I read somewhere, friends are like leaves. They grow old. And they fade away. Dropping to the ground. New leaves then will grow in its place. That’s how friendship is described as I ponder over the above saying very carefully. Find for yourselves, how true the above is.

Thinking over the vast number of friends, that I have had, since young, since my school days, I sometimes wonder, where some of my friends are these days. First of all, I shall try to recollect friends of mine during my primary school days.

One close friend of mine, I remember was none other than my cousin, T.C. He lived in a kampong or village, next to mine. I was then staying at Kampung Martin, in Telok Pulai Road, Klang.

T.C. and myself, happened to be in the same class, quite a number of years. To be exact, we studied until standard six together. I still remember, I was slightly better in studies than my close buddy, T.C.

My cousin, T.C. and I were rather close friends. Being rather small sized and a thin kid when young, I used to depend on T.C. for protection in our schooldays. Being a lot bigger and stronger than I was, I had to seek out T.C.’s help, when faced with school enemies and bullies, out to intimidate me.

My close friend and I went places together, enjoying our young days, frolicking in the sun, swimming in the pools and muddy ponds and rivers, abundant around our kampong. We fished and caught fish, like “fighting fish” in the drains.

One thing I could still remember of T.C., was that he was strong. He could throw a “stick”, approximately 1 foot in length, at fruits such as rambutans and mangoes hanging high on the branches. He was reputed to be able to even able to throw at “sentul” fruits.

For readers’ information, the sentul tree was a very high tree, sometimes growing even 80 to 100 feet tall. Only strong boys like my cousin, T.C. were able to achieve this fantastic feat.

Even though my cousin, T.C. and myself were very close in our friendship, our close relationship like I said, was destined to come to an end eventually. As both of us grew up into our teens, we began to drift into our separate ways. Being a better student, I went to better classes. While my cousin, T.C. or better known as “Sunny Boy”, eventually was put in a weaker class.

And so, as we grew up into secondary classes in school, we saw less and less of each other. Although we met and saw each other practically every other day, as time progressed, due to different itinerary and programmes, we grew apart.

When we left secondary schools, T.C. did not pursue his studies any further. I think T.C. went into employment with Malayan Railways, in Port Klang, as a “telly clerk”. While I went into becoming a temporary teacher in 1963 in Telok Datok town, 20 miles from Banting. Later, I was to take up a teaching diploma course, aspiring to become a teacher instead.

Although my friendship with my cousin T.C. did not last very long, only a few short years, during our primary and secondary school days, as I think back, over the years we were together, those short lived years, were indeed wonderful and carefree days.

Where is my cousin T.C today? Even though, I have lost contact with him for many years now, we do occasionally meet each other from time to time, at relatives’ weddings and when we attend funerals and so forth. And not to forget also, our yearly meetings at Deepavali house gatherings at my cousin’s sister’s house in Simpang Empat, Telok Pulai, Klang.

You see, my cousin sister Daisy, who is of Malacca Chinese decent like me, is married very happily to her childhood kampong friend, Segeran. Unfortunately, Daisy is said to be not very healthy these days.

My elder brother, my younger brother and my only sister, Molly, makes it a point to visit Daisy, during the Deepavali celebrations each and every year without fail. We infact enjoy visiting her to taste her good cooking and eating all sorts of rendang, curries, muruku, keropok, ketupat, assorted Malay cuisines and kuih-muih such as “baulu” and “love letters”, which she without fail will arrange for us.

All close relatives, including T.C. will without fail, be at Daisy’s house every Deepavali. It is now the month of July. Very soon, Deepavali will be fast approaching. And good willing, all of us will gather again at my cousin sister Daisy’s house this year.

We will talk about her mother, my mother and father and all other interesting things such as her brothers Henry and Tony, who have both passed away a few years ago. One thing this author is certain is, my childhood close buddy and close friend, T.C. will surely be there too.

I look forward to meeting him, to talk about the good old times when we were both young and about our young days at the Anglo Chinese School, in Jalan Raya Barat, Klang.

Next, I would want to talk about 2 other close friends that I knew. I shall refer to them as Tan and Wong. They were infact partners in business. Initially, I found them to be very close buddies. They were always together, having lunch and breakfast most of the times. Each, does not go anywhere without the other.

My friends have always reminded me, time and again, that when we become friends with someone, make certain that the friendship is cultivated upon a 50 – 50 basis. In that way, they say, friendship will thus will last longer. And how true it was.

Today, Mr. Tan and Mr. Wong are now not on speaking terms with each other. They are at logger heads. It was said, as the story unfolds, one day Mr. Wong struck it rich at some 4 digits games. Mr. Tan came to know about it.

According to sources, one day Mr. Tan requested for a loan from his close buddy, Mr. Wong. Mr. Tan borrowed quite a lot of money from his good friend, Mr. Wong. The story has it that after the money was borrowed, Mr. Tan failed to keep his promise to pay back the sum of money he took from Mr. Wong.

When Mr. Wong claimed back the money he lent to Mr. Tan, both friends began to quarrel. As Shakespeare once said, “Never a lender nor borrower be.” How wise Shakespeare’s advice was.

Today, it has been brought to my knowledge that the two good and close friends, no longer speak to one another. They have infact, become enemies. And all because of what? Because of money!

Both Mr. Wong and Mr. Tan have since grown apart. If once, they were close friends and buddies, today, they are no longer friendly with one another. They have become enemies.

At the onset of this story, it has been said, “friends are like leaves. Like leaves, they grow old and fade away. Eventually they will drop away onto the ground.” New leaves will grow in its place, to replace them. And new friendships will then develop.

Think about what I have been saying. You will certainly agree what I have suggested is true. We may have cultivated many instances of friendships in the process of our lives. Where are our good friends these days? They have disappeared from our lives. They are no longer beside us. That’s life, I suppose!

In The Star newspaper dated 7th August 2010, with its headlines entitled “Travel Bar”, reported that some half a million Malaysians will soon be facing a travel bar. The above reported that the Immigration Department will be taking steps to prevent many people from travelling overseas.

And upon reading the above interesting report further, I discovered one amazing thing. The report went on to say, the youngest person to be blacklisted, as according to the Immigration Departments security director, Ibrahim Abdullah, was just 25.

Permit me to ask you one simple question. How on earth does a young person whom I assume, just received his or her degree from the local university, ever end up being listed amongst the list of 196,473 bankrupts? For all I know, the 25 year old graduate mentioned above, has not even as yet attended his or her convocation ceremony.

The only reason I can think of, is that the 25 year old graduate must be owing an educational loan which he or she has taken from the PTPTN or the National Higher Education Fund Corporation. And she has failed to repay her loan.

Immediately after reading the article mentioned above, entitled “Travel Bar”, I wrote an article on it, airing my views on the subject. In it, I quoted two friends, who attended an off campus course to secure their degrees. And both of them failed to repay their loans the authorities provided them. Inspite of the fact, both of them were then in their forties and holding on to posh, lucrative jobs.

Recalling the initial article that I wrote, I now regret writing it. In the first place, I wrote the PTPTN loan article because I was utterly frustrated over a few things.

One, I’ve spent nearly RM20,000 in the 1970’s to secure a better education. Likewise, my 2 friends. But the difference was, they received their goals with educational grants from the government. But they did not reservice the loans from the National Higher Education Fund? Was it a fair decision on their part?

Upon reading the article, “PTPTN Loan, an emotional Strain on Grads”, I immediately felt remorseful. It dawned upon me to then decide to write an article to comment further upon this subject.

As said in my first article which, may or may not have been published in my blog yet, readers reading it might be tempted to comment, that this 65 year old pensioned writer has no right to comment on PTPTN loans at all.

If you should happen to read my article later on, you will find that, the fact is I have the right to make known my feelings on the subject of loans taken from the National Higher Education Fund. I have “locus standi”, as they say.

Because, my youngest daughter, Lin, who graduated a few years ago, from the Multimedia University in Cyberjaya took a hefty RM60,000 loan from the PTPTN corporation. This article therefore, is meant as an advice to all potential undergraduates, who are currently registered at all higher institutes of learning. Parents likewise, should ponder over my advice carefully. Do not end up like “PTPTN Prisoner”.

Permit me to quote further from “PTPTN Prisoners” article. Although I do not wish to plagiarise anyone’s writings, nevertheless, I feel it’s only right, PTPTN Prisoner be allowed to tell her own story.

PTPTN Prisoner, as she claims, is a recent graduate, with a huge education loan over her head. She says, even before she can even get a head start in life in the working world, she tells us, she is currently saddled with a RM48,000 loan.

PTPTN Prisoner continued, from the moment she started working after her university days, she had been paying small sums based on what she could afford. Fair enough, isn’t it?

But what’s troubling her is that, the amount she has so far paid, cannot even come close at all to administration fees charged by the PTPTN Corporation!

I can verify PTPTN Prisoners’ laments. What PTPTN Prisoner said, are unfortunately true! My daughter, as I said earlier is unfortunately facing the same predicament. As far as I am aware, the administrative fee charged by PTPTN or the Higher Education Loan Corporation is a whopping RM150 alone!

If this were to continue, let me tell you, no student, who has taken an education loan, can ever dream of ever repaying whatever education loan taken from PTPTN?

The government or whichever authorities that are responsible for the repayments, should study the matter seriously. Otherwise, PTPTN Prisoner and other students cannot settle their debts, ever.

If PTPTN Prisoner, like my daughter, has not made it a point to settle her education loan, well and good, go ahead, blacklist her by all means. She deserves it.

But inspite of making loan repayments every month, making almost RM450 without fail and finally to realize that the capital amount owned has not even moved RM1000 lower at the end of the year is, I tell you – Disheartening! Something must be wrong somewhere!

The administration fee presently imposed is simply ridiculous. Why charge such a massive administrative fee for a loan that has already been taken years ago? But to impose administration fee month in and month out is not only absurd, I would say, but tantamount to being “insane”!

This is being likened to fleecing the poor undergraduates. It is not fair at all! The authorities, especially the Prime Minister, should step in immediately to alleviate the poor students who have taken an education loan to secure their degrees

As PTPTN Prisoner herself said, sooner or later, she will have no alternative but to default upon her repayments. Do you, as readers know, why some 46,887 students aged between 25 and 35 are to be blacklisted soon under the government’s “Travel Bar” decision?

To the Immigration Department’s Security Division director, Encik Ibrahim Abdullah, and to our beloved Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tin Razak, on behalf of poor PTPTN Prisoner and my own daughter, and many of her friends, this 65 year old pensioned father, would like to make an urnest appeal to you, to restudy and restructure the repayment scheme of the Higher Education Loan Scheme immediately!

Do it now! Many will be grateful to you, I believe! “Pinch your right hand, and your left hand feels the pain”, so the saying goes.

Whenever my youngest daughter, who is now approaching 30 years, and currently repaying a car loan, still single, and with a RM68,000 loan hanging over her hand, it breaks my heart, to see my daughter facing such a massive dilemma trying to make repayments towards her education loan to PTPTN every month!

As a parent and a father, permit me to make an appeal on behalf of all fathers, to allow our sons and daughters, a chance to repay their loan fairly.

Very recently, I handed a meager sum of RM2,000 to my daughter, to help her settle her education loan. As an educated father, I realized that unless a person makes a monthly repayment amount of over RM500 per month, the capital amount owned will not move lower even by an inch, so they say.

To the authorities, this parent will like to finally end this article by imploring, “do not be like Shylock, the Jew, in the Merchant of Venice”, by Shakespeare, trying to get his pound of flesh from Antonio! In doing so, Antonio may eventually bleed to death.

But the government should ideally not face the same consequences as Antonio. At least, in my opinion, not yet!

There are many ungrateful students, who have the money and yet refuse to pay up. There are also many like PTPTN Prisoner and my daughter, who struggle every month to repay, but are unmercilessly burdened by PTPTN unfair tactics. This in my opinion, Mr. Prime Minister, is not one of the ways towards achieving 1 Malaysia! Think about it.

I enjoy sharing interesting articles with readers of this blog. With this in mind, a recent article which appeared in a local newspaper entitled “Traffic Cops in India to Go Mystic” has intrigued me. I therefore decided to relate it for the reading pleasure of all readers.

First and foremost, “pyramids”, which were used by the Egyptians since the early days of the Pharoahs, are said to possess “mystic” powers. “Mystic” has been explained by certain dictionaries as “something which causes a feeling of amazement”.

In today’s world, many countries, including Malaysia, are very worried about the high rate of accidents, which the nation faces. With this in mind, our Road Transport Department announced very recently, its intention to implement the Automated Enforcement System (A.E.S.).

For your information, with the above system, some 1,200 closed circuit television cameras will be installed at all accident proned areas throughout the country.

Besides Malaysia, India, which is reputed to have an accident rate, the 2nd highest in the world, the first being China, has recently been said to be experimenting with pyramid powers to reduce accidents. Pyramids, which have been credited with supernatural or paranormal properties since the days of ancient Egypt, will now be adopted or harnessed by the Indian police to minimize road accidents there.

It has been reported in Mumbai, formerly known as “Bombay”, that traffic authorities there in Nagpur, 870km west of Mumbai, will be using “small pyramids”, which will be placed at 10 accident proned areas in the city to see if their claimed “positive” energy can reduce accident crashes.

According to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic Division), Sahebrao Patil, this innovative idea was mooted after a meeting with a “Vastu” expert. “Vastu” is an ancient Hindu system of construction which is reported to be very similar to the Chinese “feng shui”.

Mr. Patil, the assistant commissioner said, he had placed a number of such pyramids on the roads outside the city, and the results have been found to have been encouraging. Suggestions to have the idea implemented in the city have not been met with any disapproval from the Police Authorities.

The idea of installing pyramids at 10 spots will begin shortly. Pyramids will be placed at “squares” or near traffic lights, so that they won’t disrupt traffic movements.

According to Vastu expert, Sushil Fatehpuria, each pyramid will have a copper bottom and five smaller pyramids inside. He believed that accidents are a result of negative forces. Minimizing or converting these forces into positive energy might therefore reduce accidents eventually. The “pyramids” will be energized and positive thought will be transferred into the pyramids.

Whatever it is, Bombay’s police officers will however continue with “human power”, in their efforts to reduce accidents. A wise move, I would say.
This innovative idea of the Bombay police department is to continue for the next 6 months. If positive results are achieved, then, that would be excellent.

India’s rise in accident rate is believed to have been attributed to a combination of an increase in drivers, many of them untrained, poor road planning and a lax law of enforcement. All these, have led India’s roads to become one of the most dangerous in the world today.

The world as a whole, especially we in Malaysia awaits India’s mystic experiment with the ancient pyramids. If successful, who knows, our Road Transport Department chief, Datuk Sureet Singh, might even be tempted to adopt it into our system after all!

For readers’ info, the only pyramid system currently being used by Malysians, is the “pyramid” system of selling things. Unfortunately, this mode of selling or doing business is deemed “illegal”. And Malaysians, are strongly advised against participating in it!

To conclude this interesting article, it should also be reminded that Malaysia has many “feng shui” experts in our midst, in the likes of Lillian Too and Joey Yap. Who knows, one day, their services might one be garnered to assist the country in reducing road accidents here as well.

Malaysia, which has only a population of approximately 30 million, including Sabah and Sarawak, unfortunately is ranked as having one of the highest rates of accidents in the world today! Something has to be done. “Feng shui” may very well be the answer!

Who can anticipate, like Spain, which became 2010 World Cup winner, Malaysia would one day become the leading nation to use “feng shui” as a means of combating rising road accidents!