Who Is Leela Ratos

The nation has lost a great but humble and selfless doctor – Dr Leela Ratos - a prominent doctor and philanthropist, was well-known, especially among thousands living in the Klang Valley, some of whom have sought treatment at her clinics for two generations. For over 50 years, she dedicated herself to serving others and gave free treatment to poor patients.

She opened her clinic day and night during the 1969 riots, caring for the wounded and women and children who lost their husbands and fathers and had nowhere to turn to.

Chong Suet Fah, 46, whose mother was pregnant with her sixth child in 1969 when her husband was killed during the riots, recalled how Dr Leela came to the family’s rescue. “We were very young then. Dr Leela gave us free treatment. She took care of us and others in the same situation – she bought us milk and diapers and made sure we were okay.

“And it was Dr Leela who gave me a job at her Jalan Pudu clinic during the recession in the 1980s. “She helped so many but she never boasted or shouted about it. My mother told us what she did for us,” she said at Dr Leela’s wake yesterday where her family, friends and patients gathered to remember her.

Dr Leela died on Thursday, aged 76, leaving five children and three grandchildren. Her husband and Orang Asli advocate Datuk Dr Antony Ratos died in 2010. Their chain of clinics Dr Leela Ratos dan Rakan-Rakan is well known.

Her list of accomplishments is long, having dedicated her life to social work and giving scholarships to those in need. She was also Cheshire Charity Home’s founding member and its longest serving committee member.

V. Penchavaranam, fondly known as “Papa”, has worked with Dr Leela at her Jalan Pudu clinic for 41 years and recalled what a dedicated doctor she was and how the free treatment for the poor continued throughout the years.

“She and her husband also adopted many unfortunate children regardless of race as she wanted to give them a good life. We never dreamt of working anywhere else. She was a dear friend who we will miss dearly,” said the 65-year-old.

To her children Anthuan, Dr Anita, Ari, Antonia and Dr Andre, Dr Leela was a loving mother and friend whose life and memory they would forever cherish. Her oldest child Anthuan described their mother as a loving and inspiring person who never said a nasty word to anyone.

“It amazes us how she juggled work, five children and charity work all at the same time. She was a wonderful mother,” he said.

Malaysian Graduates

KUALA LUMPUR: Graduates emerging from the national education system are failing to meet the expectations of prospective employers due to a lack of critical thinking skills and poor communication.

This has resulted in employers having to provide additional training to fit them into their respective job scopes while many graduates have to accept employment that does not correspond with their qualifications.

Malaysian-based education, human resource and recruitment consultants feel there is a need for a sound foundation in critical thinking to be incorporated into the education system to prepare future generations for the employment market.

Manpower Staffing Services (M) Sdn Bhd country manager Sam Haggag said there was a distinct gap between what the education system was producing and what employers were looking for.

“This has resulted in six out of 10 graduates from Malaysian universities taking as long as six months to find a job.

“The other 40% take even longer,” said Haggag, whose company provides workforce solutions that include recruitment and training.

“Recruitment is a distinct challenge as the uni­­v­­ersities are churning out graduates who don’t have the requisite skills to enter the workforce.

“The lack of proficiency in English limits their ability to communicate beyond the borders of Malaysia and this lowers their confidence and curtails their ability to add value in the workplace,” he added.

Hong Leong Bank chief human resources officer Ramon Chelvarajasingam said many new graduates lacked the critical thinking skills required to keep up in a constantly changing and increasingly competitive world.

These days, most employers look for graduates with a high level of confidence who were exposed to niche areas outside their academic studies.

Prospect Consulting Sdn Bhd director Nina Adlan, who provides advisory services to educational institutions aiming to set up branch campuses in Malaysia, said she had observed “a disconnect”’ between what graduates state on their curriculum vitae and what they are like in reality.

“When we hire, we consider the way graduates converse and portray themselves to be more important than what’s in the CV.

“What’s the point in having good academic results when they can’t communicate, can’t conduct a proper conversation and have no confidence?” she asked.

Greed & Scam

Malaysians lured into investing in illegal interest schemes have been fleeced of at least RM620mil over the past three years.

The Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), concerned over the rise of such scams, published an advertorial in the wake of recent complaints over a Canadian land-banking scheme to remind investors of the risks involved.

“An interest scheme is a form of investment in a medium other than shares and debentures (unsecured loans) involving the pooling of public funds to finance the business activities of a company,” Mohamed Sufyan said.

In return, participants are offered a specific return on their investment in the form of money, benefits or facilities.

“A common modus operandi involves convincing people to make a one-off investment in a business endeavour that is managed entirely by the operator,” Mohamed Sufyan said.

Another is to convince investors to build their own business (often with a buyback guarantee) on the condition that they purchase their training and equipment from the operator. “The operators are creative,” cautioned Mohamed Sufyan.


A few years ago, agriculture and its products (like lemon grass, leeches, earthworms, seaweed) were very popular.

Recent products include livestock (swiflets and arowana fish), plantations (palm oil, jatropha and agarwood), leisure and property development (holiday homes and hotels), equipment (ice-cream, ICT and water-vending machines) and gold.


However, not all interest schemes are illegal. There are provisions that regulate them under the Companies Act 1965. “Legal schemes are registered with SSM in accordance with requirements under the Companies Act 1965,” said Mohamed Sufyan.

He said the only way to determine the legality of an interest scheme was by verifying with SSM the status of the company and the scheme it operated. To date, SSM has registered 173 schemes worth about RM1.29bil.

A list of registered interest schemes is available on the SSM website (http://www.ssm.com.my/en/company/is-registered-scheme-public) and the public can call 03-2299-5500 to check or verify offers from interest scheme operators.

Makan Makan - My Shoe

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Malays Congress (PMC) Secretary Mohd Noor Mohd Abdul Kader - today hit out at Perkasa members for causing the ugly Esplanade ruckus during the anti-Lynas peaceful gathering on Sunday. He condemned Penang Perkasa leader Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azudin for rudely showing a shoe to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng when the DAP leader was leaving the place in his official car.

Mohd Noor criticised the Perkasa mob for being “un-Malay-like” in creating the disturbance at the peaceful gathering, in which two reporters were roughed up.
“Perkasa has embarrassed the Malays and insulted the intelligence of a civil society with its mob culture.

“The crowd was rude and vulgar,” Mohd Noor told FMT here today. He said he was ashamed at the ill-mannered behaviour of Mohd Rizuad, who was seen by many – and caught on cameras and videos – showing a shoe to the chief minister.

“It’s against Malay culture and custom. Malays are disgusted with Rizuad’s loutish gesture.” “Umno should blame Rizuad if it loses more votes and seats in Penang in next general election,” he added. He blamed Lim for causing the Esplanade ruckus. He claimed he was upset when Lim condemned Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his 1Malaysia concept in his address to the anti-Lynas crowd.

In the ugly incident, two newsmen from Kwong Wah Daily were roughed up by the mob. Besides Perkasa members, state Youth chief Shaik Hussein Mydin has confirmed that the mob included members from the Umno Tanjung division

Confucius Confusion

Malaysia Takaful

Zainudin said: “If the situation in the eurozone worsens and causes the reinsurers to hike their pricing, then the takaful and insurance companies including those in Malaysia would likely see higher prices for takaful and insurance products.”

Growth wise, he said the new Financial Sector Blueprint (2011-2020) would provide the impetus for the takaful industry to grow further by promoting access to other financial services sectors by introducing a range of directives, guidelines and best practices that would indirectly facilitate and drive its growth.

Among the recommendations in the blueprint were to develop a vibrant private pension industry for retirement and old age and the provision of wealth management products and services to cater to the demand of the growing affluent segment.

The industry experienced a compounded average growth rate of 27% in terms of net contributions between 2005 and 2010, with family takaful driving the growth at 28% for the same period.

Family takaful growth dominated over 80% of the total takaful market in 2010, and MTA was upbeat on the continued strong growth momentum, underpinned by rising affluence amid strong economic fundamentals.

Given the large untapped market that still exists with only 54% of the population having a life insurance or family takaful policy, the takaful industry was poised to benefit in years ahead, Zainudin added.

He said some of the major issues in the industry were inadequate investment instruments to meet the needs and demands of businesses as well as the shortage of talent.

Leaving Your Job

The reasons you stay in a job or career you don’t like are:

You’ve been conditioned to stay
The famed psychologist B.F. Skinner proved that being rewarded at random intervals (rather than on a fixed schedule) is a highly effective way to reinforce behavior. Our corporate employers do a wonderful job of keeping us coming back for more in our current roles, tightly weaving us into the fabric of the organisation by giving us little random rewards (a boss’ praise, a new plum client, an exciting new project, etc.)

You’re risk averse, now more than ever
We all know humans are risk-averse. Now, however, with online social networks and digital technology on the rise, your movements are far more visible. You fear looking bad in front of thousands of people if it doesn’t work out, so you stay put.

You don’t reach for the highest peak because you’re focused on scaling smaller ones
Finally, Mr. Gulati points out that a majority of professionals are focused on "winning" the prize in front of them (such as the next promotion or raise). They choose to scale the smaller peaks that emerge before them, rather than choosing a different terrain entirely and starting at the bottom of a new, higher mountain that may be much more satisfying and lucrative.

I agree 100% that these factors and behaviors inhibit our movement and growth. However, I believe this – these are all still excuses. Another way to look at these inhibitors to change is to see them as core fears such as: 1) I’m afraid to give up the small rewards I have for the ultimate ones I want – fulfillment and success; 2) I’m afraid of failing and being seen as a big loser; and 3) I’m afraid to stretch myself to the highest degree possible because it’s hard.

Yes, most people are afraid and resistant to make significant life or career change. But many still get over themselves, overcome their conditioning and push through. As the slogan says, They "just do it." I for one did it - underwent two career transformations, from miserable corporate VP to marriage and family therapist, and then from therapist to career and executive coach and consultant. And I’m so grateful I did. The majority of professionals I coach and train each year (numbering in the thousands) are changing jobs or careers too, with great success.

Why do these people quit their jobs or change careers, and why will YOU? Here are what I’ve found to be the top five reasons why professionals finally bite the bullet and make job or career change:

1) You’ve simply had it with what you have and what you’ve created
You wake up one day and realise, "I absolutely don’t want this anymore. I’m clear, and I’m done." There’s enough pain, discomfort, meaninglessness or disconnection in your work that you simply can’t continue this way one more minute. The small, random rewards you’ve been receiving over the years just don’t cut it anymore. You’re not seduced by them any longer.

2) You have the confidence and courage to do it
You’re smart and savvy. You’ve done your research about what’s involved to successfully change jobs or careers, and understand what it takes. You realise that, while your self-esteem has been rocked a good deal throughout these past years in this job, you still have enough confidence and grit to do what’s necessary.

3) Your eyes are wide open
You’ve learned an enormous amount throughout your jobs and the arch of your career. You’ve seen that it’s not just your job that’s making you miserable, but it’s YOU in your job that you want to change. You realise that getting on the path to making career or job change is exactly what’s required if you want to have a new kind of life.

4) You have the support you need

You know you can’t make this change alone. You need outside help that offers an empowered perspective of you, your talents, skills and passions. You know you need the support of key friends and family as well as those who will keep you accountable, and you have it.

5) You know there’s something more to this life, and that you deserve it
Finally, you know that this unhappy job (and simply paying the bills each month without any joy or fulfillment in your work) is not all there is to life. There IS more, and you’re hungry for it. The bell has been rung. Further, you know that you deserve it, because you understand that everyone deserves a fulfilling, joyful and successful life and career. You will get it because you will design it that way, from this day forward.