What is it about to be a truly Malaysian? and Thai?

What is it all about to be a Malaysian?

Woan Shin

For me, the meaning of being a “Truly Malaysian” is always proud to be a Malaysian. In Malaysia, we have more than three races, language, and also many delicious food. As a Malaysian, I always feel that I’m so lucky to be live over here, because there have no any natural disasters like typhoon, earthquake in Malaysia, even though the economic in Malaysia is not that good, but I feel blessed if there is safe and sound together with family and friends. However, there have also some habits to prove that we are a truly Malaysian. For example, when across the road we can directly hold up our magical hand to stop the vehicle on the road without using footpaths. Not only that, when we heard the words, “Sales” or “Free”, as a Malaysian we will feel excited and crazy that queue up in the early morning before the shop open, when tourist from other country will feel shocked and keep asking what happen, that is what I experience before inside the mall. But so what, that’s us, a “Truly Malaysian”.

Ming Chun

One of the reason can be prove we are a truly Malaysians, that is our talking style. Our country always add up ‘merh’, ‘lah’. For example, when we don’t want to go that places, we will said ‘want go that place merh’. When we want to go that places. ‘We will said lets go there lah’. Some People will think that this is a broken english but for me is fine. This is a our country talking style and I feel that this is very friendly when talking to someone.

Xin Yee

Malaysia is a country consisting of Chinese, Malays and Indians. With different races, most of us able to speak more than two language and we do not have to pay for language learning classes. As a country with multiracial culture, our closest part is we speak in ‘Bahasa Rojak’, which is we can mix any language that we want into one sentence. Besides that, we always become a translator for our friend or even a stranger who do not speak a certain language. We always get a surprised looks from foreigners or travellers because most of them do not know that Malaysia are at least bi-lingual and we are proud of it!

Jun Shiang

Instead of being a truly Malaysian, I would rather say myself as a truly Penangite. Why? I lived in Penang since i was born. So what is it about to be a Penangites? In Penang we speak alot of languages, such as Hokkien, Cantonese dialect. In Penang we also surrounded by all the famous food like Char Koay Teow, Laksa who ranked top 2 food in the world, hokkien mee, curry mee and so on. Penang is a small island but surrounded with passionate people, friendly people and full of different cultural background. Penang demonstrate a very good role of democratic state which Malaysia always stress on, ''Be Democratic''. We lived in peace, harmony and of course, we keep on moving forward. I could say that Penang is the best place to be lived in. Altho Malaysia is my country, but I lived in Penang and I am proud of it!

What is it about to be a Thai?

Anuthat

In my opinion when talking about Thailand the first thing that comes to people’s mind is the unique greeting “Sawasdee” and another word is “Kob Khun ka/krub” which means thank you. The word sawasdee uses in anytime when Thai people meet each other. Another symbol of truly thai is nickname,Thai people usually use formal names only for official things such as driving license,identity card but in daily life they would call nickname instead and nicknames in Thai are quite weird and funny if translate to English such as Tangkwa which means cucumber in English or Nok means bird so these are the uniques of Thailand.

References:

1. Astro, 2014, “10 Ways You Know You’re Malaysian” [WWW][Available at http://www.astro.com.my/negaraku/ArticleDetails?articleId=2389&catId=92] [Accessed on: 19 November 2016]

2. World of Buzz, 2016, 9 things only us malaysian who are at elast bilingual will understand [WWW] Available at: http://www.worldofbuzz.com/9-things-only-us-malaysians-who-are-at-least-bilingual-will-understand/ [Accessed 19th November 2016] 

3. Courtney Stanley, 2016. The 15 Best cities In the World For Food, Culture Trip. [WWW] Available from: https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/articles/the-15-best-cities-in-the-world-for-food/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=170116northamericafood  [Accessed 20th November 2016]

4. Financial Samurai. 2016, The Best Food in The World Is In Malaysia [WWW] Available from: http://www.financialsamurai.com/the-best-food-in-the-world-is-in-malaysia/ [Accessed 20th November 2016]

Tax System in our country

Tax systemGood and service tax (GST)

Woan Shin

   Good and service (GST) is a consumption tax based on the value added concept. Every production and distribution stage in the supply chain including importation good and service in Malaysia will need to apply GST. In Malaysia, GST was implemented with effect from 1 April 2015 at a rate of 6%.

   I agree in GST, as everyone income is come from our country so that we have the responsibilities to pay the tax for the country no matter lower or middle class income. So that government need collect the tax to improve our country. As they collect the tax, they provide a BRIM voucher for the students and every low income group which get a BRIM subsidies from government.

Ming Chun

Personal income tax

Chargeable income (RM)	Rate (%)
1- 5000	0
5,001- 20000	1
20,001- 35000	5
35,001- 50000	10
50,001- 70000	16
70,001- 100,000	21
100,001- 250,000	24
250,001- 400,000	24.5
400,001- 600,000	25
600,001- 1,000,000	26
More than 1,000,000	28

                            

  The table is showing the personal income tax will be collected by the government. I agree that income tax will apply to the citizen. As low income group does not need to pay for the government so that personal income tax will not affect their living quality. For middle class, income that more that RM5000 will need to pay 1% of their income which is very low. Paying RM50- RM200 can be help the government to improve the country is very worth.

Anuthat

I agree with tax system because when Malaysians buy things,taxes will be added in service charges and those taxes will go to the government and spend it on education,medicals,allowances for old people.as a low income group.it brings benefits to them when they apply loan for their studies,and their tax rate paid is 0.as the shown,the middle class group who earns more than Rm5000 per month tax rate paid is only 1%.which is low.if compare to buying houses or cars interes.So it wouldn’t affect daily life much.


Ang Xin Yee

Before GST, a 6% and 10% will be charged on goods and services that we purchase. But when the
GST was introduced, the tax rates that are being discussed now will be 4% lesser compare to before
GST. I think it is important that we have to take care on how we spend our money because the charges
was taken from us by force. At the same time, we have to realize also that the tax payment process is a responsibility to our country because if there is no tax imposed, all public services we enjoy today
cannot be given. So I think it is a win-win solution for government and citizens.

Lau Jun Shiang

Part of the revenue from tax is used by a government to manage the country and also for the expenses
of developing countries. The tax collected is spent by the government for the purpose of infrastructure
such as roads, hospitals, schools, the aim of developing economic, social goals such as health,
education, welfare and more. Taxation is an important point for the effective administration of the
country, so it is very important for us to understand that how tax charge by our country and to pay it
for the goods of our country. Therefore we must understand that the tax that we pay is to develop our
 country and those facilities could able to enjoy by us too..


References

1.  PricewaterhouseCoopers. 2015. ‘2015/2016 Malaysian Tax and Business Booklet’ [Available at: https://www.pwc.com/my/en/assets/publications/2016-malaysian-tax-business-booklet.pdf] [Accessed on: 29 October 2016]
2. Kurt Wagner. 2014. ‘8 Ways Facebook Changed the World’ [Available at: http://mashable.com/2014/02/04/facebook-changed-the-world/#7zy2gPquZkqw] [Accessed on: 29 October 2016]
3. Malaysia Income Tax Guide by Hann Liew, 2016 Available at: https://ringgitplus.com/en/blog/Personal-Finance-News/Malaysia-Income-Tax-Guide-2016.html [Accessed :6th November 2016]
4. Santander Trade Portal, Malaysia: Tax System, 2016. Available at https://en.portal.santandertrade.com/establish-overseas/malaysia/tax-system [Accessed:6th November 2016]