Security problems

There’s a joke for those who are worried over security, “poon hei mataliu chi” in Cantonese, which translates into “move into a police station to stay”!

Well, the one and only goldsmith shop in Pusing is directly opposite the police station. A man with a parang was foolish enough to try and rob the old boss. When his wife screamed, he left empty-handed into a waiting car driven by an accomplice. The poor man had head injuries.

It was a good thing that nothing was taken, otherwise the police will be getting another round of bad publicity. Being in charge of security is a thankless task – nobody will show appreciation when nothing happens and you will get the blame if something happens!

Anyway, this reminds me of when we lost the car, which was parked in the compound of the former Perak Chinese Maternity Hospital. After Cheng’s medical examination by her aunt, she had to go for an X-ray done. Dr. Lee suggested that we go to PCMH because of the ample parking space. I was feeling sleepy and thought about waiting in the car but decided to wait with SP in the waiting area. We were there for only half an hour and when we came out, we couldn’t find the car! The thought that went through my mind was “unbelievable that we could lose a car which was actually within our sight if only we were mindful”! Anyway, when we got to the guardhouse at the entrance, we found the guard and a friend, having a nap, with the louvered windows half closed!

That was 5 years ago and I had written a letter to M’kini signing off as ‘Carlost Santana’! How time flies!

Just got back from the estates in Selama, Kedah. Yesterday evening, the contractor already informed us that several rows of oil palms were harvested by thieves on May 1, when workers were supposed to be off on Labour Day.

This was despite harvesting interval changed from 20-day to 12-day! For those uninitiated, palm oil fruits must be ripe to be accepted by oil mills. Part of the blame should go to the collection centres for accepting fruits from those who came in motorbikes and private vehicles who were willing to accept low prices.

Today, when we arrived, there were two guys supposedly fishing from a small stream within the estate. Later, there was a car with a few guys who sat down to play cards. We know who were the likely culprits but it is a ‘cat and mouse’ game, which being from out of town, we are natural losers. Access through the estate was granted out of goodwill and to block it off will backfire. Even to be able to catch them red-handed had been known to be fatal, like what happened to an estate owner in Perak.

It was only recently that my wife welcomed my assistance – as driver, for company and to show the would-be thieves that she is not alone, not that I can do much when confronting them. Occupational risk increases with rising palm oil prices.