“Sometimes we are too engrossed in the grand political narratives, and we lose sight of the ordinary Sarawakian. The following story below about a sick Sarawakian lady makes up for that neglect. - sky”
By Keruah Usit
Alice was already a young mother when she found out she had cancer of the nose. She was in her mid-twenties, the target age of trashy magazines and “natural-looking cosmetics”. She had a shy smile and dimples in her cheeks, and she had passed on her pretty smile and dimples to her two little daughters.
Alice’s husband Abel, a hunter and farmer, loved her, and, unlike most other husbands the world over, listened to her. Her small children hung on to her every word.
Alice lived by a river in rural Sarawak, three hundred kilometres (as the helicopter flies) from the nearest hospital. She had noticed a swelling growing around her left eye for six months, but she could not afford the two hundred Ringgit it cost to get to Miri Hospital.
The Penan way of life
Alice was a young Penan mother with no cash income to speak of. Her parents had been born in the rainforest. Her grey and stooped father still went out hunting, carrying a blowpipe and a machete, with a surprising spring in his step.
Alice loved her Penan community; they were close-knit, ready to share, and they looked after their neighbours’ children as a matter of course. Alice, one of 15,000 Penan forest-dwellers - like many other indigenous people in Sabah and Sarawak, and the Orang Asli - depended on the rainforest, not for eco-tourism and adventure, but for life itself.
Alice had never even seen a fifty Ringgit bank-note, but she had led a good life, until she grew a tumour the size of a hen’s egg around her eye, and suffered continually from a blocked nose. Alice was alarmed. She walked an hour to the closest rural clinic, a standard government-issue, ancient, wooden house on stilts.
Need to be treated in Miri
The nurse there, a girl her own age, advised her to go to Miri Hospital. “We have no budget allocation to pay for you to travel to Miri,” the young nurse had told her. The nurse repeated the same mantra, week after week, to all her patients needing hospital care.
Alice knew patients were only moved to Miri by helicopter in emergencies, such as obstructed labour. Even then, the helicopter service was unreliable - it had even ceased altogether, for an entire year, without any explanation offered to the nurses, or the villagers.
When the Health Minister at the time, Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek, was asked why the Sarawak helicopter “medical evacuation” service had been interrupted, he was quoted by several newspapers as saying the contract had been awarded, by the Ministry of Finance, and not his own Ministry - to a company that owned no aircraft. The well-connected owners of the helicopter company, as nimble as a dodo, were still paid handsomely, as stipulated in the contract.
Finally, to Miri
Eventually, six months after the onset of the swelling, Alice met four doctors in her own home village - a surprise. The doctors had taken leave and had raised their own funds to visit several remote villages, including Alice’s. A kind doctor from Kuala Lumpur, in her twenties like Alice, made a diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. She accompanied Alice and Abel on the long journey to Miri.
Alice had never been to the loud, alienating oil town, Miri. She was terrified. The Ear, Nose and Throat doctor took a biopsy from her nose. She waited almost a month for a CT scan appointment. The scan results were disheartening: the cancer had already eaten its way into the base of her skull. Alice was sent on to Kuching, the capital, for radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Then to Kuching
She was, once again, in a strange place, but at least Abel was with her. Abel spent his nights sleeping on a hard armchair in the visitors’ room near the Cancer Ward. Alice shared her trays of food with him. When a kind nurse was on duty, Abel would receive his own portion of food. Alice and Abel preferred their own harvested sago pith, or na’oh, to the clods of grey rice served up on grey trays with plastic compartments, but they persevered with the treatment.
After six weeks of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and unspeakable food, the swelling around Alice’s eye vanished. She started to eat almost normally. Local volunteers drove her around town, urging her to try kolok mee, Kuching’s famed noodle dish. Alice ate noodles for the first time in her young life - and liked it almost as much as na’oh. Her winning smile returned.
A day at the beach
A local volunteer took her to Santubong beach, for Alice had never seen the sea. Alice was delighted, feeling the sand beneath her bare feet, laughing and skipping away from the water as the waves swept in, almost dancing on the shoreline.
Abel and Alice walked, too, among the trees near the beach. They murmured to each other, pointing out plants, those familiar and those less so, to each other. They wandered hand in hand along the concrete path beneath the quiet canopy, longing for their own forest, the forest they knew so well, far away.
More treatment
Soon afterwards, Alice and Abel were sent back to Miri, for Alice to have five more cycles of chemotherapy, one dose a month.
The doctors did not offer Alice and Abel contraceptives - an awful oversight, you might say, and less rare than you might think. Alice became pregnant. The doctor advised Alice to have an abortion. She recovered from the operation, but her chemotherapy was delayed for several weeks as a result.
Alice and Abel were allowed to visit their small children on two or three occasions - you can imagine the joy of those embraces, and the meals of na’oh and wild game shared.
But Alice dreaded each return to the urban hospital. There was the occasional encounter with a vicious nurse or accounts clerk, berating her and Abel for not paying their hospital bills. She would explain, head bowed, quietly and patiently, that she could not afford the bills.
(Most Malaysians know little of the lives of indigenous people. This has not been helped by the government hype surrounding announcements of internet access in rural communities: “e-jekitan”, “e-bario” and the like. One might be led to imagine the Penan carrying iPhones through the forest, tracking wild boar using GPS.)
Doctors!
There was also hardship for Alice, when she had to endure nausea, caused by the inexperience of her doctors in the use of potent medicines. Her doctors were unaware, and a few doctors were perhaps unperturbed in their ignorance, that Alice’s retching could have been prevented easily.
Alice never complained about her difficulties, and her doctors never learned to ask her about her symptoms - in Penan, or any other language.
Home at last
Yet Alice and Abel stayed the course. Alice’s cancer was in remission, and she was able to go home at last. She returned happily to caring for her daughters, and began sending her older daughter to school, walking an hour to school with the little girl, and walking an hour back home after classes.
The Cancer Returned
The cancer returned two years ago. Alice was offered chemotherapy again, for palliation, but she declined politely. She preferred to stay at home with her children. She talked it through with Abel. To Abel’s credit, he supported her.
Alice took to covering the swelling around her eye and in her neck, with a towel. Towards the end of her life, she found it painful to swallow. A volunteer doctor visiting her village gave her pain relief, and some comfort.
Death in dignity
Alice understood she did not have much time left, and she lived with dignity. She remained in her small house with Abel, her parents and her children. She cooked for her family and weaved baskets by daylight and by the timid light of a kerosene lamp at night. She died at home a year ago. Abel, with the support of Alice’s parents, is bringing up the young children.
Alice’s story, of deprivation of basic health care, is echoed all over Sarawak, Sabah and parts of Peninsular Malaysia. Alice never had the benefit of a quick diagnosis. Nose cancer can be cured if it is found early.
Enforced Silence
Our national health care system, flawed though it is, does reach out to many women like Alice, but access to basic health care remains desperately unequal, and under-funding is painfully obvious.
Alice and Abel never had the opportunity to have their voices heard. The rural poor, Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu in Sarawak, Kadazan, Dusun, Murut in Sabah, plantation workers and Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia suffer the same enforced silence.
Urban Malaysian voters, on the other hand, have finally found their voice, and have become increasingly vocal in the last twelve months. Our political institutions have had no choice but to respond, albeit in a distorted and confused way. But will the voices of our dispossessed rural population ever be heard?
May Alice rest in peace!
Copied en-bloc from Hornbill Unleashed.
Tags: Penan, Orang Asli, Sarawak, Cancer
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Karaoke Night in Khartoum
On Friday weekend night, we dropped by at Petronas Sudan's headquarters where it houses the main office and also staff quarters. We were told there would be Malaysian food and a karaoke session would be held in the open air.
When you are here, anything is interesting. The event started at 9pm.
There was a food stall opened up to sell food cooked in Malaysian style of course. You won't feel 'food sick' over here.
It was a relaxing night and there was a karaoke sing-a-long session. A stage was put up for guys to belt their favourite songs. Yeah, as long as I was there only the guys went up on stage.
Later, a group of kids performed a fast dance. Can't recognise that English song of theirs. It took them only one week to practise.
Soon, a group of men went up on stage to act as back-up singers to support a senior management guy who will be singing his favourite song. Didn't that long and went off for our late late dinner at 10pm.
When you are here, anything is interesting. The event started at 9pm.
There was a food stall opened up to sell food cooked in Malaysian style of course. You won't feel 'food sick' over here.
It was a relaxing night and there was a karaoke sing-a-long session. A stage was put up for guys to belt their favourite songs. Yeah, as long as I was there only the guys went up on stage.
Later, a group of kids performed a fast dance. Can't recognise that English song of theirs. It took them only one week to practise.
Soon, a group of men went up on stage to act as back-up singers to support a senior management guy who will be singing his favourite song. Didn't that long and went off for our late late dinner at 10pm.Friday, April 17, 2009
Perodua Cars Being Ridiculed in UK
Top Gear has not only done a review on the Proton cars from Malaysia but also on the second national car manufacturer, Perodua. It didn't escape Top Gear's melancholic eyes.
What was Top Gear's verdict on the Perodua brands? Here goes nothing again (the following write-ups and pictures were sourced from Top Gear's website):-
It may be true that you get what you pay for, but it doesn’t follow that the cheapest cars are the best value. These appallingly under-developed, outdated and plain ugly offerings come from Malaysia’s least desirable brand. Think about it – that means even if you’re doggedly pro-Malaysia, you don’t have to buy one of these.
Perodua Kelisa
‘The cheapest car Malaysia’s cheaper manufacturer produces. Doesn’t fill you with confidence does it?’
The Perodua Kelisa may be the cheapest supermini on sale in the UK, but it will never feel like a bargain. A wheezy little engine, cramped interior, crappy plastics and truly rubbish styling leave you wondering who on earth actually buys this stuff.
An astonishing feat – Britain’s cheapest car is so humblingly bad it’s not even worth the pocket money it costs. So poor it deserves to benefit from the next Comic Relief.
Perodua Kenari
‘As much as we all want to cheer on the underdog, the Kenari deserves all the abuse it gets. An utter shambles.’
A deeply embarrassing car to be seen in, or near for that matter, but in truth the weird looking and weirdly named Perodua Kenari is actually quite capable and an undeniable bargain to boot.
Looks like it ought to have plenty of room inside but is actually pitifully cramped – like the Tardis in reverse. Except that the Tardis looks more like a car than this.
Perodua MYVI
‘A compelling argument for never learning to drive. Concerned fathers take note.’
Although they have made a far better fist of styling the Perodua Myvi than they did with the ridiculous Kelisa and Kenari, it still feels staggeringly cheap and lacks any trace of desirability.
Named after a classic ice lolly, but not as sweet, desirable or long lasting. Costs about the same though. There’s an old Toyota Yaris underneath. Get one of those instead.
Tags: Top Gear, Perodua, Perodua Kelisa, Perodua Kenari, Perodua MYVI, Car Review
What was Top Gear's verdict on the Perodua brands? Here goes nothing again (the following write-ups and pictures were sourced from Top Gear's website):-
It may be true that you get what you pay for, but it doesn’t follow that the cheapest cars are the best value. These appallingly under-developed, outdated and plain ugly offerings come from Malaysia’s least desirable brand. Think about it – that means even if you’re doggedly pro-Malaysia, you don’t have to buy one of these.
Perodua Kelisa‘The cheapest car Malaysia’s cheaper manufacturer produces. Doesn’t fill you with confidence does it?’
The Perodua Kelisa may be the cheapest supermini on sale in the UK, but it will never feel like a bargain. A wheezy little engine, cramped interior, crappy plastics and truly rubbish styling leave you wondering who on earth actually buys this stuff.
An astonishing feat – Britain’s cheapest car is so humblingly bad it’s not even worth the pocket money it costs. So poor it deserves to benefit from the next Comic Relief.
Perodua Kenari‘As much as we all want to cheer on the underdog, the Kenari deserves all the abuse it gets. An utter shambles.’
A deeply embarrassing car to be seen in, or near for that matter, but in truth the weird looking and weirdly named Perodua Kenari is actually quite capable and an undeniable bargain to boot.
Looks like it ought to have plenty of room inside but is actually pitifully cramped – like the Tardis in reverse. Except that the Tardis looks more like a car than this.
Perodua MYVI‘A compelling argument for never learning to drive. Concerned fathers take note.’
Although they have made a far better fist of styling the Perodua Myvi than they did with the ridiculous Kelisa and Kenari, it still feels staggeringly cheap and lacks any trace of desirability.
Named after a classic ice lolly, but not as sweet, desirable or long lasting. Costs about the same though. There’s an old Toyota Yaris underneath. Get one of those instead.
Tags: Top Gear, Perodua, Perodua Kelisa, Perodua Kenari, Perodua MYVI, Car Review
Proton Cars Being Ridiculed in UK
Before a car is being put into the market, car reviewers will usually give their expert verdict on how good a car is.
One of them is Top Gear, a famous United Kingdom TV show that has its car review magazines being published worldwide and their website being read by potential car buyers internationally.
Malaysia's national car, the Proton brand, is being sold in UK and therefore they are being reviewed as well. Want to know what was Top Gear's verdict? Here goes nothing (the following write-ups and pictures were sourced from Top Gear's website):-
We don’t know what Malaysian motorists did to upset the gods, but it must have been something pretty serious, judging by the punishment they seem to be getting. Still, at least the domestic audience thinks this stuff is the norm – what on earth do they think they’re doing bringing it to the UK? Walk away.
Proton Gen-2
That sounds like an illegal muscle-building milkshake. Should we call the IOC?
The Proton Gen-2 was the first indication that Proton might be capable of building a car that wasn’t completely dreadful. But it’s out of date now, and still wasn’t much cop way back when.
A budget five-door hatchback intended to make you think twice about buying a Focus. Frankly, we think a medium-size cabbage makes a more sensible alternative.
Proton Satria Neo
‘How do you tell your mates you drive that without getting a slap? And that’s before they even know how bad it is.’
Proton’s concerted bid to attract a younger audience starts here, and it could have been a lot worse. The oddly named Proton Satria Neo both looks good and drives pretty well. But it is still just a Proton…
Not half-bad hatch with decent Lotus-aided chassis, but lack of space inside, awful badge and ridiculous name make it a must-not-have for the youth it’s aimed at.
Proton Savvy
‘What the hell happened here? It looks like someone cracked the designer over the head half way through the job.’
The Proton Savvy is a new-ish and sharply styled offering, both of which facts might lead you to believe that it was half decent. But you’d be very wrong. The Proton Savvy is a stark reminder of just how good cars like the Aygo and Panda really are.
Truly awful, but we are grateful to Proton for reminding us of how good every other small car on sale in the UK is. We suggest you try buying one of those instead.
I wonder how will Top Gear rate Proton Exora, the first home-grown MPV model that had just rolled out of the car factory.
Tags: Top Gear, Proton, Proton Gen-2, Proton Satria Neo, Proton Savvy, Proton Exora, Car Review
One of them is Top Gear, a famous United Kingdom TV show that has its car review magazines being published worldwide and their website being read by potential car buyers internationally.
Malaysia's national car, the Proton brand, is being sold in UK and therefore they are being reviewed as well. Want to know what was Top Gear's verdict? Here goes nothing (the following write-ups and pictures were sourced from Top Gear's website):-
We don’t know what Malaysian motorists did to upset the gods, but it must have been something pretty serious, judging by the punishment they seem to be getting. Still, at least the domestic audience thinks this stuff is the norm – what on earth do they think they’re doing bringing it to the UK? Walk away.
Proton Gen-2That sounds like an illegal muscle-building milkshake. Should we call the IOC?
The Proton Gen-2 was the first indication that Proton might be capable of building a car that wasn’t completely dreadful. But it’s out of date now, and still wasn’t much cop way back when.
A budget five-door hatchback intended to make you think twice about buying a Focus. Frankly, we think a medium-size cabbage makes a more sensible alternative.
Proton Satria Neo‘How do you tell your mates you drive that without getting a slap? And that’s before they even know how bad it is.’
Proton’s concerted bid to attract a younger audience starts here, and it could have been a lot worse. The oddly named Proton Satria Neo both looks good and drives pretty well. But it is still just a Proton…
Not half-bad hatch with decent Lotus-aided chassis, but lack of space inside, awful badge and ridiculous name make it a must-not-have for the youth it’s aimed at.
Proton Savvy‘What the hell happened here? It looks like someone cracked the designer over the head half way through the job.’
The Proton Savvy is a new-ish and sharply styled offering, both of which facts might lead you to believe that it was half decent. But you’d be very wrong. The Proton Savvy is a stark reminder of just how good cars like the Aygo and Panda really are.
Truly awful, but we are grateful to Proton for reminding us of how good every other small car on sale in the UK is. We suggest you try buying one of those instead.
I wonder how will Top Gear rate Proton Exora, the first home-grown MPV model that had just rolled out of the car factory.
Tags: Top Gear, Proton, Proton Gen-2, Proton Satria Neo, Proton Savvy, Proton Exora, Car Review
Thursday, April 16, 2009
My Blog Was Given Warning by Blogspot
When I opened up my email inbox this morning, I saw an email coming in from Blogger. Noticed that my blog was given a warning having been identified as a spam blog.
There are people out there who's trying to kick my blog out of the virtual world to ensure that others don't get to read my articles. Are my articles really that good till my blog has to be deleted / removed?
If you don't like what I have written, please leave. Do not read any further / anymore and do not key in my blog's name again and again just to check on me and flag my blog all the time. My advise to you, please go do something more useful / meaningful with your time / life.
What I have posted are my personal opinions only, gathered from what I have read from all over the internet world. I have written / will write stuff that won't cause / trigger any commotions / misunderstandings / anger / hatred / fights / wars unless it was you who wants to take it out of context and not wanting to read / understanding the article as a whole in a proper manner.
From now onwards, I will be even stricter with unnecessary / irrelevant comments written by blog readers to safeguard against spamming.
--- On Wed, 4/15/09, Blogger no-reply@google.com wrote:
From: Blogger no-reply@google.com
Subject: http://johnny-ong.blogspot.com/ - ACTION REQUIRED
To: xxxxxxx@yahoo.com
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2009, 12:59 AM
Hello,
Your blog at: http://johnny-ong.blogspot.com has been identified as a potential spam blog. To correct this, please request a review by filling out the form at http://www.blogger.com/unlock-blog.g?lockedBlogID=xxxxxxxx
Your blog will be deleted in 20 days if it isn't reviewed, and your readers will see a warning page during this time. After we receive your request, we'll review your blog and unlock it within two business days. Once we have reviewed and determined your blog is not spam, the blog will be unlocked and the message in your Blogger dashboard will no longer be displayed. If this blog doesn't belong to you, you don't have to do anything, and any other blogs you may have won't be affected.
We find spam by using an automated classifier. Automatic spam detection is inherently fuzzy, and occasionally a blog like yours is flagged incorrectly. We sincerely apologize for this error. By using this kind of system, however, we can dedicate more storage, bandwidth, and engineering resources to bloggers like you instead of to spammers. For more information, please see Blogger Help: http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=42577
Thank you for your understanding and for your help with our spam-fighting efforts.
Sincerely,
The Blogger Team
P.S. Just one more reminder: Unless you request a review, your blog will be deleted in 20 days. Click this link to request the review: http://www.blogger.com/unlock-blog.g?lockedBlogID=xxxxxxxx
Tags: Blogger, Blogspot, The Blogger Team, Blogger Dashboard, Spam Blog, Automated Classifier, Automatic Spam Detection, Spammers
There are people out there who's trying to kick my blog out of the virtual world to ensure that others don't get to read my articles. Are my articles really that good till my blog has to be deleted / removed?
If you don't like what I have written, please leave. Do not read any further / anymore and do not key in my blog's name again and again just to check on me and flag my blog all the time. My advise to you, please go do something more useful / meaningful with your time / life.
What I have posted are my personal opinions only, gathered from what I have read from all over the internet world. I have written / will write stuff that won't cause / trigger any commotions / misunderstandings / anger / hatred / fights / wars unless it was you who wants to take it out of context and not wanting to read / understanding the article as a whole in a proper manner.
From now onwards, I will be even stricter with unnecessary / irrelevant comments written by blog readers to safeguard against spamming.
--- On Wed, 4/15/09, Blogger no-reply@google.com wrote:
From: Blogger no-reply@google.com
Subject: http://johnny-ong.blogspot.com/ - ACTION REQUIRED
To: xxxxxxx@yahoo.com
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2009, 12:59 AM
Hello,
Your blog at: http://johnny-ong.blogspot.com has been identified as a potential spam blog. To correct this, please request a review by filling out the form at http://www.blogger.com/unlock-blog.g?lockedBlogID=xxxxxxxx
Your blog will be deleted in 20 days if it isn't reviewed, and your readers will see a warning page during this time. After we receive your request, we'll review your blog and unlock it within two business days. Once we have reviewed and determined your blog is not spam, the blog will be unlocked and the message in your Blogger dashboard will no longer be displayed. If this blog doesn't belong to you, you don't have to do anything, and any other blogs you may have won't be affected.
We find spam by using an automated classifier. Automatic spam detection is inherently fuzzy, and occasionally a blog like yours is flagged incorrectly. We sincerely apologize for this error. By using this kind of system, however, we can dedicate more storage, bandwidth, and engineering resources to bloggers like you instead of to spammers. For more information, please see Blogger Help: http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=42577
Thank you for your understanding and for your help with our spam-fighting efforts.
Sincerely,
The Blogger Team
P.S. Just one more reminder: Unless you request a review, your blog will be deleted in 20 days. Click this link to request the review: http://www.blogger.com/unlock-blog.g?lockedBlogID=xxxxxxxx
Tags: Blogger, Blogspot, The Blogger Team, Blogger Dashboard, Spam Blog, Automated Classifier, Automatic Spam Detection, Spammers
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Bank Negara Warning on SMS and Phone Calls
Ref No: 04/09/01
Embargo: For immediate release
Beware of Fraudulent SMS and Telephone Calls Requesting Confirmation on Credit Card Transactions
Bank Negara Malaysia would like to caution members of the public to be vigilant when receiving any calls or SMS claiming that it is from Bank Negara Malaysia or any commercial banks. The facts are:
From Bank Negara Malaysia 's investigations, the modus operandi of the scam is as follows:
1. Victim receives SMS or telephone call: Requesting victim to confirm a credit card transaction
for the purchase of goods or services purportedly charged to the victim's credit card.
2. When victim calls the telephone number provided in the SMS, the fraudsters identify
themselves as agents of a commercial bank, and again, ask the victim to confirm whether the
credit card transaction had taken place.
3. When victim informs the fraudster that he has no such credit card or transaction, the
fraudster will start to sound concerned and will advise victim to lodge a report with Bank
Negara Malaysia 's "Unit Kad Kredit Palsu", or with the commercial bank's "credit card
management department". The fraudster will provide the victim with the telephone number
for the "Unit Kad Kredit Palsu".
4. When victim calls the telephone number provided, they are greeted by a automated voice
message which identifies the company as Bank Negara Malaysia, and the call will then be
answered by someone claiming to be a Bank Negara Malaysia officer. This officer will request
for information relating to the victim's banking and credit card accounts under the pretense of
lodging a complaint on behalf of the victim.
5. The fraudsters now have sufficient information to illegally transfer funds out of the victim's
bank account.
Members of the public are reminded not to disclose their personal banking information to any unknown party without verification.
For further information, enquiries or complaints, members of the public may contact or visit:
BNMTELELINK (Customer Contact Centre)
Tel: 1-300-88-5465
Fax: (03)2174 1515
Email: bnmtelelink@bnm.gov.my
BNMLINK (Walk-in Customer Service Centre)
Block D, Bank Negara Malaysia
Jalan Dato' Onn
50480 Kuala Lumpur
(Business hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm)
ABMConnect (Hotline to Association of Banks in Malaysia)
Tel: 1-300-88-9980
Bank Negara Malaysia
7 April 2009
Extracted from Bank Negara Malaysia website.
Tags: Bank Negara Malaysia, Fraudulent SMS, Unit Kad Kredit Palsu, Association of Banks in Malaysia, Confirmation on Credit Card Transactions
Embargo: For immediate release
Beware of Fraudulent SMS and Telephone Calls Requesting Confirmation on Credit Card Transactions
Bank Negara Malaysia would like to caution members of the public to be vigilant when receiving any calls or SMS claiming that it is from Bank Negara Malaysia or any commercial banks. The facts are:
- There is no department called "Unit Kad Kredit Palsu" in Bank Negara Malaysia
- 8659-XXXX is not a Bank Negara Malaysia telephone line
- Bank Negara Malaysia will NEVER request for personal banking information through SMS or telephone calls.
From Bank Negara Malaysia 's investigations, the modus operandi of the scam is as follows:
1. Victim receives SMS or telephone call: Requesting victim to confirm a credit card transaction
for the purchase of goods or services purportedly charged to the victim's credit card.
2. When victim calls the telephone number provided in the SMS, the fraudsters identify
themselves as agents of a commercial bank, and again, ask the victim to confirm whether the
credit card transaction had taken place.
3. When victim informs the fraudster that he has no such credit card or transaction, the
fraudster will start to sound concerned and will advise victim to lodge a report with Bank
Negara Malaysia 's "Unit Kad Kredit Palsu", or with the commercial bank's "credit card
management department". The fraudster will provide the victim with the telephone number
for the "Unit Kad Kredit Palsu".
4. When victim calls the telephone number provided, they are greeted by a automated voice
message which identifies the company as Bank Negara Malaysia, and the call will then be
answered by someone claiming to be a Bank Negara Malaysia officer. This officer will request
for information relating to the victim's banking and credit card accounts under the pretense of
lodging a complaint on behalf of the victim.
5. The fraudsters now have sufficient information to illegally transfer funds out of the victim's
bank account.
Members of the public are reminded not to disclose their personal banking information to any unknown party without verification.
For further information, enquiries or complaints, members of the public may contact or visit:
BNMTELELINK (Customer Contact Centre)
Tel: 1-300-88-5465
Fax: (03)2174 1515
Email: bnmtelelink@bnm.gov.my
BNMLINK (Walk-in Customer Service Centre)
Block D, Bank Negara Malaysia
Jalan Dato' Onn
50480 Kuala Lumpur
(Business hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm)
ABMConnect (Hotline to Association of Banks in Malaysia)
Tel: 1-300-88-9980
Bank Negara Malaysia
7 April 2009
Extracted from Bank Negara Malaysia website.
Tags: Bank Negara Malaysia, Fraudulent SMS, Unit Kad Kredit Palsu, Association of Banks in Malaysia, Confirmation on Credit Card Transactions
Life @ 47 Degree Celcius
What is life at 47 degree celcius during noon time? Was going out for lunch and we noticed that our car's thermometer was showing us a reading of 47 degree celcius.No wonder we could feel our skin burning as we walked out of our office to the car.
The car's air cond which was blowing at 18 degree celcius just couldn't make any difference. Only thing is that the car is not stuffy with the air cond switched on.
Once in a while, we do pamper ourselves by going to a better place for relaxation. This is one place that we like, Barista cafe. The drinks here are on the high end side. The menu is almost similar as those of Starbucks or Coffee Bean.We were here last Tuesday night to watch the Man Utd vs. Porto Champions League match.
We were able to occupy a good corner of the cafe where we have a 32 inch LCD TV all to ourselves.Unfortunately when the second half of the match began, the channel was changed and the Villareal vs. Arsenal was shown. We spoke to a waitress and she changed it and in the next few seconds, it was changed again. What happened here?
We waited patiently and got hold of another waitress who told us that they can't change as it was requested by customers ................ what???? We told her we were here first. She couldn't say anything.
We didn't go and see which customer requested for the change. All we know is that there were no other customers at the other end which has another TV screen when the match started and I did notice that these customers came during half time. They were local Sudanese people.
So, our match was changed and forced to watch another. A colleague picked up a book from the counter which was entitled "The City Trail Guide to Khartoum and the rest of Sudan".
In reading it, he showed us the fourth paragraph of a particular page .............. can you read it?
This is another spot for dining. It's not those high end restaurants but a local restaurant where tables are set by the roadside with lots of vehicles passing by which created mini sandstorm hehehe
.These are the three steel chimneys with smoke coming out from the top of the chimneys. I just took my bath before coming out for dinner and my colleagues decided to dine here. Forced to have a second shower after we have reached home later on.
What's behind those steel chimneys? This two guys were grilling chickens or goat meat away.
This restaurant is frequented by many locals or I can say we were the only foreigners.
This is what we have ordered. Five of us finished off everything at sight ............... grilled chicken, grilled goat's meat, goat's soup with a big piece of meat in it, long bread ........ except for one particular dish.
A colleague ordered this dish.A fear factor dish.
It's the goat's head meat. I told my colleague that we can't proof to people that we have tried a goat's head meat with it being chopped into pieces.
Then I found this one piece that was still intact heheheThe EAR!!!!
The ear was left alone but my colleague Peter brought every other remaining pieces, including the tongue that was chopped into pieces, back for his supper.
The ear was left alone.
Why was it named Monaliza Restaurant? We have no idea. The menu has that name and there are three Monaliza pictures put high up at their big signboard just by the roadside (seen in this picture).That's life ......... and we are more active at night as heat would be down to 37 degree celcius by 7pm plus. Believe it or not!
Tags: Dining, Barista, Monaliza Restaurant
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