Some: 2011-05-15

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Malaysia to Australia

After more than one year studied here I found that there are many differences between Malaysia (my home country) and Australia:

1. Asylum seeker:
Asylum seekers are persons from a war or conflict country/region seeking for protection by migrating to other countries. They often migrate by boats. In Australia, this issue is often being discussed on the media. While in Malaysia, I never knew what that term (asylum seeker) means, because in Malaysia the issue is more about PATI or 'Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin' in English means illegal immigrants. PATI are usually comes from nearby countries seeking for jobs. From that, those two terms are not similar to each other.

2. Rising cost living, food prices and subsidy:
In Malaysia, when the oil prices or groceries are about to increase, the people start to complain and protest. While in Aussie, there is no such protest or complain because the oil price here is determined by the market price (I think). That is why certain things are expensive here. In Malaysia, the government decides the price. The government puts subsidy on oil and many groceries like sugar etc. Even so, many still not thankful (I remind myself too to be thankful to Allah with everything I have now, say Alhamdulillah). This subsidy method is the problem or dilemma to the government. If they don't increase the price while the market's price is increasing, the government is going to spend more and more money on subsidy (a bit of waste while the money can be used for other things such as building basic infrastructure etc.). If they increase the price, people are going to protest and the food prices are going on hike. I think a better system should be applied because the subsidy is

3. Good and Sales Tax (GST):
The GST (Goods and Services Tax) is a broad sales tax of 10% on most goods and services transactions in Australia. It is a value added tax, not a sales tax, in that it is refunded to all parties in the chain of production other than the final consumer. It was introduced by the Howard Government on 1 July 2000 (Wikipedia). In Malaysia, there is no GST, but the plan to introduce GST is still being discussed. I don't know much about GST but when I bought things in supermarket, there are GST on some products which cause I said that 'I bought only few basic things but they cost $30'. You know what I mean, don't ya?

I like living here in Aussie though because certain things are cheaper, in the same time missing Malaysia so much!! It's okay to have differences because that make us unique.

“Yang paling banyak memasukkan manusia ke dalam surga, (adalah) takwa kepada Allah (menjalankan perintah Allah seperti shalat, zakat,dll..) dan husnul khuluq (berperilaku baik). ” (HR. At-Tirmidzi dan al-Hakim)

‎"Ya Allah! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error, our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us; our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us Forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maulâ (Patron, Supporter and Protector, etc.) and give us victory over the disbelieving people." [2:286] - Ameen