Satisfaction in Planting Trees

 I rent a small plot of land about a size of a house, 26 X 80 ft. I plant many banana trees. I have harvested banana such as Awak, Nipah, Berangan, lemak manis, Nangka, and Raja. I also planted Guava (Jambu Batu), Gajus, Avocado, various mango trees, kuini, and coconut.

Yesterday, I went to the land plot after missing for about 3 weeks. To my surprise, there are so many guava fruit to be harvested and wrapped. There are more than 30 young guava fruit being wrapped. While I managed to harvest 5 ripe guava fruit.

All the fruits are measured:

For sale:

Next, I need to put fertilizer. I put organic fertilizer. I don't use chemical fertilizer nor chemical poison.

Official Work As a Lecturer

I am a lecturer in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.

I had a personal website specifically for my job at http://zulfakar.fke.utm.my (see in IMPORTANT LINK, no. 7). However, due to the site restructure, all the content were gone, and I don't the time to create a new content nor link. So, I am going to use my personal website here until I create a new content.

My research is 80% for industry applications and 20% for theoretical development. My main areas are:

1. IC Design using FPGA/CPLD, VLSI
2. PLC: custom, compiler and application development, LLD, Petri Net, BASIC or C languages
3. Embedded System Design using microcontrollers, Digital Signal Processing and FPGA
4. System development and machinery
5. Software (VB, C/C++, AI, compiler, graphic engine etc.)
6. Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design and manufacturing, and electronic assembly

I have done more than 50 industry projects worth more than RM20million.

I will update this page, and provided related links from time to time.

UTM Staf Chess Tournament 2023 - Report 2 v2

 

 PART 2

This tournament had five rounds to play. Two rounds to go.

I took the long break of waiting for all games to finish by talking to my old friends. Dr. Sheikh Nasir who already retired. He was there to help the operation of the tournament. Kudos to him! We appreciate that.

In game 4, I anticipated a more challenging opponent since now there were less than one third of the participants have full points. My advantage was to play as a white color. 

My opponent is a good player. But, he lacked experience and a good coach.

Game 4

White: Dr. Zulfakar Bin Aspar, FKE
Black: Dr. Muhammad Arif, FKT
1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cd4
4. Nd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 a6
6. Bg5 e6 good
7. Qd2 Be7
8. f3 0-0
9. Bc4 Nc6
10. 0-0-0 Nd4? (Why do you want to eliminate your good defender?)
11. Qd4 b5
12. Bb3 h6? Critical Error. Don't weaken your fortress unnecessarily.
13. Be3 Bb7
14. h4! Qc7
15. g4 Nh7? Another critical error
16. g5! e5 (Weaken the  e6 and f7 squares)
17. Qd2 Qd8
18. Rdg1! (Usually white attack via g or h file only with Rhg1. But black made many critical errors with h6 and Nh7. So white has the time.)  
                d5? Weaken the d5  and f7 squares.
19. Nd5 Bd5
20. Bd5 hg5?? (it is madness to open the lines for white to attack!?)
21. hg5 Bg5
22. Bg5 Ng5?
23. Qh2! resign

This game is a very good example what will happen when the player violate many defending principles.

4-0

The only honorable action to do was to resign! This game took about 28 minutes to finish. Each player had 25 minutes. It was a good game. This guy has the potential to improve further.

The last game was a huge challenge emotionally. I rarely entered the last round with the full points. I anticipated to meet a very tough opponent. There were only 4 players with full points of 4/4.

The most difficult part to prepare for each round was to avoid going to the toilet during play. So, before each round, I went to the toilet. Then, I prepared myself while waiting for the pairing to come out. Another difficulty I faced in this tournament was no recording paper was made available to any player who want to make the movement records. Since the tournament is less than 30 minutes, writing the movements were not compulsory. Alas, players should still be provided with the score sheets! Therefore, I have difficulty to recall the 100% movements for this game.

Game 5

White: Dr. Daniel Joe Dailin (FKT)

Black: Dr. Zulfakar Bin Aspar, FKE

1. e3          e5

2. Nh3       d5 (Occupy the center is still vital despite weird opening from White!)

3. Qh5?     Bd6 (+0.78?) (I reasoned if Nc6, the knight will be attacked with Bb5.)

4. Ng5?!    (weird move. He thought I am a novice. But it took a careful consideration what to reply)

                  g6! (+1.94 for Black!)

5. Qh4       Be7! (The knight is totally pinned. No escape! During analysis, I saw the computer suggested e4 which is weird over the board!? 6. g3 Nc6  7. f4 Be7 finally!  8. Bh3  h6  9. Bc8  Rc8  10. c4 Nb4  11. 0-0  Bf6 cd5 +2.24 for Black! Study this line if you want to become a robot!)

6. Qa4+?   Bd7 (Now, White resistance is futile! Fortunately, I will not assimilate him!)

7. Qb3      Bg5 (I ignored the threat to capture the pawn at b7)

8. Qb7      (better is Qd5!)

                 Bc6!

9. Qb3      Nd7

10. Nc3    Rb8

11. Nb5?   (There are other safer ways to escape such as 11. Qa3 Be7 12. Qa6 d4 13. Nd1 is a better try to escape)

                 a6 (+7.25 for Black, An obvious attack!)

12. Qa3    ab5

13. Bb5    (which is unnecessary)

                 Rb5 (+11.30 for Black, 99.99% wins for Black)

14. Qa7    Rb8 (Safety first)

15. d4?     Be7 (I wanted to trap the Queen without realizing there was a better way! I only realized this after made this move. Think! I should take the time to think especially when I was ahead of time!)

16. 0-0     Ra8

17. Qa8    Qa8

18. de5     Ne5

19. b4      Bb4

20. Rb1    Bc5

21. f4       Nc4

22. Rb3    Qa7

23. Re1    Ne7

24. Kf2    0-0

25. g3      Re8

26. a3      Nf5

(I was not sure what was White's next move. But, the game continue with...)

27. __?_   Nce3

28. Be3    Ne3

29. R1e3  Be3+

30. Kf1    Bg1

31. ___    Qf2++

 

You can use your imagination to fill in the gaps. But, the final position is shown in the figure below.

 

5-0

I won quite early, less than 10 minutes. There were still many games in progress. So I took the time to talk to old friends, took pictures and waiting for the teams results.

I finished the game quite early by top board games standard. PM. Dr. Tan Tian Swee and PM. Dr. Mohd Haizal were still playing. PM. Dr. Mohd Ridzuan Ahmad was also finished while looking at both of them playing.

As their game went on, more people were gathering around their table. Their result will affect many team results. They were watching nervously. Mr. Razib bin Karno was wearing the green cap. He hid his nervousness by playing a small game.

Although Dr. Tan lost his game, he contributed 4 points. Dr. Jamaluddin bin Zakaria lost in round 1. But, he managed to win the rest of the games. So, he managed to contribute 4 points also. Post analysis shown that he was too nervous when he lost the first game! Dr. Mohd Ridzuan performance was a bit roller coaster. Fortunately he managed to contribute 3 points. Our FKE team total points is 16 out of 20. The second place got 14.5 points. I would like to congratulate Dr. Hazar Sukareksi who got 2 points which was good enough as our faculty back up player.

Faculty of Electrical Engineering teams with PM. Dr. Sheikh Nasir. We took the picture before the closing ceremony.

The Gold medal individual men category was won by me from FKE.

 

Dr. Tan won the bronze:

The Gold medal men team category was won by FKE.

 

The Silver medal individual women category was won by FKE. Dr. Hau Yuan Wen managed to get silver medal.

The Gold medal women team category was also won by FKE.

CONGRATULATION TO EVERY WINNERS!!

 

UTM Staf Chess Tournament 2023 - Report 1

Since the report for the tournament cannot be waited, I decided to release the report in two parts. I have difficulty to recall all my games yesterday. - Dr. Zulfakar

After a long dormant from any chess tournament, I decided to play for the tournament above representing my Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia on 28-7-2023. I wasn't sure to play since I'm still busy marking final exam papers. But, it is better to take a break and refresh myself.

The tournament was conducted at Dewan Astana, Kolej Tunku Canselor or KTC in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. The hall is large enough for 250 people depending on what activity to be done. There were also spare space surrounding the tables of the players.

On the right side:

During break or in between games, people simply rest near the walls.

At the center:

There were three columns of men tables and three columns of women tables!

 

On the left side:

Guess whose face was that!?

 

The tournament started at 8:30am. I played a young staf. I didn't have any pressure in the game except hungry. Fortunately, I brought a flask of hot nescafe and two pieces of nabati biscuit. I ate one of them. There was no seeding. My first round board was at table 22.

The nabati biscuit is not too sweet yet it is good to temporarily fill your stomach! (free advertising for a month!). I knew because I won the 1st game eating it! :)

UTM STAF Chess Tournament, 28-7-2023, 8.30am

 

Total, there were 84 participants from men of UTM.  

Game 1

White: Mr. Muhmmad Fairuz Bin Fuad (SPACE)

Black: Dr. Zulfakar Bin Aspar (FKE)

0-1

Uninteresting to be remembered! Or was it because I was hungry!?

After finished and won the 1st round game, I met the manager of FKE team, Dr. Rashidah but she wasn't around. I was given a form to fill, a bread and a bottle of  mineral water. Both were helpful to fill my old stomach. When you are above 50s, a breakfast is very important. 

 

With an almost full of stomach, the 2nd round started with the aggressive moves:

Game 2

White: Dr. Zulfakar Bin Aspar (FKE)

Black: En. Mohamad Saddam (PUTM)

1. e4  e5

2. f4  ef4

3. Nf3 g5

4. Bc4 d6

5. d4  f6? (What is the best move? Why?)

It is a big NO in King's Gambit opening.

What are you going to do?

6. Ng5!! fg5

7. Qh5+ Kd7

8. Qf7+? (Alternative and safer method to win was BxN, RxB 9. Qf7+ wins the rook. But, I wanted a faster method to win!) 

8. ___   Ne7

(Now how to prevent the King escape and transfer my Queen to the Queen's side?)

9. Qe6+  Ke8

10. Qf7+  Kd7

               11. Be6+ Kc6 escape?! 

Not so fast! But, how to transfer the Queen to the Queen side to continuously attack?

I wasn't sure until I saw the Black's weakness.

12. d5! Kc5?

13. Qf6! (Threatening the hanging Rook at h8.) Rg8

14. Qc3+  Kb6

15. Qb3+  Ka6

16. Nc3  c5?

17. Find the checkmate!?

2-0

The 3rd round pairing was as above. By now, there were only 80 male players left. Round 3 was more stable with a slower pace game. But my opponent made many mistakes. Can you spot them? I always reminded myself to play more cautiously.

Game 3

White: Mohd Khairy Bin Kamarudin (FSSH)

Black: Dr. Zulfakar Bin Aspar (FKE)

1. d4 Nf6
2. Nc3 d5 (prevent e4)
3. Nf3 c5
4. dc5 (It is rare for White to accept a gambit.) 

           Nc6 (calmly develop while preventing b4.)
5. Bf4  Bg4 (the pawn is still available at e2, but why am I pinning the knight? See the next two moves!)
6. Nb5?? (What is the best move? Why?)

                 Qa5+! (Computer agrees I am winning now at +3.38 evaluation! Why?)
7. Nc3? (Blunder a piece) Bf3!
8. ef3 d4
9. Bg5? dc3
10. Bf6 ef6
11. Rb1 Bc5 (return of investment, ROI, the profit is a knight! At the same time, ignore the unimportant pawn at b2.)

12. Qe2+?? (What is the best move for White? What Black should move when White made mistake with check by moving Qe2+, Why?)

 

(Blunder. Another big mistake, why? It is a bad attack when you can simply be attacked from the opponent's respond)

               Kf8! (Retreat without castling while attacking! The threat is Re8.)
13. Qd3?? (The Queen should run far away!) Re8+
14. Kd1 (If Be2, Nd4 wins the bishop) Rd8
15. Kc1 (What is the best move? Why?)

               cb2+! (This time ignore the Queen. Instead, Tora, tora, tora!)

16. Rb2 Qe1+
17. Qd1 Rd1++

3-0

 

While waiting for others to finish their games, I took the opportunity to take pictures with friends.

 

Report 2 is coming soon!

 

 

 

My Property Investment Progress after 6 Months or MCO

 I wrote this article after watching a documentary about "The True Story of Bangkok's Ghost Tower" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE5L6yf3nro or click the title. At the same time, I am worried with what is happening to the global economy when there are banks bankrupt in USA (Silvergate Bank, Silicon Valley Bank, and Signature Bank, which collapsed in March 2023) and Switzerland (Credit Suisse Group AG). Deutsche Bank and other more than 180 banks are in line for possible bankruptcy.

There are troubling signs in these bankrupt banks:

1. depositors money are not secured. it is limited to certain level depending on countries such as USD250,000 in US. Most depositors money are lost if exceed this insured level.

2. bond holders lost their money - this is the risk of investment. But isn't it funny the main shareholders who are in the board of directors managed to took out their money before the collapsed. How convenient!

3. the rule of laws are broken in USA and Switzerland. Some analyst call Switzerland has become a "banana republic"!

4. It is dangerous to put all of your money in a single bank. It is better to split your money into several banks or investment funds without exceeding the insured values. For Malaysia, the maximum amount being insured is RM250,000 per account holder per bank. (read here https://www.pidm.gov.my/en/how-we-protect-you/deposit-insurance-system/deposit-insurance-system-faqs).

 

Now back to my property investment. Since 1997, I have successfully accumulate a substantial amount of property investment in several market segments: investment, house, shop, premium house and land. The first investment above was done without any much knowledge including how to get a bank loan. It was painful for the first 4 years. It was during ASEAN financial crisis. The interest skyrocket to 13%! I had to pay RM800 while the rent was only RM400. This went on for 4 years. Fortunately, I managed to pay all the loan in 2013. My wife wanted to sell the house in 2016 for RM170,000. I didn't. We almost got a buyer. Fortunately, I had to cancel the selling of the house due to disturbances from the potential buyers. I believed they also didn't know the buying procedure. A few months before MCO in October 2020, a buyer already agreed and signed the agreement to buy the house for RM250,000. But, he had to cancel due to MCO and job condition were very bad. At the end of last year 2022, I managed to find a new buyer of the house for RM260,000. Selling a low medium cost house is really a long process. We the seller and the buyer must be very patient! 

Now a buyer is interested with my shop lot for about RM800,000. This shop lot was bought in 2009 with fixed interest. From the rental, I got almost RM1,200 monthly profit. The rental rate is about to be increased at the end of the year. Due to these three factors I had a strong feeling not to sell unless the offer is really good.

My main concern is what if after selling and all the cash are in the bank: the economy crash like in USA and Switzerland, or scammer (the calls are getting frequent. I just cursed them or ignored them!). What is the best strategy to keep the cash money and grow the money.

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) OPR has increased 3 times since early last year. Read here after BNM increased the OPR two times last year. My total monthly payment for all investments (4 loans) has increased for more than RM700 which is not bad actually. One of my colleagues have to pay additional RM700 just for one house loan!

Inflation is good for a wise property investor. Despite all the monthly increment, the total rental fees has increased by RM150 (excluding my shop lot at the end of this year). I even managed to help one of my in-laws to increase the rental fee by RM400!

Contact me if you want to learn proper property investment including looking for the right investment, formulate your strategy, looking for tenants, income tax, and the management. Paying for my service is a lot cheaper than losing million of RM!

So, you should plan your investment, loan and repayment wisely.

 

Be aware of the Economy Reality by Improving Personal Financial Management

Bank Negara already increased the Overnight Policy Rate or OPR twice since the end of the MCO (Malaysian movement control order). 

"At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in July 2020, BNM reduced the OPR to 1.75% – Malaysia's lowest level ever. It maintained this level until May 11 this year, when it raised the OPR by 25 basis points or 0.25% to 2.00%."

"On July 6, the central bank raised the OPR again by another 25 basis points to 2.25%."

https://www.malaysianow.com/news/2022/07/15/economists-tell-who-will-feel-the-pinch-if-opr-is-raised-again

During the first OPR increment, my property investment required me to pay additional RM310.30. I have many loans in a total more than RM one million. Today, after the second OPR increment, the banks finally increase again the monthly loan payment. I have to add another RM161.00 to the existing loans. In total, I have to pay additional RM471.30 to service my existing loans. The total increment is almost 7.6% of my total loan monthly payment. 

This also means, many Malaysian have to pay additional 7.6% to their loan or monthly expenses. In other words, many Malaysians have less 7.6% ability to spend. Combining the high inflation and 7.6% less ability to spend, Malaysia economy growth will stay slow until next year. This also means I don't agree with the Malaysia GDP expansion as calculated by the ministry of finance or Bank Negara. If you look carefully, the growth during Q1 (3.8%) and Q2 (8.9%) are based on comparison with 2021. 

 

Read more at: https://www.nst.com.my/business/2022/08/821605/malaysias-economy-grows-faster-89pct-q2-first-half-growth-69pct

The actual comparison should be the comparison with 2019 when the MCO have not occurred! Measuring the economy performance when the economy at bottom low is not only inaccuracy, it is misleading as if our economy is a Trust Fund performance! So many people are being fooled by a Trust Fund performance using this technique. If the performance is really high, why the dividend return is low? If Malaysia economy is so good, look at the reality of today economy performance which is your pocket. It has minimum effect to those who work in government. But it is hard for those who work in private sector especially when prices of daily consumption has increased a lot.

Another clear indicator that the economy has not been back to the original level as before MCO, look for the retail shops around you. There are still many empty shop lots with banners "For Rent" or "For Sale". How bad is the area being hit is depending on how many shops are still vacant. Some of the retailers cannot survive when they cannot operate the business and have to close the shop forever. Some of them try to relocate to a cheaper or affordable location. If we are observant, we can see some new retailers have moved into the vacant shops. While some of the shops are still vacant.

All I can advise is spent your money wisely and carefully. We should work harder and look for opportunities for more income streams. But, my wife just bought a new CRV TCP1.5 AWD car!! It is time for us to use some of our success in property investment. But, you should beware for another OPR increment in the near future. It is closer than you think.

Happy investing!

Perbezaan Asset dan Pelaburan

Semasa saya mengajar kelas pelaburan hartanah beberapa tahun lalu, beberapa peserta bertanya adakah saya banyak menyimpan emas. Emas tidak memberikan pulangan yang tinggi, Jadi saya cuma menyimpan sedikit emas. Saya lebih suka membuat pelaburan hartanah. Dengan modal yang sama, pelaburan hartanah memberikan pulangan yang lebih tinggi jika dipilih dan diurus dengan baik. Tetapi pelaburan hartanah memerlukan komitmen yang lama berbanding emas.

Ramai orang keliru apa beza simpanan emas dan pelaburan hartanah. Para pelabur menyimpan emas untuk perlindungan (hedge) dan bukan untuk pertumbuhan. Emas mempunyai kecairan nilai yang tinggi berbanding hartanah yang memerlukan masa tinggi untuk dicairkan. Jika pendapatan kita bergantung sepenuhnya dengan perniagaan, lebih elok menyimpan banyak emas dan sedikit hartanah. Jika pendapatan perniagaan bertambah stabil, boleh menambah pelaburan hartanah.

 

Beli asset apa3 pun bagus seperti emas, perak, tanah, rumah dan sebagainya. Tapi asset cuma menyimpan nilai.  Istilah finance: hedge. Asset bukan mengembangkan atau menambah nilai. Jadi pulangan nilai tak tinggi dalam keadaan normal. Ia bergerak naik mengikut inflasi. Masalahnya kekadang keadaan tak normal macam inflasi sekarang ni boleh menyebabkan asset susut nilainya seperti emas!

Untuk memastikn asset2 tersebut memberikan tambahan nilai tinggi, mereka harus diurus-niagakan atau orang melayu cakap kena diusahakan daripada dibiarkan terpendam contohnya macam tanah pusaka. Ramai orang suka apabila dapat tanah pusaka tetapi berapa ramai yang bersungguh-sungguh mengusahakan tanah pusaka tersebut hingga mampu membeli tanah lain. Kalau dipendam asset tersebut lama-lama pun tak bagus. Ramai waris memilih untuk menjual tanah pusaka yang diterima. 

Untuk menjana pendapatan daripada asset yang kita ada perlukan kepakaran dan pengalaman. Kalau baru sekali-dua buat kurang berjaya, tak boleh kecewa. Kena cuba lagi, lagi dan lagi hingga berjaya. Rumah sewa saya yang pertama dibeli di Pasir Gudang dengan bayaran bank RM800 sebulan. Semasa mula2 disewakan, rumah tersebut hanya boleh disewakan sebanyak RM400 selepas tahun 2000. Saya habis bayar rumah tersebut pada tahun 2012. Dan hampir tiap2 bulan sekarang boleh menjana pendapatan sebanyak RM800 sebulan sebelum ditolak cukai tanah, pintu, baik-pulih dan sebagainya. 

Dulu saya kerja kilang, tokeh kilang cerita dia adik-beradik berniaga 11 jenis perniagaan, baru berjaya menjadi jutawan. Keluarga mereka pernah jadi keluarga ke 11 terkaya di Singapura semasa saya bekerja dengan mereka dari 1995 hingga 1997. Dalam kitab-kitab lama pun ada ditulis kisah2 orang arab simpan asset2 dan tidak digunakan atau diniagakan, lama-lama asset tersebut hilang nilai atau hilang terus! Kita yang banyak akal kena la rajin fikir-fikirkan apa boleh dibuat untuk jana banyak pendapatan daripada asset2 yang ada. Jika tidak ada idea, boleh menghadiri kursus-kursus pelaburan dan perniagaan oleh mereka yang telah berjaya, dan bukan guru-guru skim cepat kaya!

Orang berpelajaran tak tinggi memang tak tahu macam mana nak fikir jana income pasal mereka pun tak ada asset langsung! Berniaga warung atau tepi jalan, atau MLM pun tak ke mana tapi cukup untuk hidup. Tetapi saya telah menemui mereka yang kurang pendidikan tetapi berjaya mengembangkan asset pelaburan hartanah mereka hingga berjaya tergolong dalam kelompok T20!

Setiap asset yang ada mesti mempunyai cara tersendiri untuk dikembangkan mengikut citarasa masing-masing. Contohnya geng2 ayah saya semasa muda, ramai membeli tanah. Ayah saya cuma suka menanam dusun. Dulu hasil dusun memang rancak tetapi apabila usia meningkat, amat sukar untuk mengusahakan dusun-dusun tersebut. Tapi kekawan ayah saya, ramai yang menanam kelapa sawit. Saya masih ingat lagi, semasa sekolah rendah, ayah saya sudah membeli semua tanah dan menanam dusun, sementara kawan baik dia yang mempunyai anak berada dalam satu kelas dengan saya tapi bapa dia lebih suka menanam kelapa sawit. Masa tu bapanya baru ada 10 ekar tanah. Selepas kawan ayah saya meninggal, arwah bapa dia ada lebih 30 ekar tanah kelapa sawit. Bahagi adik beradik 5 orang, banyak juga tu dapat.

Kesimpulannya, bagus jika kita menambah asset, tapi lagi bagus jika asset yang disimpan dapat dikembangkan untuk memberikan nilai pulangan yang maksimum.

Mulakan Pelaburan dari Langkah Kecil dan Mudah

Pantun dan seloka orang-orang tua bukan sahaja indah tetapi memberikan pelbagai pengajaran. Berikut beberapa pantun dan seloka lama yang sering bermain di dalam kepala saya dan menjadi pegangan hidup saya (falsafah hidup)

Pertama:

Berakit-rakit ke hulu,

Berenang-renang ke tepian,

Bersakit-sakit dahulu,

Bersenang-senang kemudian.

Melakukan pelaburan skim cepat kaya lebih mudah daripada melakukan pelaburan sebenar. Jika tawaran pulangan pelaburan kelihatan amat tinggi dan mudah, pasti ada sesuatu yang tidak kena. Setiap pelaburan yang saya lakukan memerlukan penelitian yang lama dan dari pelbagai sudut. Kini saya bukan sahaja berfikir di dalam kepala tetapi mencatatkan pengiraan pelaburan yang akan dilakukan di dalam spreadsheet komputer atau di dalam talian Internet.

Kedua:

Kalau tak dipecahkan ruyung, 

Macam mana nak dapat sagunya.

Keperluan kewangan setiap bulan kelihatan sentiasa setakat cukup untuk hidup tetapi adakah benar kita sudah mengikat perut untuk melabur? Setiap kali saya ingin membuat pelaburan hartanah, saya akan merancang untuk menyekat perbelanjaan tidak perlu seperti melancong atau jamuan mewah untuk beberapa tahun. Saya juga mencegah diri daripada membeli kenderaan baru walaupun pinjaman kereta sedia ada telah habis dibayar. Saya juga melakukan kerja-kerja sampingan untuk menambah modal pelaburan.

Apabila pelaburan hartanah saya berhasil memberikan pulangan yang tinggi dan tetap, baru saya boleh berangan untuk membeli sebuah BMW 5 series!

 

 

Dapat beli sebuah rumah corner lot lebih seronok dan menguntungkan daripada beli sebuah kereta baru. Alhamdulillah, dengan gaji sederhana saya dapat membeli sebuah rumah cluster dua tingkat, corner, berpagar dan jaga, dan juga mempunyai kolam renang serta gym. Ini merupakan hasil pelaburan. Saya berpindah di sini pada 2 Julai 2016 ketika berusia 45 tahun.

Ketiga:

Sedikit demi sedikit,

Lama-lama jadi bukit

Sekiranya saya belum mempunyai keupayaan untuk melabur di dalam sebuah hartanah yang baru, saya tetap melakukan sesuatu pelaburan kecil seperti simpanan ASB. Simpanan bulanan yang dibuat kelihatan sedikit setiap bulan, tetapi selepas beberapa tahun, simpanan tersebut amat membantu pelaburan hartanah saya.

Latihan Catur untuk Pelajar Sekolah Menengah

Minggu ini saya sangat sibuk menanda kertas peperiksaan akhir. Semester ini lebih sibuk dari biasa kerana saya mengajar dua kelas dan dua seksyen setiap kelas. Selepas penat memeriksa kerja-kerja penulisan pelajar projek tahun akhir dan sarjana pada minggu sebelumnya, saya berehat seketika dengan mengajar catur di Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Taman Desa Skudai.

Para pelajar akan bertanding di peringkat Daerah pada 27 dan 28 Julai 2022. Pengajaran saya bermula pada 21, 25 dan 26 Julai 2022.

Chess is not just a sport. It is a way of life!

Para pelajar yang hadir pada hari terakhir latihan.

Pada hari terakhir latihan, Yang Dipertua PIBG sekolah tersebut, En. Norzri bin Mohktar telah hadir.

Topik pembelajaran tahun ini adalah bagaimana menganalisa permainan terdahulu atau sendiri melalui teknik Retrograde movement. Oleh itu, sangat penting mempelajari teknik membuat catatan catur. Di bawah adalah contoh permainan terakhir:
 

Apakah yang harus dilakukan oleh putih untuk menang? 

Raja hitam sudah terperangkap di tengah-tengah dan ditindih oleh putih melalui askar di f4. Bagaimanakah putih boleh menyerang sedangkan putih sendiri sedang diserang oleh Permaisuri hitam di d4. 

Melalui perkiraan buah-buah yang telah dibangunkan, putih berjumlah 3 (Bishop) + 8 (Permaisuri) + 5 (Rook) + 3 (castling) = 19 dan hitam hanya 8 (Permaisuri). Hitam jauh ketinggalan.

Bagaimanakah putih boleh menyerang dengan pantas?

Permainan lengkap di bawah: 

King's Gambit Accepted

Putih: Pettersson Lwn Hitam: Nielsen

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 g4 5. O-O gxf3 6. Qxf3Qf6 7. e5 Qxe5 8. Bxf7+ Kxf7 9. d4 Qxd4+ 10. Be3 Qf6 11. Bxf4Ke8 12. Nc3 Ne7 13. Ne4 Qf5 14. Bxc7 1-0
Black resign