Visiting Ku Po

Ku Po is 1 of the oldest relatives I have and I heard she had Alzheimer’s several years back. Or bad case of menopause where she scolded people for nothing, shrieking and having bad mood all the time. She also couldn’t recognize some relatives.

She and I, well, we weren’t exactly chummy. I only go back to my father’s relatives places during Chinese New Year and some years, I rebelled and didn’t go. Actually I don’t care about his family much (except close cousins, aunts & uncles), particularly this Ku Po’s family.

They live in a banglo, has a swimming pool (now totally dried up) and big cars. Bigger egos. However, 1 of the aunt is considered friendly with my mom. Not all of them look down on us. In traditional family rules, the youngsters have to visit the elders. Since she’s the oldest, we have to visit her first. It doesn’t matter if she visits us or not.

Since end of last year, her offsprings around my parents age had sent her to stay in old folks home a few blocks from their home. According to her, they rarely visit her. But according to the visitors list, 1 or 2 of her relatives did drop by recently.

She could only remember my father and grandmother. “Who is this?” She asked my father, her jaw nodding towards me.

I was sitting in a big navy office chair, like the one I sat in the previous IT co. Ooo.. it felt good to actually sit on a office chair! Too bad I wasn’t joining that co again, then. I swirled around on the spot.

My grandmother kept saying, “Aiya.. we are old already. Got so much sickness. Life’s like that lar..” as if she too were neglected. Bah!

I felt it was making Ku Po even more depressed. I mean, come on! You only visit her once in awhile, make it WORTHWHILE. Focus on making her happy than groaning and moaning like you two are going to die.

“Why not you stay here?” Ku Po asked my grandmother (GM).

GM gave a heartfelt sigh, “Aiya.. how to overnight? How do I get home? My son don’t fetch me, I can’t come larr…”

She continued her ranting, “I can’t walk much nowadays. So old already. Leg very painful.”

That’s because she sleeps or watch tv the whole day. The most walk is when she go to the porch to throw rice for the sparrows, exchanging catered food’s tupperware and drying her clothes. She no longer walk out to the shops outside to buy food or lottery.

It’s sad to visit old folks home. Depressing when you see them being left out. Youngsters have their own lives. It’s probably even worse being an old person there.

Surprisingly, Ku Po told us about the other senior staying there, “He’s crazy.” She gestured a circle near her head.

The other senior was quite helpful. When we were looking for the toilet, he pointed the direction to us. Guess he was lonely too..

If your parent didn’t care about you when you were young, would you send them off to old folks home? It’s not that cheap too but does it give you a peace of mind that at least there’s someone to be with her – a maid or volunteer or other senior citizens?

Scams

These get rich quick schemes feed on greed and naivety. Be aware. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. That’s not to say there’s no miracle but just don’t throw yourself into the lion’s cage because you see some glittering gold inside the cage.

Investments

It’s not to say you can’t get rich in investments but there are people and companies who claim they can ensure 100% return for your investments in a short duration (maybe a month?). Then there are those who lure fresh grads and retirees to work for them and require them to dunk in their own savings (as well as close relatives and friends) to invest and make big money (for the company, not themselves).

Jobs

Any company that require you to pay upfront (or later) for job search is fake. It’s the companies (employers) that should pay the job agency, not you. You may see several certs from prestige universities and government bodies on the wall framed up nicely but these educated guys in suits with posh accent can con people. The worst of the lot – they prey on vulnerable people who are looking for jobs. I kena before.

Just because it’s advertised in famous job search portals like JobStreet, JobsDB, JenJobs doesn’t mean it’s legitimate. A real company wouldn’t have emails like e_pajamas@yahoo.com ;) SOHO jobs that require you to pay registration for your ‘own business’ are scams too. These SOHO jobs are usually data entry or customer service jobs where you can work from home or at your own time.
You’d think it is so easy to get RM3K per month with these kind of jobs? Ok, garbage collectors get RM2K per month but that’s because nobody wants to be garbage collectors.

Do your research in search engines online and forums like LowYat.Net and Online Consumer Portal (registration is free) first before you apply any job. It’s slow and tedious but at least you would be prepared should you decide to go for interview. Among the most frequently mentioned companies that scam potential employees are Cobra, Wijaya Marketing – list from Online Consumer Portal (scams).

If you had been tricked – report to the job agency/media, post it in forums, forward your experiences to everyone you know, etc.

Lotteries and Contests

I had received a call from Sunway hotel before. The friendly girl informed me gleefully, “Congratulations! You have won a night stay at Sunway! Can you come this Saturday for a briefing about the holiday package?”

I didn’t enter any contest under Sunway hotel before. I asked her, “How did I win it?”

“Err.. you have won it! It’s from our database system.”

It’s a bit irritating when people don’t know computer language use it to show off. I asked her more, “Where did you get my contact in your database? Surely it must come from somewhere?”

“Uhh… But this is a great opportunity. Can you come on Sat because we need to finalize things?”

“Can I come another day?”

“No, sorry.. Only Sat. You get (free stuff blah blah).”

“No thanks.”

“You don’t want this prize?!” She sounded shocked.

“No. Thanks for calling me. Bye.”

Winning a contest which you didn’t even enter? *snort* That company was lucky I didn’t complain to the goverment!

Usually once they inform you have won something – not necessarily Sunway hotel (or maybe it wasn’t the real Sunway Hotel) – they will ask you, “Do you want a bigger chance/prize? You can win a more expensive prize by getting more members (referrerals) or buying products from us!”

Really. Pray to God and buy a lotter number of your grandaunt’s nephew’s last 4 digits handphone number would give you a higher percentage of winning than these type of contests.

In a Press Release by Bank Negara Malaysia and Securities Commission, 19 April 2007:

Securities Commission and Bank Negara Malaysia caution public against internet investment schemes––Advise public to invest with licensed parties only

The Securities Commission and Bank Negara Malaysia today cautioned members of the public to be on guard against investment scams promoted on the Internet.

Some companies and websites offering internet investment schemes are not licensed by Bank Negara Malaysia to accept deposits. They are also not licensed by the Securities Commission to provide investment advice that is related to securities or futures activities or carry out fund management activities in Malaysia. Such activities often come in the guise of attractive investment returns or opportunities.

Investors can ascertain the licensing status of financial institutions engaged in deposit-taking activity regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia or individuals and companies engaged in investment activity regulated by the Securities Commission at their websites www.bnm.gov.my and www.sc.com.my respectively.

Members of the public are reminded that they should only place deposits and invest with parties licensed by the authorities so that they are accorded the protection under the banking and securities laws. Unlicensed operators may disappear overnight leaving investors without the ability to recover their investments or seek redress against any persons connected with the scheme.

It is important for the public to be alert and responsible in making investment decisions as the internet offers easy access for unscrupulous persons to lure unsuspecting victims to part with their monies. Investors are urged to verify the legitimacy of schemes which offer too-good-to-be-true returns or investment opportunities involving above-market rates of return and zero to low risk. They must obtain all relevant information before parting with their money over the internet.

When in doubt, the public should check with Bank Negara Malaysia, the Securities Commission or other relevant authorities on the licensing status of the local and foreign company before depositing their money or making any investment decision.

Members of the public are also advised to alert the authorities immediately if they come across any suspicious websites, e-mails or any information on the Internet relating to investment advice and services and deposit taking activities. They can contact the Securities Commission and Bank Negara Malaysia at:

Complaints Department, Securities Commission
Tel: 03-6204 8999 / 03-6204 8777
Fax: 03-6204 8991
E-mail: aduan@seccom.com.my

Bank Negara Malaysia
Tel: 03-2691 0824 / 2692 6482 / 2698 2810 / 2694 2143
Fax: 03-2698 7467
E-mail: info@bnm.gov.my

Warning/Alert List

Wait, wait, wait

I just realized something.

What if there’s no Mr Right? I knew this. Nobody Not everyone has the good luck to meet and be with the Soulmate. Fine.

What if there’s no perfect job? Everyone has a calling. Deep inside.

I keep waiting for them to appear but they still haven’t appeared (or did I miss them?!) and ignore Mr Not Sure It’s Right or Some Job?

Like this joke: Husband Shopping (Who wrote this? It must be a guy!)

 

A store that sells husbands has just opened in Seattle where a woman may go
to choose a husband from among many men. The store is comprised of 6 floors,
and the men increase in positive attributes as the shopper ascends the
flights. There is, however, a catch. As you open the door to any floor you
may choose a man from that floor, but if you go up a floor, you cannot go
back down except to exit the building. So a woman goes to the shopping
center to find a husband. On the first floor the sign on the door reads:

Floor 1 – These men have jobs.

The woman reads the sign and says to herself, “Well, that’s better than my
last boyfriend, but I wonder what’s further up?” So up she goes.

The second floor sign reads: Floor 2 – These men have jobs and love kids.

The woman remarks to herself, “That’s great, but I wonder what’s further
up?” And up she goes again.

The third floor sign reads: Floor 3 – These men have jobs, love kids and
are extremely good looking.

“Hmmm, better” she says. “But I wonder what’s upstairs?”

The fourth floor sign reads: Floor 4 -

These men have jobs, love kids, are extremely good looking and help with the
housework. “Wow,” exclaims the woman, “very tempting. BUT, there must be
further up!” And again she heads up another flight.

The fifth floor sign reads: Floor 5

These men have jobs, love kids, are extremely good looking, help with the
housework and have a strong romantic streak. “Oh, mercy me! But just
think… what must be awaiting me further on?” So up to the sixth floor she
goes.

The sixth floor sign reads: Floor 6 -

You are visitor 3,456,789,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor.
This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank
you for shopping at Husband Mart and have a nice day.

I can live without a man but I can’t live without a job!