Motivation Booster

I have another 24 hours to make the 2H Econ presentation and haven't been sleeping well. This morning while taking my breakfast, the always flamboyant marketing manager (I called MM- speak like the previous PM always positive and optimistic), joined me.

"Why look 'no semangat-wan'? It's not the end of the world yetlah. The sun will still shine after tomorrow." he chirped at me, knowing I have to face 'the exam' tomorrow.

"Nothing good to writelah. Maybe have to submit my resignation letter too?" I mumbled.

MM suddenly tried to wake me up, "Hey, are you still in dreamland? There are lots of good things to report tomorrow. Easylah. Startlah with Malaysia most peaceful country in the world, with so much natural resources and also well-educated and skillful human resources. So many opportunities to do business and gomen is very supportive. Actually in Malaysia, where got war? That communist war during Emergency was a product of the British's 'divide and rule' policy so cannot count as warlah. The only war I know is the war against mosquito, see the Anti-Dengue War and now the gomen is still spraying DDT against them- see we even need not use any bullet."

I began to feel the tension in me loosening. Listening to MM is always pleasing. He talks fluently and when he starts, no one can really stop him as his style is mesmerising and smooth. He can convince well and he tries his best not to hurt one with his words. He is never a 'tak-boleh' in this Bolehland. After all, he is a MBA graduate in Marketing from a foriegn university made in Malaysia, able to 'market' his idea and even himself well.

"Look at the stastistics, I mean REAL statistics data from the EPU, the BNM, the MOF, MITI and parliament reports, not those 'kopi-tiam cakap kosong'. Growth rate is to be 5 to 6.0% for this year, umployment rate still low at 3.5 %, tourist arrivals up by 48% with 30 billion ringgits in receipts and a huge domestic saving rate of 40%. If only the gomen can convince people to spend more and increase private consumption, phwee.. we can support our econmy well without those angmoh help. Things look great." MM spoke at ease with the economic figures engrossed in his head.

"See, as quoted from the Bernama news, Rafidah said that our economic performance have rose to sixth placing SURPASSING that of UK, Holland, France and Australia. In terms of competitiveness, she said we even surpassed China, Thailand and South Korea. And foreign direct investment stood at RM28.7 billion in 2004. Some more, Denmark's Kleenman which specializes in design and tuning solution for Mercedes CLK wants to have an assembly plant here while more China car-makers are queueing up to have their models running on the Malaysian highways. Wah...really 'chiak-biau-liau' here." MM can speak in Hokkien too but he speaks better in Tamil.

"I heard that Petronas is going to sell 115 million standard cubic foot per day of gas for 18 years to Singapore Keppel Energy which is going to be RM6.7 billion at today's price, have not calculated at tomorrow's price yet. Remember the price of petroluem product is going upwards only. Petronas reported a net profit of MYR23.66 billion for the full year ended Mar. 31, 2004. In the first half of fiscal 2005, net profit was already MYRR16.87 billion. I think the bad days for the high tech chips are going to be over since the 2004 stockpile is diminishing fast and freash orders have begun. Consider the fact that the RM75 billions electronics sales are the mainstay of Malysian's RM104 billion econmy last year. We may even outpace 6% growth rate this year. Don't worrylah."

"Even the price of petrol , diesel and tolls have gone up, we are still the cheapest in the region. "MM sounded like he is the minister talking. " Look whenever the supermarkets or hypermarkets have a sale, they are jam-packed, the packing berths are insufficient and the roads leading there even require police control. In fact, just look at the roads leading to Mid-Valley and One-Utama during the weekends, the economy is rosy-man."

I sat listening. In my subconscious mind, I was listening to an 'economy psychologist' who could transform my negative thoughts to positive, turning me from a pessimist to an optimist. In my mind, he should be the one presenting the report.

As confidently as he talked, MM tried to eased me further. "Okay Boh Tah Chek, during your presentation, I'll restrain myself from questioning you. If there is any bugger trying to demand explanation, you can count on me. If you wany some more facts and stastitics, I can supply you. 'Kaw-peng-you boh?."

I could, but thank him for that short breakfast pep-talk and offered to pay for the "Teh Boh Ais Limau" he had ordered. I have just psyched up to get ready for tomorrow because in my inner thoughts ring, " 好 花 不 长 开".