The credit cards promoters

Earning a living is a struggle these days with inflation chasing us down like waters from a burst bund. Setting up counters at shopping malls, approaching passersby to purchase our products is a bad slap to our confidence if we failed in each try.

Previously they were comfortably seated, waiting for potential customers to check out their stalls during their recruitment drives. Now they are parked outside the check-out counters of hypermarkets. They are the credit card promoters.

I am afraid of them. Not that they will physically abuse me but I prefer to be undisturbed wherever I be. Usually I will walk straight ahead or divert my gaze somewhere else or pretend to be busy with my purchases. Smiling and acknowledging their presence with a nod of my head will make me their next target. I know it is rude to ignore them but I really am uninterested in their sales talk.

The more persistent and aggressive ones will block my path and insist I spare them a few minutes. Once I stop they cling like grape vine.

When cornered, my rehearsed reply is ‘my salary does not qualify me to own a credit card’. If they spotted me using one, ‘it is a supplementary card’.

Then they looked me over, their eyes traveled from my home-washed hair down to my sneakers and back to my unimpressive face. Then they retreated and I released a bellow of air from my congested chest. These repellent lines are like Monsanto Roundup. Very effective. Even pigeons keep away.

It is no big deal owning a credit card. Some of us have a string of them. Banks are spoiling us crazy by topping up our credit line. In the end we are their slaves for life.

The Mysterious Moon

Lying on my bed, I could see the moon shining through my window. Not only was the sky brightly lighted by her. Through the window louvers moonlight managed to fight its way into my room. Except for that radiating star which always stays faithfully besides her, there were no other twinkling stars. The clouds have veiled them. Every so often, the moon would glide gracefully pass the clouds, casting shadows upon the earth.

I often wonder whether there is life up there. Scientists will tell us there are living creatures dwelling in Mars. But have we really seen a Martian? Yes, their flying machines. Chinese legends have spun up beautiful folklores of the Jade Emperor and his terrestrial subjects. Christianity believes there are angels living an everlasting life up in the heavens. At this age it is difficult to accept their magical existence.

By observing the moon, we can forecast the weather for the next day. If there is an amber halo surrounding her, it will be hot and humid. Whitish rings will predict a rainy day.

The moon is exceptionally fascinating. She may look so pristine, so peaceful, so calm and so lonely suspended in the vast sky above but she is shrouded by a mystery which radiates an eeriness about her.

Find a quiet place in your garden and relax. Let the silence of the night overpower you. Close your eyes, free your mind, focus on your breathing and just listen deeply. You will be able to realize there is more than the sound of insects at your side. The breeze, it whispers secretly in your ears, passing messages you do not wish to receive. It slithers through your body like a snake, forcing goose pimples to appear.

Then slowly open your eyes, you see shadows coming alive. If you are those who can see beyond what you normally can sense, take flight and run! That is when the dogs start to howl, the birds start to fly and you start to run.

This is my scary experience of a moonlit night. Very frightening. It is more so, if you are in the jungles.

A Voter's Choice

March 8, 2008. Today is polling day. 10.2 million Malaysians here and abroad are casting their votes in the 12th general election.

In yesterday’s Star our Prime Minister urged all Malaysian Chinese to (Quote) “Vote for a voice in the Government”

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi reminded the Chinese community that if they gave the DAP their votes, they will end up not having any representation in the Government.

“You have to decide if you want a louder voice in Parliament or representation in the Cabinet where they can be more effective in representing all communities,” the Barisan Nasional chairman said.

He said if the Chinese did not have representation in the Cabinet, their requests would not be heard. (Unquote)

He was advising us to vote for the Barisan National and not the opposition party. The nation has the human right to vote, the right to choose, the right to stand for its values.

If we do not heed his words will something bad happen to us? Is this a threat to the Chinese community. Will his Chinese ancestors kicked and scratched in their coffins when they learned of his unreasonable demand to his own kinsmen?

He should leave it to the wills of God to guide the voters’ choice.

The Human Mind

The human mind is a very complex matter. You can’t see it, you can’t touch it, and you can’t feel it. And yet so powerful it controls our power of thoughts, our vulnerable emotions and our ability to remember. You can hurt our bodies, torture our souls but you can’t destroy our minds. You can poison it and you can manipulate it. It depends on how strong your persuasion is and how strong a person can resist your influence to overcome the human mind.

When a person makes up his mind there is no turning back time. So don’t play, play with a person’s mind.

Vote For A Better Tomorrow

To get to sleep was obviously impossible with the loud speakers blaring loudly, carrying the energetic voices of the DAP candidates into my room. With the General Election sneaking closer and closer, political parties are dispensing their candidates out on the campaign trails.

I have never attended any political speeches before, so I did not want to let this opportunity fly by. The DAP has erected their canopies at my backyard with chairs and has built a raised platform so we could have a better view of their candidates. But no food and drinks.

The field was, of course, already crowded when I reached it. The two lamp posts at the basketball court and several white florescence lamps have kept the place well lit. It was raining. The enthusiastic crowd defied the cold, wet weather by sheltering under umbrellas.

There I was standing in the shadows, absorbing the speeches. From time to time the supportive audience cheered unisonly in agreement and approval.

The Barisan National held their campaign speech in another section of USJ. It is a distance away. Anyway, it is boring to listen to their chattering. They made so many pledges, promised too many dreams that I hope they can remember later what came out of their mouths. The opposition parties are just as good with their visions to exercise changes to the current system.

We are hungry for security, peace and prosperity. The nation is already fed up with the endless price hikes, increased crimes, dishonest politicians, corrupted public servants and extravagant government officials. In fact, this is the best time to ask for changes from the ruling party.

But politicians are professionals with their words. After the election, their answer to your requests will be “He promised you that? But he is already out and I am here in office, I did not promise you anything”. There you go, the occupant of that particular office may have promised you the moon but the new one replacing him has his own checklist to fulfill.

When the pendulum struck 12 midnight, the party ended. And off we went our separate ways, home for a good night sleep.

The DAP can share their views with us, but when we wake up tomorrow, the Barisan National will still win in Subang Jaya. No way the DAP can rocket into Subang Jaya and setup their launching pad here. If they do, we will be cruising on gravel roads.

We still prefer to allow our MPSJ brothers to swallow our assessments and parking fees. Oops, I will retract my words. We are just sharing our hard-earned income with the needy.