| Police discounts a potential concern
Police are back in the firing line for accepting discounted goods and services such as cheap home loans and cut-price cellphones. Although departmental policy clearly states that police officers are prohibited from accepting any form of inducement, the Herald on Sunday has learned some have been routinely taking advantage of special deals offered by the Police Association to attract members. The issue of police accepting freebies or discounted goods was highlighted in February when it was revealed fast-food joints were offering police officers discounted meals - with some store owners confessing it was a cheap method of providing in-store security. The official police code of conduct states that "no member of police shall solicit for personal gain, or accept a discount on any goods or services where that discount is offered because that person is a member of police".
Getting A Clean Credit Report
KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 (Bernama) -- Ever wondered how banks evaluate whether a person is credit-worthy or not without the person revealing any credit information about him or her? Or have you ever wondered how much information the bank has on a person's credit pattern? The answer lies with the Credit Bureau and its database known as the Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS), which serves as a reference point for the banks. The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) explains at great length the workings of the Credit Bureau and CCRIS. Managed by Bank Negara Malaysia, the Credit Bureau was formed under the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 1958 and has been in operation since 1982. Since then it has accumulated credit information of over five million borrowers in Malaysia.
US Stocks Fall as Inflation Gains; Banks, Energy Shares Drop
March 16 (Bloomberg) -- An unexpected surge in inflation drove U.S. stocks to their first decline in three days and erased all of last week's rebound on concern the Federal Reserve is unlikely to lower interest rates this year. American Express Co. and Citigroup Inc., whose profits rise when borrowing costs fall, sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average to its sixth weekly loss this year and worst start since 2003. Energy shares slid the most in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, led by Exxon Mobil Corp., as oil reached a six-week low. The 0.4 percent rise in prices paid by consumers in February offset the biggest increase in industrial production since 2005 and stirred speculation the Fed will be hampered in efforts to restore economic growth. Consumer confidence dropped to the lowest in six months, deepening concern the economy is losing momentum.
|
