Loan Or No Loan
Posted on: April 22, 2012
One thing that Malaysians love to do is to discuss about the things that politicians have been quoted as saying. Whether the politicians even are aware of the nonsense they sprout is one thing, Malaysians love a good debate even if it is in informal surroundings such as mamak stalls and even at the bus stop.
One of the latest issues is about an Opposition leader’s claims that he will scrap PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund) if he comes into power. Having graduated upon the good graces of PTPTN to loan me some money, here are my two cents worth.
1. PTPTN shouldn’t be scrapped. Instead, the people i.e. students who are given loans should be responsible enough to repay back the money that has been given to them. If we abolish PTPTN, what kind of message are we giving our kids? That it is all right to receive and not repay?
2. It is not the loan which is the problem. Just like every other governmental, semi-governmental agency in this country, the main problem is implementation of policies and the way the whole organisation is run. The way I see it, the different departments in PTPTN have no clue as to what everyone else is doing. Someone should totally revamp the structure of PTPTN and perhaps we will be able to get a loan disbursement agency which actually works.
For example, I have been fortunate enough to be able to repay my loan in a short time. Still, in the one year since I have paid off the loan, I have yet to receive my Release Letter (directly translated from Surat Pelepasan *lol*) stating that I have indeed paid off all debts. After numerous calls, complaints and transferring of calls, I finally found out that the reason I have not received the letter is that PTPTN is supposed to refund me a certain sum.
I was told to send my account details to PTPTN which I promptly did (more so for the fact that I wanted to close the book on PTPTN once and for all rather than the added bonus of being reimbursed). That was in March. One week later, I finally received the letter only to find out that they had actually apparently credited the money to my account in FEBRUARY. Do you smell something fishy going on here?
It is now the end of April and after many checks, I have yet to receive the money from PTPTN. A few days ago, I saw in the papers that someone else has been in the same predicament since middle of last year. What am I supposed to do now? I don’t reckon complaints work because they seem to be too thick skinned to do anything about problems.
So yeah, if anyone out there in power is listening – you don’t have to do anything drastic like totally abolish a system that actually helps. Instead, think of ways to improve on existing infrastructures. To both sides – stop with the overpromising and start delivering. And please, only accept accolades when you have actually done something extra than what you were elected to do in the first place!
What Shouldn’t Happen, Did :(
Posted on: April 22, 2012
One of the things I missed most about being away from Malaysia is football (and of course, the food – but that is another story for another day!). I just couldn’t figure out why rugby was so popular AND I definitely couldn’t stand that they call football soccer over at the land down under. So obviously now that I am back in Malaysia, I try and watch as many [Manchester United] matches as possible.
After the yawn inducing Chelsea-Arsenal match last night, I was hoping for a great Manchester United-Everton game. Being in Old Trafford, one would expect the Red Devils to kill off the title chase by winning. Alas – ’twas not to be. What is even worse is the fact that Manchester City will definitely demolish Wolves later in the evening AND also probably defeat United in next week’s game.
Kudos, though, to David Moyes and his resilient Everton team who definitely switched their game up after their loss last weekend. Being 1-0 up, 3-1 down and even 4-2 down, they never gave up which just goes to show that if you believe, you will definitely be able to do great things. One can only wonder how Manchester United’s defense allowed such goals to be scored in the first place. Surely there will be a lot of thinking and pondering and strategising. I definitely do not want to be anywhere near Sir Alex Ferguson at the moment!
Goodbye, 20th Premier League title. The chase was fun while it lasted. Should we start looking forward to next season??!
Faithfully
Posted on: April 18, 2012
My absolute favourite Journey song of all time! I don’t really enjoy what Cee Lo makes his team do normally but this was supreme masterclass. Only regret is that he couldn’t choose both to go through!
I love how The Voice allows the contestants to showcase their own musical style instead of trying to mould them into something different. However, I hate that The Voice stops being about the voice after the blind auditions and turns into a marketing gimmick pretty much near the end.
Still, everyone is pretty talented this time round and I can’t wait to see what shocking elimination is set for next week’s episodes!
Mixed Signals, Much?
Posted on: April 1, 2012
I have a guilty pleasure and that is American Idol. Since it started airing in Malaysia during Season 3, I have been hooked onto the show. Bar last season, I haven’t found anything that I don’t really like about the judges/contestants. And of course, who doesn’t love being a critique him/herself? I sing like a frog yet can spit out words of wisdom i.e. “that sounded really pitchy” or “oh no she’s in trouble – wasn’t her best performance”.
So this season has been exciting because you’re looking at youngsters who are predominantly young kids who are surprisingly articulate and know what they want to do and how they want to do it. So you’ve got this mix of amazing talents who each have their own niche already carved out for them. You’ve got the raspy, soulful Elise Testone, the powerhouse vocalist Jessica Sanchez, the Christian rocker Colton Dixon and the pumped up country singer Skylar Laine. And then you have Hee Jun Han who is in a totally different platform of his own.
Most people would find him a tad too much to take but I actually think that he is pretty adorable and refreshing. And I absolutely hate it when people aka the judges slam him for not taking the competition seriously. Sure, he isn’t the best singer in the competition. Don’t you think he knows that? Furthermore, I think it is really hypocritical for the judges to sound him on all that when they knew exactly what they were getting when they put him through. Gee, two faced much?
Anyway, am glad Hee Jun left when he did because his final performance was definitely the bomb. While not everyone’s cup of tea, Hee Jun definitely brought something interesting into the competition this season and who knows? American Idol might have been the thing he needed to launch off his own career.
The Hippocratic Crush
Posted on: March 15, 2012
Yes, my guilty pleasure is to watch TVB dramas. I don’t mind any type or genre i.e. modern, costume drama, comedy, thrillers, police academy, etc. You name it, I do enjoy placing my butt on the sofa and sitting transfixed for the length of one episode. Before Astro on Demand, there was Astro Wah Lai Toi. Before Astro Wah Lai Toi, I got my TVB fix watching TV2 – albeit the shows would be at least a couple of years old by the time they aired it on free TV.
So it was a pleasant surprise to find that one can now subscribe to Astro on Demand and watch the latest TVB shows the exact time as they are airing it in Hong Kong (and that is true – my sister and I did not miss any episodes during our recent holiday there, which was another awesome aspect of the trip).
Still, that does not mean that I watch anything and everything produced by TVB nowadays. There are so many that started off really great and then simply died halfway (yes, have yet to watch the last half of Stupid Cupid and almos cried seeing what they did to L’Escargot). Therefore, I definitely welcome any shows which still can hook me till the very last episode.
Enter … The Hippocratic Crush.
I have to admit I was not sold on the prospect of Kenneth Ma playing the lead character in this series. (Yes, I am one of those who selects the things she watches based on who acts in them. So sue me). But he eventually won me over in his portrayal as Dr Cheung Yat Kin aka Yat Kin Tau.
Other characters are nicely fleshed out and all the newbies are given ample screen time so that we know their back story as well. I’m no medic student but the portrayal of the doctors, interns and housemen do seem to be pretty accurate as are the medical knowledge imparted in the series. Also, I love that it is more realistic than some other series what with the characters dealing with ineptness, death, self esteem issues, among others.
There are still 2 episodes left (today and tonight) and while I can pretty much guess where it’s headed, am glad that I finally found another great medical series that had me hooked from the get go. Wonder what they are showing next though – and more importantly, who is acting in it?!
The Devil Inside
Posted on: March 13, 2012
… not for kids, but with a title like that, you already knew that, didn’t you?
I love watching horror movies especially at the cinema. Cause it beats watching it on your own at night (though that has its own thrills as well!). However, The Devil Inside isn’t really a horror movie, in my opinion. Instead, it is sort of Blair Witch-esque and filmed to look like it’s a documentary. Isabella Rossi, whose mom has been committed in an asylum in Rome, is filming a documentary on exorcisms to find out more about what really happened. When in Rome, she meets a couple of priests who actually do exorcisms on the side. Mayhem ensues as she follows them on a few exorcisms.
Of course, this movie doesn’t have anything to do with the Vatican. Still, it does make some allegations that the Vatican is hypocritical and prone to dismiss cases of demon possession. The effects were pretty cool, though, what with the attempts at exorcism and the way the possessed lose control of their limbs.
Still, I wouldn’t say that this is a must-watch movie. Plus, I am prone to motion sickness so the shaky camera work did nothing to help me enjoy the movie. For those who are out to watch a movie about exorcism, The Exorcist still ranks at the top of the pile.
Cold Vengeance
Posted on: March 9, 2012
Now that I am back in Malaysia, I don’t have the pleasure of reading free books at the library anymore 😦 Book Xcess at Amcorp Mall is excellent but the books are rather outdated, as are those at other discount book stores – though I do enjoy a little rummage at the dusty shelves once in a while. Book sales are great except that I get claustrophobic when I am in a huge crowd of people. First instinct is definitely to flee!
That is why I get extremely excited whenever I can find new books at cheaper prices. Cold Vengeance came out end of last year which doesn’t make it an extremely new book but still! Best part is I actually found it in the airport in Bali. If there is ever another reason to give Bali a visit, it is the cheaper books! Don’t trust me? I got my copy of Cold Vengeance at RP80,000 which works out to be only worth roughly RM26.50. Is it a good deal or is it a good deal??!
Anyway, Cold Vengeance picks off where Fever Dream left off. Agent Pendergast is about to discover that someone close to him was actually involved in the murder of his late wife. An attempt on his life is made – and I don’t think I will be giving away anything by saying that he survives it simply because this is the second book in a trilogy and he is after all the hero.
Since a beloved character was killed off in one of their earlier books, the authors reintroduced Corrie Swanson to the mix. While injury led Vincent D’Agosta to play only a bit part in this book, fans will be happy to note that Constance Greene is given more prominence. Also, Pendergast digs slowly and surely into his wife’s murky past to discover secrets that he had never known before.
It’s one of those books which you find hard to put down once you have started reading and I, for one, can’t wait for the last book in the Helen trilogy to be published … which unfortunately for impatient old me is at the end of the year.
To drown my sorrows, I suppose I might be persuaded to sink my teeth into another series which is by the same authors introducing the character of Gideon Crew. If he is anything like the spectacular Pendergast, the new series should be a worth while read as well.
Fever Dream
Posted on: March 7, 2012
One of the most amazing aspects about spending time in Australia is the fact that their libraries are amazingly well stocked. True, bestsellers and new releases are almost always checked out but that is what the online booking application is for. With the vast array of old and new books to peruse, the library became my favourite haunt 🙂
And so I was stoked to be able to find Fever Dream while browsing through the titles one day. I was still reeling from Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child’s decision to kill of William Smithback in their previous book (Cemetery Dance) but I have always been a sucker for Agent Aloysius XL Pendergast and Lieutenant Vincent D’Agosta so I borrwed it.
I must say that it is vintage Preston and Child. Fever Dream is all about Pendergast dwelving into his own past after he discovers that his wife’s death was murder, and not an accident. He enlists the help of D’Agosta to dig deeper into the mysteries surrounding her murder and finds out quite a few things.
As always, I enjoy reading about how the two partners manage to find new clues in an age old case. While not as brilliant as some of the others in the series (favourites remain Still Life With Crows and Brimstone), it is still a fascinating journey. Being the first part of the Helen trilogy, you will definitely find more questions than answers by the end of the book. However, that is all part of the fun. Even if you have never read any previous Pendergast books, you will be able to enjoy this one thoroughly. Then it makes it more fun to trace back all other books by the two authors.
New Police Story
Posted on: March 6, 2012
Yahh I know that this is a rather old movie (quick check – jeez it was released in 2004, where have I been??!) but I just managed to catch it on television the other day and I have to say, I like this rehash/reboot of the old Jackie Chan Police Story series. It isn’t as funny as the original (though I did enjoy the scene where Jackie Chan and Nicholas Tse managed to get out of jail).
Let’s see, what can we learn from this tale? For starters, never, ever be overconfident. Though I can’t say that it was Chan Kok Wing’s (Jackie Chan) fault that everyone on his team died. It was a trap set right from the beginning and his main fault was how underprepared they were. Also, they underestimated the power of this bunch of rich kids who are bored and as crazy as they make ’em.
Also, for crying out loud, parents do play an important role in bringing their kids up. Like, duh, right, you would think. But still. You get irritating kids running around the malls and you can bet for certain that their parents are about as annoying as they are! How about those who throw things all over the place. Yep, like parents, like kids. That’s kinda scary seeing how there are so many weird people walking around. Moral of that? Don’t procreate, people! Just kidding … (not really).
But I digress. Whether you are a tiger mom or a French one, please invest more time in helping your when they are at that pivotal age. I know of a mom who blames everyone but herself whenever the kid throws a tantrum i.e. his dad should be more strict, his teachers should discipline him more. Yah, am not a mom yet (nor will I be anytime soon) and I know times are difficult now and I know how scary it is to have to raise a kid. And I know love shows itself in different ways. But parents should really stop playing the blame game and point fingers at everyone else but themselves.
Geez, how did this turn out to be a lecture fest on parenting skills. Hah. Anyhoo, if you are seriously behind times when it comes to movie watching (like me), catch this movie if only to remind you of how awesome Jackie Chan is!
It’s A Malaysian Thing
Posted on: March 4, 2012
If there is something that needs a cure in this country, it’s our people’s perception of tardiness. Now, I am hardly Miss Organised nor am I always on time. However, even I draw the line at making friends or even acquaintances wait for a whopping one hour before I finally show up. At the very least, I inform people if I am unfortunate enough to be that late.
Yes, this is a ranting post – I hate these, seriously, I do!! – but I for the life of me can’t understand why people breeze through life thinking that others are solely there to wait for them. And when I snap at them for being late, it is as if I am the grouchy bitch who refuses to see the lighter side of things. You seriously can never win, can you?
I went for a performance the other day and we were made to wait 25 minutes before the action started. Even then, there were a few people who came in 10 minutes after the curtains came up. When I was abroad – albeit only for a short while – one thing that impressed me was the fact that everything starts on time and how punctuality is bred into everyone. At the very least, they might not like you, per se, but they sure respect your time.
Instead of drilling facts and figures into our kids, maybe it is time to show them a good example and teach them something that will stand in good stead. Any politician/Malaysian leader who is able to inculcate the spirit of punctuality and fight the battle against tardiness definitely gets my vote!! 😀
Behind Baby Kitten Eyes 