Buy a house!

From a friend, Lim Cheng Teik, who is deep into private investments. An admirer of Warren Buffet's style. He wrote this on his facebook, which I found to be very interesting and thought-provoking:

Want to impress people? Get a big house instead of a big car!

A RM 200k house, bought 10 years ago, would be worth at least RM 200k, and most probably it’s worth way more than that.

On the other hand, a RM 200k car bought 10 years ago, would most probably be worth RM 100k or lesser, perhaps way lesser.

Both house and car can show off or use the asset (unlike stocks, which u don’t get to use or show off to people). But one appreciates, and the other depreciates. Over long term, the difference between these 2 is huge.

Then again, I’m never a fan of “big” car. To me, a car is just a vehicle for me to take me from one point to the other. Safety is important. But buying expensive cars just to show off…. Well, let’s just say I prefer to show off big house or big investments than to show off big cars. 

People with rich person’s mindset enjoys owning assets that appreciates. On the other hand, people with middle-class or poor person’s mindset… enjoys owning assets that depreciates. 

To me, I think a good ratio of House value to Car value is 10 to 1 or higher. Meaning, if you wanna drive a Mercedes worth RM 400k, then get a RM 4 mil house first. 

I know of people who drive a big car, but they’re living in a small apartment. Really got the Car/ House upside down in “showing off”. Till today, he’s still struggling financially.

I personally think car is one of the worst assets, as that’s one big asset that u buy that depreciates so much in %, and if you’re buying a big car… the depreciation in amount is perhaps, the biggest in your expense

Booster jabs taken

I received a notification on the MySejahtera app about a week ago to inform me that I had been scheduled for a Pfizer booster jab on the 28th of November. Likewise, so did my wife. For the past week, we have been rather undecisive whether to take the jab or not. Some said we would be better off taking a Sinovac booster. But finally, we summoned up enough courage to take the jabs together, especially since we learnt that many of our older friends and relatives in their 80s had already received theirs without any problem. 

So we turned up at the Flextronics plant in Bukit Minyak yesterday afternoon. However, there was a last hurdle. As we walked straight in, some friends were coming out and they said that from today (29 Nov), people could have a choice between Pfizer and Sinovac. Therefore, they had declined their scheduled Pfizer booster jabs and would go to the SPICE Arena in Seberang Jaya to get their Sinovac vaccinations instead. 

My wife's will started to dither but I was quite firm that we had come to Flextronics to get our Pfizer jabs and we should get them over with. What the heck; if people start choosing Sinovac, there will probably be a long queue from the 29th onwards and queues were what we wanted to avoid. Moreover, as it was already almost six months since our second Sinovac jab in June, I was very concerned that the efficacy could now be very low. I reasoned that we should take the Pfizer jab now and not delay any longer. For sure, there weren't many people at the Flextronics vaccination centre and it was very smooth-flowing all the way. Also, if the rumours are true, I don't want having to take a booster jab every three months if I were to continue with Sinovac. It will be madness! 

I'm happy to relate that 24 hours after the jab, we haven't had any adverse side effect today except for the expected soreness at the site of the injection. No fatigue encountered too. The panadol tablets remain kept in the medicine cabinet.

All the hyped-up news of one or two deaths after their booster jabs compared with the millions who have taken theirs successfully.... Personally, they are playing psychological havoc with people's minds and emotions. We just need to analyse the situation rationally and go for the offered Pfizer jabs. Besides, I'm confident that these are not the original Pfizer jabs. Science does not stand still. Research does not stand still. What goes into the present Pfizer vaccine should have been modified over the original.

Revenue stamps

I uncovered some old legal documents lately. They were great! Some of them - comprising Indentures, Deeds and Mortgage Conveyances - carried revenue stamps and marks from the era of the Straits Settlements. 

A five-dollar or even a one-dollar revenue stamp isn't worth much in today's world but back in those days - one of the documents dating back to 1898 - it must have cost an arm and a leg to buy. But they were compulsory for affixing on documents to make them legal. 

Great addition to our historical records and knowledge!

Phishing at its worse!

I came across this post on facebook, written by a chap called Smith Ang. I thought it is significant enough to warrant a reproduction on my blog. The incident shows that you cannot trust seemingly innocent posts on the Internet nowadays, social media included. We have to be very careful about the information we disclose. So this is the facebook post in question....

This is the Most Sophisticated Phishing I've seen so far. And it happened to me minutes ago.

Part 1: The Bait- Creating the Perfect avenue 

I've been searching for cleaners, and Facebook prompted one of the ads that caught my attention. Promotion! Who doesn't like a good 50% promo 🙂

Part 2: The Hook- The power of "Call To Action"

The "Call To Action" of the ads will bring you directly to the "vendor" WhatsApp. As you can see in the WhatsApp chat, I was asked to download an App, an APK file to be exact. Rarely do vendors ask their customers to download APK files directly, Most will give you a link to the official app store. (Tip1: Don't trust anyone that sends you .APK file. That doesn't mean the official app store is safe either)

Part 3: The Trojan

After installing, the app requested SMS read permission. Huh? Why do you need that for a Maid Booking App? (Tip2: If App request permission for something more than it should, then it shouldn't)

Part 4: Intel Gathering

The App is well-built, even had its PDPA disclosure done correctly. The registration info required are Name, Email, Password, Mobile Number. Upon finding the date and package I wanted, I had to key in my address. 

Part 5: The Bank

Now come to the part where I have to make payment. Conveniently, the credit card payment is grayed out ("Under maintenance"), the only option available is FPX. There are a few banks to prey on: Maybank, Affin, Public, CIMB, BSN and RHB. After selecting the desired bank, a very familiar bank interface appears in front of you. If you see the Maybank UI, there is a note:- "Note: you are in a secured site" that replaces the catchphrase. (Tip 3: Hmm... will a thief tell you he is not a thief?)

Okay, so when filling up the bank login detail, no matter what you put in, it will always show "Invalid User ID or Password [Err Code: FE0067]. Now, this gibberish error code is the same for all the banks you selected. Don't tell me all the banks are using the same system developer? I had a bad feeling, but I brushed it off as I was too tired.

Part 6: Heist

The next day, I received the SMS:

RM0 PBe DO NOT share this code. DuitNow Transfer RM4,860.00 to NOORALIF SAFWA.
S/N: DC0334071 
PAC No: 
12Nov21 14:52 
For enquiry, pls call 03-21799999

I immediately log into my bank account, and I receive the "Duplicate Login" and there, what I suspected. Without hesitation, I spring into quick finger mode. I was fighting access with the intruder for the login rights. Whenever I tried to change my password, it will be logged out. Years of playing Speed Typing games during my younger days boosted my typing speed +99999. I won the login match and changed the password. (Tip 4: Don't wait, stay calm and secure the situation)

Part 7: Data Exposure

So what is the data that was exposed by using this app?

1. Name
2. 3. Phone Number
4. Email Address
5. Mobile Phone
6. Address
7. Bank User ID
8. Bank Password

This is a very sophisticated operation. Why?

1. It prays on our (mainly me la) weakness- Got Promotion ah?

2. The entire scam ecosystem is well planned- From the curation of the Marketing and Advertisement to the almost flawless APP.

Note: 

For those who are unaware, when you allow the app permission to read your SMS, this will include the incoming PAC/OTP code that your bank sends (SMS) to you for dual-factor authentication.

So this is my adventure on the 12 of Nov 2021.

Enjoy reading and be careful.

The Ban Hin Lee Bank building

The stately Ban Hin Lee Bank building in George Town, Penang, was built by Yeap Chor Ee soon after the bank's incorporation in 1935. It is still standing today at the corner of Beach Street and China Street Ghaut but it now belongs to the CIMB Group. The reason is because Ban Hin Lee Bank was absorbed into Southern Bank in 2001 and later, Southern Bank was taken over by the CIMB Group in 2006. 

This was how the bank building looked like in 1939, a year after its completion. It was already a very imposing white structure at the edge of the European sector of Beach Street. The book, Ten Thousand Prosperities, described how Yeap Chor Ee had moved his bank from further up the road at Number 86, to this location at Number 43. As his influence grew, it became part of his general strategy to move his concerns in the Chinese quarter to as close as possible to the European sector. Practically at their doorstep to tell them that they could do business with him. It took decades for him to make this happen.

The bank building in 1985, when Ban Hin Lee Bank was supposed to be celebrating its 50th anniversary. But it was not to be as in October of that year, tragedy struck in the death of the bank's executive director, Jimmy Yeap.

The bank building in 2014. By then, ownership had transitioned from Ban Hin Lee Bank to Southern Bank and finally, to the CIMB Group. This picture was taken on a Sunday when one of the Occupy Beach Street events was taking place.

The bank building today. Still as stately as before but probably possessing less warmth.

This 2021 would have been Ban Hin Lee Bank's 86th anniversary year. It was formally registered as a company on 17th Sept 1935 although its banking operations only commenced on 1st Nov 1935. Only the memories remain for the faithful customers and those who had ever worked there through the decades. For an important slice of Penang's banking history, this hardcover book tells all. Ten Thousand Prosperities can be purchased online from Entrepot Publishing.

Sacrilegious!

I'm appalled! Any attempt to even suggest shutting down the Penang Hill Railway is sacrilegious. And with the suggestion coming from no less a person than the Chief Minister, it is unforgiveable. Have we not lost enough of the state's heritage in recent years? Have we forgotten how the beloved Penang Ferry has been consigned to a footnote in history? Therefore, any attempt to close down the Penang Hill railway system should be resisted!

We need a Penang-born Chief Minister who can and will appreciate Penang's heritage and cultural richness. He should exhaust all ways to address the maintenance and safety of the Penang Hill railway system, instead of taking a shortcut by saying it could be closed down. Could it be that he wants to push for the cable car system at the expense of the hill railway?

Ipoh food excursion

Returned home from Ipoh yesterday night after spending an overnight trip there to meet up at a halfway point with several chess friends who had travelled up from the Klang Valley. Surprised them all because I was a totally unexpected presence. Only the host was in the know.

Though chess was the main excuse for the get-together - yes, we did play some games with a few resident chess players from Ipoh - the emphasis was heavily on food. Good food was always on our minds and with a perfectly good host who understood our needs and wants, there was no lacking of good places to go for a filling meal.

For example, on Monday afternoon itself we decided to sample their local beancurd or tau hwa (the Cantonese in Ipoh would call it taufu fah) from one particular shop in Yang Kalsom Road and let me tell you that this bowl of tau hwa was really an experience: it was one of the softest and smoothest I've ever had in a long time!

After that we wanted to have mee rebus. Unfortunately, the first restaurant we went to would not allow people to dine in, thus forcing our host to take us on another long drive to Tasek Jaya which served this Malay dish. Verdict: the broth was exemplary. If not for the fact that we would be taking our dinner soon, I guess many of us would have ordered a second bowl. 

Dinner was, of course, the famous Ipoh chicken rice. The coronavirus not withstanding, the place was filled with diners. After happily gorging ourselves silly with chicken rice and taugeh at one of the joints, we finally adjourned to meet with some local chess players.

Day Two of our food excursion began with an early six o'clock breakfast at a timsum restaurant behind the Excelsior Hotel where we stayed. Ipoh is reputedly famous for their timsum fare and this was only the second time that I had the opportunity to try it out. In my opinion, this reputation is well deserved because definitely, nothing in Penang can really compare with the quality of the timsum in Ipoh.

Two hours later, we had a second round of breakfast. This time, it was Ipoh's version of curry mee. It was a bit pricey because of additional fillings but in my opinion again, the overall quality was nothing much to shout about. Some of us commented that there was too much curry powder in the broth. Maybe I'm being too judgmental but the bowl lacked two very important factors: what is curry mee without cockles and curdled pig's blood?

By the way, did I mention earlier that I had enjoyed timsum only twice in my life in Ipoh? Make that thrice now, because immediately after we finished the curry mee, we went back to the hotel to pick up another chessmate and then proceeded to a halal timsum restaurant in Canning Garden. Needless to say, it was fabulous food again. 

After checking out from the hotel, our final food destination was a Chinese restaurant in Pasir Puteh. Unfortunately, we were still rather full and could not order a wider variety of dishes. Nevertheless, it was the company which made the occasion perfect and we parted ways soon after that.

Beancurd with various toppings (gingko, grass jelly and peach raisin) from Bigmom Beancurd at Yang Kalsom Road

Restoran Mee Rebus Ramli in Taman Tasek Jaya along Kuala Kangsar Road 

Chicken and taugeh from Ong Kee Bean Sprouts Chicken Rice Restaurant in Yau Tet Shin Road

We played a few games with Ipoh chess players in a hawker outlet known as Poziah Enterprise in Gunong Rapat. No food, but I had a cup of teh halia. Was surprised to find some crushed ginger at the bottom of the glass. Totally unexpected. Learnt later that this area was a popular stop during the day time for people wishing to buy pomelo.

First breakfast of the day at the Ming Court Hongkong Dimsum Restaurant in Leong Sin Nam Road

Second breakfast of curry mee from the Restoran Xin Quan Fang (Sin Chuan Fong) in Hugh Low Street

Followed by a third breakfast at the Canning Dimsum Restaurant in Cecil Rae Street

The few of us at the Mun Choong Restaurant in Pasir Puteh Road. Standing, left to right, Andrew Tan, myself, Thomas Chan, Roy Ng and Tham Tick Hong. Seated, left to right, Chew Soon Keong, Wahid Karim and Chia Soon Keat

Just avoid the main roads

I was forewarned before I ventured out to the island yesterday that the traffic would be terrible. Not only was it a Friday but it was also the midst of the Deepavali festive weekend. Hordes of outstation tourists would be making their way to Penang for a getaway break after emerging from an enforced lockdown due to the coronavirus.

But what could I do? This fifth of November also coincided with the first day of the Chinese tenth lunar month and at the start of every Chinese lunar month, as well as on the 15th day, my Swee Cheok Tong Seh Quah Kongsi would have a small worship session for our resident deities. Nothing elaborate, mind you, my vice-president and I would be at the Kongsi premises to offer joss-sticks at the various altars. 

Besides which, I had an event to attend at the Penang Institute later in the evening: a talk to launch Blue Sky Mansion which is a novel by HY Yeang, formerly a research scientist at the Rubber Research Institute in Kuala Lumpur. 

I told myself that it would be necessary to drive smart. If you know the roads well enough, you can avoid the typically heavy-laden main roads by moving through the secondary ones. It's not a 100 percent fail-proof plan but it generally works well enough for me. Avoid the main roads. Take the secondary roads. Maybe a longer distance to cover but I can get to my destination without the frustration of getting caught in slow-moving traffic or worse, a jam.

The first inkling I had of the traffic situation was even before I left the mainland. Traffic on the North-South Expressway itself was moving very slowly. People were driving northwards to Alor Star and there was the bottleneck at Seberang Jaya. But luckily, the lane towards the Penang Bridge was clear, as well as traffic flow on the bridge itself.

The initial crawl came after the Sungai Pinang Road interchange on the Lim Chong Eu Expressway but once I managed to turn from Weld Quay into Malay Street Ghaut, all the tension flowed away. Armenian Street was clear too - surprise. surprise - and I had no problem making my stop at Carnarvon Lane.

Going to Pulau Tikus later was, however, quite messy. First, I was held up at the junction of Malay Street and Carnarvon Street. And after that came Magazine Road, Penang Road and Burmah Road. But a little patience will solve almost everything. Pangkor Road was clear but Kelawei Road slowed me down a bit. Luckily, I turned off into Cantonment Road and then back into Burmah Road before I found a parking space in Moulmein Close. After a quick dinner at the hawker centre outside the market, I found myself driving smoothly to the Penang Institute in Brown Road.

Lunch in Kuala Kurau

It was our first sojourn out of Penang since the lifting of the pandemic restrictions last month. There was a scheduled drive to Nibong Tebal to deliver some stuff and we took the opportunity to continue across to Kuala Kurau in Perak. It was a very short trip from Nibong Tebal: not more than a 45-minute drive to our destination for a hearty meal.

To begin with, we ordered a plate of fried prawn rolls which we found to be much nicer than the ones sold typically in timsum restaurants. I glanced at the next table and saw two senior citizens enjoying a pot of fresh seafood cooked in a rich coconut milk curry. We must have that! And so, I wandered around this seafront Kean Seng Lee coffee shop and found the stall. No crab for us, I told the cook, give me just the prawns and sotong. Finally, I made a short walk to order my regular fried prawn omelette. Together with a bowl of ice kachang, the meal cost us not more than RM60. A happy meal, indeed!

Oxymoron

Are you oxymoronic? Sorry, I don't mean to call anyone a moron but I merely said oxymoron. In the dictionaries, this is described as a phrase that contradicts itself. Oxymoron is a play with words. Usually, two words that contract one another. Can sorrow ever be sweet? Yes, said William Shakespeare. In his Romeo and Juliet, sweet sorrow was uttered by his heroine, remember? 

Countless other examples occur in everyday use and below is a non-exhaustive list. During my working days, we always typed Please sign on the duplicate copy and return it to us on correspondences to customers when we wanted them to acknowledge the receipt of our letters. Sometimes, we used a rubber stamp that said original copy on the duplicate copy of the letters. Oops, I did it again!

Lawyers liked to say final draft which left me scratching my noggin. Economists loved to achieve zero deficit, don't they? And when I was in school, there was once in 1967 when the teachers went on strike and some senior pupils from Form Six stepped in temporarily to become student teachers for an hour or two.

Although prevalent in the past, even today we sometimes cannot tell genuine imitations apart from the real goods being hocked online until it is too late. And is a true myth the same as fake news? Not that I'm demanding an answer from anyone. You can choose to do nothing!