Sacrificing money for love

A young Indian lady who cleans my home office told me this incredible story. A married couple who are her relatives adopted an orphan girl when she was a toddler. Since the time of adoption, the couple knows that the girl is entitled to an inheritance when she reaches the age of 21.

Five years ago, the girl’s adopted parents persuaded my Indian friend to introduce a boy to the girl. My friend duly introduced a respectable young man and sparks of romance began. The young couple became inseparable. Last year, the girl was 20. The adopted parents encouraged them to tie the knot. They wanted the wedding to be held before the girl’s 21st birthday.

After all the wedding plans have been made, the adopted parents dropped a bombshell – they wanted the girl to transfer her inheritance to them. The girl was angry. The boy was furious. My Indian friend was outraged. The adopted parents were adamant. If the girl refused to accede to their demands, they would cancel the wedding and marry her off to another man.

After months of bitter wrangle, the girl and her future husband became enlightened. They became aware that the inheritance was the cause of their pain and suffering. It was the cause of the evil that tortured them. The desire to get hold of the money has driven everybody insane.

The young couple made a startling decision. They decided to sacrifice the inheritance for their happiness. The girl is convinced that she loves her man more than her money. The young man is convinced that he has the ability to support his wife and raise a family without any inheritance. My friend is convinced that the young couple has chosen wisely.

I rang my friend, “Have they signed the papers?”

“Yes. It’s all done. The girl has transferred her inheritance to the people who brought her up. It’s okay. She doesn’t have to worry about the future. God will always be there.”

Greed can turn us into zombies. Perhaps, God has to destroy all our material possessions so that we learn to treat each other with love, kindness and compassion.

Susan Boyle - from charity to celebrity

Susan Boyle appeared on the TV reality show Britain’s Got Talent on 11 April 2009 and sang ‘I Dreamed A Dream’. She is a 47 year-old heavy-set woman with thick eyebrows and unkempt hair. She walked up to the stage wearing a frumpy dress and looking more like a comedian than a singer. Everybody in the audience was certain that she would massacre the song and turned herself into a laughing stock.

When Susan Boyle began to sing, the sceptical and sniggering audience was stunned. Her mesmerising voice resonated through the theatre. The audience started to applaud thunderously. Finally, they rose to their feet, cheering wildly.

Susan is unemployed, unmarried, and lives alone with her cat in a small town which she described as a collection of villages.

Within the first 24 hours, her YouTube video has been viewed over 5 million times. As of 18 April 2009, it has been viewed nearly 30 million times. Within the span of a week, she has been interviewed by Good Morning America and Larry King Live show. She has also been invited to appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Susan sang ‘I Dreamed A Dream’, and her dream to sing like Elaine Paige shows that nothing is impossible.

Susan Boyle website

FRANC-ly speaking, they love to sing

Singing on stage gets the adrenalin flowing and gives our self-esteem a welcome boost.

Two members from Team Franc in FSTEP brushed up on their diction, overcame their stage fright and added a feather in their cap.

This video shows Suarddy Parman aka AWESOME ADY in action. He sings “Hero” and works the girls up into a frenzy.

Here is vibrant emcee, Liza, introducing the singer, Nur Dalila Zainudin aka SIZZLING DALILA who sings “My heart will go on”. Dalila practised hard on her diction, voice control and body language. A commendable effort!

The FRANC drama

I salute Team Franc in FSTEP who plucked up the courage to perform an English drama on stage. They could have opted for a mime performance, but they decided to do something more challenging. They put their heads together and came up with the script. Then, all the performers had to practise their lines frantically. Finally, they stepped up to the stage and put their communication skills to the test. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

PART 1 - THE ABSENT-MINDED PARENTS

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PART 2 - AT THE CLINIC

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PART 3 - IN THE TAXI

PART 4 - SAY NO TO OLD FOLKS HOME


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The cast:
Father: ALIF
Mother: NAWAR
Daughter: SHIDAH
Doctor: TASHA
Nurse: SYARAH
Taxi Driver: SARAH

They beat me flat

I am their English teacher but when we play a game of Charades, they become my teacher. In fact, they are so good that I have to raise the white flag in defeat. They simply beat me flat!

Goodness gracious, these at FSTEP who underwent the INTEC programme (Intensive English Course) amaze me. Their reservoir of English song titles and movie titles is stupendous. I guess they must have listened to every song and watched every movie.

They call me their English sifu. After the Charades, I humbly relinquish my sifuship!

God's great love will keep us together

As Team Tulip in FSTEP are approaching the end of the INTEC programme (Intensive English Course), they are asked to do the final team project – organizing the farewell brunch.

It is a project that encourages English communication in planning, holding meetings, putting various proposals to the vote, forming working committees (logistics, food, entertainment, invitations, etc), reinforcing teamwork and stimulating creativity.

I am absolutely amazed by the results. Every part of the programme is organized with a touch of class. Every task is executed with a high standard of excellence. Every member fulfils their duties with enthusiasm.

I am confident that this group will bring value to the financial sector and serve their organizations with pride and passion.

In my farewell speech, I dedicate this song to them:

Smile an everlasting smile
A smile will bring my tulips to me
And we’ll never say goodbye
We’re near though we are far apart

You think that I don’t even mean a single word I say
It’s only words and God’s great love that keeps us together

To all my beloved members of Team Tulip, I wish you all the best in your future endeavours. I love you all.

Kindness is reciprocated with kindness

After shopping at a supermarket, I walked towards the open car park where I parked my car. I noticed a Chinese couple having a row with two Malay youths on a motorbike. As I approached, the youths rode off angrily.

I talked to the Chinese couple. They told me that they spotted a vacant parking space when a motorbike ridden by the two Malay youths overtook them and occupied the space. They got off their car and scolded the youths. The Malay youths got angry and they traded insults.

After telling me what happened, the couple ended by saying, “Useless Mat Rempit. Their kind of people behave like that.”

I decided to have a few words with them, and asked them very politely:

• Did the boys know that you wanted the parking space?
• Why did you not park at another place instead of quarreling with them and risking high blood pressure?
• If the boys were Chinese, would you be as hostile to them?

I left the couple and walked towards my car. 4 or 5 motorbikes have gathered at a spot near my car. The young Malay riders seemed to be in a discussion. Upon seeing me, they stopped talking and eyed me warily. Without any hesitation, I flashed them a sincere smile. They looked awkward at first, but soon they smiled back. I told them politely that I wanted to drive my car out. They nodded politely and moved their bikes away from my car.

Before I drove off, I waved to them and said in English, “Happy New Year!” They waved back. Some of them even found their voices to say “Happy New Year!”

Kindness begets kindness.

Things happen for a good reason

Photo credit: www.jpost.com

There is a small glass table in my home. Right from the beginning, my mind was fixed that this table was meant for flowers and nothing but flowers. For years, a lovely floral arrangement sat prettily on this table.

A year ago, someone broke the vase that held the flowers. I was really upset. I wanted to run to the shop immediately to get a new vase, but work held me back. Yet, I did not want to leave the table undecorated. I looked around the house and saw a crystal salt lamp sitting on top of a cabinet. I decided to relocate the lamp to the glass table as a temporary measure.

When it was time for bed, I switched off all the lights. Suddenly, the whole house was caressed by a golden glow. It never happened before. I gasped in surprise. I quickly turned around to locate the source of the glow. It came from crystal salt lamp! My goodness, this lamp has been my companion for years, but I have never given it so much attention until that night.

I sat down on a chair to admire the lamp and its light. I realized that when it was sitting on top of the cabinet, its glow was restricted by its position. Now that it sits on the glass table, its glow reaches out in every direction.

I believe things happen for a good reason. The vase is broken for a good reason. I am glad I did not berate the person who broke it. If not for the broken vase, I would never have known that the crystal salt lamp and the glass table are meant for each other. Together, they fill my home with a golden glow, most distinctly at night.

I can't believe it!

I talk to my friends and it’s always about the depressing politics, declining economy and deteriorating crime scene.

To make things worse, my car develops a strange electrical problem which my trusted mechanic can't fix. I call the EON service centre and they tell me to leave my car there overnight. Oh no, I can’t do that. I would be crippled without my car.

Sometimes, unpleasant situations are a blessing in disguise. Thinking hard to solve my problem, my brain goes into memory retrieval mode and downloads an old file – the archived information of a man who helped me when my car broke down over ten years ago.

In that incident, I was in Kuala Lumpur and my car wouldn't start. A friend gave me a number to call. I got through to a man who said he would send his men over. I did not have to wait long. Two men turned up, jump-started my car and I followed them to a shop near the busy and bustling Jalan Pasar. The shop belongs to a Mr Wong who repairs automobile electrical system.

I was advised to replace the alternator. It was dusk when the job was done. When it was time to pay the bill, I found I did not have enough cash. Mr Wong said without hesitation, “Don’t worry. Take the car now. You can pay me tomorrow.” My jaws dropped. How could he trust me, a total stranger? He said that was how he conducted his business – trust. I did not betray his trust. I went back to the shop the next day and paid him.

One day, a friend from Seremban came to Kuala Lumpur. His car stalled on a street. I told him to call Mr Wong who promptly sent his men. Later, my friend called me, “Mr Wong charged me for the new battery only. He didn't charge me anything for sending his men over to jump-start my car. I can’t believe it!”

Suddenly, I know why my car is misbehaving now – so that I can see Mr Wong again. This incredible businessman is now in his seventies. He is still the same affable man I know. When I tell him the problem, he gives his trademark response, “No problem. We’ll look at it right away.”

While waiting for the car to be diagnosed and treated, I chat with Mr Wong. I ask him, “Last time you didn’t charge for house service. Do you charge now?” He replies with a laugh, “No! I still don’t charge. No need. You pay the repair bill, that’s enough.”

A worker approaches and says, “It’s done.” I ask Mr Wong for the bill and he says, “RM15 only.” RM15 only? For a problem that my mechanic can't fix and EON Service has to keep my car overnight? I can’t believe it!

If your car needs an electrical doctor in Kuala Lumpur, you may want to give Mr Wong a call.

Mr Wong Yoon Sui

Yoon Sui Electric Service Sdn Bhd

5 Jalan Beruang

Off Jalan Pasar

55100 Kuala Lumpur

03-9221 8368

Sincere Cops

I wish to thank and salute these two exemplary members of the Royal Malaysia Police who went out of the way to help me:

• Lance Corporal 114116 RAHATAN BIN TAHRIN
• Constable 142296 ASRI BIN DARI

One night, I drove home past midnight. When I reached the house, I pressed the auto-gate remote control. The gate refused to open. I pressed the control again and again. Nothing happened.

My family was away for a few days so I couldn't call them for help. I sat quietly in my car and gathered my thoughts. My brain went into problem-solving mode. All of a sudden I thought of the police.

Why shouldn't I run to them for help?
Why shouldn't I trust them with my problem?

I drove over to the police station. I told the police officer on duty of my predicament. He was very helpful. He made a call and soon two policemen turned up at the station - one was a lance corporal and the other a constable.

Both policemen followed my car on a motorbike. When we arrived at the house, it was past 1am. They told me their plan. One of them would climb over the gate, go up to the house, open the main door with the door keys, go inside and locate the auto-gate manual switch.

As the policeman was clambering up the gate, he chuckled, “This looks like housebreaking.” The other policeman was amused. I had my moment of anxiety.

Oh dear, are the neighbours watching this “housebreaking”? Would they call the police?

Finally, the drama was over – the gate opened and I could get into the house. I was so grateful to the two policemen. I offered them some money as a token of my appreciation. Both declined without hesitation. I was taken aback. If I had to hire a skilled person to do the job, I might have to pay a handsome price.

The two policemen were adamant despite my persuasion. They touched their chests with their hands and said, “Kami ikhlas.” (We are sincere)

I will always remember them as admirable members of the Royal Malaysia Police who serve our country with integrity.