The Maid - Squeezing Dry The Employers

'Recycled' Maid Wreak Havoc
KELANA JAYA: Foreign Maid Scam

MY Indonesian maid went missing after just two weeks, so did the agent, leaving my household in a total mess.
I pursued the matter and discovered that the whole thing was staged to ‘rob’ me of RM8,000 in fees for the maid.
Now, I cannot trace the agent and am resigned to not getting my money back. I am afraid to deal with another agent although I am in desperate need of a maid.
My problems began early January when a friend introduced me to a foreign labour agent and I immediately engaged him to get me a maid.
I paid RM4,000 in advance and the balance was to be paid as soon as the maid started work. In mid-February, the agent brought a young Indonesian lady to my home, much to the disappointment of my wife when she learnt the maid had no experience looking after children.
In fact, she had no experience doing any household chores and my three children were always left to fend for themselves. I complained to the agent and he came one morning and took her away, saying she had accused my wife of ill-treating her.
He said the maid needed ‘counselling’ and that a replacement would be made available in a week.
The replacement maid never arrived and that was the last I saw the agent against whom I made a police report
later.
I had no choice but to get another maid, but this time I went to a recognised foreign labour recruitment agency.
That was when I learned about certain agencies that provide maids who run away after working for short periods.
These maids cook up stories that they have been abused and ill-treated and these tales are then used by the agent to take the maid away with the promise of a replacement.
The runaway maid would be sent to another family, only to repeat the cycle. In many cases the rogue agents only reimbursed a partial sum to the affected families.
The National Consumer Complaints Centre confirmed the ‘recycling’ tactics when I lodged a report there as well.
I was told the centre received close to 1,400 complaints last year, compared with the 750 complaints in 2009.
This is a problem that is getting out of hand and I believe there could be more cases.
I would like to advise those in need of maids to be wary of falling into this trap.
Ramli MB.  

Source: Malay Mail - Thursday, April 14, 2011

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'Troublemaker' Maids In Cahoots With Agencies

PUTRAJAYA: Several foreign maid agencies are believed to have scammed their customers out of RM8.1 million last year by giving them "troublemaker" maids, who ran away after working for just a few months. National Consumer Complaints Centre senior manager M. Matheevani said these agencies practised a "recycling" tactic by ensuring that maids, who were hired out after potential employers placed a deposit of between RM8,000 and RM10,000, created problems before running back to the agency.

These hapless employers would be forced to fork out more money to get another maid, as their deposits could not be refunded.

Even in cases where clients were reimbursed, they would only get a partial sum.
Meanwhile, the runaway maid would be sent to another family, only to repeat the cycle.

"We received many complaints from employers who claimed they were cheated by the agencies and lost thousands of ringgit just to hire a maid.

"It is a serious problem and these are only cases which are reported. There could be more," she told the New Straits Times.

Last year, the centre received 1,363 complaints, almost double of the 746 complaints in 2009.

Matheevani said there were also cases where the maids could not do any housework, although the employers were promised qualified and experienced workers.

There were also instances when documents, such as permits and health checks, were incomplete despite employers having paid a hefty price for the maids.

"We had one complainant, who paid RM10,000 for a maid who did not have a permit and had not undergone a health check."

She said if there were others who had faced similar problems, they should lodge a complaint with the with the centre to prevent future employers from falling into the trap.

Source: New Straits Times - April 11, 2011

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Indah* had been working for Kay's* family in KL for slighty more than a year.

Although Indah did not honour her two-year contract, Kay allowed her to return to Indonesia on humanitarian basis.

Indah was returned to the maid agency.

All together, Kay handed the agency RM6,000 together with Indah's salary and air ticket.

Three weeks later, Kay received an SMS from Indah.

She was still in Malaysia.

The maid agency said Indah had to finish her two-year contract.

So, she was sent to work for an unsuspecting family for a period of six months.

Kay demanded the maid be returned to her immediately, but the agency claimed Indah's new employer refused to release her.

Kay then demanded the agency to return all monies (Indah's salary and air ticket) that she had paid to the agency, as she wanted to personally send Indah back to Indonesia.

Kay was later informed that the salary had been banked into a maid representative account.

Indah will receive her salary due to her, upon her arrival in Indonesia.

When Kay demanded to see the air ticket that the agency supposed to buy for Indah three weeks ago, it was only that very day the ticket had only been purchased...

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After paying RM8,500, an Indonesian maid was sent to Shah*'s family the next day.

But a month later, she ran away.

The request for a replacement was ignored even after two months.

*** Both are real incidences that happened last year. 

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Maid Flee Employer's Home With Valuables Worth RM450,000
Submitted by Najiah

KOTA BARU: A man incurred almost half a million ringgit in losses when his Indonesian maid absconded with valuables and collectibles from his house four days ago.
Kelantan deputy police chief SAC Mazlan Lazim said based on reports, the suspect, a 34-year-old Indonesian woman known as Neglis, escaped when her employer was not at home.
"According to reports, the victim, Foo Kiat Chai realised his maid was missing when he returned home at 6pm on Jan 28.
"The employer went into the maid's room and suspected something amiss when he noticed it was empty and the woman's clothes and belongings were gone," he told reporters here today.
He said Foo was shocked to find valuables, collectibles and heirlooms stored in a room, worth an estimated RM450,000, missing.
"Police have launched a manhunt for the suspect who hails from Bandung and holds a passport (AP 168246). We urge anyone with information to contact us to facilitate investigations," he added.

Source: Malay Mail - Wednesday, Februaury 2, 2011

(to be continued)

The Food - Why Pumpkin?

I watched Iron Chef, a Japanese cooking show two nights ago, over Asian Food Channel, with 'Pumpkin' as its theme ingredient.

The very versatile fruit, popularly used in Halloween and Thanksgiving, can be boiled, baked, steamed, or roasted, whichever way we want to go about it.

I often have it boiled in coconut milk.
Mix together with prior stir fry ground, pound or slice fresh turmeric (if there is any), shallots (or onion), garlic and any kind of chilli.
Anchovies, prawns, dried or fresh, or the paste, is optional.
Throw in fresh turmeric leave, the aroma will be heaven.
Have it with rice.

Try frying thin slice pumpkin using tempura flour ( or mixture of wheat and corn flour, dash of dried turmeric and salt).
Then eat it hot.
Usually it substitutes My meal.

Another meal substitution is to boil pumpkin in thin coconut milk, brown sugar (preferably palm sugar or 'gula melaka') and screwpine (pandan) leave, if there is.
Then lower heat, add thick coconut, stir so as not to coagulate the thick milk.

I've never fail to order pumpkin soup whenever I eat out at Secret Recipes.
Pumpkin to Me, is comfort dish.
Soup, puree or pie, it is GOD gift.

My Mother used to slice sideway, opening the top, put in coconut milk, eggs, brown sugar (preferably palm sugar or 'gula melaka'), screwpine (pandan) leave (if its around the kitchen), then bake it.
Pumpkin Custard is ready!

Or it can be served sweet as 'halawa' a Middle Eastern dish.

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Pumpkin is enjoyed by the Prophet Muhammad sollallaahu 'alaihi wasallam.

Anas b Malik radhiallahu anhu reported:

"A tailor invite the Messenger s.a.w. to a meal which he had prepared.

Anas bib Malik said:

I went along with the Messenger of ALLAH SUBHAANAHU WA TA'AALA to the feast.

He presented to the Messenger s.a.w. barley bread and soup containing pumpkin, and slices of meat.

Anas said:

I saw the Messenger of ALLAH S.W.T. going round the dish,

ate that pumpkin with relish.

So I always liked the pumpkin since that day."

- Narrated by Muslim, Book 23, Hadith 5068.

Anas r.a. reported:

“GOD’s Messenger s.a.w. used to like pumpkin.

If a dish of bread, meat and broth was put before him,

and it contained pumpkin,

he would pick up the pumpkin.

I do like to eat pumpkin because the Prophet loved it.”

- Ibn Majah and Al-Darimi radhiallaahu 'anha.

Jabir r.a. narrated from his son Hakem r.a :

“I entered the Prophet s.a.w.’s home and I saw pumpkin being cut into pieces.

I asked what that was for.

He s.a.w. said:

‘Something we put in our food to increase it.’”

- Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah r.a.

"The Holy Prophet s.a.w., amongst all other foods, liked pumpkin.

- Tirmidhi r.a.

Abu’l-Hasan bin Dahhaq r.a. narrated from Aisha radhiallaahu 'anhu that Rasulullah s.a.w. said:

“Ya Aisha, when you cook,

add pumpkins abundantly.

Because it strengthens the heart."

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The pumpkin's color is a clue to its nutritional value as a great source of antioxidant carotenoids. 
 It is low in calories, and provides fiber, vitamin C, potassium and phosphorus.

Research in China reveals that pumpkin extract promotes regeneration of damaged pancreatic cells.
Compounds found in pumpkin could potentially replace or at least drastically reduce the daily insulin injections.
Pumpkin may be a source of medication, hoping to be able to boost insulin levels in order to lower blood sugar levels. 

According to Wikipedia, "research on type-1 diabetic rats, published in July 2007, suggests that chemical compounds found in pumpkin promote regeneration of damaged pancreatic cells, resulting in increased bloodstream insulin levels. According to the research team leader, pumpkin extract may be "a very good product for pre-diabetic people, as well as those who already have diabetes," possibly reducing or eliminating the need for insulin injections for some type-1 diabetics". 

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Some people blend pumpkin and a yolk as face packs to refresh and rejuvenate the skin.

Honestly, I've never tried, as I'm faithful to using Eumora.

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Roasted pumpkin seeds (kuaci putih) can be a great snack, some topped the seeds on ice cream.
Roasted seeds sold then, used to be saltish.
But just recently, I've found flavoured with garlic (at Sun Plaza, if I'm not mistaken).

Again, according to Wikipedia, "Pumpkin seeds have many health benefits, some of which include a good source of protein, zinc, and other vitamins, and are even said to lower cholesterol.
One gram of pumpkin seed protein contains as much tryptophan as a full glass of milk.
Pumpkin seeds are a good source of magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and phytosterols."

Pumpkin seed oil is believed to be a folk remedy for prostate problems, as it contains essential fatty acids that help to maintain healthy blood vessels, nerves and tissues.

*****

The Chinese is known to stir fry pumpkin leaves or put into soup, but I've never eaten it before.
Anyway, My late Mother-In-Law used to prepare sweet potato leaves the same way.

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The warm weather crop is grown round the world, maybe the exception of Arctic and Antartic.

I used to grow orange pumpkin along the side of My house..
Just throw the seeds on a bed of soil, and let nature takes its course.

I've never able to pluck the pumpkin fruit that I planted, but that is fine with Me.
The flowers are always plucked by My neighbours, turning them to 'kerabu' to Malaysian (?) or 'urap' (Is it Singaporean or Javanese?), mixed with grated coconut fresh chilli, and dried anchovies or prawns.

******

Loofah plant, related to the pumpkin, used to self-creep into My backyard.
I always had guilty feeling seeing the fruits hanging on cherry tree, and always offered them to (who else) neighbours.
I've never cooked it before.
The timing of the fruit ripening and my free time is always 'clash of the titan', wrong timing.

The fruit, by the time I was free, had already hardened.
Many of them dried up, the pod soon turned to natural sponge, in its long, natural shape.
Again, felt guilty seeing dried loofah sponge scattered behind My house.
Not appreciating GOD Gift, nature and My late Mother-In-Law.

******

In the 90s, I did not care much about recycling.
When My late Mother-In-Law brought Me those things, from Her Elder Sister who went back to their home village in China, I let those things staring at me at the kitchen sink for many years.
Maybe it was pleading Me to make full use of its presence.
I was more ignorant in the 90s about recycling then now, although I hate wastage.

My late Mother-In-Law used that to wash disheswhenever She was at My house, although there was sponge for Her.
She is a recycle freak, till the last of Her breath.

When My Son was six-years old, My Husband had the shock of His life.
His Mother had My Son wearing The Father's white primary school uniform.
My late Mother-In-Law then passed me a plastic bag full of white shitrs, all still gleaming white.
She had boiled them with clorox, and hand-washed them.
Yes, she hand-washed Her clothing, and My bachelor Elder Brother-In-Law's too, till She passed away.
We did buy for Her a washing machine, but it stayed covered ...

She had treasured those white shirts for more than 20 years, eagerly waiting for the day when those shirts fitted nicely on My Son.
20 years on, if She is alive today, asking for those shirts and the memory, I'll be lost...

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The usage of loofah sponge reminded Me of commonly use of coconut husk before dish-sponge was widely available.

When I was in China sometime ago, I realised the traditional loofah sponge usage and its Chinese link.
No wonder My Husband bought them for sentimental reason and kept them for so long.

I was in Body Shop at Causeway Point when I realised it can be used during shower.
It is believe that the natural sponge cleans and exfoliates more deeply to hard-to-reach areas.
But watch out!
Loofah sponge can become a haven for mold if not properly maintained.
If it is properly dried up, it can last for hundreds of showers or baths.

******

It was during an Eidul Fitri visit at a house in Tampines when a bowl of extraordinary potpurri attracts My attention.
Upon closer look, it's a mixture of discarded coconut husk, its twiglets and small cuts of loofah sponge.

That bowl of potpurri led Me to appreciate the loofah plant that crept into My backyard, in memory of My late Mother-In-Law.

Inner-Mongolia Remembered

Allaahu Akbar 3x
Laa Ilaaha Illallaah
waLlaahu Akbar

Allaahu waLillaahil Hamd.


Eidul Adha is here again.

This year we have our qurban in Cambodia.
But qurban best remembered was in 1999, Inner Mongolia, China - Of many places we attended, be it in Malaysia, Singapore or Indonesia.
China really left many sweet memories.

The men's features we saw were identical to those sketchers of Mongolian worriers.
The skilled handling of weapons, this time the sharpened knives, drives a shiver up your spine.
The skinning done on more than 120 sheep took less than half a day for them.

Nothing was left to waste.
School girls immediately took the sheepskin to wash and left to dry under the sun.
The skins will late be sold and money earned will be funded to their madrasah.

Every bicycles left the slaughter scene with a sheep head placed in front of the bicycle.
Initially it was a frightening sight to see the bodiless head with eyes looking at your way.

The last few persons that left to clean up the place, scrapped up the frozen blood that has turned to ice due to snowfall and yes, the sheep's stool too was not left behind.
It will be made into fertiliser.

What a green earth we should follow.

It's a great contrast to all sheep heads being buried here.
Nevertheless, the giddy smell stretched for days and extendable to weeks.