What should the role of the United Nation be? Discuss

Vanessa:

What is United Nations (UN) ?

The real question is, should the United Nation control the Avengers? I understand innocents were killed while heroes are saving the day, but do you agree when the Secretary of State approaches the Avengers team about signing an agreement that would make them beholden to the United Nations? Politics and superheroes, really? That sounds like a lot of paper work need to be done.

I’m just joking (hahahah). Now back to the topic, first of all what is United Nation?

            In 1945 when World War II is over, many nations were destroyed and the world wanted peace. Hence, the United Nations was found as an international organization. As of today, the U.N. is made up of 193 Member States and of course Malaysia is one of them. The mission of the United Nations are guided by the purpose and principles contained in its founding Charter. The U.N. is unique and it has a lot of powers vested in the Charter, that allow United Nations to take action on the issues confronting humanity in the 21^st century, the issues include peace, security, climate change, sustainable development, human rights, gender equality, terrorism, disarmament, humanitarian, health emergencies, governance, food production and much more. 

            When dealing with the issues as mentioned above, the United Nations will provide a forum for its members to state and express their opinion and views in the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, and other bodies and committees. With such communication and discussion between its members, and by hosting negotiations, the United Nations has become a mechanism for governments to find areas that majority of members can agree on, come out with solutions and solve the problems together.

            Other than that, the United Nations system is also made up of the U.N. itself and many other programmes, funds, and specialized agencies, all with their own membership, leadership, and budget. The programmes and funds are financed through voluntary rather than assessed contributions. The Specialized Agencies are independent international organizations funded by both voluntary and assessed contributions. Some of their most important programmes and funds include The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) where they work in nearly 170 countries and territories to help eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and build resilience. The purpose is to help these countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and UNDP plays a vital role. The other programmes example is The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and they focus on children by providing long-term humanitarian and development assistance to children and mothers.

 Syafiqah:

Role of United Nations

The United Nation was established in 1946 and is responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. It is one of six principal organs of the UN and is generally viewed as the apex of the UN system although its powers and functions are separate to the UN Secretary-General. The Council’s powers include the establishment of peacekeeping and special political missions, authorisation of military enforcement action, the imposition of international sanctions on member states, and the ability to refer matters to the International Criminal Court (ICC). It is the only body in the UN system that can make decisions that are legally binding on all members (China&UN, n.d.).

To retain international peace and security has been the prime responsibility of the UN. During about 64 years of its existence, it has done a valuable work in this direction. It has done a fairly good amount of work in the settlement of several controversies, which could have posed serious threats to the world peace. Along with it, the UN has contributed greatly in the field of decolonization, human rights, disarmament (Your Article Library, n.d.).

The Council also has an important role in the governance of the UN system. It has responsibility for approving the admission of new member states to the UN, the appointment of the UN Secretary-General and senior UN officials, and is jointly responsible with the UN General Assembly for the election of judges to the International Court of Justice.

The Council has unique responsibility and decision making powers and has a range of tools at its disposal. When faced with a potential conflict, the first response of the Council is to recommend to the parties that they reach agreement through peaceful means. The Council may appoint, or ask the UN Secretary General to appoint, special representatives to assist and guide efforts towards conflict resolution. In cases where conflict is occurring, the Council may issue ceasefire directives, send in UN peacekeeping forces or use enforcement actions, such as sanctions (united nation peacekeeping, n.d.).

With or without agreement of national governments, the Council can take steps to protect civilians caught in the conflict, for example by allowing access across national borders for humanitarian organisations. The Council can direct Government’s to limit stockpiling of certain weapons or disarm, for example by nuclear non-proliferation and destruction of chemical weapons. The Council’s day-to-day functions include the review of UN peacekeeping operations, consultations on specific country situations and monitoring the implementation of UN sanctions regimes through the work of its sanctions committees (united nation peacekeeping, n.d.).   

 Susan:

Principles of UN:

The world we living nowadays is one of promise and of risks. The spread of liberty and democracy, free markets and trade and the era of technology advanced, are where the promise is lying. There are various dangers and risks that must be faced –new forms of terrorism and the prospering of weapons of mass destruction. The members of United Nations embrace several vital principles to deal with the peril head on. (Kim, 2003) figured out the fundamental principles that UN hold for their long term goal.

• Responsibility

UN has urged every members or nations which are its member, to carefully consider the world’s future, which is most possibly coming with terrorism and proliferation. As a part of the international community, UN has appealed to every member in order to assist the prevention effort. The Secretary-General as the commission of UN would examine the threats caused by terrorists and weapons of mass destruction and enforce the collection action.

·                  Accountability
Regardless of permanent or elected members of the community, accountability ideally requested that membership only entitled to those who are willing to carry the burdens. UN support exploring ways to make the Security Council more truly representative and the most effective way to do so is to ensure the democratic are always being practiced.

• Effectiveness

An effective UN must spend the hard-earned contributions of its members with smart and fairly. Carefully targeted spending to achieve beneficial goals is wise. The United State of America has giving contribution with voluntarily by helping the developing countries strengthen their economies. They are harnessing market forces, attacking corruption, and consolidating the rule of law.

• Stewardship of financial resources

Every nation should work to ensure that the UN spends every dollar in the right way. For instance, Russia’s strived to maintain fiscal discipline in the UN. The push by Australia and others to end unsuccessful and outdated UN activities is timely. Stewardship requires that the intended beneficiaries of UN programs, in fact, do benefit. It requires poorly performing agencies to improve by freeing up resources better spent elsewhere to help those in needs around the world. 

• Modernization

As the European Union expands and tried to integrate its foreign policy into a single voice, the composition of the Western European and Other States Group (WEOG) and the Eastern European Group may be increasingly questioned, with some of the EU's future 25 members in both groups. As regional groups make unfortunate leadership choices, such as occurred when Libya was elected to chair the Commission on Human Rights, the entire system of regional bloc voting may also come under increased scrutiny.

·        Credibility
All members should comply the purposes of UN bodies. This means that a mode of rule that threatens its neighbors to support terrorism, and abuses the rights of its citizens should be disqualified for Security Council membership. It means that members of the Commission on Human Rights should utilized liberty and the rule of law. It also means that Security Council permission should count: nations under them should be ineligible for elected seats or leadership positions on any UN body.

• Freedom
  Advancing freedom should instilled everything the UN does, for liberty is essential to every significant human right issues attempt- whether it is helping ordinary men and women achieve dignity, lifting whole societies out of poverty, creating the life-saving technologies that will reduce disease and hunger, or creating the foundation for domestic and international peace.

Hoe Choon:

Movie that included the UN ideas in the story

            Besides Civil War, there is another movie that related with United Nation, which is the "LONDON HAS FALLEN"!!!... Here's the summary of movie.

        Several years after Banning saved President Asher from an attack on the White House in "Olympus Has Fallen", he’s forced into action once more during a visit to London as the city comes under attack from an arms dealer hell-bent on seeking revenge for the death of his family at the hands of the United Nations.

            First, all of the major world leaders from across the globe are in one place to join prominent world leaders for Wilson's state funeral (British Prime Minister). Which is united nation country prime minister had to attend. The terrorist wants to execute the President of the United States as a show of strength against the world. Moreover,  As the dignitaries are arriving, several mercenaries under Barkawi's command initiate an attack, starting with a bomb that destroys the Canadian Prime Minister's limo as it passes through Trafalgar square. So that terrorist start their first terror attack killing Canadian Prime Ministers and his wife. Followed Japanese Prime Minister killed by suicide bomber, French President killed by perishes in a huge bomb blast, Italian Prime Minister and his wife are killed when one of Westminster Abbey's bell towers is demolished while they are touring it, and the German Chancellor is shot dead by terrorists posing as Queen's Guardsmen at Buckingham Palace.

            Furthermore, there is one man stop terrorist Kidnap united states Prime Minister. That man is once again Secret Service Agent Mike Banning. Otherwise, Mike Banning gets away. But the ones behind the attack still pursue them. They try to get away in the President's helicopter but they manage to shoot it down. The President and Banning are now on foot and are trying to find a safe haven. But Prime Minister still get caught by terrorist. Secret Service Agent Mike Banning want to Rescued his Minister from terrorist and his cooperate with British Army and find out terrorists' secret headquarters. Thus, found out and the terrorist prepares to execute Asher publicly (US Prime Minister), broadcasting the video feed live around the world via the internet and hacked video outlets. Meanwhile, Mike has been found by a unit of SAS commandos, and the group assaults the terrorist stronghold in an attempt to rescue Prime Minister. A moment of that terrorist beats Prime Minister and preparing to behead him with a machete, Mike bursts in and shoots the gathered terrorists. Although the terrorist leader ultimately manages to flee and the prime minister is success to rescued by Mike.

References:

China&UN. (n.d.). the role of the united nation. [online] Available at: http://www.china-un.org/eng/zghlhg/zzhgg/t29436.htm [Accessed 5 May 2016].

Kim, R. (2003). The Challenges Facing the United Nations Today: An American View. [Online]. 2003. Council on Foreign Relations. Available from: http://www.cfr.org/international-organizations-and-alliances/challenges-facing-united-nations-today-american-view/p6451. [Accessed: 5 May 2016].

mofa.gov. (n.d.). Section 4. Roles of the United Nations and Other International Organizations, and Japan's Cooperation. [online] Available at: http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/other/bluebook/1990/1990-2-4.htm [Accessed 5 May 2016].

UNITED NATIONS (2016). Overview [online]. Available at: http://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/overview/index.html [Accessed 5 May 2016]

united nation peacekeeping. (n.d.). role of the security council. [online] Available at: http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/operations/rolesc.shtml [Accessed 5 May 2016].

UNITED NATIONS (2016). Funds, Programmes, Specialized Agencies and Others [online]. Available at: http://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/funds-programmes-specialized-agencies-and-others/index.html [Accessed 5 May 2016]

Your Article Library. (n.d.). United Nations: Objectives and Roles of United Nations. [online] Available at: http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/uno/united-nations-objectives-and-roles-of-united-nations/40332/ [Accessed 4 May 2016].

The current tax system unfair to the middle class and lower income groups. Do you agree?

Syafiqah:

Malaysian tax system

            Tax history for more than 2,500 years has been focusing on two significant issues, namely who pays and what is taxed. For most of human history, taxes were paid by the poor like peasants, slave and conquered people. Ruler collected the money to pay the cost needed for building public artefact such as monument and temples and some of the money are used to finance warfare.

            What are the tax system in Malaysia? Under budget 2015, tax payers with family and income of RM 4000 per months are not entitled for tax liability. The prime minister during recent budget presentation has reiterated its commitment to cut income tax between 1% to 3% for the 2015 year of assessment, meaning some 300,000 individual taxpayers will no longer pay income tax for the 2015 year of assessment, meaning some 300,000 individual taxpayers will no longer pay income tax (E-Cukai.com,2014).

Effective Year of Assessment 2016 (meaning from 1 January 2015 onwards), the tax rate for individual residents of Malaysia shall be reduced by 1% to 3% as follows:-

On the 1^st April 2015, Government has implemented the Good and Services Tax (GST). GST is a tax scheme where the tax is imposed at each phase of the manufacturing process so that each phase brings revenue to the government. 

GST is introduced at the beginning of the manufacturing process   and is counted in each phase of product or service production and marketing until it reaches the consumer, who pays the tax. GST is collected after the final consumer prices are imposed. Even though GST is imposed at each level of the supply chain, the tax element does not become part of the cost of the product because GST paid on the business inputs is claimable. So, the entire burden of the tax will be borne by the consumer. GST is a regressive tax, because it taxes on consumption and in terms of the same consumption, people with lower income spend a larger part of their income rather than those with higher income. It seems to burden the low-income households because they have larger marginal propensity to consume and most of their income will be spent on food and necessities (Ismail, 2015).

Hoe Choon:

Low and Middle income group in Malaysia

What does it mean to be low income and middle income in Malaysia? The low income people in Malaysia can be classified as people with salary not more than RM 1500 per months whereas the middle income in Malaysia can be classified for the people who gain salary for about RM 3000 and above but below RM 10000 (Chi, 2014).

They are the low income category living in government flats, riding motorcycle and having to spend hours at workplace in order to earn extra overtime to maintain life at poverty level. The middle income are normally graduates and their level of salaries starts with their type of jobs and where they work. A starting pay would about 2000 and at the incremental rate of 6% it takes years to build up to the average salary of 4500 and they are committed with study loan of on the average of 60000 and can hardly save, what more buying a link house which now cost about 500000, They have probably to have to rent a house for the rest of their life and drive 5-6 years old car (Mohamed and Nicholas, 2014).

Vanessa:

How is the impact?

The impacts that GST will bring to the consumption patterns of middle class and lower income group are mostly negative. The Government or the society should support these group of household about the issues of how GST could affect low-Ismail, International Journal of Environment, Society and Space and income households. Low-income households are not excluded from paying GST and taxes because taxes are collected at the time of purchase, which are already included in the products. However, the solutions that the Government came out with is that they support low-income households by implementing tax on wealth. This tax has been implemented for a long time in Islamic society where they called it as zakat. Wealth tax (zakat) is only applied on rich people who has surplus wealth.

UOB Global Economic & Market Research recent study has compared the impact of GST in Singapore, Japan, Thailand, and Australia. The study has found out that GST has a short-term impact on the consumer price index (CPI) because GST increases the CPI and inflation rates revert to long-term averages in the years after GST implementation. The study also stated that private consumption spending could be dampened after the implementation of the GST. However, wealth tax (zakat) expenditure has the ability to increase the aggregate consumption since the marginal propensity to consume of high-income households is lower than that of low-income households. Zakat distribution has a positive impact on private consumption in Malaysia where the 1% distribution of zakat will increase the private consumption by 0.36%. This results shows that zakat distribution is capable of affecting consumption spending especially by low-income households.

Will GST bring burden on end-user consumers of products? Yes, especially negative impacts towards middle class and low income group compared to higher income earners because GST is a regressive tax. GST promotes inflation which reduces the purchasing power of consumers, and raises barriers to upward social mobility for the lower income households. In one hand, inflation that keeps on increasing might cause higher interest rates and dampen private investment as well as bring negative impact on overall economic growth. On the other hand, implementation of zakat has bring a positive effect on middle class and lower income households’ aggregate demand and spending pattern. The reason is zakat is able to transfer wealth from the rich to the poor (low-income households). If the poor has higher marginal propensity to consume than the rich, then the aggregate demand will rise. This is because the poor will use money more efficiently as they will use it to buy necessity goods only, so it will bring greater production of essential goods. The zakat users will benefit from this too as they are able to increase their saving in order to avoid the depletion of wealth. The increase in saving will ultimately be matched by an increase in investment. The level of output therefore rises in equilibrium. Therefore, zakat is preferable to be implemented because it will be able to supports the low-income households and can boost the economy.

Shyu Chai:

Conclusion & Suggestions

As discussed in earlier part, GST leads to burden for them. Hence, in our perspective, we do agree with the staement: Malaysia current tax system seems as unfair policy for those who are lower income earners. However, there are several studies had carry out improvement and feedback towards the GST critism. 

Firstly, study by (Nor Asmat, 2015) suggested that that zakat is desirable to be implemented because it supports the low-income households and boost the nation domestic growth as well. The common aim of zakat is to redistribute wealth of the society among the poor. The wealthier person with money surplus will pays more in terms of zakat. And zakat will goes to the poor group as a tool of financial resources. By this way, zakat positively affected aggregate demand and purchasing power of low-income households. The money given to the poor will be used to purchase more basic necessities. Eventually, it will end up with greater production of essential goods by small and medium scale enterprises. Indirectly, zakat capable to boost up the growth of those small industries and created more labor force opportunities for the poorer groups.

(Business Cycle, 2014) stated “GST can be implemented in a manner that prevents inequality”, For instance, government reduced the personal income tax rate and launched BR1M program which distributing RM300 annually to lower income households in order to help them cope with the introduction of the GST. Not only of these, government should consider the best practices of Singapore in terms of helping the poor with the execution of the GST. Singapore implemented redistribution of society which is achieved via state education and health services, where GST was absorbed to subsidize patients in hospital and medicine sector. “Automatic Employment Benefits” implemented for topping up the wages of older, lower-income workers and targeted measures. GST credits and GS vouchers are used to relieve the tax burden on lower-income groups. It is the best way to stem unfair criticisms towards this tax system and keep the public happy.

References

Business Cycle (2014). A well-implemented GST can help the poor - Business Circle. [Online]. 2014. Business Circle. Available from: http://www.businesscircle.com.my/a-well-implemented-gst-can-help-the-poor/. [Accessed: 3 May 2016].

Chi, M. (2014). What does it mean to be middle class in Malaysia?. [online] Malay Mail Online. Available at: http://m.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/what-does-it-mean-to-be-middle-class-in-malaysia [Accessed 3 May 2016].

E-Cukai.com. (2014). 2016 LHDN Income Tax Rate. [online] Available at: http://e-cukai.com/2016-lhdn-income-tax-rate/ [Accessed 3 May 2016].

Ismail, N. (2015). COMPARISON BETWEEN THE EFFECT OF GOODS AND SERVICES TAX AND WEALTH TAX ON LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS: A THEORETICAL STUDY. [online] International Journal of Environment, Society and Space. Available at: http://malaysiangeographers.org/ijess/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/4-Ismail-COMPARISON-BETWEEN-THE-EFFECT-OF-GOODS-AND-SERVICES-TAX-AND-WEALTH-TAX-ON-LOW-INCOME-HOUSEHOLDS-A-THEORETICAL-STUDY-IJESS-2015-32-32-39.pdf [Accessed 3 May 2016].

Mohamed, R. and Nicholas, j. (2014). How will you classify salaries in Malaysia as middle class, upper middle class, and higher class with respect to financial stability?. [online] Quora. Available at: https://www.quora.com/How-will-you-classify-salaries-in-Malaysia-as-middle-class-upper-middle-class-and-higher-class-with-respect-to-financial-stability [Accessed 3 May 2016].

Nor Asmat, I. (2015). COMPARISON BETWEEN THE EFFECT OF GOODS AND SERVICES TAX AND WEALTH TAX ON LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS: A THEORETICAL STUDY. International Journal of Environment, Society and Space. [Online]. Available from: http://malaysiangeographers.org/ijess/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/4-Ismail-COMPARISON-BETWEEN-THE-EFFECT-OF-GOODS-AND-SERVICES-TAX-AND-WEALTH-TAX-ON-LOW-INCOME-HOUSEHOLDS-A-THEORETICAL-STUDY-IJESS-2015-32-32-39.pdf. [Accessed: 3 May 2016].

Inspiring story: People who have changed the world

“When I first started, my father wouldn’t let me make a shoe. Instead, he said: ‘Sit and watch, sit and watch.’ For months and months, I did that.”

—Jimmy Choo, the one who changed the FASHION WORLD

Vanessa:

-Introduction-

Datuk Jimmy Choo, born Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat is a well-known Malaysian fashion designer based in London, United Kingdom. He was born in Georgetown, Penang in 1948; he is son of a shoe cobbler and grew up in a world of shoemakers. Fun fact, Jimmy Choo was born to Zhou family which his surname was supposed to be Chow or Chew (both shared the same family clan). However, the surname was wrongly spelt as ‘Choo’ by the registration clerk at the Registry of Birth who is non-Chinese that may have misheard the pronouciation. Otherwise our internationally well-known name of Jimmy Choo would be Jimmy Chew or Jimmy Chow. His childhood was at Hutton Lane, the side road from busy Penang Road, where his father was operating his business. Since Jimmy was little, his father would just asked him to sit and watch the shoemaking process without letting him to even touch a shoe. After months of watching, he finally was able to handmade his first pair of shoes at the age of 11 under his father’s expert guidance. He has developed an interest in crafting shoes after learning the art of shoemaking from his father and was then determined to follow his father’s footsteps in the art of shoe design.

Jimmy Choo started as an apprentice in a Hong Kong Shoe Shop in Muntri Street to learn special skills from the famous Penang shoe making king at that moment, Mr Wong Sam Chai. Not long later, Jimmy became unsatisfied with the routine shoe making process. He wanted to learn more and to become a shoe designer. Jimmy Choo was born in a poor family, however his father was determined to send him to London despite facing some financial problem. His father’s saving and a small loan from his friend were able to support Jimmy’s first year of studies, finally he was able to go to England to pursue his study at the Cordwainers Technical College in Hackney during the early 1980s. He worked several part time jobs which included working as a cleaner at a shoe making factory while he was in London to help pay his bills and college education fees for the remaining three years. In 1983, Jimmy Choo completed his study and graduated with honours. This college is also a place where Dato Jimmy Choo first met his current wife, Datin Rebecca Choo in the same art of shoemaking course, who is also a professional shoe designer. After graduation, he worked in a shoe factory, start from the bottom, he learn the process of manufacturing of shoes from design to production.

Dato Jimmy Choo remained in England and opened his first shoe shop located near to his college in Hackney in 1986. This is where he started designing, hand crafting and selling his own shoes and it did not take long for him to start gaining international attention with his unique and detailed work. Within a couple years, Jimmy Choo’s shoes creations were featured in an eight-page spread in Vogue magazine. This has successfully helped him gained many celebrity customers, including Princess Diana of Wales who was always spotted wearing Choo’s footwear everywhere she went and it helped transform his growing popularity into worldwide fame. After the rise of his popularity, Jimmy Choo partnered with Vogue’s editor, Tamara Yeardye Mellon who often collaborates with Choo for Vogue magazine shoes fashion photo shoots, together they create a line of ready-to-wear footwear and this is where Jimmy Choo cofounded his own company. Jimmy Choo Ltd grew very quickly and became a major worldwide fashion label within a few years. The company focus on high-class footwear, Jimmy Choo remained involved in the design work for the haute couture section of the business but of course he no longer handmade each and every one of it. Tamara and Choo sourced factories in Italy to when they started the company and opened their first boutique shop in London. 

Syafiqah:

-Achievements-

When we mention Jimmy Choo name, I’m sure that most of us know who is the person especially the girls. Jimmy Choo is known as 21^st century luxury accessories brand, with shoes at its heart, offering an empowered sense of glamour and a playful daring spirit (Jimmy Choo, n.d). Jimmy Choo has been into the fashion industry for so many decades and he also did achieve a lot of achievements and awards and his name and the company name also has been fully established and well known not within Malaysia only but throughout the world. When typing his name from Google, we can see a numbers of website telling story about Jimmy Choo and as a Malaysian, we should be proud with him because he has make our country name become well known throughout the world because of his achievements.

In the year of 1980, Jimmy Choo has received an award for becoming a personal shoe designer for Princess Diana (Princess of Wales) and Jimmy Choo feels that this can be a good opportunity for him for him to make his business established since Princess Diana is one of the influential people. One of his most notable clients was Princess Diana, who owned multiple pairs of shoes he made for her. She even owned several in the same design, but in different colors to go with her ever-changing wardrobe. Rumor was that the statuesque Princess Diana at 5'10' tall could only wear the very high heel Jimmy Choo's she adored after the split from also 5'10" Prince Charles! In fact, Choo was scheduled to deliver a pair of shoes to her on the day she was tragically killed and he has kept the shoes in remembrance of her (hubpages, 2014). Besides that, Jimmy Choo also earn an award such as the “best designer in UK” in 1999 and we can see that mostly the awards achieve by Jimmy Choo is mostly in oversea instead of Malaysian and this prove that his business is much more established in the oversea market rather than Malaysian. In 2000, he received a state award from the Sultan of Pahang state in Malaysia. This award bestowed upon him the tittle of ‘Dato’ and commemorates his achievements (the famous people,  n.d). In the year of 2001, Jimmy Choo has been appointed as a professor in the University of the Arts London on 24^th May (Penang, Penang Lang, 2010). Jimmy Choo also did received several awards commemorating his status as a notable Malaysian designer, including recognition as the ‘World's Outstanding Malaysian Designer’ in the 2001 ‘Design for Asia Awards’ (the famous people, n.d). In 2002, He was honored with an ‘Order of British Empire’, to recognize his services to the fashion industry in the UK. His shoes have been worn by many members of the royal family (the famous people, n.d). As part of its annual recognition of the world’s most outstanding Chinese designer, the Hong Kong Design Center (HKDC) has awarded Dato Professor Jimmy Choo OBE with its 2011 accolade (De Montfort university Leicester, 2011). In 2009 he visited DMU, which is based in Leicester, UK, to give a masterclass to footwear design students and has continued to provide internships for the university’s students and graduates at his Couture House in London, UK and Dr Gerard Moran, dean of Faculty of Art says that, “Jimmy is truly a role model for young designers everywhere, as he has demonstrated in providing master classes, inspiration and work experience for De Montfort University footwear design students. We’re honored to be associated with him and delighted at his receipt of this greatly deserved recognition of his achievements.” (De Montfort University Leicester, 2011). 

Hoe Choon:

-The pride of Malaysia-

            The name of Jimmy Choo is started to bloom since the year 2001 in the movie ‘Sex and The City’ where there was a scene that Carrie Bradshaw (by Sarah Jessica Parker) found herself stranded on Staten Island, New York, was running frantically for the ferry, she soon realized that her shoes are missing, then shouting out: "I've lost my Choo!" Thus, I will bet that either you are fashion follower or the super fans of Sex and The City, sure you will heard of Jimmy Choo.

            As regards to (Kollewe, 2016), the brand of Jimmy Choo is recorded a rapid increase of sales volume in 2015 as Asian shoppers’ desire for its luxury shoes. This company that was successfully created great brand recognition said, it had seen strong growth in Asia, especially Japan. In Europe, Jimmy Choo benefited from rising tourist numbers, Jimmy Choo had good reputation too in US where it capable to stand out from the rest, such as Burberry despite volatile exchange rates. There is statistic showed that the shoes making sector is actually make up more than three-quarters of annual revenues, and with proudly Jimmy Choo’s men and women footwear is ranked as the fasted growing category among the market.

            On the year 1980, Jimmy Choo became the personal shoe designer for Princes Diana and it brought a huge change for his life: within only two years of launching his shop, Choo’s shoes were promoted and featured in the magazine all around the world. Eventually, Jimmy Choo became the diamond of the celebrity world, regardless in local or oversea. Jimmy Choo’s begin to gain recognition due to the quality and style of his handmade women’s shoes. (Koket, 2014)

            Years by years, the Jimmy Choo name becomes a global brand with those high-end retail clients, such as Harrods and Saks Fifth Avenue were carrying Jimmy Choo footwear too. Jimmy Choo brand had also expanded to handbags and other accessories. 

Shyu Chai:

-Life is unpredictable. Jimmy Choo fallen down too-

            Dato Jimmy Choo was actually faced hardship during the year 2001 to 2008 where he was nearly lost his name in the fashion field. There was conflicts happened about the company stake issue as in the year 2001, Choo sold his 50% stake in the company's ready to wear business, to Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd for £10 million. On 19th November 2004, Hicks Muse announced the acquisition of a majority shareholding in Jimmy Choo, in a transaction valuing the company at 110 million. In November 2004, Lion Capital acquired a majority shareholding in Jimmy Choo. Lion Capital is a private equity investment firm focused on the consumer sector. On Feb 2007, Tower Brook Capital Partners has bought Jimmy Choo Ltd. It was a fascinating rift within the fashion industry for that time.

            Despite the company was becoming bigger and bigger, Jimmy Choo started to worry about the quality of the shoes made for customers. After struggling for a period of times, he decided to back at his shop in Hackney making a small number of pieces of footwear for specific clients.

            Today, Dato Jimmy Choo has returned to his roots at a small shop he opened in London, which serves as the headquarters for the exclusive Jimmy Choo Couture line. It's here that Choo crafts a small number of pairs of shoes each week and trains a select group of students on how to make high-end footwear. (Raymond 2010)

- Humble and showing respect towards others have led him to where he is now-

           Not only because of the quality of handmade luxury shoes, Jimmy Choo is recognized too by his kind-hearted and the way how he treats others. The Star Malaysia interviewed him once during 2003 when he was one of the recipients of the Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN) award, which carries the title 'Datuk', bestowed in conjunction with Tuanku Abdul Halim's birthday.

         “This title would make me work harder in promoting Malaysia to the world. My shoes are travelling to Milan, Paris, the United States, the United Kingdom and other places. But the fact is that behind them is Jimmy Choo who hails from Malaysia,”

          Datuk Jimmy Choo told Bernama with a sense of pride of his country after the investiture ceremony at the Istana Negara here.

Jimmy Choo added, “You must respect people regardless where they come from. As for me, I have a high respect for my mother and my teachers as they are the people who have brought me to where I'm now.”

“Real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back.” 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Shyu Chai:

Just for fun! XD

I have been asked myself this question sometimes. Study in college for few years and after getting several new experiences, I think I got the answer. Alright, in my next future 5 years, I'm going to wear a formal dress, high heels, or sometimes sport shoes to work. The first greeting I’m going to say every morning is, “Hi! Good morning my students! Let’s get our class started!” So…This is my answer for the question “Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?” Yes, in the next 5 years, I will be a lecturer who is responsible as an educator, a tutor, a counselor and speak in front of a class with the “cute” and “hyperactive” teen students who are at the age like me right now. (Don’t you think that we are really “cute”? LOL!)

When I was a child aged at about 10 to 12 years old, being a teacher was my dream. I wish that I could do the things like what my school teachers do. I was once admired my teachers like they are the most clever people in world because they know a lot of things. (My teachers able to answer all my NON-SENSE questions. Yup I admit I was a students with a lot of “Why la teacher? Why this why that?” Hah!) I still remember that one of my favorite game during my childhood was playing around with my friends where I act as a teacher and they were my students. LOL

As growing up, this ambition was like gradually forgotten and faded out from my life. When I’m entered into secondary school, I started fed up with teachers. I remember that was a time I moved from the urban to countryside together with my family and thus forced to switch from SMJK to a new school SMK in that area. I was new to the environment as the people were totally different with me: everything from the language to culture. From a talkative girl who loved to blablabla every day and I became a quite student because I knew that I was neglected and repelled from my classmates. I tried my best to get into them, but failed. (Even the teachers started to critic and scold me like “Eh why you like this one?! Don’t you think that you’re from the city then you could act like this!”) Yes. It was hurt and that’s the reason why the dream to be a teacher had disappeared from my ambition.  I started to close my wall and I hate school life but I had no choice. All of these happened continuously and lasting for more than 1 year until I met my counselor teacher in the school, Pn. Amalina. She was good, kind-hearted and amiable. During the counselling time, I saw her patience and dedication in educating and advising me. It was the first time I found the comfort zone where I had warm treated from Pn. Amalina. She saved me from the crisis, she pulled me up from depression. We shared everything. We were friend of each other apart from a teacher and student relationship. There was a voice shout out from deep inside me, “Don’t you want to be a teacher like Pn. Amalina. That is your way, my dear.”

When I came to college life, I met a lot of good lecturers. (Of course Ms.Kalaivani is my No.1 HAHA!) Not only giving education, shared the knowledge with us, they are helping us to move on. Yes! This is what I exactly want to be! I don’t want to be an educator merely, but I wish that I and my students could achieve more than that. I hope that I able to be a good leader of my students, influence them with my experiences, motivate them positively, encourage and guide them to find their path.

After my graduate as a business student, I may not straight to enter the lecturer job field yet, but I will choose to join in an industrial or management job first. Maybe in marketing, human resource, banking or administration. Looking for high position? Hmm, it was not the essential key for me. I’d like to carry out more responsibilities and participate in organization management. The more vital for me is, I want to work for a company where I able to gain expertise knowledge and skills where I could find my core competencies.  I wish that I could absorb more management experiences and utilize them well in my future career.

Being a lecturer in college or university is still my actual desire. Last year, I was a part-time assistant in a small company where my duties are all about handling those paperwork and accounting related affairs. I found that it was not my interest and it is bored as I had to do the repeated things every day. I prefer the job that able to meet with many people and able to utilize my communication skills. I would like to face with people rather than sit in front of computers for the whole day.

As regards to TARGETjobs, the minimum academic requirements for entry into high education teaching are a good degree (min 2:2) and a postgraduate qualification (often a PhD) that are relevant to the subject to be taught. Many lecturers are mature candidates who have also gained several years' industrial work experience. That’s why I choose to work in industrial job for few years first before going to lecture in education area.

In the job file provided by Prospect UK, there are various responsibilities and skills of a lecturer are stated. Not only delivering lectures, seminars and tutorials, I need to have excellent oral and written communication skills; be confident in dealing with a range of people; capable to work both independently and as part of a team. The last and most important is, outstanding analytical skills. Now is my learning and development stage. Hence, I will strive and do my best. 

As short, time flies. 5 years is really means a lot for me. I will finished my degree this year and yet currently, I had thoroughly set a clear and detailed plan and long term goals for myself.  I wish that I able to reach my final aim in these 5 years as possible. (which means that before I reached 28!) One of the inspired quote I’m holding, “Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do!”

Yeaaa...I see myself here. HAH!

Vanessa:

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time? This is a very challenging question for students at school / college or for employees during a job interview. Why? Majority of people did not think about this question because they did not spend time planning their future, they let things happen and just go with the flow, hoping for the best whichever way it goes. The rest of these people will just tell you they would not know because they are not fortune teller. I believe I could not answer you as well if you ask me this question a year ago, but today I finally have a general idea of my future life and plans.

Over a year ago, I had just finished my Diploma in Business Administration course at SEGi College Penang. Everyone in my family suggested me to further my studies for Bachelors in Business Management so naturally I agreed that this is the right thing to do at that moment, and of course I did not have any concerns about future or work yet. However, I have to wait for another 4 months for the next degree course intake so I decided to work as part-timer for at least 3 months during this break. Luckily I was able to find a part-time administrator based job in a short amount of time so I agreed to start immediately without much consideration. The office that I worked in is a service centre of Malaysia well-known estate planning company – Rockwills Corporation Sdn Bhd. Other than general administrator job scope, I was also a Will Drafter where I learn how to generate a valid functional Will based on customers’ wishes and needs. I was really passionate about this job because not only I enjoy writing a lot, the fun part of this job was that I get to meet many people and listen to their interesting life stories everyday as well. Seeing I enjoyed this work so much, my boss continue to employ me when my degree course started just so I am able to learn and gain more knowledge about estate planning.

A year later, which is now, I had just passed my exam and obtained a Rockwills Estate Planner franchisee license. I am officially a professional estate planner, it is a self-employed sales job which means I can reach for customers to generate outdoor sales instead of sitting in the office all day waiting for walk-in sales. It is definitely not easy living a work-study program especially it is my final year in college, not to mention the fact that I have very little sales experience. Therefore, my main focus now will be to complete and graduate my Bachelor Degree smoothly within this year. Upon completing my study, I can concentrate on estate planning right away without having to spend months apply for a job position and waiting for employer’s approval. I am very grateful for this opportunity as well as feeling very fortunate to be acquainted with my boss that has a strong background and a highly respectful position within this company who has successfully built a career out of this job. Not only that, he is very humble and willing to lead his team to achieve great accomplishment by constantly providing motivational speech as well as sales tactics to support us.

Started from being a Will drafter, I work hard to become a professional estate planner in just over a year. Some says in the future we need to put our mind on money to make our life better, sure it is a fact but I also wanted to stay generous and helpful in order to contribute to our society. One of the important factors that keep me interest about this job is that one of my really close family member passed away suddenly due to heart attack few years ago leaving no will. During her lifetime, she mentioned to everyone she does not want to leave anything in her estate to her daughter-in-law. After her pass, her daughter-in-law was the one that has access to all her belonging because they live together. Although everyone in the family knew this is not her intention but there is nothing we can do no matter how unfair we felt due to absence of will. For that reason, this is why I am so determine to spread awareness on the importance of estate planning while at the same time  to help as much people as I can to protect their estate and wealth distribution just so that their intention is well planned for their next generation.

I believe under my great leader’s guidance, in 5 years time I wanted to be half as good as my boss. Noted I say half but not fully like him because it took him more than 10 years of hard work for his achievements. Once we set our mind to something, surely we will get something great in return. I wanted to be able to promote to senior franchisee by the time I am 27 years old, which is to maintain RM22,000 sales annually in order to receive this promotion. Once I am able to maintain the minimum annual target for 2 years in a row, I will then starts to collect sales point to quality for our company local and oversea trips every year. This is my time to travel the world and I do not even have to spend money on it, I just have to earn it!

By the time I am able to achieve all my goals above, that means that I am finally independent not only individually but financially. I wanted to move out and learn how to live on my own, preferably with a dog and a cat. In addition, I hope to be able to provide my mother a better life, giving her a better place to live in and bring her with me on vacation to enjoy life. This require me to collect double sales point to bring another person on the company trip but that is okay because this is the simplest thing I can provide her and she deserves so much more than that. As for my future family life, well… I believe we must not plan this kind of thing. Just let it be, let fate work its magic.

Noor Syafiqah:
Where do I see myself in 5 years time? Hmm…in 5 years time…it means that I’ll be around the age of 27 (Oh no!….another three years I’ll be going to 30 already!).Im sure that most of us are having an ambitions and dream to be someone since we are a little kids.For myself,I kept changing my dream from time to time during my kindergarten,primary and secondary school and I couldn’t get any ideas what I’m going to be actually.
During my kindergarten time,my dream is to be a teacher and when I play with my friends or cousins and so on,I’ll always want to be a teacher and treat them as my students and I always act again what my teacher do in school like the way they teach and scold students and I have do the same things to my friends and cousins and I find out that its quite funny actually…hahaha.Done already with my kindergarten dream,now we move on to my primary time dream. During my primary school time,between the age of 7 to 12 years old,my dream is to be a doctor and I also have no ideas how come I could have such dreams like that if me myself couldn’t even willing to see someone suffer from any sickness and I also couldn’t see any scratch,blood and so on and I found it weird when a person who scared for all these things wanted to become a doctor,but lets just forget about it since its all the dream of a small kids.Now,comes to my secondary school dream,for now I think I’m matured enough to choose what I want to be in the future.During my secondary time,I choose to be in the art stream instead of science stream because I find that its quite though to be in science stream and I scared that I couldn’t cooperate.My dream during my secondary time is I want to be an accountant.The main reason I want to be an accountant is just because I love the teacher,her name is Miss Lily Tan because she is so kind to me and she have such soft voices and the second reason is of course because of the salary (of course…as a teenager we always think of money!…money! and money! only…HAHAHA)

After I completed my SPM,I start to search for private colleges instead of a government university.This is because I’m the only child and has been spoiled too much by my family until I think that if I get an offer from any government universities,I need to be separated form my family so that I choose to be in private college so that I’ll be close with my family.After searching for few colleges in Penang,finally I choose to be in SEGi College Penang since its actually quite near from my house and I’ll bee able to get a full PTPTN loan.During my registration time,I found that its quite hard for me to make a decision  on what course actually I want to choose but after listening to the advice from the course councellor…Finally! I had made a decision to choose a Diploma in Business Administration and here start my journey as a business student. 

So..come to the question of “where do you see yourself in 5 years time?”.For me that in 5 years time,I’ll see myself in a office attire as a management team in a company since that start from my college time,I feel that I’m quite interested to handle the management job instead of HR,Marketing,Finance and so on so that I choose to be in management team as the job requirement for management officer is quite suitable for me like having to like organizing all of the administrative activities that facilitate the smooth running of an office and need to make sure that office equipment is maintained,relevant records are up to date and all the administrative processes work effectively.I find out that this job is quite suitable for me since like I’m a type of person who are not really like to be around people and I’m quite shy actually,so that a job that need me to meet people is really not suitable for me.Besides for the job scope that I find its quite interesting for me,I also found out that the working hours also is quite suitable for me as I only need to work from 9 am to 5 pm and I doesn’t have to work in the weekend so that I find that I coluld get a good rest at home and spending quality time with the family.Other than I found that this job suites me,I choose to be in management team also because of the I found that the salary is quite high and enough for me to achieve the dream that I always wants like shopping and travel.So that by having this job,I think of that I could afford to fulfill my dream.

As time flies,finally I’m in the final year in completing my degree and counting days to enter a working environment as an intern most probably in July for about three months.Besides the struggle I’m having throughout my study time since diploma to degree,I found out that all my hard work and sacrifice had been paid off once I can hold my degree certificate if god wills most probably by next year.In just a short while,I have completed my diploma and degree programme which takes 4 and half year and I need to set a clear and detailed long term goals for myself to make me able to achieve what I want to achieve that has been stated for my long term goals as if I couldn’t able to set my long term goals now,I scared that I couldn’t achieve what I want because nowadays time is running so fast and if we couldn’t set our goals now,we might not achieve it during the period of time that has been set up to achieve it.One of the most inspired quotes I always put in mind is “Nothing is impossible,the word itself says I’m possible”.This quotes means a lot to me and make me to dream big and make me think that I’ll achieve this dream one fine day.

Hoe Choon:

I don’t really seriously to think about my future, even just in 5 year time. After I need done a homework which is where do you see yourself in 5 year time from existing college which is in English 2 classes. Thus, I would like to take this opportunity to consider and think it serious what I want to be and who I want to be in the future. 

After 5 year I will be 28 year old! Now I still studying degree for my future. Maybe it too slow, because all of my friend is already working and starting part-time study. They got income to spent and able save for future to buy house, car and do some investment. But now absolute I have nothing and I can do with it. Also, I hope I can be more mature in future. Because I’m a person that quite emotional and I always like to think in negative way. Maybe I met too much thing that always able to influence my emotional. In diploma and degree period I thought once I be good to people, people also will good to me and I also think that others treat me as a best friend so I willing to sacrifice and try to help them whatever I can. But I was wrong, no one is appreciate what you done for them and no one is care about you. Although, I always be happy, funny or always make joke in class or talkative in front of my friend, but I am a person that don’t like to let people know what my problem that I met. I choose to keep in my heart and I face it by myself. Maybe for the past experience I not that easier to believe and trust other people. Maybe it the ways that protect myself.  Due to this issue happened it changed my sense of value. I hope in 5 year time I can become more mature and my life will getting better. I still wish I have a friend that I really can trust and share. 

After 17 year old I’m not taking pocket money from parent, my income come from online gaming business, selling gaming item to earn real money. From this business I learn how to negotiation and how to communication with different type of people. Such as different country people. From the customer I meet me able to understand their culture and I know how to doing well for the business. After that until I enter to SEGI College Penang to study diploma, during study time I want reduce my burden of my family I continue the gaming business until I graduated. After graduate I went to Intel Penang interview to get a job, during interview I was very nervous and carefully to answer every question from the interviewer. Finally, I get a job from Intel Penang, I am working in Intel finance department as mailroom specialist, for my job scope is help to scan invoices, filing invoices, retrieval invoice and archive invoices into system. For my positon consider as a font end of the department. From this job I get a lot of experience, because before that I not doing any work in office or any part time job, this is the first job I enter into society to work with different type people. starting time I was feeling stress, because I’m new to society I totally don’t know how to communicate with my colleague and my manager and I feeling afraid with anything. Such as the job not suitable for me and mostly important I afraid I unable absorb the job they pass down to me. Furthermore, my Team leader is the person that help me much, for example, even I doing any wrong thing she not trying to scold me and she give me advice and the simply way to do the task. Moreover, Finance department is the department that making payment to supplier, it cannot make any mistake with the process. Once the process is wrong it will made company loss. Thus, I used one week to learn all the thing I need to use in my task, I manage well the invoices and do it carefully and finally I able to perform well in this job and able to join my colleague and communicate with them.

For now maybe I’m in a lazy stage, no any motivation and mood to do any assignment. I also know that my daily life is unhealthy now, sleep late and wake up late and food behaviour is not stable. Why I got this kind of stage in my life? I think is because of full time working. Thus. During the working time I know the feeling and how tired worker work as full time, so I decide resign and go for further study (to escape from tired life haha) and now I have one sense that is after graduate I need to work for whole life no time to play and enjoy. Thus, now I very slack in my home, that is why I’m in lazy stage now. Of course, I also know this kind of behaviour can influence my future, I know it hard to change and me willing to try.

Furthermore, after graduate I wish me able to get a good position and work in MNC Company that is my target. Because I like the working environment in MNC company. I also decide that when intern period I wish I can intern in MNC Company. Moreover, we cannot measure our future can be good or bad, but at least I try my best to let my future to be better and not let myself regret. In future 5 year time period  maybe I will be a business man or a normal worker but I wish I can work in human resource department, because I’m a person that easier to understand people feeling. I don’t know why maybe a gift from god is and I wanted to help people even I had bad experience before. This is what I want to be in 5 year time! That is my experience my story.