Wednesday, December 29, 2010

My Tefal My Dear

We went to Genting Highlands again last weekend, after 1.5 years. Things have not changed much, but this time we brought along 5 other people. It must have been a thrilling once-in-a-lifetime for these people though. This time I tried the Space Shot. It was a drop dead shot from top of the tower, almost like 200m high? Man oh man....it was nice view on top of the Space Shot, you could see the Genting resort at its peak. But the sudden drop after that was the most precarious. It was like people pulling over your chair and you fall down hard, very hard. I surely let my heart out on that. But it was nice. It was the first ride, and I felt like to ride on it again, except that time was limited to cover the almost 40 rides available. I will have to wait for Eusoff to come of age, so that he too can enjoy most of the rides. Poor Husna, the rides are either too tall for her (meant for adults) or too low for her (meant for kids below age 4). It's tough when your height is caught in between. Nevertheless she got to enjoy the boat rides and log ride where the water would splash at the end and definitely makes you wet (I argued with Mr.X, since he said he wouldn't get wet, until proven guilty - I told you so).
 
I wrote about how to confront the dearest mom-in-law when she used my steel spatula for the almost brand new Tefal frying pan in my Facebook last night. The response was overwhelming. From both men and women. How thoughtful of these people, thanks so much. OK, it may sound trivia to some, but it is a big deal for me OK. I bought the Tefal frying pan from Mustaffa Center Singapore last Sept. 2010, after a long investigation and pondering over it again and again. It's like a tool to motivate you to cook. Somehow your dish will taste better and looks better when it is cooked using the branded pan. It's that kind of feelings. That satisfaction of using the non-stick branded frying pan. Nothing can compare to that satisfaction in the kitchen, and at that dinner table. Because of its exclusivity, I hang it on the kitchen's window, to be used only for cooking of omelette and any vegie dish, of course by using wooden spatula. Everybody knows that. You are supposed to know that. It's like e=MC2 by Einstein. Who doesn't know it?
 
I was actually dumbfounded when I found the pan with steel spatula in it on my stove when I came home yesterday. Like who's on earth doesn't know the rule....non-stick pan requires wooden utensils. Get it? So the surface won't get scratched and you will end up ruining that special layer. Get it? Aiyaiyaiyaiyai.....I quickly washed them over and dried both items. I was at awed. Should I say something - Dear Mom-in-Law, I expect you to know the rule, how on earth you don't know the rule. Apparently it is not in your universe to care for such things. This one sounds very bad. I shall be labelled as overly materialistic. But then who cares? But to be an obedient child-in-law mind you, I kept quiet. It is that battle to say it out loud - next time for this type of pan, please use the wooden spatula. I care for my pan just like Sponge Bob cares for his spatula OK. Hahaha....
 
Is there any remote chance that she actually knows the rule, but just to proof something to me? To test me? Enough of all the tests laaaaa....I have long suffered already....hahahhahaa....

Friday, December 17, 2010

Pilihlah Yang Terbaik

Ada orang memilih jalan yang menyakitkan, walaupun jalan yang mudah telah tersedia.
Ada orang memilih untuk bersengketa, walaupun jalan muhibbah itu lebih berkat.
Ada orang memilih untuk menerajui KPI sendiri at the expense of the team, walaupun kata pujangga - Bersatu Kita Teguh, Bercerai Kita Roboh.
Ada orang memilih untuk memijak kepala staf2 dia bawah untuk menonjolkan diri, walaupun dia tahu Allah tahu akan niat tersembunyi setiap insan.
Ada orang memilih untuk kejayaan singkat, walaupun dia tahu matlamat jangka panjang perlu didahulukan.
Ada orang memilih untuk memikirkan kepentingan diniya sendiri sahaja sepanjang masa, walaupun dia tahu kubur itu sempit dan doa orang yg masih hidup itu perlu utk meringankan seksaan.
Ada orang memilih untuk mengusai hal2 duniawi dan berjaya di dunia, walaupun dia tahu kehidupan di akhirat adalah yg kekal abadi.
Ada orang memilih untuk berdiam diri bila melihat kemungkaran, wlaupun dia tahu malaikat ada disebelah kanan dan kiri dan sentiasa bersedia untuk mencatit apa yg terzahir dan apa yg ada di dalam kalbunya.
 
Apakah yg akan terjadi kepada orang2 yg bersikap negatif seperti di atas?
 
Bekerja adalah ibadah. Setiap niat, pergerakan dan matlamat perjuangan di dalam pekerjaan adalah ibadah. Dah namanya ibadah, buat lah perkara2 yg menyenangkan hati, secara ikhlas.
Janganlah pula memilih jalan yg bertentangan.
 
Antara Tips untuk menjadi Orang Cemerlang karya Dr. Fadzilah Kamsah, sentiasalah Mengingati Mati. Mungkin mati itu telah hampir, tetapi kita tidak ambik pot.
Itulah antara kata2 perangsang staf aku kat ofis pagi ni. Bagus betul. Nabi pon kata, orang yg bijak ialah orang yg senantiasa memikirkan tentang kematian.
 
Mudah-mudahan bahan ini dapat menjadi santapan minda di hari Jumaat yg mulia ini.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Wisdom of New Year

Does age come with wisdom or does wisdom comes of age?
Or does it boil down to your life's exposure and challenges which you have to face?
The more work or life challenges you face, the more wisdom you will gather. Yes? No?
 
When something happens to you, mostly events where you consider as "bad luck", you will despise the event. But soon, as in the Malay community, people will say - "Sabarlah, mesti ada hikmah di sebalik ujian ini, atau di sebalik terjadinya perkara ini". It sounds as a little bit cliche, albeit true. There are always hikmahs behind a bad event, only you will realize it later if not sooner. As a result, to comfort yourself of any bad events, try to convince yourself that - there will definitely be something positive here. Dig and you will concur.
 
As in the marriage life, you can never know your partner's overall true color until the day you die. BUT, if something unexpected were to happen (the bad ones la...e.g. husband got transferred elsewhere further from your eyes and nose), it will expedite the emergence of the true color of the couple - for both men and women. If trial like this happens, we can judge and see how much perseverance, strengths, patience and loyalty both parties have to overcome the endless challenges they have to face. Getting out from it, the phase of "getting to know each other up to the bottom of it" will either makes the marriage better or worst. This kind of exposure, especially when couples are separated for a very long time, would undoubtedly bring them up one level higher in their relationship. But then again, caution here, people can change. It can never be "ceteris paribus", or so I learnt during my Economics class back in college. We can only hope for the best.
 
People change. That's a fact. In conjunction with this Maal Hijrah - well today is the 2nd Muharam, I hope people around me and also myself, will change for the better. All those life experiences, should be reflected and converted into pieces of key learnings, which will make us better individuals, or much better Muslims and Muslimahs. As the years pass by, so do our life's experiences. Go and seek new challenges, meet new people, try new things and try to revive and cherish whatever you already have, people who you love and especially with your parents (caution : mom in law tak masuk). Haha....that one is a great barrier reef which I have not understood how to swim and scuba dive into....
 
Experience can be converted into wisdom, when we reflect on it and try to find all the hikmahs or the good things behind its happenings.
 
Therefore, I am of the opinion that wisdom definitely comes with age. Not the other way.

Girl Power Giler


Wednesday December 8, 2010

Zeti first woman to get Tokoh Ma'al Hijrah award


PUTRAJAYA: Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz was named Tokoh Ma'al Hijrah 1432H at the national-level celebration of the Muslim New Year at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here yesterday.

Zeti, 63, is the first woman named as the recipient of the award since it was introduced 24 years ago.

The award comes with RM100,000 in cash, medal, plaque and certificate.

Interestingly, Dr Zeti's father, Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz Ungku Abdul Hamid, was the recipient 11 years ago. He was present at the event to see his daughter receive the award from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.

Speaking to reporters later, she said: "This will be an encouragement and inspiration for me to continue to work hard."

Saying he was very proud of his daughter, Ungku Aziz said her success was due to her own hard work.

He said he had never told Dr Zeti what studies or job to take up as he believed she should make her own decisions.

"I always gave her the freedom to decide. She chose what studies she wanted to pursue and the areas she wanted to carry out her doctorate in," he said.

The award recognises her work in enhancing the national economy and developing and transforming the country's financial system into one that is competitive and strong.

She also led the country out of the economic slowdown and ensured Malaysia's continued economic growth.

Her contributions have not been limited to within the country as she has also played an important role in developing financial cooperation in the region.

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Dr. Zeti said as well that this is a motivation for women to achieve greater heights and strive for excellence. I heard it over the radio this morning and she was talking inspirationally to all women out there. Why the heck the newspaper talked about the father's view point??? I bet the reporter for NST is a man.

She said that women at work must prove that we can also excel, same as our male counterpart. Just like at Bank Negara, the Timbalan is also a lady and the 2 Ketua Penolong Pengarah, guess what...are also ladies....huhu.....I wonder what she'll do with the 100k.....beli gold bar ke, beli tanah ke, beli amanah saham ke, or she'll spend it for overseas trip ka, wow....best nyer dapat rezeki terpijak like that.....this is 1 hell of a lady that deserves highest amount of respect from male and female in Malaysia. Thoughts for the day.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Hermoine the Girl

I watched Harry Potter movie last 2 weeks and totally at awed with the growing up of the leading role the actress Emma Watson (betul kan?). She played Hermoine (pronounced as Harmaini). She was just so gorgeous, from being a cute little blond girl from previous Harry Potter movies to this so decent-looking, smart and very beautiful teenage girl. I was just thinking, perhaps my next girl I would name her Hermoine. But then again, not all people watch Harry Potter movies, and the risk of being called as per what the spelling says, is just a big turn off. I scrolled through a few YouTube videos, and stumbled upon a bunch of guys making fun of Potter, Weasley and Hermoine. It was done so creatively but caused so much humiliation not to the characters, but to themselves. I can't imagine people have got so much talent in acting and videotaping, but chose to waste their God-given talent by de-grading themselves.
 
Sometimes when I got some ideas to write, I wish I can have the brand new iPhone or Blackberry with the paid subsription, that allows me to straight away write and record when the ideas are still fresh. Unfortunately, my BB only has the basic communication tool. I have chosen not to subscribe to the full service which allows internet access 24 hours. Mind you Mr.X has all those gadgets and he is practically hooked up with the toys. If plus me, then all our children would be the victims of technology addicts (remember the 6-months old baby that died in Korea because the mom and dad were busy playing with video games?). *sigh*
 
Coming back to Hermoine. I wrote about my thoughts in my Facebook status (not that I always do), and people were shocked. Well, some people thought that having 3 kids are suficient in this modern world we live in. It all depends, I would say. It would be nice to have another kid - be it boy or girl. There are always pros and cons at having many children. It's the quality that matters, not the quantity. Sometimes when I have to spend hundreds to buy that diapers and mlik powder, a thought came across my mind that those single ones, or those married couple with no children, they must have got so much money to spend on themselves. Lucky them. Lucky or unlucky? Well, that relationship of money and happiness, no one can find the definite relation. Is it co-relate? Inversely related? Diagonally related? Only you can determine your level of happiness. Does it really depend on how much money you have? Money can't buy happiness, but all those that make you happy, must have some elements of financial related to it.
 
Thoughts of the day.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Di Mana Kan Ku Cari Ganti?

I received this yesterday. Worth sharing with those who are contemplating to come home after working abroad. It is a fact. We still have a 3rd world country mentality and the infra structure and the support system are a long way to go for Malaysia. But take this optimistically, it's for the good of the nation. I still love Malaysia, no matter what.

 
Ramlee was poached and enticed to return to Malaysia which he did in 1964. Wrong step it seems. All promises "back home in Malaysia" were not kept by his new masters. Sounds very very familiar here.
By The Ampas Man

Question:        Di Mana Kan Ku Cari Ganti?

 

Answer:          Not in Malaysia

 

Those who watched the heart wrenching P. Ramlee documentary on the History Channel on 31st October 2010 must have gone to bed with a heavy heart. It transpires that Malaysia's one and only film icon had died penniless and shunned by the public including his own colleagues. And the way it was done appears to have uncanny resemblances to what's happening today in Malaysia, almost 45 years after Ramlee returned to Malaysia.

 

The documentary, narrated by British actor, Timothy Watson and 12 years in the making included precious interviews by some of his friends, actors and actresses who had passed on. The underlying tone was one of profound melancholy.

 

Ramlee, borne out of poverty along Caunter Hall Road at an Achenese community in Penang, had to endure a brutal Japanese occupation whose schools incidentally inculcated a certain discipline in him. In his formative years then, this discipline proved crucial as a founding platform for his eventual brilliance, creativity and innovation in film and music.

 

He subsequently gained phenomenal success at Shaw brothers' Jalan Ampas studios in Singapore. His success at Jalan Ampas was the apparent result of the studio's incredible milieu of experienced film crew, choreographers and directors which the Shaw brothers had assembled from India, Hong Kong and Indonesia. With the load of management and finance off his shoulders, Ramlee was able to thrive and focus on his talent of creating music, acting and eventually direction, screenplay and editing.

 

The Shaw brothers invested and created such a conducive environment at Ampas that Singapore became the mecca for the Malay film industry for an entire genre of actors and actresses from the whole of the Malay Archipelago from Pontianak, Penang to Medan. Apart from Ramlee, Ampas provided careers for other actors and actresses like Nordin Ahmad, S. Kadarisman, Ahmad Daud, Normadiah, Saloma and Saadiah.

 

But this talent could not have been developed without the expertise of directors such as B. S. Rajan, L. Krishnan and Phani Majumdar. Directors such as Majumdar already had something like 15 years experience in directing films in various languages in Calcutta and Bombay before they came to Singapore. It was on this wealth of experience that the Malay film industry flourished.

 

Majumdar directed Ramlee in "Anakku Sazali" which won Ramlee Best Actor in 1956. And when Majumdar returned to India, he discovered another great Indian actor, Feroz Khan and directed Khan in his first big hit "Oonche Log" in 1965. Yes it was happy times then at No.8 Jalan Ampas and Boon Kheng Road. But it had to end. Or so it seems.

 

Things appear to have taken a turn for the worse during the confusion of the Malaysia-Singapore separation in 1963 when Lee Kuan Yew had trouble reigning a tight leash on Trade Unions involving Lim Chin Siong, and his own PAP leaders led by Che'Awang and Devan Nair.  Ramlee appears to have been an inadvertent victim of the unions' unreasonable demands leading Shaw brothers to call it a day at Jalan Ampas when they couldn't keep up with unions' demands for higher pay.

 

Other views suggest that Ramlee was poached and enticed to return to Malaysia which he did in 1964. Wrong step it seems. All promises "back home in Malaysia" were not kept by his new masters. Sounds very very familiar here. Merdeka studios was poorly equipped and its rookie staffing meant the legend had to multitask which ended up eventually in him churning out shoddy movies. All 18 movies he directed in Malaysia flopped. Sounds like the same stories we hear from some of our Malaysians "trying" to return home from overseas.

 

Ramlee lost his glitter, his money and apparently so his fame. His partner and colleague, H.M. Shah, tried to form a company called PERFIMA to enable Ramlee to relaunch his career and produce his dream of colour films. But PERFIMA apparently ended up in the hands of inexperienced and connected cronies leaving the talented Ramlee then, as in now, even as a Malay, blatantly unrecognized, ignored and out in the cold.

 

The documentary brutally exposes how Ramlee tried in vain to set up P. Ramlee productions, but was again shut out by this country's media and entertainment industry including RTM. He had to sit in the canteen at Ankasapuri while Saloma had her own show in RTM! He could not secure any government aid, grants or "Private Financial Initiatives" despite his passion for Malay music and culture.

 

He tried to reinvent himself and sought a bank loan – but was rejected! With his wealth of experience and in his early 40s then, he should have easily qualified. Poor Ramlee didn't know that in Malaysia it is the "know who" that counts then the "know how". If he had known George Tan from the Carrian Group then, Ramlee may have received a few million from BMF without even having to pay back. Or he should have "nurtured" some connections like how Daim, Halim Saad, Tajuddin Ramli, Syed Mokhtar and Amin Shah did.

 

Ramlee by now, tragically stressed out, overweight, disheveled, completely down and out with passion and spirit broken, had to now do almost any job he could including running mahjong tables and singing at weddings and other functions to put food on the table for his family. He had to live on rice and eggs. It was truly Air Mata di Kuala Lumpur for Ramlee. A court summons a day prior to his death for being a guarantor finally tipped the balance and done him in when he suffered a massive heart attack and he died on 29th May 1973 at the age of 44 years.

On the day he died, there was no rice in his house. And Saloma had no money for his funeral. The man and legend, P. Ramlee paid a very heavy price returning to Malaysia. The country just did not have the infrastructure, manpower and expertise to accommodate his enormous talent. He would have been better off in Singapore even with the unions there. He would not have gone broke in the club and wedding scene there and perhaps Singapore TV could have given him a break as compared to our own RTM. All the belated accolades and titles were a waste of time as far as the man himself was concerned. He died hopelessly broke and broken.

 

The documentary is not only an eye opener but a very good case study for anyone contemplating returning home to Malaysia. Whether you are a scientist, engineer, accountant, doctor, etc beware of the conditions enticing you to return. If your kid is an aerospace engineer, a naval architect or a transplant surgeon, it's a no brainer that he /she should not return at all unless you are absolutely sure the country has the infrastructure and skilled manpower to support these fields. Don't believe in these stories that you should come home to "help" and "develop" your areas of expertise. That's not going to happen. That sought of thing will only go to the chaps who have the connections. Assess any offer carefully and do not trust anyone including this government. Make certain all agreements are enforceable in Singapore and the UK .

 

In retrospect P. Ramlee, with no formal education but was able to compose more than 360 songs and 66 movies, probably returned to a society that was not developed nor had the brain power and skills to match up to his vision. In short he was just surrounded with a whole lot of officials and journalists with serious hang ups who were not interested in the industry itself. There was no driving force like another Shaw brothers.

 

And the prevailing attitude at that time and probably even now was and still is a third class mentality. In an environment such as this, no one with creativity, innovation, skills and brains can ever hope to survive let alone thrive. Its better they stay back where they can develop and nurture their talent. If a star as bright as Ramlee could be extinguished with such impunity, the rest are nothing. Ramlee and his entire family had been wiped out financially despite his immense talent. But he remains still till this day, the Malay Archipelago's cinematic legend.

 

With apologies.

 

Hancur badan dikandung tanah

Budi baik dikenang juga

Biar alam hancur dan musnah

Jasa mu tetap dikenang juga

 

THE AMPAS MAN

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Lifestyle Allowance?


Tuesday November 30, 2010

No staff or allowance for PM's wife

THE Prime Minister's wife does not have regular staff or contract employees working for her.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told Liew Chin Tong (DAP-Bukit Bendera) in a written reply that officers from the Prime Minister's Office would occasionally assist her in carrying out her official duties.

He said the Government also did not provide an allowance or fixed annual allowance for overseas trips for the wife of the Prime Minister.

"However, under the Privileges and Special Allowances of Members of Parliament (Remuneration ) Act, it is stated that she is entitled to claim for expenses such as fees, meals, accommodation, lifestyle allowance and clothing while accompanying the Prime Minister during his official visits overseas and locally," he said.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Wow wee....if the PM makes official visits every day, locally and internationally, does that mean the allowance will snowball everyday too? No matter whether she has programs or not, the word is "accompany".

Lifestyle allowance hey........any girls don't like it please raise your hand...

Do you know under the Cost Reduction thingy my company does, if you get meals during your outstation duties, you're not entitled for the subsistence allowance? That means if you're send for a course provided with breaks and lunch, you'll get 0 for claims on that day. No matter where it is in Malaysia. Lucky you Rosmah! Fees paid for, super duper meals served, accommodation tip top, lifestyle allowance and clothing given too?????? Good God.....see how life in this world works. Life is so full of unfairness.

Just what the heck is Lifestyle Allowance? My guess would be hair-stylist - no. 1, then comes Spa, Pedicure, Manicure, Body Massage, make-up specialist, etc etc.....and clothing too??? Does that include designer bags and jewellery??? Do you think this allowance has limits?

Somebody should write a book on this. Just like the book I read - How Malaysian Government is Spending the Money. I forgot the actual title, but it was proper revelation of how they are spending my tax money. Good God!!!!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Fat Chance for JPA


Wednesday November 24, 2010

PTPTN writes off RM59m loans to top students

TEMERLOH: The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) has written off RM59mil in loans to 2,162 students who obtained Class One Honours from January to July.

Corporation chairman Datuk Ismail Mohamed Said advised students to get in touch with the corporation to cancel the contracts they had signed when they were given the loans.

"Otherwise, the contracts will be considered to be still operative and they will have to settle the loans," Ismail told reporters here.

He also said that more than 190,000 borrowers had ignored letters the corporation had sent to them concerning repayment of their loans.

"I advise them to contact us or come to our office. If they fail to do so, legal action will be taken against them," he added. — Bernama

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jeleslah gua. Dulu gua mintak dgn JPA, dia balas, pinjaman tetap pinjaman. Walaupon nama dia Pinjaman Boleh Ubah.

Daripada take legal action, and makes the lawyers even richer, why not just deduct their salary? They can be found through EPF or Tax account. Even if they own a business, they surely pay business tax right? Dia ginilah, kena selalu ingat apa yg surat tuntut hutang JPA hantar kat gua ever month tu...."Sesiapa yg berhutang dgn niat melunaskan, Allah akan memudahkan. Sesiapa dgn niat melesapkan, maka Allah akan membinasakan orang itu".

Huhu...peringatan tetapi ada nada2 jeles gitu. Beruntunglah mereka yg dapat pelepasan tu ye. Jgn lupa bagi duit kat parents lebih sikit....

 

 

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Faktor Lain Itulah Faktor Utama


Pengangguran Di Kelantan Meningkat Kerana Kurang Pekerjaan

KOTA BAHRU: Jumlah penganggur di Kelantan meningkat kepada 25,733 orang bagi tempoh Januari hingga September tahun ini berbanding 24,336 orang untuk tempoh yang sama tahun lepas.

Penolong Pengarah Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Kelantan, Mohamad Yaacob, memberitahu Bernama antara penyumbang utama kepada pertambahan itu ialah kurangnya pekerjaan di negeri itu.

Beliau berkata faktor lain ialah sikap rakyat Kelantan yang memilih pekerjaan atau enggan berhijrah ke tempat lain kerana mahu bekerja di negeri itu.

Mohamad berkata jabatan itu sedang meningkatkan kesedaran dalam kalangan penganggur dan lepasan sekolah dan institusi pengajian tinggi menerusi Program Penempatan Pekerjaan (3P) Azam Kerja Peringkat Negeri 2010 yang akan diadakan di sini pada Sabtu dan Ahad ini.

Katanya melalui program itu sebanyak 2,124 peluang pekerjaan akan ditawarkan yang merangkumi dalam bidang profesional dan teknikal (107); pengurusan (398); perkeranian (20); tenaga mahir dan separuh mahir (440) serta am/buruh/operator pengeluaran (1,159).

Mohamad berkata peserta program akan diberi elaun RM100 dan tambang percuma sepanjang dua hari itu. - BERNAMA
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
I think the no. 1 reason is not the lack of jobs in Kelantan, that's rather the last reason. The foremost reason is the ones cited as "faktor lain".
 
There are thousands of available jobs in Malaysia. Kelantanese who seek some success in life have gone out of the state and become successful in other states. Just drop by any warong in Malaysia, be it in Melaka, in Langkawi, in JB of course, and in KL, the stalls selling tomyam are mostly full of Kelantanese. Maybe sometimes you can find Siamese people also. Hence, it is in fact a matter of choice.
 
"Allah tidak akan mengubah nasib sesuatu kaum sehingga kaum itu mengubah nasib mereka sendiri".
 
In Malaysia, the word "Menganggur" or "Unemployed", pictures the attitude of oneself of not being able to try and do something new or put simply, not having a vision in life. There's no harm in doing some clerical job right after you graduate. In fact I did employ one, until she decided to further her studies. I could not employ her as her degree did not match with the kind of degree the company is seeking for. Well, at least she could learn some new things while working albeit in short time.
 
In my work place, the contractors are looking for workers high and low since people in Malaysia have that choice of not working. In desperate needs to find workers, the only way out is to employ foreigners. Cheaper, tak banyak cekadak, can do dirty jobs in dark and risky areas. Try find Malaysians that want to do those kind of jobs.
 
I really hope the government will not resort to giving allowance or coupons for food to those unemployed in Malaysia. I wonder why the US still do that, and in UK as well. Perhaps their government have that extra money to sponsor those who choose not to work. This will only encourage people not to earn their own living. I really pray that in wanting to win more votes, our government will not resort to such solution, no matter how desperate they aspire to win the votes.
 
There are clear distinctions between "helping" and "pampering". As we move towards becoming high income nation, I hope these people will change their attitude, or be at risk of losing behind all those developments planned for the nation.
 
 

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Where's the Priority? Goodness Gracious!!!

Never too old for good sex life

KUALA TERENGGANU: Sex is not just for the young and an inaugural workshop has been organised to rejuvenate the sex lives of elderly couples in Terengganu.

A host of health specialists and geriatricians, including renowned sex therapist Prof Dr Mohd Ismail Mohd Tambi, have been invited as facilitators in the pioneer workshop to start tomorrow in Setiu. Some 300 senior citizens are expected to take part.

The pioneer workshop, a brainchild of the Terengganu Family Development Foundation (YPK) comprises a series of courses with modules exclusively designed for elderly couples to bring back the joy of sex in their marriage.

One focus was on how the participants should maintain a high level of self-hygiene and what to wear when the couples were together.

YPK director Mohd Shafaruddin Mustafa said the workshop was aimed at correcting the perception of many that elderly couples had had enough romance after being married for decades.

"Many of them are lonely although their spouses live with them," he said in an interview.

In most cases, couples had strained relationships in their twilight years as they slept in separate bedrooms and focused on other matters, mainly the welfare of their children and grandchildren.

"This is unhealthy as elderly couples could still continue to have vibrant intimate relationships especially with all kinds of therapy and health supplements available these days," Mohd Shafaruddin said.

He also observed that senior couples easily get agitated with each other, probably due to their own aging process which could strain their union.

"All these can be prevented if they were given tips on how to make their twilight years more exciting through renewed intimacies."

Mohd Shafaruddin lamented that elderly couples also seldom communicate with each other and were very embarrassed to openly talk about their health issues like erectile dysfunction or even menopause.

"Through the workshops, we hope those with health problems could seek help from a panel of health specialists. The first session received an overwhelming response, and we believe those in other districts would be just as eager," he said.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Congrats Husna & Welcome to the Real School

We were invited as VIP guest for Husna's graduation last 31st Oct. 2010. The grand event was held at UTM Hall, just as if she was a true graduate. Except that the students were a bit less discipline but nevertheless, they were cute. As VIP, we had to come early, enter the room together with the guests of honor, and worst of all, we had to act as "VIP". Imagine that. Proper attire. No fooling around. Sit straight. Smile. Walk graciously. Speak eloquently. Jaga imej lah. Kena berlakon lah nampaknya sikit2. We brought Huda along so she could witness the grand celebration for the graduates. So this kind of spoilt the VIP mood a little. Heck with it.
 
Nuri teachers and management never told us on what ground we were selected as one couple out of 5 other parents as VIPs. I reckon that was because Husna was the Best Student, again, for the 3 consecutive years since she began in J4 pre-school. At the lunch table, I tried to peek into the assurance game. The retired teacher who was also invited as VIP told me that some parents did argue, why their children were also GOOD, but did not get the Best Student award. The teacher told us that they conducted interview to assess the student's confidence level, as well as overall behavior and leadership skills manisfested at school. Wow, this is worst than at the workplace! Frankly, I have never put such high hope until she got all hard up to be the Best Student. Only sometimes I teased her when she acted lazy or acted rebelliously, I would say - "Best Student perangai macam ni ka?" "You want Tashvita to take over your place?" Of course, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.
 
Husna was a little bit frustrated that she could not join the Grand Performance by the graduates. All was because we had no transport during the days when she had to practice dancing and performing at school. It was done in the afternoon allright. No school bus available. Atok was on and off. Sometimes when he is healthy, he can send. But most of the times, Atuk did not feel very well - gout lah. So, agak kesian jugak lah kat Husna. But, no sweat. I recall all her other cousins. Grand performance and all that, captured on video, made into CD, and then what? CD will be lost and only memory remains. Perhaps I should videotape when she truly graduate later on, at MIT ka, Harvard ka, Royal Surgeon of Ireland ka, baru lah best - insya Allah. Panjang umur, ada rezeki, dapeklah makcik pi melancong. Heh heh. 
 
Later on 12th Nov. 2010, we attended a talk organized by Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Skudai specially for new parents to welcome to the new wonderful world of REAL SCHOOL people.....hey, this school is among the best school in Johor lah. I could see the dedication and commitment the teachers put in welcoming the new parents and in giving talk on the DO's and DON'T's at school. Bagus betul. It was apparent. Husna is the tallest and biggest student. Even the teacher thought that she would be in standard 2 or 3 kinda size. I could see that she just can't wait to start at the new school.
 
So far, I have to pledge syukur alhamdullillah a lot to Allah, for bestowing upon me this child of mine - Husna Eka. She is full of dedication. A great leader (she claims herself as the teacher's assistant at school). Listen to parents most of the time. Quite easy to deal with. What I'm trying to say is, considering how limited time I have spent with her so far, she is independent and take full responsibility of things, can be trusted. Syukur alhamduillah.
 
Retired teacher Kamala pointed to Huda and asked me, "So how's this one? Bright as Husna?".
 
I answered her,"She is different". I know Huda is good in her own ways. Never compare your children. All are created with unique strengths and objectives.
 

 

Friday, October 22, 2010

Release Tensen lah

Aku nak tulis dalam blog ni pon dah rasa takut. Dulu sikit punye free nak tulis...idea mencurah-curah....semua main tibai jer tulis...sekarang aku rasa mcm ada byk sgt barrier...1st barrier of courselah, semakin tiada masa nak tulis....idea masih mencurah-curah, masa jer makin kurang....then 2nd barrier, government...manalah tahu kot2 aku tulis mende2 sensitif, kang kena ISA pulak, siapa pulak nak jamin aku...dulu ada gak member yg kenal2 org politik and org kuat gomen, kot2 lah kena tangkap, member boleh tolong bagi testimoni mintak lepas...ini member pon dah ada kat UK, ikut bini nun....seram lah gua....then 3rdly, aku dah jadik pulak Approving Authority. Apa maknanya tu?
 
If I own a business, I can order people and issue out order at my whims and fancies. Now, this is not my company. I am a servant. But I am the Approving Authority. Kot2 ada yg tak puas hati kat aku, habis lah blog aku kena serang...ini bahaya! Prevention is better than cure! Perasan? Ada ke org nak baca lagi blog aku yg dah lama sunyi sepi ni? Kalau rumah terbiar, dah naik semak samun beb. Nasib baik pulak si blogspot tak gelapkan this blog. Kan ada sesetengah mende yg kalau lama tak activate, abis dia gelapkan. Macam duit simpanan aku kat BSN. Dah 5 tahun lebih aku tak update, sekali dia kata- duit ni kami dah hantar ke Wang Amanah Tak Dituntut. Lepas tu bila ko nak tuntut, kena isi segala mcm tok nenek form, supaya ko hilang selera nak tuntut. That's the idea lah. Tak nak ko tuntut.
 
Have you listened to some songs and that songs made you remember certain stories...or memori silam? I am that type of person you know. When I listen to Wet Wet Wet's World is All Around, I remember I was sitting besides someone special on a Metrobus, en route to KL from Shah Alam. I know that someone is still single as of to date. Apsal lah ko tak kawin lagi? Nasib Metrobus ada aircond dari dulu sampai la nih. Kalau naik Sri Jaya, abis berpeluh2, kena diri pulak most of the time. This morning Suria FM played Spring's Pesanan Buat Kekasih. Oh, this one. I remember my roomates sang this song at one of our friend's house. Memekak jer nyanyi karaoke, zaman2 bujang la dulu.
 
Do you know that writing this is a therapy to me? My mind is so full of issues....mcm2 kak....kalau nak detail out, 10 pages? Serabut giler babe. Dulu aku relax jer dok kat office. Aku ni a bit of strategic thinker, so I need time and space to think out things and lay down the plan properly. NOW....I am expected to deal with daily operational issues....people issues...whoa....ini yg tak tahan....daily tactical issues...I am still adopting...Approving Authority pulak tu beb...kekadang bila aku nak sign, aku dok pikir, if this is my company, will I sign it? Setiap sign kang kena soal kat akhirat beb...takut makcik...dalam pada takut2 tu, kena tenyeh jugak....overwhelming pon kekadang ada rasa jugak. 
 
Dah lah tu, aku tak boleh nak huha huha mcm dulu lagik. Kang ada org rasa pelik tgk aku pulak. So, have to be yourself, but have to be a figure of authority at the same time. Camne tu? Do you have to act OLD and COLD to people? Will warmth be misinterpreted as EASY? Do I have to look OLD? NO, isn't it? That's what I've been telling myself. So by writing this, it is a indeed a therapy.
 
The other day I was caught again in a situation where I have to be creative in answering questions posed by Husna.
 
Me: Did you go to our house during the electricity blackout?
Husna : No, atok said the road tax "mati". What is road tax?
Me: Well, road tax is car owners have to pay some money to the government.
Husna: What is government?
Me : (pulok doh..., camne aku nak jawab)...well, government is the authority.
Husna : What is authority?
Me :( sambil pikir camne cara mudah nak bagi budak ni paham)...well,, authority is like at school, your teacher is the authority. Understand?
OK.....
 
Nowadays, more often I heard the veteran staff are saying something like "Well, I've tried. Many times. I don't care anymore". Dulu ramai, tapi tak declare. Now they publicly declare. Giler dahsat. Diorang mcm dah give up lah. Kesian pulak kat tmpt keje aku nih...kalau semakin ramai org yg dah give up, siapa lah yg tinggal nak tolong uruskan. You still need that emotional bond while working you know. Money is not the key driver. It's a package, but most importantly, you must like what you do, and because of that, you can easily strike an emotional bond with the stuff around you. Once that's gone, work has no meaning any longer.
 
Aku nak carik staff baru sikit punye susah lah. Kata every year ramai giler bebudak ni grad lepas tu takde kerja, yg aku ni carik staff tp susahnya nak jumpa yg berkenan....First, akademik kena bagus, kena CGPA 2.8 and above. Then tgk English SPM berapa? Mesti A or B saja. Then mesti aktif, pegang jawatan kat kolej. Kalau setakat member of clubs, tak mainlah. Ko kenalah ada jawatan tinggi sikit, VP ke, Setiausaha event ke, barulah OK. Then kena lepas interview pulak. Aku rasa statistik lebih kurang camnih - resume dapat 10, aku pilih 4, dtg interview 2, yg lepas 1. Hopefully akan terima tawaran lah. Biasanya yg bagus2 ni pulak, byk company nak amik lah pulak. Pulok doh.....so, the vicious cycle will continue. I pay particular attention to the English capability level. Kalau tak, kang aku sendiri pening asyik nak betolkan ejaan and grammar masa tulis report.
 
Wei... dah penat tulis....
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thursday, October 7, 2010

English Design My Scare

Can you spot the winter shoes as a display?
Holy Moly....once broken considered sold
Mr. X asked me to join him visiting one of his friends' house in Senai. The kids were already very sleepy, infact Husna had fallen asleep while we were in the car. We reached the house around 9.15pm. Husna was dragging her feet to enter the house, until she stepped her foot at the door and her eyes suddenly were wide open.....holy moly...this is a nice house...nice smell also...the air purifier plus the smell of the potpourri really could make you feel as if you are now travelling 1000000000 miles away to Wales, or to Manchester, or to Indiana....way back in remote area in Tennessee....something to that effect lah. Time travelling to one of those houses in England or deep USA...plus with the good air-cond system, made you feel like it's fall or near winter.
It is a semi-d double story house. Well, they only have 1 teenage kid, and the lady of the house herself is an interior designer, designing house for people for whatever concept. She chose this concept because of her passion for English designs and decorations. I don't have the pictures of the curtains, but I guess you can imagine. When she served us light supper, it was well, suffice to say, in a manner as if you are eating in an English house somewhere, except that the guests and the house owners are Malays. It was wonderful, yet scary.
Imagine my worry for all the tiny weeny little things she put on the floor, on the table, on the cabinet, on the staircase. Those are all charming decorations. Even I couldn't help myself to touch and feel some of the attractive things. Imagine my children. Takut betul makcik dek..then I asked her, how often do you do the cleaning. She said whenever she feels like it. This kind of design and concept is a full time job of cleaning and maintaining, if you ask me. It's nice if you have a maid who can help, but as you know, maid's cleanliness standard, sure cannot match her expectation of cleaning. That's why she doesn't employ a maid.
With that kind of gloomy lighting, plus the nice smell, plus the good air-cond, just need a little bit of lullaby to make me doze off. Luckily there was one piano so the kids could play and I could stay awake.
So fo me, this is a nice house. But to keep it clean and maintain the standard, is one hard work. Nice experience though. Very rare that I could experience such time travel these days.


Saturday, September 18, 2010

Kisah-kisah Raya 2010

Apalah agaknya dalam kepala otak aku ni....hari ni aku dgn rajinnya telah datang kerja. Bila aku tengok calendar, aisey, today is the third Saturday, meaning I am not supposed to come to work. So sebab dah drive selama kira2 50 minit (sebab today is Saturday so hiway PG tu lengang sikit), terpaksalah buat2 kerja. Tengok2 email kat office ada problem lah pulak. Pulakk dah....
 
Actually I am suffering from a post-raya stomach ache syndrome. It's not kind of diarrhoea, but it is close to it. It makes your stomach feels uneasy, but when you go to the washroom, you would feel unsatisfied. So yesterday the doctor gave me a one day leave, so I could rest to ease my tummy. Thank God for that. Besides relaxing the tummy, I could use some time to do other beauty things such as facial and pedicure. Huh......
 
Kisah Beraya ke rumah2
Raya di Terengganu adalah amat memenatkan. Bayangkan, kalau dalam family aku, satu hari paling tinggi jumlah rumah we all melawat 3 rumah saja. So we get to spend about 1 hour in each house, in high quality manner. Repeat that 3 times, we all would have been exhausted already. Imagine if raya in Ganu, 4 houses minimum, average is 6 houses per day, from morning till night. Considering the behavior of my children who would always just sit there and do nothing (NOT!), imagine the kind of energy I have to invest to match their energy. Dapat raya rumah cantik byk perhiasan, aku lagilah takut, kena selalu awas. Dapat raya rumah buruk n boring, sibuk ajak jalan kat luar. Penatnya Allah saja yg tahu. Nampak mcm komen2 negatif? Bukan, sekadar luahan perasaan......ini ada gaya2 Abby Abadi mintak balik duit Mas Kahwin from Norman lah...tujuan saya bukan untuk mengaibkan mana2 pihak, tapi sekadar menyatakan yg hak. Saya nak tuntut semua hutang2 tu....mcm tulah lebih kurangnya...
 
Lepas tu bila kena pegi beraya jalan jauh, huh....memang amat jarang dilakukan dlm keluarga aku. Kalau rasa nak raya jauh tu, we all akan visit satu makcik aku kat Segamat. So dlm 2.5 jam sampai, lepak, akan lunch, then terus balik. Lain ceritanya di Ganu. Kalau ke Segamat from JB, at least 3/4 travelling time is on hiway PLUS. Kalau di Ganu, bersesak-sesaklah kome dalam traffic jam...kalau dalam jam, anak2 ko tak buat hal takpe gak...kang kalo2 ada yg nak terkenc*** ke, ter be*** ke, tak ke aniaya? Perjalanan jauh di Ganu yg aku maksudkan ialah dari kampung di Marang ke Besut. Jauh tu bang, adalah 2.5 jam jugak, kalau tak jam. Kalau jam, berjam2lah bun*** panas dalam kete. Dah ke Besut tu, kalau nasib tak baik, terus pulak kena naik ke Tanah Merah....itu lagi 2 jam kalau tak jam. We all pernah stuck dlm jam kat Tanah Merah tu dekat 2 jam, jarak kira2 2 km je nak sampai. Hampeh betul....itu semua gara2 ada 1 traffic light hampeh yg buat semua kenderaan jam.
 
Actually aku rimas balik ke Pantai Timur bila musim raya, raya Cina, cuti sekolah dan any public holiday. I wish I can go back only during weekdays, or weekend yg takde public holiday. Baru lah aman damai.Kau tengok plate kete yg buat jam tu semua plate W, B or J. Plate T or D tu jarang sekali. Terengganu n Kelantan ni mcm Philipino and India le, export tenaga kerja ke negeri2 lain. Semuanya sebab kat negeri dia tak cukup foreign and domestic direct investment to boost the local economy. Bila lah agaknya keadaan kat 2 negeri nak berubah ye...nampak mcm merendahkan 2 negeri? Oh tidak, ini sekadar satu luahan dari hasil pemerhatian teliti hamba.....Pendek kata kesabaran kena lah amat tinggi menggunung bila time spend masa di Ganu. Tak happy pong kena buat2 happy. Letakkan wajah ceria dan sentiasa pujuk hati supaya terima this is it. This is what you have to go through, so might as well try to enjoy the experience.
 
So frankly, aku cukup bercinta bila kena balik raya ke Ganu, Istilah bercinta tu org Johor je yg paham. Bercinta sini maksudnya teramatlah berat hati. Tapi kerana tiada pilihan, kenalah pujuk rasa hati supaya pergi dan berdoa supaya cecepatlah masa berlalu kat situ...tup tap penat...tup tap raya....tup tap main mercun....tup tap jalan jam....tup tap naik angin tapi control macho....tup tap tup tap....dah sampai ke office today...lepas tu sebab aku sakit perut, dapatlah MC semalam...then today patut hari tak kerja, aku dgn rela hati telah datang kerja....email ofis pulak buat hal. Laki pulak tak bagi ingatan langsung....heran aku...agaknya dia pon nak kena kan aku gak....
 
Kisah Bersalam
Kat family aku kalau bersalam memang akan disulami gelak ketawa dan semua org ceria. Nampak mcm tak serious pon ada. Sekejap je bang. Sebab kami memang so far alhamduillah, takde persengketaan atau perbalahan dalam keluarga. Kami terima diri masing2 seadanya, dan semua orang bertanggungjawab atas diri sendiri dan tak menyusahkan org lain. Sebab tu kita takde perasaan dendam atau kecewa dalam hati. So suasana bermafaan tu jadik satu keadaan yg ceria. Oh, situasi si Ganu memang berbeza sama sekali. Amat berbeza. Semua orang akan menangis2 dan setiap salam akan memakan masa yg lama. Kekadang aku wonder jugak, adakah selepas bersalam dan meminta maaf dan menangis, keadaaan akan berubah? Yg ini aku kena reserve my comments. Keikhlasan terbit dari nurani. Nak tahu ikhlas ke tak, just tengok kalau ada perubahan. Kalau sama je year in year out, sendiri mahu perhati and jugde la.
 
Kisah Nada Suara
Nada suara orang2 sekeliling di JB adalah amat tenang dan nyaman. Gelak ketawa adalah amat terkawal. Mungkin ini ada pengaruh ajaran di sekolah agama, semua org kena jaga tatatertib terutama di khalayak ramai. Di sana, WOW. Terkejut beruk jugak lah. Aku wonder jugak camne pemimpin PAS yg dok kat atas tu, especially Tuan Guru, adalah amat lembut gaya pertuturannya, jauh berbeza dgn jelata di bawah. Jauh berbeza. Nak komen lelebih kang, terlebih mengutuk pulakkkkkk....
 
Ada byk lagilah perbezaannya. Ini adalah pendapat saya dari hasil pengalaman dan pemerhatian teliti saya. Anda nak menentang, itu anda punye pasal....hahaha....bukan semua org di JB ni bagus, begitu juga bukan semua org di Pantai Timur tak bagus, ini sekadar luahang perasaang, tak ada kena mengena dgn yg hidop atau pong yg mati.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Ideas Please

I think I should write a book, and the title shall be any one of the followings:
 
  1. Blackberry - Your Foe in Marriage!
  2. It's Either BB or Me - You Choose!
  3. How Blackberry Killed My Marriage Intimacy!
  4. To H*** with Blackberry!!!
  5. How Blackberry Ruined My Relationship!
  6. Icon of Communication - definitely not a Blackberry!
  7. I Hate Blackberry!!!!
  8. D*** You Blackberry!!!!!
 
I remember my friend used to write in her blog that she found it very sad when she saw a couple at the restaurant, facing each other but neither of them was talking to each other. Both of them were busy playing with their phones. Let me tell you, when either of them has a Blackberry, especially the man, you do not even have the desire to go for outing feast as a couple!!!!
 
Man, is it really the fault of the communication medium or is it that the intimacy is really dying off? Imagine having to fight for attention at the dinner table, before going to sleep, in the car while driving, while watching TV together as a family, and what else....does it look like I'm complaining? Not to worry, my complaint will never reach the intended audience.
 
Whatever it is, the d*** Blackberry will still prevail and persist in our life, forever. Argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Attention and Deviation

Upon seeing some mistakes made by the daughter in her homework, a very awkward conversation between mother and daughter pursuit.
 
Mother : Who invented the Sun?
 
Daughter : Allah.
 
Mother : Then, why you wrote "Manusia"?
 
Daughter : I don't know.
 
Mother : Who invented the bicycle?
 
Daughter : Men.
 
Mother : Then, why you wrote "Allah"?
 
Daughter : (Long silence). Maybe confused. Suddenly, Mama - what you want to be when you grow up?
 
Mother : What do you mean what I want to be?
 
Daughter : You want to be a lawyer? Doctor? Teacher?
 
Mother (utterly confused with that 1 golden question and trying to find the best answer) : I have way passed that age, you know. I want to relax at home, go vacation and you to take care of me.
 
Daughter : Hmmmm......so, you want to become a manager?
 
Mother : That sounds OK.
 
Daughter : What does a manager do?
 
Mother (wondering how to best explain in the most diplomatically correct language understandable to a 6-year old) : Well, managers manage people.
 
Daughter :  (Long silence). Perhaps wondering what does the word "manage" means......
 
Is this what you call Deviation of Attention of the subject on pursuit in an attempt for escape? Or is it a case of reflecting the synergy of two subjects and try to reach a common ground? Pening lah.
 

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Bayar Bang...

 
"Barangsiapa yang mengambil pinjaman dengan niat melunaskan, Allah akan memudahkan pembayarannya dan dengan niat melesapkan, maka Allah akan membinasakan orang itu".
 
Kome nak tahu petikan ayat Al-Quran itu tertulis kat dokumen mana? Tetiap bulan aku dapat dokumen ni. Dokumen ni pulak, siap kata:
 
UNTUK MENGELAKKAN ANDA DAN PENJAMIN-PENJAMIN ANDA DARIPADA DISENARAIHITAMKAN DAN DIKENAKAN TINDAKAN MAHKAMAH, SILA PASTIKAN JUMLAH YANG PERLU DIBAYAR DALAM 21 HARI DARI TARIKH BIL.
 
Giler ganas punyer ayat kan? Memang sound ada macam desperate sikit. Agak2 bank mana lah yg agak desperate ni kan? Takkan lah bank kot, dah tentu every year all banks akan declare diorang UNTUNG bersih juta2 punye, kecuali bank yg bermasaelah la. Tapi insya Allah ler kalau pinjam bank memang akan bayar promptly. Tapi surat ni standard aku dapat setiap bulan. Ayat tu pon ayat pre-printed, maknanya ada ramai orang yg ambik sambil lewa dan tak bayar le nih. Kes hampeh.
 
Hah, bila aku pegi jumpa AzizCfP, dia pun kata, kalau hutang yg ni, hang bayar kemudian pon takpe, sebab dia takde interest. Kita mesti dahulukan hutang2 yg ada faedah tinggi dulu. Yg tak dikenakan faedah ni, hangpa buat last sekali. Jeng jeng jeng.........pinjaman untuk belajo lah. Bila dah kerja, buat2 lupa pulak nak bayar balik yer.
 
Actually aku dipinjamkan kira2 RM140,000, tapi sebab aku dapat meet criteria OK, aku kena bayar balik 25% jer. Maknanya RM40,000 lah. Banyak jugak tu. Kalau nak pegi melancong, boleh pegi Europe 4 kali. Kalau nak beli rumah, boleh buat downpayment, so bulanan installment rendah sikit. Kalau nak buat downpayment kete, agak2 dapat Mitsubishi Grandis baru tu, boleh lah dapat installment tak sampai RM1k sebulan. Payah nih. Aku pernah tulis surat rayuan untuk tukar pinjaman ni jadik biasiswa, tapi dia reply cepat jer. TAK BOLEH. Nama saja Pinjaman Boleh Ubah, tapi tak ubah. Ubah tu maksudnya turun jadik 25% lah, bukan FREE terus. Aisey....
 
Ada org kata, beruntung lah sebab kena bayar balik 25% jer. Alhamdulillah. Duit yg aku bayar ni, kerajaan akan guna untuk mensponsor pelajar lain. Iye ke? Ada rasa sangsi, tapi we only have power over what we can control. For the rest, every one has his or her own Malaikat Raqib and Atid, so sendiri mau ingat....
 
JPA ni start pre-printed ayat Quran tu aku rasa tahun lepas. Statement ni pulak, dia siap tulis hanya akan diberi pada pembayar yg konsistent. Yg tak bayar tu camne ek? Takkan terlepas kot? Aku dulu ada jugak pernah terpikir, mana lah tahu kan, kot2 Abdullah Badawi ke, Najib ke, nak bagi pengampunan beramai-ramai, kes lepas la nih....dulu ada jugak letak harapan menggunung mcm ni. Manalah tahu, dah nak dekat pilihan raya, tetiba JPA keluarkan warta:
 
"ATAS SEBAB KERAJAAAN MALAYSIA PRIHATIN DENGAN NASIB RAKYAT, MAKA DENGAN INI SEMUA PINJAMAN PELAJARAN JPA YANG TIDAK BERBAYAR AKAN DIKIRA SEBAGAI TERHAPUS."
 
Huh, agak2 akan berlaku ke? Dah Idris Jala share kerajaan akan bankrap kalau teruskan subsidi, inikan pulak ko nak mintak halal ye. Jawapannya HAMPEH.
 
Hutang tetap hutang bang. Tak bayar sekarang, kena bayar jugak later. So sementara masih bekerja nih, ko bayarlah ye. Itu je lah nasihat aku. Tak yah ada harapan palsu nan rapuh di tebing sungai untuk mintak kerajaan halalkan. Takkan dapat punyer lah.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Fauziah Latiff Tears in Gaza

OK first, I read about the 90's sweetheart singing sensation going off to Palestine to do something meaningful in last week's newspaper. I just tried to do my speed reading skills, just by reading the subject title and skimmed through the text. I did not know for sure was that she wished to go someday (meaning, just her simple wish) or that was she really seriously going. Come on you guys, Fauziah Latiff, used to be married to a very rich man, used to stay in London, etc. What had got into her?
 
Then in the last few days Buletin Utama TV3, there she was in the prime time television broadcasted from Gaza. She was wearing a scarf with her clean face no make up and what not and I could spot her joy and overall satisfaction by being there, right at Ground Zero. I reckon they must have had finished distributing the goodies to the needies. She was surrounded by other Malaysian volunteers, from all races. She was saying something like we should all be grateful, that she spotted children with their eyes full of hope, despite their homes, schools and other facilities being destroyed. The children persevered. And suddenly she could not hold back the tears. Awww....that one moment really touched me. This is real suffering. Despite their life's being ruined by the condemned you-know-who nation and race, the citizens especially the children, still have hope, that someday their country and the soil that they stepped on everyday must be protected at all cost. I'm not moving, they may say all the time. You can do whatever you want, expanding your claimed soil out of my country, but I'm staying. It's a jihad. Yes, they should. If they were to stop and surrender, we all know that the doomsday is going to follow next. It is all cited clearly in the Quran.
 
I'm sure Gee must feel that her life and view towards things in this world would have changed after this. Whatever happens to you, no matter how hard and difficult and heartwrenching she must have gone through before, is nothing compared to what the Palestinians have to endure, up to the end of this world. Kudos to Gee who took up this challenge. I wonder what prompted her for this life-changing journey. Alhamduillah she got the chance, and hopefully came back with an aura to attract more celebrities to go there.
 
I should list Palestine as 1 of my 7 wonders of the world.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Ramadhan Blues

With the fasting of Ramadhan, suddenly I have so many ideas to write about. I will try to find time to write down my thoughts.
 
First, about my friend who felt "sentap" when the girl circa 18-years old called her "makcik" while she's looking for the right "kuih" to buy at the Bazaar Ramadhan. Well, she's only 35, used to be my classmate. At this age, women generally are at the peak of their life, but the feelings still majority lie in feeling between the age of 25-30. So for that girl to call my friend "makcik", I could truly understand my friend's frustration and disgust. Besides, she's still single. Then she started to wonder, "Do I look that old?". It's hard to swallow that yes, you are half way through life, but at this age, I still want to be young. I read a fashion tip in a magazine that says, when you are at the age of 30 or 40, you can dress to make you look young, but never ever dress like the 20-year-ol's. This will only shows that you desperately want to look young, but the look on your face already shows that hey, you're way pass that age. So, kenalah sedar diri sikit. Dress elegantly, to suit your maturity and wisdom.
 
In the first morning of sahur, the moment of waking up at 4.30am to prepare food for husband and daughter, suddenly I felt like it was a slight burden. There you are stuck at 4.30am to prepare food for the whole 1 month - regardless whether you yourself are going to fast on that day. Then while taking out the food from the fridge, and turning on the flame, I realized that my mom has been doing this all her life. What did I do normally? I just woke up and tadaaaaa.....rice on the plate, drinks at side, ready to be swallowed. Usually around 5.00 to 5.15am. Finished the food, wash my plate and that was it. I could even catch some more sleep right after sahur while sitting on the couch. Well, that period of easy life has long gone. Now, I am responsible to wake up and do all that stuff that I used to dread. In the morning at 430am life is apparently very quiet. I gives you chance to ponder deeply, why the heck am I up at this hour to do cooking. Then some kind of melodramatic feelings would absorp into you such that you would feel the serenity of the wee hours. Enjoy the calmness, quietness, away from daily bustle at the kitchen. Then it came. Suddenly you would feel that this is what "isteri or ibu solehah" need to do. That kind of feelings that comfort you to say that - this is it - this is what you have to do as a muslimah, to prepare food as sahur for the family, so that your Ramadhan will be more barakah, and insya Allah it will bring you happiness, while cooking and while seeing they're eating and while cleaning up after that. Perhaps this little effort of sacrifice may be a burden at one moment, but at another moment, you will feel relief and actually enjoy doing it. This is like a strata of acceptance level I would say. Denial - Understand - Accept - Commit. Talk about trying to relate concepts learnt in classroom training to daily life.
 
The TESCO clubcard has driven me crazy. They always send me these little coupons that make you desire to visit their store even though sometimes there is no need to go, just because the coupons are so enticing! The diapers, the milk powder, the eggs, the cultured drinks, all those are high consumption items in the house, and they have successfully applied the concept of psychology to drag your heart and mind to pay a visit to their store. And they have limited lifespan. It makes you feel stupid if you don't go. The discount is just so great. This coupons thingy reminds me of life in the States. Everyhting is coupon-driven. Talk about enticing customers from their home to rush to the store. I have to control myself, horribly, since I would pass their store daily on my way to and from the office.
 
It's time to leave. I'm doing an interview for my group projec for MDP. *SIGH*...

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

A Different Ramadhan

This year Ramadhan brings some kind of a different feeling. If my late sister-in-law were to know that last year's Ramadhan would have been her last Ramadhan, certainly she would do things differently. Then when I reflect on myself, if this is to be my last Ramadhan, what are the different actions I need to take, what if? No one has the answer. That's why Nabi Muhammad S.A.W. said that a smart person is the one who always remember that death is very near, anytime. Very near indeed.

That is why also there are verses in the Quran which says that humankind would ask to go back to the world to do good deeds, after their death, to which Allah says - Nay, it'll never happen. Sometimes I have to keep myself reminded that on daily basis, what if this is my last day? What would I be leaving behind? One thing for sure, settle all the debts as fast as possible. That reminds me I still owe JPA some RM18k more to go, that's like half way through only. Then you have to forgive and forget. Keep your heart clean, do not keep any intention to pose revenge on anybody, that'll only make your heart bitter and absorb your internal strengths slowly. Lastly, be good to people closest to you. Your spouse, children, parents, parents-in-law, family members, neighbours, colleagues, staff, bosses, and strangers. If you cannot touch everyone's life, at least make a difference to someone. He/she may mean nothing to you, but you maybe the world to that someone.

Yesterday I went onboard VLCC Idemitsu Maru. I vowed to enter the tank where there was an incident, but the moment I stepped one foot, I felt some kind of aura....hoho...this is not good....seram sejuk tetiba makcik....it was a 30 feet tall tank, for storage of crude on voyage. The smell was just killing me. When I saw all those people working inside the tank, my goodness, thanks to Allah we are born in Malaysia, having this great wealth and opportunity to work while improving our health and lifestyle. The tank was deep, dark, smelly, and you have to do works inside there - I just cannot imagine. That's why only foreign workers want to go there. They have to do it since they have no choice. Either struggle to make up a living in this condition, or go back home and suffer. Poor those workers. It just made me feel that English language should invent a better word for "gratitude". Alhamdulillah version in English, anyone?

Today marks Husna's first attempt to fast, she's 6 this year, it is high time already. I woke her up at 5.ooam just now, at first she was saying "Ngantuklah...", then I tried to pacify her. "Look, tomorrow you cannot eat and drink during the day, so you better eat something now". Even from last night, she kept on complaining that "kalau tak makan, nanti boleh mati". Then I told her Ayah and Mama tak mati pon....I also told her that she cannot get angry at people, and to speak less words. She still wonders how it would feel like not being able to eat and drink. Well, she did ask whether she can drink only, sorry girl....try nak uji pulakkk...yg puasa boleh minum jer tu kalau tak silap agama hindu saja. Kalau tak silap la.

Hence, for this year Ramadhan, may Allah grant His blessings to all of us. AMIN.

Monday, August 9, 2010

The Mindboggling Solution to Pelajar Hamil & Kahwin Bawah Umur

Menteri Besar Melaka Datuk Ali Rustam nak wujudkan sekolah khas untuk pelajar-pelajar perempuan yang hamil dan jugak benarkan budak sekolah kahwin supaya dapat anak yg halal, instead of yg haram. Berpinau jugak ye fikiran kita nak absorb mende nih. I don't know about you, but for me this is a disaster.
 
Sekolah utk pelajar hamil - kok malu tak kalau ko masuk sekolah tu? Sekolah ni dalam hutan ke, kat tgh bandar ke, kat dalam Zoo Melaka ke, Datuk nak letak mana lokasinya? Parents pulak, nak hantar sekolah tu? Ke ramai yg dah tak mengaku anak bila such case were to happen? Pening kepala aku memikirkan details of this suggestion. It is so mindboggling to think about its short term and long term implications. Alasan Datuk, supaya anak2 halal ni boleh dijadikan anak angkat yg lebih bagus, sebab dia halal. Sedangkan yg haram pon org berebut, apa lagik anak halal kan. Then the mothers can kahwin after that and continue their schooling. Kok boleh belajar lagik ke ko?
 
Kahwin bawah umur - Datuk kata kalau tahu bab kahwin sebab nak halalkan s**, sure org tu tahu pasal tanggungjawab. Aisey Datuk, apsal lah cakap pasal the "T" word tuh???? In the first place, kalau dah terjebak kat situ, membuahkan benih, dah sah2 ler bebudak tu tak pernah terpikir about tanggungjawab. Sedangkan berapa ramai kes org dewasa yg dah kahwin tapi lupa atau tak tahu langsung apa tanggungjawab mereka sebagai seorang suami atau isteri, inikan pulak budak hingusan....boleh nampak hingus masih meleleh takde org nak tulun kesat Datuk.
 
Idea aku senang je. Datuk ada cakap pasal mengembalikan mereka ke ajaran agama, why not negeri Melaka amalkan sistem UNDANG2 & SYARIAH ISLAM mcm kat Arab Saudi? Sebat 100 kali. Buat kat Jom Heboh ke, sure lepas ni takde lagik kes. Abis cerita Datuk. End of story. Taklah berpinau kepala aku fikirkan idea solution Datuk, and buang duit rakyat nak tanggung bebudak ni.....poning den....

Saturday, August 7, 2010

MDP-31 in Memory

Management Development Program - batch 31, PERMATA, Bangi, Selangor, 15 - 30 July 2010.

Original intention - to build knowledge and capabilities of leaders in Petronas group of companies and enhance network among the participants.

Key take aways - lots of drama in class, at the dinner table, in the karaoke room, at the tennis court, in the gym, at the lobby while hanging outs and of course, one nite out to enjoy sate Samuri. That's the best for me.

Macam-macam cerita kelakar lah....ada orang bet among them aku ni dah kahwin ke belum, ada orang siap siasat sama ada aku dah kahwin, sebab dia nak bukak cawangan ketiga from Malaysia sebab 1st one is Sudanese, 2nd one is Yemeni and third dia nak carik Malaysian. Memang lawak betul lah. This is the kind of craziness you would get when you put a bunch of 30 and 40 somethings in class for 2 weeks and expect them to study. Minds can go crazy if they are not deviated at this age.

I got to know more about the Petronas businesses in the group. I got to meet a bunch of good people and I think I can strike quite good chemistry with a few people. Good chemistry can be dangerous, but as long as you can contain it, no problemo. Kita pegi makan n karaoke kat bilik khas PERMATA tu ramai2 dah kira oklah tuh...Just imagine, we were separated from our families for days....of course some kind of close relationship building is inevitable. It's purely on professional basis afterall.

The moment I got back, one of the bosses asked me, "Tell me there's something new you learned from that course". Well, it's more like a refresher I said. But I like the chance to build network with other staff from Petronas. That's a rare chance for me since being stuck at this new department, with all those daily issues, a very very fat chance that I often get to go to such "away-from-office" kind of enjoyment.

I got to play tennis and ride bicycle..yayyyy...it has been ages.....PERMATA for me is a perfect place for attending course. The facilities are superb - the network, the gym, the sports complex, the karaoke room (oh...aku dapat nyanyi lagu Gerimis Mengundang...best nyer...) the computer facility and the food - so much variety....sometimes had masakan kampung, masakan india - naan and tandoori, sometimes had spaghetti, had also yong tau foo type like Johny's style, had the Chinese type dinner, mcm2 lah...and the final night, they served barbecue. That was simply great. Agaknya sebab kalau kat company aku sekarang, jgn harap nak dapat such lavishness....if according to Petronas staff, they all dah muak beb. Tapi memandangkan aku adalah gadis kampung dari Pasir Gudang, jarang dapat makanan mewah, aku rasa food tu semua sangat special. Well, bila dah biasa, rasa biasa lah. Bila tak biasa, kita rasa lah macam LUAR BIASA....kesian aku dan kawan2 aku kat Pasir Gudang tu....

Tapi yg tak bestnyer, ada group project work. Ni tak siap lagi, nak kena hantar in 6 weeks time. Lepas tu ada presentation la pulak in January....cabarang sungguh....

Bila Tujuan Tidak Jelas..

Satu hari di KLIA, seketika aku turun dari escalator selepas pemeriksaan keselamatan, aku berdiri di belakang seorang wanita, in her 20's. Pakai tudung ala scarf, yg agak pendek. Then rambut dia kat belakang terkeluar sikit.

Aku (dgn niat baik amal makruf nahi mungkar): Kak, rambut terkeluar dari tudung.

Cik Adik (sambil menjeling dengus kepada ku): Rambut saya memang panjang.

Aku (dgn rasa amat pelik) : Nak pakai tudung ke tak nak?

Cik Adik - cuba membetul-betulkan tudung pendeknya itu sambil menguis-nguis rambut yg terkeluar.

Apa punye pelik daaaa....kalau nak pakai, buat lah pakai betul2. Kalau rasa belum bersedia, hah apa lagik...bukak je la....buat confuse org bukan Islam jer kome ni laaaa....ini mesti kes terikut jugak si Idola ala ala Diva yg nak kena serang tuh....CTKD...mcm2 hal la diorang ni bila dah kaya dan ternama....

So moral of the story, wear it nicely when you are really ready. Tengok mcm kawan aku si Yatie tu, steady je free hair. Nanti satu hari aku doakan dia dapat hidayah dari Allah, insya Allah hajat dia akan termakbul. Mende ni tak boleh paksa beb.....

Thursday, July 15, 2010

12 Years and Still....

Today is the day that marks my 12th year of serving my company. Last 2 years, I receive quite a few memorabilia and well wishes from friends for the Jubilee of 10 years. I can't really recall for the 11th year, I think it was only a few emails of good wishes as well.

But this year, it is quite special I guess. I am stuck here in Bangi for 2 weeks, attending a course which is supposed to enhance my management skills. It is also nice, since workload in the office has been really crazy. Escape as you may call it, it is heaven for me as of today. Sometimes we need that variety in life. Routine kills.

Just now at the Ice Breaking, my partner told the class that my favorite food is Keropok Lekor. Straight away the trainer said, "You must not be a Ganu person, coz Ganu people take that food as staples!". Betullah tu. That's why I am married to a Ganu man.

This morning at the new Senai Airport, I tried the kuey tiaw goreng with telur mata at their cafe right before that departure gate, coz I was really starving. It looked good from the glass. I was eating half way, then only I realized that it was "plainly tasteless". So I went to the counter girl, asking for salt or some sauce. She said,"Takdelah Kak". That's it. RM7 quality of an airport food. They say never complaint about airport's food. True enough.

Have you heard a story about a golf course which have caddies that wear no bra? Gosh...the men would be very excited...imagine after 2-3 rounds of hitting the ball, when the caddies start to sweat....huhu....but it was a joke. The caddies are indeed men, that's why no bra. That's a new joke I heard at the dinner table tonight.

This Sunday insya Allah I will be meeting with Yatie Pitt and Nikki Taylor. I last met them in year 2002, I think. Wow, how time really has passed. Suddenly we are these Gen-X people trapped in the craziness of fulfilling needs of this modern life, busy with kids and career, but one thing for sure, I want to ask Yatie how's life now by still being single. Or she has somebody but she's not telling. Biological clock is ticking, better hurry.

You know this book of Dale Carnegie, I am like obsess with the lessons which I need to apply. Actually I have to record down how I apply those lessons to my daily working. It has turned into obssession. Even though it's good, I hate it. Well, I need to provide update to HR again in December. So better start to record it down.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

ESQ Training Must Go On

Aku agak terkesima di saat aku menerima email forward dari seorang rakan (yg belum lagi attend ESQ) yg mengatakan ESQ adalah HARAM. Kenyataan dari Mufti Wilayah Persekutuan yg telah diwartakan, amat memeranjatkan.
 
Terus aku mem"forward" email tersebut pada alumni ESQ yg aku kira sangat bersyukur kerana mereka telah terpilih untuk menghadiri kursus tersebut dan mendapat manfaat yg tiada tolok bandingnya. Mereka semua seperti tidak percaya. Kami semua merasakan tidak ada langsung akidah kami yg terjejas setakat ini. Malah ia berjaya mendekatkan kami dgn Sang Maha Pencipta. Seperti yg aku biasa tulis dalam entry2 tahun 2008, aku byk mengingati pelajaran dan peringatan dalam syllabus ESQ untuk aku mencari kekuatan di saat aku diuji dgn hebat oleh Sang Maha Mengasihani.
 
Alkisah rupanya Mufti Wilayah belum pernah pun menghadiri kursus ESQ. ESQ mempunyai 5 orang panel syariah yg amat berpengalaman dalam hal ehwal agama dan ramai cendiakawan dan ahli agama telah menyertai program ESQ dan semuanya menghargai dan meluluskan program tersebut. Termasuklah pihak JAKIM juga.
 
Perkara ini memang pelik. Aku ada terdengar ada ramai non-muslim yg telah mendapat hidayah dan petunjuk dari Yang Maha Pemberi Jalan dgn menghadiri kursus ESQ. Jadi persoalannya, kenapa perkara yang baik ini telah diharamkan?
 
Bukan senang untuk mendapat Hidayah dari Allah. Salah satu cara yg memudahkan ialah melalui ESQ training ini. Pelajarannya amat aku ingat, di saat aku menghadirinya pada bulan Mei 2007 di Persada Johor, akulah salah seorang ALUMNI JB Angakatan 1, sampailah sekarang, no course can reach right through your heart and connect you with the Ultimate Force, other than this one special course.
 
Entahlah. Agaknya ini satu ujian buat pihak pengurusan ESQ dan Dr. Ary khususnya. Perjuangan biasanya akan ada halangan. Seperti kisah para rasul2 dan nabi2 kita, semuanya mengharungi rintangan yg amat mencabar. But triumph will prevail at the end. Barulah namanya perjuangan.
 
Salam Perjuangan 165!!!!!

Friday, June 11, 2010

Conclusion of Part 1 of DC's Book - 6 Ways to Make People Like You

I have to compress the learning since time has been very much limited these days. Nevertheless, I did finish reading the whole of Chapter 1 twice, and underlining the important notes. It's a matter of applying those lessons. In summary, the 6 ways to make people like you are:
  1. Become genuinely interested in other people.
  2. Smile.
  3. Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
  4. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
  5. Talk in terms of the other person's interest.
  6. Make the other person feel important - and do it sincerely.
Come to think about it, all are indeed common sense. But knowingly as we are creatures being slaved by our own ego, the above can be quite challenging.
 
I chaired a department meeting this morning and asked who had read Stephen Covey's 7 Habits, none had ever heard. Reading huh, only 2% of Malaysians do it. What do you expect....how can we become "Negara Berpendapatan Tinggi" when our people are not interested to read and explore. Najib should spend more time in remote areas of Terengganu, Kelantan and Masai, then only he knows what should be the priority.
 
Come back to the DC's book, here are some of the important notes:
Be a good listener:
  1. When we listen to people, it implies that the person is important. That's exactly what human beings are craving - the sense of being important.
  2. Many people fail to make a favorable impression because they don't listen attentively.
  3. People who talk only of themselves think only of themselves.
  4. To be interesting, be interested.
Talk in terms of the other person's interest:
  1. Focus on what can catch the other person's enthusiasm.
  2. Talk about an enlargement of his life.
Make the other person feel important - and do it sincerely.
  1. The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.
  2. Human beings crave for appreciation as much as they crave for food.

I have to learn to say more "Thank You", and show that "You mean a lot to me". Everybody around us is as important as our family member, even if they are just the cleaners in the office, the security guard at the gate, the cashier at the counter, the officer at the bank, the attendant at the petrol kiosk, and all those people....I just have to learn to be more friendly.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Can Men Really Do Cross Stitch?

That was a bummer. Last 2 days Mr.X and I went to the Read Malaysia Fair at the Mines and suddenly he grabbed that book - Top 100 Cross Stitch Motifs. Yeah, like when on earth are you goin' to find the time to do it? Like when it's school holidays and all our children are in KL while we are stuck at work? So now Mr.X only has 4 days to learn and do 1. That's the challenge.

First, it's the book. Then had to find the shop. Luckily we found one at Tun Aminah just now. Then it's the review of numerous You Tubes on How to Start Cross Stitch. In English, Vietnamese and Chinese. It's the demo that counts. Man...it's time to just do it!

I never knew that he would settle for this kind of interest. It's in the gene, perhaps. Definitely not for me. Simply not me.

Friday, May 21, 2010

All I Want To Do is Have Some Fun

All I want to do, is have some fun.....remember that Sheryl Crow's song? Ohhhh I am really looking forward to have some fun.
 
Husna is in her mid term exam this week. The moment she showed me the timetable for the exam, I told her to study hard and be careful when answering the questions. She came close to my ear and whispered, "Don't worry mama. The exam is so easy". That had really made me laugh out loud. Perhaps she was over already for fun times in the kindy. She really is looking forward for the new school. The real one. That maybe when she can experience the real fun.
 
Huda is the exact opposite of Husna. She just couldn't care less what's going on at school, especially the homework. She just wants to have fun. One day last week, nenek told me Husna discarded Huda's book in the garbage bin in her effort to force Huda to do her homework. Of course Huda cried, since Husna was also beating her at the same time. Husna is forcing Huda to be like her. Very diligent, do homework, be serious, etc, which she is the exact opposite. Homework is a real killer for Huda. You know what she loves the most - gadgets. She loves to play around with the gadgets - handphone, laptop, anything that moves mechanically. So school is just a place to have fun for her. I need to find a good school for Huda to get her to love going to school.
 
Eusoff is obsessed with fans. Electrical fans, toy fans, you name it. The flowers are fans. My brooch in the shape of a flower is also a fan. I like the way he pronounces the word - Phhhaaannn - That would really makes him excited. I just sent him for jab last week. He was 2.3 years when I sent him for the 1.5 year jab. So he has to undergo another 2 jabs around these few months. Ouchhh...my pocket also koyak. No fun at all.
Mr.X is going to TR soon. That means I have to drive to Pasir Gudang everyday from Skudai. Oh man....this is really something that I dread. Maybe hiring a driver is not a bad idea after all. Bila la aku nak dapat driver sponsored pulakkk....
 
Work has been crazy. Tons of emails, meetings, people want to see you on the spot, people want to make an appointment, workers on strike, people don't want to do jobs they promised to do, staff quits, hiring new staff, heaty office which needs new aircond, merger of 2 divisions, people re-shuffle, people don't get paid, making a presentation, etc. The best part of the job - an office with a pretty good view. I could see the Straits of Johor, the road which links Sembawang to Changi, how many ships ply the straits daily, ships coming/leaving the shipyard, government patrol boats, sometimes helicopters monitoring the straits, and also people who are not working when they are supposed to work.
 
That is why I need to have some fun. Some of my family members will visit my nephew in Hartford, UK this school holiday. He is sent there for 3-months training. My sister wants to take this opportunity to discover UK and Paris. Save on accommodation. Try to fit 7 people in 1 flat. It will fit, because it's in UK. Oh how I wish I can join you all. My annual leave only left 10.5 days, after that 5 days minus visiting India in February. If I were to join this trip, I will have to use another 8 solid days. That means 2.5 days for raya and what not after that. That is a major put off. This is the disadvantage when you're working for other people.
 
OKlah, enough of today's thoughts. I will have a major presentation tomorrow to the no. 2 man of the company. I need lots of energy. Time to go for afternoon siesta.
 
 

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Dato' Bung Kena Jail

As a representative of the rakyat, Dato' Bung has taken the oath to uplift and abide by the law of Malaysia. However, Dato' had committed an offence when he failed to prove that his additional matrimony was JUST and NECESSARY and he did it by violating the law. As a result, the judge had sentenced him to the maximum fine of both RM1k and jail term of 1 year. But of course, his lawyer would apply for appeal.
 
When you are a "wakil rakyat", you are supposed to be the icons and idols for the citizens at large. Looking at another facade, being a normal person,  when you are in love, all that would not matter. That's why the old saying that "Cinta itu buta" still holds true all the time, every time. Romeo and Juliet, Laila and Majnun, Dato' Alphabet and Dato' Icon of Pop Singer at all times in Malaysia, all are the same. When you are in love, you simply cannot think. Somehow the adrenaline, progesterone, and above all, the pheromones would overwhelm all your other senses.
 
Actually I have got so much to write, but the sensitivity of my writings may affect my current position. Arghhh...bosannya....so nak selamat, kita komen pasal Dato' Bung.
 

Sunday, May 2, 2010

I'll Be Back

I miss the old career days...full of serenity and predictability. I used to get between 5-10 emails a day. That was awesome. More time for deep thinking and planning. Gone are the days.

My days now are full of drama. There are just so many people and so many events which have caused the days to be sooooo unpredictable. I have to clean up my inbox almost 5-6 times a day. That is like 20-30 emails in a day. This life is far more complex than the life of Marty Kane, the imaginary figure I had to be while being assessed a few months ago. That excludes knocking on the door asking for approval and people seeking for a short eye-to-eye talk with me. Phewww....meetings and more meetings...ahah... I guess this is a welcome to the world of real business.

It's a short term quick thinking while balancing the needs for long term strategy to be realized. Where on earth to find the time to do that planning and strategizing? During weekends. Forget it. Weekends are time for Tesco, Danga Bay, Taman Bunga, Facebooking, etc etc. Tak termasuk lagik kisah bibik gosok tuala mandi...uhuh...tetiba jer bibik ni dah nampak tua. Maybe masa masuk dulu dia pakai inai, so people believed when she said she was in her 40's. Aku rasa umur dia ni dah 50++ lah.

Dah tak boleh cakap lelebih pulak. Ada orang kata aku dah start cari gaduh. Kata lah apa nak...yg penting niat saya ikhlas. heh heh...aku paling tak suka bila temubual artis bercinta kata "kami sedang mengenal hati budi masing2" sedangkan satu dunia dah nampak mereka holding hands at the red carpet tu...aku sokong kata si Joyah, kahwin jer la...amende nya lagik nak kenal hati budi....tak paham aku la...bagi alasan biarlah logik sikit.

Ini kes dah mula merapu sebab otak berserabut. Kesian kawan aku. Ex-hubby kata investment yg ex bagi dulu tu kira dah cukup utk mutaah dan edah. Mana boleh kira gitu bang oiii...duit masa kawin, kira sedekah atau hadiah la kat isteri. Bila dah pisah, kena lah bayar asing. Ini ada pulak mintak balik. Itu kira buruk siku tu. Camne orang tua2 boleh kata buruk siku eh? Kenapa tak buruk kepala ke, buruk tengkok ke, apsal buruk siku? Kesian betul kawan aku yg sorang ni. Lepas tu pulak aku yg jadik ejen untuk that investment. Kira aku pun enter frame gak kat kes dia nih...inilah namanya dugaan. Sungguh hebat dugaan kawan aku nih.

Ala...aku nak tulis byk lagi nih...tapi si Huda ni merengek nak main game...padahal esok sekolah....berebut laptop dgn anak...

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Fun No More

Hari ni aku dah start keje kat tempat baru. Aku dah tak boleh nak merapu. Kalau aku merapu, aku dah tak boleh dok kat situ. Susah betul lah...silap2 aku kena tutup blog ni, takut pulak ada org tak puas hati buat kacau kat blog aku ni...isk....dilemma betullah...

Aku kena jadik seorang yg serious..."my expectations are very high on you"...huhu..."bila lagi nak masuk, cepatlah, kita org ada byk mende nak highlight ni"...wahwahwah...begitu tinggi harapan orang kat aku...aku pun tahu....tapi aku kena balance hidup aku jugak kan...aku kalau boleh tak nak lah dapat penyakit due to kerja...tak berbaloi beb....kita maintain relax ehhhh....tapi kerja tetap kerja la kan....

Tadi aku dah buang kerusi warung kat dlm ofis...ape ke hal, kerusi warong dok kat ofis...terus aku suruh remove...company juta2 tapi kat ofis pakai kerusi warong...memula aku kata ini kerusi mcm kat restoren, then boss aku kata mcm kat Restoren R*****, yg pemes dgn ikan siakap goreng rangup tu....cish...buat malu betul....

Byk betul mende aku nak tukar...ofis kena cantek, baru org respek sikit kan...ini kalau dah dlm ofis ada kerusi warong, apa J****....meja pun buruk semacam...aihhhhh....tinggi menggunung mende yg aku nak kena buat nih...mencabar sungguh....

Aku kena byk doa lah utk buat mende ni berjaya. Insya Allah aku akan cuba praktik apa yg aku dah alami dulu, yg baik2 lah kan.....