Happy Scary 2009!

Experts predict that the coming new year of 2009 will not be a “Happy” new year at all. The word Retrenchment and Bankruptcy will be heard more often next year as the looming economy crisis sweeps Malaysia. Some say it will be the repeat of the “Great Depression” of 1929 or maybe worst than that.

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Early signs of economy crisis are already hinting what’s going to happen next year. Anil’s blog article “The storm has reached our shores” tells us of the dark clouds coming our way:

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In Kedah, 1,429 workers from 17 factories have been “temporarily” laid off.
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In Kuching, 1,500 workers have been retrenched as Western Digital shuts its plant in March.
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About 60 per cent of these workers are reportedly married with children. The job losses account for 15 per cent of the 10,000 workers in the electronics sector in Sarawak.
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Another 3,250 workers around the country, mainly from the electronics sector, are expected to be retrenched by over 130 employers in the next three months. And that’s just the official estimate.
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Earlier in June, 1,600 workers in Nikko Electronics on mainland Penang lost their jobs when the company said it was unable to continue operations. They received a pittance in compensation.
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So to start out the New Year of financial uncertainty, why not cheer ourselves with some dark comedy to commemorate the clichéd happiness of the commercialized “New Year”?

cartoons taken from the Times Magazine

If comic cartoon doesn't help to sway your mind away from the financial uncertainty, then try the Bible, it never fails to comfort and inspire anybody who are uncertain about the scary 2009.

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah. (Psalm 46:1-3)

and my favorite:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Happy New Year...