You Can Vote

Every year when the Sports Day drew near, we were very excited. Of course not everyone is eligible to take part in the competitions. You have to prove yourself first. If you crawl like a tortoise how can you compete with the hare in the relay. If you are a chicken how can you compete with the duck in the swimming categories. Only when you are qualified then you can register. Or else you stay by the side and be the cheerleader.

Our general election is fast approaching. We are very excited. The spirit to win is in every candidate’s heart. If you win you get to serve the community. That is every public servant’s dream. And that is every public servant’s responsibility. You swear in the name of God, if elected you will promise to do this and to do that. But make sure after delivering your baby you will look after him. Or else it serves no purpose to swear for white hair.

This is the time when the candidates are usually not at home. Where do you think they might be. They are pretty busy at this time of the season. If you have anything to complain and need to ask for their help, this is the correct time to do so. If you are lucky you might get a house call. The first candidate to reach your house wins your vote.

But you have to check with the election commission for eligibility. Log on to their website at http://daftarj.spr.gov.my. Type in your IC number to find out.

For example: type in IC 981231081137

World Vison Famine

I just couldn’t believe when my brother and Rachel announced they had signed up for the 30 hour World Vision Famine last year. For registration, students and senior citizens contributed RM100.00. Others RM150.00.

Funds collected were channeled to five charitable organizations.
· World Vision Vietnam Ba Thuoc Area, Development Project
· World Vision HOPE Fund
· World Vision Malaysia Children Development Fund
· Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled
· Persatuan Kristian Shuangfu

Fasting started at 12noon on Saturday (15 Sept) until 6pm on Sunday (16 Sept). Equipped with a bedroll each, they joined their friends at Bukit Jalil. Mum and I were worried. Did he bring along his overcoat? Did he eat before checking in? Would he faint? He had never gone without food before. And God bless, both of them succeeded.

Lots of programs were organized to keep the participants from boredom and the awareness of hunger. The 5,000 odds participants were grouped up with a team leader overseeing their supply of mineral water and games activities. You need not worry if you do not understand English, the programmes were translated in Mandarin too. Local artistes were roped in to entertain them for the night.

They had a fun time there. They just drank lots and lots of water to sustain their hunger. At the end of the famine they were given a bottle of mineral water and a piece of bread.

Both of them look forward to joining World Vision this year. Good for the world and good for a charitable soul.

Edison Chen

Just when the sex video scandal from our former Health Minister has subsided, Edison Chen has to entertain us with his taste for pornography.

Who would have thought that behind this lovable face lies a sinister mind. The film industry loves him or he would not have a string of movies behind him. Many has criticized his singing ability and yet he had cut a list of albums in a short time of 7 years.

What has gone wrong to turn him into a misguided individual with a threatening personality? Only Edison knows it himself. He could have gained so much if he has chosen to lead a normal life. But he has to spoil it all to indulge in a hobby that brought humiliation, shame, distress, betrayal and pain to the ladies around him. The only redemption is to ask God for forgiveness for no one can grant him that.

It is no point for the ladies to cry, to try terminating their own lives or to sue Edison for what he has done. He too regretted it. When they decided to cross his threshold they were aware what he was going to do to them. When he directed his camera at them, they knew the game would be disastrous.

The ladies knew Edison delighted in bed-hopping but they threw cautions to the wind to be with him. The only frustration they can get out of this situation is to unite and give Edison a good wallop. A wallop that reduced him to preserved persimmon.

For Edison, to fall is so easy. To get up the pain is too excruciating to bear. He has to be strong to weather the storm. I really feel so sorry for him.

The Missing Iron Grille

To contact or meet Edwin is extremely impossible. He is quite busy meeting clients, I was told. When Mike phoned up to fix an appointment, I was of course delighted.

The moment I approached the house I noticed the iron grille covering the manhole outside the house has gone missing. Obviously, some one has stolen it. A metal collector carting it away? A neighbour, perhaps, ‘borrowing’ to replace their missing grille? Whoever they are, they did not have the forethought that their selfish act might cause severe or fatal injuries to anyone who unsuspectingly might fall into the drain below.

It was passed midnight when Mike returned from Kota Kinabalu. It was pitch dark. As he got down from his taxi he had pushed his trolley bag ahead of him. It fell into the manhole. Had he walked the short distance towards the gate, pulling his bag behind him, he would have fallen into the drain instead. The drain has a depth of approximately 6 ft.

It gave me goose flesh to think what injuries he would have sustained if he had fallen into the manhole. Will I be responsible for the accident? Will I be liable for the medical fees?

My welder could only find time to replace a new grille the following week as he had a heavy schedule to cover. He wanted me to take measurements before he could weld a replacement. All the manholes in the neighbourhood are sized the same. So I borrowed the opposite neigbour’s to save him from making two trips.

I was worried for the delivery guys, mail man, the water & electricity meter readers. What if they come visiting? A temporary cover is required to prevent another fall. Sawing planks, nailing them together is no easy task for me.

Including a set of extra padlock ears for the front door grille, Mr Yap charged me RM450.00. I tipped him another RM20.00 for the rear grille which is a last minute request. For that I had to repeatly shower him praises for his nice handywork and his willingness to come all the way from Kepong. He was happy, Mike was safe and my purse was thinner. I could use it to watch Sam Hui’s concert at Genting Highlands!

If I ever find the thief I want to weld him to my front gate. Wishful thinking. The neighbours couldn’t careless to reveal him.

Scrap Metal Collectors

Months back a kid fell into an uncovered manhole at a resort. The authorities blamed the resort and held them responsible for the accident. Shouldn’t the person who has deliberately removed the iron grille and left the dangerous hole uncovered be accountable for the accident?

With scrap metal in great demand, no wonder many have carved up a new career as metal collectors. These metal collectors wandered around housing estates in their lorries with an assistant. Not everyone is qualified to be a metal collector. They are a special breed of people scavenging a living from victimizing unlucky house owners. They possess extraordinary skills. Sharp eyes and nose that can spot ‘anything metal’ from far and with the instinct to sense whether house owners or neighbours are around. To be their assistant, you have to be brave. If a sleeping dog wakes up suddently, you have to outrun it! If it takes a sample of your fresh for tasting, make sure you are inoculated against rabies. If you want to cart away their sports rims, you must practice hurdling before venturing into their house compounds. Jumping over gates is no problem then. Now a new breed of them has emerged. These are small timers working alone, bicycling around. Who are they? Mostly Bangladeshis.

These metal collectors work independently, selling their hot collectibles to licensed agents who then export them overseas. Now that metal thefts are spiralingly out of control, our government has decided to appoint a “government subsidiary company who will be the only agent authorised to buy scrap metal from the sellers”.

Whatever job you take on there is always a stop to refilling your rice bowl. We in Malaysia like to play monopoly.