What?

For many animal loving evangelical Christians the problem of who is going to look after their pets when the rapture comes is upsetting to say the least.

For those who aren’t aware of what the rapture is, it is a belief in some Christian doctrines that believers will be whisked up to join Jesus in the sky leaving non believers on earth to suffer a seven year reign of terror under the anti-Christ.

Now some entrepreneurial atheists have come up with a novel idea to solve the problem of the abandoned pets and have created a website, ‘eternal-earthbound-pets’ to put animal lovers who are destined for heaven in touch with animal loving atheists who aren’t going anywhere.

The idea is that those bound for heaven can find an earthbound atheist to look after their beloved pet when they are whisked away for a better life.

All those who have signed up to take the pets in are self confessed sinners, blasphemers and atheists so the pet owners can relax in the knowledge that there’s no chance of them being saved.

Read more here.

Shaolin Wood

In the late 80s, the golden age of Hong Kong cinematic productions opened my eyes to Shaolin Kung Fu.

Austere grey robed monks ambled across pebble strewn backroads and wastelands, ready to defend life and morality with well placed kicks and deft palm strokes.

My eyes widened with each timbre beam sundered and each rival floored with a the strike of a thousand palms.

But today, I believe the monks have met their true rival. A wood that can never be touched or softened.

A shaolin wood.


On August 17, eight contestants of a local beauty pageant took part in a Swimsuit fashion show in front of the main gate of the Shaolin Monastery.

The contestants sashayed and strutted their stuff in front of monks sworn to celibacy and a life of eternal purity.

To the monks at 少林寺Chán Shaolin Monastery at Song Shan near Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China. My heart goes out to you.

It appears that even monkhood cannot save you from the deathly blue balls syndrome.

Knee Jerk Diatribe

In a stunning show of organisational incompetence, SMRT delivered extreme disappointment once again.

At approximately 6.20pm on 31 August 2009, Northbound trains were completely disrupted flooding Raffles and City Hall stations with massive crowds. Subsequent overland travel by buses of said corporation were over-taxed as commuters struggled to find alternative routes home on bus routes.

Yes, there will be reasons to explain this "disruption" but be they technical, human errors or suicide are not important and I'll address this later.

Firstly, I would like to congratulate SMRT on first quarter FY2010 net profits of $48.2m announced on 31 July 2009. In a year of severe recession and plunging consumer spending, this report of net profit is nothing short of an economic and financial miracle.

One might think, that this $48.2 million dollars be put to good use through capital re-investment and infrastructure upgrading and maintenance. I would imagine that in order for such amazing year-on-year growth to continue, these profits must be used to update and upgrade both man and machine.

That said, should this disruption be caused by a track fault or technical issue, SMRT would have absolutely no logical or rational defence for such an occurrence. After all, these issues occur with such regularity (every 3 weeks) you would think that SMRT had difficulty affording regular care for their rail networks.

If the slowdown and halt in Northbound train services was the result of human error, you would think that such amazing profits translated to incredible bonus pay cheques for rank and file workers. With the amount of revenue available to SMRT, the company would be able to pay for top notch train operators and service crew. Hence, "human error" should be minimised, after all, by that same token, our well-paid ministers are nothing short of infallible.

If the stop in services was caused by a suicide. I offer my condolences and I beseech this GLC to implore the authorities to reconsider social and economic policies that are leading a percentage of the citizenry to such drastic acts of self termination.

Few issues to note, REFUNDS offered by SMRT within 3 days are not compensation enough for time costs and opportunities lost.

SMRT, a company of considerable scope and girth, offering a portfolio of bus AND train services are completely and disproportionately incompetent in organising shuttle bus services for affected routes. Marshaling a fleet of buses to ferry affected passengers to stops along the train route would have made more sense than offering a "cop-out" cash refund.

If you consider the magnitude of stupidity involved, the mind boggles.

In a city-state where the Minister Mentor boasts of a 20 minute ride from one end of the country to another, this writer took 2 hours to get home from city CBD to the country's center.

When you start to put the pieces of the puzzle together, it's not difficult to understand the average Singaporean psyche. When you work 12 hour days for economic progress, survival and little job security, and it takes you over 1 hour to get home just in time to see your kids go to bed. Why bother having children at all?

Like the philosophical riddle- "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?", one has to wonder, if the children never see their parents around, do they exist?

When you start to add up the policies that have led to the strain on public transport infrastructure, you can understand that it's not complete inaptitude on the part of SMRT management.

In a country where the ruling party makes simplistic decisions on economic and foreign talent policies (more inputs = more output therefore more GDP), it doesn't take Einstein to figure out that the MRT networks are currently bursting at the seams with the overload. SMRT will never be able to make allowances and plan contingencies as a result of untenable government foreign labor policies.

When SMRT Corp began operations in August 1987, transport planners obviously did not account for the ridiculous importation of over 1 million "RESIDENTS" that would eventually tax and over burden the transit system.

There are 4 train types currently in service:
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries C151, capable of taking 1920 passengers. Used since 1987.
- Siemens C651 Cars, with a capacity for 1920 passengers as well, in service since 1994.
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries & Nippon Sharyo C751B, used since 2000.
- Alstom Metropolis C830, 931 passengers, servicing the circle line since May 2009.

My point is this, if train capacities remained the same throughout the years, with MINIMAL change to train frequency since our FT boom, imagine the strain to the 22 year old system.

I offer you this to consider
- if you pay your transport minister SGD2.5 million per year, should you expect better transport planning?
alternatively
- if the transport council approves yearly fare hikes where the SMRT Corporation can earn $48.2 million profit during the "worst recession since the great depression", should you expect excellent train service?

Finally, have we reached this numbness with the "bitter medicine" that we no longer care or expect minimum standards from our elite civil "servants" or govt-linked corps like SMRT and Temasek Holdings?

Do we still even care if we're getting fucked over or are we just lying there like the dutiful wife for yet another round of marital rape?

Genius Architecture

This is the entrance to the MRT (metro system for you international readers). It's not exactly revolutionary architecture in terms of design or aesthetics.

Quite possibly designed by the man who drew up the architectural plans for ION ORCHARD (the building in the background), the dome shaped entryway with positive meniscus glass configuration is a SCIENTIFIC MARVEL.

Why you ask?

At 200km north of the equator, Singapore enjoys clear blue skies and an ambient average daily temperature of a warm 32 degrees celcius. The unrelenting sunlight allows many Singaporean women to develop hot, luxurious tans- giving East-asian women living in this jewel of the orient their trademarked sarong party yummy qualities so beloved by ang-moh (western) men.

Ok. We've established: Singapore is hot. The minions on this little islet are inundated with powerful sunrays daily.

Science 101: Positive Meniscus lens
A positive meniscus series of glass panels placed in a dome configuration like the one featured in the picture at the start of the article achieves roughly the same effects of this home-made solar death ray.

Archimedes created something similar in 212BC, the power of 112 rays of sunlight on ONE single focused point. Here's the catch, the Archimedean death sun didn't have the technical and technological tolerances of our modern day geeks.

And while THANKFULLY, the opening uses glass panels instead of reflecting mirrors. The dome shape configuration performs admirably focusing disparate rays of sunlight into ONE FOCUSED POORLY VENTILATED AREA.

THANK YOU GENIUS ARCHITECT OF THE TEMPERATE WESTERN NATIONS FOR CREATING THIS HELLISH INFERNO OF AN ENTRANCE.

We've established:

• Singapore is hot
• We get A LOT OF SUN
• It's hard to stay cool in sunny Singapore
• Did I mention it stays like this ALL YEAR ROUND?

WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU DESIGN SOMETHING LIKE THIS YOU MORON?

Thank goodness the connecting tunnel to Wisma Atria has re-opened. Else I would have to find out where you live and nuke your home with an Archimedean Death Sun weapon...

This just in: Japanese Scientist Invents Breast Enlargement Ringtone

Dubbed "ROCK MELON" ringtone, Dr. Hideto Tomabechi discovered that the subliminal sounds of babies crying amongst other sounds causes a woman's breast to expand and enlarge. Test sounds involved in the experiment increased the breast size of one subject by 3 cm.



Addendum: MSN Convo

tamber says:

• what the eff

percevale says:

• yep
• I love the japanese
• AND DISCOVERY CHANNEL
• for recognising the life altering effects of such a scientific breakthrough

tamber says:

• LOL

percevale says:

• Cure for cancer? Who gives a fuck. Mankind can now enlarge breasts with their handphones
• i wonder what happens to manboobs when guys in the vicinity hear the tone
• or is it something the woman has to listen to in private...

When life gives you lemons...

Make lemonade.

So goes the saying.

But what if those lemons were rotten?

I don't want to serve rotty lemonade really.

We can't change the cards we are dealt. Only how we play the hand.

Problem is God/Fate/Destiny/whatever doesn't play cards.

He plays the dice.

So what now?

This just in: An example of Singapore's Shining Civil Service

Heard from a friend of mine who was having some family woes:

He had spoken to Mr Foo S. T., an officer with HDB-
X- "Hi, I'd like to initiate a special appeal. The flat is fully paid for, I want to buy out my father's portion."
HDB- "Why?"
X- "He's an undischarged bankrupt, he needs the money for living expenses and to feed his new family. My mom lives in Australia, a citizen there. They're divorced."
HDB- "Ah.. read the regulations on our website www.hdb.gov.sg the regulations are there."
X- "I understand, I'm not yet 35.. but i don't have a family nucleus either."
HDB- "Then you have to read our regulations. They clearly state.."
X- "I understand, I'm asking for your advice."
HDB- "Only other way besides reading the regulations at www.hdb.gov.sg, is that your parents have to die. Then you can buy your own flat."
X- "BUT i already OWN IT."
HDB- "Sorry. They have to dead. Or you can read our regulations at www.hdb.gov.sg."

That new mattress had better be nothing short of a miracle mattress

Man.. this sucks.

Read about it here.

This week's Badvertising: Kellogg's Cereal

I'm a fitness freak. I endorse meal replacements. I DO NOT ENDORSE IRRESPONSIBLE MEAL REPLACEMENTS.

Whenever I replace a meal, it's calibrated for a calorie count that takes into account nutritional values like protein, fat and vitamin counts- To make up for the total carbohydrate calorie deficit and to ensure my body's defenses are kept high with required vitamins and minerals.

What Kellogg is asking you to do is eat a high carb, low nutrition (where's the veges mate?) meal. ONE BOWL FOR ONE MEAL IS NOT HEALTHY.

Yes, you will lose weight BUT YOUR BODY GOES INTO FAT STORING MODE. Once you're off that ridiculous diet- you'll put back your fats upon returning to your meal routines.

Please, exercise some caution. And err.. do exercise- that's THE ONLY pant downsizing activity. All others is bullcrap.

Reading between the lines

According to the Straits Times:

Mr Lee said he did not think Singapore was an affluent country, the Korean daily reported.

'Besides, as a government official, I have to lead by example. Singapore's senior officials fly economy class, not first class, for flights under six hours,' he was quoted as saying.

Does this mean that for flights over 6 hours, THEY DO FLY FIRST CLASS? Why not business class?

Here's a relative comparison:

A Singapore-Melbourne flight is 6 hours (not including tail winds). As a frequent traveller down under, the flight in economy class is relatively painless, I watch 3 movies, some episodes of "Queer Eye" or "House" and I touch down: I'm still refreshed.

If you look at all the countries within the 6 hour flight zone, that would mean that essentially over 70% of all senior official flights are FIRST CLASS (taking into account our major trading partners and allies).

Thanks for this token show of frugality.

Warning: Dumb Blonde ahead

This video is evidence why after over 1 million views, the nerd market is still a very relevant and lucrative segment.

No thanks

Trim- Yes. Shave? NO.

Good grief.. shave your groin.. what the @#$%!?

BREAKING NEWS: OOPS..

I was wondering, since Mdm. Ho Ching has stepped down, couldn't she just clear leave like every other employee in the country (isn't that what we do after tendering our resignation)? Rather than make half-crocked decisions to "Buy high and sell low"?

According to the NEW YORK TIMES:

Analysts at Goldman raised BofA from neutral to buy and added the company to their so-called conviction list of recommended stocks. Analysts at Citigroup kept a buy rating on the shares, but had positive things to say about the integration of BofA and Countrywide, the troubled mortgage lender it recently bought, as well as its capital-raising plans.BofA is using “at-the-market” stock sales to raise a large part of its additional capital cushion. That means the shares are quietly dribbling out in unknown quantities. Reading the tea leaves — and watching the volume of BofA stock trades — analysts at Citi, led by Keith Horowitz, estimate it has already raised $3 billion to $4 billion from selling new stock.

But Temasek, the investment arm of Singapore, could be feeling a bit of seller’s remorse. The fund recently reported selling its entire stake in BofA — at an enormous loss, by all accounts — some time before March 31. Since then, BofA’s stock is up about 74 percent.

OOPS..

Click the title or here for the full NYT article.

Asian Values

Once upon a Cultural Studies lecture many years ago, my college Professor Brown had this to say:

Don't give me this bull shite about Asian values. The Kamasutra & tantric sex. Populations of 3 Billion in China. 1 Billion in India. There's definitely FUCKING going on in Asia. Decadent west.. hmpf..

This came to mind after a cursory glance of the comedy forum section of the 20th May 2009 issue of the Straits Times.

According to Mr. Steven Tan:
Besides providing accurate facts about STIs, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Aids, the programme also imparts useful skills to students, such as decision-making and the right places to obtain reliable information, as well as assertiveness and strategies on how not to succumb to persuasion.

I was truly heartened to learn that the students were taught that the best way to avoid STIs and Aids is to avoid casual sex, sex with multiple partners and unprotected sex, and to stay faithful to a partner within the context of marriage.

However, the students were subsequently taught how to use a condom.

While I understand HPB's good intention to curb the rising incidence of STIs among the young, I wish to express my concerns as a parent that students are being taught how to use condoms in school.

• It gives a mixed and confusing message. Is it not better to encourage students to avoid pre-marital sex altogether, since the programme also teaches that the use of condom is not 100 per cent safe?
• Students are not likely to heed or remember to practise safe sex just because they have attended a lesson on condom use.
• Even if they do use a condom, they are not likely - in the heat of the moment - to remember or follow the steps to use a condom correctly.

I truly appreciate the HPB's efforts for creating such a programme and hope that it will review and consider whether it is really necessary or useful to teach students how to use a condom.

This confuses, contradicts and compromises the good advice to avoid pre-marital sex as the only foolproof protection against STIs and Aids.

With this many people in Asia, you'd think learning how to use the condom would be a good thing no?

DICING WITH DEATH

How on earth is that news?!

Comment on the economy. Write commentary on how current policies to invigorate the local economy are NOT SHOWING FRUIT. Write about the plight of migrant workers and how local employers need to take classes on Business ethics 101. How is it news that "It's a common sight to see people falling or jumping into the Singapore River"!?

• Misstep sends student into water.
• Misstep sends commuter falling onto train tracks.
• Misstep sends pedestrian onto path of incoming car.
• Misstep sends maid off HDB flat onto pavement 20 floors below.
• Misstep sends slipper of heartland hubber into face of an ah beng- a fight ensues.

SEE A TREND!? Falling into the Singapore River when all signs point to common sense and intelligence telling you to be careful on steep wet steps IS NOT NEWS.

Anyway, the story goes on to talk about how Coral Secondary School Student Muhd Asyraf Azman lost his footing on a step along the Singapore River that had a hole in it.

I've been to the Singapore River. The steps are steep. The steps are wet. And the water is dirty. Stay away. How is it a SPECIAL REPORT: SINGAPORE RIVER HAZARDS.

Piranhas in the Singapore River (if there were. not saying there are). That's a hazard.

Steep, wet steps along the river. That's common sense- keep away or sit, stand, climb or play on those steps at your own risk.

A cup of clear, odorless acid. That's a hazard. Hot coffee with all the hallmark indications of a severe scalding if you spill some on yourself. That's common sense to exercise caution around a hot beverage.

P.S. I enjoyed the flotation device story that tested methods of what Mas Selamat might have used to get to Malaysia. It was definitely the kind of story I look forward to in the Sunday Plus. I was wondering if you would do an article on "HOW MANY TOILET ROLLS CAN BREAK A FALL FROM A THIRD STOREY WINDOW".

Realistic Long Term Investments

I've been writing love letters to Angelina Jolie. I send about 1 a week and roses fortnightly. Daily, I send her emails asking her if she has eaten well and whether she's had a good day.

I consider this a long term view on my investments. In time, my love to Angelina Jolie will bear fruit. Oh Angelina, how I've carried a torch for you since I saw you in Hackers. I've stuck steadfastly beside you since your breakout role and worshipped the countless silver screens upon which you've graced us with your presence.

Oh how others laugh and make jibes at my investments but I believe in time, my true love (no one, not even Brad can love you like I do) will bear fruit and I will stand vindicated.

But, "Be still." says my rational mind. "Are these realistic long term investments?"

Never has an article reminded me so succinctly, the love and the torch I bear for Angelina. I must take the long term view I tell myself, but never have my logical thoughts been louder.

I read, breath in throat, as Finance Minister Shanmugaratnam spoke about the US$ 2.3 billion to 4.6 billion loss. I recalled how you told us that it was a "long term investment" when others questioned its prudence as a purchase during a collapsing global economy. I wept, as Temasek gave up and lost money in their other "long term investments". Oh, how the course of true love never did run smooth. I'm a true blue Singaporean it seems, my love for Angelina is the same. I see the parallels. My love will see me victorious.

As others panicked and gave up their stocks in questionable banks and firms, Temasek Holdings held true and continued to, as the Financial Times put it "Buy high and sell low."

But no, I won't panic Ms. Jolie, I'll double my efforts to woo you no matter the cost.

Many people still laugh at me as I continue to invest in my pursuit of you Ms. Jolie.

But when I invest, I'm investing for 10, 15, 20 years. It may look like I'm making a loss, but I have not borrowed my emotions to invest- my heart is true. I will ride the storm and in time, make beautiful babies with you.

"Be still my heart," sayeth my rational mind again.

"Is this a realistic long term investment?"

Angles & Deus

No it's not a typo. Yes, this rant is semi-inspired by the movie- Angels & Demons.

I watched it last night. I'm not a fan of Dan Brown's books and while I am a conspiracy theory buff, his writings are poorly researched and referenced even as works of fiction.

Nevertheless, his portrayal and perspectives on the catholic church are mostly spot on.

My position as a lapsed catholic notwithstanding, I feel that Dan Brown's and subsequently the director Ron Howard's depiction of church and religion are something that have been hallmarks of why so many turn to atheism.

Religion in its man-made forms are so flawed and so prone to justifications that all the rites and traditions for our salvation (and subsequent secular benefits to the needy & hungry) are so heavily shadowed by the evils and divisions it encourages.

What really gets my goat is the religious war-cry: "God's will!" Lapsed though I may be, I do subscribe to the will of the Father. But I'll also extend this disclaimer: "Reliance on God's Will is NOT AN EXCUSE for common sense and logical reasoning to take leave."

I winced inwardly at one point during the encounter between this lady (catholic I assume) and a supporter of stem cell research.

Supporter: "Why do you deny the right to save lives of the sick and dying?"
Catholic lady: "We can't play God!"

That point and counterpoint provides a neat summary of this conundrum. We are interpreting God's Will from a human angle. The entire bible has been interpreted from a human angle. Even if we take at face value the perfection of Logos (The Word), our interpretations of Logos are far from it.

Human Angles & the Will of Deus: a top down philosophical and logical look at things:

• God gives us the ability to reason. (For you fundamentalists and literalists- You really think Adam and Eve could have taken the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge that belonged to an omnipotent and omniscience deity if He really didn't want us to have it?)
• God gives a free will- the power to make choices.
• With sentient and independent thought- Humans begin to conceptualise philosophy and begin scientific inquiry into how the world works. We want to touch the face of God (the divine).
  
• God is everlasting & eternal.
• The Bible/Torah/Quran is one book. Written from perspectives of humans. (Hands up how many took dictation from a tutor or teacher and still got the written work wrong somehow.)
• Just for fun: Sum of present human knowledge is in over 20 volumes of encyclopedias.
  
• Humans presume that whoever Deus/God is, He/She NEEDS our help in "fixing" the world.
• Religion begins to divide humanity because we each interpret holy writings in accordance to our own beliefs as we try to "fix" the world.
• Each sect of religion is the TRUE ONE.
• The premise that if one individual's version is the TRUE, it also holds true that all others are therefore false.
• "God has spoken to me!" or alternatively "It's God's Will!", we must convert/cleanse/save, the unbelievers/infidels/heathens.
• We give birth to the Spanish Inquisition/Salem Witch Hunts/Modern day fundamentalist terrorism/whatever horrors committed in the name of God

My contention is that you don't need religion to act in accordance to morality and good conscience, for example:

Cloning

• Human angle on Morality: Who's responsible for that new life? Who takes priority- the original or the clone?
• Human angle on Good conscience: We should therefore ban complete human replication in good conscience. We however, retain the knowledge to duplicate healthy organs for replacement in the host to save lives.
• What Deus says through Religion: Ban it all. We shouldn't play God.

Then what the Fuck (pardon the french)? Should we nuke ourselves back to the stone ages? Discard all medical advances in health and technology?

Consider for a minute that for all of THE BIBLE'S "perfection", nowhere has the omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent God EVER dictated to us how we should behave when it comes to controversial new technologies like stem cell research and cloning.

Neither has God said, "In time, the atom will lead to terrible destruction in your distant future, thou shalt not conduct atomic research."

If anything, the pursuit of science and discovery is one that God has encouraged and pre-ordained. Adam and Eve satisfied their curiousity by eating of the fruit. As sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, we satisfy our curiousity by continuious pursuit of the fruit of knowledge (science).

What God is looking for is the maturity to exercise that discovery and power responsibily and with the intention to benefit the rest of mankind.

Take this allegory:

• Noah, go build the ark to save lives, a flood is coming.
• Here are detailed blueprints and construction plans for the ark based on principles of physics and how wood is less dense than water (engineering/science for Godsakes- no pun intended).
• God didn't go: Noah, a flood is coming. Come, take 2 of each animal and walk onto my giant God-hands. I will keep you safe while I cleasnse the world of the nephilim.

Ignoring the story of faith against a mocking audience, the fable also tells the story of an inspired farmer (also the first drunk and possible inventor of wine- Go read the Bible again), with no prior knowledge of boat building technology and understanding of physics, built a vessel that was no only capable of long voyages but of sufficient bouyancy to keep thousands of species afloat.

Not to mention, the technology that would prevent the animals from conducting their "circle of life aka food chain" behaviors that would cause them to eat each other.

Anyone that claims God is against science and progress is out of their mind.

Breaking News: Shanghainese Woman freaks out when boyfriend refuses to buy her a car

A woman goes hysterical after her male companion refuses to buy her the car.

I found the original on youkou (a Chinese Youtube copy). I couldn't find a unadulterated version on youtube.

Translation:
Man: The car doesn't suit you
Woman: It does suit me!
Man: It's like this each time we go shopping. I'm not buying this car for you!

The woman then jumps into and drives the car up and down the showroom, ignoring her now frantic companion and salesman.

Finally he caves.
Man: Stop! Stop! I'll buy it! I'll buy it!

Why PAP will always win

As taken from the ST forum page, letter in full available here.

The Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) and its president, Ms Lee Bee Wah, conveyed refreshingly clear thinking in their courageous decision not to nominate Liu. It is crucial not to recognise the wrong individual or for the wrong reasons.

- Lim Pueh Joo (Mdm)

Hi Mdm Lim Pueh Joo,

Thanks for the letter and I hope you continue to enjoy your estate upgrading programs and impositions on your civil liberties. We need more stalwarts like yourself as a bulwark against rising sentient thought in this country.

We need automatons that will take all our words at face value and regurgitate them as if it were personally held opinion and God given fact.

Thanks for your eternal support.

Best Regards,
Opinion Engineering Executive
Ministry of Public Relations

From TODAY Online: MP had no empathy

It started with Member of Parliament (MP) Seng Han Thong being set on fire. Then came MP Denise Phua who was threatened by a rag-and-bone man. Recently, MP Cynthia Phua was subjected to a display of violence by a constituent.

Although these incidents are disturbing and a cause for concern, I wonder whether the constituents are solely to be blamed.

Allow me to relate my personal experience.

In February 2001, my older son died in a naval accident whilst serving National Service. In that year, my younger son was due for enlistment. A friend, a very active grassroots member, suggested that I approach my MP, for help in exploring the possibility of getting an exemption for my younger son. I was reluctant but he went ahead to fix an appointment for me at the Meet-The-People Session (MPS). I subsequently relented and he accompanied me there. It was in March 2001. That was my first appearance at a MPS, and it was to be my last.

I waited until midnight before I could meet the MP. Prior to this, he was given the case paper which detailed the objective of the meeting and the circumstances of my case.

When I entered the room, his first remark was “Yes, what can I do for you?”. There was no attempt at offering a word of sympathy or condolence. I then related my situation and said that both my wife and I were very traumatised.

His next remark “What traumatic, after two months, you won’t be traumatic?”. With that, I decided to end the meeting. And with that, my respect for him hit ground zero. I was too stunned and grief-stricken to react. Someone who was less-controlled and less-measured than me could have flown into a rage and become violent.

MPs are elected or appointed to serve the constituents. People who attend the MPS are those who have real problems and need help. In a lot of instances, they are stressed, distressed and troubled. What they need is a caring soul, a helping hand, a gentle voice, and words of hope and encouragement. To dispense these, MPs need good interpersonal skills and a high EQ. Arrogance, a patronizing, chiding and belittling attitude, aloofness and lack of empathy will only trigger acts of rashness and violence. Many of our politicians have a high IQ, some are scholars. However, a high IQ is not the only attribute needed in a political career. A high EQ is equally, if not more critical, especially when it comes to dealing with the constituents.

In my case, I would have felt good if my MP could have been a warm and caring person. If he could have been empathetic, consoling and helpful. All these qualities can only come from the heart, not from the mind.

How many of our MPs can stand up and be counted for this?