CIMB Credit Card

I am facing a stressful situation now. After 20 years CIMB Credit Card made a collection agency, Shariq Partners, came after me claiming I owe credit card debt of RM4,000.00. I was shocked, angry and disgusted. I remember very well about this credit card which I have terminated in 1990 and closed my account with Bank Bumiputra ( at that time). I called personally the centre to request for termination and paid the standing amount. Unfortunately after 20 years, I have destroyed all mails about Bank Bumiputra.
My dissatisfaction boilds down to the inefficiency of the staff and they make me, the client, as their victim. Questions IF I ever owe them:
1. Why don't they contact me earlier, maybe the longest 5 years and not 20 years, IF I really owed them?
2. Is this a ploy to squeez their clients by charging interest for that long period of time?
3. Haven't they noticed that the card has never been used for such a long period? I have destroyed the card. It didn't make sense that the card lay dormant for along time and not used. Sudderenly they found a sum was owed to them.
4. Haven't they checked my records that I never run up bills for that amount and that I settled my bill on time unless I was away overseas?

I think CIMB is trying to squeez every cent from their customer in everyway they can think of. The staff is also working as a robot, not bothering to check my record but conveniently claimed that I owed them money, after 20 years.

I have contacted CIMB Credit Card Centre but nobody could help because the officer in charge was on leave. I have left my mobile number for the manager to contact me but no news so far. What's going on?

I am so angry at this victimization strategy. Is there anybody out there who can help me and give me ideas on what to do?

I have another saving account newly opened at PD and I am going to close that account. My daughter, Maz, gave me a supplementary CIMB Visa card and I would her like to change to other bank.

So for those who read this blog, just be careful and be aware when you use your credit card. If you terminate the card, keep the termination notice until the end of your life.

I also received email about CIMB from a friend, claiming credit card debt from a person who has died for some time. Isn't that stupid and prove how inefficient the staff is? Now, I got to think of what I should do to clear my name.

Challenges of publishing books

It's almost two months I worked on my 3 books which were published by Times Book International, Singapore in late 1980s. The books have gone out of prints for so many years but many still requested for them. So, I decided to update and republish them. It's time consuming. Christine Chong (the commissioning editor of Times Book International in KL at that time, 1988) now the Director of Marshall Cavendish and Deputy Head, General and Reference Publishing, Marshall Cavendish, Malaysia, persuaded me to republish them instead of taking back my Right to the book. I agreed.

I owe Christine much gratitude as I remember how I tried to publish my first book (Pembimbing Sebaya) and bringing the manuscript to 3 other publishers who turned me down flat believing concept PRS was NOT salable in Malaysia. Publishers didn't believe in me and PRS, I almost gave up. But Dr. Aminah of UPM who used my unpublished manuscript on Kaunseling Kelompok for lectures, introduced me to Christine. Without hesitation she agreed to publish it. From then on, with support from IAB and Bahagian Sekolah, I began a road tour giving talks about PRS around the country including Sabah and Sarawak and Brunei. ' Boleh Saya Tolong Anda' entered the market in 1989 and it sold well till 6th edition. Newspaper reports, radio talks and written articles helped to push the concept and at the same time helped to push the sale of my book. I must say it wasn't an easy time for me and I am thankful I didn't give up.

When Times Book International Singapore undergoing big changes, my books were in cold storage and I have moved on writing new books with new publisher, IBS Buku Sdn Bhd. I thank En. Balan and En. Mustafa for accepting my books without hesitation. My first book with them, 'Pengenalan Kaunseling Kelompok' is on 6th edition being updated twice. So far I am proud of what I have achieved, syukur alhamdullillah.

I received a number of enquiries about how to get my books especially those in Sabah and Sarawak. So I decided to provide this service if anyone interested to order. The following conditions applied.
1. 10% discount to all my book order.
2. Pay the postage. Order of one book to pay RM 6.00 extra for Pos Express. More than that, I'll let you know the postage cost.
3. Let me know whether you want the book to be autographed/signed by me.
4. Payment through RHB or Bank Simpanan Nasional. Will give my bank account number once I got the order.
5. Books will be posted when payment is made.
6. Check or contact me through my email: zuraidah.rahman@gmail.com or call me HP 019 857 5188.

These are the books that are available immediately.
1. Pengenalan Kaunseling Kelompok - RM 21.90 ( RM 19.70)
2. Fasilitator Kelompok Kecil RM 28.90 ( RM 26.00)
3. Pembimbing Rakan Sebaya: Langkah Seterusnya RM 19.90 ( RM 17.90)
4. Pengenalan Mentoring di Institusi Pengajian Tinggi RM 18.90 ( RM 17.00)
























The following 4 books will be ready early next year with new prices.
1. Boleh Saya Tolong Anda.
2. Pastikan Diri Anda OK
3. Pendekatan Kaunseling dalam Pengurusan
4. Penulisan Jurnal Kaunseling


To ex-students and friends who are interested to sell the books and get 30% discount, you can order in bulk of 20s from the publisher. Payment to be made to the publisher ( in PJ) before they dispatch the books or you can come and collect the books yourself. Sale of books is good when you attend seminars and workshops. Let me know if I can help you.
To those who still keep the first edition of Boleh Saya Tolong Anda, please keep it intact. It may become priceless one day when I am gone.
The best to everyone.

Aidil Adha 17 Nov 2010

It's a quiet hari raya haji this year but I have a very, very important guest with me. She arrived with her parents early Wednesday morning just after I came back from my Aidiladha prayer. It was such a delight having her with me as I have missed her since I came back to PD. Just a while later, Maz came to join us but Izrin with wife, Haidi and In-laws, went to JB to visit their relatives.









Rania as usual is so gorgeous. At first she wasn't sure of me but after a few seconds there came her big smiles. We didn't go anywhere but spent the time in my apartment playing with little Rania. She was introduced to the big sea at my place and she didn't even wince. Instead her big eyes were so alert and excited when her feet touched the waves. she gasped when the waves hit her face but recovered quickly, excited at the next one coming. It was drizzling, so I have to take her up to the apartment but hope her parents will teach her to swim soon. Both of them are avid divers (before the arrival of this little angel)









How time has passed, from a tiny baby to a bouncy 7 months old little girl who is always on the go. Not one moment she would stay still and my Ms. Rania is busy helping nenek to tidy up her palm-sized apartment. We have to be alert all the time in case she is up to some mischief. But Rania is such an angel, full of smiles and activities.













One sunny smile from her, will melt your heart (OK, this is her grandmother talking).

















My endless love for you my angel, my jantung pisang, my sunshine............

Gentle silver leaf monkeys

Up-close-and-personal with wild animals is really a great thrill to me, such as touching and caressing the cheetahs in South Africa; kangroos, koalas, wombats in Australia; Tasmanian devils, wallaby, possums in Tasmania; orang utans, proboscis monkeys in Kuching and Sabah; honey bear, deer, elephants in Kuala Gandah; tigers and giraffs in Chiengmai; penguins in South Africa and New Zealand, sea lions and seals in Kangroo Island in South Australia, and I dream to play and hold the pandas in China one day ( I have seen two in Beijing zoo but that doesn't count).

On 6 November 2010 (Saturday) I took Kak Nor (my sister-in-law from Adelaide) to Bukit Melawati, a serene place in Kuala Selangor which I have been some years back. Kak Nor and I encountered up-close-and- personal with the silver leaf monkeys or langurs which are known for being non-aggressive, polite and gentle, unlike their cousins, the macaques.






Kak Nor is having a conversation with a silver leaf monkey.








At the tram stop on the hill, silver leaf monkeys gathered and lined on the road barricade/ railings waiting for visitirs to give them food.
They didn't grab, steal or being aggressive to get the food handed out by visitors. Many just waited patiently. Being vegetarian, they love the long beans which were sold by a local peddler for Rm 1.00 for a small bundle. I brought bread instead and they just loved it too.














Peacfully eating on the road barricade with their long tails hanging down.

















These silver leaf monkeys are beautiful creatures with silvery long body hair and spike hairdos. They are so gentle and so well-behaved.


The beauty queen.








Cozily touching and holding his/her partner just like the couple next to them.












One mother silver leaf monkey chose me to hang around for the bread that I dished out for her. Her young orange coloured baby, at first hang on tight on her belly and the mother was quite protective, grabing her everytime the baby moved away.







Finally I sat on the road, talking softly to her while feeding her. She let me touch her and her baby. She waited patiently while I tried to take more bread out of my bag.









The great thrill was, she allowed me to caress her and her baby who was restless, jumping all over the place and on my lap while pulling and chewing on the string of my handbag. It was sheer pleasure to have this opportunity. Unfortunately, the tram came along and we had to move out of the way and my mother and baby silver leaf monkey left me for other hands to feed her. But I was grateful for the honour and experience they gave me.
These silver leaf monkeys moved in group of families and are very protective of their young.






I marvel at God's creation to see the babies are orange gold in colour and changed to dark silver when they grow older. Both their feet and hands are black.












A mother silver leaf monkey with her twin babies.












One old silver leaf monkey ( must be a grandpa) just sat at the end of a tree branch watching the goings on. He didn't get down to get food from visitors as the others did, just sat and watched.
There were a few macaques monkeys around (thank God, not many) and they were real rascals. They stole a bag of food which belonged to two young girls who were engrossed watching me talking to the silver leaf monkey. It tore the bag, scattered the contents and when one of the girls attempted to take the plastic bag, the macaques barred his teeth threateningly. It wasn't a nice picture.
So, if you have time and enjoy animals, please visit Bukit Melawati. I took about 2 hours from Petaling Jaya, with leisurely drive to reach there.
But don't waste time to visit the Taman Alam or to see the aquarium. It's a great disappointment. It was pathetic and poorly maintained. It's such a pity, a nice nature park, so pretty but being neglected. The only attraction is the lotus pond.








On week days you can drive up and there is a nice rest house to have lunch. On weekends, a tram is provided costing RM 3.00 return but no cars are allowed on the hill.

Fascination with animals

Dancing with the deer at Deer Farm at Kuala Gandah, Lancang, Pahang. 041110










May friend, Bob, commented that I have an expression of fascination with animals as I watched the great Richie, the male orang utan eating his food at Semenggoh orang utan rehabilitation centre in Kuching a few years back. It didn't hit me then but now I realised that animals, especially wild ones are creatures of mystery and I am always fascinated by them. I felt sad, angry and disgust when I saw woods, secondary forest or jungles being cut to make way for human greed. I wonder where do the animals, the little insects etc go when their homes are being destroyed. National Geography and Animal Planet programs have a great effect on my outlook on animals and I am grateful for that.
So when My sister-in-law, Kak Nor, came down from Adelaide to attend Izrin's wedding on 24 Oct 2010, I took the opportunity to take her to Kuala Gandah Elephant Rehabilitation Centre and the Deer Farm. I have not been to see Bong and Siput for almost 2 years and I am sure the 3 year olds have grown to be bigger, and they are. I couldn't recognise them until the mahout pointed them out to me. There are new young members in the centre and my eyes teared when I saw Selendang walked on 3 legs as one foot was missing caught in a cruel trap set by heartless humans.
I fell in love again as I have fallen in love with Bong and Siput. This time with Tapis, a one year old baby elephant abandoned by her mother. She is still being bottle-fed. Unfortunately the battery of my camera gave way at this point and was not able to record her orientation to human beings that day. She was so adorable and good for Rania to get to know her. As a baby she still has thick wiry hair on her head and body. Hugging Tapis was exhilarating.



I had a good time and so was Kak Nor. We laughed so much seeing the antics of the elephants being bathed in the river. Kak nor refused to bathe with them in the river as she saw some of them relieved themselves dropping huge body waste in the flowing river. No matter how much I encouraged and persuaded her, she declined but got in the river to play with the 2 young ones. I just watched. Riding bareback on the elephant was another amusing experience for her as for me 2 years ago.


The day ended with much joy and satisfaction. I was glad to see Bong and Siput though I had no opportunity to get close to them. Maybe on my next visit. The centre is undergoing face lift. New landscape, car park and office are under construction. It would look more attractive once it is ready but I still wonder why the government doesn't charge entry when maintaining the centre is an expensive affair. I was disappointed when my request to volunteer at the centre was rejected. I don't ask for payment but just allow me to do whatever is needed to help the animals and the centre.
In the morning, we stopped at the Deer Farm nearby. I met En. Abdullah again, the owner. This is another delightful place where we can play and feed the deer. Kak Nor and I had a good laugh and scream when the deer rushed to get their feed. But on that day the deer had enough food and many were too lazy to move from under the cool shade of the trees to us. I love to see these wild animals roam free in the vast enclosure with plenty of shaded trees.



Kak nor took courage to hold the python. This python was small when Najidah and I first visited the farm but now it has grown. I refused to touch it. I am not attracted to snakes and crocodiles, no thank you. I can do without them.















We drove back to my house in PJ before dark. I can't see well once it is dark which makes me nervous. I am glad Kak Nor enjoyed the visit and I hope when my nephews, Shah and Raz came back to Malaysia one day, they too could visit this place.

My son's wedding

After the akad, Izrin signing marriage document. 24 Oct 2010.





















Mom is behind Izrin, to lend support before the akad.












Loving hug to my son after he became a husband.












Maz arranging the hantaran. I can rely on her to play my role.








Selamat pengantin baru to my young man, Izrin and his lovely wife Haidi. I heaved a sigh of relief to see my rebellious son is happily wedded to his long-time girl-friend, Haidi. To me even though he is a husband and all grown up, is still my baby whom I dote. With my two daughters, they are the light of my world and I will die for them. I have difficulty convincing Izrin that I love him - it has been so since young. His sisters sometimes don't understand my devotion to this son of mine as they often enough saw him treat me so unkindly. They suggest that I should just forget about him. I suppose it's hard to understand mother's unconditional love unless you are a mother yourself. Ika will understand this having Rania in her life and I hope Maz and Izrin will, once they have children of their own one day. I am really proud of my two daughters and my son.
Since Izrin's got engaged last year, I have been looking forward to the wedding. Unfortunately, just a few days before the wedding, we had a fight and I almost gave up, not wanting to have anything to do with him or the wedding. Maz was so upset with the incident, she drove to PD almost at midnight to console me. I do appreciate that and know that she loves me. Ika was upset too and kept on calling to make sure I was OK. But that had passed and forgotten and everything was OK. Izrin apologized profusely and I hope he will learn to be grateful and really appreciate and love me as his mother by showing respect.
With my sister-in-law, Joriah's help, she prepared his simple and elegant hantaran which I liked very much. I am also very happy to see almost everybody in my family turned up, including nieces and nephews and their children.











Part of the hantaran prepatred by sister-in-law, Joriah Johan. Visit her blog joriahjohan.blogspot.com



















Befotre the akad.









On 24 October at 8.00 am most of my family members gathered at my house to go with Izrin for his akad nikah ceremony. Many went first to wait near the bride's house. We left the house at 8.45 am and the bride's side called to say that the Imam was already there. With a convoy of cars we couldn't drive fast in case some cars get lost. On the way, Rudi, Izrin's best friend and best man, called to say that he has to stop at a petrol station to go to toilet. My poor son, weak stomach and nervousness made his stomach go haywire. We laughed and teased him after that.
The akad ceremony was a boring event. The Imam was so long-winded with negative stories about behaviour of some couples he did akad nikah. I was disgusted. What happened to other couples have nothing to do with my son's marriage. The blabbering was interrupted when Izrin said he has to go to toilet again. Some sighed with relief with the break, some giggled. I know that my brother, Mahir, who led the entourage on my side, has tuned off. The Imam questioned about rukun Islam. Why was he turning the akad nikah ceremony into an examination slot for religious knowledge? Both the bride and groom have attended the marriage course and there is no need to waste time, trying to make the groom looked ignorant with such questions? I wonder why the Jabatan Agama Islam does not train their Imams to akad the couples graciously. Many such religious persons (including other religions) suffer from 'I am holier than thou' attitude.
Anyway, the reception at Bukit Jelutong went on well. It was a small do for me but so glad to see many of my invited guests came, including long time friends whom I have not seen for years. I invited just a handful of ex-students, not because I am selective but by accident I managed to hand over the invitation by hand. My apology to them - it's not because I have favourites but it was just convenience.

Izrin and Haidi after bersanding with Rania.







Family photo. Left: Maz, me, Izrin holding Rania, Haidi, Ika and husband Justin.










Left: Maz, sister-in-law, Katleen (Nor Ariffah), me, the groom and the bride, Rania, her mom Ika and dad, Justin. Extreme right is Rudi, Izrin's best friend and best man at the wedding.







Thank you very much to all my guests who made time to come . I do appreciate it.


Photo with the bride and groom, Anis (my ex-student) and husband, Omar.







To Izrin and Haidi, my doa that both of you are happy and successful in your life. You have a long way to go. Good luck and may Allah bless you both.