Christine Lagarde, managing director of the IMF, left, speaks with Lucas Papademos, Greece's prime minister in Brussels, on Feb. 20, 2012.

Europe is still struggling to avoid the threat of default as investors warned Greece will soon risk violating the terms of its second bailout in three years.

Seven months of negotiations ended in the pre-dawn hours in Brussels with Greece winning 130 billion euros ($172 billion) in aid it needs to avoid a March bankruptcy. Any respite may prove temporary after it signed up to a program of austerity and economic reform aimed at slashing debt to 120.5 percent of gross domestic product by 2020 from about 160 percent last year.

Even with investors and central bankers chipping in to relieve the debt burden, economists from Citigroup Inc. to Commerzbank AG concluded Greece may again fail to deliver amid a fifth year of recession, looming elections and social unrest. The upshot could be the removal of aid and renewed debate over the merits of fresh assistance before year-end as policy makers shift toward doing more to inoculate the rest of Europe.

“The bailout bandage is on, but it won’t take much to unravel,” said David Miller, partner at Cheviot Asset Management in London. “The euro zone has done its best to ensure that Greece will deliver on promises, but there is considerable scope for backtracking on deficit reduction.”

Financial markets signaled doubt the accord will fix Greece’s travails permanently or spell an end to the two-year debt crisis. The euro surrendered initial gains against the dollar and European stocks fell from a six-month high.

Bankruptcy Risks

By supporting Greece, Europe’s high command chose the financial and political cost of awarding fresh money over the risk of a bankruptcy that could splinter the 13-year-old euro area. At least 386 billion euros has now been committed to save Greece, Ireland and Portugal with investors predicting the government in Lisbon at least will need more support.

To tackle future fiscal emergencies and limit contagion, officials held out the prospect of boosting their firewall to 750 billion euros from a planned limit of 500 billion euros when a permanent aid fund is paired with the temporary facility starting in July. They also cajoled investors into providing more debt relief in an exchange meant to tide Greece past a March bond repayment.

In return for the new cash, Greece signed up to cuts in pensions, the minimum wage, health-care and defense spending, as well as layoffs of state employees and asset sales. It must implement that austerity with unemployment already topping 20 percent, meaning more retrenchment might end up only compounding the debt stress.

Dangers ‘Substantial’

“The danger of Greece saving itself into economic depression and having to default and exit the common currency zone remains substantial,” said Christian Schulz, an economist at Berenberg Bank in London. Jennifer McKeown of Capital Economics Ltd. repeated her forecast that Greece will quit the euro by the end of the year.

The odds that Greece will remain encumbered by debt were exposed by an analysis by European Union and International Monetary Fund experts that highlights what could go wrong with a country unable to grow out of its fiscal travails by devaluing its currency. In a worst-case scenario, the debt may rebound to 160 percent of GDP by 2020 rather than nearing the 120 percent the IMF deems “sustainable.”

“Given the risks, the Greek program may thus remain accident-prone, with questions about sustainability hanging over it,” said the report by the so-called troika, which also includes the European Central Bank.

‘Fully Fledged’ Default

The study exposes the difficulties Greece faces in delivering its promises amid a crisis-torn economy, said Guillaume Menuet, an economist at Citigroup in London. The country may miss its deficit goals as soon as June and have to prepare for a “fully fledged, coordinated default” by year-end, he said.

Joerg Kraemer, chief economist at Commerzbank in Frankfurt, calculates the debt ratio will rise to 127 percent if annual growth is 0.5 percentage points lower than assumed.

“Greece will find it difficult to shoulder even the reduced debt in the long run if it does not implement far-reaching reforms,” said Kraemer. “For the second half of the year, there is a significant probability that a frustrated EU stops payments to Greece.”

If 2010’s 110 billion-euro bailout is anything to go by, Greece will struggle to reach its targets. Privatizations supposed to reach 19 billion euros by 2015 have so far yielded about a tenth of that amount and Barclays Capital estimates that, even with promised fiscal cuts, just 16,000 state jobs were shed in the three years through the third quarter of 2011 compared with 466,000 in the private sector.

Outside Scrutiny

In a bid to prevent renewed failure even if it means eroding Greek sovereignty, European governments will tighten their scrutiny. A special account will be established that gives priority to keeping Greece solvent before releasing money for the country’s budget. A European Commission task force will also be embedded in Athens.

The biggest near-term risk may be elections which could be held as soon as April. In a poll released today, nearly every Greek questioned by GPO for Mega TV said the budget measures promised by the current government were too harsh.

“The new Greek government could refuse to follow through on its commitment,” said David Mackie, chief European economist at JPMorgan Chase & Co., who noted Europe’s leverage over Greece will recede once investors complete a debt exchange and the first aid payments are received.

Debt-Swap Relief

Other hurdles remain. Unless 90 percent of investors sign up to the bond swap, Greece may need to enforce it, creating legal difficulties. Finland and Germany are among the nations whose lawmakers must back the new loans as voters attack the bailouts. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said the IMF plans to add 13 billion euros to the bailout, less than the third it contributed to the first program.

The euro area has nevertheless “bought time” for countries such as Portugal to prove they are more creditworthy than Greece and to erect stronger defenses in the form of a larger bailout fund, said Carsten Brzeski, an economist at ING Groep in Brussels.

“The often-cited Greek can has again been kicked down the road,” he said. “The good thing is that the can is still on the road, but it requires a huge amount of stamina and patience to keep it there.”

Gold for April delivery closed up $32.60 at $1,758.50 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold pricetraded as high as $1,759.50 and as low as $1,727 an ounce while the spot price was adding $22, according to Kitco’s gold index.

Silver prices rose $1.21 to $34.429 an ounce while the U.S. dollar index was down 0.18% at $79.001.

“A big vote of confidence from the Base Metal market today as the complex finished up strongly, wiping out much of the loses from last week,” said analysts from RBC Capital Markets. “The resolution on the Greece bailout package helped bring in some short covering and fresh longs from the fund community.”

RBC believes the economic picture, particularly in developed countries, is improving. As a result, the analysts believe risk appetites among metals investors should increase.

Jon Nadler, senior metals analyst at Kitco Metals, noted that market action has hinged on Greek headlines for weeks, with equities and the euro rising on positive news and falling after missed deadlines. With the deal now in place, Nadler believes investors can return their focus to the bigger — and more problematic — picture.

“Now that the red wax seal is drying on the 130 billion euro package and the many strings that are attached to it, the markets can focus on the remaining troublesome items — banking sector problems and Greece’s own inability to avoid coming back to knock on the EU’s door for more assistance, at a later date,” said Nadler. “There appears to be little doubt that in order for the country to bring debt down to 120% of GDP such further help will be necessary. As things stand right now, if Greece is lucky, that ratio might get down to 129% by — 2020 or so.”

Gold prices were also getting a boost from China’s decision to lower its reserve requirements for banks. The People’s Bank of China announced over the weekend that it was knocking down it’s reserve-requirement ratio by 0.5%, a move aimed at boost lending. Some are interpreting this as a sign that China’s economy could be slowing.

Gold mining stocks were riding gold prices higher Tuesday. Kinross Gold(KGC_) was gaining 3.7% at $11.36 while Randgold Resources(GOLD_) was 1.1% higher at $112.34.

Other gold stocks, Agnico-Eagle(AEM_) and Eldorado Gold(EGO_) were trading higher at $36.45 and $14.39, respectively.

BEBERAPA orang mengisi petrol di sebuah stesen minyak di Teheran, Iran kelmarin.

SINGAPURA – Harga minyak melonjak ke paras tertinggi sejak sembilan bulan lalu kepada hampir AS$105 (RM318) setong di Asia semalam selepas Iran menyatakan ia menghentikan eksport minyak mentah ke Britain dan Perancis di sebalik peningkatan perbalahan berhubung program nuklear Teheran.

Harga minyak mentah naik AS$1.50 (RM4.54) kepada AS$104.74 (RM316.7) setong pada waktu tengah hari di Singapura semalam.

Sebelum itu, harga minyak mentah meningkat kepada AS$105.21 (RM318.1) yang paling tinggi sejak bulan Mei tahun lalu.

Pada Ahad lalu, Kementerian Minyak Iran menyatakan negara itu menghentikan penghantaran minyak mentah kepada syarikat-syarikat Britain dan Perancis yang merupakan satu tamparan kepada Kesatuan Eropah (EU) selepas EU melaksanakan sekatan ke atas eksport minyak Iran.

Sekatan itu termasuk pembekuan aset bank Iran yang akan bermula pada Julai depan.

Menteri Minyak Iran, Rostam Qassemi memberi amaran pada awal bulan ini bahawa negaranya akan mengurangkan eksport minyak kepada negara-negara Eropah.

Negara-negara EU yang dianggotai 27 buah negara meggunakan 18 peratus minyak Iran yang dieksport.

– Agensi

Published: Jan  3, 2011 23:34                Updated: Jan  4, 2011 00:03

JEDDAH: Jeddah is home to a thriving local gold industry. Now it will be home to the world’s largest gold factory.

“The factory will become a reality by the end of this year,” Essam A. Aziz Sultani Al-Ashrafi, chief executive officer of Taiba for Gold & Jewels Co. Ltd., told Arab News on the sidelines of a news conference on Monday. The press meet was convened to announce the launch of the “Golden Plume Contest” for gold jewelry designers at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).

JCCI Secretary General Adnan Mandoorah, second right, with Hisham Ahmad Binjabi, chairman of JCCI's Sculpture Art Committee, center, Essam A. Aziz Sultani Al-Ashrafi, CEO, Taiba for Gold & Jewels Co. Ltd., second left, Ali S. Batarfi Al-Kindi, GM, Al-Kindi International Group, right, and Bisher A. Diab, World Gold Council's country manager, Saudi Arabia, at a press conference at the JCCI on Monday. (AN photo)

 

The contest has been organized by the World Gold Council (WGC) in cooperation with the head of the Jeddah Jewelers Board, Taiba and the Khadija Bint Khowailid Businesswomen Center of the JCCI.

The factory, once operational, will employ 500 to 800 workers, thus creating jobs for young Saudis, Al-Ashrafi said, adding that this ambitious project is the brainchild of Taiba for Gold & Jewels.

He added that the factory is already under construction at Jeddah Industrial Estate-II, covering an area of 22,000 square meters.

The Kingdom has always led the Gulf and the Middle East in terms of gold and jewelry consumption and sales. He attributed this to the high quality of products that are sold and also manufactured locally.

“Factories here are able to produce high-quality products because of the high quality of technology that they employ,” Al-Ashrafi said. “Gold is part of local culture and customs, especially at weddings. It’s revered as being majestic, having timeless value, and is worthy of respect and saving.”

Taiba has over 25 years of experience in the market and its products are well designed, Al-Ashrafi said. Over 2,500 shops distribute Taiba products across the Kingdom.

The organizers of the Golden Plume Contest said prizes in excess of SR60,000 would be distributed among the top four winners, with the first-place winner receiving SR20,000 in cash; the second SR15,000; the third SR10,000; and the fourth SR8,000. In addition, 24 golden guineas will be awarded to the finalists from five to 29.

The results will be announced at the JCCI in March.

The competition opens for contestants this month and will close in the second week of February, after which the panel of judges composed of a number of renowned gold jewelry artists and designers will meet to evaluate the competing entries.

“We’re delighted to sponsor this event and funding the prizes. We believe this is a great way of finding the next generation of gifted gold jewelry designers in Saudi Arabia, both men and women. The competition represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for talented people to create designs that celebrate gold’s role in today’s modern life while maintaining the spirit of its long heritage in Saudi society,” Al-Ashrafi added.

Ali S. Batarfi Al-Kindi, general manager of Al-Kindi International Group, said: “The Kingdom is working to promote young Saudi boys and girls to engage in the gold industry. There is no doubt that Saudi nationals are in a position to better understand the taste of their citizens and better able to translate these ideas into designs and jewelry. We have contributed to and supported the Golden Plume Contest as part of our ongoing commitment to the gold sector and the social responsibility we believe in,” Al-Kindi said.

Bisher A. Diab, WGC country manager, Saudi Arabia, said gold plays an important role as an asset. “Its role has increased from 30 to 40 percent as an important aspect of investment channels. The Golden Plume Contest will encourage the people of the Kingdom to become more involved in the country’s gold market,” Diab added.

Komen Admin:

1. Seperti yang selalu saya mention dalam seminar emas: Jika dunia arab sudah mula beralih kepada emas, lonjakan harga emas akan berlaku disebabkan oleh buying power mereka yang begitu besar!
2. Jika Korea Selatan mampu membeli USD1 billion emas tahun lepas, bayangkan negara yang mempunyai kuasa minyak dunia start membeli emas!

 

Selepas beberapa minggu bermulanya rundingan yang sukar, menteri berkenaan dijadualkan memulakan mesyuarat di ibu pejabat Kesatuan Eropah (EU) lewat malam semalam, bagi mendapat persetujuan terhadap syarat pertukaran bon pelabur swasta, yang dijangka dilancarkan Rabu ini.

Mereka berharap langkah penting itu boleh menghapuskan cadangan bahawa Athens dikeluarkan daripada pakatan mata wang tunggal Eropah itu.

Direka untuk menghapuskan hutang berdaulat Greece bernilai 100 bilion euro, perjanjian baru itu akan dikeluarkan sebagai balasan kepada pemberian hak ke atas bon lama yang sudah hilang nilai pasaran.

Kerajaan di zon euro akan menyuntik 130 bilion euro lagi dalam bank Greece, jaminan merangkumi pertukaran bon rasmi dan pinjaman tunai kepada kerajaan Athens.

Tetapi penyampaian penuh serta bantuan Tabung Mata Wang  Antarabangsa (IMF), akan bergantung pada syarat pengurangan perbelanjaan Kesatuan Eropah (EU) dan pembaharuan yang membuahkan hasil.

Bagi penjaga kerajaan Greece yang diketuai Lucas Papademos, bantuan kewangan diperlukan untuk membayar balik bon sebanyak 14.5  bilion euro berakhir 20 Mac. Di Washington, Setiausaha Perbendaharaan Timothy Geithner berkata perjanjian baru itu layak mendapat sokongan komuniti antarabangsa dan IMF.

Kumpulan 20 ekonomi utama itu akan bermesyuarat minggu ini di Mexico meninjau untuk meningkatkan sumber pinjaman IMF.

Pasukan kecil pegawai EU ditubuhkan di Athens bagi memastikan Greece menunaikan janjinya termasuk pengurangan 22 peratus gaji minimumnya dan potongan 12 peratus pencen yang lebih daripada 1,300 euro sebulan.

Rakan EU melihat Greece sebagai mangsa kepada salah urus kewangan oleh dinasti kuasa politik – yang disifatkan Perdana Menteri Itali, Mario Monti pada minggu lalu sebagai kesilapan ‘Katalog sempurna’.

Tetapi kerajaan Itali berkata pada Jumaat lalu bahawa Canselor Jerman, Angela Merkel, Monti dan Papademos yakin perjanjian itu dapat dicapai semalam.

Dengan mengetepikan masalah Greece membolehkan pemimpin zon euro menumpukan kepada membina pelindung kewangan terhadap mata wang pada Sidang Kemuncak euro 2 Mac ini. – AFP

FAKTA Pakej Penyelamat Greece

• Kerajaan di zon euro akan menyuntik 130 bilion euro lagi dalam bank Greece, jaminan merangkumi pertukaran bon rasmi dan pinjaman tunai kepada kerajaan Athens.
• Bantuan kewangan diperlukan untuk membayar balik bon sebanyak 14.5  bilion euro berakhir 20 Mac.
• Kumpulan 20 ekonomi utama itu akan bermesyuarat minggu ini di Mexico meninjau meningkatkan sumber pinjaman IMF.
  

Mungkin ramai yang masih menunggu ilham dan masa yang tepat untuk membeli emas. Jadi di sini saya kongsikan analisis pergerakan harga emas dan ramalan pergerakan harga emas. Mungkin ini dapat membantu anda untuk mengenalpasti masa terbaik untuk membeli emas!

Saya membuat keputusan berdasarkan hujah & fakta yang kukuh! Anda bila lagi nak buat keputusan membeli emas even bukti sudah ditunjukkan?

1. Untuk tujuan ini saya telah merujuk kepada artikel daripada laman web www.usagold.com . Pemilik laman web ini ialah Michael J. Kosares.
2. Beliau merupakan penulis buku The ABCs of Gold Investing: How to Protect and Build Your Wealth with Gold“. Saya sendiri membeli dan membaca buku ini.
3. Bagi beliau, masa terbaik untuk membeli emas ialah daripada bulan Jun dan Julai. Anda boleh baca artikel berkenaan di http://www.usagold.com/analysis/doldrums-2008.html

Namun bagi saya pula masa terbaik ialah pada awal bulan Ogos (iaitu 6 bulan dari sekarang). Saya ada buat analisis saya yang tersendiri.

Mari kita lihat sejarah harga emas daripada tahun 2000 sehingga 2010.

Garisan merah menegak mewakili bulan Ogos
Garisan merah mendatar menunjukkan pergerakan harga daripada Ogos sehingga Disember.

Graf di bawah: Carta harga emas dari tahun 2001 sehingga 2010

Kenaikan sebanyak 26% dari Ogos - Dec 2009

Kenaikan harga sebanyak 22% daripada Ogos - Dec 2010

Kenaikan June - Sept 2011 adalah sebanyak 30% !!

Daripada graf harga emas sepanjang 10 tahun ini, boleh dikatakan harga akan mula naik dari Ogos sehingga hujung tahun.

Jadi sekarang adalah masa terbaik untuk membeli emas.

Semoga anda kini mendapat ilham.

Yang Benar,

Hafizul Hakim Bin Mohamad Kerta

H/P: 019-8884452

Admin www.publicgoldsarawak.com

The main driver for this increase was the investment sector where annual demand was 1,640.7t up 5% on the previous record set in 2010 and with a value of US$82.9 billion.

The pre-eminent markets for investment demand in 2011 were India, China and Europe. Central banks continued the trend established in 2010 of being net buyers of gold.

Marcus Grubb, Managing Director, Investment remarked “What we can see from these 2011 figures is that there were two main factors driving the results: Asian growth and optimism on the one hand and western desire to protect assets against uncertainty on the other.

Looking particularly at Asia, there was a major boost to the overall figures from the increase in Chinese demand, which is a trend that we see continuing over the next year.

It is likely that China will emerge as the largest gold market in the world for the first time in 2012 demand terms.

What is certain is that the long-term fundamentals for gold remain strong, with a diverse and growing demand base, coupled with constrained supply side activity.”

]]> http://www.publicgoldsarawak.com/ver2/2012/02/16/latest-issue-gold-demand-trends-q4-and-full-year-2011/feed/ 0 http://www.publicgoldsarawak.com/ver2/2012/02/16/majlis-fatwa-sahkan-pelaburan-forex-adalah-haram/ http://www.publicgoldsarawak.com/ver2/2012/02/16/majlis-fatwa-sahkan-pelaburan-forex-adalah-haram/#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:17:04 +0000 Hafizul hakim http://www.publicgoldsarawak.com/ver2/?p=2874 [...]]]> February 16, 2012

Urus Niaga Forex Haram: Mimpi Ngeri Yang Tiada Kesudahan

Oleh Zulkiple Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, 31 Jan (Bernama) — Lazimnya mereka tampak tampan, berpakaian kemas dan mempunyai imej korporat yang menarik selain daripada mengunjungi premis kelas atasan di ibu kota.

Mereka sering muncul dari pejabat-pejabat yang mempunyai pelbagai komputer canggih dan carta-carta yang menunjukkan data kewangan tempatan dan antarabangsa yang terkini.

Dengan penampilan yang cukup menarik, eksekutif-eksekutif muda yang dinamik ini, kebanyakan daripada mereka adalah para graduan universiti, sering mendapat perhatian daripada mereka yang sama generasi.

Setelah bertahun-tahun lamanya di universiti, profesional-profesional muda ini sudah tentu tidak sabar mengejar “emas di hujung pelangi” yang mungkin menjanjikan kehidupan mewah dan berprestij.

Tetapi semuanya tidak seindah yang diharapkan, seperti apa yang dilaporkan sebuah akhbar berbahasa Inggeris tempatan baru-baru ini.

 SATU PENIPUAN

Memetik laporan itu, dikatakan kebanyakan daripada eksekutif-eksekutif muda ini sebenarnya mangsa firma-firma yang menawarkan urus niaga mata wang asing (forex) secara haram.
Mereka ditawarkan gaji yang tinggi supaya mencari orang ramai untuk melabur dalam industri forex yang kononnya memberi pulangan yang “amat lumayan”.

Di negara ini, hanya beberapa institusi kewangan seperti bank-bank komersil dan merkantil (perdagangan dan saudagar) dibenarkan mengambil deposit dan berurus niaga dalam tukaran mata wang asing.

Tetapi awas! Eksekutif-eksekutif muda ini perlu ada sekurang-kurangnya satu akaun sebelum boleh berurus niaga. Mereka dikehendaki mencari pelabur atau digalakkan membuka akaun sendiri untuk mendapat “pengalaman” dalam industri ini.

Kerana tidak sabar dan gelap mata bila memikirkan tentang potensi keuntungan yang mereka akan perolehi, eksekutif-eksekutif muda ini menggunakan sumber kewangan sendiri atau sanggup meminjam daripada keluarga dan kenalan sebelum menyedari mereka telah melakukan satu kesilapan yang besar.

“Ini hanya satu sandiwara dan telah wujud sekian lama, tetapi pihak umum terus hanyut dengan penipuan ini,” demikian mengikut sumber yang enggan namanya disiarkan.

 KOMODITI
Katanya, semuanya bermula beberapa dekad yang lalu ketika Bursa Komoditi Kuala Lumpur (KLCE) belum beroperasi. Melihat keuntungan daripada pasaran saham tempatan memang agak perlahan, orang ramai akan begitu mudah tertarik kepada urus niaga mata wang asing disebabkan “keuntungan” yang boleh dicapai dengan cepat, kononnya setiap hari.

Pernah terdapat satu syarikat besar yang memasuki Pasaran Hadapan Jepun khususnya dalam perniagaan komoditi seperti kacang merah dan koko. “Firma ini pernah beroperasi dari Komplek Nagaria, terletak berhadapan dengan Penjara Pudu”.

Setelah “membakar” banyak akaun-akaun pelabur, firma itu telah tutup kedai, tetapi pengurus-pengurus kanannya pula telah membuka syarikat-syarikat lain. Setelah urus niaga komoditi mendapat nama busuk di kalangan pelabur, mereka dengan bijaknya memulakan urus niaga tukaran mata wang asing haram.

Ketika inilah orang ramai teruja dengan urus niaga dalam mata wang US Dollar, Swiss Francs, Deutschmark Jerman dan Yen Jepun.

“Pada lewat 70-an dan awal 80-an, urus niaga forex mula berkembang. Firma-firma forex haram ini beroperasi dari pejabat-pejabat korporat terletak di bangunan-bangunan besar seperti Bangunan MAS, Menara UBN, Plaza See Hoy Chan Plaza dan Menara Haw Par”.

Kebanyakan firma-firma ini bertumpu sepanjang Jalan Sultan Ismail, pusat perniagaan korporat di kota raya ini.

“Modus operandi mereka ketika itu tetap sama, menjanjikan para graduan muda dengan bayaran komisen yang tinggi, setinggi RM50 untuk setiap lot yang diniagakan.

“Eksekutif-eksekutif ini, yang tidak ada latihan atau lesen, dijanjikan komisen yang lebih tinggi jika mereka mempunyai lebih lot dalam pasaran — lebih banyak lot yang diniagakan, lebih banyak bayaran yang anda akan dapat”.

Beliau berkata urus niaga biasanya diadakan pada waktu petang dan masa yang paling aktif ialah malam bila pasaran Eropah dan Amerika mula beroperasi.

 KEPINCANGAN
Firma-firma ini banyak mengeksploitasi kelemahan-kelemahan yang ada pada undang-undang urus niaga mata wang dan komoditi pada masa itu.

“Para pelabur dikehendaki menandatangani perjanjian yang menyatakan urus niaga dijalankan oleh syarikat prinsipal di negara asing seperti Singapura, Hong Kong dan Australia.

Jadi para pelanggan sukar menjalankan tindakan undang-undang terhadap salahlaku syarikat ini, menurut sumber itu lagi.

“Firma-firma ini menyatakan tiada yang haram kerana urus niaga dijalankan di luar negara, bukan di Malaysia. Mereka juga membawa masuk rakyat Australia dan Hong Kong untuk memudahkan operasi mereka.

“Tapi mereka ini tiada permit kerja dan masuk dengan menggunakan permit lawatan sosial,” jelas beliau lagi.

“Ombak besar” ini telah mengakibatkan rakyat Malaysia kerugian ratusan juta Ringgit sehingga pihak berkuasa melakukan operasi di seluruh negara pada awal tahun 90-an.

Kali ini mereka tidak dapat mengelak kerana undang-undang urus niaga tukaran wang asing, sekuriti dan komoditi telah diperketatkan.

BELAKANG PINTU
Mereka menghilangkan diri buat seketika sebelum timbul kembali di bandar-bandar luar ibu kota. Firma-firma ini muncul sebagai syarikat-syarikat Bumiputera yang menawarkan pulangan tetap untuk deposit tunai tetapi ini juga dapat dihidu oleh pihak berwajib.

Sekali lagi, rakyat Malaysia ditipu ratusan juta Ringgit bila timbul pula urus niaga Indeks Hang Seng yang dijalankan di Hong Kong.

“Mimpi ngeri ini akan terus berulang. Sebenarnya tiada urus niaga yang dijalankan. Semua arahan urus niaga sebenarnya hanya pergi ke “belakang pintu” dan dibenamkan di situ.

“Tiada syarikat prinsipal asing yang menguruskan perniagaan tersebut bagi pihak firma-firma Malaysia,” kata beliau.

Itulah sebabnya mengapa akaun-akaun pelaburan dengan mudahnya “hangus” dalam pasaran sebab semuanya telah dirancang, tambahnya.

Mimpi ngeri ini hanya akan berakhir bila rakyat Malaysia tidak lagi menjadi begitu ghairah untuk cepat kaya dan para graduan muda tidak mudah diperdaya dengan iklan-iklan yang menjanjikan “bulan dan bintang”.

 – BERNAMA

Anehnya, rakyat di negara ini masih tidak serik-serik ditipu. Mangsanya pula membabitkan semua peringkat umur, taraf pendidikan dan kedudukan. Ada dalam kalangan  profesional, pegawai kerajaan dan berkedudukan tinggi yang pada logiknya, tidak sepatutnya menjadi mangsa.

 Pelbagai nama skim cepat kaya menarik pelaburan yang tinggi daripada mereka yang mengharapkan untung cepat.  Akibatnya, cita-cita dan impian mendapat kekayaan dengan mudah tidak menjadi kenyataan, sebaliknya terpaksa menanggung bala kemiskinan dan kesusahan. Islam memandang berat soal kemiskinan dan hidup daif kerana ia  boleh membawa kepada  kekufuran yang boleh mendorong seseorang melakukan perkara ditegah  agama.

Sebenarnya mudah untuk kita mengetahui sama ada sesuatu skim itu benar atau satu penipuan. Elemen keuntungan atau dividen yang dijanjikan mestilah ‘logik’ mengikut kadar yang biasa diterima melalui skim sah lain.

 Sudah tentu ada yang tidak kena jika pelabur dijanjikan pulangan sehingga 10 peratus sebulan atau melebihi sekali ganda, yakni 100 peratus dalam tempoh setahun. Sedangkan pelaburan biasa hanya memberi pulangan sekitar lima hingga 15 peratus setahun. 

Dalam hal ini, kita seharusnya dapat berfikir dengan rasional, mana-mana skim pelaburan yang menjanjikan keuntungan tetap dan tidak setimpal dengan usaha dilakukan adalah haram.

Hukum haram amat jelas dalam sistem piramid. Sistem itu hanya menguntungkan pihak berada di atas dan merugikan pihak di bawah. Ia banyak membabitkan unsur penipuan dan helah. Jika ada barang diniagakan, itu hanya helah. Kisah penipuan skim cepat kaya memang diketahui ramai.  Malangnya ramai yang masih tidak mengambil iktibar. Mereka ‘rela’ ditipu. Malah yang pelik ialah orang yang pernah ditipu dan masih rela ditipu untuk sekian kalinya.

Ini kerana modus operandi skim cepat kaya sentiasa ‘disesuaikan’ dengan memasukkan elemen yang mudah dipercayai  orang ramai.

Tambahan modus operandi kini turut membabitkan rangkaian antarabangsa. Bakal pelabur dihubungi menggunakan kemudahan internet. Paling banyak berlaku sekarang ini ialah melalui laman sosial. Mereka mudah berhubung tanpa perlu bersemuka yang lebih mudah menabur umpan tanpa risiko dikenali dan dikenakan tindakan fizikal.

Kebanyakan skim cepat kaya rangkaian antarabangsa berselindung di sebalik pelaburan di luar negara.  Jadi, pelabur tidak mempunyai banyak maklumat mengenai perniagaan yang dijalankan, tetapi mudah tertarik dengan keuntungan lumayan yang dijanjikan.

Tambahan pula, mereka tidak peduli apa jenis perniagaan itu, asalkan menjanjikan keuntungan berganda dalam masa singkat. Sikap taksub kepada kekayaan banyak membawa padah.
Mereka yang mengetahui kewujudan sistem piramid, tetapi masih meneruskan atas alasan dia berada di atas dan berpeluang mendapat keuntungan lebih tanpa mempedulikan nasib pelabur baru yang dibawa olehnya memasuki skim itu, samalah dia merampas hak orang muslim lain. Sesungguhnya amat besar dosa yang dilakukan itu hingga menghalangnya memasuki syurga.

 Perkara ini dijelaskan Rasulullah SAW melalui sabda bermaksud: “Sesiapa merampas hak orang muslim dengan sumpah, dia wajib masuk neraka dan haram baginya syurga.” -(Riwayat Muslim).

Maka berhati-hatilah dalam urusan mencari rezeki.  Sebaik-baik cara mencari rezeki ialah dengan bersungguh-sungguh melakukan usaha, biarpun terpaksa berdepan dengan kesukaran. Allah menyediakan seluruh penjuru alam ini untuk dimanfaatkan oleh manusia.

Nasihat Admin:

1. Make sure Beli emas dapat emas!
2. Jangan langsung terlibat dengan skim emas menawarkan pulangan bulanan kerana itu hanya mengaburi mata pelabur. Periksa harga emas yang mereka tawarkan, jauh lebih mahal dari pasaran!
3. Dapatkan ilmu yang sebetulnya sebelum membuat sebarang pelaburan..

]]> http://www.publicgoldsarawak.com/ver2/2012/02/15/skim-cepat-kaya-semai-nilai-kebendaan-tamak/feed/ 0 http://www.publicgoldsarawak.com/ver2/2012/02/14/obama-unveils-3-8-trillion-budget-cnnmoney-com/ http://www.publicgoldsarawak.com/ver2/2012/02/14/obama-unveils-3-8-trillion-budget-cnnmoney-com/#comments Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:23:26 +0000 Hafizul hakim http://www.publicgoldsarawak.com/ver2/?p=2838 [...]]]>

President Obama's 2013 budget.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — President Obama unveiled a $3.8 trillion budget request Monday that hikes taxes on the rich, spends new money on infrastructure and education, but does little to reform the entitlement programs that pose the biggest long-term threat to the federal budget.

“We built this budget around the idea that our country has always done best when everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share and everyone plays by the same rules,” Obama said in his budget message.

But the budget forecasts a deficit for fiscal year 2012 that will top $1.3 trillion, before falling in 2013 to $901 billion, or 5.5% of gross domestic product.

The deficit projections, which have hovered near $1 trillion for each year of the Obama presidency, mean that Obama will not satisfy his 2009 promise to halve the deficit by the end of his first term.

White House officials described the budget as a continuation of two major speeches given recently by the president — one in Kansas where he promised Americans a “fair shot,” and last month’s State of the Union.

The budget also offers fresh insight into how the White House plans to comply with last year’s Budget Control Act, which allowed Congress to raise the debt ceiling in exchange for caps on discretionary spending accounts.

Many of the high profile recommendations made in the budget were first floated by the administration last year as part of a deficit reduction plan rolled out in September.

Spending: The administration is proposing a series of investments focused on infrastructure, education and domestic manufacturing, including old favorites like $30 billion to modernize schools and an additional $30 billion to retain and hire teachers and first responders.

One key element of that plan is a six-year proposal to spend $476 billion on surface transportation, a big increase from current levels, and much more than other proposals lawmakers are considering.

At the same time, the White House had to comply with the spending caps enshrined in the Budget Control Act, which total in the neighborhood of $1 trillion in discretionary spending over a decade.

That means many programs will see their funding cut.

“Every department will feel the impact of these reductions as they cut programs or tighten their belts to free up more resources for areas critical to economic growth,” Obama wrote.

Discretionary spending is projected to fall from 8.7% of GDP in 2011 to 5.0% in 2022.

The budget details 210 places where programs will be cut or eliminated, for savings of $24 billion in 2013 and $520 billion over a decade.

For example, the budget eliminates an Air Force satellite system that is “no longer needed to meet mission requirements.”

And the budget proposes consolidating the Bureau of Public Debt and the Treasury’s Financial Management Service.

The president would also like to cut some mandatory spending, including select farm subsidies and federal employee retirement and health benefits, for savings of $217 billion over a decade.

Military spending will be reduced. The Pentagon plans to spend $487 billion less over 10 years, a course that Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has already laid out in some detail.

But even with some cuts, annual deficits are still projected to be more than $500 billion every year for the next decade, and the budget would add $7 trillion to the debt held by the public between 2013 and 2022.

Taxes: The budget proposes a tax hike of $1.5 trillion, which includes a provision that will allow the Bush tax cuts to expire for high-income earners, a long-held Obama position.

Obama would like carried interest to be taxed as ordinary income, which means money managers would pay more than double the rate they currently pay on a portion of their compensation.

‘Dirty Harry’ weighs in on deficit

The budget also incorporates the Buffett Rule, a guideline to ensure that the wealthiest do not pay a lower overall tax rate than those who earn substantially less money.

Specifically, no household making more than $1 million will be a allowed to pay less than 30% of its income in taxes.

It also calls for a year-long extension of the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance.

In addition, the White House wants to reform the individual tax code in a way that “eliminates inefficient and unfair tax breaks for millionaires while making all tax breaks at least as good for the middle class as for the wealthy.”

On corporate taxes, details are scarce, but administration officials said that the president will unveil a plan to reform the corporate tax code later this month.

Entitlements: Because the president’s budget does little to address how to curb the growth in entitlement spending, it’s unlikely to stabilize deficits beyond the next 10 years.

National debt: The five-minute primer

The budget would cut more than $360 billion from Medicare, Medicaid and other health programs over a decade. But that’s a drop in the bucket when compared to the rapid expansion of costs expected for entitlement programs.

“While [Obama's] budget stabilizes debt over the next decade, the real problem arrives thereafter, as entitlement costs spiral out of control and revenues are inadequate to deal with a wave of retiring baby boomers,” Pete Domenici and Alice Rivlin, who led their own debt task force, said in a joint statement.

Of course, proposing significant cuts to Medicare and Social Security during an election year is a politically risky move, but by not saying much on the issue, the White House opened itself to criticism.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers took Obama to task on Monday, saying the proposal “falls exceptionally short” on entitlement spending reform.

“It is imperative that both the President and Congress put greater focus on addressing the exploding costs of these programs,” Rogers said. “Without meaningful action in this area, the nation’s debt and deficit crisis will continue, increasing the risk to our nation’s financial and economic future.”

What’s next: Obama’s budget request is essentially a blueprint of his fiscal priorities — the programs he would like to fund or cut, the new investments he would make and how he would pay for it all.

But the request is just that — a request. And it’s one that Congress can accept, reject or modify.

Even if Obama’s budget is adopted — which it won’t be — the estimates for deficit reduction may or may not pan out depending on how close to reality the administration’s forecasts for unemployment, interest rates and economic growth prove to be.

In any case, Obama’s 2013 budget is only the first step in a convoluted process that involves no less than 40 congressional committees, 24 subcommittees, countless hearings and a number of floor votes in the House and Senate.

If all goes well, a formal federal budget for government agencies will be in place by Oct. 1, the start of the 2013 fiscal year.