Harvard Business School to study 'Najibnomics'

An interesting article on New Straits Times (NST), Harvard Business School to study 'Najibnomics' .

Among mentioned in the Najib Economics study:

• The Harvard Business School in Boston will undertake a case study, highlighting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's courageous and bold initiatives to tackle financial crisis.


• The previous case study on Malaysia published in April 2002, entitled "Malaysia — Capital and Control” written by Rawi Abdelai and Laura Alfaro, has been one of Harvard’s most successful case studies.

The study by Rawi Abdelai and Laura Alfaro is very interesting and consists of critical observations. I found it useful in my previous write-up Malaysian Banks and the Current Meltdown.

I wrote it early 2009 for my class submission coinciding with the meltdown hitting Malaysia. I too will be looking forward to the new publication and see how my own write up tallies with it.

If you are looking for other journals and reference on the 1997 Financial Crisis that hit Malaysia and other South East Asian Countries, you scroll down to the last portion of Malaysian Banks and the Current Meltdown & can read the write up and read through the Referencing Section at the bottom.

Energizer Battery Leak

Updated :

On around 4th June 2009 I had passed the leaked batteries to Energizer for evaluation and requested an update on the issue, besides getting replacement batteries. For the time being, pending the investigations, I volunteered to remove this posting, however as till now, 13 Sept 2009, I have no received a reply, therefore I am reposting this entry.

Energizer AAA Alkaline Battery Leak!

Yes, believe it or not, the Energizer AAA Alkaline Battery I bought leaked even before I un-packed them. I bought the batteries early 2009 I believe, and when I took them out of my drawer, still packed in the standard Energizer packing, my was I surprised. It had leaked real bad. Once I took it out from my drawer, the leak was apparent. You can see in the below photo that some of the batteries leaked, up to the extent of the plastic packaging itself shows the 'rust' like contamination. Are this leaks dangerous?

This actually happened to me in March 2009, but never got around to blogging or complaining about it. And how do I remember it happened in March 2009? Well easy, just look at your pictures, RClick, Summary Tab, then click Advanced>>. Or just hover your mouse over the photo in your PC and it should show you.

Anyway, the expiry date (Use By) shows 2011 as you can see above. So it is 2009 now, so it has gone 'bad' TWO years before its expiry date. It is interesting to note, that not all out of the 4 pieces leaked. And yes, I being Malaysian salvaged the one good battery and used it. Threw away the rest.

Here's a close-up of the leak. Actually when I physically looked at the batteries, I never took the effort to closely 'inspect' the leak. Looks like some rusty coloured liquid surrounded by snow leaking out, doesn't it?


Here's a picture of the back cover. Looks ugly doesn't it. Well so much for the energizer power guy that's on the packing. Looks like it's leaked out of power.

So now what? Well, learn from experience. Here's what experience (and advice from learned friends) has thought me. Sometimes the not so famous brands are actually better and longer lasting. They might sometimes come with a premium though.


If given a choice, for normal Alkaline Batteries, I'd go for Toshiba. And for re-chargeable batteries, I'd go for Sanyo Enelope. Yes, a not so famous brand in Malaysia. I believe the brand itself is actually famous, it's just that they don't market it here. You can buy if from Singapore, Mustafa and other electronic stores.


Referring to my other blog, http://everythingalsocan.blogspot.com/2008/12/mustafa-24-hour-shopping-in-singapore.html, I bought the Enelope re-chargeable batteries somewhere in November or December 2008. Charged them once (or didn' t charge them at all, can't remember as they come pre-charged), and now May 2009, my Phillips Electric Razor is still working. Yes with one charge only till date. To be fair, I am not a heavy user, but could say use it 4 times per month. But the fact that the charge in it is still there, is surprising for a re-chargeable batteries. Yes Sanyo claims the charge holds up to 1 year I believe!