Posts tagged ‘WORK WORK WORK’
Lina Joy / on being a lawyer in Msia
So, Lina Joy has lost her case at the Federal Court. There are already plenty of blog postings and comments on this topic. Some reasoned and rational, others inflammatory/extremist/racist. Religion is a funny thing, isn’t it? It brings out the best AND the worst in humans. Why is that, when the underlying message of ALL religions is essentially peace, love, understanding, respect, tolerance? Brother, I’m not out to get you. I just want the freedom to profess what I believe in. Your faith, my faith…ultimately, it’s between us and the divine we choose to call God. Not as between man and man. So can’t we just sit down and work out a win-win situation for all?
Anyway, back to the Federal Court’s decision. I’ve yet to get my hands on the grounds of their judgment so it’s perhaps wise to reserve comment on its legal soundness for now.
Isn’t it sad though that even before the ruling was delivered, the general consensus was that the FC would rule against Lina? What does that say about public confidence in our judiciary’s ability to be impartial in upholding the rule of law?
Which brings me to some thoughts I’ve been having lately about my vocation. Am I really assisting in the dispensation of justice? Or, am I actually helping the crooks get away scot-free with their misdeeds? What if the system itself is rotten to begin with? Am I merely helping to perpetuate it?
Let’s not forget the occupational hazards too. Threats of defamation. Professional negligence constantly hanging over our heads like the sword of Damocles. Backhanded remarks that we’re heartless/spineless/gutless.
Litigation…is a constant battle always. Of wits, of words…. What if I’m starting to become battle-weary though?
Note: just obtained copies of the FC’s grounds of judgment
Work travel – Bintulu (Day 2)
So, after a good night’s sleep in the huge hotel room’s bed, I felt ready to take on the world. It was Friday afterall, which by default, meant that it was going to be a good day.
The 1st part of the morning seemed to be going my way. Had a simple breakfast of toast with butter and apple/cinnamon jam, fresh OJ juice and a cup of coffee. Since the Bintulu Court House is just around the corner from the hotel, I even had time to read the papers from start to finish before it was time to leave.
At court, I was expecting to spend the whole day conducting the trial. But whaddaya know, bonus! Judge grants me the adjournment. Day’s work done and it’s not even 930 am yet. Great, I can now ask Air Asia to change my outgoing flight from 630 pm to the 1 pm one.
This is when things start to go pear-shaped. Air Asia informed me that their previous policy of allowing flight changes (subject to an RM 50 admin fee) was no longer valid. Which meant that if I wanted to catch the 1pm flight, I would have to buy a completely new ticket, and forfeit the one I’m already holding for the 630 pm flight. What the @#$%^? Nevermind, composed myself and asked how much is the 1pm flight ticket now? RM130, informed the AA staff with a nervous laugh. Grrrrrrrrreeeaaaaaat. Spend an extra RM 130 on top of the RM 110 already spent on the 630 pm flight? Don’t think my clients would condone the extra expenditure and more importantly, I wasn’t prepared to give Air Asia another RM130 which they @$%! didn’t deserve.
Hello Air Asia, thanks (or no thanks!) to the rationalisation exercise of domestic air travel with MAS this year, Sarawak is virtually dependant on your flights man! It’s not just the leisure passengers (who aren’t pushed for time) who fly with you, even us business travellers are forced to take your flights if we need to travel within the state now. I’m positive your BOD, CEO, Chairman or whatever term your top guys go buy are familiar with the unpredicatable nature of business? Surely they would know that business travellers require flexibility when it comes to travelling. Or maybe Air Asia top flers don’t know this because they don’t fly on Air Asia when on business? Imagine the company missing out on a multimillion dollar sponsorship deal just because they were late for a meeting due to “late arrival of incoming plane”. Hmm…now there’s a thought. So Air Asia, here’s what I think your ridiculous no-flight-changes-allowed policy equals to: UNJUST ENRICHMENT!!!!!!!!!
Sure, everyone can fly thanks to Air Asia now. Except that we’re all flying at extremely one-sided terms & conditions. And whilst we suffer, Air Asia top flers are laughing all the way to the bank. Enough is enough. Enough of delays in departure time due to “late arrival of incoming plane”, of nasi lemak which looks like its a week old etc etc. The cure for this monopoly disease is simple I say: let the competition in. Any economics student would tell you that competition will only improve the market. Oi Gomen, are you listening?!
Anyway, back to Bintulu. Since I wasn’t prepared to throw more of my money at Air Asia, I retreated back to the hotel. Resigned to my fate of having to stick around until the evening. At least I had the hotel room until 2 pm so til then I made myself comfortable there. Heck, even had time for doing some laps in the pool.
From 2 pm to 430 pm though, I bummed here:
Ie, hotel lobby’s sofa. Figured it would be miles more comfortable than the airport seats. Fortunately I’d brought a book along with me for the trip. But 2+ hours sitting there albeit doing nothing, was somehow still exhausting, nonetheless.
And so it was a very weary Ruey that finally arrived in Kuching that night. What could’ve turned out to be a pleasant trip was sadly ruined. Glad I don’t have to travel again soon.
Work travel – Bintulu (Day 1)
Flew into Bintulu last Thursday night for work and stayed at Parkcity Everly Hotel.
Reception was very obliging with my requests for a room with one bed, and a late checkout. The only standard rooms with one bed was on a smoking floor, which the staff was quite apologetic about. But they took the time to scrutinise which of the rooms would be the least smokey, and even told me to inform them if the smell was too strong so that they can arrange for an air freshener to be sent up to my room. So top marks to Parkcity’s reception staff that night. It was definitely one of the best check-in experience I’ve had so far at a Malaysian hotel.
Anyway, here are pictures of the room that I got. No complaints. I got a huge king-sized bed with 4 plump pillows. The size of the room is average and furnished in an up-to-date style.
Couldn’t be bothered to go down to the restaurant for dinner so I ordered in room service instead. Had a Louisiana pizza, mushroom soup, plate of fruits and ILT.
Pizza was yummy and fruits were nice. Soup looks a bit questionable in the pix, admittedly. But it was average, bit on the salty side. At least it had generous portions of straw mushrooms in it though. The ILT was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sweet, it could’ve given me instant diabetes! Ended up pouring half of it down the sink. Didn’t want to leave it 3/4 full outside my room what, pai seh mah.
So that’s about it for my night in Bintulu. To continue in another post about how things went the next day. Teaser: was not a happy bunny with Air Asia at all!
Mission (Im)possible
Welcome to Ruey’s office.
Today we have plenty to do.
Your brief is as follows:
The file on the extreme left is fixed for trial this Monday. We need to follow-up (read: chase) our client for a mandate to enable an amicable settlement. If that fails, be prepared with your cross-examination questions for the witnesses.
The file in the middle, we’ve got an interlocutory application fixed for arguments 1st week of December. Gotta prepare our written submission and bundle of authorities for that. Hence, the pile of opened books in the front and the one hiding underneath the sheaf of papers on top of the file in question.
You with me so far? Lovely. Now see that In-tray in the right corner? It needs sorting and clearing. I don’t think there’s anything of importance in there, except maybe the letter from our opponent counsel in the fisherman case. I think we’re gonna have some problems coming to an agreement on the compilation of the trial documents. Hmm. See if we can fix the problem. Otherwise we’ll have to take it up.
Right then, that green hardcover book at the extreme right below the In-tray is in respect of a distress application which needs to extracted a.s.a.p. . Oh, you needn’t have to worry about drafting it. I’ve done that already and we’re just waiting for our client to sign and return the documents. Just follow-up on it, make sure the Court grants it FAST. Our client wants his premises back immediately.
What’s that? You’re having trouble working? ‘Cause there’s piling work going on right outside your office window? You say the noise is driving you crazy? It’s been 3 days straight already?
Well that’s too bad kid. Work’s work, eh? So get on with it. Now.
Sigh……
Giving it to The Man
Barely 24 hours after the previous post was written, I was hit by the storm clouds which had started to gather as soon as the election results were announced. I wish I could elaborate but I am not powerful enough yet to give it to "The Man". The only thing I'll say is this: in any competition there are bound to be winners and losers. A real "Man", should be humble in victory, and more importantly, gracious in defeat.
As the dust settles post-elections, parties on both sides of the fence are busy issuing statements on why they won/lost. Specifically in relation to the DAP/SUPP angle, my take is this. Those DAP candidates who won, the duty that they've been entrusted with is simple: to be the voice of the people in the state legislative assembly; to give it to "The Man" on our behalf.:) As for the SUPP, 2 phrases: WAKE UP, LISTEN UP! If they practice that instead of wasting their time/energy on finger-pointing, then maybe there's hope for them in the future yet.
Say what?