Interesting Letter to EPF

Red tapes and unnecessary bureaucracy do at times get on your nerves. A particular student has received a final notice from her univeristy due to overdue university fees where delays by EPF has caused her EPF withdrawal to be held on. She has written a letter directed to the EPF's Chairman. Neverending stories from EPF lately.

Haslinda’s fax to the EPF Chairman follows:
BY FAX: 03-2691 5598
Haslinda Binti Abd Karim
Puchong, Selangor
STRICTLY WITHOUT PREJUDICE

5 March 2007

Chairman
Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja
Bangunan KWSP
Jalan Raja Laut
50350 Kuala Lumpur

Attn: Tan Sri Shamsudin Osman

WITHDRAWAL SCHEME FOR EDUCATION – SELF
HASLINDA BINTI ABD KARIM

I refer to the above matter.

I wish to reiterate my case to you. I have submitted the application for EPF Withdrawal Scheme for Education – Self on Wednesday, 17th January 2007 at your Shah Alam Office (REF NO. 001100000044825). I have also forwarded all the necessary documents required by you.

Until now, I have yet to receive the said cheque and also there is no communication on your end as to when I will be getting my payment. To my horror, today, I received a “SURAT GUGUR STATUS SEBAGAI PELAJAR” letter from my University. It is really shocking as I am now in my final year and in the midst of being dropped from the STUDENT STATUS. The letter also stated that I am given until 23 March 2007 to submit the EPF cheque.

Questions:
1. WHAT HAPPENED TO MY APPLICATION? I HAVE CHECKED WITH MY FRIENDS AND THEY ARE ALSO FACING THE SAME PROBLEM!! I WAS BEING TOLD BY YOUR EMPLOYEES THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE NEW MACHINERY/EQUIPMENT BEING INSTALLED, AND THERE ARE BACKLOGS THAT DATED WAY BACK TO LAST YEAR!! THAT IS NOT MY PROBLEM OR CONCERN!! WHERE IS MY MONEY??

2. WHAT HAPPENED TO MY MONEY/CONTRIBUTIONS?? DOES THIS MEAN THAT THERE IS NO MORE MONEY IN EPF AND THAT IS THE MAIN REASON BEHIND THIS DELAY??

3. SHOULD I FAIL TO SUBMIT THE EPF CHEQUE BY 23RD MARCH 2007 TO MY UNIVERSITY, I WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE STUDENT STATUS!! IS THIS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT YOU IMPOSE IN ORDER TO CURB THE MALAYS FROM FURTHERING THEIR STUDY?? IF THIS REALLY TAKE PLACE, I WILL NOT HESITATE TO SUE YOU AS THE NEGLIGENCE ARE DONE ON YOUR SIDE AND YET I AM BEING PENALISED FOR IT. FOR YOUR INFO, WE ARE BEING CHARGED RM80.00 BY OUR UNIVERSITY FOR LATE PAYMENT PENALTIES EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT OUR FAULT, YOU MUST BEAR THE COST!! I AM SERIOUSLY ASKING YOU TO PAY FOR IT AS THE DELAY AND HICCUPS ARE ALL YOUR DOING!! THERE IS NO USE OF GETTING NEW MACHINERY/EQUIPMENT OR EXTENDING YOUR CHAIRMANSHIP FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS WHEN THERE IS NO NOTICABLE IMPROVEMENT IN THE EPF SYSTEM!! MAYBE WE SHOULD PRIVATISE THE EPF!!

4. I have earlier complained on 16 January 2007 on the slow and inefficient service at your Shah Alam Office which has forced me to take ½ day leave. Again, I am attaching the same letter sent to you on the above date. ONCE AGAIN, UNTIL NOW, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY FEEDBACK/RESPONSE FROM YOU!!

WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE WANT ME TO DO NOW?? WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE ON THIS MATTER?? WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?? AFTER READING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS IN THE NEWSPAPERS LATELY REGARDING YOUR SERVICES, I AM SERIOUSLY THINKING OF HIGHLIGHTING THIS ISSUE TO THE PRIME MINISTER PERSONALLY AS HE IS ALSO THE 1ST FINANCE MINISTER.
TREAT THIS MATTER SERIOUSLY AS IT INVOLVES MY FUTURE AND MY TRUST IN THE CURRENT, EXISTING SYSTEM!!

Yours faithfully
Haslinda Binti Abd Karim (source: Lim Kit Siang)
Tags: EPF, Malaysia

World's Priciest Homes

World's priciest homes:-
For a mere US$138 million, you can own a cozy 103-room English country home, with a panic room, marble driveways and helipads. Updown Court (left pic) in Windlesham, Surrey, has 23.5 hectares of gardens and woodlands, five pools, 22 marble bathrooms and more than 50,000 square feet of living space that comes with a bowling alley too.
2nd place: The Hala Ranch ('welcome' in Arabic), a 38.4-hectare property in Aspen, Colorado, owned by Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, the former Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States - a job that must pay well as the asking price is US$135 million. The 56,000-square-foot mansion has 15 bedrooms and 16 baths.

3rd place: Donald Trump's Maison de L'Amitie is up for sale at an asking price of US$125 million. He bought the estate, previously owned by health care executive Abe Gosman, in 2004 for US$41.25 million at a bankruptcy auction. The Palm Beach, Florida abode is adorned with 144.8 metres of ocean front.

Joint 4th place: At US$100 million each are Tranquility, in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, an 85-hectare estate owned by Tommy Hilfiger cofounder Joel Horowitz; and Waterfront Estate (left pic) in Istanbul, Turkey, which has a nearly 61-metre-long quay. (source: Forbes)

Tags: Lifestyle, Home, Priciest, Uptown Court, Hala Ranch, Maison de L'Amitie, Tranquility, Waterfront Estate

Blood Diamond - movie review

Blood Diamond - starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly, Arnold Vosloo & Michael Sheen. When I read how this movie has stirred some controversies and protest from African nations it got me to get this movie. The movie doesn't tell you about the diamond industry in the African continent but a similar tale that could happen in any of those African nations. Why the name Blood Diamond - it's where human blood are sacrificed in order to get your hands on those diamonds which have been extracted illegally with brutal slavery as well.

Leonardo acted as a scrupulous diamond dealer from South Africa that went into Sierra Leone. He happened to hear about rare diamonds found at a certain riverbed and got hold of a local guy who was forced by illegal miners to mine at that area. A lady reported bumped into their illegal venture and love blossomed too between her and Leonardo.

In the midst of a civil war commotion, they risked their lives to mine and cover the story respectively. The local guy did it to save his family by getting them out from the country. Leonardo did it due to his hunger for a bigger stone. The reported was there due to her passion for her work. A remarkable story and though each movie may exaggerate certain part of the story, it's still a prevalent situation in Democratic Republic of Congo where illegal mining of diamonds fund conflicts in DR Congo. It's where 1,000 people die everyday fueled by diamond smuggling.

In the early days of 1990s, different factions in countries like Angola, Liberia, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo (also known as Congo Brazzaville) were funded by diamonds being sold to the world even though the mining process of brutal slavery. In a way, the world was funding the civil wars in those countries listed as above.

You can play a part too to help the situation in Africa as in before buying diamonds consumers should ask retailers for their policies on conflict diamonds and for certification that their diamonds were mined and sold legitimately.

Reading: The lure of Sierra Leone diamonds - BBC News (you'll learn more about how it affects the livelihood of the people in Sierra Leone)

Reading: Conflict Diamonds and the DR Congo - World Vision

Tags: Movies, Cinema, Review, Blood Diamond, Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly

Red Travel

Imagine getting to drive the latest Ferrari model, with specially tailored journeys around Italy, the opportunity to stay overnight at the finest hotels, having a meal at Italy's most renowned restaurants and well-trained staff attending to your most demanding requests.

A company, Red Travel, has prepared a wide range of services that will be able to meet your needs.

* The Tour Director leads the way in his Alfa Romeo Spider, leaving you free to enjoy the drive while he plans the best itinerary. He’s a Ferrari expert and will let you into the Cavallino’s soul.
* Your luggage will be in the safekeeping of the Security Manager and his VIP shuttle; you’ll find it awaiting you in your hotel room.
* The Art & Leisure Director is available to help you get the most out of your stay, wherever you are.

Numerous MNC companies have used this tour as an incentive for their top managers or even to entertain their main clients.

To view a typical Rome-Florence-Siena-Mediterranean Sea tour, click here.

Tags: Red Travel, Tours, Lifestyle, Leisure, Travel, Italy, Ferrari

US$4,000 MP3 Player

My my - US$4,000 for a single MP3 Player????

Well, Gresso, an elite mobile phone manufacturer has decided to diversify into the MP3 Player market by producing a MP3 Player, named Symphonia, which has similar function as a normal non-branded MP3 Player. This new MP3 Player has 1GB of memory only.

What's so unique about it then?

* made from Blackwood and White Gold, Blackwood and Pink Gold, White Gold and Pink Gold

* ancient blackwood and 18 carat gold in each case

* innovative flat keyboard of the player has special patented scratch-resistant covering, that the company claims is as hard as diamond

* figures and letters on the keyboard are cut by ultraprecise laser

Prices for the gadget will be between EUR 3000 (US$4000) to EUR 5000 (US$6500). This one small gadget is as good as a downpayment for a new house. (source: Gizmag)

Tags: Gresso, Symphonia, MP3 Player, Blackwood, Gadget, Technology, Lifestyle

Double Standard?

The Malaysian Education Ministry has handed out RM1.409 million to 248 chinese schools for the year 2006, the highest handout since year 2001. The money was used for school refurbishment and extension projects. That figure worked to about RM5,682.00 per chinese school throughout the whole of Malaysia. (source: 7 Mar 07, The Star)

On the other hand, a single school in Penang, High School Bukit Mertajam, has been allocated a staggering development fund of RM20.0 million that will be used for construction of a hostel, teachers' quarters, a sports pavilion and a laboratory. Bear in mind that this development fund itself was specially allocated under the 9th Malaysian Plan. How privilege! (source: 19 Jan 07, The Star)

How did a development fund for a single school made it into the 9th Malaysian Plan wherelse funding for any chinese or tamil schools have not been specifically mentioned. Am I being picky here? Such practise is really double standard or pure discrimination does exist straight at your face.
Tags: Education Ministry, Malaysia, Chinese School, 9th Malaysian Plan, High School Bukit Mertajam, Discrimination, Double Standard, School

Dear God

There was a man who worked for the Post Office whose job it was to process all the mail that had illegible addresses. One day, a letter came addressed in a shaky handwriting to God with no actual address. He thought he should open it to see what it was about.

The letter read:
"Dear God, I am an 83 year old widow, living on a very small pension. Yesterday someone stole my purse. It had $100 in it, which was all the money I had until my next pension check. Next Sunday is Christmas, and I had invited two of my friends over for dinner. Without that money, I have nothing to buy food with. I have no family to turn to, and you are my only hope. Can you please help me?
Sincerely, Edna"

The postal worker was touched. He showed the letter to all the other workers. Each one dug into his or her wallet and came up with a few dollars. By the time he made the rounds, he had collected $96, which they put into an envelope and sent to the woman. The rest of the day, all the workers felt a warm glow thinking of Edna and the dinner she would be able to share with her friends. Christmas came and went. A few days later, another letter came from the same old lady to God. All the workers gathered around while the letter was opened.

It read:
"Dear God, How can I ever thank you enough for what you did for me? Because of your gift of love, I was able to fix a glorious dinner for my friends. We had a very nice day and I told my friends of your wonderful gift. By the way, there was $4 missing. I think it must have been those bastards at the Post Office.
Sincerely yours, Edna".
Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humor, Post Office, Christmas