My Mum
JPA is pretty slow in giving out the offer letter. I don’t think they realize that I will be leaving next Friday. But oh well, this is the Malaysian Government anyway. I left my handphone number twice and on both occasions there were promises of calling me back but of course, none did. Such is to be expected. Have to continue bugging them.
Two amazing things about my mum:
1) She gets things done and pushes until she gets what she wants:
I called JPA up but after dozens of calls, no one picks up the call. (Well, someone did but no one called me back afterward) This, despite trying so many numbers provided on the website. I considered going to haunt them at their office in Putrajaya the next day, but well my mum took care of it. She called the Telekom Operator, who led her to the JPA Operator, who led her to another person whom the Operator said would pick up the phone. True enough, someone picked up the call and with that at least the situation is not so stuck. The person is supposed to call her back tomorrow with more details. And my mum took down her name and demanded for a direct line instead of the public line. o.O
Apparently the Ministry did not give JPA the list of scholars yet. So they cannot do anything about it yet. Believe it or not. JPA is so inefficient…
Well, to put it briefly, I am not so assertive as my mum. (read: pale in comparison to her) Good or bad, I don’t know. I call, no result. She calls, something happens.
2) She can bargain and leave your jaw on the ground when you hear the price she manages to secure:
Durian. Well, some of you don’t like it but I’m ok with it. Giant was selling durian (packaged already) at RM 10 for one pack, RM 18 for two packs, and RM 25 for three packs. I was standing far off when she was talking to the guy in the hypermarket in charge of the durian for some time (external vendor i think). She ended up with 7 packs for RM 35. I was stunned.
Who in the entire Malaysia knew that you can bargain prices in Giant Hypermarket like in the pasar malam? @@
Other tactics employed: a) walk away (the seller will call after you with the price you want) and b) pay the amount you want to the person (literally fork out the cash and give) even though they protest to the underpriced product (they will just take the money anyway in most cases)
Yeah, that’s my mum. 
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yeah man, i knew your mom was cool! haha
I didn’t know that it’s cool to short change people. People are making a living. These durian sellers are poorer than you!!! How would you feel if you were in their shoes? 7 packs for RM35?
@aLe: XD
@Anonymous: Sigh… it is a waste of time replying to people like you who like to attack others while hiding behind your computer screen.
If the buyer and seller agree to a price, then there is nothing to talk about. If the seller is selling at a loss, then he has the right not to sell. Cheers.
to be fair, anonymous does have a point. He may still be making a profit,but a really small one which does not justify the labour and work ,energy all he put in. After all, 7 packs for RM 35 is really little and not that fair to him. After all, if his job is to sell durians, it is a high possibility that he needs every dime. That said, bargaining is a part of Malaysia’s culture and like Ernie said, if the guy didn’t want too sell, he didn’t have too
this is getting really ridiculous… so it’s my mum’s fault la when she gets a good price. Really nothing to say la. Some of you like to hentam me on this blog only. If you have nothing good to say I suggest you keep it to yourself.
What is wrong with bargaining anyway? If the seller is losing, then don’t sell la. The consumer just wants to get the best price out from the whole deal. Better than accepting what the seller says and happily pay a high price on the basis that you are doing some charity helping out the people who are “poorer than you.” WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT?
If you are really brave, use a name. Why so scared to expose yourself? Abscond yourself from all consequences? True, this is online, I can’t do anything about it. I support freedom of speech. But this is a really ridiculous point to bring up.
@Anonymous: Sigh… it is a waste of time replying to people like you who like to attack others while hiding behind your computer screen.
“By your logic, the validity of one’s arguments are validated by the strength of one’s reputation and not the strength of one’s logic?!”
If the buyer and seller agree to a price, then there is nothing to talk about. If the seller is selling at a loss, then he has the right not to sell. Cheers.
“Just like if a person is forced to admit to something he did not do, there is nothing to talk about? If the person did not do a crime, then he has the right not to confess? Have you seen the world? The world is not just black and white. Many people are not as fortunate as you, living in the lap of luxury, they make decisions which are the lesser of two evils. In my example, this person would rather confess than be tortured or have some threats carried out against him because confessing to a crime which he did not do is the lesser evil. How sad is that? In your case, the person would rather sell 7 packs of durian at RM35 instead of getting RM0. Is that sad? Come on, he has to purchase the durians, chop the durians, buy the packs, pack the durians. How much profit do you think he is making? Or maybe he is just trying to minimize his losses…It is NOT COOL to force a man to desperation.”
this is getting really ridiculous… so it’s my mum’s fault la when she gets a good price.
“ridiculous? insults do not make your logic stronger. obtaining an end does not always mean that the means are morally right.”
Really nothing to say la. Some of you like to hentam me on this blog only.
“oh? you just threw an insult to me without any strong argument to support you. in contrast, i have given many strong arguments to support my points.”
If you have nothing good to say I suggest you keep it to yourself.
“I do have many many good things to say.”
What is wrong with bargaining anyway?
“Nothing. Many things in the world are not wrong, until done in excess, then it stands/crosses a fine line. However, sometimes which side of the fine line it finally falls on would depend on one’s moral compass. As I have said, put yourself in the seller’s shoes. How would you feel?”
If the seller is losing, then don’t sell la.
“Read my above comment again on things not being just black and white.”
The consumer just wants to get the best price out from the whole deal.
“Sure, in places where the seller puts out an unreasonable high price. Don’t try to use terms like “consumer”, etc. when I doubt you really understand economics. Heard of price floors for example? Heard of spoiling the market?”
Better than accepting what the seller says and
“Better for you but not better for the seller, other sellers and the economy.”
happily pay a high price on the basis that you
“Look at your post on the original prices again. High? Or typical?”
are doing some charity
“Charity? You mean paying for something you want.”
helping out the people who are “poorer than you.” WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT?
If you are really brave, use a name. Why so scared to expose yourself? Abscond yourself from all consequences? True, this is online, I can’t do anything about it. I support freedom of speech. But this is a really ridiculous point to bring up.
If you are really brave, use a name.
“Did you just go off topic? What does courage have to do with anything here?”
Why so scared to expose yourself?
“Is this a threat?”
Abscond yourself from all consequences?
“What consequences?”
True, this is online, I can’t do anything about it. I support freedom of speech. But this is a really ridiculous point to bring up.
“Ridiculous? Maybe to a selfish person.”
@Anonymous:
I have no intention to debate with you. You are not attacking me, you are attacking the way my mother buys things, i.e. she likes to bargain, and therefore I had to respond. You may attack me as you like, but not my mother and the way she does things. I personally am not much of a bargainer and do not intend to be one.
You will always think that you are right. So be it.
I refuse to be dragged into such a useless and childish argument. It’s ok if you hate me. I have a lot of enemies myself. I am not here to please people.
God bless. There are more important things to worry about than who’s right or wrong here. I wish you well.
@Ern Sheong: Yes Ern Sheong. Don’t bother.
Comment on Ern Sheong’s blog = freedom of speech
Attacking someone behind “anon” = abuse of freedom of speech
I have no intention to debate with you.
“Two very angsty and adamant replies to my one short original post. Then, when I give you a logic laden response, you see little way to break past it, hence this is how you respond. Says the man who spoke of courage…”
You are not attacking me,
“I am not making any attacks. I am merely hoping that through my efforts, you will understand a bit more about fairness and also a bit more about how things are not just black and white and also about how to put yourself in others’ shoes.”
you are attacking the way my mother buys things, i.e. she likes to bargain, and therefore I had to respond. You may attack me as you like, but not my mother and the way she does things.
“this reeks of some point I made earlier about to you, the validity of words/actions to you are validated by the reputation of the person and not the actual substance/logic behind those words/actions.”
I personally am not much of a bargainer and do not intend to be one.
“even though you find it “amazing” in your own words?”
You will always think that you are right.
“I think or I know? Or is there no right and no wrong in this case? I do hope to hear what you have to say about what I said above.”
So be it.
I refuse to be dragged into such a useless and childish argument.
“Useless? Maybe not. You may be exposed to a whole new perspective - that of seeing things from others’ point of view and also understand fairness. Childish? Your insults and stuff might be childish but a child would not have been able to back up his points as I have.”
It’s ok if you hate me.
“I know it is ok. However, I do not hate you.”
I have a lot of enemies myself.
“And you intend to make more? For one, I have made no personal attacks on you, unlike you on me. I tried to engage in intellectual discussion with you, but that, you avoided.”
I am not here to please people.
God bless. There are more important things to worry about than who’s right or wrong here. I wish you well.
“I think at the end of the day, you are just blinded by the fact that the person whose actions I am criticizing is your mum.”
@Ern Sheong: Yes Ern Sheong. Don’t bother.
Comment on Ern Sheong’s blog = freedom of speech
Attacking someone behind “anon” = abuse of freedom of speech
“Ome, you too fall prey to the same fallacy as Ern Sheong. The logic of one’s statements should be strong enough to stand on their own without the “reputation” of the person saying them. This is much better than using one’s name to make one’s statements/actions correct even though they might not be. Once again, I did not make any attacks. If you do a close reading, you can see Ern Sheong has made many unvalidated personal attacks on me while all I have done is to try to engage him in intellectual discussion in the hope that he will realize something.”
@Anonymous: Hey, cool it.
So you do not agree with everything I say in this blog. It’s fine. I have no qualms with that. This world is too boring if it consisted of only my own opinion. But somehow you are making a mountain out of a mole hill.
As I said, you want to win, go and win. OK? This round goes to you. You are the ultimate champion in online debating. Kudos.
P.S. Although I say I have many enemies, I have yet to put a face or a name on any of them. But maybe there are some, but I don’t care. I don’t know them.
@Anonymous: Hey, cool it.
So you do not agree with everything I say in this blog.
“That is a sweeping statement, a hasty generalization. I commented on 1/3 of a single blog entry, and you said I disagree with everything in your blog?”
It’s fine. I have no qualms with that. This world is too boring if it consisted of only my own opinion.
“And why wouldn’t you change your opinion if people pointed out fallacies in it? With the same number of words you use on personal attacks on me, you could have pointed out fallacies in mine. Instead, you choose to squander them.”
But somehow you are making a mountain out of a mole hill.
“Really? Like how?”
As I said, you want to win, go and win.
“I do not want to win. It is not about you vs. me. It is about the truth. If I cared about you vs me, I would have engaged in personal attacks like you, not logic.”
OK?
“Not ok.”
This round goes to you. You are the ultimate champion in online debating. Kudos.
“Your logic is totally non-existent. Beating you does not make me a champion, just second from the back.”
P.S. Although I say I have many enemies, I have yet to put a face or a name on any of them. But maybe there are some, but I don’t care. I don’t know them.
“Have you heard of jia jiao? I have no idea how your parents brought you up. Maybe they are terrible people too, that’s why you end up like that. Oh I know, they taught you one thing, to fleece people - certainly an “admirable” trait. They must also have taught you that “names” are more important than truth. Future corruption? I also note that you like to go off topic. I have no idea how an intellectual discussion became a war between persons. What does this go to show?”
@Anonymous:
So now you are insulting my parents in the way they brought me up. Well and good. Reflects on how your parents brought you up.
Enough is enough.
Unlike you Ern Sheong, I have justified every single point I made. On a separate note, do you also not know the meaning of the word “maybe”. In contrast, you are just desperately clutching at straws, making assertions and hurling insults without ever validating any of them. I have repeatedly pointed out numerous flaws in your logic and you dare not reply to those. HA! I laugh at you. So pompous, so arrogant, but no substance to back it up with. The world does not work based on names and baseless assertions and insults. The reason is simple, YOU do not own it. I have given you many reasons why you are wrong, you have given me none to show that I am wrong. Or maybe you are just not capable of it. Alright, you do not have to admit it if you are wrong, that would be asking too much of you. But do think about the points I have made at your own time and I do sincerely hope that you realize some things.
@Anonymous:
Thanks for the comments. Have a nice day.
Anonymous ,just chill it. Don’t you have anything better to do than analyse EVERY single sentence of Ernie’s. And BTW,if you really are so sure you are the dude who holds the torch for truth,justice and freedom, why not tell us who you are. It’s very easy to hide behind something and attack people, but a someone who really does have the values you so claim to have will be willing to step out from the darkness and face the music headstrong. After all, look at RPK…He writes way more controversial stuff yet he doesn’t do it behind a fake name.
he/she will nvr reveal his/her name. no point asking. haha
Anonymous ,just chill it. Don’t you have anything better to do than analyse EVERY single sentence of Ernie’s.
“I have many better things to do. I show respect for what Ern Sheong writes - enough to respond to what he says. I actually read and thought about his response. Is this something wrong?”
And BTW,if you really are so sure you are the dude who holds the torch for truth,justice and freedom,
“I am not sure, and I made so such claim. I merely pointed out a few fundamental things here, but apparently, it seemed to be big and shocking things.”
why not tell us who you are. It’s very easy to hide behind something
“I see many responses asking my identity but virtually none on the content I posted. Once again, I ask, are one’s statements and actions judged by his identity or by their content? For example, Ern Sheong ordered that I may not criticise his mother. Just because she is his mother? One of the reasons why Malaysia is so behind is because in Malaysia, names and influence are much more important than content. Something to ponder about.”
and attack people
“Attack? Am I really making an attack? I have been insulted multiple times on this page for no rhyme or reason.”
, but a someone who really does have the values you so claim to have
“Please enlighten me, where did I so claim?”
will be willing to step out from the darkness
“Darkness? Where?”
and face the music headstrong.
“Music? What music? Is this a threat of some sort?”
After all, look at RPK…
“I am flattered that you think that I am so well-read that I would be able to recognize the initials RPK just like that, but unfortunately I am not. Please do enlighten me once again.”
He writes way more controversial stuff yet he doesn’t do it behind a fake name.
“Controversial? I am not trying to win a prize for controversy. I was just trying to make a point, a fundamental point.”
he/she will nvr reveal his/her name. no point asking. haha
“never? what makes you so sure? all these un-backed up assertions! in any case, what is so interesting about my name? What do you hope to glean from it? This is something I am most interested to know.”
What do you hope to glean from constantly analysing and posting and let’s face it insulting Ern Sheong’s family (you yourself admitted this by saying that there’s no reason why you shouldn’t Ernie’s mum, just because she’s his mum)?
@Nimalan:
Hey Nimalan, hush.
What do you hope to glean from constantly analysing and posting
“nothing”
and let’s face it insulting Ern Sheong’s family (you yourself admitted this by saying that there’s no reason why you shouldn’t Ernie’s mum, just because she’s his mum)?
“get a dictionary, please”
@Anonymous: Since I might be biased, I am not going to assess whether you or Ern Sheong are right. I believe that both of you have your points, and you have made them here. I will not discuss either side further.
As for my assertion that posting as anon is abuse of freedom of speech, I stand by it. I believe that if you are indeed making a valid, sensible argument, there is no point for you to stand behind the shadow. Not using anonymity shows that you are ready to stand behind the words that you say.
Cheers.
“never? what makes you so sure? all these un-backed up assertions! in any case, what is so interesting about my name? What do you hope to glean from it? This is something I am most interested to know.”
Oh I am very sure. prove me wrong will you?..what do i glean from it? Nothing. like how u replied Nimalan. Just curious to know who u are.
“As for my assertion that posting as anon is abuse of freedom of speech, I stand by it. I believe that if you are indeed making a valid, sensible argument, there is no point for you to stand behind the shadow. Not using anonymity shows that you are ready to stand behind the words that you say.”
The whole point of anonymity is for one to freely express one’s ideas without fear. If he is making a valid, sensible argument, what more you do want? Does knowing his name make it any more valid? Or are you actually planning to make personal threats?
Anyway, clearly you obtained an excellent deal here. Congratulations! In theory, there is nothing inherently wrong with what you did. But that’s not the point. In theory, there is also nothing wrong with not giving up your seat to the elderly on the bus, not helping blind people cross the street, and not stopping for jaywalking pedestrians.
What happened to your sense of empathy? You soon leave to attend one of the best universities in the United States on a government scholarship and are poised to make a living orders of magnitude better than the durian seller. And you’re proud of your mother making some pocket change off him? That in itself is terrifying. With that attitude, how can we ever expect you to do anything for people other than yourself (who are paying for your scholarship with their taxes, too)?
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