Harapkan Pagar

There is an old Malay saying - harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi,
which means that those whom one relies on to protect you sometimes takes advantage of the situation. In the course of getting the accident sorted out, we have been harassed by not-so well meaning agents of police officers and lawyers, who, in a time when families are already overwhelmed with grief and much anxiety, prey on their lack of objectivity.

We have been approached by these people with promises that hospital bills will be settled. Lucky for us, we quickly engaged credible lawyers to advise us on procedures in dealing with the police, insurance etc. There are those who are not so fortunate and have been tricked into signing off their legal rights to these unscrupulous individuals, leaving themselves open to exploitation by police who sell cases to lawyers, lawyers who take excessive cuts in accident claims to the detriment of those who need it most, and workshops who overcharge repair works to exploit insurance companies.

I spent some time at the police station watching people, police officers whom we trust to do the right thing, and their victims. I wonder how they can go to sleep at night.

Farhat will be having his multiple surgeries today. I talked to him yesterday. He is very scared. I was told the pain of recovering would be just as difficult as facing the surgery table.