等了多年，终于等到了。大马最骄傲的创作才女戴佩妮的首次大马个唱于十六日，在云顶的云星剧场圆满落幕。

虽然坐的位子离舞台蛮远，可是依然看得出率性的Penny，如何走过这十年的岁月。如果说从歌手再“兼职”当演员或节目主持人才算是全方位歌手，而路也可走得比较远、比较久，那Penny皆不是女超人？

从舞蹈员到歌手，再由歌手到摄影师、导演等，加上凭当晚Penny以吉他当古筝及鼓的精彩演出，全方位歌手，呼之欲出！

在现时的现实娱乐圈，很多歌手都是包装过的鳗鱼，虽让人看得更美味，但品质好坏大家心中有数。一个不顾一切，坚持自己的创作，一手包办及制作全部专辑，勇于尝试，勇敢往前飞的，应该只有Penny。

你问我们是否愿意再收藏你十年？就算你有一天不愿再唱、不愿再让我成为你的收藏家，你依然是我收藏里最美丽的野蔷薇。

我对2010年，或应说往后的新一年，不再抱有太大的希望。我只想一切都平凡、一切顺其自然，船到桥头自然直。目前我最注重的是如何宠爱自己及如何向前走。

宠爱自己
确认的自游行
一月 - 印尼 | 日惹、玛琅、泗水
五月 - 印尼 | 巴厘岛
十月 - 澳洲 | 墨尔本、菲力浦岛、悉尼、布里斯班、黄金海岸

未确认的自游行
中国 | 杭州、苏州、上海（世博）、香港、澳门
台湾 | 台北、桃园、高雄


向前走
事业于2009年期间遇到瓶颈，爬得太高，结果也跌得顺，像足溜溜板。辛辛苦苦、一步一步、步步为营、爬上最高点，可是自己不小心，又或是在背后被人推了一把。幸运的总是吉人天相，厄运缠身的总是遍体鳞伤。

回想当年，每一次爬得比较高，总是会有不顺地事情发生，一次又一次，真得很累。我可不可以祈求让我事业就这样顺着走？我是为生活而打拼，而不是口角。

2010是不是我要期待的年份？我不懂，也不想再想那么多，毕竟我等了那么多年，天，始终要我等。一切就只能依我目前情况再做出调整，我依然相信自己的能力，可能真的只是时机未成熟。


Maybe I should not hope too much for every New Year, I mean from 2010 onwards. I am just hoping that everything is normal, calm and smooth as silk. The 2 main concerns that I have now would be how to pamper myself and moving forward.

Pampering
Confirmed Trip
January - Indonesia | Yogyakarta, Malang, Surabaya
May - Indonesia | Bali
October - Australia | Melbourne, Phillip Island, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast

Waiting-list Trip
China | Hangzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai (Expo), Hong Kong, Macau
Taiwan | Taipei, Taoyuan, Kaoshiung

Moving Forward
It was the peak for me in 2009. Probably I have done too much, reaching the top of hierarchy. But when you fall, it’s like when you are playing slides in the playground, the efforts and energy that you have put into, and climb to reach the top. If you are reckless, you may fall, at times, you were being pushed. You will be fine if you are lucky; in contrast, if your luck is bad, you may injure.

In past, every time I am reaching the peak, something will be happening to me, again and again, am really sick of it. I do not ask for more, only peaceful and silky smooth in my careers. I am fighting for life, not for arguments.

I doubt if 2010 is the year that I have been waiting for. I really don’t know, I’ve been waiting for years (or should I use “ages”?) Needless to say if I am hoping for anything, as god wills, he wants me to stay where I was. The only thing that I can do is self adjusting to adapt to the current changes, I live my life, and probably I really need to wait for the opportunity.

December 23, 2009 should be a memorable day, why? Let me tell you what I’ve been through.

Christmas and New Year are around the corner and definitely I am in shopping mood. Craving to get a Christmas or New Year present for myself as a reward of the year, trying to be fair to myself. Lame, right?

I was lucky to have my housemate Clover as companion to The Pavilion. As we were starving, we went to Pizza Hut to have our lunch, and the stories begin here.


We knew that the service of Pizza Hut is damn lame but we can’t help not to have pizza today, as we both are in pizza mood, of course price would be one of our considerations too. Compare to the last visit, the services did not improve, in fact, worsen. There was a “call” button on every table, all you need to do is to press the button to alert them that you need assistances instead of waving your hand or shouting them for attention. However, it is long-awaited since the first pressed, certainly we will be repeating the action until they serve us. But to my surprise, the Indian lady, also the Assistant Manager, wearing light blue shirt sitting at the cashier counter were shouting at one of the male staff, “Pergi tengok siapa yang tekan tekan”. The cashier counter was at least 100 meter away from our table, we could hear her shouting.

I was then pissed and to my surprise, I think Pizza Hut is kinda service-oriented, because I found a sticker next to the “call” button, stating the name, contact number and email address of the Area Manager. Will you still think twice if you have a chance to direct lodge a report to their superior? After I have told the Area Manager on what had happened, he sincerely apologise and promised to get the Assistant Manager to see me personally and apology.

Here she comes but her explanation is extremely unacceptable. She first asked me “What is your problem?” is this the way you approach an anger customer? She explaining that the services there all the while have been the same, with complaints and it was because her subordinates do not want to listen to her. She is saying that she just tenders her resignation as well. As what I know, she is still working there. If you wanna experience it, you may go there and give a try. I’m not sure if she is improved.







Hong Leong Bank, already voted as the worst and lousiest bank in Malaysia. Again, I am complaining them! My day did not 100% ruin by Pizza Hut, but was ruined by an agent named Hafiz from customer care department.

I went to Genting One Hub to purchase Penny Tai Live in Malaysia 2010 concert tickets, total amount is RM980. Definitely I am using my cards to make payment. I was shocked that when I was told my Hong Leong card was declined. As I know my own available credit limit, it is impossible that the charge is declined. I then called their customer services hotline which is 03-7726 8899. Here is the story…

I called several times and the line was engaged. When the line finally connected, I keyed-in the information such as credit card no. and hoping that the info could pop up on their screen, so that I need not to repeat, it will be easier for them as well as to reduce queue calls. But everytime I finished keyed-in my info and press the hash (#) key to confirm, the call was dropped! I tried for more than 6 times and I experienced the same.

When I was inside The Pavilion, I called again and finally there is an agent pick up my line. I thought I was calling the wrong no. as the person on the other line was so quiet and saying “hello… hel… lo”, not even a simple greeting was properly done! I even asked is that Hong Leong Bank, and he replied “Yes, who…?”

I started very pissed when I heard this, I wanted to end the call as soonest possible as I know this fellow will make me very pissed. Straight, I am giving him my card details and waiting for him to conduct verification.

Hafiz : What is your mother’s name?
Mervin : *** Not to reveal ***
Hafiz : What is your phone no.?
Mervin : *** Not to reveal ***
Hafiz : Where is your account?
Mervin : What do you mean where my account is? Are you asking me where did I open my account?
Hafiz : YES!
Mervin : For god sake, what do you mean where did I open my account? I am giving you my credit card no., and how shall I tell you where I open my account?
Hafiz : Errrrr… errrr….. What is your phone no.?
Mervin : You just request for my phone no, and now you asked me again?

In our dialogue, it is clearly shows that this fellow is a newbie on floor, probably first day handling calls but to my surprise, what the hell are Hong Leong Bank have in their mind to place someone who is not ready, not being well-trained and don’t even speak simple English to handle English-language call?

After I have got what I need, I request to speak to his superior as I am not very happy with the calls. It is not purely to condemn him for not able to handle the call well but the decision of the management to place someone who is not ready to handle the call, in a banking industry it is strongly disencourage as the call is not compliance due to no proper verification, anyone who knows my basic info can just calls in and get the details that they want, or worse, giving instruction on my account.

Unfortunately, I did not speak to his superior but scolded him over the phone for giving me excuses and same answer. He keeps asking me “you want to speak to my manager?” for at least 3 times, and I replied 3 times “Yes” until I lose my mind. Then he told me he is still new but to me, in banking industry, this is not an answer as I used to work in more stressful and restricted call center in banking industry. He told me that his manager is not around and he will get his manager to call me, he then REQUEST FOR MY CONTACT NUMBER! I just gave him twice during the stupid verification but now he is asking for it again! I was even angrier, in the end I request him to get his manager to call me within 2 hours from the second I ended the call.

If I am the call-rating officer, the call is failed due to:-

1. No greetings

2. No simple verification (ask for customer’s name)

3. Asking irrelevant question

4. Repeating same question

5. Hesitation (tone of voice) and not confident

6. Did not understand what customer’s wants

7. Causing customer unhappy

8. No closing

I am cancelling my Hong Leong card right after Chinese New Year! I hate Hong Leong Bank so much, they just NEVER grown!

Read my previous blog post regarding Hong Leong Bank
Malaysia Lousiest Bank Ever - Hong Leong Bank Berhad



I used to work in G2000 as Assistant Shop Manager. I am not saying that I am trying to picking their wrong but at least certain thing should have remained.

Clover wanted to buy 2 pants there but size is not available. We requested the Trainee to check if there is any in store room, but he just checked the pants putting on the table then said “Store should be no more size”. Then we request him to check if other outlets have it as I know there are 2 consignment counters in Metrojaya, they can even call other outlets to “check code”. He was kinda refuse to check for us, telling us that the cashier is busy doing payment, we insisted, he request us to hold on. After 5 minutes, I did not see the cashier checking for us, I was frustrated and get Clover to check on the status, he was asking us to check with the staff at the cashier counter ourselves! Clover asked “you want me as a customer to check it myself?” He then went to the cashier there and request senior staff to check.

He then found a new one from store room but another one is only available in Metrojaya. Due to such experience, we rather get both pants from Metrojaya although I know the sales are combined as one. In Metrojaya, there are 3 consignment counters; one is G2000 City, G2000 Women and G2000 Men. Black pants we saw we got it from G2000 Women, Grey pants was found in G2000 City BUT the price is different, it has only 20% discount, outlet was stating 50%. We asked the sales there and he told us consignment and outlet prices are different. If I never worked in G2000, I may trust you but please I ain’t stupid!

Logically if prices are different, it will only happen in such situation:-
1. Different company (franchising)
2. G2000 would not have sent you to take care of the counter in Metrojaya, they may get their own staff instead.
3. G2000 won’t set up phone line and PC with stock control system there.
4. Metrojaya or Mid Valley is having sales or special promotion, outlets may have no sales.

We went back to the outlet to verify, there are 2 more mature female staffs, one is looking over the PC, and another was eating. The one was eating asking us in a rude manner whether we did see the code, maybe both are different codes. I was so pissed and show her the photo of the code and prices we have taken. If I still remember, on-sales stocks of G2000 are “98” series, “96” series color is totally different, with extra free belt on the pant, it is very even easier to distinguish even without looking at the code.

After checked, it was their mistake and we went back to the counter. The sales guy straight away told us that the pants is 50% off now when we request him to check the price on their system,

Sales guy : Oh, they just called and checked.
Merv : Why are you saying the price of consignment and outlet is different just now?
Sales guy : Because they did not change the display.
Merv : Display manual is always given before sales. You thought your Visual Merchandiser Lucia is dead?

That’s how we end out day. We eventually get what we wants, but in a harsh way.

是不是很多时候都会觉得妈妈很啰嗦，常常喋喋不休，让做孩子的觉得很不耐烦。但做孩子的可否有仔细想过妈妈的感受？

以前的我，确实不爱做家务，也不大爱烹饪，所以妈妈通常都会发牢骚，因为孩子永远只会做自己的东西，而忽略了辛苦的一整天的妈妈。其实我想说的东西很简单，可能自己亲身体验了，现在觉得以前的自己总是想到自己，而忘了妈妈的感受。

话说很普通的某天，并非什么大日子。但妈妈心血来潮，心想孩子做工了一整天，必定累坏了。恰好雪柜里有额外的食物供烹调，所以妈妈特别煮多了几道菜肴，当然分量也比平常多。就这样，妈妈用了几个小时，一人在厨房里“孤军作战”。焖的、炒的、炸的，样样都不少，只为了今晚较丰盛的晚餐。

当一切都弄好了，连厨房也打扫干净了，累了的妈妈也可能开始饿了，可是孩子都还没回来，心想今天可能塞车吧，所以索性再等多一会儿。但时间一分一秒地滴答流失，依然看不见孩子踪影。辛辛苦苦等到孩子回来了，孩子却凉也不冲，忙着上网聊天及玩“面子书”。原本开开心心的烹饪，充满期待地等着孩子回家，可以一起同桌共餐，到最后，也只有妈妈一人独自吃着自己辛辛苦苦为家人特别准备的饭菜。

试问如果你是妈妈的，你有什么感受？你会吃得开心吗？吃着自己烹调的食物，再多好吃也只有身边人懂，因为早在烹调时，已加入多好吃的努力及感觉，妈妈已懂这菜肴到底有多好吃。

做孩子的通常都会有的回应，“你可以自己先吃啊！”如果我可以、我愿意一个人吃，我有必要煮那么多吗？有必要等你回来吗？每个人都有自私的一面，往往不会再三顾虑他人感受而“出言不顺”。

如果迟回家吃饭，请通知。

如果迟回家也不吃饭，请通知。

如果不回家吃饭，更应该通知。

如果回家吃饭，就一起吃。

就算味道没想象中好，也不可说难吃。就有如一道较淡的蔬菜，“很难吃”和“不够咸”是两回事，前者带来的伤害很难预知，后者带来地不是伤害，而是告知。

试问还有谁愿意为你下厨，亲手烹调一餐，让你吃得温馨？

十二月了，我最喜欢。想起两年前的十二月，还真的蛮怀念的。当时的我就任职于合您广场某店的店面经理，虽然面对着有点无理取闹的吉隆坡上司及蛮野蛮的新加坡上司，但我还是蛮高兴，和其他同事及下属“斗”得很愉快。

去年的十二月，虽然是单身，但我好在有一般很要好的朋友。就算我是单身，亦从不觉得寂寞。

今年的十二月，让我彻底地失望及无助。问题继九月的地雷式被引爆后，现在来了个自杀式袭击。我真的不懂为何这世界竟会如此无药可救。人家说肖鼠的今年运气可是前三名，那看回我，我应该是例外地。


家
原本说好我要小房，虽然小到很可怜，但我并不介意。可是经过风水师的讲解后，老实说，我的确很不爽！风水无论是什么种族、什么宗教的人都相信风水可影响人的运势，但你要我如何接受我爸妈的房间让给我大姐，我大姐的房让给我，而我的房间让给爸妈。这简直就是荒唐，和送我爸妈进养老院有什么差别？！我并不是介意大房让给我姐，而是根据逻辑，我爸妈住我姐房还差不多。

除此之外，还说我并不适合住这新家，因为我的生辰八字是必须住在坐东向西的屋子，否则我的事业就会大起大落。如果我不适合住，倒不如不必入住，还要我换房干嘛？要是风水师是真的厉害，麻烦请教避凶挡煞的方法，而不是普普通通三言两语的换房。

要是那么差，我宁愿不让风水师施法。我情愿卖掉也不愿意睡较大间的房。因为我真的不介意，我由始至终都爱我的小房。天天喊它小并不代表我不喜欢它。

除此之外，家人一再吵架。当然吵的不是我们家人，而是我阿姨和婆婆。为了什么事？又是钱！但你们要吵归你们吵，为何无端端却要把我扯进呢？说我向阿姨借了一千元，这简直就是荒唐！


友
金钱及权力，试问谁不想要。不懂是否自己看多了，还是年纪大了，总觉得金钱和权力只不过是身边物。金钱是找不完地，因为你不是生产钞票的国家银行。权力得到了，麻烦请善用，别一上任就“新官上任三把火”，毕竟你有的是新官的三把火，较同级旧官的N把火，你不算什么！


爱
爱情是一门永远都学不会东西。它不是随便学学听听就那么简单，因为它是必须用心去感应、体会、聆听。每个人的想法都不一样，每个人有着不同的感觉，所以当人家问你什么是爱情，那你的答案又会是什么呢？

已经近两个月了，我们依然争吵，而且还是为了琐碎的芝麻绿豆，然后再旧事重提而闹翻天。但是只要还有信任，只要还有坦诚，只要还有爱，多么崎岖不平的道路也会变成丝绸之路。


工
如风水师所批，事业大起大落，我不否认。但我觉得这是我的问题，也就是说我本身所面对的问题。我的事业大起是因为我的智慧、勇敢与自信；我的事业大落是因为我遇人不淑，树大招风而惹至满身蚁。

最近也发现到了很多事情，可能我太愚蠢到相信他人，差一点惹上官非。我知道我等的只是机会，一个可让我翻身的机会，但我这次也不会手下留情，因为以其人之道还治其人之身。如你对我好，没滥用我对你的信任，我是没那么绝情地。


[ English version is dedicated to those English-educated readers. Actual meaning might be vary from Chinese version. Neither one will prevail ]

I like December most. Flashback to December 2008, I’m kinda missing it. It was the day where I worked for a retail shop in Gurney Plaza, as a Store Manager a.k.a. Shop Manager. Though I have difficulties in dealing with my unreasonable Kuala Lumpur Superior and illogical Singapore’s superiors, I must tell that I am enjoy every bittersweet moment that I had with my colleagues and subordinates.

Last December, I was single, yet I do have a bunch of best friends that will never make me feel like I am being alone.

This December, I am deeply disappointed and helpless. After the explosion of mine in September, there comes a suicidal attack. I don’t understand why the world is so mean. It is said that Rat is one of the luckiest in top 3, but look at me, maybe I am the typical one.


Families
I’ve spoken to everyone that I will get the smallest room, I never mind that. Things changed when Fengshui master came and started the Fengshui theory. In any aspects, Fengshui is trusted by any races and any religion, they believes that Fengshui has the power to change ones’ fate. But to me, it is unacceptable that my parents’ room is giving to my elder sister, my elder sister’s room is giving to me, and my room, giving to my parents. This is such a ridiculous, what is the difference of sending my parents to old folks home? I am not envy my sister is getting bigger room, but logically, my parents should at absolutely least getting my sister’s room.

On top of that, the master even was saying that my birthday shows that I am not suitable to live in this house. I have to stay in a house where it is positioned in East and facing West, else my career would be up and down tremendously. If I am not suitable to live in this house, rather asking me to stay away, why bother changing room? If you are an experienced master, you should suggest ways to avoid and prevent, not just changing room.

If I knew all these, I would not have let the master done anything. I rather sell off the house than sleeping in a bigger room. I really do not mind sleeping in such a tiny room. I am complaining that it is small but it doesn’t mean I don’t like my room.

Other than that, there are arguments again between families. But fortunately it wasn’t my family but argument between my aunt and my grandma, regarding… money! The argument is between you both and there is nothing to do with me, why wanna get me involved? Furthermore saying that I am borrowing RM1000 from my aunt, what a big joke!


Friendships
Money and rights is something that everyone craves for. Maybe I’ve seen it, or maybe I am grown up, both are not a need. How much money can you earn? You are not central bank that printing cash notes. When you get the rights, please use it wise as you are still new to your current level in the organization chart, but there might be more people that sharing the same rights, so what are you?


Loves
Love is something that you will never able to learnt. It ain’t about learning or studying, it must be well connected with heart, through your feelings, experiences and listening. Everyone has different perception, everyone has different feelings. When someone questioning you what is love, what would be your answer?
It’s been almost 2 months we were arguing, it is because of tiny shit matters that does not important at all, and it turns out to be big deal when there is a party ditching the past. As long as the trustworthy is there, as long as honesty is there, as long as the love is still there, no matter how tough the journey is, it will soon become smooth as silk.


Works
According to Fengshui master, my careers is always up and down tremendously, I admit. However, my perception on these is purely on myself, my own problems that I am facing. I strongly believed that my careers fly is because of my intelligent, daring and confident; my careers drop is because I am dealing with certain morons that get jealous over me.

Recently I discovered many issues that came to me. Maybe I was too naïve to have trustworthy in them, caused me about to face trial. I know I am waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity that will bring me back to the stage. But I won't being soft, you deserved the way that you have treated me. If you are being bona fide and did not misuse my trustworthy to you, I will not be mean.