Tuesday, September 29, 2009

New Boston Restaurant

It has been a while I did not post anything on food. I like food the way I like to breath. I have been accused, blamed, and convicted in many occasions that the main reason why Mona is fighting hard with her weight problem (and without any success thus far loh...) is because I have been over-nourishing (in other word, fattening) her with food. Food after food and after food and after food...

While I give no hoot about the accusation, I continued to fatten her on last week's Sunday while we were in Klang. We arrived at our favourite place late - New Boston Restaurant - and we paid the price of having to wait for like more that an hour or so for our food. Funny thing about this place is that it is a traditional Chinese restaurant but with a very unconventional name. It is located at the Klang City area, next to Wisma Lembaga Tabung Haji, opposite Eon Bank and Kamdar, and near to Shaw Parade.

With the major upgrading road works going on at the Klang City area now, we lost our direction and took a while to find ourselves in New Boston. Boy oh boy, look at the crowd.

The tables were all over the place - at the walkways, at the whatever open space available - which is quite a common sight at New Boston. I would suggest if you want to give this place a try. Reach there before 6pm. Just nice for you and your friends who don't like to wait.

As we arrived late, we were standing outside the restaurant joining the 'late crowd'. I took these photos just to show you how crowded the place was. It was Sunday but I understand that the crowd is huge too on weekdays.









We got our table after about half and hour later. I was thinking that the food would come reasonably fast but I was wrong. Me and Mona were staring at the empty table and each other for like an hour.

I am glad that it did not rain otherwise our eating mood would definitely be ruined sitting out in the open space.

I am just going to say that the best tasting la la (clams) that I have tried so far has to be here in New Boston. It is a die-die-also-must-order dish every time we eat here.

The steamed clams in supreme soup, I hope I call it right, has sliced chilies, ginger strips, and fried garlic cover all over it and cook to perfection.

The clams are average in size but very fresh. The soup is just superb! I wanted more (so did Mona) and ordered second round after finish the first one. The price is about RM18.00 (small) which is good for two persons. You will find that each table has this dish.

We also ordered the cabbage with dried shrimps. Stir-fried and less oil. Like the vegetable as it was still crunchy after cooking.

Grilled prawn in don't-know-what-d0-you-call-it sauce. A bit sweet to my liking but the prawn is big, fresh and juicy. I ate 80% of it. Yummy!

One of the dishes that you should not miss is tapioca noodle. The tapioca noodle isn't taste very much like the average noodle. I heard from a friend that it doesn't have any taste at all but if you cook it right. It is tasty. It has a very boucy texture when you bite it. It is cooked in HokKein style with, you know, blackish sauce. You are going to like it, seriously!

This is nestum mantis prawn. Mona's favourite dish. She ate 80%
of it.

Overall, we were charged RM89.00 for two persons. A bit expensive but the prawn is really big that could be easily charged at RM40 to RM50 per dish in other restaurant.

Despite the long wait, I am coming back for more as I am being treated like a customer here. I don't mind the wait if the restaurant operators treat me reasonably like a customer and the food tastes superb.

The only complaint is that the toilet should be cleaned frequently and the patron should have the courtesy to flush after use!

Friday, September 25, 2009

I Can't Wait To...

I can't wait to move out...

























I can't wait to move in...















I can't wait to see the culprits being thrown into jails over this...

























And many more...

I can't wait to kick some sense into these guys...





































And I can only dream that this guy talk the talk and walk the walk... and wake up quickly with his silly F1 dream...
















And I can't wait to kick them good when the next General Election comes!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Crappy Movies

I was a movie buff. I like movies a lot in my younger years to a point I though I was in serious addiction problem and I can’t wait to catch a movie / movies each and every week without fail. If I did not catch a movie, that particular week would be quite miserable for me – like something is missing. Whether going to a movie alone or with friends I just totally enjoy it. At one time, I even think that what would life be without movies and music.

What I used to like about movies is its core entertainment and senses-stimulation values: The graphic effects, the booming and crispy sound, the punch-to-punch-and-kick-to-kick, the chase (after bad guys or after girls), the laughs, the suspense, the big names, the big budget production, the screamers, the shockers, and basically, the Hollywood type of movie.

So over the years, I have watched a lot of movies that I like and movie that make me feel like bitch-slapping the producers. Today, I would like to talk about movies that are senseless and pointless to me, especially the one produced by Hollywood. Movie that you sit through and wish that you were never born to subject to this torture. Feel free to disagree with me, I find more and more bad movies nowadays compared to many many years before.

With the advancement and sophistication of technology, backed by a large pool of highly skilled professional movie workers, you would have though that Hollywood, being the best movie producer in the world, has what it takes to provide movie buff with reasonably good movies. That’s partly right. They fill us with rubbish movies as well.

There are bad movies everywhere but I could not remember their names but just talk about recent ones I can give you two: Don’t mess with Zohan (DMWZ), and Step Brothers (SB).

Well, what can I say about these two movies. You can sit me through the C-class horror movies or oldies or movies that just talking, talking, and talking and I will survive till the end of the movie. That’s show just how good my tolerance level. But my opinion of DMWZ is one word: Anger. I never felt as such about a movie. The movie was such a total insult to your intelligence and it is totally devoid of anything good. The fact that it was shown in Malaysia was such a mystery to me? Is the movie distributor out of their mind by bringing in such a low class movie which is full of… well… shit, shit, and more shit and very very low class jokes which are anything but funny. I was shocked to find that Adam Sandler actually produced the movie and needless to say, I have banned all Adam Sandler future movies from my to-watch list. The only movie makes me sick to stomach and really feel like throwing a chair to the screen – this is the one!

If my memory serves me right, the parents were furious and objected the screening of the movie because of the profanities and offensive contents which is unsuitable to our children. I totally understand why so.

As luck would have it, I was watching Step Brothers (SB) yesterday and as much as I think Will Ferrel is one of the funniest comedians in tinseltown and how he made me laugh with the movies like The Producers (What a brilliant movie!), but he failed miserably with SB and I could not fathom why was this movie produced at all and yes, he is one of the producers of the movie. Poor script, lame storyline, lousy and retard jokes and damn! It is just about two 40 something adults behaved like 5 years-old in the entire movies.

Okay, I feel more and more crappy now talking about crappy movies? What’s your crappy movie?

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Genesis - No Son Of Mine

I have been introducing some old songs in my blog. The thing about these songs is that at some point of my life, they brings different meaning to me. At the personal level, these songs are highly pleasurable and memorable to me: they are catchy, well-written, and kinda my type of music and most importantly, they connect me with past events whenever I listen to them.

The younger generation would not know who is Genesis and the great songs that they had produced over the years. When I first discovered Genesis was the time that I know that Phil Collins actually works in a band as well besides his highly successful career as a sole artist. Anyway, I think he is a great song composer who has great talent in telling stories and deliver powerful messages through his songs.

Anyway, this song is about broken relationship in the family. Fabulous song! I remembered I bought this cassette twice, after the first one broken and I can't get enough of the songs. I kept on listening to the this song days after days...


NO SON OF MINE
By Genesis

Well the key to my survival
Was never in much doubt
The question was how I could keep sane
Trying to find a way out

Things were never easy for me
Peace of mind was hard to find
And I needed a place where I could hide
Somewhere I could call mine

I didn't think much about it
Til it started happening all the time
Soon I was living with the fear everyday
Of what might happen that night

I couldn't stand to hear the
Crying of my mother
And I remember when
I swore that, that would be the
Last they'd see of me
And I never went home again

They say that time is a healer
And now my wounds are not the same
I rang the bell with my heart in my mouth
I had to hear what he'd say

He sat me down to talk to me
He looked me straight in the eyes

He said:

You're no son, you're no son of mine
You're no son, you're no son of mine
You walked out, you left us behind
And you're no son, no son of mine

Oh, his words how they hurt me, I'll never forget it
And as the time, it went by, I lived to regret it

You're no son, you're no son of mine
But where should I go
And what should I do
You're no son, you're no son of mine
But I came here for help, oh I came here for you

Well the years they passed so slowly
I thought about him everyday
What would I do, if we passed on the street
Would I keep running away

In and out of hiding places
Soon I'd have to face the facts
We have to sit down and talk it over
And that would mean going back

They say that time is a healer
And now my wounds are not the same
I rang that bell with my heart in my mouth
I had to hear what he'd say

He sat me down to talk to me
He looked me straight in the eyes

He said:

You're no son, you're no son of mine
You're no son, you're no son of mine
When you walked out, you left us behind
And you're no son, you're no son of mine

Oh, his words how they hurt me, I'll never forget it
And as the time, it went by, I lived to regret it

You're no son, you're no son of mine
But where should I go and what should I do
You're no son, you're no son of mine
But I came here for help, oh I was looking for you
You're no son, you're no son of mine - oh
You're no son - ha yeah, ha yeah, ha yeah, ha yeah
You're no son, you're no son of mine - oh, oh...

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Sheryl Crow - Hard To Make A Stand

It is always a pleasure to listen to Sheryl Crow's songs. She is one hell of the songwriter and multi-talented. She is the testimonial to I-am-blonde-but-I-ain't-Bimbo. Her 1st and 2nd albums are so enjoyable and meaningful in comparison to the music that is sluttish, noisy, and shallow nowadays. Where artist has to dress less, expose bobbies, and act childish to get attention, she is standing there, playing her guitar and give us good entertainment with her songs.

Look at her video here. Don't you think she is a strong contender to hair shampoo commercial? See how her hair flies in the air when she swings to the music. Cool eh? Gess, I guess I really like her.



HARD TO MAKE A STAND
By Sheryl Crow

Old james dean monroe
Hands out flowers at the shop-n-go
Hopes for money but all he gets is fear
And the wind blows up his coat
And this he scribbles on a perfume note
If Im not here, then you're not here
And he says
Call me miscreation,
I am a walking celebration

And it's hard to make a stand
And it's hard to make a stand
Its hard to make a stand
Its hard to make a stand

My friend, o lawdy
Went to take care of her body
And she got shot down in the road
She looked up before she went
Said, this isn't really what I meant
And the daily news said, two with one stone
And I say
Hey there, miscreation
Bring a flower, time is wasting

Chorus

Yes it is

We got loud guitars and big suspicions
Great big guns and small ambitions
And we still argue over who is god
And I say
Hey there, miscreation
Bring a flower, time is wasting
I say
Hey there, miscreation
We all need a revelation

Friday, September 18, 2009

Who Is The Loser?

Mr Samy is an abandoned man. A used and dirty condom you may infer and yes, not a good,quality condom. At this time and age, his era is very much over and dead. People despite him. People boo him. People need fresh blood into the party to bring about positive changes but he clings on to the job until his burial day (That's seems to be his plan). Using the same reference, a used condom is to be discarded after use but this condom clings on to the skin and it wants to become the skin!

Well. You should have known by now that this clown is successful in killing the most influential Indian political party in Malaysia by retaining his power in the party.

Apparently, the former boss of Samy wasn't in the conglatulatory mood over the matter and harshly accused Mr Samy with twisted logic that he is the fault of Barisan National's humiliating loss in last General Election. As entertaining as he always is, Mr Samy farted loudly at his former boss with "Master of destroying deputies'" and etc only this time, he found a gang who is eager to pleased him in agreement with him and the gang exclaimed "Let's offer Old Man with a garland of slipper he is so deserved" with his fist raised high.

That was the cue where the movie was starting to get really interesting and exciting. I, for one, was ready with a big bag of popcorn on my side, sitting comfortably inside the cinema, watching and wondering how the story was going to end.

As the story unfolded, more and more people come in and say well well well, this is one rude Garland Man. He should not say this thing to our beloved Old Man who has nothing better to do with his retirement but spending a lot of time stirring uneasy emotions here and there for his own entertainment. The commotion kicked in anyhow and just as things getting more and more edgier, Mr Samy pointed to the garland man and said "You are suspended! The Old Man is a great man like my father!"

The Garland Man was perplexed but regained his composure quickly and started to kowtow east, west, south, north and all directions and look like a sorry ass. "I am an ass! I say sorry to old man. I wasn't thinking right when I said that. Ohhh, forgive me." Of course, deep inside his heart, he was cursing like hell. I was just defending this asshxle. Well, his time will come.

That was the sign that this movie would be disastrous with such an anti-climax storyline... and fail miserably in box office as I predict.

Truth enough, Mr Samy was dailing Old Man's office number for an appointment to offer a personal apology to him. Old man wasn't in the office. He was in a restaurant talking to reporter about the incident. Acted cool and all he said "I am not hurt a bit. Not at all when Mr Samy and Garland Man are both irrelevant to me. They use banana leafs but I use hand to scoop up food. I am all hurt when the other use-hand-to-scoop-food fellows condemned me earlier. That's when I am hurt most." Immediately, the bold guy sitting behind old man by the name Nazri looked up at old man...

At this juncture, I picked up the bag of poporn and moved toward the exit door.

"Hey, where do you think you are going? The movie is still on." My friend who seated next to me ask.

"I am leaving. I already know the outcome of the movie. Who do you think is the biggest loser?"

He grined "Mr Samy and Garland man?"

"All of them are losers. Mr Samy is a big ass for there is someone stand up for him but instead of appreciation, he turned his back on him and condemned him. He even want to apologize on behalf of that guy. Mr Samy is the loser of himself. Becuase even if he wants to, his apology and all that he said did not matter to Old Man. You get what I mean? At the end of the day, he is a fool like he always is." I said to my friend.

"What do you reckon the Garland Man?" He asked again.

"What do you call the loser that defends another loser?" I grined.

"The double-loser? Ha ha. What about the Old Man?"

"What do you call the loser that appointed a loser as a minister for a good 22 years?"

"Master of all losers." My friend quipped.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Are You The Crappy Driver?

Does it spoil your day when someone does something to his / her convenience but ignore yours?

The fact is that the story I am going to relate to you did not happen to me but being the third party, I can feel the agitation and anger of the victims.

So here is the story…

At 6.40pm, I was approaching home after work and about 50 meter right outside my house, I spotted two Intrakota buses and a police car parked right at the middle of the road and some people encircled the road. Just as I though it could be an accident or something, it wasn’t.

I parked my car, went up to my room and observed the situation from the balcony and my housemate was already there telling me that a stupid inconsiderate driver had parked his car where it should not parked and caused the massive traffic jam at LRT Station.

There were people wanted to go home as soon as possible but stuck in the bus. There were people needed to be at home cooking meals for their loved ones but stuck in the bus. There were people wanted to break fast after whole day fasting but could not do so because the bus couldn’t move at all. Look at the photo below.









As you can see, the Proton Gen II in silver grey colour was parking at the road side where it blocked the Intrakota bus (behind Proton Gen II) from going out. Take note that it is a one-way road going up a slope and the width of the road is just nice for a bus to go through giving its long body.

The police car was there to wait for the driver and serve him good with a traffic summon.

It beats me to think that why would the driver park his car there at all at the first place? Doesn’t he any common sense that a bus would not be able to pass by with his car occupying part of the road? It is pretty obvious to any road user but there you have it, a selfish driver thinking only of his convenience.

At the first place, he could have parked his car at the parking space provided by LRT station with a small charge. But he didn’t. I always wonder, if you can’t afford the small parking charge why bother to have a car or to drive a car? If he has to park his car at that very spot due to emergency, he should have left a note and mobile number to call. Be considerate! That’s all.

The driver was no-show up to 7.40pm The public was getting really annoyed and decided to move his car to the left side of the road by manual force to make more room for the bus. Then the bus tried it was successful. I was glad that the passengers could go home finally.

Of course, a traffic summon was served and a small note (with nasty words courtesy of one of the irate passengers I supposed) was attached to the car wiper.

I got an update from my housemate that the culprit did show up at about 11pm to retrieve his car and he was immediately confronted by the LRT station worker for his ignorant way of parking that had caused all the troubles.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

To Indonesia With Love

Gess, I never know that we - Malaysian - could be so hatable in the eyes of Indonesians! I read in the Malay Mail couple of days ago with total shock that there is a 'We Hate Malaysian' group in Facebook with a whopping 400,000 members! In addition, the anti-malaysian sentiment is on the rise in Jakarta all because of a Balinese dance was put in a Visit Malaysia video. So the Indonesians are all worked up because we have stolen their national dance. It was not known how the dance was ended up / featured in a Malaysia video but I was thinking that you can't expect much from a group of scambugs or barbarians who went on senseless killings, rapings, robbings and did all the god-forbidden acts on its citizens in 1998. Leopard can't change its spots, as the saying goes.

Of course, I don't mean all the Indonesians are scumbags/barbarians in my statement above. There are Indonesians (Most of them I mean) who are well-educated, behaved, enlighten, courteous and friendly toward Malaysians and the statement is not directed at them.

Now, where is this going to go? They hate us and we hate them back? To those Malaysians out there, we should start treating our Indonesian friends with more respect, right?

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Sheryl Crow - A Change Would Do You Good

Old song of Sheryl Crow that I like so much. I don't know about you but for a lady who writes, sings and plays guitar brilliantly, I am pretty happy listening to her songs.



A CHANGE WOULD DO YOU GOOD

By Sheryl Crow

Ten years living in a paper bag
Feedback baby, he's a flipped out cat
He's a platinum canary, drinkin' falstaff beer
Mercedes rule, and a rented lear
Bottom feeder insincere
Prophet lo-fi pioneer
Sell the house and go to school
Get a young girlfriend, daddy's jewel

A change would do you good
A change would do you good

God's little gift is on the rag
Poster girl posing in a fashion mag
Canine, feline, Jekyll and Hyde
Wear your fake fur on the inside
Queen of south beach, aging blues
Dinner's at six, wear your cement shoes
I thought you were singing your heart out to me
Your lips were syncing and now I see

A change would do you good
A change would do you good

Chasing dragons with plastic swords
Jack off Jimmy, everybody wants more
Scully and angel on the kitchen floor
And I'm calling Buddy on the ouija board
I've been thinking 'bout catching a train
Leave my phone machine by the radar range
Hello it's me, I'm not at home
If you'd like to reach me, leave me alone

A change would do you good
A change would do you good

Hello, it's me, I'm not at home
If you'd like to reach me, leave me alone

A change would do you good
A change would do you good

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Sinking Ship

Have you been reading news? Well, the hottest news in recent days are the power tussle between two MCA heads over who should helm the second largest political party in Malaysia - Malaysia Chinese Association. Ong determined to assassinate the political career of Chua once and for all while Chua on the other hand working hard to submerge / overturn the MCA ship of Captain Ong.

I have a friend from Singapore recently and she asked me about the political situations in Malaysia. Let's just say she is 'someone'.

Someone: Which side are you or rather who do you believe should helm the MCA and has the ability to lead MCA out of its misery existence and bring about positive changes?

Me: Ong and Chai can go F each other upside down I don't care and basically they are useless as a leader.

Someone: Wow, such a strong comment. So you are not taking side and you think their leadership is pointless for MCA. Anyone else in the party that you think can hold the MCA ship after Ong and Chua are both out of picture?

Me: No, none of the monkeys. Can you trust monkeys to stir the ship? When I say monkey I mean those high ranking monkeys with ministerial posts and state-heads and those who made regular headlines in the news. I am sure there are capable ones in MCA but I don't know them. At the moment, I think the party is doomed at the way things go.

Someone: Well, if you put it that way. What is MCA means to you anyway? I mean you don't seem to trust the second largest political power party can make any difference? We are talking about a party with millions of members.

Me: MCA is like a ship going against wind. It does not go the direction where the river wants it to go. Or put it simply, it is irrelevant.
Someone: Like how?

Me: Like the party does not serve the purpose of its very existence. There have been whole loads of issue needed to be addressed which they were entrusted to deal with but instead of voicing out, seeking solutions, it choose to play down the issue in order to please you-know-who. Like the party fails to see the importance of bringing changes that really matter not only to the Chinese but for the Malaysia as a whole. Like the party is run by individuals who prioritize their own agendas. Like there is always in-fighting going on to the detrimental of party unity. Like the are opportunists who made to the rank. Like, there are just many.

Someone: Doesn't that make you sad that your own party is irrelevant?

Me: Party? Me? MCA? Hell no! I am not the party member. I would not.

Someone: Oh I am sorry, I though you are one of the members. No wonder you see MCA so negatively.

Me: Well, not being MCA member does not mean that I look and think MCA negatively. In fact, there were great leaders in the early days and great contributions. However, the integrity and objectives of the party eroded over the years. It is now become Self-Serving Party, to whoever that helms MCA.

Someone: Are you concern as a Chinese that the party representing Chinese in Malaysia is... well, not in pretty good shape now? Losing MCA is like loosing Chinese political voice.

Me: Well, I though we have lost that 'political voice' long time ago. Ha, you got to know me better! Being born into the race of Chinese and in the land called Malaysia does not mean that my interest as a Chines is everything that is far more important that others races'. Come on. The world today isn't just about what race you are! The idea of race is becoming irrelevant. I mean we are Malaysian don't we? MCA represents a very narrow perspective of the world. I begin to think that race-based political parties are beginning to losing its significant now. Not entirely now but it will as the time passes. The parties principles are so self-serving, selfish and irrelevant to the unity and progress of Malaysia as a whole. It disintegrates / divides / and exist to create society disharmony at best. I prefer to be known as Malaysian. Drop that 'Chinese' from Malaysian Chinese. By the way, the concept of race-based party is so outdated. To break racial barrier and bring progress, the race-based has to be phased out. Start educating ourselves and our children in accepting and understanding the differences and love the country as one.

Someone: Well, you got your point there. But I think it is too idealistic. It can't be one-sided. It has to be consensus.

Me: True. It takes time. Idealistic it may sound but it can be a reality and consensus it taking place and shape slowly and steadily. I think the general Malaysian are seeing and knowing where they want to go in future and BN and gangs don't fit into the picture. We (rakyat) are much more matured now. There is this friend of mine says that I am overly optimistic about my believe. Well, it has to start somewhere and being upbeat is absolutely necessary.

Someone: Ha ha. Don't we agree that all dreams start with optimism. What is your prediction of MCA's future?

Me: Seriously, I think the party is doomed and I don't care. Unless it makes the changes which I just don't see that possibility... yet.

Someone: Well, somehow I think MCA can still make a difference in the politic science here. I don't know how but like you... optimism I guess.

Me: There is no cure to everything. But have it your way.

Someone: By the way, who is your favourite politician in MCA?

Me: There are many. Chow Mei Fen is on the top of my list.

Someone: Well, well, you do have a favourite in MCA after all.

Me: Yeah, she is my favourite clowns in MCA and I don't mean that a compliment, obviously.

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Vanessa Williams - Colours Of The Wind

This has always been the song the I love so much.



COLOURS OF THE WIND
By Vanessa Williams

You think you own whatever land you land on
The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name
You think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You'll learn things you never knew, you never knew

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain
Can you paint with all the colours of the wind
Can you paint with all the colours of the wind

Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest
Come taste the sun sweet berries of the Earth
Come roll in all the riches all around you
And for once, never wonder what they're worth
The rainstorm and the river are my brothers
The heron and the otter and my friends
And we are all connected to each other
In a circle, in a hoop that never ends

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Or let the eagle tell you where he's been
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain
Can you paint with all the colours of the wind
Can you paint with all the colours of the wind

How high does the sycamore grow
If you cut it down
Then you'll never know

And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
For whether we are white or copper skinned
We need to sing with all the voices of the mountain
We need to paint with all the colours of the wind

You can own the earth and still
All you own is Earth until
You can paint with all the colours of the wind

Sunday, September 06, 2009

Slovak Sling



Well well well, like this short movie!

MCMC, Obviouly Your Mind Is On MC

I hate to read that Malaysiakini has been ordered to take off two controversial videos which according to the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) that "the videos contain offensive contents with the intent to annoy any person, especially Indians”.

If you must know, MCMC, the people got offended aren't just Indian, but Chinese and Malay as well. In fact, the people are not offended by the videos but it is saddening and sickening to the very core of human soul that a small group of unsophisticated Malaysian could be so barbaric and insensitive in the way it choose to voice out its opinions. Obviously, years of reading kitab and practicing religion did not help to enlighten their minds. Creating the racial disharmony with its ever so childish behaviours. That includes the idiotic minister who is responsible for country security. His miserable attempt to play down the issue through righting what is obviously a wrong to the public is just plain stupid and pathetic! An adult body but three-year old mentality.

Well, then again, it is just another underhand political tactic play up for politic gains.

Now, instead of taking actions against offenders, you aim at putting blame on the party who reports the truth by excuse that is unbelievably lame. Obviously another one of your tactics to cloud the judgment of People who have not been enlightened.

Malaysiakini, don't back down. I support you! Those videos need not be removed! What needs to be removed badly are these two clowns: Rais Yatim and Hishamuddin.

Friday, September 04, 2009

Scratch And Win Scams

I would like to share with you what I have heard recently about a victim of scratch-and-win scam which, if you have been following news closely, the scam is nothing new in our country as it is quite common nowadays. We have news that people were schemed, cheated, and duped and by the time they know it, it is too late. Anyway, I hope you all out there be extra careful when approached by strangers. The thing is while under normal circumstances, we all thought it would be unlikely one would be fallen prey - can you believe those prizes come as easy as just scratch and you win! 100% win all the time. But many have been fallen prey and it makes you ask - Why? How come? How could this happen? Is Malaysian generally gullible? The scam has been around for 15 years! It is the greedy nature of human or there is something else that makes the scheme so ‘successful’?


The victim was a young female friend. She was making her way to Pudu Raya to take a bus to hometown. While on her way, she was stopped by two strangers – Chinese, male – and she was presented with scratch-and-win coupon. One guy was cajoling her into scratching the coupon while the other was standing behind her. She scratched and she won and then the coaxing continued to the extent that she finally convinced that she did win something special. In order to claim the prizes, she followed one of the young guys to his office by taxi. The office is located in Old Klang road Kuchai Lama.


She was brought to the office and there are two office staff – one male and one female – waiting for her and she was being cajoled into signing an agreement with the company of which she has to pay RM5,600 advertising fees in exchange for the prizes that she won. To cut the story short, she did what most people would think they would not do - She signed it.


She did not carry much cash with her at that time so they conveniently suggested to her that there is an ATM machine downstairs. Now, you have to understand that we are talking about a young female person who do not spend money unnecessarily and has a long history of saving all her hard-earned money into bank account. A young female person who is not naïve with her young age and who has been taught not to trust complete strangers. She followed a young guy to downstairs to ATM machine. Withdrawn RM4,000 from her bank account and in the process, shown the young guy her account balance and tell the young guy that this is the maximum that she can withdrawn because of the daily withdrawal limit. She wanted to call her sister to get the balance RM1,600 but the young guy conveniently told her that that is no need to trouble your sister and he would pay for her the RM1,600. I am so damn sure this young fellow will go to heaven for his 'good' deed.


While in the office, she was told to pay RM80 transport charges for the prizes to be delivered to the designated address. She paid it. At the same time, the young man who was standing behind her when she was approached in Pudu Raya asked her for an Ang Pow for such good luck he has brought her. She gave him RM50.00 and then another RM50 as the first RM50 was not enough according to that young guy.


She was promised that the prizes would be delivered but a copy of signed agreement was not even given to her. When this was done, a young guy accompanied her to downstairs and got her a cab. While she was in the taxi on the way from Kuchai Lama to Pudu Raya, she regained her consciousness and knew there and then that something was not right. She called her brother-in-law and asked for help and then she called her sister.


She made a u-turn to the Kuchai Lama office and waited for her brother-in-law and sister to arrive.


Again, to cut the story short, they managed to get a copy of the agreement and there was argument ensued on dubious contents of the agreement signed and et cetera… the thing is, the scammers that they were dealing are no average human being. In the best interest of personal safety, they left the office without any success in recovering the RM4,000 from the scammers. It is believed that these scammers have backup nearby and they are not the type of people that we want to mess up with.


It puzzles me to think that how easy one can be fallen prey to something that obviously a scam but then I realized that these victims are not fully conscious or not in the right frame of mind as the incident unfolds right before them. They know what is happening – who they meet, that they are signing an agreement and giving out money to a stranger – but yet they easily comply with the requests of the stranger. Somebody says it is the greediness and black magic or jumpi that make the scam works. Something must have been ‘done’ to the victim to confuse judgment but yet not totally in confusion.


I don’t know how it works but I am sharing this story with you so that you are alert whenever come into contact with strangers, lucky draw, scratch-and-win, and whatever scams that you may come across. You may not believe in spell, jumpi or whatever we call it but it does not hurt you a bit to avoid strangers as much as possible so that you are not ‘spelled’.


Google the term scratch and win scam, you will find stories of victim and the modus operandi of the scam. Let us be wise and be alert. Don’t be too sure that you can outsmart those scammers easily. Well, there have been victims from professions that you think would not be easily fooled and coned.


If you are wondering what happened to the girl. Police report was made and complaint lodged with tribunal (Kementerian Hal-Ehwal Pengguna). According to my research in the internet, good chance you can get back the money through tribunal. I hope the girl would get back her hard-earned money at the end of the day.


On the other hand, why do you think that scratch-and-win scams can never be eradicated from Malaysia? What have the law enforcement teams done in this aspect? Don’t just alert the public through news! Do you jobs!


To those scammers out there, there is such thing called bad karma. Let the bad karma be fallen on you!