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.

Me and Foreign Secretaries

MY COMPANY OFFICE has 2 floors in which the lady boss works on upper deck and her MD husband who is also engineer works in lower floor. The lady boss is more powerful but she is not a key player in the company. She used to come office after 5:00pm and worked untill 8:00pm/ 10:00pm depend on her mood. Some days she'll come and talk non-sense and go back without working. But she is the queen of the office and all the staffs need to pay super respect to her despite everybody hate her. She is unfair lady and her victims include even her very own husband. Let me highlight on this matter upon secretary post

Actually they both are very good-looking couple. MD is so hard working man and this lady boss always busy with ridiculous matters. As I told above, they are working at the different levels and they both have their individual secretary. She appoint young and smart man as her secretary and personal assistant. This guy gets a good salary and works very minor works. His main duty is driving her wherever she wants to go. She gives him a room in her bungalow and let him stay there and take care her 24 hours. I don't know how MD feels when he sees a young man ever accompanied his wife on most of the day.

On the other hand, she appoint a female secretary for her MD husband. I had seen so many secretary during my service in that company. Despite secretary changes oftenly, one thing never change in her replacement. It's her husband secretary must be urgly enough, very old enough, other quilifications are minor only. She'ld employ if these two major factor occupy to new applicants. But our MD never complain to that and the secretary coming in are not ordinary woman. We also suffered from that irregular secretaries because one of my job is feeding data to MD especially at the tender stage. So I need to deal with these aging female secretary compulsarily.

Unfortunately my first ever neighbour colleague was MD's secretary because I was asked to sit beside her as temporarily. I haven't got enough jobs to do at my earlier days on office and what I can do on working time is just helping my senior and studying their format and drawings. Since first day she critized me upon
1) the way I wear at office [I wear belt bag and put my important documents in it. She hate to see me and won't hesitate to comment it. One day she told me
sec: hey guy, you don't wear these urgly bag.
me: why?
sec: this is office, not site
me: but I can't afford to leave all my important documents at room.
sec: I don't care but remember this is not fish market
me: ok, I'll keep in in my drawer if you don't want to see it

2) the way I speak English
sec: your English is so bad
me : humm
sec: you can't understand simple English and how would you do here?
me: you also don't understand what I speak, so the same lah
sec: how did u get degree with this lousy English?
me: R u thinking ur English is so good?
sec: yes mine is standard
me: we speak second language and nobody is perfect
sec: I was English teacher before this job
me: smiling and try to do something by quietly

3) the way I turn the pages of office file
sec: hey don't make noisy office
me: what did I do wrong?
sec: your turning pages is so noisy
me: aww, then ur ear must be so good
sec: don't complain me
me: imm,,,smiling and quiet

4) the way I work with computer
sec: hey can u make it quietly?
me: how and why ?
sec: your fingers hitting keyboard so wild
me: then..
sec: so noisy,,this is office, not fish market
me: it's not my false, it happen bcz of bad keyboard
sec: shut up, ur mouth
me: hmmmmm

5) the way I speak mother language
sec: why are you both speaking ur language?
us: why not? you also speak Chinese when u see other chinese person
sec: this is chinese company and we can speak Chinese legally
us: so,,we have to speak chinese as well?
sec: speak English unless u speak chinese
us: immmmm,,,,(u bitch,,,,,,,,,,telling in minds)

After this lady, another secretary came to office and she got fired after few days. She is good at works and ok with other colleagues. The major drawback he made is coming to the office by her own Mercedes car. The HR manager who is sister of lady boss don't want to see other staffs doing better then they does. So few days later she sack her and bring in another one. The third one was KG level with computer and she need to ask me how to make a good report. And I teach her whenever she asked me. She sometime bring curry for us and even gave us some old dress of her bf. We have made a good relationship and HR manager noticed that. Then she called me and asked me to stay away with her and end of that month she also was fired. I am so sorry to learn her losing job. The fourth secretary was from my part-time QS company. She was a share holder and keeping of the boss. So she is proud enough and don't want to tell properly with workers including me. But I was employed as a part-time QS and I worked for her company only 1 1/2 days a week on sat and sunday. I had seen several secretaries and I had learnt a lot from them both in bad and good. Now I'm now working in Singapore and of course my company has a secretary. Believe it or not,,I have querrelling with her once for bully me. I don't want to do that but it is a must to protect my interest. If I quiet, they'll continue me bullying. How about you?

HAVE YOU SEEN A GOOD SECRETARY AT YOUR WORKPLACE?

Salary Erosion

BEFORE I went to Malaysia for oversea job, I was walking on the moon by calculating my oversea job earning. Agent would come out by saying as I can get at least RM-1350 + OT if I work on site and RM-1800 fix salary if I am needed to work at office. So she calculated my monthly wages by assuming at least RM-1800 and exchange rate Ks-200/RM.
WOW so much money it was,

the expected salary = 1800 x 200 = 360,000 Ks

what a good salary for a Myanmar engineer who currently earn only 50,000 Ks per month? She also highlighted that I could earn more if I can work on site because sometime OT money is as much as salary. I was so happy with the prospect of supporting my family well that time. But it went wrong totally after I arrived to KL and nobody take responsibility for that but myself. I paid 1,350,000 Ks to agent for this oversea job and it was so much to my family. But there is no way to go out of my land for foreign job.

My foreign employer selected me to work at the office and I thought my salary would be RM-1800 as my agent said before. But they really can offer to me as my basic salary was only RM-450 during probation period. As I had said on previous post, I fought for my salary and fortunately I got RM-1400 finally. The problem is this salary is not net amount I can enjoy because there are so many hidden cutter to my wages. Actually I must say it my daily wages because it come out twice a month and we cannot deserve any leaves. So our wages were counted based on how many we worked. According to them, "No Working No Money" as well as "No punch No Money". Some days we forgot to punch our time card and at the end of month, Account dept will cut our salary for not punching.

OK let me calculate my income for your knowledge;
My salary = 1400
Less keep money = 600 (they cut this until RM-2500 per year)
Less PUB bill = 4
Net salary = 796
Net salary by Ks = 796 x 200 = 159,200 Ks

There would be other annual fees to be cut from our salary are;

Levy fees: 1200
Process fees: 50
work permit fees: 60
Visa fees: 19.50
keep money : 750
medical fees: 300 x 2 (In fact, we need to check up only once a year, but they cut for twice)
service charge: 300

So at the end of the month, we are so disappointing with a thin wages pack. Sometime we need to wait two month to send back our wages to our family because we have to make sure send back money is not less than agent's minimum transfer amount. We are supposed to get our wages pack twice a month on mid and end of the month. But 1st half usually come after 25 of the month and 2nd half come after 10 days of the month. It's mean company keep our money as long as 10 days and above. But we need to restrain our mind and we became a super-patient workers amidst counterparts of other countries. If you have never been working in Malaysia, then you'll never know how good employers are in Singapore. You might think that you owe a lot to S'pore for covering you and shielding your right. For me is seeing both sides of hell and paradise makes me understand the value of life and people. Let's hope for a better tomorrow together with a good society that can distribute all people equal chance.

My EST passed

TODAY I am informed that I have passed their English Screening Test by BCA through email. The email mention as follow:

Dear Course Participants,

We are pleased to inform that you have passed your English Screening Test.

A place in the above course has been reserved for you. Please proceed to make the payment of $4066.00 for the Specialist Diploma in Building Cost Management course by 20 November 2009.

We would appreciate it if you could send us a crossed-cheque made payable to “BCA Academy” to reach us by end of this week.

Please be advised that the above candidate(s) will be liable for withdrawal from the course if payment is not made by then.

You will also receive a letter by mail regarding your course details by end of this week.

Thank you.

Of course everybody wants to pass all exams in life and I am happy to know my result. Meantime I am confusing with one time payment (S$4066.00) rather than two separate according to their course brochure. Anyway I noted how many people were passed this exam and found as follow:

Number of student sitting exam : 22 (13 Myanmar + 9 Others)
Number of passed students : 10 (6 Myanmar + 4 Others)

So % of winning rate is 45% and I am not sure if they'll start with these 10 people for a course. Anyway I am one step closer to fulfill my dream. Thanks everybody concerning in this process especially my wife for her supporting role. I hope I can successfully finish this course within 1 year time without any major problem and gain a deeper knowledge in Quantity Surveying field. And I'll pursue a better career life ahead in favor of this specialist diploma course for Building Cost Management. I can't wait to make my further study and find new classmates. May all person able to pursue in what they dream.

The dorm I lived in KL

I RATE MY ACCOMMODATION as a dormitory rather than hostel. There are so many reasons for why I could say so. I needed to shift my dormitory several times within my 3 years working period in KL. We are much look like a toy for our employer rather than a employee. They don't respect and take care enough our facilities as well as utilities despite agent mentioned them on the terms of the contract. On the other hand, we don't understand the basis right of employee and lack of relevant firm to file our complains. Anyway I had passed that bitter days right now and I am currently writing that post to reflect how bad is it being a migrant workers.

I was given a temporary shelter at the double-decker container by the time I land Malaysia in my very first day. I was introduced & welcomed with the dirty & messy standard of construction worker's camp.I tried to passed that night by cleaning my place and sleeping on the old newspapers. It was never easy to sleep soundly when the environment's air pollution is extremely bad and mosquito are tasting blood of new comer. But luckily I was escaped from that condition after one night time because I was selected to go office the next morning by Manager.

Being office staff, I was given a room in the flat nearby office. So I positioned my thing in the room and quickly see around. There is no bed, no cabinet, no wardrobe, no counter-table, and so many no....... I don't know it is the standard accommodation for a foreign worker. I comforted by saying myself that I'm not coming here for vacation, just come for work and save money. So I have to overcome this kind of obstacle and try to settle in that situation. Few days later, I noticed that other flat-mates have a better rooms and better furniture like bed and table. May be I am neglected for that because I am too much junior and fresher. But I want all my senior Myanmar colleagues know that junior also human being and I am not a general worker. Am I proud enough to say so? If your answer is "yes" then I have to counter that it's our people's weakest point in hesitating manner to claim whatever we are supposed to get in life. Let it be since we had been used to this kind of situation in our mother land and probably our brain has been trained to survive in the broken places. Alright let me have some explanation to make you clearer.

My room has no window and there isn't no fan as well. So ventilation is so bad and we can't sleep in the night. You know Malaysia is situated on the equator zone and the weather is so hot. But I braved myself that I came from upper burmese where day temperature is higher than any other places in Myanmar. Again I hope to change my room sooner or later. But it really took me several months until some illegal workers return Myanmar for their correction process. My bed room is my dinning room and dressing room as well. I don't have so much place to refresh myself. TV lah? funny enough,,,no entertainment in the hostel. But there is one room in which Thailand National stay. His room has so many electronic appliance and he's very kinded person and sometime he allowed us to watch. What a pity people are we?

Another thing makes me itchy are staying together with the illegal workers who are diagnosed as a Hipa-B. As you have known about this disease, it is highly dangerous disease to spread nearby people and easy to infect. So I rush to clinic to get a dose to prevent possible infection despite the cost is expensive. In the kitchen, we have only one set of utensil and they are actually owned by our senior colleagues who had returned home and left their property. They are not provided by our beloving company. But we find it hard to deal when the time come to prepare foods. Being a low paid workers, we can't afford to buy outside foods and usually we all cook at hostel kitchen. Sometime we enjoy foods that are sent by our beloving families.

There are two bath rooms that combine with toilet. It is not good enough for a people of 20 around at the early morning before going to work. But we managed to overcome these situation. We all need to pay RM-4 per month for water & electric bills. The rest balance would be paid by employer. Later our employer claimed to pay 50% of bills while they keep cutting RM-4.00 from our salaries. So we, engineers, protect not to follow their order to pay half bill. Other flatmates are not dare to refuse employer's instruction and they paid whatever employer demand. When we resisted to comply their order, the lady boss asked us not to stay at hostel and she'ld say she don't care wherever we are going to stay. We respond by saying that we don't want to work here anymore and please send us back to our country. We keep this sentence whenever she treated us badly. We realised that she doesn't afford to send us back because we, all engineers, are working so hard and performing a key area in preparing tender, claims, certificate with monthly basic. So we dare to protest upon their unfair matters.

When we still resist to pay that, she'll fine us RM5, 10, 15, etc and still refuse she'll order chief to cut foods for us and we'll need to prepare foods ourselves or buy outside foods. If we still managing to dare that, she won't hesitate to cut water and electricity by not paying bill to authority in time. When the bills are not paid, the authority is going to cut water & electricity until it is served. When water & electricity cut, we have no water at hostel to cook and even to take a bath or wash our faces early morning. But we don't mind it and we'll bring our tooth-brush and past to office and wash our face and brush our teeth at office. We go to nearby community club to take a bath by giving RM-1.00 for using swimming pool. For laundry service, we go another dorm where our fellow citizens are staying in. Later we got bed and they are double decker bed and we enjoyed to use them. The most disappointing thing was lady boss place one Burmese traitor at the hostel and he'ld report whatever we do in hostel.

More than enough to experience a good place at oversea? We are trying to happy despite the place is look like a hell by visiting our friends place who are working in the other company and other towns. We are not happy in our very own company and dorm. We worked under pressure at office and we live under watchful eyes at dormitory. How can we find a proper and peaceful life in such places? Anyway I am grateful my previous employer for making me a mature person and giving me a tough life training within 3 years time. Luckily I am able to work in Singapore right now and all the matter above are disappeared as a dream. I look forward I won't encounter such condition in my life again.

IN FACT, OVERSEA ARE NOT A PARADISE AS WE THINK BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GO THERE.

United Myanmar

AFTER CONFIRMING my salary with RM-1400, my senior started to change his attitude onward me, instead he should happy with the prospect of his salary rise. All my senior Myanmar colleagues guessed that I can't get my salary beyond RM-1000 regardless of any post and educational background. I was so upset to hear their -ive comments and finally I fought for my salary and got RM-1400. It's mean my salary is more than my senior who is still earning RM-1100 including RM100 keep money. I noticed that he treated me totally different in daily process.
Being junior, I was struggling to familiar with the company format at earlier days. So I have a lot area to learn from him and he also explained me whatever he can until my salary confirmed. After that he'ld decline my curious questions by saying you are better than me and earn better. So you don't need to learn so much and learn it by yourself if you found something unfamiliar. Actually he is about 4 year younger than me also engineering diploma holder with non-civil subject. So technically I am stronger than he is and I have got enough experience to work independently. But I insist that I still need to learn from him in order to smooth my work. For instance, I don't know how to take letter ref:, QS ref:, quantity taking-off by the aid of computer, how to use photostat machine, fax machine, etc. I understood how his mind suffer from learning that his junior got better salary. So I keep quiet and I tried to ask other country men colleagues when I needed to clarify.
Two month later, his salary increased to RM-1200 and following month he earned the same amount of what I earned. In fact he can't expect this salary increasement unless I arrive this company. But he never mentioned his thanks for this advantage. Next month another myanmar engineer came to our office and they united as a group and we gradually keep silent and didn't speak each other unless it is necessary. 5 months later another 2 Myanmar engineer and 1 draft man joined us and make a small Myanmar continent at the office. So there are altogether 5 engineers and 1 draftman who are working together and dinning together at the lunch time and dinner time.
At our first year, we got a staff foods for twice a day during week days. Second year food supply reduced to only once a day. Final year we are not getting any foods from office and we never get any food allowance for that. As a result, we need to prepare our foods at our hostel and there was only stove and one frying pan at the hostel. So we need to share all utensil as a common tools and unfortunately our working time is exactly the same and cooking time also fall on the same period. So every evening, we are fighting for the gas stove and pan by going back early hostel and will cook without hesitating the follower. In this case, there are 4 groups for only six person office staffs.
What a disappointing experience is it? We came from the same country and struggling in the bad company by going on the same boat. Should we help each other rather than fight each other? Should we make it one group and cook it happily? Why seperate so many group for only six person? The answer is we are not united and our rival became bigger day after day. At one point we don't want to see each other. It makes our bad employer happy bcz the lady boss wanted to see us ununited. Let me share one case here as it is coincident with united title,
At our hostel, there was a Myanmar female staff who is also working at the office with different level. She also need to cook for her meal and one day she dropped the kitchen knife and it broken to 2 pieces. She, amazingly, placed back the knife and no replace with new one. Since it is only one knife everybody use in kitchen and people are keeping use these spoil knife without buying new one. So I decided to buy new one by sharing the price and proposed to all groups. There are five group in which some group are individually group. After getting approval, one group in which two people comprise demanded to pay by individual rather than group. I rejected their proposal and I insist to quit from that plan if they don't agree with group sharing. I mean is every group must pay one share regardless of how many people included. Finally we cannot make it deal and failed to buy new knife. I bought a new knife by myself for my group while they buy their knife themselves. It' funny people will bring back after cooking and our cool relationship became chilly.
We are such a kind of people, we failed to make strengh by uniting each other while we all are working away from our home land. I think this is a major different between our citizens and other citizens. Other country men are very united in oversea so that they can able to protect each other from other's bulliness. I also not innocent and my mind became dirty so as to reflect my surrounding people. Actually the price of knife is less than RM-5 and nobody wanted to donate in favor of everybody's convenience.
How do I dare to say we are a buddhist men?
How other country men judge us if they had seen our case?
It is embarrasing manner and I felt ashamed now when I consider that days. Now all of us are currently working in Singapore after finishing our 3 years contract with Malaysia employer. At some point, we were willing to kill each other for a few Ringgit Malaysia.
Is it crazy enough we are?
But it happened to us once upon a time in KL, Malaysia. Now these all are left as our history.

My first ever English Screening Test

THREE WEEKS BACK, I submitted my application form to BCA Academy for Building Cost Management Specialist Diploma Course. With the prospect of better understanding in Quantity Surveying Field, I applied this course with the consent of my wife. I was amazed to be informed yesterweek that I'll need to sit entrance exam for my English proficiency test and noted designated date is 16th November. Actually I am applying for second batch and learnt that previous batch students didn't need to do the same. Anyway I need to follow their instruction if I do want to attend the class in there.

It was rainy day and I left my office on 3:00pm so as to reach the exam in time. According to schedule the exam is supposed to hold from 4:00 to 6:00pm. After getting there just in time, I curiously look at the student list and found more than 50% are my fellow citizens. What a good sense for me to see a lot of my native people who are going to be my classmate in oversea? It is my first ever test for my English skill and I was a bit nervous, of course. I braved myself and entered the exam room on time. I positioned my place and wait for question excitely. As soon as 4:00pm strike, the exam staffs started to deliver exam question & answer paper. At the same time they remind students not to turn over the question until their signal. I felt a bit comfort to learn that it's going to be writing test because I thought a lot regarding with today exam test. My worry increased by the time another student asked me if the test based on IELTS or Toffel. He seems well prepared for this exam and is holding a thick book of English. I didn't prepare for this exam because I don't know how they test me exactly.

When the exam starts, I briefly read the question and it comprise only 4 sections. They are
1) multiple choice
2) cloze type
3) disclosing the hidden meaning of the bolded words
4) extracting the phrases
5) essay writing.

Item no. 2&3 are under the same section-B. Under section-D, I can choose one of 4 given title and I easily selected "My dream job" title. I am instructed to write essay within allowable range (200 to 350) words. The other 3 available are
1) The best teacher in high school
2) The most beautiful country in the world
3) write by starting "When the girl enter to the dark room and scream......."

I am not allowed to take exam question out of the room and whatever I write above are everything I can remember by heart. So it cannot be deemed totally the same with exam question I experienced. I make this post for record and easy reference for my junior when they need to prepare to sit the same exam for the same purpose. I don't know if I can pass this test or not. But what I can say for now is I tried my best during exam time despite a lot of alien words, phrases & vocabulary in the questions. I'll try to happy with the outcome of this exam because I am a bit cynical regarding to the effective as well as financial. So I'ld prepare to accept any possible outcome by assuming as follow:
1) passed and spend S$4100 fees
2) failed and save this money for other purpose
So my side is win-win situation and I can't wait to know my latest exam result in Singapore. Aww almost forgot to mention that this paper exam costs me S$21 and feels expensive for a 2 hours English test. Anyway I'm responsible for everything I did as nobody forced me to do so. At least I had gained some new experience and able to know my English skills. Anyway thanks BCA for conducting this exam in favour of my skill test.

Where is our dignity?

WHAT IS DIGNITY? I don't know the wider definition of this beautiful word but briefly I understand. For a flower, blossoming to its eternal without any destroying factor should be called a dignity. For a bird, able to fly and live without enemy is its dignity. For a building, possessing a famous touch by artiste /engineer is its dignity. Then how about for a human being ? It might be living peacefully and doing meaningful works as much as possible. It's my personal view and it can be totally wrong due to my poor understanding of English. Appreciate if you correct me by commenting if you have seen this post.

For sure we missed our dignity during we work in Malaysia. We hard work there and we receive disrespect for that. We are obedient enough and we receive their bully. We tried our best but they never recognized our commitment. Anyway we all keep our faithfulness to our employer during our contract period there. We are so disappointing when they treat us unfairly and we are much look like their servant instead professional.

We were suffering by the time they unfairly accuse us at some occasion. HR manager would come in our room and will ask when
1) the news paper is disappear despite everybody reads it.
2) the foods in refrigerator goes missing
3) one colleague miss something especially money

She'll exclude us when
1) X'mas lunch was held in office for all staffs
2) bonus receptionist announced
3) any kind of leave offered
4) the time comes for salary rise

She''ll include us when
1) she needs to shift office furniture and throw old one to dump site
2) stationery delivery car arrived office
3) time comes to cut staff's salary
4) prepare to list for fine

We were not happy but we have to work. When I claim for send me back home, they'll fine me and even my demand can end with salary delayed. They have a thousand method in punishing their workers. We are under-dog and there is no mercy for us. I have learned that X'stian people are much gentle and a lot kind to people around. But my employer would be exceptional I think. They have no kind heart to their inferiors. They are so rich and they are in their mind how to cut and fine worker's wages for ridiculous reason. We were helpless when they treat us unfairly and finally our brain had been washed successfully by cruel people. I never thought that I would find such a people in my life. It's a lot to a young man and we swallow that bitter taste. I look forward I cannot meet again such experience in future. Fortunately, I'm currently working in Singapore where laws govern people and I don't need to worry to be abused by employer anymore. Here there is MOM to look after employee's interest and safety. You will never don't know how good your job is unless you had found the employer as bad as I encounter. Thanks for my good karma that able to minimise my bad days and hopefully I'll forget about my nightmare days in KL, Malaysa sooner or later.

MAY ALL THE HUMAN BEING FREE FROM FEAR AND POSSESS THEIR DIGNITY.

We are victims of poverty.

IS POVERTY good enough to deserve accusation by our superiors? I was really suffer from that kind during my working time in Malaysia. There is a Myanmar proverb to highlight that matter "you would be easily accused unless you are rich." Being educated man and working in the developing country, I didn't expect such a kind of manner and behavior to us. It really make my mind wounds and find it hard to delete permanently from my memory. Here are one of many to share with you how bad the people are in this planet....

One calendar day, our office Indian draft man lost his ring at the office. According to him, he take out it and put on the basin counter before he wash his hand. After that he forgot to bring back and it had been disappeared when he go back the counter on the following day. He informed HR manager who is sister of lady boss and she asked her assistant to tell all Myanmar workers to meet her at the meeting room. At that time only 3 Myanmar workers are working at the engineering department level. As I told in previous post, she is lawyer graduate from UK and she was so angry to learn that kind of matter happened in office premise. As soon as she came in meeting room, she loudly talk to us:

HR: today mulary inform me that his ring had been lost in the office. Have anybody of you found it ?
us: seeing each other and no respond.
HR: hey I am asking you all, answer me quickly
us: I didn't find it, madam (we all answer at d same time)
HR: the fact is I never experienced before such a case until Myanmar workers getting office
us: motionless and breathless, no respond to her comment
HR: I ask you peacefully and you all better say truth before I call to police.
us: We don't take really madam
HR: alright, put your wallets on the table right now.
us: we all follow her instruction by putting our wallet on d table
HR: she checked each wallet thoroughly

Unfortunately one of wallets has a lot money inside that lead her suspection.

HR: why do you have a lot money? (seeing with suspect to wallet owner)
he: It's mine and I keep them for my expense lah.
HR: where did u get such amount of money?
he: from my wages and some I got from my friend who is making business here.
HR: I don't believe in you, give me your friend number.
he: why do I need to give you my friend's no?
HR: If you refuse to give me, I have to call police and send you jail.
he: I don't care anybody as long as I am honest.
HR: this is my order,, give it to me RIGHT NOW,,,she shouted him
we: we suggested him to give no to avoid unwanted matters and he follow our advice.

HR call to Burmese traitor who is working at the restaurant nearby office and he immediately came in office to help in what HR manager needs.

HR: help me call and ask this no please.
traitor: alright madam, what you want me to ask him?
HR: I want to know clearly if this fellow lend some money/ support financial thing to this guy.
traitor: alright madam, I'll do it exactly. He call the number and other side answer:
outsider: hello
traitor: hi bro, sorry I am friend of your friend(xxxxx), and calling for some question.
outsder: for what purpose?
traitor: we have a problem with losing some property in the office.
outsider: how does it related to my friend?
traitor: our HR manager suspect him involving in this case, bro.

Meanwhile HR manager urged traitor to make it quickly and asked what're u talking about so much now. Because they speak with Myanmar language.

traitor: yes madam
traitor: hello brother, i just want to know if you lend some money to your friend in Malaysia?
outsider: what a bloody hell are you? It's non of your business. I can't tell you that
traitor: please bro, otherwise your friend would fall in trouble
outsider: I don't care, I don't know who you are exactly and I can't anwer your question, OK
traitor: hmmmm
outsider: hang down his hand phone and power off
traitor: sorry madam, he's not willing to entertain my questions.
HR: alright I'll give you two days chance to think and still refuse to say truth, I'll transfer you to police station.
he: my answer would be constant,,,whatever you do, I don't care (he's so angry to be accused)
HR: Ok see how what'll happening in this case,,,get back work now.
we: thanks madam

Next day draftsman found his ring from his home and the case is closed without notify to us nor any apologize for false accusation. What a stupid and foolishness? But it was really happening to us once upon a time in Malaysia. I'll have to point out our poverty as a cause of this case. Wonder why she (HR) never asked her fellow citizens and other country men who are also working at the office. Only put Myanmar worker on this case is more than obvious they look us down at every angle.

JUSTICE PLEASE TO ALL HUMAN BEING REGARDLESS OF POVERTY......

(To be continued)

Me and Myanglish

BEING A MYANMAR CITIZEN, how much I can expect my English to be fluent despite I hurdle all the way to my engineering degree? I studied my basic education at my home town school and I am just average student among my classmate. I interested in speaking English after I dream to go oversea for work. It came to me after I graduated from my first civil engineering diploma from CGTI. During I worked in Yangon with local company, I managed to attend a speaking class at Hledan Junction. But it wasn't good enough because I can practice it during my class time and after that I have no partner to talk English both in home and work. Day after day my serious on English disappear and I get back zero setting.

It reignited me when I joined SPA Management (Myanmar) Co. Ltd after my further studies for degree. Fortunately I got that job through mutual engineer friend. This project is first ever international standard hospital in my country and I could have a chance to work together with migrant workers from several countries. So I couldn't afford to neglect my English speaking skill for the sake of smoother communication and better relationship with superior. In that project I usually need to feed data to PM who is Australia and occassionally I also needed to attend progress meeting as well as talking to international firms such as material suppliers, Architects and sub-contractors, etc. It was my turning point to dare dream my oversea job and I can even say that PHIH prject as my lunching site.

After working in these international hospital project for 13 months, I had a chance to go and work at Malaysia. Since then I need to rely on my myanglish to survive among other country men. I wasn't happy with the way they treat me regarding to my English speaking skill at earlier days. Here are some memory I still remember now and share with my friends. First person I needed to confront was my boss's scretary lady by introducing on my first day onward:

scre: Hi good morning, R u new worker here today?
me : hi good morning, yes I am.
scre: what's your post here?
me : hmm.....(I still don't know what's my post and so holding and answer),,,,engineer.
scre: awww,,,you are engineer????(by raising her eyebrow)
me: yes I am
scre: Are you graduate?
me: yes of course, without graduate how can i become an engineer?
scre: yes i know, but your english is so bad being graduate..
me: immm,,,,probably you are right bcz we studied through mother language.
scre: how did you graduate without speaking english well?
me: yes I could manage to get it bcz I studied at local university.
scre: how can you work here without understanding basic english? tell me...
me: I was started to angry,,,and reply, why not I understand if they come with engg: words?
scre: I don't think so....
Meanwhile she talked nearby chinese engineer by chines language and joked at my situation). I was so suffer with the way they treat to me like that but I can't find proper words to counter attack. I just simply quiet but discomfort.
me: hey,,you are critizing my English and how much ur English is good enough?
scre: I don't understand what are you talking about.
me: I carefully talked again slower than first time.
scre: My english is very standard, my professional before this job was English tuition teacher.
me: I also don't understand what you speak all bcz you speak with chinese assent.
scre: No, you don't understand is due to your poor english skill.
me: then you don't understand my speaking also mention that your english is not good enough.
scre: by laughing at me widely and what a stupid guy you are?
me: If I am stupid then so do you.
scre: you don't know how to respect your senior, you are so rude.
me: yes I become rude bcz you firstly rude to me.
scre: everybody know your english is bad and they all understand what I am talking.
me: because they all are chinese people,,,do not proud so much.
That time, another chinese engineer came in my room and reinforced scretary by voting she is right and I am poor in English. His name is Bell.
Bell: According to ur english skill, I find it hard to believe u r real engineer.
me: I was so much ashamed and replied it's non of your business.
Bell: I have been experiened that you didn't get what I asked you few times.
me: yes I am because I try to familiar your English sound.
Bell: my english is standard and I studied at Australia for my engineering degree
me: but mind you also don't understand what I say
Bell: it's bcz your pronunciation is incorrect.
me: I had no problem in communication with my previous PM who is Australia. He can understand me but u don't.
Bell: you are over proud than it is.
I don't look other people down like you did. But I admit that my English is not as good as you all because my country's education is not good enough. What I can do then? I'll try to learn and improve myself during my working in this company. Next day early morning, Bell bring me his room and show me one voculary(alternative) from a book and asked me
Bell: how to pronounce it
me: Alternative
Bell: what does it mean?
me: change one by one
Bell: imm no bad, what is your major?
me: Civil engineering
Bell: Can you do bldg design?
me: Frankly I tell you, I forgot now and need to study again if I am needed to do design.
Bell: Do you know MS xxxxxx software?
me: that one also I don't know.
Bell: come I show you what to use that software.
me: thank you, bell.

I fortunately able to work at the office where everybody speak English mainly in Malaysia. As a result, I could have improved my English during my 3 years working in that company and it had helped me a lot when I search a job in Singapore. Major drawback I got by working office was I couldn't able to speak Malaysia language. All my friends who were working in the site must speak their mother language to communicate with others with daily basis and they can able to speak Malaysia language like a native people. I am no doubt that they'll get some benefit from speaking foreign language in future. It's my most regret for unable to speak that language during my past 3 years in Malaysia. I'll keep my willingness in studying english so that I can verify all myanmar people are not as bad as they assume. Disappointing again, I have heard and seen a lot here in lion city that our fellow citizens are struggling with this language and of course we have a bad reputation with the standard of our English. It's obvious that we have to improve our skills if we want to survive here and get a better life. To fulfill this ambition, we are the one who is most responsible for our own goodness and lets shoulder our own part to become a better society.

Who am I ?

ACCORDING TO agent and interview, I came Malaysia as a site supervisor. I understood myself at least I am not going to work as a general worker. If I love to work non-engineering works, I would have gone to Singapore now. By the time (early 2005) I went to Malaysia, there was no S-pass jobs in Singapore and learned that only two type of work permit named WP and EP. Mostly they, SMEs from Singapore, demanded via agent was only general workers and semi-skill workers like mason, carpenter, welder, fitter, etc. I didn't want to downgrade myself to able work in oversea. Plus that time Singapore's construction was not as stong as 2007-2008. So I decided to go Malaysia with site supervisor post despite it is not my favourite destination to work.

Before I go to Malaysia, I was walking on the moon by calculating my earning after I worked in Malaysia based on agent's given data. I was more than happy with imagine of supporting enough to my family. But I realised my dream have been effectively destroyed just few days after arriving there. It's easier said than done. When they, agent, said it easily and in real world, we need to confront a lot challenging in the new environment. We have no place to complain when we are treated badly or they bully us. First of all what I needed to solve out was salary adjustment as I already written in previous post. After we reached an agreement to RM-1400 fixed salary for my service, I am deeemed to work as an office worker. They never recognize me as a engineer.

At first week, I have no computer to work and I could able to help to my six month senior myanmar engineer who is a bit settle with company format. So I assisted him whenever he asked me to help. At the same time other QS and engineer from the office asked me to do their minor works like photostating, document despatching within office premise, etc. My office is 3 storey terrace house building. The boss rent out ground floor to a local bank (RHB bank). So my office is upper two story and I need to work at lower floor. Engineers and Technical staffs are working at the lower floor and the rest department like account, purchasing, etc are located in upper floor. The office store is also at the 3rd storey.

Early morning we need to carry heavy equipment spare parts from 3rd story to ground floor so that office lorry can distrubute them to a necessary sites. After that I can go back to my workplace and carry on. I would be asked to go and help whenever carrying jobs are come out to this office. When supplier deliver, my senior friend and I would need to carry from GF to 3rd story and put properly in the store. The myanmar workers in-charge is a young chinese man and he never hesitated to ask myanmar workers any time any where any job to do. If somebody resist in his instruction, he'll take action by reporting to lady boss who will fine to us for not obedient. He is not engineer and he don't know what are we doing downstair, sometime we are so busy by the time he called us for lifting and carrying jobs. We have no right to refuse in his calling and we lost our concentration on jobs.

Usually our working time is 8:30am to 6:00pm, but for myanmar workers, the working time start from as early as 7:30am to as late as 10:00pm. Amazing? it was really happened to us and we have to follow it without complain. I can work until 6:30pm at downstair engineering office and go upstair for seeing lady boss. Before we can see her, we have to make other jobs like cleaning the reception area, scrubbing the glass partion and doors, sweeping, even cleaning toilet alternatively, etc. She, lady boss, usually come out of her room and see all upstair staffs incl local workers and give non-stop speech and everybody must in the position of stand up. People are not dare to go toilet when they want to. Her speech is meaningless mostly she'll point out staff's weakpoint and score, blame, abuse, fine, etc. Sometime if she is in happy mode, she'll talk about how much she is rich, how many property she own in KL, how much she paid for her hair dresser, how expensive his son's ice-cream are, etc. All non-sense for us but we have to listen quietly and saying YES, madam.

After she talked, local staffs can go back home and we, myanmar staffs, still need to work under her instruction. Everynight she change office position by shifting tables, cabinet and stationery stands. At the same night she will ask us to position go there and here and come back again. What a stupid idea? I don't know she is trying to do like that. We cannot go back home and also cannot eat dinner that is given by office. Boss instructed kitchen chef not to give dinner until she return home. So we are trying to do fast whatever she asked so that we can eat dinner faster. Being workers, we can't afford to buy outside foods and also can't go back early even if we are afford to do so.

After return hostel, our day long job is not yet finished. We need to continue work at the company own restaurant as a waiter until midnight. Later we, engineer, fought for not doing this night job being a waiter and won. Our fellow citizen workers who are working as office staffs remain doing that as they don't dare to protect it. At weekend, we would be assigned to go boss's bungalow and clean compound and bldg. Also we will need to make all dirty and dusty furniture order and the supervisor later come in and check if our job is in order. For these all extra jobs, we are not deserving any overtime money. I don't know what I am doing here in this company and I am much look like as a prisoner here. That's why I frequently asked myself that

WHO AM I AND WHAT IS MY ASSIGNMENT TO DO?

Sad Movie makes me CRY.

FEW DAYS back, I received a letter from my SPRs couple friend is the source of I watch this movie yesterday at Orchard Cineleisure, level-6. There are two short films under program named "Cross Border" and "Burma VJ". What a coincidence? The screening day is fall on our National Day (11/11/09). We went there on time to make sure our ticket is granted following to our earlier registration via email.

It started on 7:15pm with the Cross Border and I could able to witness the life of Myanmar families flee from persecution into Mae Sot, a town on the Thai-Myanmar border. Their life in Thailand are awesome and they, parent, are not afford to send their child to school at the right age. As a result, the child became the street boys and uneducated. Film maker highlighted there are some oasis despite the life is choas there. These included few volunteer makeshift school, orphanage welfare centre and clinic. I do realise that the support are not good enough for a growing demand. Also they highlighted in this movie are children who are taken away from their parents by human traffickers with the prospect of work in bigger city like Bangkok. There are so many bad story that turn from their dream of getting work. They end their dream as a beggar if the victim is a boy and a child prostitute if victim is a girl. I don't know what they show in this film are how many % true and I crazily pray that they are just an imaginary by artiste.

At the middle of film, I can't stop my tear rolling down onto my cheek and I was so emotional. When the story teller told that some people are born to this world but they have no place to live with their dignity by showing some people, I was so sad and hope it's my peak feeling. What a cruel world is it? Where is our human kindness manner? Where is our religious teaching and guidance despite these two countries are majorly buddhist countries? I also noticed that they can maintain our traditional cultural by donating seasonal ceremony although they are extremely deep in poverty. I salute their spirit upon their survival at the broken place. I ashamed myself for being selfish by staying away for my own goodness. Hopefully I can serve back my country oneday if I am given a chance to do something in what I can do. Let's hope a good, educated, developed, peaceful and dignity country with a beautiful natural resource soonest possible.

After the first film, Burma VJ which is main feature is following with 15 minutes intermission. They say "A picture can say a thousand words" and I can't deny that. This film is majorly attention to an internal matter that was happened in 2007 September. Being a burmese, I have been hearing such a kind of matter in my past and tame it totally. It has been long time as a mouse-cat playing game. I don't understand about the political and also don't interest in this. No matter who is ruling as long as I can live peacefully. You might critize me as a selfish man who neglect suffering of major people. This is my personal view and it can be wrong or right, this kind of matter is happening at all countries incl US that is supposed to say the best democracy country. The poverty is everywhere and world first economy US also not exceptional. The difference would be less and much percentage depend on their respective system consume. So I'll let it handled by others and stay aside.

But what I can say here is my feeling arose from watching this film. Firstly I want my country to be famous with a good reputation amid international community. We have so many potential both man power and natural resource. If non-resource country like Singapore can make it developed country, why not for my country? I purely believe in our country potential when the time come to right time. I don't know how long it will take to become my dream realistic. Secondly I am very much grateful to Maruah for organizing this event successfully and I know a mere words thank you is not good enough to honour their tirelessly effort. I don't know exactly what they saying human right. Frankly I admit it. But being a burmese, I feel ashamed that this kind of unaccepted case were happening in our country during my generation. Since it's out of my hand and we cannot erase our past, let it remain as history.

Finally I relax by myself with a standard method of buddhist people. They are suffered this because they performed similar in their previous life as an active person. So active and passive likely to be happening in this world alternatively. My wish herewith is people can find the best solution in creating a better and peaceful world by working together.

THIS, TOO, SHALL PASS AWAY.