Pet Project: huey&wah @ Etsy
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I don’t normally talk about politics or animal abuse here. It may seem that I don’t pay too much of attention in those areas but in real, I’ve always been following updates and news on the topics, especially those happening in my country. I just don’t like to comment much on them because, well, they are not only sensitive, most of the time, they don’t leave happy thoughts in anyone.
Today, however, I’d like to highlight a petition that I’d like to ask everyone of you to sign, if you care. Not long ago, a video clip of how contractors of Majlis Perbandaran Batu Pahat (MPBP) killed a stray was uploaded on YouTube, and has created a huge wave in the local community. I saw the clip, but I haven’t watched it, because apparently it has been labeled as a clip that ‘content may contain material flagged by YouTube’s user community that may be inappropriate for some users’. Can you imagine how disturbing the clip can be? I don’t even want to imagine.
As dog owners myself, I’ve heard of numerous stories about how the local councils come around shooting and beating strays to death. I’ve also heard of them killing dogs with license and tags on the spot with no question ask if the animals happen to wander out. Yes I’m always worried that the same will happen to Xiao Bi and Coco. And I’m also always worried about the strays on the streets. So much that since years back, I’ve been reminding myself that if I catch them in action, I’ll go in between the strays and them, and it’s either me or the strays. To me, it’s a logical thinking. They were there to harm the strays, not the human. I know it’s probably not wise, but it’s the best that I can think of. Thank goodness I haven’t met any in my area so far *touch wood*.
(Note: I’m aware of myself making this choice and the consequences that I might have to face. Please do not consider this as the best option when you are in a similar situation, and remember to always put your own safety as the priority.)
Stray dogs and cats are definitely growing over here, just like many other places in the world. But is killing them brutally and inhumanely the only way to solve the problem? I find it amusing that when it’s so obvious that it’s the irresponsible humans who have created the overpopulation of strays, these animals are paying the price. The truth is, spending money to educate responsible pet ownership and subsidise spaying and neutering seem to be better and more effective in the long run than hiring and paying contractors for the never-ending killing. Have our councils not aware that their acts are extremely short-sighted, and are in fact, jokes in the eyes of the civilised world?
Today I’m urging you to sign the petition. Not only because I would like to live in a more tolerating and humane country. It’s also because I would like to have a better future for my children, and their children, and hopefully many more. I do not want to have myself explaining to them why there are strays everywhere on the streets and they are being treated like rubbish. I also do not want to have myself explaining to them that Pendidikan Moral (Moral Studies) in schools is just a bunch of pretty theories.
Please sign the petition here. You can also find a link to the disturbing video clip there.
And to the potential new dog owners out there, please consider adoption. The same goes to potential new cat owners too.
Note: This is going to be a boring rant of mine on poor customer service from a supposedly national service provider. I just needed to… rant.
The phone line at home has been down since last Sunday (10 October 2010). It started when my mother saw two guys outside our house climbing up the pillar along the road. The internet connection was down as well. So as usual – I said ‘as usual’ because service interruption from TM happens to us like once every two months – I called them to file a report.
I was told that my complaint will be attended to within 24 hours. No biggie, it was Sunday after all, and I didn’t expect them to be working on a Sunday.
So I called in again on Monday to check on the status, and was told that my problem will be fixed on Tuesday. After speaking to one of the supervisors, the internet connection mysteriously came back, while the phone line was still down. I thought this was something good – at least I was able to run my business errands.
On Tuesday, the supposed-day for my problem to be fixed, nothing happened. So I called again on Wednesday, and was asked to give them another day. The supervisor also told me that it was because someone has stolen the cable in our area, and normally will take about 5 days to fix it, but they will be able to do it the next day.
The next day (Thursday), nothing happened. Still no phone line, but the internet connection was OK. So I called them again and was told that it will definitely be fixed the next day (Friday).
On Friday, we lost the internet connection, and of course, still no phone line. Called them again, and was told to give them ANOTHER DAY. So obviously being such a good girl for over the past few days didn’t pay off, I got totally mad and started making my point very clear to the supervisor. She gave me the phone number of a technician (turned out to be a contractor of TM), in which the technician told me that they already came checking and will fix it tomorrow (Saturday, AGAIN!!!), and that it was TM’s fault for installing a new ‘equipment’ in the box outside our house and causing the problem (hmm I wonder where is the stolen cable story…). On Friday midnight, the internet connection was mysteriously back, but phone line was still down.
Saturday morning. No internet connection, no phone line. Since the technician told me that they will come fixing it on the day, I called him later in the afternoon but was told that he has done his job submitting his report to TM and the rest will be TM’s job to send someone to fix it. Yeah, WTH. So I had to talk to another supervisor, and was then told that my case has been passed to their ‘follow-up’ department (I wonder what this is). Thirty minutes later, some guy from this respective department called and said they have tried to contact the technician at my place but he was not working, and another one went out without bringing his mobile phone. And then I was asked to give them ANOTHER DAY, AGAIN. I insisted them to settle on the day itself as it was Saturday and I didn’t expect them to work on Sunday. He ensured me TM has a back-up team working on weekends and public holidays, and that they will be able to handle it on Sunday.
So, Sunday. I received a phone call from TM at 9:40 am, and was told that THEY NEED ANOTHER DAY AGAIN. Needless to say, I disagreed. And the moment I hung up the phone, the internet connection was gone (AGAIN!) and it lasted until 12:30 midnight. In between, they called me again around 4:30 pm to say the same thing of needing another day, and after a long quarrel they finally mentioned that they are LACK OF MANPOWER.
Lack of manpower for one week? So what are those promises of ‘WE WILL FIX IT TOMORROW‘?
Today marked the first time for NottyPooch to be in a retail environment – I mean like a real brick and mortar shop.
And it’s at Switch, the Apple Premium Reseller in Penang, Malaysia.
I know. What could be better, right? :)
I have been having the urge to write something about the political situation in Malaysia for months. But everytime I decided to write something, I stopped myself, and with only one reason. The situation is so ugly, so lame, and so lousy that I don’t feel like writing it at all. I’m afraid that people from elsewhere will read it and it’s just so humiliating – as if people are not going to read it on the news and www! lol.
I love my country. Sincerely and honestly. There are so many ways in the world to get myself out of the country, but seven years ago, when I chose to come back, I meant it. I never regret staying and living here. I love the people, I love the weather, I love the places, and I love the food!
But leaders. Look at yourself. Look at what you’ve done. Listen to what you’ve said. Listen to what the citizens are saying. We only want leaders who are responsible and sharp, who know where they stand, who know how to protect their people, who are kind and honest, who accept no bribery, who don’t take double-standard as the standard, and most of all, who know how to respect.
After all, we are not only Malaysians. We share the land on the earth too. We are human.
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