THE NEW SERIES OF MALAYSIAN BANKNOTES

Distinctively Malaysia
The New Series of Malaysian Banknotes

The latest series of Malaysian banknotes draws its inspiration from elements which distinctively define the country's diverse culture, heritage and nature. Themed 'Distinctively Malaysia', the fourth series of Malaysian banknotes features traditional expressions in the art and craft, natural wonders, flora and fauna, economy and tradition.

Common Features

On the obverse side, all banknote denominations in the new series retain the portrait of the first Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Tuanku Muhammad, the national flower Rosa-sinensis hibiscus (known locally as the 'Bunga Raya') and patterns of traditional woven fabric - the 'songket'.

The reverse side of each banknote denomination features different elements of nature, tradition, culture, flora, fauna and the economy that are distinctively Malaysian.

Technical Specifications

Denomination	Substrate	Denomination	Predominant Colour
RM100	Paper	150mm X 69mm	Purple
RM50	Paper	145mm X 69mm	Green-blue
RM20	Paper	145mm X 65mm	Orange
RM10	Paper	140mm X 65mm	Red
RM5	Polymer	135mm X 65mm	Green
RM1	Polymer	120mm X 65mm	Blue

RM100 banknote
Natural Wonders

The magnificent beauty of Malaysia's two prominent natural wonders, declared 'World Heritage Sites' by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are portrayed on the RM100 banknote.

These are the Kinabalu Park in Sabah, home to the majestic Mount Kinabalu (the highest mountain in Southeast Asia) and the spectacular limestone pinnacle rock formations of Gunung Api valley, found within the Mulu National Park in Sarawak.

Together, they represent the many natural wonders of Malaysia that provides visitors a unique experience.

RM50 banknote
Agriculture and Technology

Oil palm and biotechnology are featured on the RM50 banknote as Malaysia's thriving economy icons. Oil palm has become the country's most valuable agricultural crop as Malaysia is one of the largest producer and exporter of palm oil in the world.

Biotechnology continues to drive this commodity up the value chain, supporting the nation's economic transformation towards higher value-added activities in the agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors of the economy.

Crude palm oil is also used as the underlying commodity to facilitate Islamic financing.

RM20 banknote
Marine Life

As ambassadors of the rich and colourful marine life found in our tropical waters, two of the most well-known species of sea turtles endemic to Malaysian waters are on the new RM20 banknote - the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea).

The Hawksbill is easily identified by its curved beak and scaly shell while the Leatherback has a leathery skin and seven ridges on its shell.

These gentle turtles are a reminder that their existence rests in the delicate balance of human activity and marine life conservation.

RM10 banknote
Flora

Malaysia's lush tropical jungle, which is one of the world's oldest living rainforest, is home to a spectacular variety of flowering plants. Most iconic amongst them is the Rafflesia, the world's largest flower.

The Rafflesia Azlanii species featured on the new RM10 banknote is indigenous to Peninsular Malaysia and was first discovered in the Royal Belum Forest Reserve of the state of Perak in 2003.

To commemorate its discovery, this majestic flower was named after the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yusuff Izzuddin  Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah.

RM5 polymer banknote
Widlife

Featured on the new RM5 polymer banknote is the Rhinoceros Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros), one of the largest and most magnificent hornbill species in the world.

Found in low densities throughout various rainforests in the country, this beautiful, broad-winged and long-tailed forest bird plays an important role in the customs and traditional ceremonies in Sarawak which is known as 'Bumi Kenyalang' or 'Land of Hornbills'.

Hornbill is also seen as a symbol of strength and courage by the native communities of Sarawak.

RM1 polymer banknote
Traditional Sport

Kite-flying is a popular traditional sport in Malaysia especially in Kelantan and Terengganu. Kite-flying is also traditionally a celebration of a good harvest which brings together the local communities in these states.

Amongst the best-known and most iconic Malaysian kites is the 'Wau Bulan' or Moon Kite which is featured on the new RM1.

The Wau Bulan, which is hand crafted from bamboo and paper, is also a popular decorative item that adorns the walls of Malaysian homes.

The Third Series of Malaysian Coins

Distinctively Malaysia

The designs of the third series of Malaysian coins draw its inspiration from distinctive elements that define Malaysian culture and heritage. The theme, 'Distinctively Malaysia', features motifs from traditional crafts and our flora and fauna. The coins reflect the diversity and richness of Malaysia's national identity.

Common Features

On the obverse, each denomination features a different motif, 14 dots representing the 13 states and the Federal Territory and (with exception in the case of the 50 sen coin) five horizontal lines representing the five principles of the 'Rukun Negara' (national pillars).

On the reverse, the new series of coins feature the national flower Rosa-sinensis hibiscus (known as the 'Bunga Raya'), numerals indicating the year of minting, the face value of the coin and the words 'BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA'.

Technical Specifications

Face Value	50 sen	20 sen	10 sen	5 sen
Alloy	Nickel Brass Clad Copper	Nickel Brass	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel
Diameter (mm)	22.65	20.60	18.80	17.78
Weight (gram)	5.66	4.18	2.98	1.72
Shape	Round with 9 indents	Round	Round	Round
Edge	Plain	Coarse	Milled	Plain
Colour	Yellow	Yellow	Silver	Silver

50 sen
Sulur Kacang

The 'sulur kacang' (pea tendrils) motif featured on the new 50 sen coin is popular among traditional woodcarvers and silversmiths. The motif is drawn from the graceful twists and curls of long bean vines, and can be seen embellishing fine jewellery pieces and boxes, in addition to decorating doorways, window frames and wood paneling in traditional wooden homes. Fine lines in the motif background are part of the security features.

Security Feature

Latent Image of the denomination 50 sen can be seen when the coin is tilted slightly.

20 sen
Bunga Melur

The 'bunga melur' or jasmine flower is culturally significant among the three major races in Malaysia. Its aromatic scent makes it an important part of traditional ceremonies like weddings and prayers. It is also a popular motif in traditional arts and crafts like embroidery and silverwork. On the new 20 sen coin, the jasmine flower is featured with a 'destar siga' cloth motif in the background.

10 sen
Orang Asli Motif

The 'orang asli' (aboriginal tribes) of Malaysia are talented in weaving indigenous leaves and plants into decorative items such as headbands, sashes and skirts for traditional rituals and ceremonies. Each tribe have their own weave pattern that is often inspired by their belief system and surrounding environment. On the new 10 sen coin, this heritage is represented by the unique weave pattern of the Mah Meri tribe in Peninsular Malaysia.

5 sen
Destar Siga

The 'destar siga' cloth is an indigenous form of fabric weaving that originates from the Kadazan Dusun tribe in Sabah. Used as a headdress during traditional ceremonies, it is woven mainly from yarns of black thread and accented by multi-coloured threads into various geometric patterns and flora and fauna inspired motifs. On the new 5 sen coin, the 'destar siga' pattern is prominently featured, accompanied by the 'sulur kacang' as a background motif.

Top 5 Regrets In Life

Top 5 Regrets In Life By Those About to Die

I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me

This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams along the way.

From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.

I wish I didn’t work so hard - This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship.

Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.
By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings - Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends - Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

I wish that I had let myself be happier
This is a surprisingly common one.

Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice.

They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.
When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

A brilliant marketing strategy!

Now, now Tony............you're the one who coined the slogan "Now Everyone can fly" or is it??????

"Spare a thought for Uncle Tony F, Chief Executive of 'AirAsia"......

Arriving in a hotel in KL Sentral he went to the bar and asked for a pint of
draught Guinness. The barman nodded and said, "That will be one Ringgit please, Uncle Tony."

Somewhat taken aback, Uncle Tony replied, "That's very cheap," and handed over his money.

"Well, we try to stay ahead of the competition", said the barman. "And we are serving free pints every Wednesday evening from 6 until 8.
We have the cheapest draught in Asia "

"That is remarkable value" Uncle Tony comments

"I see you don't seem to have a glass, so you'll probably need one of ours. That will be 3 Ringgit please."

Uncle Tony scowled, but paid up. He took his drink and walked towards a seat.
"Ah, you want to sit down?" said the barman. "That'll be an extra 2 Ringgit
You could have pre-book the seat, and it would have only cost you a Ringgit"

"I think you may to be too big for the seat sir, can I ask you to sit in this frame please"
Uncle Tony attempts to sit down but the frame is too small and when he can't squeeze in he complains "Nobody would fit in that little frame".

"I'm afraid if you can't fit in the frame you'll have to pay an extra surcharge of RM 4 for your seat sir" Tony swore to himself, but paid up.
"I see that you have brought your laptop with you" added the barman. "And since that wasn't pre-booked either, that will be another 3 Ringgit"

Uncle Tony was so annoyed that he walked back to the bar, slammed his drink on the counter, and yelled, "This is ridiculous, I want to speak to the manager".

"Ah, I see you want to use the counter," says the barman, "that will be 2 Ringgit please." Uncle's face was red with rage.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Of course I do Mr Fernandes

"I've had enough, What sort of Bar is this? I come in for a quiet drink and you treat me like this. I insist on speaking to a manager!"

"Here is his E mail address, or if you wish, you can contact him between 9 and 9.10 every morning, Monday to Tuesday at this free phone number. Calls are free,until they are answered, then there is a talking charge of only 10 sen per
second provided you use Tune Talk using other mobile carriers would incur our normal charges of 30 Sen per second

"I will never use this bar again"

"OK Uncle , but remember, we are the only bar in Asia selling pints for one Ringgit...so that Now everyone can drink "

Chua, MCA selling out the rights of Chinese and others

November 30, 2011
FMT LETTER: From Jackson Ng, via e-mail

Isn’t it now crystal clear the shameless and scandal-tainted MCA president Chua Soi Lek will sell out the Chinese and his soul just to remain in a position to enjoy the crumbs thrown out by the racist Umno?

Not only Chua but the MCA itself will do the same for its survival or to remain Umno’s favourite lapdog.

The MCA challenged the DAP to name a Malay prime minister and so it did, unconditionally, that Anwar Ibrahim would be endorsed as their leader.PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin, at the youth wing’s recently concluded annual congress, then challenged Umno to amend the federal constitution to guarantee the prime minister would always be a Malay.

This was followed up by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) boss Anwar that even if Umno dared to table such a bill in Parliament to amend the federal constitution, the PKR and the PR would not support it.

What Anwar did was to publicly state clearly that the PR (comprising PKR, DAP and PAS) respects the federal constitution and that race and religion have no place in today’s domestic politics.

Anwar’s courageous and swift stand on the issue shows his and PR’s commitment to really realise a 1Malaysia progressive nation, unlike Umno and BN. Umno and BN just don’t have the political will to change for the benefit of Malaysians and Malaysia.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s “I am Malay first, Malaysian second” stand is clearly racist, putting race ahead of the broader interest of a united nation.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s refusal to tick off his deputy for failing to support his own 1Malaysia rallying call makes Najib seen as not only a political coward but also insincere in his political statements.

Now, back to MCA, and what did it do? Chua openly sold out the Chinese and all Malaysians by trying to defend Umno.

Unlike Anwar, a Malay who dared to show that he is a Malaysian with “demi negara” (for the country) in his heart, Chua, without an iota of conscience for the Chinese and others, proclaimed: “The prime minister will be a Malay.”

Of course this lapdog leader and party have to ignore the federal constitution and come out to sell out the rights of the Chinese and others for Umno.

Umno cannot possibly move such an amendment, not just yet, because the non-Umno and non-Malay coalition parties in Barisan Nasional (BN) will be digging their own graves if they support such an amendment to sell away the rights of their communities.

Not just yet because Umno is too weak and does not have the two-thirds majority to make such an amendment now.

I shudder to think what will Chua, MCA and other BN parties’ stand should such an amendment be tabled by Umno in Parliament.

PKR vice-president Tian Chua was quoted as saying: “Yes, Shamsul turned the tables on Umno. Umno is always going on and on about being the champion of the Malays. Let’s see how far they dare to push this narrow, racist strategy.

“It is good and timely for the Umno general assembly to awake to the ‘sandiwara’ of their leaders. Let’s see what excuses Najib and Muhyiddin come up with.”

For our future generations and the country, Malaysians must use their ballots wisely in the next general election to help Malaysia recover from the ills of a corrupt government, before it is too late.

ORIGINAL POST : FREE MALAYSIA TODAY

Rakyat have an issue of trust with Najib

8:07AM Nov 27, 2011   
Malaysiakini

YOURSAY 'We shall not be fooled by any concessions. We remember the concession by Najib himself in the form of an offer of the use of a stadium for Bersih and that came to zilch.'

Assembly Bill: In defence of Najib

Bender: To me, as an average Joe, this article by Eric Choo is all just lawyer talk which carries no weight whatsoever to justify the blatant lie made by PM Najib Razak.

Lawyers are good at using technicalities to obscure the obvious. We, on the other hand, look at the big picture. The big picture says Najib promised us more democratic space.

Restricting the people's freedom to voice our opinions goes against the very basic conception of that democratic space. It's as simple as that.

You may spin and twist the words of your honourable PM up to the very last full stop, yet to me, it's the intention that counts.

You judge people's intention by their gestures, not their words. Honourable men don't hide their intentions behind big and complicated words.

If the PM is serious about giving the people what they want, just go ahead and take actions that are reflective of his real intentions. Sorry Eric, your lawyer talk doesn't convince me one bit.

Abasir: This is a pathetic attempt to defend the indefensible. The writer, who is an MCA member, conveniently forgets to examine the real intent of the bill - to drive home the last nail in the coffin of free assembly and free speech, and doing so in the name of the "best democracy in the world". Despicable.

Onyourtoes: This is a red herring, period. Okay, may be the prime minister did not specifically make a promise on certain issues.

But to cut the long story short, let me ask Eric Choo this question: what impression did the prime minister convey to the rakyat on Sept 15, 2011 - something more progressive and liberal or something more regressive and restrictive?

If the answer is the former, what does the Peaceful Assembly Bill convey?

Malaysiasakit: Eric Choo, don't waste your time trying to defend Najib. MCA is, and has been, a bankrupt party and is increasingly irrelevant.

Look at your past leaders - except Ong Tee Keat - the rest of your leaders are either corrupt or scandalous, for example Tan Koon Swan, Ling Liong Sik, Lee Kim Sai, Neo Yee Pan and Chua Soi Lek.

In short, the very existence of MCA is not tenable and the party will be wiped out in GE13. If I were you, I'd quit MCA and spend more time building my career.

Hang Babeuf: This article begins with a lawyer's defence plea for the PM. Then, after that, a clear admission of some of the serious defects in the proposed legislation.

So, let's not argue now about the PM. Let's all just agree that this bill is rotten. A disgrace. Beyond fixing. It must simply be opposed, rejected, withdrawn.

And while we are all busy with that, how about pushing for the setting up of a proper and permanent Law Reform Commission to consider new legislation and to canvass opinions from the public and from well-informed specialists - rather than having the job always done furtively, secretly and usually disastrously somewhere inside the murky interior of the Attorney-General's Chambers?

Mr KJ John: This is a mere post-facto attempt to rationalise Najib's U-turn on freedom of assembly.

We are concerned with the spirit of the law, not the letter of this law, which too are equally poorly conceived. It is like having a clean air bill.

Ksn: The only shortcoming in the new bill, according to the MCA president, is the lengthy notice period and his remedy is to reduce the noticed period from 30 to 10 days. Brilliant!

That shows MCA's standards on democracy and freedom of assembly. So MCA lawyer, do not waste your time as no one is buying it.


'Walk for Freedom' will proceed, declares Bar Council


Quigonbond: Given BN's abysmal track record every time they say they will reconsider an issue - be it state of emergency, ISA, PPPA, OSA, etc - we are hardly to blame for being highly skeptical.

Certainly, the march, and any other marches, should go on. Malaysians have been awakened since March 2008, and there is simply no going back to a docile, order abiding, unthinking citizenry.

The more this federal government, or for any matter any federal government, imposes restrictions, the more independent-minded people will slip through their grasp.

Loyal Malaysian: I read with pride this statement by the Bar Council. Thank you.

With the lawyers at the forefront of this battle not to allow the Umnoputras to curtail more of our civil liberties, the rakyat can heave a sigh of relief.

Yes, we must stand firm. The unholy haste of the government to push through the bill spells of bad faith, we must not allow them to take us for a ride.

Lim Chong Leong: We shall not be fooled by any concessions. We remember the concession by Najib himself in the form of an offer of the use of a stadium for Bersih and that came to zilch.

And his offer to repeal the ISA has come with a further arrest of 13. The UUCA (Universities and University Colleges Act) repeal too comes with an appeal to the Federal Court.

So we can expect his concessions to be ‘bullshit'.

ORIGINAL POST :MALAYSIAKINI

Your sperm are what you eat, study suggests

NEW YORK - When it comes to in vitro fertilization, well-fed sperm are happy sperm, according to a new study that found what men eat (and drink) is linked to the chances their partner will become pregnant during fertility treatment.

A fertility-friendly diet is one that's high in fruit and grains and low in red meat, alcohol and coffee, Brazilian researchers report in the journal Fertility and Sterility.

While previous work has linked being too heavy or too thin, as well as smoking and drinking, with reproductive problems in women, it hasn't been clear if the same applies to men during IVF treatment.

"We talk about having a healthy lifestyle and trying to eliminate any of these things that are bad for health, but I think most of the emphasis tends to be on making sure the woman is as healthy as possible," said Dr. Lynn Westphal, a women's health and fertility specialist at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, California.

The new study "Reinforces that it's important for both the male and the female to be eliminating as many bad things in their diet or their life as possible," Westphal, who wasn't involved in the research, told Reuters Health.

The new study involved 250 men who, together with their partners, were undergoing a type of fertility treatment called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) at one center. Researchers asked the men how often they ate a range of foods, including fruits and vegetables, beans, grains, meat and fish, as well as how much they drank and smoked.

They also got semen samples from the men to analyze how healthy and well concentrated their sperm were and kept track of how every step of the IVF process went for each couple.

Eggs were successfully fertilized in about three-quarters of the treatments, and just under four in ten women got pregnant during the study.

From the speed of their sperm to their partner's chance of pregnancy, men who imbibed and ate poorly were slowed down on the fertility front.

Being overweight and drinking alcohol were linked to lower sperm concentration and motility -- how well sperm swam. Smoking was tied only to negative effects on motility. Alcohol and coffee were both linked to a lower chance of fertilization. Embryo implantation rates, as well as pregnancy rates, were significantly lower when men ate lots of red meat.

On the other hand, eating more cereal grains (such as wheat, oats or barley) was associated with improved sperm concentration and motility, and fruit was also linked to a speed and agility boost in sperm.

"I think this is really interesting data that lifestyle factors for the men, even when you're doing ICSI, are significant," Westphal said. "This is probably more of a difference than most people would have thought."

The findings are consistent with the idea that certain vitamins, minerals and amino acids may help maintain or improve semen quality, while too much alcohol and certain hormones in processed meat could be harmful to sperm, wrote Dr. Edson Borges, Jr. from the Fertility-Assisted Fertilization Center in Sao Paulo and his colleagues.

Westphal pointed out that other behaviors in men, such as spending a lot of time in hot tubs, could hinder fertility treatment success. She added that any diet and lifestyle changes men might make to try to improve their sperm are going to take a few months to pan out -- so it's not just about eating better for a few days before IVF.

In couples undergoing fertility treatment, Borges and his colleagues concluded, both men and women should know that their diets and lifestyles may affect their chance of having a successful pregnancy.

-Reuters