Hello 2010

TIME AND TIDE waits for no men,,,,,,once again, year 2009 is going to be closed and year 2010 is around the corner. What had we done in the past year? Of course good and bad things come to us alternatively and I think bad things come more to us in 2009. As all of us knew and already suffer the consequence of the global recession, this economy turn down is the worst in the several decades, the analyst indicated by relevant data on several reports. We read it and we afraid to be facing possible layoffs. We have seen a lot different stories during this difficult time through media and our related society. Anyway we have passed another year and what we can say for sure is we are going to be one year older than before. Let's be optimistic for 2010 and welcome together new year with the warmest manner.

As I aforesaid, 2009 was full of problems, troubles, policy changes and bailout around the world in order to get back on the right track of world's economy. Of course I am not exceptional as a human being of this world population, over 6 billions. I listed what had happened to me during 2009 and found out major changing in my life such as getting married, building an own private project, going to be a father, etc. My wife and I have enjoyed a married life and now we are on the right lane going to make a house to home. It's significantly good enough to mention a gift from 2009. So we have to say thanks to 2009 for giving such a kind of priceless gift and making us more mature people by creating a lot problems during its time. We sometime definitely need problems to increase our mental power as well as physical.

Hopefully we can make our world a better and healthy place to live in from this 2010 onward together.

Who is crazier?

DEAR my unborn baby,,,, there is one Burmese saying that "the first ever child is always crazy". I am confusing with that before but I have to accept it conventionally. It's always impossible to correct/ against unwritten law, my baby as it is not existing in anywhere. We need to live in the life full of such a kind of law. But we probably used to it and sometime we are likely not to even notice that. Anyway I am asking myself above mention title question "who is crazier between first child and parent?" I am increasing understanding for this matter as you have entered my world and time is the best judge you know. To the best of my little experience of parental hood, the answer is likely the parent who goes foolish by the time they get first child.

Lets talk about ourselves, I was unable and wondering when your mum stop eating a lot of cooking oil, seasoning powder, too much spicy foods, etc. But now she cut all these bad habits because of your safety. I, myself, always calculate on money related matters in respect of economy before and now this habit had been abandoned in respect of your health and convenience. As you know, it's not easy to give up a childhood character and finally one reason can delete these all. Nothing can exist without cause, they said. Of course we can't afford to surrender these all items unless u come to our world.

We spend much of our spare time by talking about you, your future and even your shape,etc. It's look like mad to talk with a unseen baby to a normal person. But it used to happen to a fresh parent like us. No matter you hear our voice or not, we are pleased to do so. What an amazing experience? We are now feeling warmer in relationship than ever before because of you. Some disputed items settled to save time for you. Some junk time have been cut effectively to do meaningful items. Our proudness has been thrown away to avoid unnecessary consequence.We don't hesitate in praying/wishing for you possess a good life infront of any Loard/God/Goddess. As long as we think is safe and reliable and relevant, we do it forward. These all happen to us due to a solely reason that is you of course.

We don't know if you are crazy enough as saying so, but for sure is we, your parent, have happily gone wild and crazy ready because of you. Do you want to dare to compete with us? I am sure you will laugh at me if you are able to hear what I am talking about. Never mind how long it take me to able to understand all these words by yourself. It's worthy enough to wait as you are our biological child. I can't wait to share my experience with you. I can't stop training myself to become a good dad. I'll do all measure to please you in life, I swear. My beg for now is please come to our world with a minimum problem as we can't afford for so many expensive items. But for sure is we have so much love for you, baby. You can't consume them finish for your whole life I dare to say. I believe you will love to be part of my family and we will always welcome to you despite I had lost my privileged position to you.

the art of a fatherhood

DEAR newcomer!!!!
How can I measure my love regarding to you? Please let me know if you know some way. Your dad is probably not a good engineer, will you criticize like that? I was always hungry with parental love as I lost my parent when I was a young boy. So I always dream to give my child the fullest loving kindness unless it is not a perfect one. Your mum and I start to read some books that can tell us how to maintain you properly. As a youngest son myself in my family, no wonder my mum gave me a birth once she was relatively old. As a result, I missed my parent's love and I always impress to my classmates once they are well taken by their respective parent to school/ college. But I brave myself to overcome these bitter days. Such a kind of incident makes my secrete aim stronger and firmer. Now I am one step away from my aim and you are integral part of my plan.

Lets say you are my actor who is going to perform in my play. As every director wants the best performers in order to create a good outcome, I also wants you one of outstanding artistes. I believe in you since you are able to teach me a lot lesson despite you are as small as 9mm and as young as 6 weeks. No matter what size is it, no matter who are you, no matter where are you come from, no matter who sent you to my private world, I am happy and proud to be a father of you. As soon as we know you have been your mum womb, your mum asked me a simple question. Do you know what's that? Would you want to know in advance, my dear.....I was amazed to be asked this question although it was simple. What she asked me is,,,,

What do you want me to deliver, a boy or girl?
I pause a while and simply answer, no gender favored, a healthy child would be good enough
She was pleased with my answer. Actually I don't want to put her additional pressure/ burden by telling prefer gender. Hope you understand my answer as you are genius baby. But ur mum didn't stop in that point and come out with her preference. She told me that she prefer to get a boy because she want to see you as a novice alive. What a noble desire is your mum? She is such a kind of woman, my dear. So please do not harm her if it is under your control. I relax her suggesting that no matter gender, parent usually love their child even he/she is disable... We won't be exceptional. So you also relax my baby, we'll love you uniquely. But I want to beg you now is please take care yourself now until you come out to the real world.

Do you know that I am praying longer than before because I have a serial wishes to request to a prayer. I don't care who is the prayer as long as he/she is able to take care you. I have a lot things to do these days but you are top of the list. I can deny others if they clash with you. I think you are my best ever driving force and I'ld need it forever to go forward as far as I can. Oh my dear, do you know the world is now falling in the recession and struggling to come out of this. Of course everybody suffer from that by someway, direct or indirect. So we need to take extra care to keep our job and earn money for you. This world is very cruel I tell you, no money we can't save you when you are not feeling well. I don't know where are you coming from and you will definitely understand the complexity of this world. But your dad and mum are trying to do their best so that they can put you on the best.

One day I bought your mum a book that is about how to prepare for a pregnancy women. At one episode, the author point out that pregnancy woman should sleep by side position and she follow that since then. Plus you mum loves chilly so much and now she don't eat it anymore for the sake of you. These two are only 2 of a lot changed by ur mum. Your mum loves you so much and hope you don't give her so much problem during ur time inside her womb. She is not so much good at her anti-body level and so she can't afford to do wrongly at all single point. So I monitor your mum for the safety-sake of you and herself.

We both understand that it's hard for you to stay inside the womb of working mum. So we take all better measure to relax and comfort you. We'll move to a better place on the end of this month and you won't be frustrate every morning and evening by taking a public ride. For this week please patient and forgive us for making you tired. Oh my baby, it's not easy to work here as your parent are coming from a poorer country. We can't survive here without working properly. But you don't need to worry so much as our mother land is so much better than here and you will understand once you get back there. I don't know what kind of environment you prefer exactly. Hopefully you love to stay at the environmentally friendly place rather than a concrete city. Try to survive my dear as the world is awaiting you. You will never know how beauty our world is until you explore it. I'll always encourage you in doing a right thing in right way. Have a nice coming and stay there.

This X'mas is almost empty for your parent virtually. But I assume that you are the best X'mas present for us and it's priceless. We need you so much and you'ld be definitely our future. Do come and light our cloudy future. Since you came to world with the coincidence of world economy upside down, I do believe in you that you come this world to solve out all these unsettle problems. OK baby, I can't wait to see you personally.....COME OUT & signal by crying to the wonderful world......

To my poor baby

DEAR my unseen baby!!!, you are warmly welcome to our world as a new generation. You came to us without signal and it was surprised to know that you has secretly entered our world. I know how hard is it for you to be stay inside a working mum. That's why I call you a poor child and I hope you know how to stay there well until you discover the real world. For your parent, we have gone crazy about you and we are struggling with the safety-sake of your health. Please forgive us if we have treated you in cruel ways because it is not intentionally doing. As you are first ever child to us, we are quite fresher in handling you and unfortunately we are an ocean away from your grand-parent who might know the preventive measures than us. But I promise you to do my best in taking caring you.

Being an ordinary human, I didn't understand the life well until you came to our household. I thought I can able to handle in almost everything as I have been a lot bitter experience in my past life. In other word, your dad has been over confident in dealing life matters. Actually I am not ready yet to become a good father, my dear. I owe you a lot despite you haven't come out of our world because you make my life change a lot. You gave me a lot lesson that I have never learned in life. I won't know unless you come in my world. Oh my dear, you are as small as 9mm in term of physical, but you has been equipped the best ever weapon.

Being your father, I am liable for everything you want and I am trying to give you the best unless it's within our reach. But please be remind that we are not from a rich families and that's why you can't demand so much from us, my dear. We, your parent, are currently staying and working in other country and we can't afford to do some particular items in here. So please be understand my baby. I shouldn't tell this kind of words to a very young baby as a father, you can blame to me for that and I'ld be gladly receive for that. As I have admitted you before, I am still not good enough to be a good father. What I understand and I provide are not simply good enough to give you a best treat.

Oh my poor baby, I realize that your mum should take enough rest so that she can take you extra care this time. In real life, again, my dear, we are not afford to stay in foreign country without working. How should we do then? The answer is "just do it" despite you mum is not fit enough to work under pressure. Please be understand our life my child, I can't find a perfect solution to solve out this problem as your father is stupid. Sometime I want your mum to quit the job and go back our country, but I have no strength to say so as I know what she will reply me. We want to live together as much as possible and she is taking her part to fulfill this objective. I know how difficult it is for you mum to work this time.

Since we know you have been exist in your mum's womb, we have changed a lot in our daily life style. I frankly admit that I am basically a stingy man and I can't afford to keep this bad manner for the sake of you. It doesn't matter how much more I need to work for my family as long as you and your mum is in good health. So please again you don't give us some unaffordable trouble so that we can together enjoy our life happily in one place. Before you come, I am quite selfish as a person and I never sympathize your mum's feeling generally. Now I fully understand how much my family is mean to me. So I happily do all household work to relax you mum and you. Probably my servicing is not good enough for you and be understand that is the one we could able to treat you.

There have been a lot lessons you have taught me within 2 weeks time. You show me how to take care and love your mum. You show me how to spend money in life. You show me the way to stay in life. You show me the meaning of worrying. You show me the life's uncertainty. You show me the both face of life. You show me how to survive in difficult situation. You show me how to treat with people. You show me how much my ability is. You show me how bad I am being a father/ person. Finally I could able to understand that you are trying to make me a mature man. That's why I need you more than you need me now. Please do not go away, come out to us and keep teaching me all the ways. I have to learn a lot things from you. You are my majesty in fact. My life would be more meaningful if I can make my home. I can't build my home without you. Let's enjoy life together with your beloving mum and dad.

Wish you all the best, my poor baby.........

One sms can make me crazy

ON 21st December, Monday, I woke up early as usual and went out for morning jogging exercise. When I go back house, I saw my wife at the gate and asked her if she feel well or not. I am relax once she reply me alright darling. So I do as usual in my hostel before I go to work. Just before I go to work, I noticed that my wife has left her phone at room and I check if there is any miss call or not. I saw one strange number and I give a call back. No answer. Then I check my hand phone and I saw 3 miss calls that is strange number as well. I was surprised to see that and give back a call again and also no answer. Then I saw one sms and quickly open it and read it as follow:

"Your wife sick at outram park mrt"

Oh my god,,what happened to her now? I wondering and so much worrying as she has been carrying our new baby for a few weeks now. I tried to call back sms phone number and luckily he answer this time. I worrily asked him

me: hello, I got ur sms msg and wht happened to my wife?
man: yes i saw her feel sick and collapsed on the mrt floor.
me: then is she ok now, sir?
man: I don't know, I left her on outram park mrt station. you better quickly go and fetch her
me: yes sir, can u mention where is she as outram park mrt is so big and she left hp at room.
man: ok you go outram park mrt and go purple line. she is on the side of going china town station
me: alright sir
man: better u call mrt customer office and ask where is she now. they'll know via cctv
me: how can i get mrt office phone no sir?
man: ok u call 100 and ask for outram mrt station number, they'll give u
me: alright sir, thank you very much

I rush out to catch my wife as early as possible and I was so much worry and don't know what to do and also can't guess how much is it serious to her. Meanwhile I worry about abortion to her. Suddenly I remember one of my friend who got abortion case few mth ago and decided to call her for advice. I am still going on the way to outram park mrt and I felt the train is going very slowly. I can't wait to see her and call one doctor who is my teacher's wife to get suggestion. My friend call back with advice and I take a note. The doctor give me some idea to make sure her in first aid way.

I take a note excitedly and finally I arrived at mrt station and luckily I saw my wife straight away consciously. I asked her whether she is now ok or not. She can't remember what happened to her exactly. The last station she remember was Dhoby Gout mrt and she collapsed unconsciously to the floor. Nobody gave her a sear nor help her in falling down to the floor. Fortunately one indian man awaked her once train arrive to outram park and she became to consciousness and asked him to help call me.

We went out of mrt so that she can get fresh air and I asked her to eat some food she carry. I bought a sunkist juice box from a nearby restaurant and let her drink so that her blood pressure can increase suddenly. After few minutes rest, we rush to a gleneagle hospital from orchard by taxi where we get OG who gave us a professional consultation regarding to my wife's situation. After that we went back to home by taxi and the rest of the day was for her time to rest. I also take on leave for that day and take her care to fulfill what she needs by time. Afternoon time we get back room and we both slept soundly due to very much tired.

Hmmmm,,,,what a tough life in S'pore?

Fatherhood

IT was December that can able to change my life so much. One day my wife told me that her period due date is over for over week and she is not feeling well. I try to be optimistic by saying don't worry, it'll come a bit late. Actually I noticed that she is vomiting when she brush her teeth before going to bed and early morning after wake up. At the same time, she lost her appetite and I suspect in getting pregnancy. So 10 days after her due, I bought a test kid and we tried to test at home.

That day was 13th December, Sunday, and of course we are fully excited to see the result. We carefully did it and comply the instruction according to its manual. We were so surprised to see it two line that means positive that confirm she has been pregnancy. No choice for us but welcome to our new generation and we plan to make a visit to a clinic so that we can get a professional confirmation for this new baby. Two days later in 15th December, we went to a clinic and see a doctor who confirmed her pregnancy and checked her urine and blood.

After doctor confirmation, we take extra care so that our baby is in safe and well as much as we can. Being a fresh parent, we both are talking about our near future plan regarding to our generation for the sake of child. I have been given an additional duty to perform in future and my first priority now is starting to change I believe. Despite it is not a plan baby, we can't afford not to welcome him/her. We take all preventive measure to make sure the baby is safe at all time. We asked all experience friends and doctors within our society and we are visibly over worry about the baby. The value of life has been change and it's strange for a father although there are a lot challenge ahead. I'll do my best in giving my wife and baby feel happy and healthy life. What a wonderful thought in life to make a house to a home? Now I am praying longer and more attention than before for the safety sake of my wife and child. Hopefully I can able to provide a quality family life and I do understand the gratitude of my parent better than before.

Taxi story-2

I don't hire if I am not urgent to go. Frankly I afraid to hire taxi as I had heard a lot different stories from my friends. Another reason is I can't speak Malaysia language despite I am working in this country. There are taxi counter at the public buildings such as airport, stations, hotels, malls, etc. This is a good idea to use such a counter if you are not familiar with local practice. The counter officer will calculate the fees according to rules and regulations for you and you will have to pay at counter rather than taxi driver. The officer will give you a token that you have to pass it to taxi driver later you get ur destination. It's quite convenient to do so and reliable service. But most of foreign workers don't know these kind of service as they might think this counter are just for tourists only. Actually they give the service to all individuals who want to use them.

One day I need to take taxi from a mall to my hostel with my friend. The trip is familiar with me and it usually charged me from RM.3.00 to RM-4.00 depend on time and traffic flow. That day I I take a taxi and noticed that the meter is going very fast on the way to my hostel. My friend has no experience in hiring taxi and he asked me how to pay and how to deal with taxi. I explained him on the way by talking mother language. May be it is the reason why driver cheated us. Once we got our destination, the meter show RM-12.00. I talked to driver:

me: how much is it?
driver: RM-12.00 (by showing meter)
me: It's impossible and I can't pay that amount
driver: why?
me: your meter is something wrong
driver: why can you say so?
me: I usually pay the same trip for RM-3.00 to RM-5.00 maximum if traffic is congested.
driver: you crazy lah,,,,give me as per meter, OK
me: I can't pay, if you don't agree then you may drive to police station now. I'll show you where is police station as I am working in this area
driver: f**k you guys,,,if you don't have money, then get out of my car.
me: no, I have money enough even to buy ur car, I just ask for fair price

my friend was afraid to go police station as he didn't bring work permit card that day and he asked me to pay as he wants. I still confusing his request. Driver is so big in physical and he almost want to beat us by preparing in action. I dare to argue that because of my friend is accompanied.

driver: you give me RM-10.00, OK?
me : ok ok,,(by thinking bad consequence)

After alight from taxi, I take a note of taxi registration plate no so that he may afraid us for reporting his company or police. But I didn't report to anywhere. They are such a kind of people and I tasted it. That's why I say it's not easy to hire a taxi in alien country at my introductory paragraph. Hopefully you all might able to avoid such a kind of taxi driver in future.

Taxi story

DO you think hiring taxi is an easy task? Probably your answer would be "yes" if you never been in Malaysia. As you all have known, taxi drivers are supposed to use taxi meter to calculate fees. In Malaysia, there is this kind of practice for using meter but it come with two standard methods. One is based on distance and another one is based on time. So taxi drivers can switch these two options in favor of their side. For example, if you hire taxi on peak hour time, they'll definitely use meter based on time because everywhere has a traffic jump and it'll consume a lot time to move forward. On the other hand, if you hire taxi on off-peak hour, they'll charge you based on distance meter. There is only one meter infront of the taxi dash board and what he needs to do is just press a button to change option what they wants/ desire. So it's easy to change for him so that he can claim as much as possible from a customer.

I think some taxi company apply only one standard of meter for their reputation and taxi drivers aware from it. I don't know how the law governing to this case exactly. Anyway I do believe that the taxi drivers will not hesitate to modify it illegally to make a profit for them. It's acceptable if they use one of these two options. The problem is they have another option to make money faster than aforesaid meters. So frequently there are some customer complains arise on public paper. Another thing is they'll apply suitable one depend on the customer. If you are seems locals and you can able to speak local language well, then they'll treat you better one. On the other hand, you resemble tourist or foreign worker and ask them by English, almost sure they'll think differently and cheat you. I don't say all the drivers are like that. But significant ratio of drivers are doing what I said.

Few days after arriving KL, one day I follow my friend who is 1 year senior in the same company to downtown KL where a lot Myanmar shops located. He brought me to his site that is nearby the town center as well. Unfortunately he can't afford to send me back to town center and suggested me to hire a taxi so that I can't miss the way back to town center. He also told me that from his site to town center is very near and no need to pay more than RM-5. So I return from his site and try to hire all coming taxi. One taxi stopped infront of me and I query

driver: hi where you want to go?
me : Kota Raya (the place so many Myanmar shops exist)
driver: hmmm (he don't understand my pronunciation)
me : Kota Raya (by showing hand writing on a piece of paper)
driver: aww Kota Raya lah
me : yes
driver: sorry, can't go there

Another one come and stop

driver: where to?
me : Kota Raya
driver: OK, come on
me : how much I need to pay for that?
driver: RM-10
me: why so expensive?
driver: then take meter lah
me: I don't want meter, I want lump sum
driver: how much you want to pay?
me: 5 dollar
driver: hey lousy guy, no money don't come Malaysia, OK? (by driving away from me)
me : you also lousy guy!!!! ( I re-shouted at him)

Another taxi come in and stopped,

driver: where to bro?
me: Kota Raya
driver: urrr this is a place of heavy traffic
me : sooo
driver: give me RM-12
me: hmm too expensive, I used to go there for only RM-5 mah
driver: cannot this time, ok I offer you with RM-8
me: a bit thinking and on board.
driver: where you want me to stop
me: Kota Raya
driver: Kota Raya is big area, tell me which place
me: sorry I don't know how to say bcz I never been there before
driver: hmmm, first time visit lah?
me: yes, please alight us one place nearby there.
driver: alright.

(to be continued)

heaven or hell

BEFORE we, immigrant workers, go to other countries, most of us would have been imagine a better and prosperous life. Nobody will go oversea if there is no benefit for them. Despite they can guess possible risk in fulfilling their dream, they brave themselves to dare it. Difficult to find a suitable job would be another factor to choose this job. In fact, we cannot imagine oversea job opportunities without money. There would be very less people who go oversea for education. Mostly are going abroad for working and saving money. I have been working in oversea for almost five years now and I learnt a lot from my own experience and words of other mouths. I value it as my life lesson and gauge it worthy to share with friends whenever I have a chance to do so.

Being my self immigrant worker, we thought that our life would be almost completed unless it is perfect after we are working in foreign countries. In the real world, it's easier said than done. There are so many barriers to overcome so that we can gain what we imagine. We have to take risk from the preparation stage to return home finally. You all know that it is not easy task to get a passport and we have to deal with agent for that unless we are not friendly with the processing. Then we have to find a proper job through agent and of course we need to pay deposit for that. And we might need worry for a value return of our money. After that we have make sure our medical condition is fit enough to work in other countries. Getting agent fees for that is also not an easy for a normal family person. Most of people who go out for working need to borrow money from a money lender and think of hefty interest rate makes them additional burden on their shoulders. Anyway people go oversea for a good attitude of supporting their own family and relatives all the best of their afford regardless of any kind of risk ahead.

After getting alien country, is it good enough as we expected before we go there? I dare to say only very few people would encounter the job they had been imagined. Mostly goes dirty, dangerous and much-physical needed jobs with unlimited working hours. They still find it happy by the time they see dollar wages at the end of month. How about workers who don't get their wages in time and being cut for unfair reasons? It's so pain and there is no solution to them except converting illegal workers by running away from their employer. Being illegal workers, life will never be peaceful and they are needed to be alert 24 hours a day. Some illegal workers sleep without taking off their shoes because they can run anytime when the police chase. Most of the police raid happened in the middle of the night and they have to make sure to know information as early as possible.

But they don't want to go back home and they try to survive in this unpleasant world. They know they can't afford to go back as they are only bread maker in their home. Some illegal workers won't let their family members know that they are working as illegal workers because they don't want their relatives feel worry for them. Actually they are hero of the family and shouldering their family burdens. Once the time come to go back, they'ld have to solve out a big problem to enter mother land. They can't afford to pay income tax for the period of their working as they earned very little and just enough to support their family only.

Being illegal workers, sometime they are bullied by their employers. When they have to get much money from their bosses, their boss will inform police and ask police to arrest them for illegal working. What their boss need to do is pay small amount of money to police for that kind of action. What a cruel action is it? But it is really happening in migrant worker's world. They have no place to go and ask for. They have no law to get a justice. They have no right to get a basis things. Finally they have nothing in pocket and struggle to survive at the strange places. Usually they'll get some helps from their friends/ relatives/ fellow citizens. But it can't be expected for long term, and they need to rush in finding a new job within a short period. By this way migrant workers life cycle is happening repeatedly. I don't think this kind of scenario will stop as long as their home land cannot create enough jobs for its people. Before that what we can do is only praying hard for a justice among human beings.

Escaping from the death

I WAS amazing not to find a snake during my stay in KL for 3 years. It is probably because of I am living at the capital city. As I have wrote in previous post, I, one day, got a chance to work as a part-time quantity surveyor and I needed to go another town that is about 50km away from KL. My part time office is located nearby a village that is about 1km away from the nearest bus stop. I need to walk from the bus stop to the office as there is no transportation service except motorcycle carrier. I never take these service during my 10 month working time because they are deemed risky to be hired. Frankly I don't believe in these gypsy-like Indian men to travel for my safety reason. As per words of mouth, sometime they become a robber from a motorcycle carrier. Usually they will surround me once I alight from the bus with the prospect of getting customer. Later month, they realize I am not a person who wants to hire their service and they don't come around to me once they see I am alight. It make me feel safe and comfort.

There is a bitumen road from the high way to my office place and the road is laid between palm trees plantation. I could see mountains each side of road and the view of greenery by palm trees is so beautiful. I used to walk fast so that I can minimize walking time and avoid either potential robbing case or police check. It's good unless I am halted by anybody for any purpose. Being part-time QS I worked from the Saturday evening to Sunday evening. Usually I arrive this office around 4:00pm on Saturday and return KL on 5:00pm the next day. In return to KL, it's headache to get a bus before the Sun go down. It's not safe to wait alone at bus stop when the dark come and the bus in Malaysia don't have a reliable schedule. So I usually rush back to KL every Sunday evening.

One Sunday evening, I was, as usual, walking to the high-way for bus riding. On the middle of the way, one car approached me behind and asked me some questions for help,

driver: hi, do me a favor please
me : ya, what's that?
driver: do you know how to go Sungai Buloh Station?
me : yes I am, it's easy
driver: how?
me : you go straight all the way to high-way and then turn right until you see the station. It's very visible to know you arrive there.
drive: Oh I see, thanks
me : you are welcome

I also need to go the same station they are going now. So I imagine they will bring me along with them. The car is driving off and I'm still looking at the car with the hope of the car stop again and bring me the station. After a few minute seeing at car, I look down and I was shocked as one very big snake is getting ready to fight me. The snake is going to bike me if my foot touch him and he is half step away. I don't know what to do and suddenly jump as much as I can and run as fast as I can straight forward. By the time I felt I am safe, I look back and the snake also run quickly to the other direction as fast as I am. It looks like a dragon rather than a snake by the way it is running. The snake body length is as long as 5 feet and fat about 3 inches.

It is much look like a cobra as per its readiness of counter fighting. I was so lucky to be escaped from this and I can't stop my heart beating for an hour. My heart would beat faster whenever I think about it. I didn't think I would be escaped this time as the snake is half step away from fighting. It's difficult to see as it's color and grass are almost the same. I don't know what if I am bitten by this snake. The street is not busy and I don't know if I can get hospital in time or not. Also I can be die on the spot as I can't imagine how much it's poison capacity. Anyway I believe in my practice of reading dhamma notes and some good spirits prevented me from the highly dangerous situation. From the next week onward, I take extra care in looking ahead when I am walking to and from the office. Thanks my fake for giving me a chance to stay in this world.

Risk no matter

SINCE few centuries ago, people have been moving from one place to another with the prospect of a better life and this practice is still applying to modern people these days. These days, working oversea job is a favorite among the third world countries. In fact the first world countries people also need to go and work and it is relatively less number and can be ignored. If the first world countries people go abroad for jobs, they are called expatriate who earn a lot or more than local residents. On the other hand, when the people from third world countries go abroad for jobs, they are called foreign workers and they earn the least amount of the market.

No matter how much they earn, these lowest salaries are still good for them and they keep dreaming to go and work at oversea. As far as I know all the people who want to go abroad needs to approach agents and of course have to pay significant amount of agent fees. It apply to all third world countries workers I believe. I have met several countries workers in my workplaces during my time in oversea. The formula seems the same regardless of countries. So it'ld be first risk in getting agent fees with huge interest rate. It drive people to the corner after entering to the another country because their heavy loan always threaten them not to fail in doing oversea work. They, themselves, also afraid of return home before they earn at least agent fees plus interest.

It would be the biggest reason of being bullish ed by their oversea employer. Being construction worker myself, I generally know about the construction worker's trouble. In fact, construction sector is the biggest market for the foreign workers and mostly the local workers shun to do this dirty, dangerous and dynamic job. Being foreign workers, it doesn't matter as long as they get their wages in time. They have little choice or no choice to select and they need to do whatever their employer demand. They would need to work without safety assurance or dangerous area. If they are involved in some incidents they would be paid for a smallest amount of compensation fees. The law is nothing for them since they are inferior and don't know the nature of their working country. Few percentage of workers might get their respective embassy's counseling service once they fall in trouble.

Some of workers became illegal workers from legal workers because of so many reasons. Most of them are due to unbearable and injustice treatment by their employer. Their passport would be kept by employer from the day one of they land in new country until their final day of the same country. So it's not possible to work as a legal worker if they don't want to work at the designated company. Nobody want to become an illegal worker if they are treated properly. I am sure that most of illegal workers might think that it is worthy enough to take all kind of risks as an illegal workers. The corruption police & immigration officers make their life dare to stay with illegal workers. So it's not strange that there are no illegal workers in the law-governing country like Singapore. The workers who have only experience in Singapore unlikely to know the life of illegal workers as their life is mostly smooth and covered by the strict law.

(to be continued)

X'mas lesson

THERE are six Myanmar staff at the engineering department and 4 staffs incl me are working at the same room. On the X'mas eve day afternoon after finishing X'mas activities, people go back their respective room with X'mas present. Of course some are happy while other upsetting with their X'mas presents. Once HR put the term of minimum RM-10 present, I decided to put my present around RM-15 and look for the items around that budget. Some of my fellow citizen don't want to spend a lot for this and they try to put on the margin.i.e, their present is around RM-10. One of us put biscuit box and other put album frame both of them are even less than RM-10.

In my mind, I want them to put a bit more than RM-10 as the local people don't want to get our present as they expect cheap items inside our box. So I want them to realize how generous people we are. But it's out of my hand and I can't concern in other business. So let them do what they like and see how is the end result. Actually we all are not united at all and it's impossible to coordinate in doing something. So I make my present box secretly and didn't negotiate with others. Just after finishing present change, I heard some bad words from my neighbour...

"x!@#$%^&*()_+"
me: what's wrong with you ?(ask by pretending don't know)
frd: you see mine lah
me: it's biscuit box, what's wrong with it?
frd: this is under RM-10 and cheap
me: so you are not happy with the present?
frd: ya of course
me: then you go and inform HR lah
frd: no lah, this is from myanmar staff
me: hmmm, so keep quiet is better and how much item did you expected?
frd: I hope just fair present, bro
me: be remember it's made for fun, not for profit, bro
frd: yes I know but
me: but what?
frd: I put expensive item in my box
me: how much did u spend for ur box?
frd: about RM-18 cost pen
me: it's good to have ur box, then who get it, bro?
frd: Wahni (malaysian lady from HR)
me: it's good for us, hope she is happy with ur X'mas present
frd: ya lah
me: then forget about ur present
frd: why
me: it'll destroy your happy moment
frd: ya, I try to do as you suggest, help eat my biscuit
me: thanks

Meanwhile, the owner of this biscuit box come in our room and see we are eating biscuits
owner: hey how is biscuits?
frd: so bad
me: good
owner: why so bad?
frd: it's cheap biscuit and taste bad lah (his voice is angry)
owner: why can you say my one is cheap
frd: hey I know how much does it worth
owner: I comply the minimum rate, you know (he also start to angry)
frd : but mine is more expensive
owner: how much expensive item are you expecting to get then?
frd: as good as mine lah
owner: who asked you to put expensive item ?
frd: it's my attitude lah
owner: then it's your problem, not my business
me: stop arguing and enjoy biscuit and my chocolate

That day, I got a chocolate box and I am not so much suffer from that. We participate this X'mas celebration for fun and they end with frustration. It's not good for us and especially they both are Myanmar staff. Since then their existing bad relationship become worse. Since it all happen infront of me and I take a lesson from that incident. Once people are poor, it's a good reason to fight each other for a few dollar items. I don't think the rich people would mind such a case in their life. Now these two friends are working in Singapore as well and hopefully they are richer than we are in Malaysia. I am writing this for not wrongdoing purpose of my ex-colleagues. I look forward that they would be happy once they see this post one day. :)

Christmas Fever

ONCE I was working in Malaysia, my office usually celebrate a X'mas day. So one month in advance, HR manager and her staffs would be busy with preparing and assembling X'mas tree infront of the front counter. X'mas tree would be decorated by a several light bulbs and it tall about 5 feet. There is audio system at the office and the X'mas songs would be transmitted for the whole december. Being buddhist, I am not friendly such a kind of activities and I don't know how to happy/sing/play/cheer each other at the right time. But I am quite comfort as I understand that HR manager won't invite us to join them in celebrating. I don't mind unless she invite me as it's especially for X'stians and we are not supposed to invite in any party held in office. I knew it from experience and my senior.

The first year X'mas come the right time, as I thought before, we are not included in the list of participants and we just enjoy staying away from their religious-related activities. But in the second year term, we are unexpectedly invited to join with a basic term . Would you want to know what do I mean term for joining X'mas celebration? The basic term is everybody must put the item that is not less than RM-10 inside the box of X'mas present. Of course, she (HR manager) made it in order to prevent some cheap/invalue X'mas present box that are suspended in the X'mas tree for present change section. Actually she meant it for myanmar workers who are probably they think/assume is significantly poor and out of standard. Once we are notified by HR staffs to join X'mas if anyone of us willing to do so, we enjoyably accepted the offer and we started to consider for purchasing the right and attractive item with a limited budget.

Since it is for happy, people don't spend a lot beyond the minimum price and it depend on the attitude of the participants. We made it secretly and try to make our partner surprise. Everybody pack their X'mas present with a nice wrapping paper and label on it. Then put proudly infront of the X'mas tree and the other people will see it and lift and guess what would be inside. It's funny to guess and the value is not depend on the weight of the present box. Anyway generally, we assume the PM & above level will make expensive item and dream of getting it. The present change system is just like a lucky draw. Admin staffs will put all the name in one cup and put all the numbers in another cup. They number all packet accordingly and people must take the number they are matched. The boss would put the cash present and it is the most favorite present among staffs. Usually office make it eve day of X'mas and it usually take one afternoon.

Before present changing section, we need to sing X'mas song together with our colleagues and we'ld pretend to sing the song as we don't know that by heart. Once the singing section finished the most anticipated section would come and people are eager to know what number is their and people know by heart their favourite number. If the favourite number come out, they would roar and cheer to the person matched. After that we will change and eat together as some of the box are foods. Anyway it is good to celebrate among staffs to enhance our relationship regardless of religions. Now I am working in the Singapore and my new employer is buddhist and they don't have that practice to celebrate X'mas. So X'mas time is nothing but an extra holiday for me in here. Anyway my memory would be refresh once the X'mas time come.

On the way to work

I LOVE to travel and getting part time QS job fullfill that hunger somewhat. Because I was living and working at the Bangsar Baru that is located in the central of Kuala Lumpur. My hostel and office is not far and it is within 5 min walking distance. As a result, I have no chance to see out of KL by travelling due to money and security matters. But my life-style in Malaysia dramatically change since after I caught this part time job.

My part time job is located in Kuala Selangor that is one province distance away from KL and it's not really obstacle for my willingness. Because it's my pleasure to go around and see what other people are doing and think of my existing situation. I am needed to take taxi, train and bus to get my part-time office and it take me about 2 hours traveling time in total. Traveling alone in Malaysia is relatively risk and I am not choice since I have been accept this job and I have to accept all related unseen risks.

The first barrier to me is unable to speak Malaysian language and it made me annoy when I need to ask somebody for help such as direction. Most of the residences who are living outside the KL cannot speak English and they would confuse if I ask them by English. Never mind, I tried to know some basic words and try to communicate with them. Speaking English cost me expensive in everything I have to deal with such as paying bus fees, buying some foods, etc. The local people would charge me more if I speak them English. It's obvious to cheat stranger when they judge him/her is not local. In term of appearance and skin color, I am not much different with the local people. They would think I am a young local man unless I speak English or speak Myanmar language among locals.

Despite language make me hard my journey, I am really happy with the traveling experience. As I foreasaid, I take a taxi to a nearest KTM station and transit to a right train. The highway train are usually congested by a lot of local and it's still ok for me as the service is good enough. The price is fair compare to the standard of return. The train are usually come as air-conditioned and seat are clean enough. Since the train are electric run, the sound producing is significantly reduce to a conventional diesel locomotive. The view of the track side are nice as well and it'll change alternatively between rural and urban.

Once I arrive to the right station after 45 min drive, I need to alight for another bus and this final stage will consume my time for another 45 min. The road in Malaysia are so good and their government make infra-structure well. I could see a lot of flyover outside the city area. Every junction has a overhead pedestrian bridge in favour of pedestrian's safety. On the roadside, there are a lot of palm tree field and all the lands would be covered by green. The villages are located road side within few kilometer and the bus will stop for loading and unloading purpose. I could see the life style of poor local people and also can experience their behavior and attitude upon public matters.

It'ld be evening by the time I arrive final destination and I'ld need to jog for about one kilometer to get my office. Because my office is situated far inside away from main highway. It's risky to walk alone on the road that the palm trees are surrounded. So I usually need to rush untill I get my office and I could able to sight after I am safely arrive my office. I'll have to start my work when other normal workers are preparing to go back their home. But I am happy with the job as it is quite flexible and can do within my knowledge. At first, I have to learn to familiar with their drawings as they are metal formwork specialist and their drawing are strange to a QS who is working at the foundation company. I could able to minimize my learning time because my frined is working as a form designer at the company.

I am Part-time QS

THE DARKEST CLOUD has a silver lining, they said and I am not exception. My darkest days in Malaysia was sparkling by getting this part time job offer through my mutual friend. My friend is working at the another company and one day he called and asked me if I am interested in working part time job at his company or not. I was very happy to receive that call and agreed without wasting even a second. He arranged an interview date for me and I easily convince his boss for my chance.

I was earning about RM-1000 per month average at my full time job and I can't stop how much should I ask for my service to new employer until interview was done. It's impossible to work double at the Malaysia and I was luckily got it due to my friend support. Anyway I don't want to miss this chance and I tried my best to pass interview. I got some information from my friend that is useful in preparing my interview and I pray harder. On the other hand, I can't afford to let know other full time colleagues for my security reason. Because if my parent company knows about this, I would be fined and they'll force me to quit that job. So I made it secretly and only discuss with my friend regarding to the job responsibility and wages.

On the interview day, I met with the boss and he explained me what I will need to do and asked me if I can or not. Once I say yes, he easily employ me bcz of my friend recommendation in advance. He wants me to prepare all ongoing project payment claims monthly basis and I am confident in doing that well since I was currently doing such kind of job in my full time job. After a few minute talk, he agree with my ability to handle job and asked me how much I want for my service. This is not easy to say fair wages and I don't want him disappointing bcz of my much demand. So I gentlemanly requested him as follow:

me: Can I have RM-700 for my service, Sir?
boss: yes, no problem, it's fine
me: thanks boss.
boss: when can you start working?
me: next weekend, I can start work, boss.
boss: it's great, tell me whatever you need my help
me: thanks a lot
boss: stay with your friend during you work here
me: alright sir

I was more than happy after securing my part time job and can't wait to start that job. It's my dream to support my family as much as possible and now I can fulfil my dream a bit better. No matter how tough is it and tired for me, I have to do it and I thanks to my friend for his lift. My friend also was so glad to work together with me despite I need to work only weekend, especially in Sunday. Since the nature of job is different, I expect a different and valuable job experience here and thank my fortune for favoring me this time.

Bangsar Baru

BANGSAR BARU, the place I live in KL, Malaysia during my working time. Bangsar is a name and Baru means "New" in Malaysia. So Bangsar Baru means "Bangsar New Town". My office and my hostel is located in this beautiful area. I love living and working in Bangsar Baru because of several reason. First of all, it is a clean area compare to a Malaysia standard and it is well planning area for entertaining purpose. There are a lot of restaurants side by side in all streets. This bangsar baru entertaining zone is composed by mainly 5 streets and all streets are crowded especially from evening to wee hours. There are on the other hand a lot night clubs and the bangsar night is so sexy under a neon light and also active with a dynamic music from all night club. So this bangsar area is famous and popular with eaters and clubbers. Since a lot of beer pub and night clubs, of course it it also a famous spot among tourist and expatriates. I think half of people at night time are foreigner and it's usual to see people hugging and kissing on the street of bangsar baru. I can see a lot pussy girls going around to find a potential customer around the bangsar night and the beer pub and night club music will definitely make people dance and enjoy night sense.

Apart from this night entertaining zone, there are a lot of offices and super markets in the bangsar baru. So the govt and local management firm make sure that everywhere in bangsar are in order and clean enough to maintain its reputation. At the morning you would see a lot of office workers going around the bangsar and the colourful and latest luxury cars are common in this area. Since there are several banks in this place, the customer coming to the banks are of course mostly smart and rich people. As far as I know, we, myanmar workers, are only poor people who are going around bangsar baru street without shopping or dinning anything. As a foreign worker, how much we can spend as they, residence and expatriate does. We just enjoy by witnessing the life of rich and famous people spending their money to make them happy as much as possible.

There are another common thing I like in bangsar as well. It is the street performance and it's usually performed by a group of people or artiste. Sometime I can also see a solo performance by a single player. The people will listen and see what they perform in the roadside and will applause them at the end of performance. As the restaurants and pubs are so close, people can watch and listen their performance from the dinning table as well. Sometime I can see music competition for the whole night with a different bang. It's really amazing thing I got from KL life. It's everybody dream to live in bangsar baru and even local people find it tough to do so because bangsar is very expensive area. Even to rent a flat, it'ld cost you at least from RM-5000 onward depend on the location and facilities. Actually this area is not designed for living, only create it for entertainment zone. This is one of few entertainment zone in KL and it is second most famous if I am not mistaken. At night, bangsar is boasting with lot of sexy girls and neon light. There are several class of restaurants and you can find all the foods around the world from East to West.

There is a pasa malam (night market) on every Sunday evening and it is the place we buy all vegetable we need for the whole week. This market is also famous with its variety of foods to all sort of things in daily life. Two streets would be closed for this market every sunday night and people enjoy buying a lot of fresh vegetable and other items from needle to dresses. The dress and household thing are so cheap and usually foreign workers come and buy them. Among the customers, there are also tourist to smell the foods and enjoy them and taking photo for their experience. I usually buy vegetable, flowers for prayer, fruits from this market. Generally this bangsar area is more expensive in items including foods compare to other places of KL. But customers would find this night market cheap and good idea to buy at the centre of city. For the fat pocket customers, there are also a big supermarket like bangsar village in which they can find a lot famous branded ones according to their budget. That's why bangsar is a one stop place to enjoy whatever you need in a short time and no wonder it become a hot spot are in KL.

Some people come bangsar for dinning while other come for night-clubbing. Anyway everybody happy to spend time at bangsar I am sure. Since the place is clean and music is covered every single place. Your feeling would be most positive and almost forgot about ur work life and rewind the lost energy. So some people come bangsar after day long stressful job to regain their strength. What a lucky I am able to live and work in a place like Bangsar Baru? If I think about KL for optimistic, Bangsar always come first in my mind. Bangsar sleep after 2am early morning wee hours. At the very first days of KL, I can't cope with the very loud music sound come out from nearby night clubs and restaurants. After I used to that situation, I had no problem to sleep with that. I suggest you that please go and visit Bangsar when you visit to KL, Malaysia, you will understand why I am prasing this place like this. Hopefully you can get a chance to taste Bangsar Baru, one day since this world is becoming smaller day after day.
Have a nice day...:D

Me and Newspaper

I DON'T LIKE to read newspaper until I was working in KL, Malaysia. Being migrant low paid worker, I couldn't afford to buy newspaper and watch a TV at my dormitory. Luckily there are few free newspaper in Malaysia and I managed to grab one of them early morning. I'll miss free paper for some days and I switch office newspaper to fill my hungry of reading. What make me read newspaper in deed?

It is my eagerness to know the football news in time and I find it enjoyable to share the latest football news with my fellow colleagues. You know, it is mouth-watering to talk and comment about football both in national and club levels. Sometime we would discuss and guess which club is going to win for this year title in EPL. Sometime we would discuss about professional footballer's life and their hefty wages per week. As you know, we almost men are interested in telling about football unless we are not the same hobby in the rest areas. Nevertheless I became a newspaper addict and I owe the football industry for making me enjoy reading English-language newspaper.

Of course I can't stop after reading just sport section, I would love to read other section such as head news, home news, financial news, political news, social news, life style, etc. But I would start reading from a sport section that is my favourate and I'ld leave other sections if I have no time to read. Sometime my friend and I would go around the Bangsar, the place we stay and work in KL, to get one piece of free paper. We usually know where we can get and where does the free paper stand exist. At our office, there is 1 paid newspaper and put on the paper stand for all collegues. So we all colleagues try to read it at the same time because we are not allowed to read this during working time. And of course, our lunch break is common free time for us and we oftenly fight for newspaper. Sometime we negiotiate to seperate newspaper to few sections and share reading.

Fortunately I find a place where some one day old newspaper and magazine are dumped. My hostel is located in the 2nd storey of terrace shop-houses. So there are so many shop at the ground floor levels and there is one beauty saloon straight under my hostel. This beauty saloon usually throw their old papers and magazine to to cabinet beside the staircase. This staircase is the one we use to climb up and down from and to our hostel. So I usually check once I return home if there is some paper/magazine inside the box. Mostly the box cover is unable to close as inside a lot of papers. So I would take them and bring along with me to my own room so that I can enjoy reading at night time and weekend. It doesn't matter one days or few days old they are, I enjoy to read and know about the world, sport, malaysia, etc. By this way, reading newspaper became one of my hobby I think.

After 3 years service with Malaysia company, I entered Singapore for a better future and I found again there are also a few free papers in S'pore as well. It make me feel happy and I'ld never hesitate to grab one if I find a person who is deliverying newspaper in the morning. It's worthy enough to make a queue despite it can make my way to office a bit delay. Lucky again, currently I am staying at the Singaporean house and the old owner couple make a business related with newspaper. Again, I got an opportunity to able read newspaper at home FOC and I can even choice all kind of newspaper at my living room. I keep reading newspaper from morning to night whenever I have a free time. I never felt it is boring and I thanks to owner for their supporting part. This is the main reason I could stay this house for more than a year now. As a result of reading paper, I could gain a lot updated news regarding to a world as well as domestic. Nowadays information is money and even it is called King in some sectors. We can't deny that since we are temporary residents here as a immigrant worker. Being migrant worker, we need to know when does govt change its policy according to factors. Otherwise we'ld be blind without any knowledge of the place we live in. As we eat for our body, we shoud read something for our brain I think. Hopefully you all love to read newspaper and whatever something that is supposed to consider good. :)))

Myanmar Cultural Show 2009

DESPITE I AM NOT a party goer,yesterday I went to the Victoria Theatre to enjoy Myanmar Cultural Show,2009 organized by Nee Ann Polytechnic Myanmar Students. I arrived there a bit late and the show haven't start yet by the time I arrived. I saw a lot of Myanmar people queue to make register in front of counters. I saw a lot Myanmar young students who are busy with arranging and preparing so as to ensure this show is done successfully. Among Myanmar people, of course, there were curious local residents as well as foreign expatriate. Since this show is first ever show to perform in this historic and famous theater, the organizer well prepared to show our century long cultural is how deep and strength to the audiences. The number of audience is amazing and I must say their tirelessly effort hit the target.

The audience flow into the theater gradually and it was full few minutes after the proposed time 1:00pm. As soon as the show starts, we were introduced the famous dance called royal dance in which a lot dancers perform by synchronized moved. It's really spectacular and magnificent performance. I underestimate this show as the lack of professional and it would be done by a real students. But in actual show, they could able to manage to entertain the audience from begin to end. The MC would announce with mother language and English so that foreigner can understand the meaning of upcoming performance between the consecutive program.

Overall, I was enjoying with the performance and it is really money worth back respond. I hope foreign audience also like their performance. I can't even remember when was my last time watching such a kind of live cultural show. At least, it had taken to me for more than 10 years to get this rare chance and really grateful to all members of organizer for this tirelessly effort. We can easily understand how much they had focused on it since Singapore's hectic life is hard to find a spare time to do any kind of volunteer works or community works. It's easier said than done, to make it realistic from a dare dream.

I this time again, cried for several time when I hear and see our very own and original dance and music. I don't know why it happen to me these days. But I can't stop it saddening myself during watching this show and think at the same time. We all came from the same source and struggling at the different paths according to their lifes. I do believe that we all have the potential and able despite we came here for our own ambition. This is very good verification today and it is a milestone for Nee Ann Poly students.

I owe them for their effort in making me laugh continuously during the show time. I find it hardly to laugh myself because I am just a victim of daily tight schedule. I felt that I am lucky to come here today and look forward to come in next year if I have a chance to do so. I am sure that they, organizer, didn't make any profit from this effort and they just want to show their patriotism. They tried to show our cultural to the world through the advantage of Singapore's location. I wish them to keep this good practice as long as possible and hurdle it to the next generation successfully.

Location Matter?

MY COMPANY likes Shwe(Myanmar) workers so much despite there are so many other countries counterparts. There are so many reasons for this likening and they take full advantage from us. How and Why? Here is what I am thinking based on my 3 years service time in Malaysia.

1) We are willing to learn and easy to adapt foreign nature works.
2)We are cheapest workers among foreign workers
3)We are very much obedient
4)We respect on our assignments
5) We are hard working
6) We can work independently with a minimum training.
7) We can speak local language as good as residents
8) We keep quiet on unfair things
9) We are not troublesome
10) We can work 3 years non-stop without going back mother land
11) We are multi-taskers
12) We are mostly educated, only a few % are non-educated
13) We respect their religion practises
14) We comply company's laws
15) We don't demand so much even our fellow man fall to death.
16) We afraid of losing jobs and never mind to work OT without any complain

I probably left some points but the above are more than good enough to proof why they likes our work force. Despite they likes us, they never favour us in giving chance/ opportunities whenever it came to action. I noticed that shwe (Myanmar) workers are playing key role at all area, not only sites but also office and main work shop. We don't mind how much they pay for our services, we do our best in whatever we are working. The hard working makes us popular among other foreign workers and we deserve our colleagues's praise continuously. If you ask local engineer/supervisor to choose any workers to work under his disposal, they will prefer to take Myanmar workers as they know we are hard working and intelligent enough from past experience. Although we are good at works, our salaries are flatten and outnumbered by our lazy counterparts.

Let me highlight one thing, our skill workers earn RM-20 a day while other country men will got RM-25 a day despite the skill is the same. We can get wages rise once 3 years while other country men enjoy once 2 years. What's the different between us? We realized this on the day we all go out to meet the lady boss for our wages fair. We collected the data to point out the lady boss and brave ourselves to see and complain her one day. I still remember that moment clearly now although it had happend to us 4 years ago from now. Her answer is genius and flatten us at all. The confrontation are as follow

we: hi madam
boss: what are you doing here all?
we: we have something to ask, madam
boss: I have no time to listen, get back work
we: sorry madam, we have decided to tell you but
boss: who dare to complain, me????
we: we all, madam
boss: ok what's the mater?
we: why we cannot deserve a salary rise every two year?
boss: it is company's pay structure
we: but our counterparts from other countries enjoy it every two years
boss: yes they are, but....
we: how do we different to you and your company then?
boss: they came from a systematic and developing countries
we: does it matter to you, really?
boss: yes of course
we: but we are doing the same working time and jobs at the same sites
boss: you can't deny their favour since..
we: since what.....madam???
boss: YOU ALL ARE FROM MYANMAR where the poorest country in the world.

How would you feel if you are included in the group of complain? We are motionless and losing our words to counter her comment. We asked ourselves that it's totally our false being born in our mother land. It is not totally fair to us but we are helpless. Who is responsible for that? Actually our country is 3 times bigger than Malaysia and richer in natural resources as well. We got independence 9 years earlier than Malaysia. I admit that we are far behind than they are today now in every sectors. But she blindly criticized our country as I aforesaid. We are hunted by her words and of course it take long time to heal our wounds. From this special day onward, we never tried to complain about our wages adjustment until final day of my service. But we all keep our loyalty and faithfulness to our employer. Where does Newton's Third Theory apply?

F12 = F21

Every action will get the equal amount of reaction. We did our best in works but we received an unfair respond for that. Let it be since I already left these nightmare days behind and trying to happy my life in better place,Singapore, with my brand new wife right now. :D

Defiant Worker

HE IS MY PREDECESSOR and I never seen him to date but I heard a lot about him as our hero from my colleague who is working together with him for 6 months. He returned home land few days before I arrive to this company. We suffered from his defiant actions as a result and we are still happy to learn that he conquer in the battle of his right. He is Geologist from Myanmar and worked as a QS. He could manage to do his assignments well despite he had never experience engineering related jobs before. His strength is able to speak properly and having good knowledge in Computer. He is IT crazy man and doesn't matter to spend in purchasing new gadgets. So his knowledge in IT is better than his local counterparts. He is such a good man.

Since he came from a rich and famous family of Myanmar, he don't need to send back his salary to his family like other Myanmar workers do. He enjoyed spending money in what he loves to do. He is a nephew of current Minister of Foreign Affair at that time. So he has a big ambition as a smart guy and it is the cause of his defiant to foreign employer. After one year in service, he found himself unhappy to continue work in Malaysia and decided to go UK for further studies where his sister is working. His brother is also working in US and usually send him branded jeans that he likes. Sometime his siblings need to support him financially bcz he is not enough with his own money to spend in Malaysia. He is the one who had suffered from accusation by HR manager for having a lot money in his wallet. Please refer to my previous post for detail about this incident.

Being WP workers, we need to make medical check up every year and he reported HR to return home at the end of first year. They, employer, don't want to release him as they realise he is effective and cheap worker compare to his impressive service. So they convince him to continue working and they started to angry when he insist his attention. One day HR manager called him to discuss about his future:

HR: why are you refusing to make medical check up for WP extension?
he: I don't want to work here anymore.
HR: why?
he: I plan to make study at UK and I had been granted by some institutes
HR: you cannot do what you like here, OK
he: why not?
HR: you are supposed to work here for at least 3 years
he: I never knew that and do you have any evidence for that?
HR: It is basic understanding between agent and our company regarding to foreign workers.
he: I'll go back anyway.
HR: I won't let you go legally until you finish 3 years
he: Is there any contract I signed for that 3 years service?
HR: you bullshit, get out of my sight

He realising the situation and started to prepare for possible legal fighting. They included as follow:
1) he secretely keep the time card copies from start to date.
2) he go and meet 1st secretary of Myanmar Embassy and seek for advice
3) he keep working as usual as normal
4) he do his duties regularly

Meanwhile, HR manager takes some considerable actions against him as follow:
1) keep his salary
2) cut staff foods for him
3) keep scoring him everyday
4) do every faints so that he become soft and follow their ways

Since his uncle is current Ministery of Foreign Affair, Myanmar embassy took action immediately legally after asking him necessary data and all unfair treatment to workers. 1st secretary issue one warning document and fax it over to company attention to HR manager and phoned to her directly as well. He pointed out mainly on abusing our workers upon:
1) keeping passport without consent of workers
2) cutting salaries without proper reasons
3) treating workers badly
4) lack of respect upon worker's facilities and utilities

They fought on wire and our 1st secretary issue another legal document and distribute it to all relevant authorities. The company was totally surprised that they never experienced and heard like this immediately action by Myanmar Embassy before. But they never knew who is their defiant worker who is relative to a VIP from Myanmar. After getting a serial fax and teleconversation with our embassy, they realised that they have to release this worker. Otherwise they are going to be fall in trouble and finally they release all keep money and return him without any disturbance. This is 1st ever Myanmar worker who won over this company and we, myanmar workers, are so much happy to learn this story. I even impressed this even though I haven't seen the defiant worker.

The company got a good lesson from this case and they apply this when we arrive KL on few days after defiant worker return home. As a result of this affect, we need to
1) sign on 3 years contract
2)give our thumb-print on the legal documents
3)be taken a witness photo on the signing occasion

I also learn that superiors cannot win at all time even against over their inferiors. And I am grateful to our embassy for taking actions in favour of its citizens. I look forward our embassy keep it's consistency in counselling regardless of rich/poor/famous/unfamous/educated/uneducated/legal/illegal citizens.

Am I betrayor?

AFTER ONE MONTH working in Malaysia, the lady boss praised me and asked if I have some engineer friends who want to come Malaysia or not and I happily replied yes. She said that she is going to Myanmar and want to make interview during her visit. So she wants me to gather some engineer for interview and allowed me to use office phone in calling back Myanmar with the purpose of spreading news and gathering potential candidates. I asked her for some questions to clarify mainly on as follow

1) how much they (new comers) will get salary for their service?
2) how much she intend to charge for bringing here. ( I demanded her that she would find it hard to get a good engineers if she demand as I paid before I came here)
3) what would be their post here?

She gladly answered my question as follow
1) they will earn the same salary I earn right now.
2) they don't need to pay agent fees for this job.
3) they will perform as I am doing now.

She also told me that I'll deserve some pocket money for each individual who came to interview and I noted but I don't believe her. So I tried to call my ex-colleagues from PHIH project and other close friends. Meanwhile I urged them to spread news and collect others if there is any around them. Finally the lady boss went to Yangon and held an interview at Trader Hotel, Yangon, Myanmar. She carefully selected some engineers and technical staffs on the spot and returned home. After she returned office, she called me and told me about her Yangon interview experiences and also asked me if I know or not by showing some CV forms she bring along to KL. Some are strange to me but they should find according to their respective CVs. I recommended them and she started to apply to get work permit for them. I noticed that there are 2 female workers in which one is civil engineer and another is accountant.

She applied all and got some of them passed. After she passed their calling visa to Myanmar representative agent, I heard some law changed regarding to the female workers going to oversea. So the group of workers make it delay and finally they left these two female workers and came to KL. From this group, only 2 engineers and 1 draftsman arrived to office and I helped them a lot. Two engineers earned RM-1400 and One draftsman earn RM-1000 a month as she told me before. They paid only 6 lakhs for this oversea job and they are so much luckier than me in deed. They don't need to fight for their position and also salary. Their way is already laid by us and they able to stroll their early days. Actually they cannot speak English well and also their computer knowledge are not good enough to work in oversea.

After they start working at the office, the lady boss called me and asked me to teach them computer after working hours at night. So I got one more assignment and I simply follow her instruction so that I can avoid unwanted fines. Before they arrived office, there were only 3 engineers at office and now altogether 5 Myanmar engineers and became a small contenant. Later we are split to several groups as I wrote in my previous post "United Myanmar". Anyway we are happy to able to speak our mother languages at the office whenever we got a chance and we all together share all incoming bad burdens. Since then, we never receive any salary rise within our 3 years working in that company. Also I never received for any commission fees from my effort in gathering engineers for her interview. But I am happy to help my fellow citizens by someway despite I never receive any thanks from them. But I deserve some negative comments upon helping the lady boss in bringing Myanmar workers. I asked myself that I have been good enough to be called a betrayor. How will you judge me if you were there?

Two kind of secretary

I NEVER knew there are two kind of secretary until my boss share his experience to my Australian PM. I was working at the PHIH project at that time and one day boss came to site for regular meeting and I needed to attend as a QS. The project is Myanmar's first ever private hospital project and try to comply international standard. So my employer needed to hire some foreign technician to manage it and also major M&E sub-contractor was a Singapore based company. After meeting, boss asked PMs as follow:

boss: what kind of secretary is yours?
PM: ahh, what do you mean, I don't get what you mean?
boss: alright, do you know how many kind of secretary in this world?
PM: I simply know only one kind, (he answer by laughing)
boss: imm I read in a book about that and it was really hilarious despite realistic
PM: how does it mention?
boss: according to them, there are two kind of secretary in office life
PM: really? what are they and how they work?
boss: They are called "grand secretary" and "great secretary".
PM: how do they differ?
boss: Grand secretary will greet you "Good morning, Sir"
PM: yes it seems normal to my secretary..:)
boss: Great secretary will greet you "It's morning, Sir"

PM and the rest were laughing upon our boss's explanation regarding two kind of secretary. I see it funny but realistic and hope you will also find it funny and take a note.

Have a nice day!!!

First ever punch I got in life

HE has been working in this company for over 10 years and he always say proudly that he is one of few initiators. He is Malaysia Indian and working as a draftsman. On the other hand he is a spy of Myanmar workers and take credit from HR manager by reporting our bad things. Being a spy, they will never highlight our strength and only point out our weakpoints. We all Myanmar workers know his attitude and character upon us. Actually we are only group of foreign workers who are working in office and he dare to bully us only. Since company is owned by Malaysian Chinese boss, most of staffs working in office are Malaysian Chinese. So he will avoid to conflict with them and mostly he concern whatever we do regardless of matters. I am working as a QS and we are related in work especially when I need to get updated drawings from him. All the drawings are controlled by him and I have to go and see him when I need any of drawing.

He is bigger and taller than me in physically. I am the most talkative among the Myanmar workers. Altogether there are 5 Myanmar engineers and 1 assistant draftsman. I am the only one who needs to take-off all quantities for tender and claims purposes. So all the PM and MD would need to come and ask me whenever they got any new drawings. Other Myanmar colleagues don't need to take-off quantity and they have a lighter duties. So mostly I am busy with quantity taking off for tender and it was the cause of this fighting. It's usual we are verbally fighting for almost everyday. But this day was beyond that.

I was, as usual, busy with one big tender and one local chinese engineer came in my room. He asked me if I can help him in doing something. I replied him, sorry I am currently busy with a tender for boss. He accepted my reason and just chatting with nearby colleagues. Meanwhile this indian man came in my room and heard our conversation. He immediately involved our case by critizing as, "this fellow is always say busy like that by pretending. I know him ever reading newspaper during the working time." I told him, I'm reading sometime when I have nothing to do and it is not my false. I won't read newspaper when I have something to do.

indian: help Mr. Ng assignment first lah
me : no I can't I am not free now
indian: you burgar, simply give excuses
me : I am telling truth, I have a big tener to out in time
indian: you always say like that,,it's mean other ppl are free lah?
me: ya lah, for sure, you are not working now and nth to do for you here, OK?
indian: I tell you help him
me: I don't follow you since you are not my boss
indian: you idiot
me: this is non of your business
He is telling me from the entrance door and rushing to my workplace to fight me. I understood the situation and try to pull out nearby drawing rolls to resist. Other people approached to us and pull him back.
indian: what do you think of me?
me: you nothing but a bullshit

He, this time, strongly come out and punched my face. I didn't expect he'll do it physically and hit by his strong punch. I was so angry and I tried to counter-fight and other people hold me. Since I was so skinny, it's easy to control my body and I was helpless to escape from their control. Chinese engineer bring this indian man to his workplace and I left alone feeling so disappointing. I thought a lot, to kill him at one point. There are another 2 Myanmar friends working inside my room. But they also unable to help me in fighting and they just surprising. The keep quiet to show their sadness too. I can't control my anger and can't stop thinking that incident.

What is my life? Where is my right? Who'll take action against this unfair case? I have no answer and I started to feel sad and when I releases my mind, I cried silently. My tear are rolling down to my cheek and I didn't try to wipe out. I was a crazy for a moment and my friends console me not to be so much serious on thing that had happened. It's our immigrant life in Malaysia and I'll never forget my nightmaire days in KL. Bullying to inferior is not a human nature. It is totally animal nature and we should oppose such manner if there is any in our community. I promised myself that I'll never bully to my inferior even if I can't give them a kind treatment in future. How about you, my friend? Let's make a happy world without any abuses.