WIN-WIN SITUATIONS . . .. .and a WINDFALL to others. ! ! !

Malaysian Highway is one of the best in the region. Well kept with beautiful landscaping in most of the stretches. But this does not mean it's a smooth driving lane. It does not come free of hickups and problems. When opened, it was highly appreciated except by some opposition leaders. Then, the problems surfaced. First it was the problems of never ending rates increases, bad stretches, "vultures" and the unreasonable charges by tow truckers, etc. Now all are "under control". So, it seems.

Last week a friend of mine call from the highway saying that his car overheated and had just stopped the car to cool down. While talking I could hear the sound of a motorbike stopping by and asking whats the problem. My friend told me he'd call back later.

About 20 mins. later he called and said his problem is solved : win-win situations : the guy on the motorbike offered to tow his car to his workshop at RM 30.00 (very very reasonable and low rate) and the estimate of the repair ( flushing of radiator) is about RM 45.00. So, all in all, my friend could repair his car at less than RM 100.00 ( a sure win situation, remembering the cost of towing that normally cost between RM 150.00 to RM 300.00) and the guy on the motorbike is also winning because he gets some repair job and at the same time the use of his towtruck gives him instant cash. All seems fine. A real win-win situations.

At the workshop the guy's mechanic said that he had to check-up and find if everything is ok with the engine.Firstly he told my friend that overheated cars normally result in other damages to engine parts. After filling the radiator with a fresh tank of water, he tried and said the engine cannot be started. [And, the win-win situations stopped here]. After, opening the top part of the engine (to investigate the problems) , the pronouncement was: the pistons are wrapped (or something),the rings are broken, the valve need . . . . and so on with other mechanic's term which my friend have heard before but not sure whats all about. The short explanations was it needed overhauling and it cost RM1,600.00!!!. STUNT, BUT WITH NO OTHER ALTERNATIVES ( THE ENGINE IS PARTLY DISMANTLED, THE CAR IN HIS WORKSHOP, NO WHERE ELSE TO GO OR ASK FOR HELP AND MAY BE WHAT HE SAID WAS TRUE, so the only choice was to agree to the overhauling of the car at RM 1600.00. Discussions after discussions, my friend end up having to stay overnight before the car is fixed (and to hunt for RM 1,600.00).

Things became suspicious because whilst waiting for the car to be fixed, 2 more cars (overheated on the highways) arrived at the workshop with minor problems to be fixed, ie to flush the radiator and to change the caskets ( and their estimates respectively was a total of RM 75.00 and RM175.00). Both end up paying RM 1600.00 and RM 1,800.00. The RM 30.00 and the low estimate was a bait - a modus operandi of the workshop. Later I found out there 2 such workshops "specialising" in repairs for cars stranded on the highways. The other workshop is a place where cars towed by the highway operators are repaired. And the charges are almost identical to this workshop that my friend got stuck with (may be the same modus operandi too).

It seems all towns along the highway have such "specialise" workshops!!! And the bait / modus operandi is almost similar.

So, the questions are:

1. what do we do when stranded on the highways so that we are not the victim of such workshops?

2. whom do we trust?

3. any organisations or body to protect highway users?

For the time being, its better not to trust anyone and trust ownself by ensuring the vehicle is regularly check, service, and change parts, esp beltings when due. And, pray for the best.