You know what irks me when I'm stuck in the rush hour jam - may it be in the morning or in the evening? The fact that us "the rakyat" can get up early to leave the house early so that we get to work on time, while all the politicians, members of parliament and royalty, just cut queues because the have the liberty of the entire police force at their mercy.
Countless times have I seen traffic policemen or police outriders shunting motorists aside so as to clear a path for the VIP.
I would gladly give way to an ambulance or a fire truck as this would mean saving lives but why do these VIPs think they deserve this kind of treatment when all they're doing is having a session under a tree?
Shouldnt they, as the voice of democracy, get stuck in traffic jams, experience it first hand, find out the root cause (like flash floods etc) and do something about it?
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
EON
I drive a Proton Wira Aeroback 1.5(A). The car is slightly more than 4 years old and when I bought it newly from EON, they gave me an extended warranty for 4 yrs. So because of this extended warranty, I have never taken my car for servicing anywhere else other than the EON service centres (I've only ever taken it to 2 branches - the main brance in Glenmarie Shah Alam, and the Seremban branch).
A couple of weeks ago was the first time I sent my car to an outside mechanic for major servicing as the extended 4-yr warranty had expired. By major servicing, I mean changing of all the belts, ATF, engine oil, filters etc etc.
My dad and I went together as my dad is used to this mechanic and we were there the whole time he was dismantling my car and servicing it.
At one point, he took out the pan that is supposed to contain the ATF (auto transmission fluid) and showed us the 5 indentions where the magnets are supposed to be (these magnets are supposed to attract the sludge/residue metal.)
There was only ONE magnet left in the pan. There were 5 indentions but only 1 magnet. He then told us that my car's original make was supposed to come with 5 magnets. Since I bought the car new directly from EON and I have NEVER sent it for servicing elsewhere before this, where could the magnets have gone? Who could have removed it? According to the mechanic, the magnets cost about RM25 each.
The only reason I have been taking my car to EON for so long, although their spare parts and labour charges are SO overpriced is because of the warranty. Whats the point of taking my car back to the manufacturers for servicing when items start disappearing?
And I have not even mentioned the RM10 that went missing once when I left the note in my coin compartment and sent my car in.
Or the time when I asked EON to do my tire rotation, and my dad marked the tire to see if they were actually doing their job or not, and when the car came back, the tires HADNT BEEN rotated, but my bill included rotation.
I hv no proof whatsoever of WHO took the magnets from the ATF pan. All I know is that I have never sent my car to an external mechanic for servicing til 2 weeks ago after the warranty expired.
You decide.
A couple of weeks ago was the first time I sent my car to an outside mechanic for major servicing as the extended 4-yr warranty had expired. By major servicing, I mean changing of all the belts, ATF, engine oil, filters etc etc.
My dad and I went together as my dad is used to this mechanic and we were there the whole time he was dismantling my car and servicing it.
At one point, he took out the pan that is supposed to contain the ATF (auto transmission fluid) and showed us the 5 indentions where the magnets are supposed to be (these magnets are supposed to attract the sludge/residue metal.)
There was only ONE magnet left in the pan. There were 5 indentions but only 1 magnet. He then told us that my car's original make was supposed to come with 5 magnets. Since I bought the car new directly from EON and I have NEVER sent it for servicing elsewhere before this, where could the magnets have gone? Who could have removed it? According to the mechanic, the magnets cost about RM25 each.
The only reason I have been taking my car to EON for so long, although their spare parts and labour charges are SO overpriced is because of the warranty. Whats the point of taking my car back to the manufacturers for servicing when items start disappearing?
And I have not even mentioned the RM10 that went missing once when I left the note in my coin compartment and sent my car in.
Or the time when I asked EON to do my tire rotation, and my dad marked the tire to see if they were actually doing their job or not, and when the car came back, the tires HADNT BEEN rotated, but my bill included rotation.
I hv no proof whatsoever of WHO took the magnets from the ATF pan. All I know is that I have never sent my car to an external mechanic for servicing til 2 weeks ago after the warranty expired.
You decide.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Bribery
Just found out first hand that bribery is very much alive and kicking in Malaysia. Just the other day, I had to go the hospital and there was no parking (as usual - I mean, when are people ever going to understand that hospitals will need AMPLE parking space?). So as I was going around for the third time, I got fed-up and decided to wait in the car in the hopes of someone coming and vacating a spot.
When one of the parking attendants spotted me waiting, he told me to wait for a few minutes till he found a spot and would beckon me to it. So I waited for 15-20 minutes. Tired of waiting, I took the car for another round, hoping to find a spot.
The second time I came around, the attendant spotted me and asked me to wait, while he went and asked another attendant if there were any spots. He then came over and told me that there was a car leaving and I could take its place. So I said ok and waited.
A couple of minutes later, the first attendant beckons at me and as I go to the parking spot, he flags me down, asks me to wind down my window and then says "Please give some coffee money to the other attendant cos he booked this place for you although there was another car waiting longer than you."
I mean, the hospital parking is FREE. Why do you only want to release it when someone is going to pay for it?
When one of the parking attendants spotted me waiting, he told me to wait for a few minutes till he found a spot and would beckon me to it. So I waited for 15-20 minutes. Tired of waiting, I took the car for another round, hoping to find a spot.
The second time I came around, the attendant spotted me and asked me to wait, while he went and asked another attendant if there were any spots. He then came over and told me that there was a car leaving and I could take its place. So I said ok and waited.
A couple of minutes later, the first attendant beckons at me and as I go to the parking spot, he flags me down, asks me to wind down my window and then says "Please give some coffee money to the other attendant cos he booked this place for you although there was another car waiting longer than you."
I mean, the hospital parking is FREE. Why do you only want to release it when someone is going to pay for it?
Monday, December 22, 2008
Open Burning
The authorities have so much time on their hands that all they do is come up with silly rules about how yoga goes against religion and trying to break record after record by making the longest popiah etc.
However, the amount of open burning that goes on in the country is ridiculous, especially in areas regularly patrolled by the police. The best part is that nothing is being done about this, even though the law bans open burning due to pollution.
I can never understand why people burn rubbish - it used to have logic in the past, but whats the point of it in this day and era when there are regular garbage trucks collecting waste?
Whats the point of ruining your health AND the environment when waste can be disposed of otherwise?
However, the amount of open burning that goes on in the country is ridiculous, especially in areas regularly patrolled by the police. The best part is that nothing is being done about this, even though the law bans open burning due to pollution.
I can never understand why people burn rubbish - it used to have logic in the past, but whats the point of it in this day and era when there are regular garbage trucks collecting waste?
Whats the point of ruining your health AND the environment when waste can be disposed of otherwise?
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Traffic Police
I notice that there are a lot of policemen at the junction of Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan P Ramlee, and yet there is a massive jam from the exit of the AKLEH until this point. This is about 12pm weekdays.
The cause is the traffic light at the P Ramlee junction which changes too fast. The problem with this whole situation is that the policemen are just standing at the junction (there are about 4 of them) and chatting instead of directing traffic to a smoother flow.
I know this is possible as the day before, 2 policemen were stationed at each junction and the traffic was absolutely smooth.
I hope there is a difference today.
The cause is the traffic light at the P Ramlee junction which changes too fast. The problem with this whole situation is that the policemen are just standing at the junction (there are about 4 of them) and chatting instead of directing traffic to a smoother flow.
I know this is possible as the day before, 2 policemen were stationed at each junction and the traffic was absolutely smooth.
I hope there is a difference today.
Attitudes Towards Animals
This is absolutely appalling in some Malaysians. 2 situations stand out:
a) I was at the RSPCA sometime back and 2 of the volunteers came running out, with one of them screaming "I just saw a van throw a dog into the drain." And this is a big drain that runs along thet RSPCA for a few metres. When the dog was rescued, it was in a pretty bad shape, with lice, skin problems, etc. Shouldnt the owner treat this animal with dignity? Why throw it into the drain?
b) Some local officers got wind of some stray dogs and ended up victimising a dog which was INSIDE a compound of a unoccupied house. They actually pulled the dog through the bars of the gate, and tore the dog's ear in the process.
I mean, if law enforcement officers can prosecute the owner for animal abuse, can the public prosecute the officers for the same thing if they witness it? And this is far worse as the perpetrators are the ones who are supposed to make this country a safer haven for all humans and creatures alike.
a) I was at the RSPCA sometime back and 2 of the volunteers came running out, with one of them screaming "I just saw a van throw a dog into the drain." And this is a big drain that runs along thet RSPCA for a few metres. When the dog was rescued, it was in a pretty bad shape, with lice, skin problems, etc. Shouldnt the owner treat this animal with dignity? Why throw it into the drain?
b) Some local officers got wind of some stray dogs and ended up victimising a dog which was INSIDE a compound of a unoccupied house. They actually pulled the dog through the bars of the gate, and tore the dog's ear in the process.
I mean, if law enforcement officers can prosecute the owner for animal abuse, can the public prosecute the officers for the same thing if they witness it? And this is far worse as the perpetrators are the ones who are supposed to make this country a safer haven for all humans and creatures alike.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Monks in KL
Everyday as I drive to work, I'm bound to see SOMEONE in a monk outfit (either the yellow/orange/brown robe or the brown pants and loose top) walking around and looking for "victims".
The reason I say this is because its so obviously a scam where all they're out to do is make money out of some unsuspecting tourist.
I've actually noticed them only making a beeline for whites. First you see them walking very leisurely, like only a monk can. When he spots a tourist, he picks up his pace and goes right up to him and taps him on the back. When the tourist turns around, the monk puts his palms together in a gesture of respect (like an Indian greeting) and gives the tourist something (probably a prayer card etc). Then if the tourist walks away after thanking the monk, the monk runs after him to ask for money.
I've seen this EVERY time I drive to work and I think its time someone stopped them from begging in the name of religion and gave them a proper job.
The reason I say this is because its so obviously a scam where all they're out to do is make money out of some unsuspecting tourist.
I've actually noticed them only making a beeline for whites. First you see them walking very leisurely, like only a monk can. When he spots a tourist, he picks up his pace and goes right up to him and taps him on the back. When the tourist turns around, the monk puts his palms together in a gesture of respect (like an Indian greeting) and gives the tourist something (probably a prayer card etc). Then if the tourist walks away after thanking the monk, the monk runs after him to ask for money.
I've seen this EVERY time I drive to work and I think its time someone stopped them from begging in the name of religion and gave them a proper job.
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