MCP- Free! Lots and lots in Malaysia

MCP is not related to Microsoft. It is not the qualifications in IT but most Malaysians have it.

One thing I noticed when I stepped foot into supermarkets and hypermarkets especially the ones in Klang Valley is that there are lots of MCP holders. Malaysian Cheapo People (MCP) is the requirement for free lunch.

Heard people saying that there is no free lunch in this world? I can prove him/her wrong. Any person that holds the MCP can have free lunch anytime at any shopping centers, supermarkets or hypermarkets. Being an MCP does not need lots of money, yet you can gain a lot. Below is the short story of a typical life of a MCP.

The MCP wake up at 10am on the Sunday. She just takes a bath and essential make-up and there she goes to the shopping complex. Browsing along the cosmetic session she managed to get some free perfumes, get the eyes make-up, free lipstick and so on. After the “beauty regime” she feels she is hungry. There she walks into the nearby hypermarkets. With a shopping basket, she goes to hunt for free food. There are lots of free tasters especially on the weekends. She goes to the instant noodle area for appetizer first and fills it up with mee. If one is not enough, the MCP can always ask for more by just saying “ Ahya.. one is not enough to taste. Can I have another one?” Before leaving she will take a 5 pack instant noodles and dump in to the basket. When she walked to the next rack she will just dump it somewhere. Then she goes to the frozen food area for the main meal. There will be fish fingers, sausages, BBQ chickens and lots more. The MCP will just follow the eat , take and dump strategy. Everyone is happy. Then comes the dessert, the MCP will target the ice cream, yogurt or the instant drink area. There it goes a full 3 course meal. The MCP will take some sweets and then check-out. A few bucks for something to keep the mouth fresh.

Next the MCP feels like she needs to know some gossip news, about celebrity and more. The MCP feels so happy when she saw a bookstore. Walk in grasp a magazine or a book and start reading. There are many seats for reading too especially like MPH in Mid-Valley Megamall.

After an hour or two, the MCP feels tired. She is tempted to try all the foot reflexology shops. “Why should I pay?” The names with all the “O”s will come out- Osim, Ogawa, Otto. You just name it and they have everything. The MCP just drop by the store show how interested she is and try them one by one. After that she would just tell the salesperson that she will consult with her mother because she is buying it for her mother and will bring her mother to try one day. There she goes again.

No wonder there is so many MCPs here. Free lunch for the day? Who would not like to have a try? As the saying goes: Malaysia-Truly Asian. Malaysians-Truly Cheapo. I wonder what these people are thinking.

Man of Steel in Malaysia!

We do have men of steels in Malaysia and they are quite a number of it. They are not required to wear their underwear on the outside or need to have the “S” logo on the chest. Ironically they do like anything made of steel, iron and especially copper!

Just look at the news and you well notice that our national power provider wires has been stolen, manholes missing and even drain covers lost in action. These are the doing of the illegal Men of Steel.

I do not realize the value of these iron stuffs until one of my friends who like to go to junkyard to get his art stuffs told me that a kilo of copper such as the drain covers can easily fetch RM10-RM12 per kilo. No wonder things are missing. Just imagine a manhole cover which is more than 10kg- RM100 per manhole cover. You just need to get 1 cover per day and your will be earning 3k. 30 manholes missing! That will be dangerous!

Never thought those covers are so valuable! Someone can just earn a living by collecting those.

There are also lots of legal Men of Steel in Malaysia. Just go to any place with lots of junkyard like Sg. Buluh and you can find them collecting none other than iron products. You can easily recognize their nest by seeing the signage such as “Ah Kau Kereta Potong” and such. There will be exhaust pipes, cut off cars and aluminum cans hanging all around. I wonder if I saw any of these cars before in any fatal accidents.

Actually, these places are worth visiting and you may even get their numbers and they will collect scraps from your house for free. When you want to throw out that spoilt microwave oven or fridge, these Men of Steel are really good. They will go to your place FOC and help you carry them off. They can carry a 6 feet 2 door refrigerator with just 2 people. No wonder they are men of steel.

As the saying goes one man’s junk is anther man’s treasure. It’s a good way to recycle and to help Mother Nature too.

Look it’s a bird! No it’s a plane! Nah it is just the Ah Beng wearing steel underwear on the outside.

MRT in Malaysia! Yes it is true!

MRT is all the while in Malaysia. We have not noticed it even before the construction of our Light Rail Transit (LRT). It is not about the Mass Rail Transit in Singapore but the Malaysian Real Time or Malaysian Rubber Time (MRT).

We in Malaysia are following the Greenwich Meant Time (GMT) of +8 which is similar to countries such as Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The strange thing is that we tend to follow one of the oldest agricultural commodities of Malaya- Rubber. The elasticity of Malaysian time is really very stretchable. It can reach for few hour differences. Take for instance the below invitation card.

8.00 pm Arrival of Guest
8.30 pm Arrival of VIPs
9.00 pm Opening Ceremony

In MRT, the situation might be totally different

8.30 pm Arrival of Guest
9.15 pm Arrival of VIPs
10.00pm Opening Ceremony

I think most of us will experience this. I call this “Injury Time” In MRT there is always ½ hour to 1 hour of injury time. This 1 hour is still acceptable if you compare it with Chinese wedding dinner. I once attended a wedding dinner stating 7pm sharp and I was there at 7pm and there is only like 1/10 of the people there. The bride and bridegroom finally walk in at 9pm. My stomach was so full at that time, not with food but Chinese Tea. I never like attending weddings dinner since then sometimes its better to stay at home and eat then attend dinner.

MRT happens a lot in our daily life. Sometimes it is not that we have a choice. Think of it going to dinner at 7pm every time and have to wait for 2 hours. Once bitten twice shy.

MRT maybe so elastic and can extend to few hours but sometimes the elasticity will just fail to go even 10 min. Just try going to an interview half and hour late and you will know what I mean. Interview you must be ½ hour earlier. When you start work the elasticity will normally come back and you can be ½ hour late. It is just like the extending and compacting of rubber and the famous excuses that goes with MRT is – blame it on the traffic.

“Itu jalan punya pasal. Tuhan buat dia jam tiap tiap hari” translated as “That is the fault of the road. God makes the road jam everyday”

Malaysian is not only famous for these product made out of rubber. MRT +0 here we come!

Now I know the reason why Malaysian rubber is so famous for its tires and condoms. We produce them and we inculcate it to our culture. I think its time to replace GMT +8 to MRT +0.

Mastering Internet Personality

As technology catch up, more and more people are moving towards the cyber world. Some people prefer to live in the cyber world rather than the real world. People are creating their second life there. We can see by the trends of Internet Relay Chat (IRC) and Instant Messaging (IM) where it so a common thing now. Those were the old days where people ask for you your email. Now people are asking for Sykpe, AIM, Yahoo or MSN. With these tools human develops their own personality. Some IMs even provides customization of oneself – known better as Avatar.

A sample of Yahoo Messenger created avatar. Avatars are now becoming the in-thing giving the rise of Avatar Marketing.

The blogging phenomena also shot up where internet users are now their own writer in a way. One can project their true feelings or even creates their Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde online. The possibilities are so much cause we can be anything we want to.

Online games are also one of the main development on internet personalities. Popular online games such as World of Warcraft (WoW), Guild Wars, Ragnarok Online (RO) and others have boosted the growth of the virtual person.

People have their own personalities now they are give a chance to create their personalities again. It is like living giving a chance a second chance. I do agree with some people saying that sometimes they make a mistake in life or commit something in life, there is no turning back. Instead of living their life, they turn to the cyber world. Actually according to a survey done recently the virtual world can actually satisfy the needs and also gives pleasure to the users and helps in relaxing the mind. This means that the cyber world gives people easy access to self fulfillment. Like it or not. The virtual world is here to stay and we need to embrace it and make good use of it. Pure internet business models have also emerged to a multi-dollar industry. Avatar Marketing, Online Gaming, Online Ads are some of them.

One may ask "What is the right personality for me on the virtual world?"The answer is it is all your own choice. As long as it benefits physically or mentally and help mankind along the way it is considered beneficial. Something that is hurting someone virtually or in reality is something that must be avoided. There is always pros and cons, it is us as a human being on how we manage it.

Maneuver your own life

Wondering down the winding road

Carrying a few crump of bread

Seeing a bunch of children amused

Laughing and at a fiddle the a lad

Approaching the funny looking lad

I asked

What are so special when I am sad?

Lonely, hungry and the bread taste bad

Should I go on? Or being moved?

Is there a Promised Land?

The lad answered

You are on the Promised Land

You might think I am mad

But I am just giving you my card

Call me when I am needed

I took and looked

The lad was no where to be found

Just a few words on the card

“Sourness is Sweetness good friend,

Which friend – you decide.”

- Friend who is always listening

written by xetajones


"Life is sour at times."
"Please help me find a good name too" -nameless

More Stress? Do Not Be Tension!

Tension? read these...

The moment you are in tension
You will lose your attention
Then you are in total confusion
And you’ll feel irritation
This may spoil your personal relation
Ultimately, you won’t get co-operation
And get things into complication
Then your BP may raise caution
And you have to take medication
Why not try understanding the situation
And try to think about the solution
Many problems will be solved by discussion
Which will work out better in your profession
Don’t think it’s my free suggestions
It is only for your prevention
If you understand my intention
You’ll never come again into tension!!!

-anonymous

Look he is in tension. Please don't. My new mascot still goes without a name. Any ideas?

Master of Imitation - Humans

When we are at the age of two it is when we human beings learn to walk. This is the stage we need to master all our movement right as seen by others. We humans imitate.

If we do not see and imitate how are we going to learn to walk? If we do not imitate how people talk, how are we going to talk?

Our language, our lifestyle, our fashion our movements and even our belief are all imitation. The previous generations have created this and we are just followers. Not many people here are creating something new in this world. Just look at today. How many history moving creations are there compared to the olden days? How many leaders are there in this world? And how many followers are there? In other words leaders =risk and followers =security.

Let say if a shoe company wants to introduce the type of shoe into Africa, the first mover company is taking all the risks. If they are successful most company will want a share of the pie. So any of you want to be the first?

A fake SD card and a real SD card. Almost every popular brand has an imitation

In our daily lives, we see lots of imitation goods around us. Some like it some don’t. Famous brands in fashion in equipments are imitated and sold in a much cheaper price? Is that right or wrong? Is imitation a bad thing? There is always both side of the coin. Imitation do “so-called” disrupt the earnings of the starter. But does it really affect them that much? But on the other hand imitation does help the starter in creating awareness. Will so many people know of LV products if not for the imitations? These indirect advertising actually helped LV-A free advertising for the original brand.

Now the human imitation comes in.

“If all my friends have LV bags, I should have one too” Is that thinking called original? Your LV bag may be original but are you an original or different human being? Why not just take a pouch and be original? Some people might say that they do not like imitation and wants to be original. The bad news is over 90% of people imitates consciously and unconsciously. They are just contradicting their own selves. If you want to be original you need to go against the norm and create something new like a new trend or fashion and not following.

Breast implants. Is Salma Hayek's original? Are those genuine or...?

As the saying goes- “follow by example”. We follow what people do and we try to create something that is quite similar to it and call it our own. This is where the word –“innovation” comes along. We copy some we add some we subtract some and we called it out original work.

To find a creator nowadays is so difficult. Creation is like creating a new language a new phenomenon that is out of this world. So are you a creator, an innovator or an imitator? You decide.

Man & Women: Equality?

The conflict between the sexes is just a waste of time?

In this 21^st century, the society is always stressing on the equality of the genders. The controversial battle of the sexes is always there. Come to think of it, is there such a thing called equality of gender in this world?

Equality is hard to achieve in a society unless communism is practiced. Even with communism it is also hard to achieve equality. What else can we expect from equality of genders? Man and women are basically different physically and mentally. So how can we be the same and enjoy the same benefits?

One think I was laughing at since a long time is the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development in Malaysia. Why can’t there be a Ministry for Man & Family? Is that called equality? How come there is one for women but not men?

Discrimination of sexes is also practiced by widely without us actually noticing. Just pick up any newspaper and go to the employment section and you will see. “Male preferred” or “female preferred”. Some ads are even worse “Only for female age between 18 and 28”. Where is equality in this word that the women are fighting for?

Women are fighting for their rights. They say they want to be entrepreneurs too. Yes no one is stopping you. How come I never hear women fighting to become construction workers, logistics workers or crane drivers etc? The world should be equal right? Only want to sit in office with air-conditioner and you called that equality?

The thing here is there is no such thing as equality. To those female movement groups just open your eyes and see properly. Don’t just put it under the name of protection of women or women rights. If you want equality please look at it as a whole. If you want to share, share the whole portion. Do not just want the cream and you called that sharing. Ask yourself is there equality in this world? Why some people are so poor and why are so rich? You decide.

I’m not against any gender. I feel that we are here as male or female for a specific reason and some things could not be changed. We need to learn to live life harmoniously and not keep on fighting for gender rights. Some things like getting pregnant is only for the females whereas some jobs are just for the males. Why do we want to fight about it? It is better to help each other to achieve something which can be folds better than fighting who can do it better.

Making The Right Move At The Right Time

In life there is something call stage of life. If you miss something in life and you do not do it right that is all. There is no turning back. I myself have missed lots of steps in life and hoped that I have made the right thing at the right time.

Life is simple but sometimes it is just out of our control because we made a mistake and did not take the right action. I have seen sons and daughters who disobey and fight with their parents. If you sit down and understand the situation. The cause is the parents. If you see a young lad sending his parents to old folks home, chances are he will be in the old folks home too.

We need to take the right action at the right time. As the case above the parents will not be able to educate the children again if they miss the chance. Things that are passed are out. That’s make the difference of an educated child and vice versa.

As humans step in the teenage life and young adult there is too lots of things that you need to make right. Too early or too late does have consequences. We need to act and grow according to our mental growth. There is no return if you reach the stage of self realization to fast which I have and I do hope I was like other people who can enjoy their life much better at that time. Sometimes thinking too much is not good. You may be wiser but you won’t be doing the right thing or won’t be enjoying your life.

Party? Have children? Switch jobs? What is the right time? Do not make things too fast or too slow. Then the question: “When is the right time?” I wish I can tell you that cause the right time to do the right thing might differs. I do have a rough outline which I created and hope it can somewhat provide some guideline based on personal opinions other view are always accepted if it make sense. The table will be updated accordingly.

Age Group	Thing(s) to be done
0-10 (Infant Toddler Elementary)	The basic movement (crawl, walk, fall) Understanding of language and words. Basic understanding of relationship. Study hard, Learn the most and enjoy life. Naiveness is a bliss *At this age group you will not be reading this if yes there is a genius on board.
11-20 (Adolescence and puberty)	The vast development mentally and physically. The understanding of love. The stage of curiosity and discovery. The understanding of value. The understanding of sex. Make have with what you want to do at this stage but remember not to do illegal stuffs. Explore the most even you are misguided at time there is always time to go back.
21-30 (Young adult)	The stage of maturation. The thinking starts to settle down. Some even reach the stage of self actualization. Some of the attributes or characteristics that needs attention: Self-control - restraint, emotional control. Stability - stable personality, strength. Independence - ability to self-regulate. Seriousness - ability to deal with life in a serious manner. Responsibility - accountability, commitment and reliability. Method/Tact - ability to think ahead and plan for the future, patience. Endurance - ability and willingness to cope with difficulties that present themselves. Experience - breadth of mind, understanding. Objectivity - perspective and realism Mistakes should be less here. The last stage to learn the most or to venture.
31-50 (Mid Age)	Settled down in terms of their sense of identity and place in the world, be raising a family, and have established career. Mid-life crisis. The process of Individuation. Some characteristics of mid life are: search of an undefined dream or goal desire to achieve a feeling of youthfulness acquiring of unusual or expensive items such as clothing, muscle, cars, jewelery, gadgets, etc. paying extra special attention to physical appearance need to spend more time alone or with certain peers Change the crisis by better understanding of your own selves. Religion may help at this stage. Just ask yourself what do you want in life and make do with it with the time you have.
51> (Senior citizen)	Nearing the average lifespan of human being. Retirement. Enjoy life at its best. Death is getting nearer and it is a fact.

Enjoy life while you can as you will never know the date you are leaving. Appreciate the people around you. Tell them you love them and tell them thank you for being around cause sometimes it might be the last time you are able to tell them. I still wonder why so many people like to walk over dead bodies to achieve success. You will be one dead body too sooner or later, why harm people?

Must we follow? -Norms of the society

Kissing in public and kissing of the same gender? Is it acceptable? Is that wrong?
Some countries permit it some not. What do you think?

There is one strange system at work in our society. People create norms. People around us tell you what is right what is wrong. People formulate systems for you to follow. Society tells you what is right and what is wrong. Culture also creates guidelines to live your life. Many people are comfortable in the so call norms without asking any question. It is just like the law of a country. Just follow do not ask any question. These people are the blind followers.

Have you ever wondered why you should wear cloth when you go out? Why can’t you be naked and walk around? It is your body by the way. There are many more common laws that the society sets which the society perceives it is not good and not accepted. It is just in some countries public kissing is prohibited. Having pre-marital sex is prohibited and so on. Will these events disturb you if you have an open mind? Are they actually distracting? What is distracting and not it is all up in the head. After you have seen many naked people around and accept that the fact that it is their freedom you would think otherwise and accept it as a norm. In the prehistoric age we humans are running around nakedly and we do not feel shy or anything wrong about it. “It is all up in the head. It is all up in the head”. Why are we so selfish to restrict the rights of other human beings?

How short is short? Wearing mini-vinyl skirt in public is acceptable?
Some say it creates the desire. Who control the desire? Some people may have the desire even someone is cloth entirely like a ninja? -Its all in the mind

I do agree some norms are there for to protect the human rights or to fulfill our sense of security. People who hurt people physically will have to face punishment because they are against the will of another person. On the other hand, there are many norms that are just there because they are perceive “morally correct or incorrect” by a society. Let your mind work for a while and you will get what I mean. What is correct? What is incorrect?

Some people might argue that something that is correct is written by a religion for the well being of human being. I do not deny that religion does help us as a total human being and to be civilized. Do the teachings applicable to our today world? Aren’t those people teaching written by human being? We as a human is not a perfect creature. Those teaching or believed can be manipulated by this particular group of people for their own interest. One easy experiment is to create a rumor and for sure you will not get the exact rumor that you have told after it was past around 5 persons. What do expect than for writings or teachings that have been passed for generations?

Humans are the one that creates norms. Do you believe everything of a human next to you that have been telling tales for the past half and hour? What is right then? It is all up for you to decide. We have the brains to think and evaluate. Just be open. Have an open mind and you will see things better. Does this particular doing affect you? Does it cause harm to you? If not, it is that person own freedom. Why force people doing something? Who are you to decide his/her rights or wrongs?