Nightclub hostess uses "kong tau" [black magic] on Hussein

[Pixs of models for illustration only]

Wati [top pix] sits on the leather sofa wearing a pained expression on her face. She’s attired in a red miniskirt and a skimpy cotton top. Her shapely legs are stretched out and crossed at the ankles. “Hussein’s not here again,” she says. “That’s the third time this month.”

“I called his house last week,” Chow Kah says. “His wife picked up the call, she sounded distraught. We spoke briefly. Seems that Hussein frequently doesn’t go home this season. His wife found a Bugil Nightclub bill in his pocket. She asked her brother to check out the nightspot. True enough, the brother saw Hussein cavorting with a Thai girl in a drinking booth. Mrs Hussein suspects her husband has become a victim of Nam Man Prai. The change in his behaviour was very sudden.”

“Holy smoke! That’s Thai black magic,” I say. “Very powerful and dangerous.”

“Bugil’s our competitor. We must fight back,” Wati says, clenching a fist and punching the air.

“Dangerous to who?” Jessica [left pix] asks. A whiff of apricot, jasmine and vanilla from her perfume fills the room.

“To the user.”

“How?” Jessica spits a water-melon seed into her open palm.

“Bad karma. Because the extraction process disturbs the spirit. Also very scary in terms of methodolody. The corpse of a dead baby or a pregnant woman is used. Heat is applied to the corpse, and the oil that flows out is collected. Then it is mixed with herbs. Mantras are recited to endow it with supernatural power.”

“You know where to get Nam Man Prai?” Chow Kah asks.

“Sure. Why?”

“Buy me a bottle, please. I'll pay you later. I want to give it to Wati so she can get Hussein back.”

“Oh, thank you, Chow Kah,” Wati purrs, and pecks him on the cheek, leaving a red imprint of her sensuous lips.

“Wati, you sure you want the Nam Man Prai?”

“Of course. I’m not Buddhist so I don’t believe in karma.”

The next morning, I phone Mr Kriangsak Pramoj, a Thai bomoh [sorcerer] in Hatyai and order a bottle of Nam Man Prai. It costs RM400, and the vial arrives by courier. Chow Kah comes to my office to collect it. “Instructions on how to use are inside,” I tell him.

"I'll pass this to Wati." Chow Kah grins and shows me the thumb-up.

A week rolls by.

Jessica, clad in polka dot pants, is sitting next to Chow Kah; they’re feeding each other sliced fresh fruits.

Wati’s waiting for Hussein. “Tonight, he's coming, but a bit late,” she says, smiling.

“Did you use the Nam Man Prai on him?” I ask.

“Yes. I went to see him in his office and --"

Mummy Lulu [left pix] knocks on the door and enters. Jesus Christ! She’s wearing fishnet stockings, high heels and a miniskirt! She wedges between Jessica and Chow Kah. "Hello, dear,” she says to Chow Kah. “Come to my office afterwards, okay?” She takes a piece of papaya, bites off a morsel and feeds the balance to him.

Eyes widened in horror, Chow Kah chews the papaya awkwardly and swallows hard. Mummy Lulu gets up, blows a kiss to him at the door and leaves the room.

“What strange behavior,” I say to Jessica. “Anything happened to our Mamasan?”

“Everything has been routine for her,” Jessica says. “But Chow Kah gave me a bottle of Dior Poison. I’ve so many bottles of perfumes already so I gave it to Mummy Lulu.”

“My goodness! You shouldn’t have!” Chow Kah punches his left palm with his right fist. “It contains Nam Man Prai!” He slaps his forehead with his palm. “I’m dead meat! What to do now?”

“How dare you! Trying to use kong tau [black magic] on me!”

“You better consult Kriangsak personally,” I say to Chow Kah, and fish out my cell phone from my shirt pocket. “Here, take down this number.” To Jessica: "Please forgive him. He likes you too much."

/end

Satire: what will become of our brothels if PAS implements hudud?

A brothel in Kuala Lumpur BEFORE PAS (Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party) implements hudud

A brothel in Kuala Lumpur AFTER PAS (Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party) implements hudud



/end

Car care: troubleshooting engine starting problems

[Article copyright Ewe Paik Leong]

A man couldn't start his car after a few attempts. Without bothering to figure out why, he phoned for a mechanic. When the mechanic arrived, he found that the car's battery and engine were okay and that the car was merely out of petrol! This article will help you identify the possible causes of a starting problem and perhaps rectify the fault yourself.

Problem: You’ve parked your car in the rain for several hours and it won't start or you have just driven through a puddle and the car stops and can't get started. Possible causes are a bad distributor cap or spark plug wires, or your distributor cap has gotten wet.

Problem: It is early morning and cold outside. You haven't used your car for several hours and it can't start. The starter is okay and the starting noises are normal. Your problem could lie in the fuel injection system, or the choke on the carburetor (assuming you have one) is not closing, or some parts in the intake manifold system loose or broken.

Problem: You've just switched off the engine after having driven the car around. A short while later when the engine is still hot, you can't restart the car, but the starter is fine; so are the normal starting noises. Such a situation indicates a problem in the computerized engine control circuit or an overheated electronic part in the ignition system.

Another problem is when the starter works the engine over very slowly when the latter is warm. Typical situation might be this: having driven the car, you've switched off the engine. Later, when the engine is still warm, you try to re-start and can hear the starter working fine but it's slow. The engine does not start. You wait a little longer and find that the starter improves performance. The longer you wait, the better are the chances of starting. What's wrong? One possible fault is the battery which may be weak or its cables are already bad or some connections are loose. Also possible cause is engine oil that is too thin or contaminated with petrol. A third possibility is the starter itself, which might be overheated.

A fifth problem is when the car can't start after it has sat overnight. Normally, the scenario is as follows: you try to start your car but the battery seems either dead or weak. The starter clicks faintly or there is no starting noise at all. However, after you have jumped the battery, the car starts and runs normally. The next day, or after several hours when the car has sat, the problem recurs. Very likely, your battery is already weak. Also likely is a short circuit in your car. A final possibility is that something in the car was left on and stayed on even though the engine was turned off.

Our next problem does not concern the battery. The situation is this: The starter works without any problem. All the normal starting noises are heard but the engine will not growl into life. As you make more and more attempts to start, the starter slows down and begins to sound different. The cause is the battery being worn down. Look for the following possible causes: the petrol tank is empty; the petrol filter is clogged; the petrol pump has broken down; the carburetor has been over-flooded with petrol; something is faulty with the ignition system; the engine's timing belt is broken.

Problem: You have just turned the ignition key and the starter works fine: the engine is running. But when you release the key from the start position, the engine stops. You re-start and the engine jumps to life. But again the engine stops when you let go of the key to stop the starter. This condition can mean the ignition switch is faulty. It can also indicate a problem in the computerized engine control circuit. Last but not least, a resister wire in the ignition system could be bad.

Problem: The engine starts okay, runs for a few seconds, then it "commits suicide". You re-start the engine and it runs again. But it stops down again after a few seconds. This problem usually happens without any warning. Possible causes include: a faulty electric petrol pump shutting down after start-up, a fault in the computerized engine control circuit; a bad ignition switch, or a carburetor choke that is out of adjustment (if there is one).

Problem: The engine takes too long to start. Also, the car seems to be losing power over a period of time. The possible causes are many: (1) if there is a carburetor, the choke may be faulty, (2) the engine is suffering from mechanical problems, (3) the fuel pressure regulator is not operating at sufficient pressure, (4) the ignition timing is wrong, (5) something is faulty with the ignition system, or (6) the fuel injectors are leaking.

To round off the article, here are so noise-related symptoms: Problem: you turn the ignition key and hear a clicking noise then nothing. Funny, the car was okay yesterday (or a few hours ago). Probable faults include: (1) loose battery connections, (2) a weak battery, (3) bad battery cables, (4) starter relay is bad, (5) something is wrong with the charging system.

Problem: you turn the ignition key and don't hear anything. The following are the likely causes: (1) the battery has conked out, (2) the battery cables are bad, (3) something electrical was not switched off when the park was parked, (4) something is wrong with the charging system, or (5) something is faulty in the electrical system.

Problem: you turn the key and the starter grinds slowly but the engine starts. On consecutive starts, the starter turns even more slowly. You know a time will come when the engine will not start. Likely causes are: (1) a worn-out starter (2) a weak or dead battery, (3) dirty or bad battery cables, (4) engine oil that is too dirty.

/end

Car care: spark plug basics and tips

[Article copyright Ewe Paik Leong]

The two primary functions of a spark plug are to provide the spark needed to burn the fuel-air mixture and to dissipate heat from the combustion chamber.

An important concept central to the working of a spark plug is its heat range. The heat range refers to how fast heat is removed from the combustion chamber. For high performance cars or for driving in hot climates, a colder spark plug is more suitable than a hot one. A spark plug with the right heat range provides the optimum temperature to ignite the air-fuel mixture, yet remains cool enough to resist pre-ignition.

For a spark plug to work effectively and efficiently, it must be tightened
properly. A loose spark plug cannot transfer heat from the combustion chamber to the cylinder head; worse, it may allow combustion gases to leak past its threads. A spark plug that is too tight will also be unable to transfer heat effectively. Generally, spark plugs can be torqued more on an aluminium cylinder head than on one made of cast iron. A torque of 18-22 lb/ft is fine for most 14 mm spark plugs.

When the threads of spark plugs are machine cut, it is recommended to use "never-seize" compounds on the threads. This is because machine-cut threads are sharp and have burrs that can cut new threads, even on aluminium cylinder heads. When applying any “never-seize” compound, be sure not to get it smeared the firing tip.

The physical appearance of a spark plug can indicate several things about the condition of the engine. If the plug is grey or light brown and free of deposits, the engine is in good condition.

If a spark plug is coated with fuel, or carbon deposits, it is said to be "fouled" Whatever its cause, a fouled plug can still deliver sufficient voltage to the firing tip, resulting in that particular cylinder not firing proper.

"Fouling" may be dry or wet. Thick, dry deposits are symptomatic that too rich fuel is being burned; the plug is having a heat range that is too cold; the combustion chamber is suffering from 1ow compression, from poor timing or that the plug gap is too wide.

Wet deposits can signal leak problems with piston rings, with the head gasket, or with the valve trains.

Black or silver specs, melting, breakage at the firing tip are signs of possible causes such as detonation, excessive heat or pressure in that particular combustion chamber or that the plug has suffered thermal shock.

Detonation, a serious problem, refers to the pre-mature ignition of the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber prior to any spark from the plug.

Detonation exerts a downward force on the pistons just when they are moving upward. The collision of forces results in severe heat, breaking or melting of the firing tip of the plug, or even worse, damage to engine components such as pistons or connecting rods. The cause of detonation is the presence of a hot spot in the combustion chamber. Further investigation is needed to find the root cause of the hot spot.

Irrespective of whether your spark plugs are fouled or not, they have to be changed regularly for the simple fact they get worn out over time. Normally, old plugs are worn out at the centre and ground electrodes. To bridge the bigger gap between these two points, the ignition system has to produce a higher voltage. This results in a greater rate of misfires or incomplete combustion cycles. The negative consequences of misfiring are loss of power, increased fuel consumption and greater emissions. How long a set of plugs should be used depends on many factors such as engine compression, type of fuel used, driving conditions, and type of material the electrodes are made of.

Although spark plugs are pre-gapped from the factory, the gap may not be right for your engine, especially if you have modified the engine. If you have installed a turbo charger or have raised the compression ratio of the engine, you need to lower the gap. On the other hand, the gap needs to be widened if you have fitted a high power ignition system. It is best to seek professional advice regarding these matters. If you want to adjust the gap yourself, always start with a wider than necessary gap to avoid the risk of detonation.

Here are three tips when deciding to replace spark plugs. First, always use spark plugs of the same brand and same heat range in all cylinders. Second, even if only a spark plug is damaged and needs replacement, the entire set has to be replaced. The use of and new plugs in different cylinders results in erratic engine performance. Third, never allow your mechanic to change spark plugs when the engine is hot. A hot cylinder head has expanded and when the spark plugs are inserted, they may be seized.

/end

Nightclubber Chow Kah gets roughed up by wife

[Pix of model for illustration purpose only]

Jessica, donned in tight jorts and bare-back top, enters the VIP room, settles down beside Chow Kah, and asks: “My goodness, what happened?”

Chow Kah’s face is covered with several scratches and his left eye is blue-black.

“It's because of you,” Chow Kah says, leaning forward to take the menu from the bottom shelf of the coffee table. “Last week, when you leaned on my shoulder, your lips touched my collar. You left lipstick stains on my collar.”

“You wanted it, didn't you?” Jessica pouts her red lips.

“I’m not blaming you. I’m just telling. Anyway, when I got home, I changed the shirt without noticing the stains. That night, when my wife was putting the laundry in the washing machine, she noticed the red smears. She was like a tigress, my God, she scratched my face and punched my eye.”

“I really pity you,” Wati says, snuggling up to Hussein.

“Actually, you should pity my Papa,” says Chow Kah.

“What happened to him?” I ask, popping a mozzarella stick in my mouth.

“The next morning, I went to visit my parents,” Chow Kah says. “My wife was still sore and didn't want to go. She went to visit her mother instead. When my Papa saw me, he asked what happened. I was ashamed of the truth. So I told him I was rolling up the bamboo blind in my back balcony, when it dropped and landed on my face.

"Papa was not convinced. ‘A bamboo blind cannot cause those scratches," he said. ‘They can only be inflicted by your wife. Tell me, son, what happened?’. So I told him I came to Hot Legs. Papa condoned my fling. He said going to a nightclub is a small thing, and advised I should not let my wife hen-peck me. He boasted loudly: ‘When I was your age, I used to go to those places, too. In fact, last week, I went to a hanky panky spa. I took two girls at one time. Son, you must show your wife who's the boss. Never be afraid of her.’

"Unfortunately, my Mama was in the next room and overheard everything. Enraged, Mama charged at Papa with a broom. Papa yelled ‘Outta the way, son! My own bamboo blind’s falling down!’ and bolted up the stairs to escape from Mama. Tough luck, Mama caught him and thrashed him with the broom.”

“Aiyooooh, pity the old man,” Jessica says.

From the door come the sound of several knocks, and an old man enters with a GRO wearing fishnet stockings and a bustier top revealing a wide expanse of creamy décolletage. His head is bandaged and his nose is squashed.

"Papa! What're you doing here?" Chow Kah asks, spluttering on his beer.

“I’ve already paid my price. Now I need to be compensated by a fling!” Chow Kah's father says.

/end

Nightclubber Hussein ogles at nude bather in river

Wati and Hussein trudge along a track in Sungei Pertak Recreational Forest. Colourful butterflies flit along the river bank, and birds chirp from the overhead canopy of trees.

Teweet! Teeet! Tweet! Tweet! Tweet!

“Look! A crow!” Wati says, pointing to the top of a tree.

Hussein whips his binoculars out from his knapsack and looks up. “No, no. It’s a magpie, not a crow. A black magpie.”

They hear the sound of water gargling over a rocky stretch, and see a figure dipping.

“Goodness, looks like a woman bathing,” says Wati.

“Got people staying here?”

“Could be Orang Asli, could be squatters.”

They stoop behind some bushes. Hussein uses his binoculars to focus on the figure.

The back of the woman is facing them. Long hair flows from her head to her hip. Her big, round buttocks send a tingling sensation to Hussein’s loins.

“Your handphone got camera?” asks Hussein.

“Got.”

“Got zoom function”?

“Why?” Phiak! Wati hits a mosquito landing on her luscious thigh but misses.

I’d love to be a mosquito and land on her thigh, Hussein ponders. “I want to take pictures. “Squat down, otherwise she may see us.”

Wati squats down. “No zoom.” Her jorts are so tight a clit is formed at the crotch.

“Never mind, we’ll just enjoy the free show.” With bulging eyes, Hussein peers through the binoculars.

The bather starts to turn around.

Lucky me, Hussein concludes but he does a double take. “Celaka! It’s just a Sikh man, the swine!”


/end

Nightclubber Hussein pays price for infidelity

[Pixs of models for illustration purpose only]

Jessica and Chow Kah enter the VIP Room with arms around each other’s waists.

“Where’s Hussein?” I ask, cracking Menglembu brand groundnuts.

“He’s not coming,” says Jessica, plopping down on the settee. “He’s in Tawakal Hospital.” She’s wearing a low-cut dress that displays a milky expanse of décolletage.

“I just visited him yesterday,” says Chow Kah, leaning towards Jessica. “Poor guy, some injuries to his weenie.”

Enter Wati [left pix], clad in a red dress. “It’s partly my fault. I shouldn’t have allowed him to take pictures of me using his cell phone.”

“What happened?” I take a gulp of Sapporo beer.

Wati leans back on the settee, crosses her legs. “Last week, he took some pictures of me. His fourth wife checked his cell phone and saw my pictures. She told the other wives and they decided to teach him a lesson.”

In my mind, I see a cinematic vision of the events that unfold as Wati relates the story.

********


Wife No. 1, Wife No. 2, Wife No. 3 and Wife No. 4 hold a meeting in Wife No. 4’s house in Kampong Baru to hatch a plan.

A week passes and Hussein goes to Wife No. 4’s house to spend the night. “Come darling,” Wife No. 4 says. “Let’s play dominatrix tonight. Allow me to tie you up.”

Hussein is delighted as it’s a new experience for him. Stripping his clothes, he lies spread-eagled on the bed, and Wife No. 4 ties him using parcel string. She springs into action and rides him hard for more than an hour.

“Untie me, I’ve had enough.” Hussein feels his manhood smarting from all the friction.

Ignoring him, she sneers. “You like that nightclub GRO very much, don’t you? Trying to sleep with that little bitch, huh?”

She opens the bedroom door, and Wife No. 1, Wife No. 2 and Wife No. 3 enter. Wife No. 1 and Wife No. 2 force open Hussein’s jaw. Wife No. 3 pulls his mouth wide, and Wife No. 1 takes a syringe and pumps a solution down his throat.

A day earlier, Wife No 4 went to Healthy Pharmacy, and bought two Viagra tablets and a syringe sans the needle. She put the tablets in a pestle. Thomp! Thomp! Thomp! Thomp! Using a pounder, she smashed the tablets to powder, which was mixed with a little water, and draw the solution into the syringe.

Wife No. 1, Wife No. 2, and Wife No. 4 exit the room, leaving Wife No. 3 with Hussein.

She waits until he is able to perform and plays cowgirl for an hour, while he protests vehemently.

From the bedroom out comes Wife No. 3 and Wife No. 2 goes in. She is welterweight, weighing 140 lbs.

Hussein pleads: “Enough, enough, I can’t take it anymore!”

For 30 minutes, the walls of the bedroom shake as if hit by a tremor. Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

She comes out of the bedroom with wobbly knees.

Enter Wife No. 1, [left pix] who is in the heavyweight division, her butt like that of a hippopotamus's. She weighs 210 lbs.

The walls of the bedroom tremble even louder. THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!

Suddenly: CRACK!

Wife No. 1 ambles out of the bedroom, wiping sweat off her brows with a Kleenex tissue.

Wife No. 2, Wife No. 3 and Wife No. 4 enter the bedroom to check on their husband.

Hussein has fainted, his tongue sticking out of his mouth.

One leg of the wooden bed has broke.

/end

Motor insurance and you -- Part 2

[Article copyright Ewe Paik Leong]

CHOOSING YOUR INSURANCE
Trust the approved insurance sales outlets. You can depend on established motor companies, motoring organisations like the AAM, finance institutions and government agencies like the post office. If in doubt, call the head office of the insurance companies to verify the status of the agent if you fear that you may fall victim to a con job. Anyway, the authorities have taken steps to reduce the chances of false cover notes surfacing.

You have the right to choose your own insurance company. Those who have owned vehicles before and are trading in for another vehicle are entitled to a no claim discount (NCD) or more commonly known as "no claim bonus" for any insurance renewal with even other insurance companies provided that he or she is genuinely entitled. The NCD starts with a 25% discount after the first year without claims. It increases as an inducement to motor vehicle owners to be careful on the road from 30% on the second year to a maximum of 55% after the fifth consecutive year onwards of no claims. Once a claim is made, the NCD system starts from the beginning again for the policyholder.

If you are a bad risk (frequently involved in accidents or physically challenged) or your vehicle is very old, the insurance company has the right to levy loadings or increases in premiums. If you are not happy with the excessive loadings, shop around the insurance companies till you get a better deal but on the assumption that everything being equal. Insurance companies view every client as a risk. Insurance business is about risk taking and with the high payout of motor insurance, it is not a lucrative business -- for most insurance companies not just in Malaysia but around the world.

When shopping around for insurance, make sure the terms and conditions offered are the same. A premium rate can be less than others but may not be worth the savings if the excess clause is higher. In comprehensive coverage, the policyholder is normally asked to bear the initial cost of repair or damage. The figure can range from RM200 to the first RM1,500 of claims. This means if you have damaged your car in an accident and the repair costs RM5,000 and there is an insurance excess clause of RM1,000, it means you will only get RM4,000 from the insurance company as compensation. If the repair cost is under RM1,000, then you have to bear the full brunt of the repair cost.

Basically, insurance business works by pooling premiums collected to form a fund. Payouts are made from the fund. To expedite settlement of motor vehicle accident claims, there is a system called 'knock-for-knock' whereby only credit and debit notes flow between the various local insurance companies involved. The policyholder benefits from this system as it means a faster approval of their claims if the other party is insured by another insurance company.

MAKING A CLAIM
If you are involved in an accident with another vehicle, the first thing to do is to stop and exchange particulars with all the people involved. Before allowing your car to be towed away, check if the tow truck operator is from the panel of workshops approved by the insurer. Note down the tow truck vehicle registration number, name of tow truck driver and whatever details are printed on the front doors of the vehicle for your reference in case your car goes missing.

Once you have reported an accident and your car has been towed to the nearest police station or workshop, a repair quotation or claim is submitted to the insurance company on your behalf. Then your insurer will send a loss adjuster to assess the damage to your car and identify the circumstances of the accident.

Remember to remove all valuables from the car before it is towed away. If possible, include items like steering lock, spare keys, tool kit, CDs, cassette tapes, umbrellas and the like. Go through the glove box and door pockets and remove important items like house keys, petrol cards, Smart Tag, Touch N Go cards, parking season passes, etc.

A loss adjuster is a specialist whose job is to find out what really happened and how it happened. He will recommend the insurer him much to settle a claim as submitted in each case. You also have the right to accept or reject the workshop's repair quotation.

CHECKING THE WORK DONE
On completion of the repair job, the onus is on you to have a thorough check. Do not be tempted into collecting the vehicle at night or rushed into collecting the car. You have the full rights to check every part thoroughly. Check also for items like tool kit, spare tyres, and accessories that are often reported to be missing or replaced while the vehicle is at the workshop.

If for any reason you are not happy with the repair, such as poor paint job, sub-standard parts used, etc., write it down on the workshop's vehicle release slip which you will be asked to sign. Note the name of the person you made your complaints to.

As you drive home or as the week of driving progresses, you may discover more problems. List down all of them and send a registered letter to your insurer and a copy to the workshop. You have the right to have the vehicle repaired till it is of roadworthy condition. For third party and expert evaluation, send your car to Puspakom for inspection to support your claims. Conduct all communications in writing and keep proper record of the sequence of claims. This is very important should the case need to go to the courts to be settled.

One thing which even the seasoned car owners fail to do is to read the insurance policy thoroughly. It is a very important document that should be kept under lock and key in the house. By reading the policy, you will know what is covered and what is not.

/end

Motor insurance and you – Part 1

By law, every motor vehicle must be covered by a form of motor insurance before road tax is issued and allowed on the road. Do not take motor insurance lightly.

Not being insured is an offence which is like driving on the road without paying road tax. The Road Transport Act 1987 states that motor vehicles must have at least a minimum form of motor insurance coverage to be on the road.

Yet another reason why motor insurance should be taken seriously is that owning a motor vehicle is the next highest investment after the house. Most Malaysians own a motor vehicle long before owning a house, with one in every four Malaysians owning a motor vehicle.

Guided by Bank Negara, motor insurance is a system whereby each motor vehicle owner pays a premium (and becomes a policyholder) to secure the protection against personal losses and third party claims. A standard premium guide approved by Bank Negara and monitored by the Persatuan Insuran Am Malaysia (PIAM) governs the rate.

TYPES OF MOTOR INSURANCE
Basically, there are three types of motor insurance coverage -- Act Only, Third Party and Comprehensive.

The Act Only insurance policy provides the minimum cover required by the law, hence its name. Under the Act, drivers of motor vehicles have to buy motor insurance to ensure that drivers can meet their liabilities if they injure or cause the death of other people in an accident. Act Only policies are rarely purchased as the insurance protection is quite limited because vehicle’s owner is liable to pay for third party claims for damages.

Third Party motor insurance is wider than Act Only insurance. Besides providing cover against death and injury to third parties, it provides protection against other legal liabilities such as damages to the property of third party (usually somebody else's motor vehicle or structures like fencing and gates) and certain specified legal costs. An important cover is that the vehicle can be driven by anybody with a valid driving license and consent of the owner within the international boundaries of the Federation of Malaysia. For third party insurance, it simply means that the insurance company protects the policy holder against third party claims but any damage incurred to the policyholder's vehicle has to be borne by the policyholder's own money.

Under Third Party cover, a policyholder may opt to include protection for loss or damage to one's own vehicle due to specific risks like fire or theft only. However, most motorists find it more cost effective and worthwhile to pay a little bit more and be protected under the Comprehensive motor insurance policy instead.

Comprehensive insurance is the widest form of cover available but not every type of risk is covered. In addition to what are basically provided for under Act Only and Third Party coverage, Comprehensive insurance has other types of coverage to include loss or damage to the motor vehicle as a result of fire or theft. More importantly, this policy covers accidental damages to the insured's own vehicle.

It means the insurance company will pay the vehicle owner's claims on damages to the vehicle incurred in an accident in addition to settling third party claims. For example, a driver knocks into another car. After the usual formalities, the insurance company will pay for the vehicle to be repaired at the insurance company's panel of workshops and also the damages incurred by the other party if the insurance policy holder is at fault. The insurance company will also pay the sum insured or prevailing value of the vehicle (whichever is lower) to the owner if the vehicle is stolen.

Additional coverage for a small additional premium under motor insurance includes:

* Breakage of glass in windscreens and windows
* Floods, landslide, landslip or other convulsions of nature
* Legal liability of passengers for acts of negligence (such as the passenger opening the car door and causing an accident with a moving vehicle)
* Use of private cars for tuition purposes (such as teaching a novice driver how to drive in the policyholder's private car)

Owners of vehicles pay insurance premium according to the engine capacity, type and value of vehicle and any other additional coverage like windscreen damage and passenger liability required. Buyers of new vehicles are advised to check the sum insured and never under or over declare the amount as false information provided in the insurance application form is an offence punishable by law. Bear in mind to include enhanced value additional accessories like audio systems and sports wheels.

When filling in the application form for insurance, ensure all the details are accurate. Even if the motor vehicle salesperson fills in the forms, check the details carefully before signing the dotted line. You have every right to ask for clarification if you are not sure. Just remember that when a claim is made and the details in the form do not tally with the actual details (like NRIC number, spelling of policyholder's name, vehicle engine and chassis numbers), the insurance company reserves the right to refuse entertaining the claims.

/end

A “Tan Sri” bought a bogus degree? No big deal -- a CEO of a private educational institution has four questionable PhDs!

The New Straits Times reported a “Tan Sri” was among 525 people who bought fake degrees. (http://www.nst.com.my/latest/cops-tracking-tan-sri-in-fake-degree-probe-1.113167). This is the tip of the iceberg, and there are bigger offenders than the 525 people. A company CEO of a private educational institution in PJ holds four PhDs, all from shady schools, and even a questionable Knighthood (not from Queen Elizabeth) which carries the title “Sir”.

His PhDs are from the following institutions:
--Honolulu University
--Pacific National University
--Virtual University
--Southern Pacific University

A bit of internet research revealed the following:

**Wikipedia states: “Degrees obtained from Honolulu University are illegal to use in the State of Texas.”

**Wikipedia states that a certain Pacific National University is a legit institution based in Russia but I don't know whether it’s the same institution this CEO graduated from.

**Virtual University is purportedly based in Liberia, Africa. (source: http://online.degree.net/archive/index.php/t-931.html).

**Postings on online.degree.net also states: “Virtual University (VU) is now an exclusive partner of Southern Pacific University (SPU) and all existing students of SPU would receive fully accredited joint degree award by SPU and VU. Virtual University (VU) in Monrovia is fully accredited by NATIONAL COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION and authorized by MINISTRY OF EDUCATION of Monrovia, WI.”

**Postings on http://www.degreeinfo.com/accreditation-discussions-ra-detc-state-approval-unaccredited-schools/20919-southern-pacific-university.html about Southern Pacific University states:
--“One more big scan running from Malaysia. 18 Branches! Huge branches.”
--“Southern Pacific University degrees are also heavily sold by Minerva Vietnam Ltd in Vietnam under the flagship of California based International Technological University (www.itu.edu), ACICS accredited University.”

Other cases I know of:

A former Member of Parliament (now deceased) held a PhD from Pacific Western University. Though not a true-blue diploma mill, Pacific Western University of Hawaii was closed by Hawaii state government in 2006. Currently, there is another institution of the same name (http://pacificwesternu.com/tution_fees.htm0. ).

Its tuition fees are as follows:
“Bachelor’s Degree (B.A., B.S.) $2,940
Bachelor’s Completion (for those students who enroll
with more than 94 transcript credits) $1,940
Master’s Degree (M.A., M.B.A.) $2,500
Doctoral Completion (for those students who enroll
with an M.A. and more than 20 transcripted credits) $2,940”

So cheap? No wonder degrees from such questionable schools are so tempting. (Note: its url suspiciously ends in dot com not dot edu.)

A fortune-teller who sports a moustache holds a PhD in feng shui and uses the honorific "Dr. Reverend" in his advertisements. He wouldn’t tell me the institution he earned it from except that it's an American university. Jeez...an American university can grant a PhD in such an esoteric field? Reverend? He wasn't ordained as a monk, was he?

Two years ago, a local pop singer was exposed as having a PhD from the bogus European Business School, and resigned as a director of a college.

Still interested to buy a bogus degree and possibly go to jail? You can pay by credit card. No coursework, no examinations. Here is a link:

http://www.buyaccrediteddegree.com/buy-accredited-degree-on

Want to get a legitimate, accredited ("Nationally Accredited") online degree from America? Yes, there are lessons, assignments and examinations. Go to the website of Distance Education Training Council (detc.org) which lists all accredited online universities. DETC is an association recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

/end

Fukuya restaurant at Jalan Delima rates five stars

[Pixs copyright Ewe Paik Leong]

My bill at Fukuya states:
Sushi Mini Kaishi RM80.00
Sushi Bento RM58.00
Seiro Set RM43.00

The number of items from the three sets is astonishing in the variety of texture, aroma, flavour and colour. From sushi to shark fin to rice to misho soup to dunno-what-soup served in a teapot to sour pickle to tempura to grilled items to fresh salad to boiled vegetables, they all tasted exquisite. I give five stars to Fukuya's authentic Japanese cuisine.

Address: No. 9, Jalan Delima, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-21441022/3008
Opening hours:
12.00 noon to 2.30pm
6.30 pm to 10.30 pm
Sunday:
6.00 pm to 10.00 pm

/end

Published by Monsoon Books, Singapore. Sold in Malaysia from Kinokuniya, Popular Book Store, Borders and MPH nationwide. An e-book edition is also available.

/end

Travelling by car with children: do's and donts

[Article copyright Ewe Paik Leong]

A motoring holiday with children is an opportunity to share quality time with them. Yet travelling by car with children can be frustrating if the journey is not planned and prepared carefully. The forgotten teddy, the spilled drink or the need to pee in the middle of nowhere can spoil the mood of a much-anticipated trip. Also, take all precautions to prevent an accident from happening.

In a moving car, whether you are sitting in the front passenger or back seat, you should not carry your baby in your arms. A collision of 60km/hr can propel a 4kg baby forward with a force of 135kg. With such a force, it is unlikely the person can hold on to the baby. Likewise, an infant should not sit on the lap of the front passenger. It is worse if the seat belt is fastened over the child as this is an infant-crusher position. The infant will be crushed between the front passenger and the dashboard in a collision.

If you are travelling with a baby, it should be placed in a semi-inclined, backward-facing child restraint. Use towels or pieces of foam to support its head and to prevent it from rolling from side to side. Make sure the restraint is safely buckled to the rear passenger seat. Though many parents like to place their babies in the front passenger seat where they can see them, the rear is always safe.

The following do’s and don’ts should be observed when travelling with children:

DO’S
(1) Plan carefully. Choose your holiday destination, the accommodation and kind of activities with care, considering the potential problems that can arise with children.
(2) Have plenty of toys and games to keep the children occupied.
(3) Provide the children with plenty of snacks and drinks. Snacks should be finger-sized, requiring no eating utensils. Drinks in cartons with their own straws are appropriate.
(4) Have one set of clean clothes in the car for toddlers and young children. If they soil their clothes, you can change them once you are nearing your destination.
(5) When travelling with a toddler, bring along the changing and cleaning-up kit and potty.
(6) Carry a first-aid kid in the car, including plastic bags in case a child wants to throw up.
(7) Prevent travel sickness rather than cope with it –- consult your pharmacist.
(8) Do expect some unpredictable behavior from children as travelling can be a strain for them. Let them sleep when they are tired; let them eat and drink when they want to.
(9) Make stops at all interesting spots and allow the children to enjoy the view.

DON’TS
(1) Don’t take noisy toys such as drums, whistles, bugles and rattles in the car.
(2) Avoid squashy food and fruit, even with older children.
(3) Don’t run out of toys and games during the journey.
(4) Don’t clutter the interior of the car with baggage.
(5) If you need to cuddle a toddler to calm him or her, never bring the child to the front seat. This is dangerous. Stop the car and go to the back seat to play or cuddle the infant.
(6) Avoid travelling alone with a baby that needs constant attention. Continuous distraction from the baby’s cries increases the risk of accidents.
(7) Don’t lose your temper with the children as this affects your concentration while driving. If a toddler throws a tantrum, or two older children argue and fight, stop the car and try to defuse the situation.
(8) This tip may be off-topic but it's important -- don’t let a toddler hold a car key and run about. In China, a toddler fell on a car key he was holding and it pierced his skull [pix above].


/end