The Crime - Assault By None Other Than The ...

Woman Identifies Five Cops In Assault Case

PETALING JAYA: A pregnant store owner has identified five officers as being among her assailants.  Chow Soo Meng, 36, a mother of two who is eight months’ pregnant, picked out the five among 11 policemen in an identification parade at the Petaling Jaya police headquarters here yesterday.  She also identified one of them as the person who had slapped her and taken RM20,000 from her.  However, Chow said a female police officer who was also responsible for the missing cash was not in the line-up.  Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng who accompanied Chow urged police to do a thorough investigation.  “We have asked the Selangor police to take over the investigations which is being conducted by the Petaling Jaya police now,” he added.  According to Chow, at least 10 men and a woman who claimed to be policemen tried to enter her convenience shop at Jalan Perkhidmatan, Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh, at about 6.30pm on Monday.  Chow claimed that when she refused to let them in as they did not show any identification, the group cut the grill, barged in and handcuffed her.  “They refused to let me know what offence I had committed but instead slapped me twice,” she said, adding that the men then took several cartons of cigarettes, liquor, cell phone SIM cards and RM20,000 from her handbag.  She also alleged that they removed the CCTV system from her shop.  OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed later said his officers went to the shop to investigate claims that drugs were being sold there.  ACP Arjunaidi denied his men had stolen money from the woman but had instead seized RM15,900 as part of the investigations.  He said the money was in police custody and they were investigating if it was proceeds from ill-gotten gains.  “We will investigate her claims that she was slapped. If there is truth to her allegations, I will take action against those responsible,” he said.

Source: The Star - Sunday, February 6, 2011

******

Chia Buang Hing - Picture: Malaysian Insider 

34-year old Chia Buang Hing, a frame-maker, is just an ordinary Malaysian citizen.

On December 18, about an hour to midnight, he drove his wife's car with an expired road tax.
Chia's nightmare of being repeatedly beaten, his life threatened, relieved of RM13,000 and his business threatened with ruin began as he was driving from his house in Tropicana to Kota Damansara, where traffic police had set up roadblocks.
Having spotted the expired road tax, one of the police officers asked for his driver's licence and identification card.

At the stop, Chia claimed police officers had noticed a stack of RM50 notes totalling RM7,000, sticking out of his pocket as he was producing his driver’s licence.
The officer demanded that he hand them over.
He refused, and insisted he be issued with a summons.

But as the officer kept asking for the money, Chia warned that he would lodge a report.

Chia said he was carrying a total of RM18,000 that he had collected from his three frame-making shops that night, with RM10,000 in his pockets and RM8,000 in the car.
For refusing to bribe the police, the alleged assaults then began.

Chia tried to take the officer's picture with his mobile phone, but he was repeatedly punched by him and two other officers.
One of them handcuffed him and he screamed for help, but he was shoved inside a police car and beaten again.
There were several witnesses to the act, including a security guard and a friend of his who was in another car.

Chia was beaten at various points from the time he was pulled over until he was brought to the Kota Damansara police station.
He was outside a toilet at the station and seven officers kicked and stepped on him until he vomited blood and sustained injuries on his face.

Then, one police officer took the RM7,000 from his front pocket and RM3,000 from his back pocket and they threw it on the floor.
The officer became angry when he demanded the money be returned and he threw the remainder he was holding into the toilet and hit him again.

At about 3am the following morning, he was threatened by an officer that drugs would be injected into his bloodstream.
He was later assaulted again, by as many as five officers at once, at the police station and on an empty plot of land he could not identify.

Chia was beaten up until he vomited blood.
One thing he managed to do, was to leave his bloodied fingerprints in many parts of the police station that he had been dragged to. (Most of the bloodstains had been removed, but there were some under a table, behind a mirror and under a cupboard, which were photographed by police).

Only when they saw that he was barely surviving, as he had vomited blood and white foams were trickling out of his mouth, then they took him to Sungai Buloh Hospital.

By then, it was already 7am.
Chia was taken to the Petaling Jaya magistrate's court, about 10am, for a remand order against him.
He informed the magistrate of his ordeal but he was ignored.
The magistrate ordered him to be remanded by police until December 22 on suspicion of possession of drugs and weapons.
He was once again beaten outside the courthouse.

The police had wanted Chia to report that his injuries had been sustained in a traffic accident.
When he refused, they threatened to plant a blood-stained machete and drugs in his car and get him locked up for a long time.
The father of two was detained for five days.

******

Selangor police chief Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah had said that initial investigations by the task force indicated that the reason for Chia’s detention is for suspected possession of heroin and a parang in his car.
However, Chia vehemently denied of possessing the weapon and drug in his car.

Chia is currently out on police bail.
He also denied that he was allowed to meet his family and lawyers.
He claimed that the police had not informed him that he could lodge a police report while under detention.

During that period, he was taken to a officer at narcotics department in the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters.
Since there was no case against him, the men who abused him were called up.
The officer at the narcotics department advised him to lodge a report and allowed him to contact his family.

He was then released on police bail and RM5,000 was returned to him.

******

After almost a month since Chia was allegedly held and beaten by about a dozen cops, he was supposed to report himself to the Narcotics Department of the Petaling Jaya district headquarters to find out the status of his case.
However, once he was there, no one attended to him.
He was told by a desk officer to return on January 21.

Chia now has more questions than answers.
* Why only five policemen were charged in court when he had reported 11 attackers?
- Mohd Azwan Hassan, Norzali Rosle, Ahmad Saifullah Osman, Alizulhafiz Abdul Ghafar are accused of voluntarily causing hurt to Chia in the Kota Damansara police station between 12.30am and 3am on Dec 19.
- Mohd Azwan and Norzali, who are under suspension, were similar accused of voluntarily causing hurt to Chia at Jalan PJU 3/15, Persiaran Tropicana, Kota Damansara between 11.30pm on Dec 18 and 12.30am on Dec 19.
- Lance Corporal Mahadi Adam was charged with committing the offence at the Kota Damansara police station between 12.30am and 3am on Dec 19.
- All of them pleaded not guilty in the same court.

* Why were the five released without bail?
- Deputy Public Prosecutor Amirah Mohamed Yusoff sought bail of RM3,000 for each of the policemen.
Counsel Suraj Singh, representing Norzali, and counsel Ahmad Zaharil Muhaiyar, representing Ahmad Saifullah, Alizulhafiz and Mahadi, objected by saying that there was no provision in the law to impose bail for summons offences.
Magistrate Nik Mohd Fadli Nik Azlan dismissed the prosecution's application for bail and set February 14 for mention of the case.

* Why was it that he could not get his car back despite him asking the police numerous times?

* Why did he has to pay for the towing of his car?
(Chia claimed the cops who rode with him in the patrol car had told him to pay the tow truck attendants for towing his car from Kota Damansara to the police station).

* Why did the deputy public prosecutor (DPP) in his case gave 'special treatment' to the five cops by taking them out of the courtroom via a different route, where the media couldn't see them?

****** 

Chia Buang Hing hoped the policemen involved would not be given preferential treatment by the DPP at the next case mention.
He was not informed of the day the five were charged in court, nor given details of the charges until a few days later.
He felt the police are not thoroughly investigating his report on the cops who had threatened to plant drugs and a parang in his car.

Because the police are tight-lipped about his case, Chia now lives in fear although he is considered lucky to be alive.

All because he refused to bribe the police officers, he is now scared as everyone is telling him that he will be charged, although he did not carry any illegal stuff in his car.
He wants to clear his name and he could not wait for the nightmare to end.

Chia hope God will help him in telling the truth.
Hard for him to find others believing in him after the alleged police brutality.
All he wants is justice to be done and his money back.

Chia would rather die than be defamed by the police. 

The Haj - There Is Always Leeway For HIS Special Guest

It was very unlikely that Sarah would hide from me about her husband's Haj pilgrimage.

Her sisters, whom we met at their mother's house, could not answer on her behalf, as Sarah is more open to me about almost everything of hers, than with them.

I had just knew that Mus, her husband, is now performing the final Islamic pillars when we went to her mother's house for Eidul Adha visit last Sunday. 

******

Sarah's mother was once minding my children when they were small, although she has seventeen children of her own. 

Now, after my children are all adult, our families' relationship is as good as ever. 

Until today, I tried to make a point to visit Sarah's mother, once in a month or two. 

The elderly lady never fails her yearly 'Aidilfitri visit to my house, as according to her children, I have always a very special place in their mother's heart. 

After I moved to town, not too faraway from Sarah's working place in Tropical Inn, Sarah became much closer to me as she would spent her Saturdays in my house, bringing her workmates along, always having her favourite dish, Chicken Rice. 

During the 90s, the dish was not served in many Malay foodstalls in JB, so I often cooked it as it's good for growing children too, having garlic and ginger in it. 

Now, I could not remember when was the last time since my last cooking of Chicken Rice, as it is now being sold at almost every stalls.  

******

When Sarah, in her early 20s, decided to marry Mus, she spent most of her decision moments at my house.

Mus, more than twenty years her senior, is very much older than Sarah's eldest sibling, and only a couple of years younger than her mother - they were married anyway, and stayed in Sarawak where Mus was stationed. 

She would drop by my place whenever she was in JB, to have her Chicken Rice. 

She came back to JB upon Mus's retirement from his high ranking government post. 

Unlike his former working colleagues who make the best of knowing the right contact, Mus, somehow, struggled with his post-retirement, for wanting to lead a clean living and earning an honest income for his five family members. 

To supplement his income, beside the monthly pension, Mus had experienced working as a pump attendant, and a gardener too. 

Today, when he is off-duty, he can usually be found in one of the mosque in his housing estate, where he volunteered his service since more than ten years ago.  

******

Mus had always wanted to perform his pilgrimage, possibly, with his wife too.
But with Malaysia's waiting list of 500,000 prospective pilgrims, their queue will only surface in 2024.
Sarah was worried as Mus will be in his 70s then, and she has doubt about her husband being fit to perform without difficulties.
Then, there's finance to look into.

We had to assure him, Haji Mabrur is more about our intentions and more about our hearts.
Just stay focus, set the year for our departure to visit HIS house, and the rest, soul searching...

Being one of HIS invited guest is not about quota allocated by Saudi or personal finance.
Mus very much doubted it, as much as I doubted that too - when Tabung Haji called me in 2005, to say the agency was sending my airplane ticket via Poslaju to be shown to Singapore's Islamic Council (MUIS), I was surprised too.

******

We talked about his much anticipated Haj during the recent 'Aidilfitri visit.
We assured him finance is not an issue, as we had assured others, who were raring to go, or whom we think duty is upon us to make their dreams come true, or to ask them, especially the elderlies with no means, to make their holy journeys.
It's not only Haj, but also when filial duty or responsibilities are severed because of living difficulties.

InsyaALLAH there is always ways for the insufficence to be met, but Mus was severely depressed when his application was being turned down by Tabung Haji again.

*******

I called Sarah on Monday.
She is still in a state of shock and disbelieve as she related her story.

She is confused about informing others of her husband's Haj pilgrimage, lest, as she said, others would think she is bragging about it.
I had to assure her that informing others of our journey to visit HIS house is not about bragging, as I would usually go to her  mother's house informing the lady about my journey.

I had to tell her, upon Mus's return, it is now her husband's duty, to inform her sixteen siblings with their spouses, of their duty to complete their pillars.
Most of them should have been there many years ago, as it is only Sarah and her eldest sister who are with only a house and a car.
The rest, with at least two houses and at least two cars.

****** 

Towards the end of last month, as usual, Mus was in the mosque in which he is a volunteer. 

A man whom he had never met, not even once, approached him, asking him if he had done his pilgrimage. 

When he said he had never been there, the man offered to send him, convinced him that he did his pilgrimage, yearly.

It puzzled Mus as it has been years that he is waiting for his turn with bated breath, and here, the man in front of him, is there every year. 

Nevertheless, he went to Tabung Haji again, and again, his application was being turned down - most Malaysian pilgrims were already in The Holy Cities. 

The next day, Mus received a call from the man, telling him there were two available vacancies for 2010 Haj via a private agency in KL. 

Mus was hesitant initially, as part of the amount of RM13,000 by Tabung Haji is already too much for the man he did not even know his name, to bear. 

Now, the figure of RM19,000. 

But Mus was immediately asked to make a passport and to go for injection. 

Sarah was all along in a state of awe, could not think of what is next to be done. 

As she said, both husband and wife could not think straight.

Even the feast for well-wishers, few days before her husband's departure, was prepared by the wives of the mosque's committee members. 

Beside her husband's few friends who attended the kenduri, there were many more whom she had never met. 

******

Mus went to Tabung Haji again, this time, not to ask about quota, but to ask about the RM4,000 which the well wishers presented him. 

He had asked around, and there were too many contradicted versions of what to do with the money. 

Only when one of the Tabung Haji's officer assured him that the money is rightfully his, he did not have to spent it all in The Holy Places, he can  either use it for his family's need, or save it if he wished to, then his mind was at peace for, he had always wanted to lead a clean living and earning an honest income for his five family members. 

He decided to leave the RM4,000 with Sarah knowingly, she needed it more than he can spend it all.

******.  

A day before his departure, they were all at home, waiting for Sarah's sixteen siblings with their spouses to turn up, but none did.
Mus is an only child and his parents were no more around.
They went to visit Sarah's mother before night fall as Mus had to leave for Senai Airport early in the morning.

The next day after Subuh, the man who made possible of Mus's pilgrimage, turned up at their house early in the morning, before everyone else did.
He handed RM4,000 to Mus, this time, for his pocket money in The Holy Cities.
He left not long before Mus's friends and the mosque congregation turned up to see him off to Senai Airport early this month.

Until Sarah reached home from Senai Airport, there were still no sight of her sixteen siblings with their spouses.

*** Some changes made.

'Aidilfitri And Parents' Dilemma

I went to only one house yesterday. I reached Bukit Tiram at 8.30pm but Nor, who stays in Pasir Gudang, insisted on waiting for me.

She used to be at my house on the first day of 'Aidilfitri anually after her family's visit to her father's graveyard in Kebun Teh.
To her, it seemed a very long time that she last saw me, last year's Syawal.

I could understand that her 17-year old daughter put on her long face as the next day is a schooling day and she will be sitting her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) in a few weeks' (when? not sure) time.  

"Dia 'birah' Ummie, macam makcik dia. Kalau dia nak duduk rumah, sekarang jugak Nor balik." The parents thought she wanted to prepare for the coming examinations, so she was excluded from 'Aidilfitri visits, not knowing that she will leave the house the moment her parents and siblings were out, and once, not coming back until after 12 midnight.
From then on, she was to tag along wherever the family goes to.

It reminded me of a neighbour's 18-year old daughter who attended 'Aidilfitri open house every night that worries the mother as she will only be home past midnight.

******

I was at Tun Aminah last week knowing Iffa and her family was halfway to my house on 9 Syawal when her husband had high blood pressure of 190.
He was immediately warded for observations.

"What causes?" I asked her.

"Children." She said.

Their eldest son who obtained 6'A's for his SPM last year, refused to further his study.
He prefers working life and her 16-year old daughter could not wait for next year to end, so that upon sitting her SPM examinations, she too, can work.

When I reached her house that day, at around 7pm, she wasn't at home.
Together with her husband, they were fetching their 13-year old son from school.

"He's so big. Why must both of you go together? He will be ashamed if his friends happened to see you." I said.

"He will be more ashamed to be seen sitting in his father's old car. That's why I have to look for him as his father will park his car far from the school." She said as tears welled up.

I could understand both parents were terribly hurt as the youngest boy, only 13, had been absent from class many times.
Warning letters, and termination letter had been issued too, to them.
For now, the boy only wanted to stop school, to earn money.

Almost every night, she said, the three of them will attend their respective friends' open house.
To ensure them to be home at 10pm, the parents wait for their children nightly, with bated breath...                        

The Reluctant Organs Have Their Final Say

The Star: July 12, 2010 - Tainted Organ Transplants

 

SUBANG JAYA: Some Malaysians who went abroad for organ transplants have returned home with HIV, hepatitis and other problems, a World Health Organisation (WHO) adviser said. “It is time to amend laws and establish a full-time agency to have more and ethical organ donations in the country,” said Prof Dr Francis Delmonico, calling on legislators to push for laws against organ trafficking and transplant tourism in Malaysia.
He also suggested that the authorities look into the possibility of organ donation for cases of cardiac death and not only in brain dead cases.
“There are many cases of Malaysians going abroad for organ transplants.
“There is no guarantee of the quality of organs. In many cases, the patients returned with HIV, hepatitis and other problems,’’ said Dr Delmonico, a WHO adviser on human organ transplantation.
He was speaking at a forum on “Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism – The Need for Regulatory and Legislative Control” at the 13th Scientific Meeting of the Malaysian Society of Transplantation at the Grand Dorsett Hotel here on Friday night.
Dr Delmonico said the commercialisation of organs go against the Istanbul Declaration, which proclaims that the poor who sell their organs are being exploited.
The declaration, signed by participants of an international summit on transplant tourism and organ trafficking in 2008, concluded that organ trafficking and transplant tourism violate respect for human dignity and the principles of equity and justice and should be prohibited.
Health Ministry head of nephrology services Dr Ghazali Ahmad, in his talk on “Hurdles of Living Unrelated Organ Donation” said that in 2009, 17 kidney failure patients received transplant from dead donors and nine from live donors.
In 2008, there were 53 from deceased donors and one from a live donor. In 2007, it was 45 from deceased donors and three from live donors.
The statistics were gathered after patients returned home from abroad to seek post-transplant treatment.
Kidney transplants made available from deceased donors were believed to be organs from executed prisoners in China.

******

The Straits Times: June 7, 2010 - Black Organ Market Rakes On Poverty And Hope

Organ trafficking middleman Liu Qiangshen sits in the court showing his side scar left after a liver transplantation operation. (photo by Beijing Morning Post)

Barely coming of age and lacking money, 19-year-old Yang Nian sold almost two thirds of his liver, for which a Beijing patient in urgent need of organ transplant paid 150,000 yuan (S$21,900).

But the money only ended up in the hands of organ trafficking middleman Liu Qiangsheng, who assembled a score of hatchet men to beat up a scarred Yang when he came to claim his liver fees. Yang got a mingy 25,000 yuan (S$3,660), not the promised dole of 35,000 yuan (S$5,130), the Beijing Morning Post reported Thursday.

The stomach-turning report details Yang's wait for a suitable buyer in a slum along with other reluctant donors in central Hebei province as well as his physical checkup and identity forgery in order to pass for a legal organ supplier for the Beijing patient

The Beijing patient, at first unwitting of Yang's pathetic compensation, was also threatened by the middleman if he dared refuse further payment out of previous bargain.

"We only learned later that the middleman Liu just gave Yang that little, we are very angry, but we are also very scared and could do nothing," said the patient's wife. The couple paid a huge sum to the middleman, only with borrowed money.

The case, still under investigation, shed light on a rampant organ trafficking market reigned by unscrupulous middlemen, intertwined with hospitals sometimes, who rake in the organ donation dearth in China where for every 150 patients in the waiting line of organ transplant there is only one legal donor.

The black organ market is so organized that it runs like an assembly line.

The middlemen draw together a group of illegal donors, mostly male, offering food and board before ushering them through a series of medical examinations to kick out the unhealthy and the unprofitable, like those with AB blood, accounting only 5 percent of the general population.

The middlemen even help to bribe doctors and secure a better hospital, not to mention the cheap identity fabrication as in Yang's case, since organ donation by a living individual should be among relatives in China.

While, for the most part of the job, it is waiting, sometimes endlessly, for a suitable buyer. That's why most middlemen choose to foster a large donator group, increasing the chance of medical matches, and larger profits.

In Thursday's news report, a middleman in eastern Jiangsu, surnamed Wang, bragged how he fostered 190 underground donors in the past two years and successfully channeled over 30 transplant cases. Another in northeastern Shenyang assured that he could secure an organ donation in three days, and could even offer an extra donor as a backup.

So far the only organ donation regulation in China is a toothless bylaw which forbids, rather than criminalizes, organ trafficking as illegal business operations. Legal specialists said the punishment doesn't fit the crime.

******

 

The Star: June 7, 2010  - China's Grisly Human Organs Market

China's human organs trade is grisly but lucrative

China's black market for human organs is booming.

Nearly 1.5 million people require organ transplants every year but according to the Health Ministry, only ten thousand can get what they need.

China banned organ transplants from living donours in 2007 (with the exception of spouses, blood relatives or adopted family members) and it was not until last year that a national campaign to coordinate donations after death was launched.

A defendant charged with trafficking human organs testified recently that half a liver can cost up to RM21,980.95, while an entire transplant, which includes operation and recovery costs, runs at about RM66,710.00.

"The crime can damage society and moral values," says the Procuratorial Daily.
"I believe I was helping people, not harming others. I saved the life of the person who received my liver. He was only in his 30s. I do not regret it," says defendant, Liu Qiangsheng.

Human organ traffickers have helped raise the percentage of transplants from living donors in China up to 40 percent in the last few years.

This number is up from 15 percent in 2006. Despite this, two-thirds of all organs harvested for transplant in China come from executed criminals.
"Executed prisoners are definitely not a proper source for organ transplants," said Vice Minister Huang Jiefu.
China is trying to move away from the use of executed prisoners and curb illegal trafficking by developing new sources for organ transplants.

A voluntary donation scheme is in the works, but may prove very difficult to implement due to China’s cultural bias against removing organs after death.
While change is in the works, organ trafficking remains a dark and grisly aspect of black market operations.

When All Pockets Went Dry

As I waited for a friend yesterday, I dashed across the road to 'Shop N Save Supermarket' in Bishan, to get myself a fruit drink, mango and grapes - I paid the S$10.32 purchase with my card.

Thank God, the purchase done and transaction accepted in less than 5 minutes.

But it will not be the case if was Monday, the day before.
For the first time in history, a big system had crashed that left customers and businesses in the dark for 7 hours.

In a country where almost all payments made by almost all walks of life with cards, it was definitely turned to total chaos.

A father I know, had to return his 2 trolleys of grocery shopping back to the shelving and freezers as his only POSBank card was not accepted.
He went home empty-handed as he could not withdrew money from the ATM.

Another father ran from one ATM to another for his son's pocket money and the wife's marketing.
Cold sweat appeared and he feared for the worst - His saving and  salary are all gone  - Save for the minimum required of S$2.00.

I heard a few end up borrowing from friends for breakfast to be paid.

******

An Indonesian friend used to laugh at us as Singaporeans, her remark, are slow at counting money (mind you, Indonesian currencies are in millions of rupiah), and she always insisted me to rely on cash rather than a card.

With this latest incidence, her saying does make sense. It holds some truth in it

******

 

Jul 7, 2010 - DBS Chief Says 'Sorry'

 

 

Chief executive, Mr Piyush Gupta said: 'We are sorry for what happened. We took numerous measures to minimise inconvenience caused by the temporary disruption in services. - Photo: Reuters

 

DBS Bank apologised to customers yesterday after Monday's big systems crash that left customers and businesses in the lurch and in the dark for about seven hours.

Chief executive, Mr Piyush Gupta said: 'We are sorry for what happened. We took numerous measures to minimise inconvenience caused by the temporary disruption in services.
'We have commenced a full scale investigation and I am treating this matter with utmost priority.'
Mr Gupta's comments come after Monday's massive network failure that knocked out more than 1,000 ATMs.
Irate customers could not access the bank's internet and mobile banking facilities, while payments made on DBS debit and credit cards could not be processed.
To cope with the situation, DBS made arrangements to deploy additional staff at branches and its call centre. Cheques were honoured and urgent cash withdrawals up to $500 were permitted.

******

Yes. An islandwide ATM disruptions to DBS-POSB machines.

DBS detected the problem at 3am and many residents discovered the failure in the early morning.
Internet and mobile banking were down too.

However, services were soon restored at 10 am while other systems including credit cards, NETS, AXS, Internet and mobile banking by lunchtime.

Additional manpower was deployed to branches and call centre to assist with customer queries as 'technical difficulties' caused the breakdown.

DBS assured customers that all funds were safe, and apologised again to customers for the inconvenience caused.

******

The above incident had rippled the country.

Just wondering how would Singaporeans react if really the incident below reported by The Star does happen in the island.

A tidal wave?

And, it's not the first time.

Sunday July 4, 2010 - Cops Suspect Inside Job At ATM Theft Bids, 4 Arrested

KUALA LUMPUR: When the alarm failed to trigger in two recent attempts to steal from two automated teller machines (ATM), the signs pointed to an inside job. Police zeroed in on a security firm and arrested four men well-versed in the security features of such machines yesterday.
The men had tried twice over Thursday and Friday to grab money from the ATMs in Kelana Jaya and Puchong but failed.
In both cases, the alarms were not triggered, causing police to be suspicious. Selangor police chief Deputy Commis­sioner Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said the suspects, aged between 20 and 30, were familiar with the security features of the ATMs.
“That is probably why the security alarms on the premises and within the ATMs were not triggered. The suspects have been remanded for four days pending investigations,” he told a press conference in Dataran Ampang Point yesterday.
Sources revealed that police were also looking into similar unsolved cases in the Klang Valley to see if they matched the modus operandi of the latest failed thefts.
On Thursday, thieves tried to steal money from an ATM kiosk at a petrol station in Taman Tenaga, Jalan Puchong.
However, they fled when they saw policemen patrolling the area.
On Friday, a supermarket emplo­yee discovered a break-in at about 7am at a supermarket in Kelana Jaya.
The suspects had ripped through a dry wall to gain access to the ATM at about 4am before using a blowtorch to try to get to the money but aborted their plan and fled before the supermarket opened for business.
They were able to by-pass two security systems without triggering the alarm.

Korean Wave Depression (Pact?)

A South Korean actor and singer, Park Yong Ha, 33, was found dead in his room by his mother after he apparently hanged himself with an electrical cord at his Nonhyun-dong, Seoul, home on Wednesday morning of June 30.

 

The evening prior to his death, on the 29th, Park missed a meeting with drama producers for his upcoming project "Love Song - Drama". 

His manager could not contact him and producers of "Love Song - Drama" are “in panic mode” because Park’s passing leaves them without a lead.

 

Park, after having debuted 15 years ago in youth shows like KBS’s 1995 "Love Blossoms in the Classroom" and 1996's "Start", he shot to fame with 2002’s "Winter Sonata", which made him a household name and a “Hallyu star” (Korean Wave Star). 

He rode the wave of Korean pop culture in Asia and won fans in Japan and other Asian countries.  Thus, he used that fame as a springboard to a singing career in Japan and releasing albums, where he enjoyed quite a lot of popularity.

 

He had a successful drama hit in 2008's "One Air", and totally stole viewers' heart in 2009’s.

Most recently, he had been chosen for the leading role in a Korean television drama, a remake of the high-profile popular 1996 Hong Kong film, "Comrades, Almost a Love Story" and shooting was set to begin in July. 

Park Yong-ha was cast alongside Yoon Eun-hye.

 

******

 

KBS said Park spent his last moments on Tuesday night with his father, who is suffering from cancer. 

 

Around 12:40 am, he was with his father, massaging his father’s legs for a long while before leaving with the words: 'I'm sorry. I'm sorry.'

He then went into his room, where he was reportedly died from hanging, found by his mother in his room with a cell phone cord around his neck in the morning.

 

One producer said that they had seen Park occasionally in a down mood, but attributed it to news of Park’s father who recently moved back home from the hospital after his stomach cancer was deemed late-stage. 

A friend who met him a few months ago, had seen the depression in him and his father’s illness made things worse.

 

Park had said in an interview that he suffered from depression, which was exacerbated by prolonged promotional activities abroad.

In an interview last year while promoting his movie "The Scam" Park said that he had been suffering from insomnia for the past 10 years. 

He is rather sensitive that if something bothers him, he will not be able to sleep until it is resolved and is envious of people who can sleep well. 

Sleep is needed for him, for good mental health.

 

The parade of celebrity visits had begun, with stars coming to pay their respects to Park, whose body was transferred to a Kangnam hospital.

 

******

  

The actor's co-star, currently acting in "Coffee House", is reportedly to be so distraught to receive a “huge shock” from the news and “is in very bad condition.”

There’s concern she won’t be able to continue filming as she had just spoke with him on the phone the night before and he sounded normal.

He even had made plans to meet friends later in the day.

One of his last call was reportedly with DBSK’s Hero Jaejoong (above right), who is currently recording in the U.S. with whom he’d grown closer.

He gave the latter advice about pursuing singer activities in Japan and they had agreed to have a drink together when Jaejoong he is back to Korea.

Park’s last twitter message was posted Saturday the 26th and was about the World Cup.
“We lost. But they did well. clap clap clap~ Everyone, let’s clap with warm hears for our national soccer team, who return with heavy steps. Good job!!”

******

If confirmed of suicide, Park would be the latest of a number of entertainers to kill themselves.

His passing is a reminder of the recent string of celebrity suicides, from the deaths of actresses Lee Eun-ju in 2005 and Jeong Da-bin in 2007 to that of actor Ahn Jae-hwan in 2008 and “Boys Over Flowers” actress Jang Ja-yeon in 2009.
Top movie actor Choi Jin-young’s suicide was in March, nearly two years after his sister, actress, Choi Jin-sil, committed suicide in 2008.　

Choi Jin Shil rose to fame with a TV commercial, appearing as a newly wedded bride.

Her cute and smart image in the commercial was an instant success.
She soon became a a household name and her popularity was widely considered due to her friendly and approachable demeanour rather than the statuesque looks of her contemporaries.
Her popularity made her a South Korean actress appearing in various soap operas and movies, whether comical or sad, in most part were characters the audience could easily relate to.

They were all successful, notably 1990 "My Love My Bride" and 1992 "Jealousy and Promise".

Her growing popularity opened up her past history of poverty stricken teenage years became known to the public and this added to her popularity as a success story of hard work coming to fruition.
Her personal image along with the roles she played won her the title ‘People’s star’.

Her popularity stumbled twice during her career.
In 1994, her manager Bae Byung Soo was stabbed to death by her driver and the second was her divorce to the baseball player Cho Sung Min in September 2004.
Both times she made her way into the hearts of her fans by giving fervent performances in her roles. 1997 "You and I" and 2005 "My Rosy Life".

In her last TV drama 2008, coincidentally titled, "Last Scandal", she played the character of a divorcee who wins the hearts of 2 handsome successful brothers and eventually marries one of them.
The show was a huge success and a new word ‘Joomarella’, a combination of the words ajooma (middle aged woman) and Cinderella came to popular use to describe a divorcee who regains love and a happy life.

Pressure was mounting on her to be always at the top of stardom and the confidence in her as a single mother.

******

In late September 2008, actor Ahn Jae Hwan, one of her best friend’s husband, committed suicide due to failing business and high volume of debt and Choi was rumoured to have lent a large sum of money to Ahn which spread rapidly through online reports and blogs.

It was a shock to Choi. The police reported the rumour to be false.
On the day of Choi’s death, all 3 major TV stations spent a third of their news hour on covering the story.
4 days after her death, a representative at the National Assembly suggested a new law to prevent ‘cyber-insulting’ which for a short period had the nick name of ‘Choi Jin Shil Law’.

Choi Jin Shil committed suicide October 2, 2008 at the age of 39.

Although there have been reports of Choi’s suffering from depression since her divorce with Cho, this rumour was favoured and as the key factor leading up to her suicide.

After the actress-sister, Choi Jin-shil's suicide, Korean actor Choi Jin-young, 39, was found dead on March 29 in an apparent suicide too.

The actor was battling depression and sunk into a prolonged spell following his sister’s death.

****** 

Lee Eun-ju, who was born on 22 December 1980, studied piano for much of her youth, but found work as a model. 

Later, she was offered roles in various TV dramas. 

Her first film debut was in 1999 "Rainbow Trout". Her first lead role 2000 "Virgin Stripped Bare By Her Bachelors", where she gave one of the most memorable performances in all Hong Kong films. 
However, her later career was a flop at the box-office, plus a key role in the record-breaking Korean War film "Taeguki".

In late 2004 "The Scarlett Letter" in which this was to be her final role, it was screened as the Closing Film at the 2004 Pusan International Film Festival. 

Tragically Lee Eun-ju committed suicide on 22 February 2005 at her apartment in Bundang, Seongnam, a few days after her graduation from Dankook University. 
She had been suffering from depression for a year and had sought treatment at a hospital but her family blamed the suicide on severe bouts of depression, mental illness and insomia due to the nude scene she had done in "The Scarlet Letter". 
She had apparently tried to slit her wrist before hanging herself.

She left a suicide note scrawled in blood, in which she wrote, "Mom, I am sorry and I love you."
A separate note said, "I wanted to do too much. Even though I live, I'm not really alive. I don't want anyone to be disappointed. It's nice having money... I wanted to make money." 

The news of her death prompted a massive outpouring grief of fellow actors and filmmakers. 
She is remembered for her talent, intelligence and passion that made her stand out among the actress of her generations.
Hundreds of her fellow actors and entertainers attended her funeral.


Lee Eun-ju's friends and colleagues have held memorials for her every year since her passing. She was cremated and enshrined in a crypt at Goyang.

Lee Eun-ju's Suicide Note: (translated)

"Mom, I love you. I'll protect you. 

I wanted to work so much. I wasn't doing work on purpose; 
i couldnt, 
but the ppl around me couldnt recognize and understand it...
how could they know how i feel if they're not me..."

"Mom, when i think about it, i know i have to live, 
but even when im living i'm not. I'll protect you. 
I'll always protect you right next to you. 


I didn't want to hate anyone. I tried to handle it myself..."


"No..I have no feelings...I'm not me..
I wanted to go back a year from now. 
I prayed everyday, but it was just a foolish wanting.
If it was a year ago, I'd be able to live like me."

"I'm relieved that I saw dad's face 2 days ago.

Money is not everything, but it's such a hard life because of it. 
I don't like money either."

"My one and only big brother, 
you were way better and talented than me 
but I'm sorry because you didn't get the love. 
I bet there were many disappointing times because of me. 


I wanted to go to many places and wanted to do many things. 
I wanted to eat many things too, 
but living in a house with the family..living in 1 house, 
I thought we could've lived happily by doing what we wanted to do 
and going wherever we wanted to go.."

"The person I love the most, mom, 
I wanted to make you happy...I'll protect you."

"The last talk on the phone, big sis, 
I was thankful, sorry, and it was hard. 


The person that told me today's the day. 
I thank you.

The people that loved me when I couldn't do anything, 
I wanted to meet and laugh together, 
I didn't avoid on purpose. 


I know it is important, 
but I'm sorry I cant agree anymore." ;(**

Abused While Alive And After Death

Not Only Physically Abused
A 65-year-old American woman with dementia was locked in a tiny room - with a urine-soaked mattress to sleep on and a dog bowl to drink from for months - so that her three "keepers" could live off her monthly government pension cheques.

A police officer sent to the suspects' home in Anderson, Indianapolis found Anna Turner locked in the 2m by 2.5m storage room, police said in a probable cause affidavit.
One of the suspects, Luigi A. Amalfitano, 45, told the officer that he didn't know Turner and that she wasn't at the home.
But the officer conducted a sweep of the home and found Turner in a room that was "barely fit to contain an animal, let alone a human being".

Amalfitano, his 20-year-old son Louis A. Amalfitano, and his son's girlfriend, 21-year-old Stephanie Lynette Cole were arrested and face preliminary charges of exploitation of an endangered adult.
The Amalfitanos also face preliminary charges of confinement and battery, and Cole faces a preliminary charge of aiding confinement.
The three remained jailed on Friday, May 28 on US$100,000 (S$140,000) cash bonds.

Anderson police Detective Mitch Carroll said Turner suffered severe physical abuse at the house and was gaunt, malnourished and had a black eye and large bruises on her arm and body when she was taken from the home. - AP

******

Spiritually Abused Too

ALTHOUGH the old granny was surviving on the little allowance subsidised by the Social Welfare Department, she took good care of her grandson.

After all the love and efforts she showered on the boy, the granny did not get back the treatment she deserved.
She died in 2008 but was only laid to rest a year later as the grandson lost all the money for her funeral at the gambling table.

The grandson (left) was taken back to the training centre from the court (Photo: Oriental Daily)

A court in the Special Administrative Region found the odd-job worker, 19, guilty and ordered him to continue with his rehabilitation course at a training centre.
The teenager had been undergoing the course since November 2008 after he was found guilty of selling illegal cigarettes.

According to Ming Bao, the grandson was sent to live with his grandmother in Hong Kong by his parents, who remained in China when he was nine years old.
In August 2008, the grandmother died at the hospital.
Then, a sum of HK$10,750 (S$2,050) was deposited into the grandson's account by the Social Welfare Department for the granny's funeral arrangements.

Two days after the money was given, the grandson took all of them and travelled to Macau.
He only returned five hours later after losing the money at he gambling table.
His grandmother was left at the hospital mortuary for a year and was only laid to rest in August 2009 with the help of police and the Social Welfare Department.

Anything Left For Earning An Honest Living?

I did not believe Kak Asmah when she said, her husband has to work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week to bring home RM1,000.

Even then, one thousand is not sufficient for the family of 6 with the forever rising cost of basic necessities. She supplemented the security guard's salary with looking after neighbours' children and sewing at home.

But my ex-neighbour, the husband, once a security guard with a bank, agree with the statement, and with a black chapter in the course of his job.

After clocking out on that particular payday few years ago, he withdrew his salary but the amount turned his face, pale - Balance RM2.00.
He checked with the bank that he guarded and it was confirmed his salary of RM600 per month had been withdrawn just hours earlier. There's NO OTHER WAYS to check the culprit although it was rumoured that it was an insider's job.

Although this happened a few years ago and he is now a taxi-driver, but looking back how the family went through the horror and harrowing period, it is still clear in my mind.
His experience shuddered me seeing another security guard, who used to pass by my house when he was staying nearby then, on his way to work riding his motorbike, with an arm slinging on his right shoulder.

Often I told My Husband, should... one fine day, he is being pushed while riding his motorbike and the bad intention culprit take away the loaded arm from him, I cannot imagine what the next episode will unfold.
For the meagre salary of less than RM1,000 salary per month, I always ask myself if his life worth risking while travelling on the main road with the arm, slinging on his shoulder, attracting the eyes many road users.

As I read what had been by The Star for the past 2 days, I can only sigh, knowingly that it is not going to be any time sooner when?????? the effort of all security guards guarding premises will be acknowledged and justly salaried.

******

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) is against the Government's postponement of the minimum new salary scheme of an estimated 150,000 security guards nationwide salary which was supposed to be effective July.

The increase of 67% to 75% from their current salaries will see them getting the take-home pay of between RM1,100 and RM1,450 a month, including overtime pay and allowances.
On April 22, the ministry announced it would implement the Wage Regulations Order (Le­­gal Minimum Wages for Private Security Guards) 2010 from July 1, despite calls from the industry to allow the companies concerned to prepare for it.

On Sunday, June 13, Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subrama­niam announced that the Cabinet had decided to delay the implementation of the minimum wage increase following a request by Malaysian Security Services Association (SSAM), but no time frame was given.
The scheme is temporarily shelved. The association needed more time to update and streamline their operations. The new salaries would have implications on existing contracts. The association feels that its implementation by next month will have an adverse effect on such businesses. The requested delay will allow the companies involved to update their operations and be better prepared for it.
It did not state when the pay increase would be implemented but it was reported last month that the association had asked the Government to delay its implementation by two months.

The Govern­ment’s announcement to delay the raise in the minimum wage has sparked a blame game between stakeholders in the provision of private security services.

The Security Guards Union (SGU) is blaming the Malaysian Security Services Association (SSAM) for requesting the Govern­ment to delay the July 1 implementation date of the salary rise.
SGU acting secretary-general M. Gnanasegaran said the SSAM should set a deadline for the pay rise to take place because it had been delayed several times.

“Most guards work 12 hours a day, 26 days a month. They need the salary increase for their family’s survival,” he said.
He added that some guards were not getting basic benefits such as insurance and overtime.

The SSAM on the other hand is blaming the Government, saying they could not increase salaries unless the value of their government contracts was increased; failing which they risked closing shop as more than 70% of its 400 members relied on government contracts.

SSAM president Datuk Shaheen Mirza Habib said: “We are not against the salary increase, but want it to be done simultaneously and together with the increase in contract value.”
“How are we going to pay the guards if the salaries are increased but the contract value is not?”

The annual general meeting on July 26 will discuss setting new contract rates at possibly around RM7 to RM7.50 per hour from the current contract rate at about RM4 to RM5 per hour, of which 60% to 65% goes to the guards. Their profit margin is 6% to 7%.

He disclosed that security guards earned a basic salary of between RM300 and RM500, but took home between RM800 and RM1,000.and the remainder covers administrative costs.

The Human Resource Minister, having spent 7 years studying all the views and recommendation before announcing his decision to implement a minimum wage, should not make a U-turn to allow employers to continue to exploit their workers with a meager wage of RM300 to RM400 a month, as was said by the MTUC secretary-general G.Rajasekaran said in a statement on Monday.

With all dilly-dallying and ding-donging, must the public pay for the already toooooo long delay?

Tuesday June 15, 2010

Off-duty guard turns snatch thief

KOTA KINABALU: An off-duty security guard became a snatch thief when he grabbed RM1,000 from a woman minutes after she withdrew the money from an automated teller machine.
However, three policemen on beat duty nabbed the 29-year-old guard after the woman screamed for help.
Penampang district police chief Deputy Supt Madang Usat said the 37-year-woman had just walked away from the ATM at about 3.30pm yesterday when the guard approached the victim from behind, snatching the money. He fled towards a nearby funfair.
“My men detained him after a 200m chase an d recovered the money,” he said.
He added that they were also checking to see if the suspect was involved in other snatch theft incidents. — Bernama

The Not PUBLIC Servicing TRANSPORT

I had just known yesterday that my neighbour, Fauzi, is no more driving a taxi.

The cab owner had taken it back. What's his next step? He has no idea at the moment after been driving a cab for almost 20 years.
Prior to this, he was driving lorries north and south of the peninsular but as age is catching up, he doubt of doing the same job.

He did apply to drive  the yellow bus,  but at the basic salary of RM18.00 per day, he has to give it a very deep thought.
Initially, it's hard for me to believe my friend's husband salary as a bus driver driving the Pontian route range at RM25.00 to RM28.00 but seeing they still struggle to put food on the table for the family despite the wife working as a chamber maid, I know that they are telling the truth.

The wife, after working more than 16 years in Seri Malaysia Hotel, take home salary is less than RM1,000.
I cried as I typed the figure RM1,000. In fact, it's less than RM900. (RM1,000 just to make me feel nice). The family, with 5 schooling children, struggled harder when the father was involved in an accident.
He stayed at home for 3 months.

******

Honestly, I have phobia taking local route bus.
The driver whose bus I was in, kept to his extreme left along Jalan Ah Fook, squeezing into the motorcyclist path that led the motorist lost his balance and fell. It gave the driver and his friend, a bus driver too I supposed, a good laugh.
Where does the laughter will lead them?
From then on, no more short bus trip around JB for me.

Prior to this, I thought a bus card which was sold to me at a bus stop along Jalan Tun Abdul Razak will be a great convenience to me, like the Singapore's ez-link card. Little did I know that I had to travel to the depot for top-up. Where has the bus card led passengers?

Once, while travelling back from KL, the Trans-National bus driver said it's common for drivers to sit on as many as 20 traffic summons.
They were caught in between the number of journeys taken, feeling compassion for passengers and abiding the law. Passengers will definitely want to be dropped off nearest to their destinations but the traffic police will book them for not following the law.

******

I was at Kampong Melayu when I saw a bus passing through the place.
Oh, it's 1Malaysia bus at RM1.00 going round Giant Supermarket and Larkin Plaza. Will the bus fleet be phased out if 1Malaysia is no more the chanted slogan?

I remembered the time when Larkin Terminal was built, the then determination by the then MB was to compete with the Singapore's bus interchange. The Transitlink bus fleet will liken the SBS.
Other things built and implemented were all about competing, not working hand-in-hand.

Where has all these aspirations lead Johoreans?

About public transport woes, it is endless. Just read today's letter in The Star.
There are 2 letters actually to be read.

Disappointed with bus journey to Singapore                            

SINGAPORE was our first trip after our wedding three years ago. We decided to travel by coach because it was cheaper than flying.
Hence, we went to the Bukit Jalil bus station to book the coach ticket a week before our trip. Everything seemed fine and we were looking forward to the trip. However, it did not go as smoothly as we wished.
On May 31, we arrived in Bukit Jalil around 7.45am to ensure we were on time for departure. We had a very bad morning. Departure was delayed due to insufficient number of passengers. The early passengers waited patiently for the coach to be full. We were supposed to depart at 8.30am but ended up starting the journey at 10.30am.
We couldn’t wait to set foot in Singapore. Another disappointment awaited us at the Larkin bus terminal in Johor. The coach conductor told us to disembark, and he brought us to the RM2.50 Singapore-Johor shuttle bus for travel to Singapore.
We were told that this coach was a direct coach to Singapore. Why were we told to get down from the coach and take the public bus? The assistant conductor dared us to complain, saying that they were not bothered.
I am very disappointed with this kind of attitude and those companies that run their business dishonestly. If as a Malaysian I have lost confidence in our public transport, what will foreigners with similar experiences think of us?
DISSATISFIED PASSENGER,
Seri Kembangan.

******

Get the bus system revving smoothly first
THE Association for the Improvement of Mass-Transit notes that this appears to be a week of major change and announcements for public transport.
We have a new Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, and the Land Public Transport Commission (Spad) was created on June 1 with Syed Hamid Albar as the first chair.
We also have the recent announcement of proposals for an MRT network in the Klang Valley and a high-speed rail route between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. In addition, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will introduce the 10th Malaysia Plan today.
Despite all these changes, Transit wonders how much effort is being made to shift our public transport industry from an entrepreneurial model to a service-based model.
No matter how much money is invested in mega projects, we will never see an improved public transport system unless there is improved leadership and a real push towards a service-based model.
We can only hope that with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as Minister-in-Charge, Syed Hamid Albar as chair, and Mohd Nor Ismail Nor Kamal as CEO, the Land Public Transport Commission will be a proactive leadership, with a clear vision for public transport and the confidence and ability to move the industry forward.
Similarly, we hope that Kong Cho Ha, as Transport Minister, will put people first, not companies first.
Before we look at LRT and MRT projects and spending perhaps RM50bil to expand the rail network in the Klang Valley, we must first improve the reliability and availability of the existing bus services in the Klang Valley and other cities throughout Malaysia.
The best way to do this is in two simple steps:
First, Spad must work with the Transport Minister and local and state governments to create Public Transport Organising Authorities for the six largest urban areas in Malaysia – the Klang Valley, Johor Baru, Penang, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Ipoh.
The Organising Authorities – which could be government agencies (like the Penang Transport Council), private companies (like RapidKL) or responsible agencies (like the Iskandar Regional Development Authority) – would be responsible for the planning, management and organisation of public transport in their respective regions.
They would work with existing public transport operators to improve the availability and reliability of basic public transport services and expand those services to meet the social and economic needs of each region.
Second, as part of the 10th Malaysia Plan, the Government gives RM1bil to each of the six Organising Authorities to invest this money (and more which they would raise themselves) into creating complete and sustainable rapid transit networks.
If the money is spent in the most cost-effective manner, we can build the complete, reliable public transport networks that our cities need.
Once public transport in these six regions has been stabilised by the Organising Authorities, and a complete rapid transit network is in place, the Government can start looking at larger scale investment projects like MRT and High Speed Rail.
MOAZ YUSUF AHMAD,
on behalf of TRANSIT.

Cinta Selat Tebrau - My Version

Later in the day, Rosyam Nor, the 2-time Asia Pacific Film Festival Award-winning Malaysian film producer and stage actor will be in Perkampungan Melayu, Geylang, to audition the public for his coming DVD telemovie, 'Cinta Selat Tebrau'.

He is said to be the lead (?) actor.
The local actress, among others, will be Mastura Ahamd, a well known local tv personality.
I surfed the net if 'Cinta Selat Tebrau' will be based on novel which I have yet to read, but I doubt so, being Rosyam will be the hero.
There's only  one  online short storey found.

Yes, Selat Tebrau has many love stories to unfold.
If the straits can communicate, Selat Tebrau links and breaks many hearts - Many lives and many families too.

I could not remember when was the first time I crossed the Tebrau Straits but it was usually to follow My Late Father visiting His only cousin who travelled with Him together from Central Java, who lived in Kampong Melayu Majidi.
Subsequently when I married and stay across the causeway, it made many hearts worry - The tenants whom My Father rent out houses in Geylang Serai when I was younger, were almost 100% from across the causeway.
Generally they worked in Singapore as construction workers building flats.
Some of them married Singaporeans and having families.

When they were no more working, some uprooted their families to go back to their homeland across the causeway.
Many others left their Singapore wife and children to self defend themselves - These cause more worry for My Parents, Brothers and Sisters as I have no one to turn to in times of need.

The experience of a late ex-neighbour who has had the daughter married off, followed the husband 'balik kampung' and left to tend padi field in Negri Sembilan worried them more.
The lady's husband, as I was informed by her sister, did not bother to renew the wife's travelling documents. That is to say, she lives illegally in Negri Sembilan.

As time passed, it is My turn to worry for those who married across the causeway.
There was once when I was at the checkpoint, I bumped into an old neighbour, whom I knew had moved to KL.
Yes, she was still staying in KL then, but work the 12-hour shift in Seagate Singapore.
The 3 or 4 days she's in Singapore working, she stayed over at her mother's house.
She will travel back to KL on her last working days every week for another 3 or 4 days to spend time with her 7 children.
Her tourist guide husband was in jail for drug offence.
When he was finally hanged, We found a place in JB for the mother to go back to her children every working days.

A girl who used to sleep over at My place before her marriage, suddenly avoided me when we happened to meet in Singapore-Johor Express Bus.
I had to stop lending money to her when she was in great difficulties - She continued to get engaged to her relative, knowingly he suffered from  hernia.
Even during their engagement period, her man would be on long sick leave.
It worried me then, as she's an orphan with only her brother to depend on.

Her man's application to get married to her was turned down by the Singapore government, but they married, anyway - Love is blind, she said, which I replied, yes love is blind but sickness sees money - And money is never enough for the couple before, and worst still, after marriage.

But one jovial Singapore-Johor Express Bus driver, who admitted himself having 3 wives, never fail to cheer the passengers in which the bus he drives with topic of the day - From the numbers that he bought to juggling his time with his wives.
"Oh, Hari Raya satu hari saya duduk kat masjid. Bini semua tak boleh kacau."
What a man!

Love for their family led to many Malaysians cross the Singapore-Johor Causeway daily - average motorists going to work in Singapore is no less than 30,000 per day.

There was this lady who work as a cleaner in Raffles Hospital for S$800 per month.
"Cukup ke? Tambang sendiri, makan lagi," I asked her.

"Sendiri negeri kerja cleaner mau 600 pun tak boleh dapat. Segini dapat, boleh saving lagi."
I feel for her.
She's proud of what she's earning.

I had seen the proud face of a degree holder, working as a S$1,800 security personnel in Changi.
He travelled daily from Pasir Gudang.
The factory-hand widowed mother is even prouder of her son - He schooled his 2 siblings and their house was fully paid, by him.
These 2 Indians,  and many others,  have my full respect.
I always admire their perseverance.

Try lining 'Selat Tebrau' with money those workers earned from across the causeway???

******

A man, who once served at Woodlands Naval Base, would drive his wife to work across the causeway daily from Tun Aminah.
"Dia kerja ukur kain kat Wodlands." Her parents were made known the nature of her work.

"Ukur kain boleh balik kampung kat utara tiap-tiap bulan ke?" I was curious.

A close neighbour of mine would scrimp and save to go back up north once a year.
RM3,000 had to be put aside for the yearly hari raya trip wih 5 kids in tow.
"Nasib baik Ummie, dua-dua kampung tak jauh. Kalau tak, tak salinlah hari raya jawabnya." 

******

At last, the man who drove and wait his wife at work, opened up.
His wife, a licensed prostitute in Singapore.
She would go for check-up every two weeks, so not to worry about that.

They were used to living in Singapore and there's no other ways for them to earn money he used to have, feed their 3 kids and need to send 'kampung'.

That's the couple's 'Cinta Selat Tebrau' too?
Their version?                                                 

'Aidilfitri, Saving And The Missing Sons

I was one month late for this year's 'Aidilfitri visit to Granny Zara's house but surprisingly, she still put aside many Hari Raya goodies, drinks and food-stuff she received from well-wishes, corporate companies and associations, for me to bring home even if it was only after Syawal that I managed to drop by.

Thank God...
This year she received more than RM1,400 from hands-out.
Not included the 8 bags of rice which she had asked the nearby provision shop to sell on her behalf.
What a brilliant person!
Knowing well it's impossible for her to finish up the stock before white worms start to appear among the grains.

Her saving for now is close to RM10,000 but, what can she do with the amount?
It's a figure that she never imagined of - having so much money but with her is only tens of ringgits in hands.

The rest are all in the bank.

******

It was few years back when her intention of keeping some emergency money at home was ruined.
She had kept RM300 in the safest place - sewn in a pillow, but the thief or thieves had left her with only strewn cotton-wool all around her house.

Her poverty stemmed from being illiterate to let her ex-husband forced her to sign a document which was later found out to be an agreement to auction all household furnitures to repay his lost in horse-betting before he quietly went back to India.

She was close to madness, as she admitted, getting jeers from neighbours and there's no one for her to turn to.

No family members and no money in hand had made the world spinning in her head.
She would make ends-meet washing laundry for households and I happened to need her.
After more than 20 years later, I still make a point to pay her occasional visits just to ensure she's well and have what's needed.

******

After more than 10 years she did not have any news of the whereabout of her 3 sons, she declared them missing with the father.
Social Welfare and 'Baitul Mal' started to step in providing financial aid.
When her life was about to be taken care by another, surprisingly the 3 sons started to appear from KL, from Malacca and from JB.

The 3 sons 'biscuit-like appearance' did not make any difference nor glitters her twilight years who's down with high blood, diabetic, nearing kidney failure and a weak heart.
For I have yet to meet them in person in their mother's house.
When will the time be?
The final journey of her life?