Diocesan Youth Camp!

I was being asked to help with the recreation session at the Diocesan Youth Camp this afternoon. It was suppose to be only from 2pm to 4pm, but I was being asked to go at 8am to help them to take their group photo. Hence, I woke up earlier than my normal working day and went out and reached there by 7:45am this morning. After the photo session, I helped with the BLOWING balloons sessions, which was the preparation for the recreation session. Ghoosh...!!! We need about 500 balloons............. and it took us at least 4 hours to get all of them blown. hahahaha....

Well, while I was sitting with the youth before our lunch being served, ... I was talking with a few others about our youth camp years ago. Obviously, we thought we have more fun then then now... and .... while I was sitting with my cousin and his wife after lunch, someone came and said, "I think these 3 have joined the youth camp longer". hahaha... ya... well, since our youth time until now, huh? hehehe...

Somehow, I realise, not everyone has the privilege to join the Diocesan Youth Camp... I did..... and because of the Youth camp, I was here in KK for the first time... and throughout the years, I have known many friends whom I still keep contact with. Cool huh? hehe... hence, I can't quite get it why young people doesn't want to join the youth camp though... what can we lost for joining the camp? hmm...

- Diocesan Youth Camp! -

Wrong understanding...

I was telling a friend that I went to court this morning and the 1st and only respond he gave me was that I must be still feeling angry then. I ponder for about 5 seconds on what he commented and I asked him why did he thought I will be angry. His answer is simple. Because I went to the Court. Many have the understanding that Court room is a place where heated arguments will be at and many thoughts, we, the lawyers, only argue our case to the end, regardless on which stage the case is. Many have also thought that we lawyers, when we go to court, we will fight and argue and got ourselves and other party angry. I am not sure if that's what you understand law and the law profession is. If you do, let me explain to you a little bit of the MALAYSIA LEGAL SYSTEM and how it works in the court.

When we got a case in our hand, our first few court matters will be mention and/or hearing. Well, as simple as the word, it just means as it is.... mention, meaning, to mention the case to the court. Tell the Judge what this case about and whether this case shall proceed, etc. Hearing is a day fixed by the court to hear either one's application to see if your application should be allowed or not. The Judge will hear from both the parties of what they want to say. Trial, would be just like what the bible defined as, a TEST. What to test? To test which side is telling the truth and which one is not and which one can show evidence to support their 'story', etc. Well, that's what we do as a lawyer, to attend a few court sessions for respectives application, etc. etc. No. Not at all time we will have heated argument. Even in trial, sometimes, both parties' lawyers will be at peace, trying to sort out things and do their best to bring up their matters, evidence, witness, etc. We, the lawyers are thought to practice and exercise our duty and/or professions etiquettely, althought, we all know, there are some that's not.

Well, I was searching for a precedent on cost these few days. I was digging out all my old stuffs and realised, some of them, I have shipped it back to Tawau and hence, I have to ask around. I happen to met a senior lawyer this moring and so, I asked him if he has a copy. Trust me, I asked about 5 of them yesterday and 4 of them told me they have not done it for the past 15 years and not very sure about it. 1 told me what I should do, but have also not done it before. And this senior lawyer, apparently has a copy of the precedent ... in Bahasa Malaysia (BM) as it is a precedent from Kuala Lumpur while he was practising there. I tell you, I am so pleased to find out that he has a copy. hahaha... it's like a serious problem being solved.

See, we lawyers, do sharing too. We can't know EVERYTHING, of course, some will know more than the other and some know more on the particular area of laws then the rest of the area of laws. It's normal and we share. In courts, while waiting for the Court to start, we too, will ask around, chat around and searching for opinion about certain issues we encounter.

I was in court for the case which was being struck out few months ago. I thought it's a mistake which I shouldn't have made and I felt so bad about it. Still, I have to face the judge and all the other lawyers that particular day as when my case was called, I was asked to tell the court what happen, etc. and the other lawyers, none of them find it funny and disgraded me. Neither me nor my opponent knows what went wrong and what should be done but you can see, everyone is helping (No. I still haven't got the case reinstated YET). I made a mistake in my cause paper and I didn't know I made a mistake until the Judge told me. The rest of my fellow lawyers have somehow helped me out throughout (pretty obvious that's my first and only mistake). When we finish the court for the day, some of them even came and encouraged me.

Well, I hope, by now, you will know what "go to court" means exactly. No. It's not always about heated argument even though we can't avoid those sometimes (mostly the clients we have caused it).

- wrong understanding -

Post

I seldom go to the post office ever since I came back from England. Well, my most remarkable business with the post office in England, was to send my TV to my aunt through post. Yes... I was posting my TV and my aunt received it too. Well, if you are speaking of faith and trust on post office, I guess, I trusted them almost 90%. That's obviously, in England. The only postcard I sent was never received by my parents was the one I sent in Rome. hahaha... the Vatican City to be exact. Well, I had many good memories with Post in England. Everytime, I moved, I went to the post office, to re-direct all my letters to a place for a few months, i.e. the post office or my aunt's place, etc. It's convenient and through those services, I never, NEVER missed any mail at all.

Since I returned and working as a lawyer, I learned about what is registered post, what is AR registered post, what is Certificate of posting, what is normal post and I know exactly how long it takes for those to reach a person and i do know frm the Rules that I need to serve certain documents through certain post and somehow, I still trust the Post Office.

Today, I experienced the first ever ... registered mail collection's tragedy. Well, a friend needs help to get her post from the post office as it's a registered mail and there's no column to be filled for anyone to collect on behalf of her, I thought she should at least make a call to the post office, at least to inform them that she is sending someone to collect. She did gave me the number and so on and asked me to bring along her photocopy of IC. That's on Monday. I was sick yesterday and so I didn't go. I went after lunch today. I went to the Courier service thinking it's a Post Express (a new service by Post office) but they told me, I didn't give them the full number, so I called my dear friend and she told me, it's "R" that I missed out. I told them it's "R" in front and they told me it's registered post and I have to go to the building next to it.

I walked to the building, went up to the first floor... and I found the counter. The person in the counter saw my notes and IC, asked me to wait, then he went and check on the computer and he told me the computer is offline and they cannot do anything. So, I asked him what's my option of getting this post besides coming here to check whether they are online everyday. He asked me to go and see so and so - "D". He told me where I can find him. I followed the instruction, went to a place... and wow... it's the POST OFFICE where postman are sorting out mails. I asked around to find where "D" is and I was asked to go into an office. D claimed that I am looking for him. So, I sat down, explain to him that it's very difficult to get the mail, etc... and which the only respond he gave me was, "jadi"? after EVERY SINGLE SENTENCES I said. To my frustration, I really shouted at him, asked him if he has the heart even wanted to help. He said, "Ya... itu lah saya tanya jadi?". I was wondering for a while, "so, how did it help when you keep asking jadi?" and of course I knew it's wasting my time if he continues to do that, so, I just stand up, looked at him and said, "is this how your attitudes should be when you provide services to your customer"? Again, he answered "I was trying to help. "Jadi?"". I then intervene his saying and asked him 3 times, "do you want to help or not?" He couldn't answer me and while I was shouting for the 3rd times, his supervisor came and asked me how can he help me with. I was furious and asked him what's my option and all and I was led to another room and things was done , I left and I went back to the counter to check if the line is back on. It was... and he checked, he looked for the letter........for 30 minutes... and another person came in, asked what happen, and then from the drawer, he took out the letter and said, ... "You should have come only when I am here" - jokingly. I was furious as you know... but I stayed calm... and smile at him.

Of all occassions, trust me .... all I saw, they were not working.. in fact they were shock to see me, simply .... they were just there, 'lepaking'... and the person who just came in after 30 minutes, just finish lunch... and it was 3:30pm. Can you imagine?

Oh well.... I was told later on that, this is our government. Hello?????? Government, are you there?????? ... is that how you want people to say about you????????? As a lawyer, I wanted so much to defend you, but can you give me some reasons to defend you?

- Post -