(For all who read this, kindly share with your friends.You can forward/share this article using the email or share buttons at the end of this entry)
Note: This posting also appears in the Star 29 Jul 2010 (under Views- Letters to the Editor titled "Lucky escape for carjacked sisters")
Today’s newspapers carry another familiar story. Parents of Siti Haida, 6 and Nurul Fatin Farhana Dzulkafli, 17, left them in their unlocked car with the engine running when they stopped briefly to enter a photo shop in Perak. They did not see any danger in doing so.
But soon they realized that was a very big mistake. Three robbers jumped in the car and drove away with the sisters.
It was fortunate that the kids were left unharmed two hours later in a secluded spot some 20 km away, and it was also fortunate that they met a kind man who took them to the police station. It could have been much worse. It could have been a real tragedy the parents will never recover from, and they will blame themselves for the rest of their lives.
Definitely this was not the first incident of its kind. It happened numerous times before. What shocks me is that people just don’t seem to learn. Maybe we always think that it can only happen to someone else, not us.
I always make sure my kids lock the door when I leave them in the car, even when the engine is not running. I just won’t leave the car until they lock it and I test the door. If it is a short stop, I will not leave the engine running and take the key with me. I keep telling my wife to do the same thing every time she drives them, at any location, no matter how safe it looks, no matter how short she stops. It is really not hard to do, and it is much better than to feel sorry later.
Nobody can tell, but I might have actually prevented a similar incident from happening to my family.
And I always tell myself that if a tragedy can happen, it will happen one day if you don’t take precautions. Precautions are like an insurance; it is better to have it when you don’t seem to need it, than not to have it when you need it.
By the way, the father, Major Dzulkafli Ahmad, is the deputy commandant at the Armed Forces staff college in KL.
He should have known better.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sales and free gifts
I just hate this! Now the 'sales' season has started... I hate it not because I know my wife will be spending a fortune, but I hate the fact that people in Malaysia seem to use the word sales wrongly...
What is a sale actually? A sale is the pinnacle activity in the selling of products or services in return for money or other type of compensation. That's all. Somebody sells a product or service, somebody buys it, money changed hand...that's a sale, as simple as that.
But around us, 'sales' mean discounted prices. Then what do you call it when you buy something at its original price?
Another one which frequently annoys me is 'free gift'. Often promotion items come will another item to attract the buyers. They call this a free gift. But hey, aren't all gifts are supposed to be free? Why call a gift if it is not free? Irony isn't it?
By the way, next time you buy something with a 'free gift', compare it with the price of the same item without the gift. Chances are you will find the price is higher for the one with the 'free gift'. It is not free after all!
What is a sale actually? A sale is the pinnacle activity in the selling of products or services in return for money or other type of compensation. That's all. Somebody sells a product or service, somebody buys it, money changed hand...that's a sale, as simple as that.
But around us, 'sales' mean discounted prices. Then what do you call it when you buy something at its original price?
Another one which frequently annoys me is 'free gift'. Often promotion items come will another item to attract the buyers. They call this a free gift. But hey, aren't all gifts are supposed to be free? Why call a gift if it is not free? Irony isn't it?
By the way, next time you buy something with a 'free gift', compare it with the price of the same item without the gift. Chances are you will find the price is higher for the one with the 'free gift'. It is not free after all!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Give parents access to ministry
(My letter in the Star today)
Sunday July 25, 2010
Give parents access to ministry
I REFER to the letter “Why must schools collect special fee?” (The Star, July 21).
It is indeed true that schools collect yuran khas and many other fees from time to time. These fees are for special books and activities throughout the year, some without receipts.
The amount collected each time might not be very high, from RM5 to RM15. But imagine this happening several times a year when you have more than one school-going child.
As the writer mentioned, this was supposed to be scrapped but it is still happening.
Another issue I want to point out is the requirement for parents’ income details.
Despite assurances from the Education Ministry that it was not compulsory for parents to provide income details if they were not applying for education aids, some schools still insist on getting the parents’ salary slips at the beginning of every year.
The reason given is that they are unable to complete the computerised updating of students’ profile if this information is not filled.
Parents raise these issues in PIBG meetings, but still no action is taken. What other choice do parents have than to write to newspapers?
I suggest that the Ministry set up a system where parents can lodge their complaints or suggestions. This would make it easier for the Ministry to understand the grievances of the parents, students and teachers as well.
A HASHIM,
Sungai Petani.
Sunday July 25, 2010
Give parents access to ministry
I REFER to the letter “Why must schools collect special fee?” (The Star, July 21).
It is indeed true that schools collect yuran khas and many other fees from time to time. These fees are for special books and activities throughout the year, some without receipts.
The amount collected each time might not be very high, from RM5 to RM15. But imagine this happening several times a year when you have more than one school-going child.
As the writer mentioned, this was supposed to be scrapped but it is still happening.
Another issue I want to point out is the requirement for parents’ income details.
Despite assurances from the Education Ministry that it was not compulsory for parents to provide income details if they were not applying for education aids, some schools still insist on getting the parents’ salary slips at the beginning of every year.
The reason given is that they are unable to complete the computerised updating of students’ profile if this information is not filled.
Parents raise these issues in PIBG meetings, but still no action is taken. What other choice do parents have than to write to newspapers?
I suggest that the Ministry set up a system where parents can lodge their complaints or suggestions. This would make it easier for the Ministry to understand the grievances of the parents, students and teachers as well.
A HASHIM,
Sungai Petani.
Why do women love cats?
I have never understood why women love cats. Cats are independent, they don't listen, they don't come when you call, they like to stay out all night, and when they are home they like to be left alone or sleep all day or make a mess out of everything. In other words, every quality that women hate in a man, they love in a cat!
Friday, July 23, 2010
The history of the middle finger
With "NO MALICE" to anyone at all...
An interesting fact
The history of the middle finger
I never knew this before, and now that I know it, I feel compelled to send it on to my more intelligent friends in the hope that they, too, will feel edified.
Isn't history more fun when you know something about it?
Before the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, the French, anticipating victory over the English, proposed to cut off the middle finger of all captured English soldiers. Without the middle finger it would be impossible to draw the renowned English longbow and therefore they would be incapable of fighting in the future. This famous English longbow was made of the native English Yew tree, and the act of drawing the longbow was known as 'plucking the yew' (or 'pluck yew').Much to the bewilderment of the French, the English won a major upset and began mocking the French by waving their middle fingers at the defeated French, saying, See, we can still pluck yew! Since 'pluck yew' is rather difficult to say, the difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually changed to a labiodentals fricative F', and thus the words often used in conjunction with the one-finger-salute! It is also because of the pheasant feathers on the arrows used with the longbow that the symbolic gesture is known as 'giving the bird.'
An interesting fact
The history of the middle finger
I never knew this before, and now that I know it, I feel compelled to send it on to my more intelligent friends in the hope that they, too, will feel edified.
Isn't history more fun when you know something about it?
Before the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, the French, anticipating victory over the English, proposed to cut off the middle finger of all captured English soldiers. Without the middle finger it would be impossible to draw the renowned English longbow and therefore they would be incapable of fighting in the future. This famous English longbow was made of the native English Yew tree, and the act of drawing the longbow was known as 'plucking the yew' (or 'pluck yew').Much to the bewilderment of the French, the English won a major upset and began mocking the French by waving their middle fingers at the defeated French, saying, See, we can still pluck yew! Since 'pluck yew' is rather difficult to say, the difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually changed to a labiodentals fricative F', and thus the words often used in conjunction with the one-finger-salute! It is also because of the pheasant feathers on the arrows used with the longbow that the symbolic gesture is known as 'giving the bird.'
Boy and Girl
Boy: Do you love me?
Girl: No I don't.
Boy: Are you sure?
Girl: Yes, of course I am sure.
Boy: Waiter, give us two separate bills please.
Girl: Hey, I was just joking!
Girl: No I don't.
Boy: Are you sure?
Girl: Yes, of course I am sure.
Boy: Waiter, give us two separate bills please.
Girl: Hey, I was just joking!
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