Do Well Also No Use

In Malaysia, can I say that we are the only country that you won't be guaranteed a scholarship even though you are a top student in the country?

Every year, we get to hear such news. It's just news to the students out there that you won't qualify for a scholarship even though you score straight A's.

Ong Tee Keat, the MCA president, has already mentioned that current selection criteria for a Public Service Department ("PSD") scholarships is based on - merit (20%), race (60%), Sabah and Sarawak citizens (10%) and students from underprivileged groups (10%).

Previously, the government has mentioned that government scholarships were handed out based on meritocracy. But Ong Tee Keat has revealed something different now. On one hand, they will hold a press conference telling us something. On the other hand, someone else revealed something different altogether.

Can you imagine that top scorers are feeling bewildered on why their excellent results do not put them on top of the scholarship listing.

So much for the hyped up 1Malaysia that was mentioned just last month. So much for the new song that tries to bring people together. It doesn't mean anything if it's not being practised.

Even the world's not the end for such unfortunate top students, Malaysia is just going to lose those bright fellas to many countries who can't wait to adopt them.

So, what's the point of trying to draw Malaysians who are experts in various fields to return to Malaysia? You could have prevented it right from the beginning. A wrong plus a right do not equal a right.

Reading: Top scorers discover again PSD scholarships are not guaranteed - Star

Related posts -
* Why Bother Waking Up at 3am to Study?
* PSD Scholarships
Tags: PSD Scholarships, Public Service Department, PSD, Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam, JPA, 1Malaysia

Are Fish Spas Clean?

Have you been to a fish spa before? I have seen one in Mid Valley itself and seems to be packed with customers.

Never been to one before but I rather go to a spa which has a full body massage. To me, this fish spa is on a different method and it has a certain element of health, in the sense removing your dead skin.

Somehow, things didn't turn up well for some as they patronise those fish spas. Unfortunately, it didn't go too well for two sisters in Singapore.

After a spa session with the 'fish doctors', they eventually need to see a real medical doctor as their legs had turned reddish, itchy and blotchy. This continued even after a week and further medical reference was required.

They have been told that they have been infected by fungal. The sisters went back to claim their medical fees and a return of the money spent in their previous fish spa session.

The fish spa owner has said that both the customers have signed the indemnity form that mentioned "the fish spa holds no responsibility for any ailments that arises after treatment".

What kind of indemnity is that? If there's nothing to be afraid of or that the fish spa is clean, such indemnity is not required at all.

In the end, common sense prevails. Consumer Association of Singapore said that indemnity could not be applied here and that the shop owner was trying escape from responsibility and liabilities caused.

That's one good reason that I don't go to a fish spa. It was mentioned that water is changed every two to three days ......... yucks.

At least a proper spa changes its bed covers after every customer.

Though the water might be clean, it's the same fish that is sucking and nibbling away ........ yucks.

Reading: Spa ordered to stop using fish treatment - East Valley Tribune
A nail & spa salon has been instructed to stop the fish treatment over health concerns.

Reading: Ban on Feet-Nibbling Fish Leaves Nail Salons on the Hook - Wall Street Journal
Cosmetology (first time seeing this word. would have simply assumed that they are experts those cosmet found in space hehehe) regulators insisted that fish pedicures are unsanitary.


How did the fish spa industry first started?
An old Turkish legend about a shepherd who injured his foot and stuck it into a hot spring teeming with small fish. The foot healed. Word spread. A treatment center for skin ailments grew around the springs near the Turkish town of Kangal. From Turkey, the practice spread throughout Asia, employing garra rufa, toe-size carp that live in warm water, have no teeth and, according to those in the business, like to suck off dead skin.
Tags: Fish Spa, Fish Pedicure, Fish Treatment, Doctor Fish, Cosmetology, Garra Rufa, Kangal

Attacked by Mat Rempits

Received this via email and you have to read on to understand the nature of the notorious Mat Rempits. I remember at one time, a certain political youth organisation wanted to glorify this group of people by giving them a greater name, a so to say positive identification.

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Dear friends,
On Friday night, 25th March 2009, I was robbed and slashed by a group of Mat Rempit, more than 15 of them and I was admitted to the hospital. It happened at about 2am at the road side of Arena Green condo in Bukit Jalil when I was entering my car after visiting a problematic student who was staying there.

I was seated at the driver seat in my own car and about to close my car door when a group of Mat Rempit on motorbikes, pull over with parang. Despite agreeing to give the robber my wallet which was at the back pocket of my trousers, the robber still slashed me on my hand and leg, just because I was too slow in taking out my wallet. Blood stain was all over the seats and my pants was soaked with blood. I was rushed to the hospital with slash wounds on my hand and leg and received 11 stitches on my knee cap which now I am temporary immobilize.

My colleague, 61 year old lady who was walking towards my car was pinned down to the ground and her gold chain was snatched and another colleague of mine, 31 year old who parked his car in front of my car, managed to run on foot to the guard house of the condo and he was chased by the Mat Rempit group. Another colleague of mine who parked her car behind my car managed to lock her car in time. The Mat Rempit group was also trying to open her car.

Luckily, there was an off duty plainclothes policeman riding a motor on his way home, happened to pass by while the robbery in progress and he rammed his motor onto them. They want to charge him with parang as well but the Mat Rempit group sped off when he was about to pull out his pistol.

It was a very daring robbery as there was a police road block on that night on the same road opposite direction about 100 meter away and the Mat Rempit group sped off in the presence of the police roadblock. The group of Mat Rempit outnumbered the police on the roadblock. Those police manning the roadblock only arrived at the crime scene after the Mat Rempit group has sped off.

The Mat Rempits are very cruel and inhuman even when I have agreed to give them all they want, they still chopped me with parang. I was told that they were probably high on syabu drugs when they committed the robbery.

Please inform your family members and friends to be careful especially when going out or coming home late at night. Police said that Mat Rempits are active past midnight and they always ride in a group.

Thank God I am still alive but traumatized by the whole incident. Now, I am resting at home, can't move around. It takes time to recover.

Thank you.

Chan Kok Keun
Manager - Testing, UTG
Scope International (M) Sdn Bhd
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Tags: Mat Rempit, Arena Green Condo, Bukit Jalil

Barbie Dolls Are Swarming Shanghai

Mattel has found that this is the right time to swarm Shanghai mega city with their Barbie dolls.

And when Mattel decided to do it, they want to give their best. Out came the world's largest Barbie flagship shop that will house 1,600 products at a six storey, 37,000 square feet emporium all dedicated to Barbie alone. All this done at a price of £20 million (wow ...... more than RM100 million????!!?!?!?!?!!).

This shop don't just sell the miniature stuff but dresses that could fit children and adults. Just when you thought that their clothings are not worth buying ........ think again.

What else could you find / do in this shop?
* £10,000 wedding dress designed by Vera Wang
* café's food designed by local celebrity chef David Laris
* a clothing line designed by Patricia Fields, the designer behind Sex and the City
* bar complete with karaoke
* day spa
* get their hair cut
* get their nails done
* the store offers a catwalk space
* shop assistants to teach customers how to sing and dance to the “Barbie Girl” song

Go look for the Barbie Shanghai shop when you are in Shanghai and it's located at No. 55o, Central Huaihai Road.

Reading: World's largest Barbie store to open in Shanghai - Telegraph (source of picture too)
Tags: Mattel, Barbie Doll, Barbie Girl, Barbie Shanghai, Shanghai, Vera Wang, David Laris, Patricia Fields

Economic Bailout

Very, very interesting. Sounds so simple, but feasible. I wonder ... interesting reading!

This appeared in the St. Petersburg Times newspaper. The Business Section had asked readers all week for ideas on "How Would You Fix The Economy?" A man nailed it.

Dear Mr. President,

Patriotic retirement: There's about 40 million people over 50 years old in the work force - pay them $1 million apiece severance with the following stipulations:-

1) They leave their jobs. Forty million job openings - UNEMPLOYMENT FIXED
2) They buy New American cars. Forty million cars ordered - AUTO INDUSTRY FIXED
3) They either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - HOUSING CRISIS FIXED

Like I have been saying, they are bailing out the wrong people.

Signed

Tags: St. Petersburg Times, Economic Bailout, Unemployment, Auto Industry, Housing Crisis

Park at Car Park Operator's Risks

Many Malaysians have experienced having their cars being broke into and stuff being stolen from their cars. What can you do after that? Report police and cry all the way home while driving with a broken window apparently hacked by thieves who broke into your car.

What can you do with that police report? Claim insurance to fix your window?

Can you claim against those car park operators who have a big signboard hanging at the car park entrance telling all car owners that they are going to park at their own risk. So how? Blame yourself for parking at that spot? Blame yourself that of all car parks and you have to choose that car park?

From now onwards, all car owners can park at the car park operator's risks ....... hahahaha. Yes! It's true. A magistrate court in Penang has set a good legal precedent (good for me lah) that a car park operator cannot rely on their big signboard discounting their liabilities, one of which is theft.

In this case between a car owner who has lots items such as compact disc and cassette player with a CD of a compilation of Neil Diamond’s songs, an amplifier, and a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses.

The car owner stated that he has paid RM2.40 to park at the car park facilitated by Timur Car Park Sdn Bhd ("TCP"). I assume that you have to show the official receipt for that RM2.40. Keep your receipts from today onwards. Throw it after you have driven your car away.

The victim also claimed he parked near a lamppost with 50 to 60 other cars being there at the same time. He also stated that one or two of TCP's workers do patrol the car park on a motorcycle.

TCP argued that they had only provided parking facility and do not provide any security service to ensure that the cars are safe from any theft. Besides that, TCP also said that the victim may have not lock his car / activate the alarm system / failed to ensure that the alarm system and the locks of the car doors were all functioning well.

TCP lost the case anyhow. The victim was awarded RM1,668 and with interest and cost on top of the amount claimed. What a victory! If you are a car park operator cum owner reading this blog post, you better buck up if your car park area is prone to theft.

As for those who still leave their laptops, digital cameras or mobile phones ...... don't know what to say to you if it had been stolen from your cars (presumably in the car boot). Nowadays, the thieves have those battery 'electrical current' detectors and it could detect whether your cars are keeping any of those gadgets at a car park bay located in shopping centre, hotel, condo area or public/private car park.

In this instance, I'm not sure how the court will rule. Maybe you are at fault too. Or the car park operators are now liable for any theft.

Reading: ‘Park at own risk’ sign no shield from liability - Star
Tags: Park At Own Risk, Car Park, Car Park Operator, Car Theft, Timur Car Park Sdn Bhd, Magistrate Court

Pizza Restaurants Facing Threats?

Will Malaysian pizza parlours face threats from the latest pizza company?

This new company can run with the lowest staff personnel, lowest shop rental rate or lowest operating cost. How are you going to challenge this new frontier?

The founder, thinker, inventor, the big dreamer went all the way to create a vending machine to produce a pizza. Yeah, only a vending machine.

This vending machine, named "Let's Pizza", will have containers pouring out flour, water, tomato sauce, and fresh ingredients to produce the pizza as requested via buttons on the vending machine. It will take only three three minutes. This is much faster than those local pizza parlours.

How much is one of this pizza then? Only US$5 or 4 Euros minimum for either the Margherita, bacon, ham or fresh greens choices. Much cheaper than those local pizza parlours.

What if you want to be part of this business venture and challenge the likes of other pizza parlours found in Malaysia.

How much is it to set up this venture? First, you have to buy that vending machine at a cost of US$32,000. Then pay for the high transportation cost to Malaysia where the customs may tax you double or triple the amount, topped up by other local taxes and licensing fees.

Might as well just eat at the local pizza parlours hehehehe. Well, never try never know forever.

The inventor, Claudio Torghele, gave a try and will be going places soon ...... at the moment, in Italy only.

Reading: In Italy, a Vending Machine Even Makes the Pizza - New York Times

(Picture sourced from CNET Asia)
Tags: Claudio Torghele, Let's Pizza, Margherita, Pizza Parlours, Pizza Vending Machine