Responsive MPPJ

Back in 2001, when I enquired about procedure to inform MPPJ on change of ownership, I was told to fill up a form “Borang I” which among other things, specifically required copy of title which was presumed to be one that shows the new owner.

After one year, we went on a wild goose chase which involved going to Shah Alam land office, which required a payment of Rm50 and the need to call before returning to collect the duplicate title. Much to our disgust, what we got was an exact copy of the old title!

Since then, we had been paying Assessment bills addressed to the previous owner.

But recently bills for second half year of 2005 and first half of this year were not delivered, presumably the previous owner must have given instructions to the Post Office to re-direct all his mail.

Since my son, the house owner, is planning to leave for UK, the matter becomes urgent, besides having bothered me for the past few years.

Out of frustration and exasperation, I wrote an email to the Head of Valuation Department, informing her of our plight. I waited for a couple of weeks but no reply.

Last Monday, one of my assignments on our trip to KL was to obtain a duplicate copy of Assessment bill and pay it for the time being. While waiting for my turn to pay, I just felt like asking the person at the Enquiry counter. To my surprise, she said for this month only, we can use our Sale and Purchase Agreement (instead of the title) for the purpose and I was told to go to counter 9A (the A suggests newly created temporary counter).

Upon reaching the counter, the man looking at the copy of S&PA I was holding, said I could use that if I want. I was taken by surprise by the whole thing and I told him that I have to have it copied first and also I am waiting for my turn to pay.

I mentioned to him about my email to the Head of Valuation Department and he said that was the reason for the relaxation in procedure! That really made my day.

But I was still disappointed with the Head for not replying my email. Moreover, I found out only by chance! The “amnesty period” could have come and gone without me knowing it and my tension with my wife (co-owner) over this particular matter would have continued unabated!

Did I hear someone asking what has this got to do with me?

Most embarrassing moment of her life

In downtown Roanoke, at a crowded bus stop, a good friend of mine was waiting for her bus. She's very attractive and was decked out in a tight leather mini skirt with matching tight leather boots and jacket. As the bus rolled up and it became her turn to get on, she became aware that her skirt was too tight to allow her leg to come up to the height of the first step on the bus.

Slightly embarrassed and with a quick smile to the bus driver she reached behind her and unzipped her skirt a little thinking that this would give her enough slack to raise her leg. Again she tried to make the step onto the bus only to discover she still couldn't!

So, a little more embarrassed she once again reached behind her and unzipped her skirt a little more and for a second time attempted the step and once again, much to her chagrin she could not raise her leg because of the tight skirt.

So, with a coy little smile to the driver she again unzipped the offending skirt to give a little more slack and again was unable to make the step.

About this time a big burly man that was behind her in the line picked her up easily from the waist and placed her lightly on the step of the bus. Well, she went ballistic and turned to the would-be hero screeching at him "How dare you touch me!! I don't even know who you are!"

At this, the big guy drawled, "Well ma'am normally I would agree with you but after you unzipped my fly three times, I kinda figured that we were friends!"

Sorry seems the hardest word, yet it does not heal

We have often heard people trying to explain why they lost their temper by saying they did not mean to hurt your feelings and that they are actually soft-hearted... just their mouth too harsh?

There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.

Ignorance was bliss

An old woman came into her doctor's office and confessed to an embarrassing problem.

"I fart all the time, Doctor Johnson, but they're soundless, and they have no odour. In fact, since I've been here, I've farted no less than twenty times. What can I do?"

"Here's a prescription, Mrs. Harris. Take these pills three times a day for seven days and come back and see me in a week."

Next week an upset Mrs. Harris marched into Dr. Johnson's office. "Doctor, I don't know what was in those pills, but the problem is worse! I'm farting just as much, but now they smell terrible! What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Calm down, Mrs. Harris," said the doctor soothingly. "Now that we've fixed your sinuses, we'll work on your hearing!!!"

For the love of mother-in-law?

A married couple was in a terrible accident where the woman's face was severely burned. The doctor told the husband that they couldn't graft any skin from her body because she was too skinny. So the husband offered to donate some of his own skin. However, the only skin on his body that the doctor felt was suitable would have to come from his buttocks.

The husband and wife agreed that they would tell no one about where the skin came from, and requested that the doctor also honor their secret. After all, this was a very delicate matter.

After the surgery was completed, everyone was astounded at the woman's new beauty. She looked more beautiful than she ever had before! All her friends and relatives just went on and on about her youthful beauty!

One day, she was alone with her husband, and she was overcome with emotion at his sacrifice. She said, "Dear, I just want to thank you for everything you did for me. There is no way I could ever repay you."

"My darling," he replied, "think nothing of it. I get all the thanks I need every time I see your mother kiss you on the cheek."