It's a SCAM, not SPAM!

Today’s post is about high-tech scams. Yes, I became a victim to those scams and thought it would be useful to share them with you:

Scam #1 : Prepaid mobile phone

Ever since moving to Australia, I have continued to keep my Malaysian mobile phone number. It would be easier for my friends in Malaysia to keep in touch with me should I be in KL. The only difference is that I have converted my postpaid account to a prepaid account. This made sense as I am not liable for the monthly mobile phone charges associated with postpaid and I can easily monitor my usage with the prepaid or so I thought.

When I am in Australia, I seldom check my Malaysian mobile phone as all of my friends know  how to contact me when I am in Australia. On the rare occasions when I do switch on my Malaysia mobile phone number, I will usually get a lot of SPAM messages via SMS. The messages are usually advertisements and occasionally, people who are trying to hook you into online gambling. I would delete all of those messages and my mobile phone will be free and clean. Recently I noted a sender with a 5 digit number sending me a SMS stating that “You have successfully subscribed to our videos. We shall be sending you 2 videos every week”. I thought that was rather weird. The SMS went on to say that “You can opt out from this subscription anytime by typing STOP”. It seems rather strange to me as I have never subscribed to this service, so I chose to ignore. At the same time, I can’t help to think that the message seems legitimate as the number appears to be a “SMS Premium” service provider and there is also an option to unsubscribe from the service. Anyway, I thought I would just ignore and see what happens.

I didn’t receive anything the following week with my Malaysian mobile number so I thought that message was just a SPAM and nothing more. Then the following week I got a SMS again from the same sender with a link to a short 20 seconds video of someone running and that was it! No one in the right mind would pay for a ridiculous short video clip. In the SMS message, it shows a certain amount of money has been charged to my account. My first thought was to block the sender but after doing some research through the internet, I discovered that by blocking the sender it won’t help me. The reason being that this a SMS Premium Provider and it would still charge me unless I unsubscribed. I was still in disbelief as I have never signed up for this service, so to be double sure, I went into my E-statement. From my E-statement I got my confirmation that this is not a SPAM, this is a SCAM!!! I immediately called the office which is located in KL but unfortunately the office was already closed by that time. I decided to just try my luck and sent a STOP message. Immediately I got an automatic reply to say that “You have unsubscribed from our services”. It sounded legitimate but I am still puzzled as to how did I get my mobile number subscribed to the services in the first place without my knowledge.

My theory is that the SCAMMERS will look out for inactive prepaid numbers and then send out “feelers” like a harmless SMS to inform the person that he/she has subscribed. If the person does nothing, then that prepaid mobile number would be the likely “target”. The inactive action by the prepaid number owner would mean: (i) the person hardly uses his/her prepaid number (eg: a person such as me); and (ii) it is highly unlikely the person would know the charges.

I was fortunate that I managed to catch on rather quickly before more money has been deducted. Unfortunately, for my daughter, she wasn’t that fortunate. The entire balance in her prepaid account has been wiped out leaving “0” balance in her account. It wasn’t that  long ago when I recharged the amount for her when we were in KL (about 6 months ago). The SCAMMERS acted really fast in siphoning the entire amount.

The way I look at it, the SCAMMERS are really smart. They would first sent out a “feeler” to see if the person would respond. To make it legitimate, they would insert into their first SMS message stating that the recipient can choose opt out of the subscription at anytime by just typing “STOP”. As far as I can recall I have never sent out any SMS using my Malaysian mobile phone number in Australia. Therefore, the question remains is how did they tapped into my Malaysian mobile phone number? I know it is all puzzling but the whole purpose of this post is to create awareness and I hope I have done it here.

Scam #2 - Apple FaceTime -Stolen identity!

A few days ago, I received an email purportedly from Apple informing me that someone had logged into FaceTime using my Apple ID. It gave the name of the device (which is the same as my device) and the time. Two red flags jumped up at me. One, I have never ever use FaceTime so it can’t be me. Furthermore, I am the only person in the family that has the device as specified by Apple. Secondly, I did not use my device at the given time (whether it is Australian time or the US time). The first thing I did was to check whether the email is a legitimate email from Apple. Once I got the confirmation, I immediately changed my password as recommended by Apple. It really worries me that nowadays people are not just stealing money, they are stealing identity as well. So, if you ever received an email such as this, do not dismiss it immediately, do some investigation for it might just save you from being scammed!

Scam #3 - Fake Email

Yesterday, I received an email from my cousin’s law firm in Malaysia. The email appears to  be a legitimate account with the name of the law firm, full office address, contact number and facsimile number, all clearly stated at the bottom of the email. The email even sounded formal and business like. In the email, there was an attachment called “contract.pdf” which was locked. Immediately, I contacted my cousin in Malaysia to enquire if he had indeed sent me an email. His response was “Don’t open it”. So, there you go - another scam taking place.

We have to be careful and be observant when it comes to our mobile phones, computers and electronic devices. The SCAMMERS are becoming increasingly sophisticated every passing day. It is no longer an email from someone from Nigeria seeking your assistance in partaking a handsome inheritance, it is now much more sophisticated and believable. Just be careful and if your gut feeling tells you something is not right, it usually isn’t.

WAR STORIES: The Japanese lady who saved my grandfather's life in World War II

 

It has been 71 years since World War II ended. Many who have fought in the War are no longer with us. I thought in this post, I will share with you a story about my grandfather as told to me by my father.

I have never met my paternal grandfather as he died before I was born. He never quite recovered from the torture he received from the “Kempeitai” (Military Police in the Japanese Army known for its ruthlessness and harsh treatments of the prisoners). During the War, my grandfather was one of the local Chinese leaders in Klang representing the Hainanese clan. Before the Japanese Army occupied Malaya, my grandfather was very active in raising funds to repatriate to China to fight against the Japanese Army. Most of the Chinese who were living in Malaya at that time donated generously as they still considered China as their home. The story has it that my grandfather approached one of the Chinese businessman in Klang who refused to give any money for repatriation to China to fight against the Japanese Army. Apparently this businessman who was known to be thrifty made some degrading remarks to my grandfather. My grandfather then responded by saying, ‘What kind of Chinese are you?” or something along the line that “You are a disgrace to the Chinese”. There is an important connection to this part of the story and I will return to it later.

When the Japanese Army occupied Malaya, they rounded up all the suspected rebels and people who were against the Japanese Army. At that time, there were many “running dogs” in Klang. “Running dogs” are local people who are willing to betray their own community so that they can get rewards (in the form of rice and other food provisions) by pointing out who the suspected rebels or anti Japanese Army were. At that time my grandfather owned a coffee shop called “Nam Chuan” which was famous for its Hainanese coffee, cake and other Hainanese delicacies. Apart from helping to raise money to repatriate to China, my grandfather was not involved in any other anti-Japanese Army activities. Be that as it may, he was arrested by the “Kempeitai” and taken to the Kempeitai’s  Klang Headquarters which was just across the street from Nam Chuan coffee shop. Everyday my relatives in Nam Chuan coffee shop could hear my grandfather crying in pain due to the merciless torture inflicted onto him. They could hear him screaming my grandmother’s name and his children’s name. According to those who heard him screamed, it was really heart wrenching. Feeling helpless, my relatives approached the only local person they knew who had good connection with the Japanese Army and that was the local Chinese businessman whom my grandfather had a verbal tussell with. Apparently, my relatives gave the Chinese businessman a lot of money to secure my grandfather’s release from the Kempeitai but unfortunately, that never happened. After the War, they found out that the local Chinese businessman was the culprit who reported my grandfather to the Japanese Army. He knowingly took all of my relatives' money pretending that he could secure my grandfather's release when all the while he was the “running dog” who betrayed his own community.

It is a real irony that the person who saved my grandfather from the Kempeitai’s torture was actually a Japanese lady. She was married to a European who was in the shipping business in Port Swettenham (now known as Port Klang) at that time. Unfortunately, none of the relatives knew her actual name except to refer to her as Mrs. Van Tooren. There used to be a road in Port Klang called Jalan Van Tooren which was named after her husband. Apparently, Mrs. Van Tooren was a frequent visitor to Nam Chuan coffee shop before the War. When the Japanese Army occupied Malaya, she stopped visiting the coffee shop for whatever reason. Then, one day out of the blue, she decided to stop by Nam Chuan coffee shop for a cup of coffee and a bite. She asked the servers, “Where is the old man?” (referring to my grandfather). When they told her that he was taken away by the Kempeitai, she immediately took out a note pad and wrote on it. She tore out the page and immediately left. Not long after that incident, my grandfather was released unconditionally by the Kempeitai. Apparently, Mrs Van Tooren wrote a note in Japanese to the Kempeitai’s Commandant. In that note, she said that she know my grandfather for a very long time and had visited Nam Chuan coffee shop for many years. In all those years, she never felt that my grandfather had ill treated her. In fact my grandfather treated her so well that on her birthday, she was presented a complimentary home made cake. Therefore, she told the Commandant, “How can this man be anti-Japanese when he has treated me, a Japanese, so well?” With that note, my grandfather was released. My father and his siblings never had the chance to say “thank you” to Mrs Van Tooren personally. So, if any of Mrs Van Tooren descendant’s should read this article, on behalf of the descendants of Tan Jin Ko, I thank you for the great kindness and the compassion shown by her. Thank you and May God bless all of you.

Can you tell a person's character from a cup of tea?

I too wonder. You can tell a person’s character or personality by the way the person acts, talks, through the person’s gestures or even by the way the person eats. But by the person making a cup of tea? Weird as it may sound but let me share with you a story.

Recently, I visited a long time friend (whom I would refer to as Mike) that I have not seen for quite a while. Mike is known for making a delicious cup of tea with spices and boiled milk. However this time, all Mike did was put a tea bag into a cup, added some hot water from the tap, poured some milk and then placed the cup in the microwave. It was one of the worst tea I have ever tasted. What shocked me most was the effort that Mike put into making a cup of tea, especially for an old friend who rarely visits him due to the distance of 1,000km left me speechless. The least he could do for a long time friend was to make a decent cup of tea which his friend requested and which Mike is known for. Mike's reason was that he he was “too lazy” to make it. Well, I guess to Mike, "laziness" takes above long time friendship. All it took was just  5 minutes to make that special tea which Mike eventually did after I asked him for a glass of water when returning the “microwave tea” to him.  However, it is as clear as day that the effort in making a “a cup of tea” tells me how much Mike valued our friendship. Anyway as former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore said, “that’s life, move on”.

"Red packet" in Malaysian Chinese Wedding dinner

As all of us know things have become expensive, even attendance in Malaysian Chinese wedding dinners have become an issue for some people.

It is customary when invited to a Chinese wedding dinner  in Malaysia to give a “red packet” as a gift. The “red packet” is a small red envelope containing money. The rationale behind this is that when a person is invited, the person is there to share the joy and happiness with the bride and bridegroom. Therefore the person does not want the bride or bridegroom or whoever invited the person to come out of pocket (ie: to suffer monetary losses). In other words, the person will pay his/her own meal plus some. This is done in a subtle way by giving a “red packet” to the host. The common phrase among Malaysian Chinese when receiving a wedding invitation is “Kena saman” (literally means “got summoned”). I always thought that the phrase means that the person has been “summoned” to attend an important function such as a wedding dinner. Apparently that is not the case according to some friends - when a person “gets a summon” such as a traffic summon, the person needs to pay a fine and that is exactly what it meant. So, when you received a wedding invitation, you have been effectively been “summoned” in the form of paying a fine by giving a “red packet”. This was all good and acceptable as it is a joyful event - what a better way to celebrate by having to pay one’s small share in a memorable occasion. It is also customary that if you can’t attend the wedding, to give a small token sum as an appreciation for the kind wedding invitation.

However, as things become costlier and the economy took a downturn, most people are dreading to receive a wedding invitation card. One friend commented that since most the weddings are held in posh hotels, a “red packet” gift would be equivalent to the cost of taking the family out to a nice dinner in a descent restaurant. Therefore, he would prefer spending money in that family dinner rather than giving the money as a gift. Therefore, it was with regret that he had to turn down the wedding invitation with the excuse that he had to attend another event on the same date. These are working people who are on tight monthly budget and getting a wedding invitation would be like getting a “summon” where one has to pay a fine that has not been budgeted. Therefore, it does make sense why the person does not want to attend the wedding but it is rather sad. Of course, one can always argue why not just pay a token or smaller sum but in Chinese custom there is such a thing as “saving face” and not wanting people to talk about a person’s “thriftiness”. To illustrate this, almost every Chinese wedding in Malaysia, there will be a book where all the monetary gifts received would be neatly and systematically recorded where the amount and the name of the person or family who gave the “red packet” would be written down. The rationale behind this is that the amount would be returned should the person or his son or daughter get married. Well, it makes sense if the other person’s wedding is just round the corner but sometimes when that wedding is 10 years down the road, that amount would have significantly reduced due to inflation - so that is something to think about. So, for those who have asked me about Chinese wedding gifts, I hope the above helps.

The Good Old Days - my memory of Palm Grove Restaurant

Living in one of the most expensive cities in the world, I can’t help but to recall the good old days when I was living in a small town called Klang in Malaysia where everyday life was simple and inexpensive. I can still remember that it was a norm for friends to invite each other for a meal and have a lengthy chat about simple things in life, nothing complicated and nothing pretentious. Of course, things have changed over the years where crime has increased, things have become expensive and trust is no longer taken for granted. Below is a “feel good” story that took place many years ago and it is hard to imagine that it can ever happen today.

Palm Grove Restaurant

When I was a young boy, it was common for the family to eat out every weekend, especially on Sundays. It was also very common for my father to invite friends or relatives to join us in our meals. I remembered there was a time where my family together with some friends had lunch in one of Klang’s then famous restaurant called “Palm Grove Restaurant”. It was one of the few restaurants that had air conditioning system at that time. Palm Grove Restaurant started by operating in a small corner shop lot without air conditioning. As it was then a rather new restaurant, many people from surrounding areas came and tasted its food including us. I remembered my mum took me there to order some take-aways. As my brother was very fond of “Hainanese Chicken Chop”, my mum decided to order that dish. The lady who took the order informed my mum that the Cook didn’t know how to cook “Hainanese Chicken Chop”. My mum remarked, “How can that be possible? It is such an easy dish to prepare”. My mum gave some simple instructions like frying the chicken, potatoes, tomatoes and preparing the sauce. Surprisingly, the lady listened carefully and went back to the kitchen and later returned to say that the Cook will do it. The “Hainanese Chicken Chop” ala Palm Grove Restaurant style turned out to be pretty good in spite that the Cook had never eaten or tasted it before! The Cook just merely took instructions and prepared the dish to your liking without any issues. The funny thing was that they didn’t know how much to charge, so they said please pay whatever you wish for the “Hainanese Chicken Chop”.  I can never imagine this happening today - the restaurant workers will probably ask you to “#$@&%” out of the restaurant should you insist on a dish which is not in the menu. Those were the days where people were very obliging and patient in spite how busy they were.

I can still remember vividly another incident that took place in Palm Grove Restaurant. This  time Palm Grove Restaurant had moved to bigger premises with air conditioners. The restaurant was famous for its “Pah Poh Ark” (braised stuffed duck). At that time, Palm Grove Restaurant was the only restaurant that served “Pah Poh Ark” and it became its specialty dish. The restaurant was also famous for its Teo Chiew steam fish and “Cantonese-style fried kway teow” (rice noodle). I remember my father ordered about 8 dishes for a group of about 10 people or so. While we were eating, my father met an old friend in the restaurant who was going to take away a packet of fried noodles. While waiting for his food, this friend caught up with my dad. He only excused himself when his food was ready. We continued our lunch until it was time to pay the bill. When my father asked for the bill, the waiter came and informed that the bill had already been paid. The waiter informed that my dad’s friend had paid for our lunch. My dad’s friend was only there to take away a packet of noodles but then proceeded to pay for our lunch which perhaps cost 10 times more than his takeaway meal. But that was how life was at that time where very often friends will pay for another friend’s meal especially if they have not seen each other for a long time. Today, it appears that it is no longer possible as the cost of things have gone up and eating out is more of a treat rather than a change in eating routine. Paying for one’s meal is now a norm though personally, I still find it uncomfortable as I was brought up in an environment where everyone helps each other out. But such is life and if truth be told, I would still love to pay for a good friend’s meal but alas, the downturn of economy makes the decision much more selective and challenging. For now, we just have to settle for a cup of coffee!

Don't be shy, reach out and get that help!

One of the important things I learned in the working world is that if someone says, “I owe you one, do let me know if I can do anything for you”. If you need this person’s help, go for it and please do it soon otherwise the person would have forgotten what has just been said. From my experience, most gratitude don’t last very long. People will usually say nice things when they have received help but when you leave it for too long, the great help that has been given to them doesn’t seem to be that “great” after all. An exception would be for those very few people who gives help unconditionally BUT they are very few and almost in extinction So, don’t be shy, reach out and get that help.

Vacation at Club Med Kani, Maldives

Club Med Kani is situated on Kani Island, Maldives. It took us a little more than four hours to fly from Singapore to Male which is the capital of Maldives. Unlike most airports in the world, instead of catching a taxi or a bus, we went straight to the jetty which is just outside the airport to catch our “ride” to the Kani Island. The boat trip from the airport to Club Med Kani took about 40 minutes. It was an exciting and unforgettable experience. Imagine yourself sitting in a speed boat with your life jacket tightly fastened at midnight in almost complete darkness in the middle of the Indian Ocean…sounds exciting? Well, it got even more exciting when the boat came across choppy waves. The ride became very bumpy with our adrenaline constantly flowing thinking to ourselves “Are we going to survive this boat ride?” The waves were very choppy but the driver of the boat skillfully handled the boat that only an experience person could do. Alas, we were all safe when we approached the calmer waters in the Kani Island. As we approached the jetty of Club Med Kani, we could hear the music of Bruce Mars’ “Uptown Funk” playing in the background which woke us up from our anxiety and sleep. There were a number of Club Med’s staff standing in the jetty. Each of the staff was assigned to look after the different groups of guests. We were greeted cheerfully by Lauren who is a “Genteel Organiser (“Go”)” of Club Med. A “Genteel Organiser” is similar to a Guest Relations Officer. Club Med has GOs who speak a diverse range of languages. Lauren who is from Venezuela was assigned to look after us as she speaks English besides her native tongue of Spanish. The moment we stepped onto Club Med’s jetty we were blown away by the black ink beautiful starry sky as there were no city lights to ruin the stars’ glow. It was midnight when we checked into our cozy ‘bungalow’ (connecting rooms). We spent four nights there.

The first thing in the morning after we woke up, we immediately walked towards the beach. We couldn’t wait to explore this island of paradise. Fine white sand was our first view followed by a refreshingly clear shade of blue that surrounded us. The steady rhythm of the waves from the ocean made an instant calming effect. The weather of clear blue skies complimented the view.

This paradise wouldn’t be called a paradise if it weren’t for Club Med’s workers who have worked diligently to upkeep the cleanliness of this island from day to night everyday. The beach is so clean and well kept that if you are an early riser, you would be able to see hermit crabs crawling around on the white sand.

There is another type of accommodation in Club Med Kani which is the villas on stilts that are connected to the island where the occupants are rewarded with the breathtaking view of the ocean. However, be prepared to pay a premium for this luxury and exclusive accommodation.

The main restaurant in Club Med Kani is called Velhi. It features buffet style meals. What captured our hearts the most was the food which tingled our taste buds with its variety and unique flavours. The presentations and the skills shown by the chefs in preparing the food were simply amazing. Maldives is well known for its tuna which is abundant in the Indian Ocean. The tunas came in different sizes but the freshness is rated second to none. The bread and pastries was delectable and were a fusion of different flavours from different cuisines that tingled on the tongue. My mother’s absolute favourite is the chocolate cheese bread that she still gushes over until this day. The meals don’t just limit to the restaurant however as there are two bars situated on the island that serve free flow of refreshing drinks such as cocktails and fruit punch. The drinks compliment the tropical feel to the island. Sometimes during the day there will be snacks served in case you feel peckish.

The food served in Velhi is phenomenal. There are chefs that cook your food on the spot best to your liking. The presentations are modern and simple, encouraging you to take a bite of the mouth watering dishes. The types of food served are endless from Eastern to Western, each prepared to the best of standards. The chefs there strive and work hard to produce such enormous amount of food everyday as well as the waiters who are incredibly hardworking and observant to meet the diner’s needs. Every day for a week the buffet theme changes and every night the Club Med team have a special dress code so keep you eyes peeled! Every Monday there is buffet dinner by the beach if weather permits.

In the morning, the water is usually low tide and the current is calm. You can see clearly the different varieties of corals, rocks and marine fishes beneath the glasslike surface of the ocean with your naked eyes.

My family had organised a trip on our third day to go for a half day tour of shopping around Male, Maldives capital and to board into an actual submarine that will dive 30 metres deep into the ocean to view the ocean’s aqualife. In Maldives, there are many small islands scattered around and the optimal way to travel to the islands, besides plane, is boat. We boarded the boat at Club Med’s jetty for our tour and the journey to the capital was anything but boring as the boat kept bumping up and down and the wind that whipped through our hair. We were enthralled by this as the boat would rock or hit the waves so hard we would almost be falling out of our seats. My parents thoroughly enjoyed the boat ride.    

Club Med Kani is bustling with activities for its occupants. Everyday there is a schedule that fits everyone’s needs. My mum opted for yoga while my dad, brother and I went off to play table tennis and badminton, feet padding across the soft sand. There was sailing as well as snorkelling and kayaking. The most favourite activity of  them all however, was all of us lounging around near the beach, sipping refreshing drinks while we soak in the spectacular view that always takes our breath away as a family. 

Note: The above article was written by our daughter, Ashley Tan. We visited Club Med Kani Maldives from 9^th till 14^th January 2016. We booked our trip through Holiday Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd in Malaysia. The team members in Holiday Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd are very efficient and provide good customer service. You can visit their website at www.holidaytours.com.my

 

Stories on being "blindsided" and discovering a True Friend

A True Friend - Wee Keong and me (photo was taken in Sydney, 2014)

I am a fan of the US reality TV show called “Survivor”. One of the words which I often hear in that show is “blindsided”. Out of curiosity, I decided to look up the word “blindsided”. According to one of the interpretations, it means “to catch (someone) unprepared”. Oh boy! When I saw that, it brought back some memories of my childhood where I have been “blindsided” by my supposedly good friends. Let me share with you two of my “blindsided” stories:

Story: The Assistant Class Monitor

When I was in Form 1 (Year 7), I wanted to become an Assistant Class Monitor. I wasn’t interested to become a Class Monitor, I only wanted to become the Assistant. In case some of you do not know what a Class Monitor does, let me just say that the Class Monitor is like the Captain or the leader of the entire Class. Therefore the Assistant Class Monitor is just like the Vice Captain. The Class Monitor and the Assistant are usually voted in by the students in the class - a very democratic process. Being only 13 years old, I wasn’t shy to express my desire to become the Assistant Monitor and in fact, let all of my so called good friends know. Everyone that I met informed me that they would vote for me when it comes to the class election. One of my good friends went so far as to say that he would be nominating me and all of our other friends would raise their hands when it comes to the actual voting. Making a rough count of the number of votes that I should get, I have come to a conclusion that it will be an easy win for me.

When the time came for the election of the Class Monitor and the Assistant, I was pretty excited. The way the election was conducted was rather simple. A student would raise his hand, propose the name of the nominee followed by a seconder or two and once the nomination is closed, then the voting would start by a show of hands. There were a few nominees for the Class Monitor position and if I recall correctly, it was a rather close fight. When it came to calling for nominations for the Assistant Class Monitor, a first name was nominated then followed by a second nominee. I was looking around the class to see who would nominate me but no one raise his hand. I then looked at that supposedly good friend of mine who earlier informed me that he would be nominating me but alas, he didn’t even look at me as he was looking straight ahead as if ignoring me. Then someone proposed that the nomination be closed. I was rather disappointed. If I have lost the election, it would have been at least I tried but here, I wasn’t even nominated at all. All I could say is that I have been “blindsided” by my good friends. So, from an early age I learned that in politics, the only person you can trust is yourself as even your so called good friends can backstab and prove to be unreliable. Until today, I never got my answer as to why they didn’t nominate me at all. If they felt I wasn’t suitable to be the Assistant Class Monitor they could at least let me know rather than leading me on. Well, that is a “blindsided” lesson for me.

Story: Leaving for the US

At the age of 17, I left for the US to continue further studies. Before leaving for the US, my parents threw a farewell party for me in the family home. Many of my classmates showed up including those who “blindsided” me before. It was a rather fun and emotional night for me. Many of my friends gave short speeches, praising me and saying what a good person and classmate I have been and they would missed me when I leave for the US. Many of them even asked for my flight details as they would come out in droves to the airport to send me off on that day. Some of them were even saying that would be bringing placards and banners (I know, I know it sounds really far fetched but when you are 17 years old, you want to believe everything!).

On the day of my departure, my family and relatives were in the airport. While queuing up in the check-in counter, I was looking around trying to spot if any my friends were there but unfortunately none were spotted. As I was about to leave the check-in counter, I spotted my friend Tan Wee Keong (who is now a famous obstetrician & gynecologist in Malacca) standing there quietly waiting for me to complete the check-in procedure. I was deeply touched seeing Wee Keong standing there. Wee Keong has always been a brilliant student but rather reserve and quiet in class, so I didn’t expect to see him there in the airport. When I asked him how did he come to the airport? He simply replied he took a taxi from Klang to the airport which was quite a distance away. Apart from that, unknown to him that I know, it would also cost him a lot of money to travel in a taxi, especially for a young person. I was very touched with what Wee Keong did. He made every effort to wake up early, to look for a taxi to take him (him as being all alone) from Klang to the airport plus it cost so much to hire a taxi for a person who had just completed his secondary school education. My late aunt, Ah Mai was there and being a caring person  (which she had always been) immediately informed Wee Keong that  she would send him home to Klang and no need to keep the taxi waiting. What Wee Keong did was something that I would remember for the rest of my life. His sincerity, reliability and genuineness as a friend impressed me and received great admiration. I have shared this story with my wife and kids and often reminded them what a true friend is all about. You see, when it comes to choosing friends, I am no longer “blindsided”, my “blinders” are off and I can see clearly now. Thank God for that!