Cheated in SINGAPORE?: Help is available: Hi, I thought that I will share this story with everyone so that at least one person would escape getting ripped off by the errant traders at Sim Lim Square (for that matter, anywhere in Singapore, not only at Sim Lim Square). And we also had a request from the authorities to share this information to educate the consumers that help is available. I had a visitor from overseas over the weekend, who came to Singapore to attend a seminar. Apparently she had gone to Sim Lim Square to buy a Digital Camera at a shop (shop name: JSL Digital, 1st Floor).   However, at the end she had been coerced to buy a different camera than what she intended to buy having been told that it is a better and newer model. She paid $1200. I later found out when she visited us, she had been even charged separately for accessories, which come standard in the package. Figuring out that she had been cheated, I suggested that we go back to the shop and ask for a compete refund or at least a refund for the overcharged amount. And I also did some research to find out what this particular camera would cost elsewhere. I was surprised to hear some shops telling me that this model was a very old model. Then I went to the said shop on Saturday and inquired about the same model pretending that I am a genuine buyer. And guess what, I was told a price which was $500 less than what my friend has paid, for the standard package (with all the standard accessories). Two minutes later I walked in to the shop again with my friend and explained to them that they have overcharged my friend for the same camera and requested for a refund. What happened afterwards cannot be really explained in few sentences. They vehemently refused to hear our request and started using abusive and filthy language to my friend and threatened us to leave. Some of the bold remarks they made about their stand in selling a product at whatever the price they want went like this translated in to decent language):"We have even sold the same camera at $2000". "You do whatever you can, but we will not give anything back". We were shown a Recommended Retail Price suggested by the manufacturer and they insisted that they are selling at the correct price. (Subsequently it was discovered that this RRP they showed was released as way back as in January 2002). Sensing that things could turn more violent, we left the shop and went to the police station. But the police refused to accept our complaint saying that it was a personal transaction and that they could not intervene. They suggested that we contact Singapore Tourism Promotion Board after we came back home; we called the Singapore Tourism Promotion Board and were told that we could lodge a complaint at "Retail Promotion Centre". However, the "Retail Promotion Centre" was not open on Saturday afternoons. My guest decided to stay back until Monday so that she could lodge a complaint. On Monday a complaint was lodged at Retail Promotion Centre. Subsequently, they called us and informed that the shop has agreed to settle the matter and asked us to go to the shop. But upon visiting the shop, the staff there was pretending that they never agreed to settle the matter. Their answer was "If RPC called somebody here, you find that person and inquire, we do not know ...". Then I had to call the officers at RPC a couple of times and while my friend was at the shop these officers tried to settle the matter over the phone with the shop owner, but they still refused. My friend spent 4 hours waiting there and came home with no luck. By this time we had given up hope of any settlement and were wondering why Singapore has no organization with authority to help a tourist/consumer in a situation like this. The sales guy had been making humiliating remarks like "You wait here until 8 o'clock and nothing will happen ..". And forever we were surprised to observe how confident these guys are in making such remarks. What is more surprising is that my friend had witnessed 3 more similar sales to unwary tourists while she was waiting at the shop. Same camera, same model!!! (At the end we concluded that this shop must have got a stock of outdated models, most likely at very cheap price, and selling them based on this so called "recommended retail price".) However, the next day morning, RPC called us and suggested that we lodge complaint at "Small Claims Tribunal". RPC had also verified that the said model was in fact a discontinued model by the manufacturer and the last Recommended Retail Price was released in January 2002. So my friend visited the Small Claims Tribunal and was surprised to see so many tourists lined up there with similar claims. However, she was immediately informed that an officer would visit the shop with her and will try to settle the matter then and there. And so they did. The officer had walked in to the shop with a claim report and the shop agreed to give a full refund without any questions/remarks whatsoever (repeat: no questions/no remarks). Surprise!!!! And my friend has been asked by these officers to share this information to let everybody know that there is help available to stop these errant traders from cheating innocent consumers. They indeed want consumers (victims) to come to them. The claims can be made within a year from the date of purchase. Claims can be made even when the item has been used, depending on the type of claim. The "Small Claims Tribunal" is located at the following location:
Small Claims Tribunal
2 Havelock Road
#05-00 Apollo Centre, Singapore 059763
The telephone number I was given was 6241-3575. But their website has following numbers:
Tel No. 6435-5937
Fax No. 6435-5994 (general)
PLEASE SHARE THIS STORY WITH YOUR FRIENDS, SPECIALLY WITH THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO SINGAPORE. WHO KNOWS THEY MIGHT BE THE NEXT VICTIMS.
And having said all these my personal advice is "DO NOT buy any electronics products at like cameras, Hi-Fi's, DVD players etc at Sim Lim Bargain Shops". Go to a reputed shop where they have fixed price like Courts, Harvey Norman etc. It is not worth going after that $$ bargain. One more thing that I learned during this ordeal was that these so called "Bargain Shops" have parallel imports, which mean the goods do not come from the  manufacturer's agent in Singapore. So you never can verify the quality of the goods. And they even mix these parallel imports with genuine ones. ARJUNA 24.01.2003

say anything bad, but just want to know. So last sekali, maaf ye.. jgn marah and happy Chinese new year to all the Chinese people of Brunei..
Oh ya.. kan menambah lagi.. Don’t you think that the most hardworking uniformed personnel dibrunei ani ia lah Bomba coz apa2 terjadi ah, bomba jua kana panggil.. yet they earn a lot lesser than those army people.. Isn’t it true.. Yet army ani nada apa2 keraja dorang, other than mengurat bini org, atau mengacau students pompuan, biar dorang pusing2 mencari penuntut2 pompuan, esp on Saturday..  tau lah dorang ani menjaga keamanan negara, tapi bukan keamanan perempuan negara.. I saw on TV, I think diThailand kali, where askar2nya disuruh berkebun.. haha.. supaya nda membazir masa and tenaga.. and duit negara.. hehe.. That’s something for thought. At least selamat jua pompuan2 negara. Frodo Frodo@hotmail.com 24.01.2003

Halal/Haram?: Regarding Halal/Haram issue, I could see that some are very narrow-minded. I often take my family to have good meals at any one of these restaurants: JP Empire Hotel, Dynasty, Orchid Garden or Sheraton.  Occasionally, I would go to Jin Chiew for coffee and roti kuning for afternoon break. Now, if eating at these places constitutes haram and I am committing sins (dosa), I would say loud and clear, get lost and stuff your orthodox religious ideas into you’re a**. My advice is do more overseas traveling, see the REAL world and socialise. Be open-minded, enjoy life and be moderate. Be realistic and logical thinker. Jangan macam akal, katak dibawah tempurong. Tau apa ertinya? Kalau semuanya haram, pak/mak aji, baik tah biskita tinggal sama Taliban/OBL di Afghanistan. Nor MA(UK) 23.01.2003

Maka itu seseorang yang sihat akal dilarang bergelak tertawa kerana mereka banyak bergelak ketawa di dunia akan banyak menangis di akhirat. Orang yang banyak menangis di dunia mereka akan banyak tertawa di syurga.
 
Menurut Yahya bin Muaadz Ar-razi, ada empat perkara yang menghilangkan tertawa seseorang Mukmin :-
 
(1) Kerana memikirkan akhirat
 
(2) Kesibukan mencari keperluan hidup
 
(3) Risau memikirkan dosa
 
(4) Apabila tibanya musibah dan bala.
 
Jika seseorang sibuk memikirkan perkara itu, maka dia tidak banyak tertawa kerana banyak tertawa bukan sifat seorang Mukmin. Seperti yang diriwayatkan oleh Ibn Abbas r.a. "Sesiapa yang tertawa ketika membuat dosa, maka dia akan menangis ketika akan masuk neraka."
 
Dalam satu riwayat yang lain, dikemukakan bahawa Imam Abu Hanifah pernah tertawa satu kali apabila dia menang berdebat dengan Amr bin Abaid Alqadari (seorang bermazhab Qadariah yang tidak percaya kepada takdir Allah).
Selepas tertawa, Imam Abu Hanifah sangat menyesal lalu berkata: "Engkau berbicara tentang ilmu, aku tertawa, maka aku tidak akan berkata-kata kepadamu untuk selama-lamanya, maka aku sangat menyesal, sebab andainya aku tidak tertawa nescaya aku dapat menundukkannya dengan kefahamanku, sehingga menjadi kebaikan bagi ilmu."
 
Menurut Islam, sesiapa yang meninggalkan bergelak tertawa akan mendapat darjat yang tinggi di sisi Allah. Sabda Rasulullah S.A.W. yang 
bermaksud: "Dan siapa yang meninggalkan senda gurau diberi wibawa dan keindahan, dan siapa yang meninggalkan tertawa, maka ia berwibawa dan hebat, dan siapa yang tidak menginginkan kekayaan orang maka ia dicintai." (Hadis Sahih).

Islam juga melarang seseorang melakukan sesuatu atau berkata sesuatu untuk mentertawakan orang lain atau menyebabkan orang lain tertawa.Contohnya ialah seperti berlawak jenaka di mana seseorang akan berlagak dan mengeluarkan kalimah yang menyebabkan orang lain tertawa.
 
Menurut riwayat dari Ibrahim Annakhari beliau berkata: "Adakalanya seseorang mengeluarkan satu kalimah untuk mentertawakan orang di sekitarnya, maka Allah S.W.T. murka padanya lalu murka Allah itu merata kepada orang-orang yang di sekitarnya, yang tertawa bersamanya. Jika
seseorang yang berkata kalimah yang direda oleh Allah, maka ia mendapat rahmat dan rahmat Allah itu diperolehi juga oleh orang di sekitarnya."
 
Seseorang yang suka berlawak, berjenaka atau berolok-olok supaya orang lain tertawa, balasannya di akhirat ialah dimasukkan ke neraka ''Wail''.
Sebagaimana sabda Rasulullah S.A.W. yang bermaksud: "Neraka wail itu buat orang yang bercakap-cakap dengan berdusta dan berolok- olok supaya menimbulkan tertawa pada orang ramai, dan neraka wail itu untuk dia."
(Hadis dikeluarkan oleh Imam yang tiga: Riwayat Bahaz bin Hakim).
 
Dalam Hadis itu Rasulullah S.A.W. mengulang kalimah "neraka wail itu untuk dia" sebanyak dua kali, membuktikan tegas dan kuatnya amaran terhadap orang yang suka bergelak tertawa dan berjenaka. Islam memberi peringatan bahawa semakin kuat hilai dan tertawa seseorang itu, semakin hampir iblis dan syaitan sambil tertawa berbahak-bahak menari-nari untuk melalaikan dia.
 
Maka itu kita perlu awas daripada bergelak tertawa kerana perbuatan itu mengandungi lapan bahaya :-
 
(1) Dicela oleh ulama dan orang yang sopan serta sempurna akal.
 
(2) Memberanikan orang bodoh kepada kita.
 
(3) Jika bodoh akan bertambah kebodohannya, jika alim akan berkurangan ilmunya kerana seorang alim yang tertawa bererti telah memuntahkan ilmunya.
 
(4) Melupakan dosa-dosa yang lalu.
 
(5) Melupakan mati dan akhirat.
 
(6) Berani berbuat dosa kerana apabila tertawa nescaya akan membekukan hati.
 
(7) Menanggung dosa orang yang tertawa kerana tertawaan kita.
 
 
(8) Akan banyak menangis di akhirat.

Sabda Baginda saw : "Banyak ketawa itu mematikan hati dan melalaikan daripada mengingati akhirat dan mempusakai marah dalam hati".
 
Ya Allah..kurniakan kami keberkatan bulan ini, terimalah ibadat kami, bantulah kami melakukan puasa dan solat di dalamnya..amin.. chal chal@hotmail.com 22.01.2003*

Mimpi-mimpi Rasulullah

Daripada Abdul Rahman Bin Samurah r.a. berkata, Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. bersabda: Sesunguhnya aku telah mengalami mimpi yang MENAKJUBKAN pada malam kelmarin....

* Aku telah melihat seorang dari umatku telah didatangi malaikatul  maut untuk mengambil nyawanya, maka malaikat itu terhalang disebabkan KETAATAN KEPADA KEDUA IBU-BAPANYA. 

* Aku melihat seorang dari umatku telah disediakan azab kubur, maka ia telah diselamatkan oleh berkat WUDUKNYA.

* Aku melihat seorang dari umatku sedang dikerumuni oleh syaitan-syaitan, maka ia diselamatkan dengan berkat ZIKIRNYA kepada Allah.

* Aku melihat bagaimana umatku diseret oleh malaikatul azab, tetapi  SOLATNYA telah melepaskannya dari seksaan itu.

* Aku melihat umatku ditimpa dahaga yang amat berat, setiap kali dia mendatangi satu telaga dihalang dari meminumnya, ketika itu datanglah pahala PUASANYA memberi minum hingga ia merasa puas.

* Aku melihat umatku cuba untuk mendakati kumpulan para nabi yang sedang duduk berkumpul-kumpul, setiap kali dia datang dia akan diusir, maka menjelmalah MANDI JUNUBNYA sambil memimpinnya ke kumpulanku seraya duduk di sebelahku.

* Aku melihat seorang dari umatku berada di dalam keadaan gelap gelita, di hadapannya gelap, di belakangnya gelap, di bawahnya gelap sedangkan dia sendiri dalam keadaan binggung, maka datanglah pahala HAJI DAN UMRAHNYA lalu mengeluarkannya dari kegelapan kepada tempat yang terang benderang.

* Aku melihat umatku cuba berbicara dengan golongan orang mukmin tetapi mereka tidakpun membalas bicaranya, maka menjelmalah SILATURRAHIMNYA lalu menyeru kepada mereka agar menyambut bicaranya, lalu berbicaralah mereka dengannya.

* Aku melihat umatku sedang menepis-nepis percikan api ke mukanya,  maka segeralah menjelma pahala SEDEKAHNYA lalu menabiri muka dan kepalanya dari bahaya api tersebut. 

* Aku melihat umatku sedang diseret oleh malaikatul zabaniah ke merata tempat, maka datanglah pahala AMAR MA'RUF NAHI MUNGKARNYA seraya

menyelamatkan dia dari cengkaman tersebut dan diserahkan kepada malaikat rahmat.

* Aku melihat juga umatku sedang merangkak-rangkak, di antaranya  dengan Tuhan dipasangkan hijab, maka menjelmalah BUDI DAN AKHLAKNYA memimpinnya sehingga terbuka hijab tersebut dan masuklah dia bertemu  dengan Tuhannya.

* Aku melihat umatku didatangi buku catatan daripada sebelah kiri,  tiba-tiba datanglah pahala TAKUTNYA KEPADA ALLAH lalu menukarnya ke sebelah tangan kanan.

* Aku melihat seorang umatku terangkat timbangannya, maka menjelmalah ANAK-ANAKNYA YANG MATI KECIL lalu menekan timbangan hingga menjadi berat. 

* Aku melihat umatku sedang berada di tepi neraka jahannam, tiba-tiba muncullah PERASAAN GERUNNYA TERHADAP SEKSAAN ALLAH lalu membawa dia jauh dari tempat itu.

* Aku melihat umatku terjerumus ke lembah neraka, lalu datanglah AIR MATANYA YANG PERNAH MENGALIR KERANA TAKUT KEPADA ALLAH, menyelamatkannya. 

* Aku juga melihat umatku sedang meniti titian sirat dalam keadaan tubuhnya terketar-ketar seperti bergoncangnya dedaun yang ditiup angin, maka datanglah pahala BERBAIK SANGKA DENGAN ALLAH lalu mententeramkannya melalui titian tersebut sehingga ke pnghujungnya.

* Aku melihat umatku sedang meniti titian sirat dalam keadaan  merangkak dan meniarap lalu datanglah SOLATNYA merayu kepadaku dan  akupun memimpin tangannya dan mengajaknya berdiri serta berjalan hingga ke hujungnya. 

* Aku melihat umatku sudah hampir tiba di pintu syurga tetapi  tiba-tiba pintu syurga tertutup, di waktu itu muncullah PENYAKSIANNYA BAHAWA TIADA TUHAN YANG BERHAK DISEMBAH MELAINKAN ALLAH membukakan kembali pintu itu dan diapun memasukinya. 

* Aku melihat ramai orang sedang meggunting lidah mereka, aku bertanya kepada Jibril siapa mereka? Jawab Jibril, itulah orang-orang yang suka membawa mulut kesana sini. Aku juga melihat orang yang digantung lidah mereka. Aku bertanya kepada Jibril siapa pula mereka? Jawab Jibril itulah pembalasan orang yang suka menabur fitnah kepada orang-orang yang beriman tanpa bukti. chal chal@hotmail.com 22.01.2003*