29 Ogos 2009

Keranamu Hati Ku Malaysia. Suatu Entri Khas Sempena Kemerdekaan Malaysia ke 52

LAGU:Keranamu Hati Ku Malaysia
ARTIS:Manis
KOMPOSER:Lead
PENULIS LIRIK:Lead

LIRIK:

Kaulah wiraku yang berbakti untuk negara yang tercinta ini
Kamilah generasi baru yang akan menerajui perjuangan impian yang pasti

Dan kini kau menjadi lagenda hidupku
Berjanji kami bersatu padu
Agar sentiasa mengharumkan namamu

Oh Malaysia tanah airku yang tercinta
Rela kami korbankan segalanya
Jiwa raga dan juga harta benda
Keranamu hatiku Oh Malaysia
Tanah airku yang tercinta
Berikan kami kekuatan untuk
Manuju puncak gemilang
Menuju puncak terbilang
Manuju puncak gemilang
Menuju puncak terbilang

Kaulah wiraku yang berbakti untuk negara yang tercinta ini
Kamilah generasi baru yang akan menerajui perjuangan impian yang pasti

Dan kini kau menjadi lagenda hidupku
Berjanji kami bersatu padu
Agar sentiasa mengharumkan namamu

Oh Malaysia tanah airku yang tercinta
Rela kami korbankan segalanya
Jiwa raga dan juga harta benda
Keranamu hatiku Oh Malaysia
Tanah airku yang tercinta
Berikan kami kekuatan untuk
Manuju puncak gemilang
Menuju puncak terbilang
Manuju puncak gemilang
Menuju puncak terbilang

Dan kini kau menjadi lagenda hidupku
Berjanji kami bersatu padu
Agar sentiasa mengharumkan namamu

Oh Malaysia tanah airku yang tercinta
Rela kami korbankan segalanya
Jiwa raga dan juga harta benda
Keranamu hatiku Oh Malaysia
Tanah airku yang tercinta
Berikan kami kekuatan untuk
Manuju puncak gemilang
Menuju puncak terbilang
Manuju puncak gemilang
Menuju puncak terbilang

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28 Ogos 2009

Life: Rejoice, the taxman cometh! Petikan New Straits Time 27/08/2009


P. Selvarani.

The Inland Revenue Board attempts to discard years of bad press with a ‘softer’ approach, writes P. Selvarani.

IT’S an annual “invitation” that most people dread — when that large white envelope emblazoned with the words Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (Inland Revenue Board) turns up in your mail box.

That ritual of filing your tax returns and paying your dues to the government has become such a chore for some of us that many opt to ignore the IRB’s presence until the taxman literally comes knocking on your door!

Realising the need to do away with the “hard-sell” kind of advertisements and use a more subtle approach instead to get Malaysians to file their tax returns, the IRB decided to use “reverse psychology” to remind Malaysians of their responsibility as taxpayers this year.


Datuk Hasmah Abdullah says the IRB is always portrayed as the bad guys when is not.

“This time around, we decided to show our taxpayers how their money has contributed to the development of our country and how fortunate we are to be born in Malaysia,” said IRB director-general Datuk Hasmah Abdullah.

The IRB’s Corporate Communications Division came up with a story idea depicting the friendly neighbour, the continuous upgrading of infrastructure, the skyline, busy traffic and Malaysians ever ready to lend a helping hand during an emergency.

After talking to people in the advertising industry, the IRB found that actor and producer Afdlin Shauki would be the best person to sell the idea effectively.

“A commercial is about selling emotions. People are not interested if someone tells them ‘go pay your taxes’. But a lot of government commercials are usually too ‘hard-sell’. So, it was a pleasant surprise when the IRB told me they wanted something different that would appeal to the emotions of the public. I thought it was very forward-thinking of them,” said Afdlin who produced, directed and acted in the commercial together with his Sepi co-star Vanida Imran.

During the meeting with Hasmah, Afdlin asked her what the IRB wanted to achieve.

Hasmah said they are always depicted as the bad guys although, in reality, they are helping Malaysians build a nation.

“When she said that, it hit a nerve. I realised it’s about being thankful for what we have. There is a direct correlation between paying our taxes and the development we benefit from.”

With only a minute to tell the story, Afdlin came up with the idea of a man rushing his pregnant wife, who has gone into labour, to the hospital and along the way, he realises how great his country is.

“The man needs to get to the hospital so that his child can be delivered safely. And he gets help along the way. It is like a ‘best-case’ scenario. We are trying to sell this feeling that there is hope and at the end of it, you feel proud to be Malaysian. You realise how lucky you are,” said Afdlin.



Hasmah stressed that the message of the commercial was not just to remind the people of their tax obligation but to also instil a sense of pride that they have contributed to the development of the country and are beneficiaries of it as well.



Afdlin was given a big hand.

“It’s a reminder that the development we enjoy today was made possible by the taxes our forefathers paid, and likewise, what we pay today will go towards providing more and better amenities for our future generation.

“It is a reminder that the independence that our forefathers fought for with blood and tears is protected so that our children can continue to enjoy the peace and prosperity of living in Malaysia. Together, we have made this great nation a place we proudly call home. We enjoy so many things, including peace and security, that many other countries lack.”

Hasmah said Afdlin was given a free hand in coming up with the storyboard. Shooting began soon after the IRB approved his idea.

“We were present during the shoot. It was an amazing experience to see that he could actually understand and deliver the messages the way we had hoped for,” Hasmah added.

Despite having only two weeks to come up with the idea and produce the commercial, Afdlin is thrilled that they were able to produce an IRB commercial “that did not look like an IRB commercial”.

“I really think the clincher was in the tagline — I told them that the message they should send to the people is ‘thank you for helping us build a nation’.

“It’s a very strong message that the rakyat have been a part of all this. That all the development, peace and security we enjoy is because of you. And it was big of the IRB, on behalf of the government, to say thank you to the people.”

The commercial, which was aired on television for 15 days in April, had such an impact upon viewers that about 1.26 million people filed their tax returns via e-filing this year compared with about 900,000 last year.

“It even became the topic of discussion among bloggers, with some reminding their friends of the tax deadline. Their positive response to the message was heartening,” added Hasmah.

The impact has been so good that the IRB’s Corporate Communications Division is already plotting up scenes for the sequel to Anak Bertuah (Lucky Child)!

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20 Ogos 2009

Selamat Datang Ramadhan & Selamat Hari Merdeka ke 52 tahun

Beberapa hari lagi sekiranya dipanjangkan umur kita akan bertemu lagi dengan bulan Ramadhan yang sentiasa dinanti nanti oleh umat Islam. Bulan yang sinonim dengan ibadah puasa. Jadi apa kaitannya bulan Ramadhan yang mulia ini dan ibadah puasa dengan percukaian? Teruskan membaca....

Ramadhan tahun ini boleh dikirakan istimewa sedikit berbanding dengan Ramadhan yang lepas lepas. Ramadhan tahun ini akan berlaku beberapa peristiwa yang akan dan sentiasa diingati oleh Rakyat Malaysia khususnya.

Pertama, yang paling hampir pilihanraya kecil DUN Pematang Pasir. Seingat saya dalam seumur hidup saya ini pertama kali ada pilihanraya di dalam bulan Ramadhan. Selalunya pilihanraya umum atau kecil akan dilakukan di bulan-bulan lain selain bulan Ramadhan. Jadi pastinya semangat dia akan jadi lain. Mungkin boleh jadi seperti semangat sahabat-sahabat Rasulullah ketika berlakunya Perang Badar yang juga berlaku dibulan Ramadhan.

Kedua, kemudian adalah perayaan paling penting untuk rakyat Malaysia iaitu ulang tahun Kemerdekaan Tanah Melayu ke 52 tahun ataupun Hari Kebangsaan kita. Jarang sekali kita menyembutnya di dalam bulan Ramadhan. Mungkin sebab itulah untuk tahun ini Sambutan Hari Kebangsaan diadakan di Stadium Bukit Jalil. Tidak di Dataran Merdeka seperti biasa.

Mungkin anda rasakan posting kali ini tidak ada kena mengena dengan Cukai pendapatan. Sebenarnya ada kaitannya samada kita sedar atau tidak.

Pertama, bulan Ramadhan disamping umat Islam diwajibkan berpuasa ada satu lagi ibadah yang juga diwajibkan hanya di dalam bulan Ramadhan iaitu Zakat Fitrah. Zakat Fitrah ini diwajibkan keatas semua umat Islam yang hidup pada pagi 1 Syawal atau hari Raya Aidilfitri. Bayaran Zakat Fitrah ini juga telah diputuskan oleh Kerajaan dibenarkan sebagai tolakan kepada jumlah cukai yang kena dibayar oleh pembayar cukai. Walaupun nampak seperti jumlah yang sedikit, tetapi untuk yang mempunyai ahli keluarga dibawah tanggungannya yang ramai jumlahnya agak besar juga. Di negeri Selangor tahun ini Zakat Fitrah yang kena dibayar adalah sebanyak RM 7 seorang. Jadi jika ada tanggungan sebanyak 5 orang termasuk diri sendiri, jumlah zakat dibayar adalah RM 35. Untuk yang berpendapatan kecil hingga sederhana yang boleh kena cukai, dengan offset jumlah zakat yang dibayar ini ada kemungkinan tiada cukai perlu dibayar lagi.

Kedua, di dalam bulan Ramadhan ini juga Umat Islam dituntut memberikan derma dan sumbangan kepada badan badan kebajikan kerana amat besar pahalanya. Derma kepada badan kebajikan atau institusi yang diluluskan LHDN juga boleh ditolak daripada pendapatan kasar seseorang.Dengan syarat tidak melebihi 7% daripada pendapatan aggregat seseorang itu.

Walaubagaimanapun, sebanagi umat Islam kita janganlah membayar zakat atau menderma dengan tujuan untuk mengurangkan cukai pendapatan kita. Lakukanlah dengan niat untuk mendapat keredhaan Allah. Insyaallah kita akan mendapat ganjaran di dunia dan di akhirat. Sebahagian ganjaran di dunia pihak kerajaan telah memberi kelebihan kepada yang membayar zakat dan menderma. Ganjaran yang lain hanyalah Allah yang maha mengetahui.

Akhir kata, saya mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan selamat melakukan ibadah Puasa bagi umat Islam dan Selamat Menyambut Hari Kebangsaan yang ke 52.

Satu Malaysia. Rakyat didahulukan, Pencapaian diutamakan.

Bersama Membangun Negara

Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

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08 Ogos 2009

Taxpayers can now have rebates deducted monthly Petikan Thestar 6 Ogos 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: The Schedular Tax Deduction (STD) scheme has been reviewed to enable the deduction of rebates and relief to be done on a monthly basis, Inland Revenue Board chief executive officer Datuk Hasmah Abdullah said.

Previously, she said rebates and relief were only taken into account when taxpayers claimed for it when they filed their income tax returns annually.

“By deducting on a monthly basis, we can have real-time payment of taxes due,” she said, adding that this was in line with the agency’s policy to provide the best service to the public by emphasising on accuracy of information.

Hasmah was speaking at the National Tax Conference 2009 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here yesterday. The two-day conference which ended yesterday attracted more than 1,300 participants comprising auditors, tax agents, consultants and accountants.

Hasmah also announced that as of June 30, a total of RM3.13bil had been refunded to 331,034 taxpayers.

Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia (CTIM) president Dr Veerinderjeet Singh called for a review of tax agents’ licencing process.

The process must be revamped as the profession must be involved in self-regulating exercises, he said.

“CPD (continuing professional development) must be imposed and monitored by the profession (tax agents), not by the regulators.

“The current system has led to administrative constraints and certain undesirable consequences,” he said, adding that the CTIM could continue to follow up on the issue in the interest of having a clear, fair and transparent framework to regulate tax practitioners.

Federation of Malaysian Manu-facturers council member Datuk Md Khair Ahmad said small and medium-scale enterprises were facing constraints because banks were overcautious and their existing credit lines had been recalled.

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