the times according to your states and zones.

Most of the Muslim staff working in Malaysia, either in the public or private sector will get at least 1 hour of benefit so that they can go back early from the office.

Click here to download the timetable (in PDF format).