It makes no sense, so help me understand
>> Wednesday, January 27, 2010
I'm back in the business of blogging... soon at least. There's pretty much nothing to blog about actually. Nothing interesting or worth mentioning happened lately except that I've been fishing a lot, I'm starting to consider fishing as my second occupation after being a student. Well, I get to keep myself occupied, flex some muscles, stay healthy and earn some side income from it. So I see no harm in continuing to fish for fish, prawns and crabs except the sunburns (which are killing me). Since CNY is just around the corner, it has come to everyone's expectation every year that prices of seafood and other groceries to shot up tremendously and it did. Prices of the all time favorite seafood during CNY such as promfets and prawns has hike up at least 30%. This is due to increasing demand and very very low supply (laws of economics, shortage/scarcity), not because the fishermen are not working but there aren't really much to catch nowadays. Bad news for you guys, good news for CK. Hehehehe...
I don't rely on the market to get my seafood. I catch my own seafood. Hahaha... It is something that I take pride in doing because I rarely see any young Chinese teenagers out there fishing here in Penang and I really have to stress on it racially because I believe most Chinese teenager would probably spend time at shopping complexes or cybercafes. Anyhow, I've been catching a lot of prawns and fish lately. In fact me and my dad caught more than enough prawns to feed the family, we sell them to our neighbours of which half of the money comes to me. Yes... !!! And to my surprise, the earnings that I've collected through fishing was enough for me to pay for my bikes insurance and road tax. I didn't have to go beg mum for the money needed to renew my bike road tax and insurance this year but then I'm broke. I got zero money left as all that money gone... habis... kaput.
Next thing I am going to blog about is about my bike. My 1993 registered Honda Revere 650. Probably one of the (less than 3,my guess) surviving ones here in Penang because I've never seen one before other than mine. Well, talking about renewing my insurance and roadtax, I can't believe the insurance company. I mean the people who calculates the premium, they are true geniuses reaping profits from people. The cost to insure (3rd party) for my bike is more than RM200. I mean come on, its a two wheel transport, fetching no more than 2 people at one time (of which I rarely do) and hardly carrying any luggage.
And the thing is the bike is in complete good roadworthy condition of which would very unlikely cause any harm to other road users. Worse still, the bike despite its age, holds its value pretty well, which means the rider/owner would probably be extra careful when riding therefore poses less danger to other road users. I mean come on, would you want to drop your bike? It will cost thousands to fix it back and that is if you are lucky enough to find parts for it.
So enough complaining and ranting. The thing is, the point that I want to make clear here is, insurance company are a rip-off. Because the government requires all on the road vehicles to be properly insured, we are somehow bound to them. Without the insurance, you can't use your vehicle. Besides that, the premium charged for the same vehicle by almost all other companies are the same. There's no point choosing which company to insure with because at the end of the day, you end up paying the same amount of money.
Well, I do hope someday, somehow, insurance for such motorcycles are calculated based upon their condition, usage and likelihood of being involved in an accident. Although one cannot predict the likelihood of accidents happening, I believe that whatever the insurance company is charging for mopeds and cubs are far more unreasonable, not because its too expensive but because its too cheap (people riding mopeds and cubs will kill me if they see this, though I also own a moped. I am merely making a comparison). The stats always proves that more than 80% of motorcycle accidents are contributed by mopeds and cubs. So what's the rationale of charging the big bikes more when obviously, they are paying out less (3rd party point of view, not first). Big bike hit a car, and small bike hit a car, what much of a difference does it make? Yes yes yes, people here in Malaysia will say that, you can afford the bike, you sure can afford the insurance. Duh, its not the matter of affording it or not, its a matter of the insurance company being fair to us.
And I'd have to blame the government. It is all because of the stupid stupid government protective policy that causes the prices of bikes to be so expensive. AP this AP that. All AP... Aku masuk Pocket dulu. I am a dumb fellow so that to me is AP. You make the big bikes expensive. Then you also charge expensive road tax. I mean WHAT THE HELL? On what basis does the government justify in charging expensive road tax on bikes? RM250 for 501c.c < 800c.c bikes while a <1600c.c car is charged RM90. Come on. How "much" road does the bike occupy compared to the car? Considering that fuel is a subsidized commodity, how "much" fuel does the bike use compared to the car? It just doesn't make sense does it? A vehicle that uses less road, less petrol but is charged more for road tax. Well, its Malaysia. We can't really complain. Even if we do, we are rarely heard because the leaders and policy makers are too busy with other agendas. Its again, the classic case of if you can afford the bike, STFU and pay the road tax.
*stretching my body*
Now that I've express everything, I feel much better. Malaysia is a really weird country. Well, I don't know how road tax are calculated in other countries, I do hope Malaysia have one fair system to calculate road tax be it a car or a bike for private use. If it is to be based on engine displacement, a 650c.c bike should be equivalent to a 660c.c Perodua Kancil and therefore should be charged the same amount of road tax. That is to be fair to everyone. This should be a free country. We are suppose to be free to choose what we want. I see no reason why a weirdo like me, who prefer bikes over cars should be charged extra. Why should I be penalized because I prefer to use a big bike. And the excuse of being able to afford the bike so I should be able to afford the road tax is plain stupid and doesn't suffice. If big bikes are to be charged in such a manner, because their owners are rich buggers, then the government should not call them road tax but "Because You Are Rich and You Chosed a Motorcycle" tax. The end.
P/s: I am selling off my moped in case anyone is interested.
Yamaha Lagenda Z 110 with electric starter, 2006, 26000kms, Good condition (I assure you that), Accessories includes Racing Boy 811 alloy rims, Givi E26 top case and monorack. I am not putting a price to it. If you're interested, give me your best offer. If its reasonable, I will definitely sell it.
Next thing I am going to blog about is about my bike. My 1993 registered Honda Revere 650. Probably one of the (less than 3,my guess) surviving ones here in Penang because I've never seen one before other than mine. Well, talking about renewing my insurance and roadtax, I can't believe the insurance company. I mean the people who calculates the premium, they are true geniuses reaping profits from people. The cost to insure (3rd party) for my bike is more than RM200. I mean come on, its a two wheel transport, fetching no more than 2 people at one time (of which I rarely do) and hardly carrying any luggage.
And the thing is the bike is in complete good roadworthy condition of which would very unlikely cause any harm to other road users. Worse still, the bike despite its age, holds its value pretty well, which means the rider/owner would probably be extra careful when riding therefore poses less danger to other road users. I mean come on, would you want to drop your bike? It will cost thousands to fix it back and that is if you are lucky enough to find parts for it.
So enough complaining and ranting. The thing is, the point that I want to make clear here is, insurance company are a rip-off. Because the government requires all on the road vehicles to be properly insured, we are somehow bound to them. Without the insurance, you can't use your vehicle. Besides that, the premium charged for the same vehicle by almost all other companies are the same. There's no point choosing which company to insure with because at the end of the day, you end up paying the same amount of money.
Well, I do hope someday, somehow, insurance for such motorcycles are calculated based upon their condition, usage and likelihood of being involved in an accident. Although one cannot predict the likelihood of accidents happening, I believe that whatever the insurance company is charging for mopeds and cubs are far more unreasonable, not because its too expensive but because its too cheap (people riding mopeds and cubs will kill me if they see this, though I also own a moped. I am merely making a comparison). The stats always proves that more than 80% of motorcycle accidents are contributed by mopeds and cubs. So what's the rationale of charging the big bikes more when obviously, they are paying out less (3rd party point of view, not first). Big bike hit a car, and small bike hit a car, what much of a difference does it make? Yes yes yes, people here in Malaysia will say that, you can afford the bike, you sure can afford the insurance. Duh, its not the matter of affording it or not, its a matter of the insurance company being fair to us.
And I'd have to blame the government. It is all because of the stupid stupid government protective policy that causes the prices of bikes to be so expensive. AP this AP that. All AP... Aku masuk Pocket dulu. I am a dumb fellow so that to me is AP. You make the big bikes expensive. Then you also charge expensive road tax. I mean WHAT THE HELL? On what basis does the government justify in charging expensive road tax on bikes? RM250 for 501c.c < 800c.c bikes while a <1600c.c car is charged RM90. Come on. How "much" road does the bike occupy compared to the car? Considering that fuel is a subsidized commodity, how "much" fuel does the bike use compared to the car? It just doesn't make sense does it? A vehicle that uses less road, less petrol but is charged more for road tax. Well, its Malaysia. We can't really complain. Even if we do, we are rarely heard because the leaders and policy makers are too busy with other agendas. Its again, the classic case of if you can afford the bike, STFU and pay the road tax.
*stretching my body*
Now that I've express everything, I feel much better. Malaysia is a really weird country. Well, I don't know how road tax are calculated in other countries, I do hope Malaysia have one fair system to calculate road tax be it a car or a bike for private use. If it is to be based on engine displacement, a 650c.c bike should be equivalent to a 660c.c Perodua Kancil and therefore should be charged the same amount of road tax. That is to be fair to everyone. This should be a free country. We are suppose to be free to choose what we want. I see no reason why a weirdo like me, who prefer bikes over cars should be charged extra. Why should I be penalized because I prefer to use a big bike. And the excuse of being able to afford the bike so I should be able to afford the road tax is plain stupid and doesn't suffice. If big bikes are to be charged in such a manner, because their owners are rich buggers, then the government should not call them road tax but "Because You Are Rich and You Chosed a Motorcycle" tax. The end.
P/s: I am selling off my moped in case anyone is interested.
Yamaha Lagenda Z 110 with electric starter, 2006, 26000kms, Good condition (I assure you that), Accessories includes Racing Boy 811 alloy rims, Givi E26 top case and monorack. I am not putting a price to it. If you're interested, give me your best offer. If its reasonable, I will definitely sell it.
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