Story of My Wallet

It is troublesome to lose an important document or money....but to lose quite a few very important documents and of course monetary in the form of cash or credit cards is a different matter. What I'm talking about is about losing my wallet. Oh my god....what hassle I have to go through to sort this mess....
I was attending a curriculum review workshop in UiTM Shah Alam last week when I lost it. The thing is the last time I remembered having my wallet was the the morning before the day I realize I lost it. Like I said I was in Shah Alam all day attending this workshop. This is not the mechanic kind of a workshop! Don't even imagine I was bending or lying over the floor repairing some cars...not that kind of workshop but it is like a conference or seminar or something like that...anyway...when I got back from Shah Alam that evening (prior to the day I realize I lost it) I can't remember whether I tossed it on the table like usual...I was so knackered that evening...the following morning as I was preparing to go back to Shah Alam....it was Friday morning...as I was rushingly putting things into my pocket I realize I couldn't find my wallet. All hell broke loose...I told my poor wife to please look my wallet in every possible nook and cranny of the house..As I was getting late I left my wife on her mission alone...As I was making such a ruckus in the house my parents both got involved to a certain degree to look for my 'missing' wallet.
Back in Shah Alam I can't understand a single word that came out from the lecturers that morning as I was busy thinking back my steps the day before. At the first break I did not even join the breakfast as I traced my steps....computer room, faculty office, the cafetaria, prayer room and even the toilets! No sign of my wallet. My hope starts to dwindle slowly. Even after my colleague announced about my missing wallet before the lecture/workshop recommence there were no answer. Only people were asking 'How much is in the wallet?"....my hope was dwindling faster...After Friday prayer I consigned myself to defeat....I went to the police station. Embarassingly as all my money was in the wallet and even my ATM and credit cards were in it, I have no means to get cash. Nor do I have any cash on me. I found out I have to pay RM2 to get receipt for the re-application of Driver's Licence. To report the loss of Identity Card is free but not the driver's licence. I was dumbfounded. How can I get RM1 let alone RM2 at that time? I knew there was no cash in my car but I said to the officer let me have a look in my car first. What I was doing was only to buy time to think on how to obtain the money. Should I just cancel or go back to UiTM and borrow's someone's money? UiTM wasn't that far but it was troublesome and everybody were in the lecture hall anyway. At last I decided to go back in and put the saddest face that I can muster and hope that the officer can exempt me from paying it...RM2 for god's sake! It was really embarassing! Anyway just as I was trying to gather my courage to say it to the officer a 'makcik' who was there earlier than me, she was reporting some sort of accident occured to her son, became my saviour. She said "How much do you need, nak?". With a face so red with embarassment I said gratefully "RM2, makcik". "Takpela nak ambik 2 ringgit ni makcik kasi". Thanking her profusely I took the money and finally got my report. (Thank you makcik whoever you are). It is quite rare nowadays to find a good Samaritan like this makcik.
So when I came back home I again checked my car, went through the house with my wife concentrating in my room and the rooms that I have been to since the day before but to no avail. My mother even checked the car again. At this point I gave up totally. I've looked everywhere that I could but my effort was a waste.
So I started to think on how to get the replacement of all the important documents that I lost. You know how much does it cost to replace your ID card/MyKad? If it was not stolen or robbed then to lose it for the first time cost you RM 110, second time RM 220 and third and subsequently RM 330!! I was quite depressed at that time when I found out about this. In the wallet was about RM400. So not only I lost that amount but I will have to pay extra to get other things that I lost. The driving licence apparently will cost me RM 50. I did go on Sunday to JPN to replace my MyKad but my mother-in-law told me she has a friend in JPN that might be able to help me. I almost forked out RM110 for the card but the officer said that was my second loss since 12 years old! As I can't remember I did not argue. But looking in my new wallet there were less than RM220. Like I said all my cards were in the 'old' wallet. So I called my wife to come and give me some money (my poor wife hehehe) but after she discussing it with her mom she said for me to come back.
Unfortunately the following day she told me that her friend took unpaid leave for 2 months and so I had to apply for the card and pay RM220. Nevermind-lah I thought. This weekend I will do it. My mother in law also helped me with my driving licence application as she has a friend who has 'inside' contact with JPJ. Again she couldn't get the licence as she needs my signature and a passport-size photograph. So on the following day (Tuesday) as I was relatively free that day I woke up early to do all these things. After taking shower, I came out look in my closet and was thinking what to wear today...Picked the pair of trousers I wore the day I last saw my wallet. Wore it and suddenly I felt something at the backpocket. MY WALLET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You must thought I must be very careless, blind or even stupid (maybe all!). For your info I did check my trousers but what I did was I just felt the trousers, which was hanged in the closet, with both of my hands. I did not take it out. My wife did that as well. So how come both of us missed it? God only knows....maybe when it was hanged (using the hanger) it got stuck on the upper part of the hanger...you know the point where the trousers are folded on the hanger...I was only feeling the part beneath it.....So I did not drop it nor misplaced it and nobody took it. It was all because I did not look for it properly! But I did not care as I found it. Got my cash back, saved them from being use to pay for the MyKad and driving licence, and saves me time from going to JPN and JPJ! But I have to make another ATM card and I can't do anything about my credit card as they're overseas card. I won't go back there just to get a new one. Guess I have to start paying the credits and close the account. It was also embarassing but at least if people ask me what to do if they lost their wallet I know the answer!!

Ezam : From UMNO to PKR to GERAK and back to UMNO

The last few days we have been shocked....well not really shocked but maybe slightly surprised to hear Mr Ezam Mohd Nor rejoined UMNO after was initially sacked by Tun Mahathir couple of years ago during the height of 'Reformasi'. He was known to be the right-hand man of Anwar Ibrahim and he followed his leader's footstep from being jailed to the formation of People's Justice Party (PKR). However last year, an internal conflict between him and Azmin Ali (currently Vice President of PKR) resulted in Ezam quitting PKR and formed GERAK (Movement for Democracy and Anti-Corruption). What exactly the quarrel was all about I have no idea. Last week he and 6 other former PKR members presumably his loyal supporters rejoined UMNO without condition after meeting with Pak Lah. The reason or one of the reason he gave was that Pak Lah has started to 'reform' the current government by reviewing the judiciary and anti-corruption agency and due to this he wanted to support and to be a part of this 'reformation'. Now this what really boggles and truthfully bugs me.
First of all as we all know he was quite influential during the formation and early days of PKR. He was one of the few people who were brave enough to criticise the government which lead to his detention in Kajang. He contested in 1999 election and although he lost he managed to reduce the majority from 40000 to 1000! He did not contest in 2004 as he had a court case on him at that time and again not in 2008 as he already quit PKR and although was asked to contest he refused. What I cannot understand the reason he quit PKR. Is it only due to an internal squabble? Being a politician isn't that a daily routine thing to deal with? Is it really that serious or was he just a cry-baby? To be honest he doesn't have to justify the reason for joining UMNO or forming GERAK but just explain in more detail of why he left PKR. I saw this article in this blog http://disertasi.blogspot.com/2008/06/pengakuan-ezam-mohd-nor.html and in this article Ezam explained about the rumours of him having a deal with UMNO for him to join UMNO. For me I accept the explanation and I never for a second ever thought that he would go low enough to have a deal to join UMNO being a charismatic leader of GERAK! That was really far from my mind. But I think the more logical thing to do is to explain why he left PKR. That is more important in my opinion to explain because if he never left PKR there will be no GERAK and there won't be any news of him rejoining UMNO! There is no need for him to explain why he joins UMNO as anybody can create a noble reason or an excuse to join UMNO. And to be honest if not because of the Opposition pressure and victory on the last election Pak Lah might not even strive for this 'reformation'. We will see how long can Pak Lah continue this good effort though...yes I'm not condoning it and in fact I welcome it but it doesn't mean I need to 'jump wagon' straight away! Well that is if Pak Lah still continue to be at the helm of our government...
I am quite disappointed with Ezam's action more because he is a charismatic leader and can be influential but again politicians are politicians. One minute you can predict their action and the next second they do exactly the opposite of what you think they might do....I wish him all the best though...I really hope despite being in UMNO he continues with his principles and not becoming a mule to certain people....Wallahu'alam..