Plastic Impression

Occasionally, my job requires me to network and to stay in touch with contacts, usually over a meal or just coffee. It's one of those things I rather enjoy doing especially with contacts who click.

When it's my turn to get the bill, I often pay using my credit card. Not because the amount is so huge (usually not!), but simply because I enjoy the convenience of plastic. The thing is I have been using a particular bank's classic card for close to a decade now and enjoy seeing the points pile up over the years.

For some time now, my wife has asked me to ditch the classic card, if only because "even the messenger in my office uses a gold card". Yes, apparently stiff competition between banks made it very easy for just about anyone to own a gold card these days. Many are either not aware, or like me, not too bothered.

But of late, I have become more conscious of her point. Working for a public figure makes me more image-conscious. In the course of my work, I also have to deal with characters who treat those who put on elegantly-matched cufflinks a world of a difference from those who sport a RM12.90 tie from Carrefour. And classic credit cards? Let's not even get there...

Well, actually I did apply to upgrade to a gold card years ago. I was rejected because my wife works in that bank which issued the card. Under Banking and Financial Institutions Act (Bafia), I am not even allowed to own any credit card from the said lender. (I have no idea why the bank still allows me to keep the card though.)

Over the years, I have linked many accounts to the card for bill-settlement purposes, from insurance premiums to mobile phone charges to charity sponsorships. Cancelling the card means I have to re-apply to link these accounts to the new card, which I find to be quite a chore.

Well, I actually do have a gold card from another bank, applied many years ago (for the free gift!). But I hardly use it because settling the bill was a hassle; either I send them a cheque or queue up to pay (although later, Internet banking enabled inter-bank settlement, which came with a fee).

Anyway, I still enjoy seeing my points grow from the card I have used all this while and enjoy the convenience of settling the bill via Internet banking service provided by the same bank which my salary is credited into.

So far, I am still sticking with my "old (card) is gold" maxim. I am too lazy to apply for a new card and have even turned down an offer from wife to be her supplementary card holder. As for those pretentious snots who judge a person by the colour of their cards, I guess for now, carrying more cash with me ought to do the job.

Why the BN was screwed in 308...

And will continue to be if something's not done about it.

I loathe to blog about politics and since I started, I have vowed to stay clear of that topic whenever possible. But a casual conversation during a recent CNY open house annoyed me enough to pen this.

Over some roasted lamb and beer (teh tarik for me), the topic about party-hopping and the developments in Perak cropped up, naturally. Everyone in the table seemed to agree that while the change of government in the silver state may halt the PR's momentum, there is a lot of public resentment towards the BN following the defection drama.

But one smart alec, who's intricately-linked to the present administration offered his two-cents: "Come the next general election, BN will do well. Malaysians have a very short memory."

That kind of attitude, ladies and gentlemen, explains 308. And will be the cause of BN's downfall if left unchecked.

A brush with the "rival" (not mine)... (2)

The MP and State assemblyman for the area where I live hosted a CNY open-house the other nite. There were posters and banners put up around the housing estate days before the event, held in a community centre.

I went there with the family, chiefly because my eldest loves to watch the lion dance. The turnout was pretty good, although I sensed some disappointment from the crowd who had to wait quite a bit before food was finally served.

I didn't feel out of place although the two wakil rakyat came from the other side of the political fence as that of my boss. After all, I wasn't there in my official capacity. Heck, I am not even a member of any political parties. I was there as a registered voter in the taman and for the fun of it.

Well, ok, if I did feel a bit uncomfortable, it was because I wasn't quite dressed for the occasion. Dressed in tees and shorts, I could see quite a number took the effort to look as if they were going for some wedding dinner reception.

The aunty selling drinks near the low-cost flats had shed her regular tees and jeans for what appeared to be office attire. The party workers wore a corsage as if it were some badge of honour. I was quite surprised to see the hardware shop owner pinned with one. I thought I had seen him in a Rela outfit before. But I knew my newspaperman had always been a party activist even before he inserted propaganda-laced free calendars last year with the dailies he delivered. He was dressed in batik.

Well, that was my first time attending a CNY do for my housing area and I must say it was quite fun, although we were there only for a short while and did not have a chance to savour the food. Would go there again, if they still have it next year. My kids collected ang pow from the assemblyman. Am sure they look forward to doing the same next year. And oh yeah, for the lion dance too.

A brush with the "rival" (not mine) ... (1)

A couple of nights ago, I attended an informal get-together dinner. My boss was there and so were his party comrades and lots and lots of people from the press. Dinner was served buffet-style and there was no fixed seating arrangements, to allow guests to mingle more freely.

I arrived early and was seated with two friends. And there I was, sinking my teeth into the satay when a party leader came from behind and sat down in the same table. He was, in the public's eyes, a rival to my boss in the party.

I wasn't sure if he knew I was seated in the table before he took his seat, but I nevertheless greeted him with a "hi" and even smiled. He responded the same.

Although I knew him even before joining my present boss, I felt a bit awkward striking a conversation with the man. I continued the discussion with my friend seated next to me. If there was any uneasiness in the table, I didn't think anyone felt it.

At one point, the leader asked a mutual friend seated with us why he was eating so little. The friend said he would get more helpings later and I took the opportunity to chip in: "He needs time to warm-up." That must be the closest to me and him having a conversation that night.

All in, I guess it must have been 10- 15 minutes since the politician sat down before I excused myself and mingled with those from other tables. Given the nature of the dinner, I guess the duration was fairly acceptable. After all, we were supposed to move from table-to-table and hobnob.

I did not stand up and walked away immediately after he took his seat. It never crossed my mind to do so and it was absolutely unnecessary. In fact, I must say we both conducted ourselves fairly well.