Insanely Me

Dumpling

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 03:31:00 +0000

HAPPY DUMPLING FESTIVAL FOLKS!

My Journey as an Optometrist

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 17:03:00 +0000

When I first graduated with my Optometry degree, there was a wave of optimism in my mind that I would be helping a lot of people with their eyes. However, this was stunted to a certain extent when I started working in UK with an optical chain outlet. It dawned on me that working as an Optometrist in a commercial setting is way different to working in a hospital setting. While you still more or less provide most of the optometric services that you have learnt in University, you are also obligated to work on the economics of the field and consider monetary needs of your employer. As a result, some sort of clinical cannibalism had to be done. An eye test that would normally take 30 - 40 minutes to complete had to be done in less then 15 minutes. I then learnt that I need to be more cohesive in my routine and be more picky on the routine that I should do and not do for the benefit of my patients and even if I do pick up an abnormality, I won't have the luxury of further diagnosis but to refer the patient on to the Hospital for further investigation. Working in the hospital however was absolutely more satisfying for the Optometrist in me, since you are exposed to more clinical practices (albeit at lower remuneration). I was thankful for that short stint that I had at the hospital as I managed to sample the experience of working in both a commercial and clinical setting in the UK.

With high hopes, I returned to Malaysia to start my private practice in Optometry. My first few month totally shattered me. I knew that by returning to Malaysia, I would have to take things slow as setting up a full optometric service opticians would cost a lot of money and would have to be done in phases. However, what I could not take was the total lacking of public awareness of what an Optometrist does. The general public had no idea what an Optometrist was and what we could offer to them as compared to the grandfather optician or qualified opticians in the field. Most treat an optical outlet like buying a pair of shoes, they only come in expecting a pair of glasses and nothing else. Even the big chains do not offer much primary eye care services but are totally retail orientated (even till now). Some of my patient didn't even know that there is a need to take up a degree course to become an Optometrist. While some even thought that you do not need a qualification to test eyes.

For the first few years of practice I had been scolded many times by my patients when I informed them of probable eye disease that they may have. The reaction that was given to me was always the same that is I am not a doctor and have no right telling them they have any eye condition and that they only wanted me to provide them with a pair of glasses and nothing else. Of course on every case I bit the bullet and insisted that further examination should be done before any glasses could be dispensed. Most times I would be reprimanded severely and with the patient walking out of my practice in fume.

8 years on, I persevered, adding more diagnostic equipment along the way. I would say that I am a machine or two away from my ideal optometric setting. Of course, the perception of the general public towards Optometrist are starting to catch up as well. One of the major challenges that I constantly face is a psychological war that I have with myself, one part of me tells me it is economically not sound to invest in diagnostic machinery that you could hardly charge since the public are still much ignorant about what we can do and of course the only way to convince them would be to give them full service at nominal or no charge, the optometrist side of me tells me to push for it since its what an optometrist should do. Of course the optometrist side of me wins at most times but of course the economics side of me dictates the pace of upgrading.

Did I regret coming back to Malaysia to practice? No, because I believe that what i do here means more to the patients that I see now (even if they may not realise it) then back in UK in which the patients already expect such services in the first place.

Although full Optometric facilities in a private practice setting is hardly to be seen in abundance in Malaysia, I am hopeful that one day it would be THE norm.

I for one is almost getting there....

Tonight....

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:07:00 +0000

... the wifey said I am boring.

2012

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:08:00 +0000

Wishing Everyone Out There A Happy 2012

Carl Zeiss PhotoFusion : The new self-tinting lens by Zeiss

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:35:00 +0000

Carl Zeiss will be launching the new self-tinting lens dubbed PhotoFusion soon in Malaysia.

It is claimed that the lens react 20% faster and fade up to 2x faster then current photochromic lenses currently under its belt.

According to documentation, PhotoFusion lenses are very clear (92%), while outside in the sunshine the lenses turn very dark (11%).

Here's a video on the product by Carl Zeiss

PhotoFusion is available in all Carl Zeiss Single Vision and also Progressive lens range.

Although not launched yet, it is currently being sold at all Carl Zeiss Specialist outlet throughout Malaysia.

Check them out now~!

Korea

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 06:00:00 +0000

4 Days and counting................

PLUS Highway Speed Trap

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:40:00 +0000

Was made aware of this by the Wifey in regards to speed traps on the highway.
So just to share it out for those frequent travellers out there.

PLUS North Bound (ke Utara)
*Under a bridge at about 456km, Sg Buloh junction.
*Under a bridge at about 459km, Bukit Lanjan interchange.
*Under the overhead restaurant at Sg Buloh.
*Under the last bridge before Sg Besi toll at 309.2km.
*Under the bridge at 296.5km, Bangi junction.
*Under the newly constructed bridge at 289.0km, after Nilai North junction.
*Under the bridge at 286.5km, Nilai North junction.

PLUS South Bound (ke Selatan)
*Below signboard at about 454.6km and 455.2km, Sg Buloh layby.
*Under the bridge after Subang junction at 11.3km.
*Under the bridge at 22km, Bukit Lanjan junction.
*Under the bridge before Mint hotel, Sg Besi Toll. 80km/h only!
*Under the bridge at 302.8km, Kajang junction.
*About 1km south of Bangi junction, both south and north bound outer lanes
*At 296.5km and 297km, Bangi junction.
*Under the newly constructed bridge at 289.0km, before Nilai North junction.
*At 285.5km and 285.8km, Nilai North junction.
*On center divider at 251.8km and 253km after Senawang junction.
*After Alor Gajah junction at 213.9km, next to water theme park.
*Behind the right hand crash barrier at 198.4km.

Elite Central Link East/North Bound
*On left hand side at 4.8km after Batu Tiga/Shah Alam exit
*Under the overhead restaurant at USJ/Hicom junction about 8.5km. 90km/h zone!
*Below the bridge before USJ/Hicom junction at 10.5km.

Elite Central Link West/South Bound
*Under the overhead restaurant at USJ/Hicom junction about 8.5km. 90km/h zone!
*Below the bridge before USJ/Hicom junction at 10.5km.
*After exit from KLIA toll to the airport, below Jalan Pekeliling flyover.90km/h

NKVE East/North Bound
*300m before Jalan Duta toll, 60km/h!
*Behind crash barrier on the left when going towards Jalan Duta toll, at 24.9km, 80km/h!
*Below bridge at Damansara Junction, 17.5km

NKVE West/South Bound
*Behind crash barrier on the left when leaving Jalan Duta toll from KL, at 25.3km and 25.7km, 80km/h!
*From Jln Duta, below the bridge, 23km, 80km/h zone!
*From Jln Duta, at the underpass at Sg Buloh Y-junction, 22km.
*Behind crash barrier at Damansara Junction, 17.7km and 16.8km
*Below railway bridge at 11.2km
*Under the bridge at Shah Alam junction.

Kesas East Bound
*Under the bridge at 44.8km, downhill run after Puchong junction.

Kesas West Bound
*At Sg Besi side of East Bound Toll. Kuala LumpurCity
*Jalan Duta; below the flyover at the Damansara junction, 70km/h zone.

Klang
*Dual carriageway between Klang and Port Klang. Towards Klang direction, at about 13km mile stone. 70km/h only!

East Coast
*Road sign at Karak highway is inadequate especially at Y junction; if you are unfamilar, go slow.
*East bound, downhill run after Raub junction.
*Maran, 60km/h zone.
*Paya Bungor, 70km/h zone.

SPEED TRAPS IN JOHOR
South Bound
*Tangkak junction.
*Under the bridge after Yong Peng

North junction
*at 97.3km.
*Ayer Hitam junction.
*Sedenak junction.

SPEED TRAPS IN PERLIS, KEDAH AND PENANG

North Bound
*Around Ayer Hitam in 60km/h zone.
*Before Perwaja Steel.
*Sg Petani junction.
*Between Seberang Jaya junction and Sg Dua Toll.
*PenangBridge at island end. Speed limit 80km/h.

South Bound
*Penang Bridge Island end. Speed limit 80km/h.
*About 2km before Juru Toll Speed limit 90km/h.

SPEED TRAPS IN PERAK

North Bound
*Under the bridge at 197.1km and 198.8km, after Kamunting Junction.
*Under the bridge at 204.3km, after Kamunting Junction.
*Under the bridge at 208km, before Kamunting Junction.
*Under the bridge at 214.8km, before Kamunting Junction.
*Ipoh Vista Point at about 263km. Speed limit 80km/h.
*Under the bridge at 271km, Ipoh North Junction.
*Under the bridge at 274.4km, Ipoh South Junction.
*Under the bridge at 286.9km, Simpang Pulai Junction.
*Under the bridge at 296km, Gopeng Junction.
*Under the bridge at 352.6km, after Sungkai Junction.
*Under the bridge at 353km, Sungkai Junction.
*Under the bridge at 373km, Slim River Junction.

South Bound
*Under the bridge at 199km, before Kamunting junction.
*Under the bridge at 241.9km, at Kalau Kangsar junction.
*Under the sign post at 296.1km, before Gopeng junction.
*Under the bridge at 297km, at Gopeng junction.
*Under the bridge at 300km, after Gopeng junction.
*Under the bridge at 308.6km, after Gopeng junction.
*Under the bridge at 372.6km, at Slim River junction.

A tale of 6%

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 04:34:00 +0000

6% : a very familiar figure when receiving bills be it astro, dining out, tm bill and the rest. Most of us don't like it but like any law abiding citizen, we are obligated to pay the service tax that is imposed by our Malaysian government upon every end user in the country.

So when the news that telco companies have decided to impose the same tax on prepaid users, there was of course a major uproar to it. For many years, in the name of competition, the telco's have absorbed this cost and have not charged the end user.

Is it wrong to pass the buck back to the end user now?

While thinking about this, do take note that post paid users have always been paying the service tax from long ago and even your tm landline has 6% imposed on the bill.

My personal opinion would be. WHY NOT?

Honestly speaking, as much as I don't like the imposed tax, we should not also deprived others of what is due to them. Of course one may say that this are huge corporate giants and making them richer at the extend of the poor is not right. However, using this philosophy only on the telco's are absurd. If that is the real case then the 6% tax should be abolished all together by all mega companies like Astro, TM, TNB and the likes. Just because the telco did not charge the 6% do not mean that it is our right to demand for it not to be charged in the future.

We are all spoilt brats blaming the company for it.

Instead, if indeed this is going to be a big issue, we should at least point our fingers at the government which imposed this tax upon us in the first place. Get them to waiver the 6% altogether. But wait, doing this would probably make the government bankrupt and we would then turn into another Greece. This is really a chicken and egg dilemma. On one hand the rakyat is feeling the heat from stagnating pay and inflationary pressures, the telco's also find themselves with deprived revenue for probable expansion to their business. This are all honest companies that have indeed provided us with good value. We have never had rates this cheap for our mobile usage ever and I am sure rates will only get better in the future.

I definitely think it's not right for the government to put their feet into telco's business measures. They didn't do anything when announced their rate hike, they shouldn't do anything now either. The government should instead plan austerity measures to help the rakyat in this lean times.

Stop the rot from it's roots.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:At the office

Fakes at Pavilion?

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:07:00 +0000

While having our mid morning coffee, my sister in law was relating to me a story that her sister told her not too long ago.

Apparently, one of her sisters patient is convinced that The Pavilion, famed with Prada's, Gucci's and many more exclusive designer brands are also selling fakes at premium prices.

The story started when the husband bought an LV bag for this lady.

One day the lady went to Paris for a holiday. And with Paris, one would not escape the chance of browsing at the famed Louis Vuitton outlet at Champ Élysées. As she entered the outlet, to her horror, one of the LV staff cut her LV bag strap with a scissors. Of course the lady threw out a fit seeing the lovely LV that was given to her by her loving hubby vandalized. However, the staff in the outlet was firm and told her that the LV bag that she was carrying was a fake. Of course she brought up the fact that the bag was indeed purchased at a genuine LV outlet in Malaysia. Nevertheless, the sales representative cared no word of hers and insisted that it was a fake. And this is not even coming from the branch manager in Paris but from the front desk sales representative. She was then later advices to go back to the LV outlet in Malaysia to seek an explanation if indeed it was bought there.

Of course all this while I would believe that the lady would have really felt small and humiliated as none of the working staff truly believed that she bought the bag from a legitimate LV outlet.

Hence, the moment she came back to Malaysia, the lady stormed into LV, at Pavilion and asked for an explanation. Lo and behold, the branch outlet instantly identified the product as a fake and simply gave an explanation that the fake could be due to an inside job. She was then asked to pick any bag in the outlet as compensation. (wait a minute here, you mean the manager can identify the bag so easily? If that's the case then what guarantee that any of the LV in the outlets are original in the first place?).

We did not dwell on the nitty gritty details that happened after that as we progressed through our conversation that morning.

If I were the lady, I would write a letter to the management of the company, cc them to the domestic trade and consume department, the consumer tribunal, the consumer association and any other related department that I can think off. Hell, I think I may even want to cc it to the prime ministers department!

If it is indeed true that even Pavilion outlets are selling fakes then non of us consumers are safe.

Good thing I buy most of my day to day needs at Jusco...........

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Kepong, while waiting for wife facial to be done

Pasar Malam Contact Lenses : Geo Lens and the likes of it

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 05:18:00 +0000

Recently I am sure many of you have observed the sudden mushrooming of colour and big eye contact lens stalls as we have our nightly stroll along our local pasar malam spots. You will see brands ranging from Geo lens, kinky eyes and much more fancy names associated with it.

This products are mainly bought by secondary school kids that for reason only known to puberty, grab them at the cheap. From my last visit, they are sold at a meager price of RM15 a pair. A big bottle of contact lens solution is more expensive then that!

Then there was this situation I bumped into while I was doing some shopping at Watson's. There is this group of about half a dozen secondary school girls, all clad in skimpy and tight fitting jeans or miniskirts browsing the contact lens solution area. Out of the group, I heard this girl teaching her friend on what product to buy and what not. To my amazement she told them to buy saline to wash their contact lens and not the standard multi purpose solution! The tone of her authority towards those kids could only be described as pure mistress like. I was telling myself, this is really a time bomb waiting to happen. On the way home, I regretted not voicing out towards the young kids on their misgivings.

This is but a small example of a malignant problem in society. Deep inside, I do not feel that authorities will do anything on the illegal sales of contact lens by non professionals in our country so I won't even try to shout about it. Probably the only thing that would turn this around would be a couple dozen of poor kids blinded by such contact lens sales and with the media blazing the news in force.

To those that understand Cantonese, I will leave this YouTube link regarding problems arising from cheap colored contact lens sales in hong kong for you to ponder upon.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Anual Practicing Certificate for Optometrist and Optician

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:10:00 +0000

Have you had the insecurity when you go into an optical outlet and wonder if the person that is serving you could not be a professional that he claims to be?

This is a common feeling nowadays by many patients of mine especially contact lens wearer that has been spooked with various negative press regarding the complications that may arise from improper contact lens care. Many of them would ask me if there is any way to identify if the person that is looking after you at the optical outlet is really licensed to do refraction on you.

If you are unsure of the difference between Optometrist and Optician, read here

Generally, there is 2 ways that you can identify if the outlet has a licensed practitioner either for eye refraction for glasses or for the dispense of contact lens or both.

Here i will be explaining on one of the ways (you need both to be absolutely sure).

The first method is via the Annual Practicing Certificate (APC) for Optometrist and Optician.

This is a certificate given out by the Malaysian Optic Council to all licensed practitioner and need to be renewed yearly. According to the Optical Act 1991, every practicing Optometrist and Optician needs to be registered with the Malaysian Optic Council to practice legally in Malaysia. This certificate needs to be displayed prominently at the practicing outlet as proof to the general public of the availability of a licensed practitioner in the outlet.

APC comes in two colour certification (blue colour APC for Optician and green colour APC for Optometrist). In the APC you will find the name of the practitioner along with his/her Mykad number, the date in which the certification is given and its expiration and the name and address of the premise in which he/she is practicing.

APC for Optometrist

APC for Optician (Juruoptik)

What can you as a consumer do if you do not see an APC in an Optical outlet?

You should ask for the APC to be shown to you, if they are not able to do so, then the outlet may be operating illegally. Even if it is shown to you, you must make sure that the person stated on the certification actually works in the outlet.

What if I suspect that the outlet is operating illegally? What is my right as a consumer?
The best way to handle this issue would be to lodge a complaint to the Tribunal of Consumer.

Next part i will talk about the Photo Name Certificate (PNC).

Gong Rumin winner of World Supermodel Contest 2010 China Leaked Nude Photo

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:21:00 +0000

Apparently this 26 year old Gong Rumin is a very popular model in China. She won the competition of World Super Model Contest 2010 China held in Hebei on 12/12/2010. This girl managed to beat 3000 other contestant all over China.

And can you guess what she did before she won the contest?? She took some naughty nude pictures (600+ to be exact).

It is said that the photos was taken when she was a beginner in the Model World.

The moral of the story - things you do from the past may come back and haunt you.

Boleh Jadi Buta

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 05:06:00 +0000

I stumbled upon an article recently while I was doing some research on Information Leaflets that I plan to do for work. Its an article by newsportal myMetro on Optometrist and Optician.

Although its in Bahasa Malaysia, its one of the few articles that one can find regarding this field.

Boleh jadi buta

Khamis, 10 Februari 2011

PETALING JAYA: Tindakan orang ramai yang terburu-buru membuat cermin mata di kedai tanpa merujuk kepada ahli optometri apabila penglihatan semakin kabur boleh memberi kesan buruk kepada mata termasuk berisiko menjadi buta.

Ini kerana jarak penglihatan yang semakin kurang jelas bukan sekadar disebabkan rabun, malah ia boleh berlaku disebabkan tanda awal penyakit seperti diabetes, tekanan darah tinggi, glukoma (masalah saraf optik mata) dan katarak.

Memburukkan keadaan, sebahagian juruoptik di kedai cermin mata tidak mempunyai tauliah pendidikan dalam bidang optometri tetapi sekadar mendapatkan sijil dikenali sebagai Fellow of the Association of Dispensing Opticians (Fado) dari luar negara dengan bayaran tertentu.

Dekan Fakulti Optometri Kolej Universiti Teknologi Antarabangsa Twintech (Twintech), Dr Nasuha Saabin berkata, jika mengikut etika, sijil Fado hanya melayakkan mereka memotong gelas membuat cermin mata saja bukan menjalankan pemeriksaan mata menggunakan sebarang peralatan termasuk menentukan tahap kekuatan kanta cermin mata.

“Jika mata sihat dan hanya mengalami masalah rabun tidak mengapa, namun jika penglihatan itu kabur disebabkan penyakit yang masih di peringkat awal maka ia membawa kesan buruk dalam jangka panjang.

“Disebabkan penglihatan tidak jelas pesakit hanya pergi membuat cermin mata manakala juru optik yang bertugas hanya menyiapkan cermin mata kerana mereka tidak tahu langkah yang perlu diambil untuk pemeriksaan kesihatan mata,” katanya. Dr Nasuha berkata, pesakit biasanya hanya menyedari penglihatannya terjejas akibat penyakit apabila keadaan semakin parah.

“Saya tidak tahu bagaimana proses sebenar mendapatkan Fado, mungkin mereka membayar untuk menjalani latihan, tetapi ia lebih kepada membuat cermin mata bukan menjalankan pemeriksaan penuh terhadap kesihatan mata yang berkait rapat dengan keadaan tubuh badan,” katanya ketika ditemui Harian Metro, baru-baru ini.

Beliau berkata, sudah sampai masanya kerajaan meneliti semula Akta Optik 1991 yang membenarkan juru optik yang tidak mempunyai latar belakang bidang optometri memberikan preskripsi cermin mata atau kanta sentuh.

“Perkara ini sudah lama berlarutan, sepatutnya pesakit mata perlu bertemu ahli optometri terlebih dulu, pakar optik itu kemudiannya akan mencadangkan kepada pesakit sama ada merujuk kepada pakar oftamologi yang terbabit dengan pembedahan mata atau sekadar perlu membuat cermin mata berdasarkan keputusan pemeriksaan yang dijalankan.

“Bagaimanapun perkara ini tidak berlaku, bukan saja di Malaysia tetapi banyak negara lain. Apabila penglihatan kian kabur kebiasaannya mereka terus membuat cermin mata sedangkan banyak sebab menjadi punca masalah itu,” katanya. Menurutnya, hanya terdapat 700 optometri di Malaysia berdasarkan kadar penduduk, negara memerlukan sekurang-kurang 3,000 optometri.

“Peluang kerjaya dalam bidang ini amat meluas tetapi disebabkan faktor tertentu tidak ramai anggota masyarakat yang mahu merujuk kepada mereka terlebih dulu jika menghadapi masalah penglihatan terutama rabun,” katanya.

Source : http://praya.hmetro.com.my/myMetro/articles/Bolehjadibuta/Article/index_html

OMG!! WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!~~

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:12:00 +0000

This was the first reaction in my mind when i read about this article on Malaysiakini. Apparently, without even a hint to the media or the general public at large, 6000 genetically modified mosquitoes was released at an inhabited site in Pahang. This hallmark scientific trial is suppose to be an experiment to combat dengue fever.

Below are excerpt from the Malaysiakini article

The Institute of Medical Research (IMR), which was tasked with carrying out the trial, said the experiment was conducted on Dec 21 to "study the dispersal and longevity of these mosquitoes in the field".

"The experiment was successfully concluded on January 5, 2011," the institute said in a statement today, adding that no further releases are planned until the trial results are analysed.

The insects in the experiment have been engineered so that their offspring quickly die, curbing the growth of the population in a technique researchers hope could eventually eradicate the dengue mosquito altogether.

Females of the Aedes species are responsible for spreading dengue, a deadly disease which killed at least 134 people last year in Malaysia alone.

Seriously speaking, are the government out of their minds?? Did hair suddenly grow out of their balls one day that they did not even try to implicate the ecological disaster that may happen from such an uncontrolled environment? I can more or less understand if they did this experiment in a huge controlled greenhouse like environment but NO, the iron ball scientist thought it would be safe to release this genetically modified, potentially mutating "insects" in an inhabited site. HELLOOO!!! MOZZIES CAN FLY LAH!!~~

Maybe its just me seeing too much horror movie but for the mosquito mutate and creating even more resistant mosquito may be possible right?

Maybe later in the years we will hear people falling sick in Pahang due to some mystery fever or flu. But by then it may just be the beginning of the end............

P.S I may have exaggerated a bit but GM animals be it insect or not should be handled with care. There is no guarantee of what the consequence this action may do. Only time will tell.

Abused Dog Video on Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:42:00 +0000

I was gobsmacked and totally restless today after watching a video on facebook on a dog being abused. The video shows a man trying to teach the toy poodle how to stand on 2 legs and bashing him continuously for not doing it right. There were even instances in which the guy threw the dog across the room. The girl that was filming the whole thing did nothing to stop her boyfriend.

At the moment, there seem to be a witch hunt for the guy in the video. Many FB'er's are frantically trying to identify the abuser and it seems that they may have found the culprit based on clues from the video. For certain, the culprit is from Malaysia.

I hope the authorities finds out about this and do something.

However, i am doubtful if the authorities would do anything in regards to dog abuse.

You can see the video here

Please be warned that this are really disturbing scenes in my opinion.

Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 06:54:00 +0000

I am sitting in my office right now inspired by a piece of article i read on Malaysiakini.

I am sure many of you like me are sick and tired reading political bigamy that is spewed out by mainstream as well as alternative media nowadays from both the political divide. There is just too much hate, all talk and no tangible work being done. However from time to time, we do see service being done above politics and this article is definitely one of them.

If every politician irregardless of their alignment are like this then we would all be living in a better country.

Below are a cut and paste of the article i just read.

A BN vote bank is aided by Pakatan

Terence Netto
Jan 22, 11
10:59am

The Temiar of Sungai Siput have long been a reliable vote bank for the BN, something like 9,000 of them domiciled on the banks of tributaries of the Sungai Perak that crisscross the constituency, giving the ruling coalition 99 percent of the vote in the general election of 1999, 96 percent in 2004, and 90 percent in 2008.

In all that time, the recipient of this largesse, MIC's S Samy Vellu, confined reciprocation to the giving out of presents to headmen while the Orang Asli Department (JHEOA) periodically supplemented the trickle with handouts.

Apparently, from whom a lot is given little is required.

A rather bleak situation, one might say, to a prospective MP trying to break the cycle of servitude in which the Temiar are immured.

But Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj of the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), since 1999 a rival claimant to S Samy Vellu for the allegiance of Sungai Siput's voters, decided that even if naught is to be had for service to the Temiar by an opposition politician, service must still be rendered.

Thus when the 400 Temiar of some 50 households in Kampong Perje in Pos Legap needed money in 2009 to buy new cables to secure a rickety bridge over the Sungai Pelus, used by them to ferry the latex they tapped from rubber trees off the banks, they approached their newly elected MP.

“We decided that because their conditions were wretched, their needs overrode other considerations such as their solid support for the BN,” said Jeyakumar, who was elected in March 2008 on a wave for the opposition that year.

“Also, representatives of Kampong Perje continued to attend meetings we held to discuss Orang Asli needs even after the fall of the Pakatan state government in February 2009,” he said. “Reps from other Orang Asli villages kept away out of fear,” he added.

Popularly known as 'Dr Kumar', the PSM activist had made forays into Orang Asli villages deep in the interior of Sungai Siput even when he was not their elected MP prior to 2008, to see what could done for them.

“They are a terribly marginalised group and they needed all the help they can get,” he rationalized.

So when Pos Legap's Temiar wanted new cables for a dilapidated bridge, Dr Kumar and his crew of PSM stalwarts in Sungai Siput decided that it would be better to build a new bridge a kilometer away from the site of the old one.

“The old one was too rickety,” he said. “There was little point in shoring it up with new cables.”

But where to get the money for the new bridge, given that opposition MPs are deprived by the federal government of constituency allocations rendered to the tune of RM2 million a year to BN legislators?

PAS leader steps in to help

Dr Kumar, who was elected on a PKR ticket because PSM were no yet a registered political party in March 2008, asked help from his Pakatan Rakyat cohort in Sungai Siput.

The PAS leader in the constituency, Ahmad Mazlan Othman, a retired army engineer who had been a candidate for the Lintang state seat in the 1999 and 2004 elections, was instrumental in getting his party to contribute RM5,000 to the overall cost of the new bridge which was estimated at RM70,000.

The rest of the budget was raised from the MP allowances for Dr Kumar (RM35,000), from sundry friends of his (RM20,000) and from two Catholic groups (RM10,000).

In short, the money for the new bridge came out of a Pakatan-like collaborative effort by assorted groups. From whom much is deprived, not a little can be got.

Construction of the bridge, which was supervised at every stage by Ahmad Mazlan, began in August 2009.

A squad of PAS volunteers helped out at every stage of the construction. PSM activists M Sukumaran, M Augustine, S Nagentiran and Alexis Paulraj did turns helping out with the technical and other inputs.

Jointly and severally, this motley crew pooled their slender resources which Ahmad, with his professional expertise, ably marshaled to bring the bridge to near completion.

“There is only a little more work left to be finished,” said Dr Kumar, “which Ahmad says would be completed this weekend or over the next.”

There will be no opening ceremony for this bridge that a Pakatan-like 'gotong royong' has almost brought to pass for the Temiar of Pos Legap and no plaques to honour the selfless band involved in its conception and construction.

Whether the bridge would shift the Temiar's voting allegiance is a question of some irrelevance to Dr Kumar.

“The wretched must inherit the earth,” said Dr Kumar in typically socialistic, Franz Fanon-like, style.

(source : Malaysiakini)

Malaysia Today : Optometry Now

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:51:00 +0000

I have been asked many question about the eyecare industry and how it would shape up in Malaysia in the next 5-10 years.

Most common question by most aspiring eye care professionals would be :-

Should I study to become an Optometrist or an Optician??

If you are unsure what is an Optometrist compared to an Optician, read here

My answer would be take your Optometry course now and forget about the latter.

My reason is based mainly on a 3 factors :-

1) There is currently 6 (if i am still correct) Universities offering Optometry course in Malaysia. That means in the next 2-4 years, we would be churning out 200-300 optometrist per year. In the next 5-10 years numbers of Optometrist may well be at par with number of registered Opticians if not more.

2) As you know, the government are now discouraging the public to take up medicine that have been experiencing a glut in recent years. At the moment, the ratio of Houseman to Tutors are way off the charts resulting in the fear that the profession is suffering from a deterioration in quality. This will inevitably cause prospective student to look at other health related fields in Malaysia and Optometry is definitely up there. This may result in more universities offering Optometry courses and resulting in more Optometrist in the general market.

3) There is now a better awareness among the public between what is an Optometrist as compared with an Optician. This awareness will only increase as the years go by.

This 3 factors alone will propel Optometrist as the main eye care practitioner in the Optical Industry.

This in 7-10 years would result in the government to amend the Optical Act to make it compulsory for every optical outlet to have a registered Optometrist (like in Pharmacist to a Pharmacy). Many people are skeptic when i tell them this but i really beg to differ.

Furthermore, even before the act is amended, public awareness on the role of Optometrist as compared to an Optician is already on the rise. Not too long from now, i am sure most consumer may even insist that they have their eyes refracted by an Optometrist rather then an Optician.

This will also see the government tighten the already existing legislature on contact lens sales. At the moment all optical outlet are selling contact lens but the Optical Act states that only Optician with Pink Form and Registered Optometrist can dispense them to the general public. This may constitute to less then 50% (25% is my gut feeling if you include rural areas) of the optical outlets out there. An alarming figure indeed. As more Optometrist come out in the open market, pressure will be on the relevant department to enforce the already existing legislature.

For Opticians that have already been practicing in this industry, there will be challenging days ahead with the slowly but surely revolution of the industry. They will eventually have to work with Optometrist to ensure there is a more comprehensive approach in eye health care (if not also for their own livelihood). In UK, Optometrist are normally confined to their sight test room and sales are done by Opticians. This may be a good way forward.

One thing for sure, the change is coming and it is for the betterment of not just the industry which at the moment are degraded into somewhat a "pasar malam" culture but also to the consumer at large.

Focus Point admits mistake, offers IPO exit option

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 06:10:00 +0000

Finally, an official announcement from Focus Point (From Business Times).
So that means even after this fiasco, Focus point will only equipt 30 of its outlet with professionals that can dispense contact lens legally.

Makes you wonder about the other optical chains in Malaysia.

The below abstract can be found here

Focus Point admits mistake, offers IPO exit option

Focus Point Holdings Bhd has admitted that 38 of its stores have broken the law on contact lens prescription and it has offered investors the chance to get their money back.

The country's largest professional eyecare chain said 38 outlets were found to have dispensed contact lenses without the presence of a qualified optometrist or optician.

Although over-the-counter sales of disposable contact lenses is a common industry practice, this is against the Optical Act 1991. Focus Point said it has ceased doing so from yesterday, it said in a statement to Bursa Malaysia.

The group had to postpone its listing on the stock market at the eleventh hour on July 27 following an anonymous allegation about its business. One of the complaints is that there were instances when contact lenses were prescribed by unqualified staff.

"Prior to this cessation, as at December 31 last year, 38 of the group's 64 eye care centres were found to have been dispensing contact lenses over the counter without a qualified optometrist or optician," the company said.

There were instances where certain outlets dispensed contact lenses without the physical presence of these qualified personnel.

Focus Point said its remaining outlets were serviced by 13 optometrists and three opticians qualified to prescribe and dispense contact lenses. It currently has 144 outlets nationwide.

President and chief executive officer Datuk Liaw Choong Liang in a press statement issued later in the evening said the company has given its full cooperation to the regulators.

Focus Point said it has extended an exit option to investors who have subscribed for its shares under the public issue.

"Investors can exit, should they, for any reason wish to do so," the company said. Its new listing date is on August 23 2010.

Focus Point plans to have either an optometrist or optician qualified to prescribe and dispense contact lenses at each of its top 30 professional eye care centres

Contact Lens : Are optical outlet selling them legally in Malaysia?

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:37:00 +0000

I am encouraged to write this new post by a few of my friends as they have been reading about the Focus Point incident lately in the papers. (latest update can be read here)

The main question that was thrown to me was :

When I buy contact lenses in an optical outlet, how do I know the person selling me the contact lenses are legally allowed to do so (as in only registered pharmacist can dispense prescribed medication)?

Answer : I will explain the answer in 2 parts.

Firstly, in Malaysia, only 2 group of people are allowed to prescribe and dispense contact lenses to the public

1) Optometrist - This group of people holds a degree in Optometry and are fully equipped with expertise to examine your eye for any eye defects as well as dispense contact lens to you

2) Qualified Optician with "Pink Form" - This group of people holds a "Fellow of British Dispensing Optician" after finishing a year and a half course at Axismatic College after their SPM. On top of that they will also need to take a contact lens qualification exam certified by the Ministry of Health. Once qualified, they are given a pink form stating that they are qualified to dispense contact lenses. This "pink form" must be displayed prominently at the optical outlet.

So, how do we identify this 2 group of people when we enter an optical outlet?

The answer lies on the certification that is given out by the Malaysian Optic Council (MOC) that is the regulatory body of the optical industry.

Optometrist is certified with a green coloured form stating his name and qualification

Optician / Juru Optik is certified with a blue coloured form stating his name and qualification and IF he is qualified to dispence contact lenses, he will have another pink coloured certification stating that he is qualified to dispense contact lenses.

The regulatory body in Malaysia (MOC) has also in the past few years issued photo certification to be prominently displayed in optical outlet. This yellow coloured certification contains the photo of the Optometrist / Optician (Juru Optik) that is working in the outlet as well as his name and also what services that can be provided. Optometrist and Optician (Juru Optik) with pink form will have 2 sections, the first stating that he is allowed to prescribed and dispense opthalmic lenses (prescription spectacle) and 2nd section stating that he/she are allowed to prescribe and dispense contact lenses. If an Optician (Juru Optik) do not have a pink form, his photo certificate will only have one column stating he can prescribe and dispense ophthalmic lenses and frames ONLY.

To summarize, ALL Optometrist can dispense contact lenses BUT only Optician with a pink form are allowed to dispense contact lenses.

And how do we confirm that the person is either of the above?

Ask or look for the photo certification or at the least see if the outlet contain a green or a pink cert with the name of the person that is serving you.

Hope this clears the air.

If you want to know more about Optometrist and Optician, you can read my previous blog here

Doodling

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:57:00 +0000

Its been a long hiatus since my last blog entree.

I am busy but honestly not to the point that I do not have time to blog. Its actually lack of inspiration and I have seem to have lost the passion to write.

Everytime i click on the "compose" button, my mind goes blank and I can't seem to be able to put things into words. Probably age catching up or just that my braincells have reached critical cut off point. I think i remember my biology teacher telling me that brain cells do not regenerate but keeps degenerating as you age. Thats the reason why you tend to be more forgetful as you get older. Geez.... i am already bloody forgetfull as I am. I'll be surprised that I would even be able to get to the toilet from my room by the time I hit 90 (if i live that long that is).

Oh yeah, recently I have been into finance megazines. Been subscribing Personal Money and SME Malaysia for the past few month. With the current economic conditions, i reckon that its good to understand more of your own finance and plan for the future. There are always good opportunities lying in a downturn.

Oh well, that's me done doodling.

Hope to be writing more in the future perhaps

The Vanilla Pudding Robbery

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:45:00 +0000

*Excerpted from an article which appeared in The Dublin Times about a bank robbery on March 2*

Once inside the bank shortly after midnight, their efforts at disabling the security system got underway immediately. The robbers, who expected to find one or two large safes filled with cash & valuables, were surprised to see hundreds of smaller safes throughout the bank.

The robbers cracked the first safe's combination, and inside they found only a small tub of vanilla pudding.

As recorded on the bank's audio tape system, one robber said, 'At least we'll have a bit to eat.'

The robbers opened up a second safe, and it also contained nothing but vanilla pudding. The process continued until all safes were opened.

They did not find one pound sterling, a diamond, or an ounce of gold. Instead, all the safes contained covered little tubs of pudding.

Disappointed, the robbers made a quiet exit, each leaving with nothing more than a queasy, uncomfortably full stomach. The newspaper headline read:

' IRELAND 'S LARGEST SPERM BANK ROBBED EARLY THIS MORNING'.

Aquisitions

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:26:00 +0000

I have taken tons of picture from the Free Health Screening that we did in conjunction with the World Kidney Day, however I have yet to have time to edit them and post them here.

The project was a huge success. We manage to screen 500 people which was more then our target of 350.

Anyways, I just bought a new wireless router for home. I've been wanting to get one for a while cause my sis needs to use it at home every time she comes over to visit. Before this, I had to bring my Zycel Wireless Modem from work home and back again which was a real hassle.

So after splashing RM190, this was what I bought

This is Linksys Wireless-G WRT54GC.

The installation was hassle free with a real user friendly configuration wizard to help you out with the initial set up. One thing I've learnt about buying gadgets it to stick to a trustworthy brand. You can be rest assured that setting them up would be more or less trouble free. I've had installation nightmares when it comes to cheap taiwan/china brands and would strongly suggest you avoid it.

Last Sunday, I was at Low Yat and I got this...

A shiny new 1 Terabyte External Hard Drive from Maxtor.

No more burning DVD's just because I got no more space on my Hard Drive

Well... at least for now :)

World Kidney Day - Free Health Screening

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:41:00 +0000

Life been a bit hectic with the up and coming World Kidney Day that my club is co-organizing this 12th March 2009. Basically we are doing a free health examination by the NKF (National Kidney Foundation) to the general public.

The health examination consists of screening on blood pressure, urine, body mas index, waist circumference, blood glucose, blood cholesterol and counseling.

This will be one of the biggest event that my club has co-organised as we will be having over 100 medical staff and an expected 500-700 walk-in. We have also manage to get the DTMM Raja Permaisuri Perak to officiate the one day event.

To those not working on a Tuesday, do come over and join us that day.

Date : 10th March 2009 (Tuesday)
Venue : Pusat Konvensyen Sungai Siput, Perak
Time : 8.30am to 3.00pm
Telephone : 1300 88 3110

Early Detection & Prevention Saves Lives!

DEBT Perception - - The Good and The Bad - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:33:00 +0000

Ok, now that we have differentiated good and bad debt, how do we make them to good use?

We all know that borrowing is actually cheaper now due to the economic downturn. In order to keep our economy from going into a recession, government all around the world including Bank Negara has been lowering interest rates and we are further expecting more reduction in this rates at the end of the year.

For those that have existing mortgages, this year may actually be a good year to refinance. Firstly, check with your bank if your loan is still within the penalty period for refinancing. If it is, then try to talk to your banker if they could lower the rate. You may be surprise that some bankers may be willing to reduce it for you. However, do not expect a drastic reduction (but any reduction is better then nothing right?). Do take not that, if you are requesting for a rate reduction, most banker may require you to extend your penalty period. So if say, you have 1 year left for your penalty period, the banker may one to extend it another 4 years in exchange for a lower rate. They are doing business after all and it is in their best interest that you stay in debt with their banks rather then rival bankers.

If your not subjected to penalty then you options is wide open. All you need to do is browse around and find the most attractive rates out there. However, do note of other hidden cost when transferring such as legal fees, stamp duty and valuation.

Some people may ask, "how much do you really save if i refinance my loan?".

The answer - a lot

Lets give an example, your loan is RM200,000 and the offer when you first took up the loan was BLR-0.5% (BLR = 6.5%). If you then switch to a new loan package of say BLR - 2%, your total savings on interest alone would amount to RM50,000. I based this figures on a loan repayment of 16 years. This would translate to a reduction in your monthly payments and hence the extra money would help you consolidate on your bad debt (example - credit card bills). If you are already debt free, then the extra money from lower monthly repayment can be used for investments to promote even more wealth (example - insurance, endowment, business opportunities etc).

This is one of the many ways of putting good debt to good use.

DEBT Perception - - The Good and The Bad

noreply@blogger.com (Chee Hoe) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 03:47:00 +0000

I was reading an article in a local magazine the other day regarding debt as a tool for wealth. Of course with current economic conditions, one would say that you would be crazy to go into debt or even think of debt as a wealth producing tool. This group of people perceive debt as a cause of wealth destruction especially during the current tough economic climate.

Personally, I think both statements are not wrong. With the current drop in Base Lending Rate by Bank Negara (and probably more dip coming our way expected), one can build up asset and be debt-free sooner rather then later. On the flip side, with current economic conditions its also important to keep debt in check.

The above statement may seem confusing right?

Lets start by understanding debt which can be differentiated by good debt and bad debt.

Good debt is something that helps you achieve your goals and can actually help you when you plan it right. For example, you use the debt that's acquired for constructive purposes such as buying a house, starting a business or even to pay for your education. This is of course in view that the debt you undertook is something that is within your capacity to pay and is used as a tool for wealth accumulation.

On the opposite pole, we got the bad debts. This are dept that mainly serve to improve or enhance your lifestyle (something that is not really a necessity but a luxury). If one think that our total lifetime income is of a finite quantity, then what we spend now unnecessarily now, will eventually reduce our overall quality of life in the future.

Next entry - Ways to capitalize on good debts. Stay Tuned!