I.O.U.

Ok, this is not a work-related posting. I received a letter in the mailbox the other day which I just gotta share.

Cool huh?

Aide today, gone tomorrow

Like it or not, yesterday was historic. Malaysia witnessed the swearing in of a new PM - the sixth since Independence.

It also marked the end of an - for lack of better word - "era". The country's latest Tun is gone, together with his officers, aides and what-nots. I bade farewell to two of his aides using what seems to be the in-thing now - via Facebook. One of them was an ex-colleague and we used to cover each other's backs then.

Somehow, the change-of-guards on top served as a reminder just how precarious and transient my post is. I am here as long as the boss is around and wants me. If, through some bizarre freak fate, my boss is left out of the Cabinet in the upcoming reshuffle, I'll be jobless even before I can say "what the....".

Incidentally, a friend, also a Ministerial aide, who was instrumental in getting me this job, quit recently. One day, he is chauffeured-driven with hordes of opportunists swooning over him, and the next, he is just a regular Joe having to drive his own kids to school.

But in some perverse ways, I look forward to the day when I am no longer in this circle. Besides the end to the hectic-crazy lifestyle, I want to know who my true friends are, or if I have any at all.

But then again, I would have to think of a new name for my blog.

Health check, reality-check

Yesterday, I was with boss at a health-screening programme at his constituency. He was invited to officiate at the event, which was, well, what you can expect from such functions. There were kiosks for visitors to check their blood pressure, health information booths and even a place where dental checks were done. I also noticed some doctors on standby dispensing advice. True to being a bersama rakyat programme, everything was free.

The official opening even had clown act to keep the kids entertained and silat performances. Children could also take part in a colouring contest. The response was rather good. I mean who wouldn't want to get a free health-check - rudimentary as it may be - and a chance to beramah mesra?

After my job was done, I headed for my car, ready for my next assignment, hoping to reach the venue before the boss did. As I was crossing a road, a car drove past me and stopped. The aunty driver, who must be in her 40s and sporting a huge white hat, wound down her window.

"Is this the place where you get your blood pressure examined?" she asked in Cantonese, pointing to the tents set up for the function. Her tone was rather anxious and she couldn't seem to care that she could be blocking traffic flow.

"Errr... yes, it is," I responded and must be subconsciously looking at my watch, hoping she could sense I was already running late.

"Crazy woman!" she said with huge relief. And before the irony sank in on me, she went on to explain: "One woman just now told me that this is where the elderly get their blood pressure checked. After that, they will chip in money for their own funeral expenses when they die."

"No, no, it's not," was all I could summon, still in a daze and before I knew it, she had sped off.

Ah... just another day of fire-fighting (of a different kind!) and a better understanding of the depth of human gullibility.

Umno General Assembly

Yesterday, I dropped by PWTC where the Umno general asembly is being held. The boss was there for the opening, but he wasn't the main reason I was there.

I was there primarily to touch base. Met soooooo many friends, especially journalists. Practically, the who's who in the media fraternity was at THE political event of the year (ok, doesn't mean journos who were not covering were nobodys!).

Yesterday was my first time attending the event as a non-journo, and in some strange ways like in the past, had mixed feelings about the - for lack of better word - "carnival". I miss the adrenaline-rush, especially this being an election year. But the cigarette smoke chokes me all the same. Thank god, I did not stay long enough to listen to speeches littered with racial slurs. Oh yeah, the traffic jam leading to the country's inner sanctum of Power and the quest for a parking bay affect journos and non-journos alike.

Still, it was still a good trip. A good two-hour or so with good company. Thank god for that.

Parliamen-tree Dislikes

Here are some top reasons why I dread Parliament sessions (in random order):

• I have no idea whether I need to be in the House until the very last minute because some smart alec decided that the Order Papers for the following day is only ready after 5pm.


• If I need to be there, I have to wake up extra early to beat the jam, especially now that the whole world is using the Besraya highway which has stopped collecting toll at Salak Jaya, which ought to be a good thing, but somehow, on days I need to make official trips to the Parliament, it is not.


• I need to tug my laptop back home more frequently, given the boss' uncertain schedule when the August House meets.


• I need to help scrutinise some sleep-inducing papers (eg MP's queries on the Ministry's plans to expand airports in places you never quite knew airports existed).


• On certain days you never know what time you get to leave. For example, during the winding up on the mini Budget, the team waited for hours for the Ministry's turn. But surprises, surprises, we did not make it because the day's session had to end at 10.30pm. Did I say 10.30pm?


• The food sucks in Parliament.


• I blog less when there is sitting (that may be quite obvious).

The Lower House meets for an extra three days next week. Phew, the end is near.

Senate, which sits the following week, should be more bearable I hope.

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.