The Buck Passing the buck

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I have always considered myself as a helpful person, least of all a calculative one, where work is concerned, so much so I am willing to go out of my way to help my colleagues.  Of course, a friend's good gesture should not be taken advantage of because a helping hand is just what it is; a helping hand.  Meaning it comes once in a while and out of the greatness of the doer's heart.

However in some communities (especially small ones) people seem take the generosity and kindness of other people as part and parcel of the things that need to be done, which means the favour done has now become the doer's responsibility.  When confronted about this situation, the person who is supposed to do the work, turns angry and blames you for being calculative and unreasonable!  Even worse, in order to 'redeem' yourself from being calculative, you are asked to take the favour and include it as one of your job specifications!  A real case of the buck passing the buck!

Will the Windfall with Pitfalls turn to Downfalls?

I read with amusement the front page of a certain Sunday newspaper blaring to the whole Malaysian public (and opportunists alike!) about a windfall that all teachers (to all civil servants actually, but why focus on teachers?) can soon expect.  I say that I read in amusement because the windfall that is promised (or about time actually!) comes with two pitfalls or three and that all these just like some kind of domino effect!

The first of the pitfall that comes with the windfall is that the windfall is not a windfall after all.  Long before announcements about this happy (really?) news is announced, all shop owners from retailers to small sundry shop owners have silently but surely started hiking prices of their goods.  You really feel the pinch when the same amount of money you use to bring to the grocers a month of two ago, does not seem to get you the same amount of goods.  In fact you realize that the things you are able to purchase with that amount of money is getting relatively less.

RM700 : Maid For Money

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Happiness is the day when we really get to apply the insane idea of paying RM700 for each specific work that we do.  I mean, let's just look at the teaching profession for example; hypothetically if this were to fall through, a teacher would get RM700 a month just for teaching alone!  Then comes another RM700 for clerical work like updating class register and collecting fees (yes! there are still fees to be collected!).  Another RM700 would be paid for services rendered as coaches for games, followed by yet another RM700 each for being trainers for debates, public speaking, drama and choral speaking and RM700 for being commanding officers (teacher adviser actually, but since we're on a roll, let's just go with it!) for uniform units.  These alone come up to RM4,200!

The Suspense Begins

Well, it's that time again folks!  This Wednesday, the result for last years SPM examinations will be officially announced.  Parents, teachers and  students are waiting with abated breath; all hoping the best for everybody.  And as usual there are  the fussy-pots who have nothing to do with SPM, will be busy pointing fingers if the results go down (fingers not pointed at them) and beating their chests (I begin to imagine the primate that they  resemble) if the results are good.

Goats Unspared For No English

Ever the person who chooses not to be judgmental or one who may appear to take on the opinion of any side, I have decided to give my own view about the matter of why the people in high places have come up with a hundred and one reasons (exaggerating actually!) on why Mathematics and Science should not be taught in English.

When I was in primary school, Mathematics and Science were taught in English.  And for so many years, even until I sat for my MCE (now SPM), these two subjects were still taught in English (I didn't keep abreast about the situations after that!)  I must confess that many of those pupils (and parents) from that generation just went head on with it.  As a result of that many of them including some of my old schoolmates during primary school have become lawyers, engineers, headmistresses and teachers; and especially English teachers!

A Peek into the World

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I was born into this country when there were no televisions (at least in the place where I lived!).  And even when televisions appeared into the scene when I was in kindergarten, only the wealthy could afford them; the wealthy one at that time was a Chinese tailor and his family.  Every night, he would readily accept all the young of the village, and the young at heart, into his home, so that they could watch the black and white programmes together, the most famous ones being Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone.  Many years later, my father, who was a Lance Corporal at the time (if I am not mistaken), finally bought a television set, which now, when I think of it, looked more like a liquor cabinet!

Finger ID Delinquents

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Things are created by humans for the benefit of human beings themselves.  Just like the Finger Identification System for example, it was created based on the need to identify staffs of an organisation with regards to the time they read their respective offices.  This is quite fair when you consider many things that entail especially when it comes to the time for giving awards for superior services.

However, just as this device was invented for the benefit of human beings, human beings themselves have invented ways to manipulate it.  Staffs of organizations are supposed to be in the office by, let's say, 7.30 a.m.  Thus, it is only just that everybody try to abide by the rules and regulations with regards to time.

Foreshadowing Malaysia's Future

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The parents of Malaysian student Mohamed Asyraf Hazziq Rossli, made a statement in the news tonight blaming the recent London riot on England being a welfare country.  A strong statement from someone outside the box and looking in, but nevertheless there is truth in what was said.

I personally saw this situation when I was studying in the United Kingdom (many years ago) where the Brits were given many different kinds of monetary aids (and I suppose they still are?) by the British government.  Those who were jobless were given living allowances, those who couldn't afford their own houses were given housing allowances and even each child in the family was given allowance.  These were some of the monetary aids given that I know of.  And now, when the country is a state of economic difficulty, people still demand the same treatments to be given to them.  And when they don't get them, they go on a riot!

I am not clairvoyant but shudder in fear to think that Malaysia is somehow heading for the same predicament as London.  My stomach pulls in knots when I read and hear about our government lavishing its citizens with monetary gifts (no matter how noble the reasons!)  My head throbs painfully when I think of all that monetary aid given to parents of school-going children in order for them to buy school necessities when for so many years before this, parents have learnt the reality of living, fending for themselves to send their children to school.  Yes, it may be a one-off gesture on the government's part, but what's to stop the money-craving green-eyed monster in every parent to demand for more next year?  And if greed eventually overcomes level-headness, what will stop them from taking the same actions the Londoners did (not surprising though, since many Malaysians seem to enjoy resorting to this method!)

This one-off gesture is one of the many monetary aids given by the government to the people of Malaysia this year and I feel that it would take a lot more on the government's part to keep the people satiated.  We can always call upon the grace of Malaysians to be understanding but if they refuse to give the government the light of day, then I don't even want to think what can happen.  I don't want to think, just pray!

When the Cat's Gone!

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I dropped by one particular office (government-run of course!) last Friday at about 3.30 p.m.  What I saw put be to shame (I shouldn't but I was!) because the people in that office were the pets (no pun intended!) of the boss who ran the office!  I say pets because they have been given all the comfort people working in an office could get; cubicles that blocked other people from disturbing them, day-long air-conditioning even when it was below 25 C outside, and a kitchenette to boot, where they have been known to cook (in an office?) rice, dishes and even fry 'keropok'!  All the perks that make them the envy of other civil servants!

And I mentioned 'the boss who ran the office' because the boss is now no more; giving her service where it is more needed.