Banks the Den of Thieves??

A few days ago i went to the bank to run some errands. It was not the rudimentary type of deposit or withdrawal, and i needed assistance. When i was still standing in front of the numbering machine, still pondering which service i actually need, a staff came across me politely and inquired me if i needed assistance. I smiled and turned my head to her, but then my sweet smile turned to frost.

The first thing that went into my mind was 'Rompak'. Aghast, I took a step back, and had a quick, second look. There, hanging by a lanyard was a button with the words 'Bank Rompak Bonus Kami' inscribed on it.

I thought for a second somebody was approaching me with the intention to rob a bank. I heaved a sigh of relieve when I found that it was not but I couldn't stop revolting on seeing the deceiving smile on the assistant's face. As some of you might know, some banks had recently 'renegotiated' a plan that no longer guarantees 2 month bonus to bank employees. It enables the employers to have a more flexible hand in rewarding the more productive and effectively cut done fixed cost.

I couldn't feel much sorrier for the banks. With the current economy facing the onslaught of recession, they have to put up with the enemy underneath the cover (Musuh Dalam Selimut). Wearing those buttons are totally unprofessional and inconsiderate as their public display of defiance also carries a heavy dose of hypocrisy. One might ask:

If the banks are thieves, why not quit the job all together?
Why work for thieves?
If you work for thieves, doesn't it make you a thief as well?
Does defaming the company which logo you are wearing not defaming you as well?
Does scaring away the customers help the bank to feed your kids better?
If banks are thieves, then who the hell are you if you take your wage and at the same time destroying the image of the one that is paying you?

This is a disease of Malaysia. I'm 100% supportive of them protesting for their rights if and only if they take time off from their job and have a work strike. At least then they come clean and fight with real 'backbones'. I'm disgusted. Seeing bloodsucking Malaysians acting so dignified make me sick!!!

For pictures, see this poor Maybank. This tiger has fleas!

How many zeroes are there in a Trillion?

If

1 million = 1,000,000
1 billion = 1,000,000,000

A trillion wil be = 1,000,000,000,000, with 12 zeroes.

How about Rm4 trillion then? well, I guess, for zeroes, if any, there will only be one - Malaysia.

Last week, my first impression on this case was the lawyers trying to shame the government in a desperate attempt to raise the profile of the backwater Indians. Little did I know they were going for broke.

First of all, kudos to all of them for having such guts to do it. Gathering a 10,000 strong possession is not an easy feat, considering that public awareness and civic mindedness in Malaysia is wanting at best. Perhaps next time, they'll do a much better job agreeing on a time with Keadilan eh?

Photos of the protest on Sunday, 25th November 2007

Pics from Reuters

I pity the Indians. Being the poorest among the 3 majority races (races according to history books) , they are often sidelined and 'overlooked'. Brace yourself that Mr. Sammy might declare it as an 'Act of God'. But really, they couldn't expect him to do any better job, or any other Indian leaders for the matter. No point blaming him for lack of action on issues branded 'taboo' for the last 40 years.

Pic from ChinaDaily

Grabbing international limelight is surely a way to overcome it. I certainly will pimp myself just to know what's going on in the mind of The Honourable Dato' Seri Syed Hamid Albar right now, Malaysia's foreign minister who had just been on BBC HardTalk denying any racial differences and endorsed that each and everybody is contented with the New Economic Policy.

Nevertheless, one wonders how foolish can it be risking the lives of innocents defying the government when at best they could garner only 8% of the population. At best, I would think it is a stalemate.

Surely, a possible outcome is for the government to have an ISA crackdown, much like OPS Lallang, and the issue will be washed away by time.

The other scenario will be for the government to give promises for the Indian community, and

1) Never actually work on the promises
2) Actually work on the promises and:

a) Successfully turn around the fortunes of the Indians.
b) The promises are not kept 5-10 years down the road (Malaysia has 3rd world mentality in maintaining things)
c) The promises were revoked 5-10 years down the road because of rising oil prices

For scenario B, at least MIC will have the opportunity to keep the government in check.
Anyway, I am certain there are other 'happier' options to deliver the message across. I came up with 3.

1) Sue the British Government once in a while, including the families of British leaders in Malaya back then. Keep the limelight focus on the plight of the Indians.

2) Produce more babies and have a bigger say in everything when they reach 30% of the population.

3) Shut-up and learn from the Chinese.

Its all for you to figure it out. Do leave your comments.

HELP Lantern Festial

7th of October 2007 will always be a day to remember, for various reasons.

First of all, it will be an integral part of my record breaking event in which i will be spending 12 straight days in HELP, due complete this coming Friday, hanging out with the same dudes and doing stuffs a little bit more exciting than watching paint dry.

Secondly, dined in the dark, by the drain, with 3 hot chicks and the rain came pouring. (Hope i grabbed the correct fried chicken)

Thirdly, was able to cheat a bed sheet from the guys from Hitz.fm by asking them for the last trading price of HIC.

Fourth, got to run around with Dr. Paul Chan in the rain.

And finally, had a taste of becoming a big time mooncake seller.

All these made true only through HELP Lantern Festival 2007.

It is by far the only charity event that i have mixed feelings. As known, HELP is raising funds to help a particular student, Ms. Chia Leng Yau who suffered from Leukemia. Being at the fore front of charity, AIESEC HELP helped out in the event, by selling mooncakes for HELP Econ department. I reached there bout 5.30p.m., signed my name and worked with Yee Joo to get things going. Commander Tang has for us a truck load of mooncakes from which we should use common sense to squeeze charitable funds out of them. Pretty tall order considered that its dry goods and then mooncake festival has just passed but being who we are, we managed to get a satisfying sum out of the very very short time that we were allowed to paddle in the carpark.

With creativity, we managed to arrange a pretty decent stall out of nothing but 4 rectangular tables. Food were catered to all of us (and AIESECers were beginning to turn up in throngs). There were Digi and its Army and Hitz.FM (where i got THE XL sized shirt). Dr. Paul Chan, Mrs. Chan and Dr. Khong all turned up but what was more satisfying was the appearance of HELP ICT students, students of SEC which was acquired by HELP recently. We are like a one big family now. There was a makeshift stage where varied performances were catered to the euphoric us and we all danced and moved in response to the tunes. There were marshal arts performances, dances, bands, and if I'm not mistaken, an Indian singing Chinese song!

But perhaps, heaven got deeply moved by us that He decided to weep. Light beatings of rain drops and lightnings streaking across the sky signaled the premature end of the event.

Though I must say that it was a little bit of a let down towards the end, it is nevertheless a fun event, held for a good cause. And if I were to turn back time, knowing that it will still rain nonetheless, you will still see me running around like a madman in the rain in the open carpark, with an umbrella perhaps.

Finally getting what i want

I've always have a fetish for uniforms especially those of nurses and young secondary school girls. Its certainly seems that there is a primitive, barbaric urge coming from the deep recesses of my brain, to see, watch and stare those who wear them in full awe and admiration, a feeling that seems to have evolved ever since the time my ancestors walked out of Africa and had, over the ages, entwined into my DNA and now has come back to haunt me.

So to make things short, on my first day of work, unfortunately i saw many repair shop workers wearing their UNIFORMS to work, in full pride and honour, walking in gait that befits kings. And then there i was, i was standing like a pole in a corporate suit, with tie and stuffs getting ready to run the rat race, and looking very pity indeed.

I approached my HR person, asking whether, by a stroke of luck, that i will be able to don it myself one day. It was a courteous reply but one that i sense not to be forthcoming any sooner. And boy was i dead right, it never came.

So as days passed, my misery piled on and on until....one fateful day...

I was turning up for work as usual, on a cool windy morning, the crisp air kept me up. Above me, dark clouds swirl in a menacing way, a sign that a thunderstorm is fast approaching. As illustrated from my earlier blog, the distance from the bus stand to the office is quite far. So with brisk buy steady strides, i started my way to the office.

Halfway through, droplets of rain fell, and i noticed that the wind was blowing the rain clouds faster than expected. I broke in to a jog but alas, if not for the 25km/h speed limit road sign, i wouldn't have reached the office soaked wet, even with an umbrella.

Fate has an uncanny ability to knock on your door when you least expect it, but the HR guy, for some reason came across me on that morning. With sincerity, he offered me a shirt to change. THE UNIFORM!!! Now, I can rightfully claim that i'm a 100% company employee! I suspects that they have a stash of uniforms of different colours hid in a top security safe behind some trap door, and i'm quite determined to get all of them, well at least get one for each of my working day.

Sigh, can't wait for another rainy day...

Section 2

Now its already 5 weeks into my internship and i have practically met everybody in Finance and also in shopfloor. I'm getting quite a name for myself now, and people refers me as the 5000M (metre) man for my heroic effort in completing the event in the company's sports day. How i wish there is a USD in front as in "....the US$5000M boy ah....u know ah...."

The people here is super nice and friendly. I think there is an entry requirement that all employees should also be a qualified Colgate, Darlie model. Everybody I see wears a smile. And some guys are down right cool. Once I was following a colleague of mine to do some inventory check when i was brought forward to meet this particular employee. First question he asked was why am I here. When i tried to explain myself he became critical and accuses me of coming in for the money. I tried to remain holistic but then he chopped my sentence when i was halfway muttering god-knows-what and asked me to show my hand. He then went on to read my palm and made me feel naked. Then, when we continued our main topic he asked for 5 minutes and turned on his surround system in his office in the factory. Out came Rolling Stone's 'Satisfaction'. How cool was that? Sub-Zero.

I find the place a bit freaky though. My finance manager was an engineer before realising that finance was his thing. A colleague under a finance learning program had engineering as his first, business & commerce as his second and then finally doing finance now. Another young fellow currently also in the program plays in Damansara league and had twins. Wife still studies.

There were also lots of learning opportunities for me. As in the first day i have to read up all the company's product and answer questions like how well managed finance can improve Six Sigma those sort of next to impossible questions. There is also a guy name Dai who invited me to his Japanese class and now i know that Japanese is a super cool language. Now at least i know 'Itchy' means one. I'm also encouraged to speak Japanese as much as possible so you'll find me saying I want one pen as 'I want "Itchy" pen' or simply said, “我要一支笔”.

First day at work (1)

Well guys, I've started work on the 4th of June and it has been a 2 week work life for me, for now. I know that I do not have much working experience for a start but it is still bloody difficult for me to describe something so bloody unpredicted as in my first day of work.

So there was me, finally, just 4 days after working my ass off for my semester exam, I woke up and somehow found myself, standing in a dark, spooky morning at an ungodly hour of 5 o'clock, under a lichen-covered lamp post by the road side, its gentle glow shining on nothing but an idiot who stared aimlessly on an eerily empty highway, somehow convinced that lady luck will smile on him and that his bane, a.k.a. RapidKL will take him to the place he wanted to be. And at the very end of the day, it all boils down to the idiot's unwavering beliefs, unbendable will, and sheer determination that got him to his workplace 1 hour earlier than necessary. Enough said.

So looking at the time, I wisely spend my hour reading newspapers and thinking of nothing else but fear. Cometh 7.50 a.m., cometh the man, I approached the guard house, full of faked confidence and faked brimming smile, not realising the complex that I work in is well over 800 meters away. Looking back, I think I'm the only guy on earth that reaches 1 hour early but clock in 15 minutes late.

The whole compound is an SPM site, made up of many complexes. Mine was at the very, very end. The company I work for is GEESM and also has its own security system, so, very mafan la.

I was dressed up like a dude, complete with matching ties and belts + I combed my hair. Quite an unbelieveable feat. As i turned up, i found that i was being accompanied by a few other newbies, but they are contract workers. At the GEESM security checkpoint, i was told to wait for Mr. Z, which i thought was a code name. As i wondered what type of secret agency that i will be working for, Mr. Zach finally came. I was brought to the HR department and given a dress down on the firm's policies. Then, with another 6 contract workers, i was brought to another department for a briefing on safety. From there, i was brought around for a small company tour.

Hi Guys...!

Hi guys, owe you all an apology for abandoning my blog for quite some while, 4 months, to be exact. And within this period, not once have I opened the blog just to see what you guys are putting up coz there will surely be many complaints, which, from the look of the chatterbox, there is. Hey, Crazy Ivan, don't complain so much la. I was watching Heroes all the while.

Things were coming in thick and fast, and still do. I'm always busy managing my other blog, http://aiesechelp.blogspot.com, updating it every 2-3 times a week. I haven't have a weekend break for...the last 4-5 weeks? My mom says that I no longer spend much time for myself and the family anymore and I guess what she said is true. Now I'm supposed to be on holiday but I started work the week after my exams. A shot on the foot, huh?

It is perhaps the most turbulent quarter of my life. The learning curve for me is really steep until I've lost the charming smile on my face （can you imagine that???). I had my grandma passing away days before Chinese New Year and yes, I still miss her, her smile, her laughter, her warm wrinkled hands, her food, or simply the lively, serene sense of comfort that she used to radiate. I never fail to cry when i'm really thinking of her. And not to forget, nearly beaten up one of my 'relatives' for praying and ransacking her 'things' for 4D numbers. I still can't figure out how people can take 'opportunities' from a dead person. Especially when the person is close to you. I wonder what goes through his sicken mind when he was praying for/acting in front of my grandma. Anyhow, 2-3 numbers from the things we burn got 1st prize in 4D.

Besides grieving and learning a thing or two in finance, for the past months I was in hyper mode for my organisation, to forget my grandma or not to disappoint my grandma, I couldn't tell. All I know was that i'm always busy running meetings and meeting dead lines, so called because i'll be dead by the time the date line comes and I've got nothing to show. I have to take care of an induction camp for my society and getting the thing past me now is bout one of the best thing that has ever happened in my life.It was like finally getting married to a girl 18 while you are pushing on 90 that kinda sort of feeling.

Then, after that, I've found that I've neglected my studies. Felt so sorry for my mom and dad, and spend 2 weeks just playing catch up.

Then there is one other camp which I've joined, called EYLN in Bangi. And there are 2 more to come in the coming months of June-July.


Now i've gotten myself a job, working from 8.00 to 5.30 in Subang, I've got even less time to spare.

Looking back, hmm....what are the things that i've achieved for the past few months? Apart from screwing up my exams...nothing much.