When Brazil was involved, who want to miss? The Final was between Brazil and USA. Not much known about USA football and the only guy I recognized in the USA side was the Goalkeeper. Howard was the reserve Manchester United Goalkeeper.
Howard played exceptionally well, made several spectacular save from the Brazilian onslaught and his goal posts impenetrable. From a tame pass near the goalmouth, USA got the ball into the net. I couldn’t believe it. In another rare break, USA scored another one and Brazil was two down at half time. I still had hope that Brazil would win and on paper Brazil was a much better team. I was sure they would address the problem in the second half and make amend.
Forty seconds into the second half, Brazil scored. Game on. Brazil did score a goal and the game was about to be level but the Assistant Referee and the Referee himself was cock eye. It was too swiftly deflected by Howard out of goal. Only the playback showed that the ball indeed crossed the line. Brazil did not even protest. Brazil went on to level the score and scored another one for the winning goal. Final result: Brazil 3 USA 2. It was firework and samba in the streets of Brazil. The world was entertained by the brilliant skill of the Brazilian.
The third placing went to Spain beating the host nation, South Africa by 3 goals to 2 after extra time. I was not keen on this match.
The Confederation Cup flew to Brazil.
Brazil would come again to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup.
Monday, June 29, 2009
About blogging and bloggers.
The following quoted from an article about blogging and blogger. The Bloggers helped to deny the 2/3 majority in Parliament. Captured four states, retained one and lost one to three frogs.
I blog because I want to have the freedom of airing what I see and feel.
Quote:
Malaysian Blogger Fights a System He Perfected
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — In a vast office at the top of one of the world’s tallest buildings, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad sits at a broad, glass-topped desk, scribbling his thoughts on a pad of unlined paper.
For 22 years, Mr. Mahathir was the most powerful person in this land, and his thoughts were commands as he reshaped the country in his own image.
But he has become an irritant and a spoiler five years after stepping down, turning against his handpicked successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and falling victim to the press controls he perfected as prime minister.
“Where is the press freedom?” he asked two years ago, apparently surprised at being suddenly ignored. “Broadcast what I have to say! What I say is not even accurately published in the press!”
This May, though, he discovered the power of the Internet. Like many other inconvenient critics, he joined what seemed to be a political wave of the future, creating his own blog — www.chedet.com — where he vents in English and Malay several times a week.
Around the region bloggers are becoming a Fifth Estate, challenging the government’s monopoly on information in Singapore, evading censors in Vietnam, and influencing events in places like Thailand, Cambodia and China.
In March, political experts said, Malaysia’s bloggers helped influence elections, contributing to the biggest upset that the governing party, the United Malays National Organization, had suffered since independence in 1957. For the first time in decades, it held fewer than two-thirds of the seats in Parliament, and it lost control of 5 of the 13 states.
Among the opposition winners in the national and state governments were several bloggers, most prominently Jeff Ooi, who claimed to have prodded Mr. Mahathir into starting his own blog.
“The government doesn’t have a clue how to handle bloggers,” Mr. Ooi said in an interview. “If I were a dictator, I would be despairing. What do you do against this?”
The Internet has become the main battleground against censorship in Malaysia, where a system of self-censorship in an atmosphere of government pressure and intimidation has produced a constricted press.
Mr. Mahathir, 82, seems to be reveling now in challenging the system he once controlled, and he is as acerbic as he was during his days as prime minister.
“It is time the so-called intellectuals realize they were being duped by the Master of Spin,” he wrote on Aug. 21, referring to his bitter enemy, Anwar Ibrahim, who was his deputy prime minister and now leads the main opposition party. He also accused Mr. Anwar of being “the pious Muslim, who is also the bosom pal of Paul Wolfowitz, the neo-con Jew,” referring to the former United States deputy secretary of defense.
Blogging on Sept. 3, he offered a sort of mission statement. Many are with him as he harasses the government, he asserted. “But they are not prepared to say it openly,” he wrote. “That was why I started my blog. About six million had visited my blog site, and tens of thousands have commented and supported me.”
In case anyone doubts this, he posts comments to his blog by the dozens and hundreds, page after page, day after day. It turns out he has a lot of fans.
“Amazingly brilliant!” reads one comment. “I can’t stop laughing...you made my day Sir!”
And just to clear up any possible misunderstanding, another writes, “You, sir, are the most brilliant politician Malaysia has ever been blessed with.”
Mr. Ooi, 52, a former advertising copywriter who was one of Malaysia’s first political bloggers, started in 2003 and built a loyal following at www.jeffooi.com.
The government began an assault on Mr. Ooi that included threats of imprisonment without trial, attacks in the government-friendly press and defamation lawsuits, which are popular among leaders in Southeast Asia.
But that seemed only to make him a hero, and when he decided to run for Parliament as an opposition candidate, he already had a big head start.
“As a person that has consistently faced threats as a blogger, I had a kind of iconism and imagery that this is someone you can trust, someone the government fears, someone you need to put into Parliament,” Mr. Ooi said.
But he said it was much harder to blog from the inside. “The trade-off is that I have to write with measured words,” he said.
Earlier this year, Mr. Ooi said, he attended a public forum with Mr. Mahathir. It was there that he claimed he persuaded Mr. Mahathir to begin a blog.
“I threw him a challenge,” Mr. Ooi said. “A blogger shares a few prerequisites. One, he is strongly opinionated. Two, he could be controversial. And, thirdly, he is an agent provocateur on issues.
“I thought Mahathir fulfilled all three.”
The result, Mr. Ooi said, was “a miracle, he scored about 10 million visitors within months.”
Now, a convert to free speech, Mr. Mahathir is using his blog to champion the most recent victim of government censorship, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the country’s most prominent blogger, who posts on www.malaysia-today.net, his Web site. The site has been blocked, but readers are redirected to another Web site, which continues to be updated.
The government has fallen back on the kind of tactics that Mr. Ooi faced. It charged Mr. Petra with sedition and jailed him for two years without trial for comments he had posted.
Mr. Mahathir sounded almost like Che Guevara when he said in his blog that the arrest showed “a degree of oppressive arrogance worthy of a totalitarian state.”
Furthermore, jailing people is futile, he said in an interview in his office. There is no way the government can arrest all the bloggers, even if it wants to.
At least, he said, “I hope so. Otherwise I’ll be in, too.”
Unquote:
If the mass media is free and independent, the bloggers would close shop.
I blog because I want to have the freedom of airing what I see and feel.
Quote:
Malaysian Blogger Fights a System He Perfected
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — In a vast office at the top of one of the world’s tallest buildings, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad sits at a broad, glass-topped desk, scribbling his thoughts on a pad of unlined paper.
For 22 years, Mr. Mahathir was the most powerful person in this land, and his thoughts were commands as he reshaped the country in his own image.
But he has become an irritant and a spoiler five years after stepping down, turning against his handpicked successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and falling victim to the press controls he perfected as prime minister.
“Where is the press freedom?” he asked two years ago, apparently surprised at being suddenly ignored. “Broadcast what I have to say! What I say is not even accurately published in the press!”
This May, though, he discovered the power of the Internet. Like many other inconvenient critics, he joined what seemed to be a political wave of the future, creating his own blog — www.chedet.com — where he vents in English and Malay several times a week.
Around the region bloggers are becoming a Fifth Estate, challenging the government’s monopoly on information in Singapore, evading censors in Vietnam, and influencing events in places like Thailand, Cambodia and China.
In March, political experts said, Malaysia’s bloggers helped influence elections, contributing to the biggest upset that the governing party, the United Malays National Organization, had suffered since independence in 1957. For the first time in decades, it held fewer than two-thirds of the seats in Parliament, and it lost control of 5 of the 13 states.
Among the opposition winners in the national and state governments were several bloggers, most prominently Jeff Ooi, who claimed to have prodded Mr. Mahathir into starting his own blog.
“The government doesn’t have a clue how to handle bloggers,” Mr. Ooi said in an interview. “If I were a dictator, I would be despairing. What do you do against this?”
The Internet has become the main battleground against censorship in Malaysia, where a system of self-censorship in an atmosphere of government pressure and intimidation has produced a constricted press.
Mr. Mahathir, 82, seems to be reveling now in challenging the system he once controlled, and he is as acerbic as he was during his days as prime minister.
“It is time the so-called intellectuals realize they were being duped by the Master of Spin,” he wrote on Aug. 21, referring to his bitter enemy, Anwar Ibrahim, who was his deputy prime minister and now leads the main opposition party. He also accused Mr. Anwar of being “the pious Muslim, who is also the bosom pal of Paul Wolfowitz, the neo-con Jew,” referring to the former United States deputy secretary of defense.
Blogging on Sept. 3, he offered a sort of mission statement. Many are with him as he harasses the government, he asserted. “But they are not prepared to say it openly,” he wrote. “That was why I started my blog. About six million had visited my blog site, and tens of thousands have commented and supported me.”
In case anyone doubts this, he posts comments to his blog by the dozens and hundreds, page after page, day after day. It turns out he has a lot of fans.
“Amazingly brilliant!” reads one comment. “I can’t stop laughing...you made my day Sir!”
And just to clear up any possible misunderstanding, another writes, “You, sir, are the most brilliant politician Malaysia has ever been blessed with.”
Mr. Ooi, 52, a former advertising copywriter who was one of Malaysia’s first political bloggers, started in 2003 and built a loyal following at www.jeffooi.com.
The government began an assault on Mr. Ooi that included threats of imprisonment without trial, attacks in the government-friendly press and defamation lawsuits, which are popular among leaders in Southeast Asia.
But that seemed only to make him a hero, and when he decided to run for Parliament as an opposition candidate, he already had a big head start.
“As a person that has consistently faced threats as a blogger, I had a kind of iconism and imagery that this is someone you can trust, someone the government fears, someone you need to put into Parliament,” Mr. Ooi said.
But he said it was much harder to blog from the inside. “The trade-off is that I have to write with measured words,” he said.
Earlier this year, Mr. Ooi said, he attended a public forum with Mr. Mahathir. It was there that he claimed he persuaded Mr. Mahathir to begin a blog.
“I threw him a challenge,” Mr. Ooi said. “A blogger shares a few prerequisites. One, he is strongly opinionated. Two, he could be controversial. And, thirdly, he is an agent provocateur on issues.
“I thought Mahathir fulfilled all three.”
The result, Mr. Ooi said, was “a miracle, he scored about 10 million visitors within months.”
Now, a convert to free speech, Mr. Mahathir is using his blog to champion the most recent victim of government censorship, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the country’s most prominent blogger, who posts on www.malaysia-today.net, his Web site. The site has been blocked, but readers are redirected to another Web site, which continues to be updated.
The government has fallen back on the kind of tactics that Mr. Ooi faced. It charged Mr. Petra with sedition and jailed him for two years without trial for comments he had posted.
Mr. Mahathir sounded almost like Che Guevara when he said in his blog that the arrest showed “a degree of oppressive arrogance worthy of a totalitarian state.”
Furthermore, jailing people is futile, he said in an interview in his office. There is no way the government can arrest all the bloggers, even if it wants to.
At least, he said, “I hope so. Otherwise I’ll be in, too.”
Unquote:
If the mass media is free and independent, the bloggers would close shop.
Cyril Norman Preira.
Norman passed away yesterday. My batch mate, 1963 – 1965. Obituary inserted at today’s STAR.
Professor Dr. Syed Sheik sent me a short message. Raja Mohammed also confirmed the sad news. I don’t buy and read STAR. Forward the message to few batch mates and emailed to a friend who has the mailing list of old boys.
Norman hailed from Ipoh and one of the few Eurasian students. The last time I met him was about three years ago at the Highway 1, Ulu Bernam Rest Area and that was the first time we met since 1965. Surprisingly he still could recognize me and hailed the first greeting. He was with MOX – Malaysian Oxygen. I do not much about his life after school.
RIP, my friend.
Professor Dr. Syed Sheik sent me a short message. Raja Mohammed also confirmed the sad news. I don’t buy and read STAR. Forward the message to few batch mates and emailed to a friend who has the mailing list of old boys.
Norman hailed from Ipoh and one of the few Eurasian students. The last time I met him was about three years ago at the Highway 1, Ulu Bernam Rest Area and that was the first time we met since 1965. Surprisingly he still could recognize me and hailed the first greeting. He was with MOX – Malaysian Oxygen. I do not much about his life after school.
RIP, my friend.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Unique.
Unique about me:
1. I am the darkest among the siblings. I only worked indoor stuck in the office from August 1990 to December 1996. The rest of the time, I mostly spent my working time outdoor in the field.
2. I am the only one among the siblings who did not work with Kerajaan Malaysia. I don’t know why, perhaps at a young age I had been anti establishment. Some politicians played politic on me that changed the course of my life.
3. I am the only one who stayed with my grandparents just after entering the world. Maybe I was too sickly, ready to be declared dead anytime and buried in the kampong. On the contrary, the hospitality made me a better man.
4. I hate to be cheated and I don’t forgive people who cheat me. At the same time, cheating is never in my vocabulary.
5. Justice is my top priority. I advocate fairness. I develop this perhaps I felt it was not fair for my parents to leave me behind to stay with my grandparents.
6. I hate people who laugh during serious dialogues and discussions. A person who does that is not serious in their communications.
7. I like friends who are reciprocating. It should be two ways traffic and does not take advantage at my expense. Intra honesty with each other.
8. I hate three things while I am eating, someone clearing the throat, a baby crying and a cat around.
9. I like people to say things right in front of my face not behind my back.
10. I hate people who do not keen to return the money I lend to them. I am not an Along and I lend it on humanitarian ground, no interest charge and please return when due. If it is not returned, I will claim it at the next world.
11. I hate dogs and pigs. I would take a detour if I see one around.
12. I hate people who are suffering from superiority complex. It is good to be humble for all that we have is actually belongs to GOD. When we kick the bucket, all is left behind.
It is not difficult to befriend me. As I stated, if you don’t like me, say it with frankness right in front of my face. Don’t gossip behind my back. If ever I find out, be prepared for my gentleman approach with your explanations ready.
1. I am the darkest among the siblings. I only worked indoor stuck in the office from August 1990 to December 1996. The rest of the time, I mostly spent my working time outdoor in the field.
2. I am the only one among the siblings who did not work with Kerajaan Malaysia. I don’t know why, perhaps at a young age I had been anti establishment. Some politicians played politic on me that changed the course of my life.
3. I am the only one who stayed with my grandparents just after entering the world. Maybe I was too sickly, ready to be declared dead anytime and buried in the kampong. On the contrary, the hospitality made me a better man.
4. I hate to be cheated and I don’t forgive people who cheat me. At the same time, cheating is never in my vocabulary.
5. Justice is my top priority. I advocate fairness. I develop this perhaps I felt it was not fair for my parents to leave me behind to stay with my grandparents.
6. I hate people who laugh during serious dialogues and discussions. A person who does that is not serious in their communications.
7. I like friends who are reciprocating. It should be two ways traffic and does not take advantage at my expense. Intra honesty with each other.
8. I hate three things while I am eating, someone clearing the throat, a baby crying and a cat around.
9. I like people to say things right in front of my face not behind my back.
10. I hate people who do not keen to return the money I lend to them. I am not an Along and I lend it on humanitarian ground, no interest charge and please return when due. If it is not returned, I will claim it at the next world.
11. I hate dogs and pigs. I would take a detour if I see one around.
12. I hate people who are suffering from superiority complex. It is good to be humble for all that we have is actually belongs to GOD. When we kick the bucket, all is left behind.
It is not difficult to befriend me. As I stated, if you don’t like me, say it with frankness right in front of my face. Don’t gossip behind my back. If ever I find out, be prepared for my gentleman approach with your explanations ready.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Hajjah Habasiah Syukur.
24 June 2009 (Wednesday) - the after subuh nap was interrupted when the lady of the house told me Hajah Habasiah Shukor passed away during her sleep. She retired as Chief Clerk of Jabatan Air and widow of my late friend, Captain Zainol, a prominent harbor Pilot. She had been staying with her two daughters in a double storey bungalow close by to my residence. Suffering from all sorts of complications she had been on the electric wheel chair for quite sometimes. Once in a while I used to see her wheeling around the kampong.
I met Hajjah Habasiah when I moved in to my present house and to our surprise we were once as schoolmate in Bidor. She went missing and I did not know that she followed her father on transfer to Klang.
Hajjah Habasiah was an active Wanita UMNO and well like by the kampong folks. Her familiar face and size stood prominent at all kampong activities. She is known as Kak Yong in the kampong. A very friendly lady and never fail to exchange greetings and had a short chat whenever I met her at anywhere and at any function. Kak Yong once told me she unofficially negotiated with the Meter Readers not to cut off any water supply to any of the kampong folks before referring to her. She declared all the kampong folks are all her relatives. She once solved my problem when I had a major water leak at my house. When Captain Zainol was alive, I used to pass the water bill and the money for Hajjah Habasiah to settle at her Office.
I bid farewell to Hajjah Habasiah at the solat jenazah after zohor at the kampong Mosque and we laid her in an air condition Toyota Estima to her final resting place. It was a pity that one of her daughter in Ireland could not make it to her funeral.
May Allah bless her soul.
Alfatihah……….
I met Hajjah Habasiah when I moved in to my present house and to our surprise we were once as schoolmate in Bidor. She went missing and I did not know that she followed her father on transfer to Klang.
Hajjah Habasiah was an active Wanita UMNO and well like by the kampong folks. Her familiar face and size stood prominent at all kampong activities. She is known as Kak Yong in the kampong. A very friendly lady and never fail to exchange greetings and had a short chat whenever I met her at anywhere and at any function. Kak Yong once told me she unofficially negotiated with the Meter Readers not to cut off any water supply to any of the kampong folks before referring to her. She declared all the kampong folks are all her relatives. She once solved my problem when I had a major water leak at my house. When Captain Zainol was alive, I used to pass the water bill and the money for Hajjah Habasiah to settle at her Office.
I bid farewell to Hajjah Habasiah at the solat jenazah after zohor at the kampong Mosque and we laid her in an air condition Toyota Estima to her final resting place. It was a pity that one of her daughter in Ireland could not make it to her funeral.
May Allah bless her soul.
Alfatihah……….
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
All well. Is it?
The Spiritual Leader had met the Deputy President and the President had met Anwar and Lim Kit Siang. Everybody agreed to remain in the same ship of Pakatan cruising to the harbor of success. The weather is clear. The destination is roughly four years away and hopes they do not sail into rough weather. Please always station someone at the crow nest on a look out for pirates who want to interrupt the smooth sailing. Never allow them to be near the ship. If any of the crew quietly jumped ship and negotiate with the pirates, make him walk the plank immediately. No question asks. Pirates are forever pirates. We have witnessed how they pirated Perak.
Pirates normally possess strong weapons and it is an uphill task to overcome them. The strong weapon is solidarity and sincerity. Stay solid as one and sincere in all their hearts, no weapons can destroy them, not even C4. Forget about watching TVs and reading newspapers. While sailing they would just surf the internet and they will get all news from around the world, from the Artic to Antartica and from Tebedu to Padang Besar.
They must maintain good behaviors when on board. To the Muslims they must comply with the five daily prayers and strictly adapt to the Islamic teachings. Set a good example so that the non Muslim passengers can trust the Muslim more. If a person always remember God it is unlikely that he breaks the rule of law. They must learn to lead by example so that when they reach the final destination they are already prepared to lead. On the same ship don’t ever backstab your shipmate and don’t ever bribe for a better bunk. If you are assigned to look after the sails ensure that the ship navigates as per the Skipper charted course. If the ship linen is dirty quietly wash it and don’t ever wash it in public.
Happy sailing and with God grace, they will sail into the harbor. Stay on course. If you are off course, sit down and discuss, reset the chart. You will be spot on.
Come to think of it, who is supposed to join who? The Muslims sailors joining the Pirates or the Pirates want to work together with the Muslim sailors? There are non Muslims on the Pirate’s armada so as the Muslim’s ship. What would happen to the non Muslim pirates if the Muslims decide to join the pirate’s ship? Most likely those pirates would jump ship, board the Pakatan ship and then what happen? Eventually the newly boarded Muslims would become pirates too and we are back to square one. At the Pakatan ship, some Muslims refuse to join the pirate’s ship and with all the expertise on board they may or may not reach the harbor. For sure the War at Sea would be more stringent because the newly boarded ex pirates on the Pakatan ship possess all the tricks and secrets of the pirates in their pockets.
What I fear both ships do not reach the harbor and the Jaws are enjoying their banquet.
Pirates normally possess strong weapons and it is an uphill task to overcome them. The strong weapon is solidarity and sincerity. Stay solid as one and sincere in all their hearts, no weapons can destroy them, not even C4. Forget about watching TVs and reading newspapers. While sailing they would just surf the internet and they will get all news from around the world, from the Artic to Antartica and from Tebedu to Padang Besar.
They must maintain good behaviors when on board. To the Muslims they must comply with the five daily prayers and strictly adapt to the Islamic teachings. Set a good example so that the non Muslim passengers can trust the Muslim more. If a person always remember God it is unlikely that he breaks the rule of law. They must learn to lead by example so that when they reach the final destination they are already prepared to lead. On the same ship don’t ever backstab your shipmate and don’t ever bribe for a better bunk. If you are assigned to look after the sails ensure that the ship navigates as per the Skipper charted course. If the ship linen is dirty quietly wash it and don’t ever wash it in public.
Happy sailing and with God grace, they will sail into the harbor. Stay on course. If you are off course, sit down and discuss, reset the chart. You will be spot on.
Come to think of it, who is supposed to join who? The Muslims sailors joining the Pirates or the Pirates want to work together with the Muslim sailors? There are non Muslims on the Pirate’s armada so as the Muslim’s ship. What would happen to the non Muslim pirates if the Muslims decide to join the pirate’s ship? Most likely those pirates would jump ship, board the Pakatan ship and then what happen? Eventually the newly boarded Muslims would become pirates too and we are back to square one. At the Pakatan ship, some Muslims refuse to join the pirate’s ship and with all the expertise on board they may or may not reach the harbor. For sure the War at Sea would be more stringent because the newly boarded ex pirates on the Pakatan ship possess all the tricks and secrets of the pirates in their pockets.
What I fear both ships do not reach the harbor and the Jaws are enjoying their banquet.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Seremban revisited.
Yesterday, I had two missions in Seremban. It was drizzling in the morning and hoping for a brighter day in the afternoon, no rain, no haze and the sun not too bright. We trekked the Kesas Highway, took the KLIA road and joined the North South PLUS Highway. Exit at Senawang and make our way to Gedong Lalang, an established Malay settlement south of Seremban.
I had a wedding invitation and the last time I visited the house was about thirty four years ago when I befriended the ladies of the house. The wedding of Zubaidah’s daughter, Rini and when I frequented visiting this house, thirty four years since, Zubaidah was just running around with her pigtail. Now I am coming for her daughter’s wedding. Suddenly I felt time really flies and am feeling very much elder in the senior citizen classification. As usual at wedding we tend to knock into old and surprise acquaintances and the normal question is how many grandchildren. Osman my housemate during the Port Dickson era was there, all the way from Kuantan. Zaki, the only boy in the family is now the school Nazir in Trengganu. Hj Izhar familiar face in the Mosque was there too as his in laws is Zubaidah’s neighbor. The buffet lunch was well prepared blended with traditional taste especially with the “gulai lemak” bamboo shoots with fresh prawns. After the bridegroom arrived we left the function for another appointment down the Kuala Pilah road.
About five kilometers away I visited a friend at Paroi Jaya whose house just stone throw away the Seremban Stadium. Prior to my Seremban trip Harith Takiman family requested for a few bottles of “Sambal Melaka” from a Restaurant near my place. I got five bottles and cash delivered to be flown to Dubai for their son. We stopped over for coffee and exchanged notes. Harith was my working mate in Port Dickson and married to my distant cousin.
We touched home base about six in the evening and I was so damn tired and sleepy. Maybe a little bit overdosed of “nasi minyak” and the “gulai rebung”. In fact I had a secret mission on the revisit to Seremban trip and I hope to blog about it later if it is accomplish.
I had a wedding invitation and the last time I visited the house was about thirty four years ago when I befriended the ladies of the house. The wedding of Zubaidah’s daughter, Rini and when I frequented visiting this house, thirty four years since, Zubaidah was just running around with her pigtail. Now I am coming for her daughter’s wedding. Suddenly I felt time really flies and am feeling very much elder in the senior citizen classification. As usual at wedding we tend to knock into old and surprise acquaintances and the normal question is how many grandchildren. Osman my housemate during the Port Dickson era was there, all the way from Kuantan. Zaki, the only boy in the family is now the school Nazir in Trengganu. Hj Izhar familiar face in the Mosque was there too as his in laws is Zubaidah’s neighbor. The buffet lunch was well prepared blended with traditional taste especially with the “gulai lemak” bamboo shoots with fresh prawns. After the bridegroom arrived we left the function for another appointment down the Kuala Pilah road.
About five kilometers away I visited a friend at Paroi Jaya whose house just stone throw away the Seremban Stadium. Prior to my Seremban trip Harith Takiman family requested for a few bottles of “Sambal Melaka” from a Restaurant near my place. I got five bottles and cash delivered to be flown to Dubai for their son. We stopped over for coffee and exchanged notes. Harith was my working mate in Port Dickson and married to my distant cousin.
We touched home base about six in the evening and I was so damn tired and sleepy. Maybe a little bit overdosed of “nasi minyak” and the “gulai rebung”. In fact I had a secret mission on the revisit to Seremban trip and I hope to blog about it later if it is accomplish.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Early setbacks.
It was in 1958 I was in Standard 5 English Standard primary school Bidor. I was staying with my grandparents in the kampong and travelled to the nearest town Primary school. I was the only Malay Boy shortlisted in the school to apply for a Federal scholarship of RM 14 per month. Only filling of form but the reply came I was unsuccessful. I was disappointed and frustrated for a while but I did not go demonstrating.
I did very well on my Standard 6 Exam, an entrance Exam to Form 1 secondary education. After the results was announced late 1959, I was called for an interview to pursue my secondary education at Malay College Kuala Kangsar. It was held at Ipoh State Secretariat Building in Ipoh and my father accompanied me. That was the first interview in my life. I still remember the Interviewer who knew my father told him that if I am successful my father would have three sons studying at Malay College simultaneously. At that time brother Jamaludin was in Form 5 and brother Salleh was in Form 3. Somehow I was eliminated and did not get chosen as one of the seven students from Perak. Maybe my two elder brothers were already there. It hit me very hard and I was utterly disappointed. That was the starting point I hate the establishment.
I began to go astray, fed up, hibernating in the kampong and had to travel daily from my kampong to the Secondary School in Tapah. The journey by bus itself was tiring and I only reached home at 3 in the afternoon. My father was worried and he quickly arranged that I accommodated at the school Hostel. I stayed in Hostel until the end of Form 3.
After the Lower certificate Exam in 1962 I personally applied without the knowledge of my father for a place in Technical Institute in Penang. At the same time without me knowing, my father applied for a place in Form 4 at Malay College. My application to Technical Institute was successful and I convinced my father that I wanted to study in a boarding school. My father agreed and off I went to the City, the Pearl of the Orient. During the first term semester break, my father told me his application on my behalf for Malay College Form 4 was successful but he politely turned it down because I had started at Technical Institute and money had been spent. Regret? Yes, I did but there was nothing I could do. I continued to complete my Senior Cambridge Exam and the rest was history.
Allah is great for the Almighty had chartered my destiny. Those setbacks had its blessings or hikmah. From the technical education I had, I was employed by Esso Malaysia in 1966, worked my way up, acquired as much experiences possible, jumped ship and finally retired as Senior Manager at Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd on 31 December 2000. If I got into Malay College, probably I became a Government Administrator or PTD Officers and finally get caught for corruption. You don’t have to attend an elite school to be successful.
I did very well on my Standard 6 Exam, an entrance Exam to Form 1 secondary education. After the results was announced late 1959, I was called for an interview to pursue my secondary education at Malay College Kuala Kangsar. It was held at Ipoh State Secretariat Building in Ipoh and my father accompanied me. That was the first interview in my life. I still remember the Interviewer who knew my father told him that if I am successful my father would have three sons studying at Malay College simultaneously. At that time brother Jamaludin was in Form 5 and brother Salleh was in Form 3. Somehow I was eliminated and did not get chosen as one of the seven students from Perak. Maybe my two elder brothers were already there. It hit me very hard and I was utterly disappointed. That was the starting point I hate the establishment.
I began to go astray, fed up, hibernating in the kampong and had to travel daily from my kampong to the Secondary School in Tapah. The journey by bus itself was tiring and I only reached home at 3 in the afternoon. My father was worried and he quickly arranged that I accommodated at the school Hostel. I stayed in Hostel until the end of Form 3.
After the Lower certificate Exam in 1962 I personally applied without the knowledge of my father for a place in Technical Institute in Penang. At the same time without me knowing, my father applied for a place in Form 4 at Malay College. My application to Technical Institute was successful and I convinced my father that I wanted to study in a boarding school. My father agreed and off I went to the City, the Pearl of the Orient. During the first term semester break, my father told me his application on my behalf for Malay College Form 4 was successful but he politely turned it down because I had started at Technical Institute and money had been spent. Regret? Yes, I did but there was nothing I could do. I continued to complete my Senior Cambridge Exam and the rest was history.
Allah is great for the Almighty had chartered my destiny. Those setbacks had its blessings or hikmah. From the technical education I had, I was employed by Esso Malaysia in 1966, worked my way up, acquired as much experiences possible, jumped ship and finally retired as Senior Manager at Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd on 31 December 2000. If I got into Malay College, probably I became a Government Administrator or PTD Officers and finally get caught for corruption. You don’t have to attend an elite school to be successful.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Daulat Tuanku.
Patek menjunjung kaseh, Tuanku. (Thank you to the Royal Highness).
The Royal Highness, the Sultan of Johore disagrees for the construction of the third bridge linking Singapore and the eastern part of johore. The proposal was not pre consulted with the Royal Highness.
Yes….. I agree with The Royal Highness. The third bridge can only go ahead provided the Causeway is demolished and build a bridge spanning overhead over the Strait of johore, no matter a straight or crooked bridge. On this aspect, I respected Mahathir’s vision. Singapore is so afraid that Malaysia would steal away the shipping traffic from them. Malaysia had been so generous and the creation of Iskandar project is mainly for Singapore to transfer their factories and technology park to Johore. Let’s not talk about the 3 cents per 1000 gallons of raw water that Johore piped to Singapore.
I was the pioneer to operate Pasir Gudang Port in 1974 and lately I travelled to Batam Island by boat from Johore. I could see Singapore is one step ahead of Malaysia. Singapore had done land reclamation at Pulau Tekong and I am cocking sure that they are building Ports there. I wonder where our Malaysian intelligent services, the Navy and the Marines department are. To make matters worse, we have now lost Pulau Batu Putih to Singapore. We should call that island, Pulau Putih Mata. Something lost and gone. The Ministers are busy clad in their coats and ties sitting in an air condition offices and do not know what’s going on the ground. Take a ferry from Johore to Batam Island and you can see what Singapore is up to, right at our door step.
Patek menjunjung kaseh, Tuanku. Nukilan patek ini, mohon diampun.
The Royal Highness, the Sultan of Johore disagrees for the construction of the third bridge linking Singapore and the eastern part of johore. The proposal was not pre consulted with the Royal Highness.
Yes….. I agree with The Royal Highness. The third bridge can only go ahead provided the Causeway is demolished and build a bridge spanning overhead over the Strait of johore, no matter a straight or crooked bridge. On this aspect, I respected Mahathir’s vision. Singapore is so afraid that Malaysia would steal away the shipping traffic from them. Malaysia had been so generous and the creation of Iskandar project is mainly for Singapore to transfer their factories and technology park to Johore. Let’s not talk about the 3 cents per 1000 gallons of raw water that Johore piped to Singapore.
I was the pioneer to operate Pasir Gudang Port in 1974 and lately I travelled to Batam Island by boat from Johore. I could see Singapore is one step ahead of Malaysia. Singapore had done land reclamation at Pulau Tekong and I am cocking sure that they are building Ports there. I wonder where our Malaysian intelligent services, the Navy and the Marines department are. To make matters worse, we have now lost Pulau Batu Putih to Singapore. We should call that island, Pulau Putih Mata. Something lost and gone. The Ministers are busy clad in their coats and ties sitting in an air condition offices and do not know what’s going on the ground. Take a ferry from Johore to Batam Island and you can see what Singapore is up to, right at our door step.
Patek menjunjung kaseh, Tuanku. Nukilan patek ini, mohon diampun.
My deep concern......
Local.
There are signs that PAS would soon disintegrate like the C4 bombing if a quick action is not address. They are hands involve who are greedy of money and position. Two or three Jokers in PAS quietly sat down with UMNO to discuss, negotiate and to form a unity government for the sake of Malay survival. The PR pact is making inroads mapping the Malaysian politic. The non Malays are attracting to PAS and the Malays favor PKR then UMNO. UMNO without the assistance of Sabah and Sarawak they are at the edge of a cliff. The few greedy Politicians in PAS took the opportunity to sell the idea that PAS and UMNO would join hand to form unity government. Certain PAS politicians overnight would be Cabinet Ministers, Menteri Besar/ Exco and states govern by Pakatan Rakyat would tumble. DAP and PKR would not be able to form the state government if PAS decided to hold hands with UMNO. Only Penang would survive. Situations are getting that serious and angered PAS Spiritual Leader and he told the Deputy President to quit and relinquish the Parliamentary seat. As it is now, PAS is slightly weakened and UMNO is gladly jumping to the opportunity where media is 100% under their control.
Foreign.
What is happening in Iran now is serious to the world Muslim revolution. Mousavi, I do not know whose puppet he is, his creating havoc to destabilize the power and uprising of Islamic revolution against the western super power. One Muslim nation who has nuclear power, or at least on the way, which stubbornly stand against the order of the west. Mousavi cannot accept that Ahmadnijed had a landslide victory during the Presidential election. Ahmadnijed is one statesman who dared to tell the world that Israel should be wiped out from the map and quoted that the holocaust was a fake. On the holocaust aspect I disagree with him but on the wiping I agree with him for as long as the two states of Palestine and Israel do not exist on the world map. I don’t blame Ahmadnijed because Bush Junior had branded Iran as Axis of Evil. The Islamic Revolution started in Iran in 1987 due to American influence on the Peacock Throne of Shah Pahlavi. The Americans and the Shah was kicked out of Iran. Shah finally perished in exile in Cairo. Crude oil was siphoned out from Iran but the return did not go to the people and development of the country. The Ayatoolah and the Mullahs take over but America is full of vengeance. America makes use of Sadam Hussein and eventually when Sadam became too powerful, America got to get rid of him. The aftermath of the Islamic revolution in Iran writes several histories of the world. The recent Iran Presidential election is a good opportunity to poke the needle so that another revolution, uprising and eventually turmoil happen. I hope the Iranians come to their senses.
There are signs that PAS would soon disintegrate like the C4 bombing if a quick action is not address. They are hands involve who are greedy of money and position. Two or three Jokers in PAS quietly sat down with UMNO to discuss, negotiate and to form a unity government for the sake of Malay survival. The PR pact is making inroads mapping the Malaysian politic. The non Malays are attracting to PAS and the Malays favor PKR then UMNO. UMNO without the assistance of Sabah and Sarawak they are at the edge of a cliff. The few greedy Politicians in PAS took the opportunity to sell the idea that PAS and UMNO would join hand to form unity government. Certain PAS politicians overnight would be Cabinet Ministers, Menteri Besar/ Exco and states govern by Pakatan Rakyat would tumble. DAP and PKR would not be able to form the state government if PAS decided to hold hands with UMNO. Only Penang would survive. Situations are getting that serious and angered PAS Spiritual Leader and he told the Deputy President to quit and relinquish the Parliamentary seat. As it is now, PAS is slightly weakened and UMNO is gladly jumping to the opportunity where media is 100% under their control.
Foreign.
What is happening in Iran now is serious to the world Muslim revolution. Mousavi, I do not know whose puppet he is, his creating havoc to destabilize the power and uprising of Islamic revolution against the western super power. One Muslim nation who has nuclear power, or at least on the way, which stubbornly stand against the order of the west. Mousavi cannot accept that Ahmadnijed had a landslide victory during the Presidential election. Ahmadnijed is one statesman who dared to tell the world that Israel should be wiped out from the map and quoted that the holocaust was a fake. On the holocaust aspect I disagree with him but on the wiping I agree with him for as long as the two states of Palestine and Israel do not exist on the world map. I don’t blame Ahmadnijed because Bush Junior had branded Iran as Axis of Evil. The Islamic Revolution started in Iran in 1987 due to American influence on the Peacock Throne of Shah Pahlavi. The Americans and the Shah was kicked out of Iran. Shah finally perished in exile in Cairo. Crude oil was siphoned out from Iran but the return did not go to the people and development of the country. The Ayatoolah and the Mullahs take over but America is full of vengeance. America makes use of Sadam Hussein and eventually when Sadam became too powerful, America got to get rid of him. The aftermath of the Islamic revolution in Iran writes several histories of the world. The recent Iran Presidential election is a good opportunity to poke the needle so that another revolution, uprising and eventually turmoil happen. I hope the Iranians come to their senses.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Tour Guide.
Yesterday my cousin Datuk Malik Ahmad all the way from Damansara, came calling at 0930 hours. He was looking for Seri Harum, a traditional massage parlor somewhere in Taman Andalas. He was having serious backache after two car accidents and had tried all sorts of treatments and medications. I have not heard about the place but roughly I know the location. We found the place and the first therapy was herbal steam bath and followed with an hour session of massage. The masseurs were all imported from Indonesia and they only tackle the veins and straighten the nervous system. While my cousin was going through the agony I had a good lecture about “bekam lintah” from the Boss. I did not know that “lintah” has 100 teeth and while sucking the blood it also discharge a liquid that is good for the blood preventing coagulation. When it’s full, it will also produce a liquid that cover up the spot and fell off. There would be no bleeding unlike when we remove the lintah physically. For the next five months it will go without eating and starts to breed.
Since it was early, my cousin wanted to survey Glenmarie Cove, a housing complex by the river developed by HRB-Hicom. He is looking for a single storey bungalow as age is catching up and climbing staircase is problematic. We went to the Sales Showroom and no completed single storey bungalow available. All completed double storey bungalows and semi detached double storeys are in the range of RM 600K to 2 million. However, the plot of land to build a single storey bungalow is available and is going about RM 400K. The scenic environment is captivating to count the remaining days but I don’t have that amount of money to spare. We took the brochures and decided to go for lunch.
The choice for lunch was “asam pedas” and I decided at a Restaurant in Bandar Sultan Sulaiman at the North Port. I purposely chose this place for I know, being Monday, Pak Wan Ahmad my roommate in Mekah would normally take his lunch there. My cousin is also an acquaintance of Pak Wan as they were neighbor in Damansara. True enough Pak Wan came, surprised to see us, joined us for lunch and we covered several topics and gossips. Pak Wan and I had made separate plan for the coming Ramadan in Mekah and we promised to catch up with each other there. I told Pak Wan to convince my cousin to come along. Pak Wan was relating to my cousin about the time and experience we went through in Mekah together.
After lunch my cousin and I performed the zohor prayer at the Mosque near to my house. We had coffee at the nearest warong and then he made his own way back to Damansara promising to come again in two days time for the next therapy. Maybe I would try the herbal steam bath but not the massage. I don’t believe in paying and going through the pain. I have my own chair at home to do the job.
Since it was early, my cousin wanted to survey Glenmarie Cove, a housing complex by the river developed by HRB-Hicom. He is looking for a single storey bungalow as age is catching up and climbing staircase is problematic. We went to the Sales Showroom and no completed single storey bungalow available. All completed double storey bungalows and semi detached double storeys are in the range of RM 600K to 2 million. However, the plot of land to build a single storey bungalow is available and is going about RM 400K. The scenic environment is captivating to count the remaining days but I don’t have that amount of money to spare. We took the brochures and decided to go for lunch.
The choice for lunch was “asam pedas” and I decided at a Restaurant in Bandar Sultan Sulaiman at the North Port. I purposely chose this place for I know, being Monday, Pak Wan Ahmad my roommate in Mekah would normally take his lunch there. My cousin is also an acquaintance of Pak Wan as they were neighbor in Damansara. True enough Pak Wan came, surprised to see us, joined us for lunch and we covered several topics and gossips. Pak Wan and I had made separate plan for the coming Ramadan in Mekah and we promised to catch up with each other there. I told Pak Wan to convince my cousin to come along. Pak Wan was relating to my cousin about the time and experience we went through in Mekah together.
After lunch my cousin and I performed the zohor prayer at the Mosque near to my house. We had coffee at the nearest warong and then he made his own way back to Damansara promising to come again in two days time for the next therapy. Maybe I would try the herbal steam bath but not the massage. I don’t believe in paying and going through the pain. I have my own chair at home to do the job.
Monday, June 15, 2009
My memories of the 50s.
I have fond memories of what I did with my grandfather when I was brought up in the kampong. The grand old man used to tag me along even though my grandmother sometimes forbids him. My grandfather molded my character early in life and taught me the basics.
I sat on the old bicycle carrier and my grandfather cycled slowly to the Surau for the Maghreb and Isyakh prayer. Sometimes I dozed off when the Ustaz preaching got too lengthy for me to bear.
In the evening my grandfather and I planted two or three fish traps “lukah” at allocated spots in the river. This was when I learnt how to swim with his supervision. When the current was swift, I walked upstream along the bank and then I floated diagonally to reach the other end. The best time when we picked the “lukah” early the next morning and I would be excited to see the catch. The process had to be done carefully as sometimes snakes were also trapped. My grandfather disallowed me from handling the fishes as some species had poisonous stings.
After a downpour, the old man would take his “jala” to the river and tried our luck. There were plenty of fishes swimming about after every downpour. I would tie a small basket at my waist, collected the catch and trotted along the river with the basket immersed in water of which the catch would remain alive. Once I accidentally stepped on bamboo shrapnel and my grandmother shelled at my grandfather.
During durian season, I accompanied my grandfather at the “dusun” and we stayed in silted makeshift hut, we call “dangau”. To chase away the mosquitoes, I collected dead branches and leaves to start a bonfire. It was a beautiful sound when the durian dropped at night. My grandfather used the torchlight and collected the durian immediately. He disallowed me to follow him and he scared me that tigers love to eat fresh durians. I smiled when my grandfather was away and someone came to buy durians. I turned Towkay and kept the return to myself. Those days we were talking only 20, 30 or 50 cents per fruit. Sometimes I just donated it free especially when my playmates came around. I would always remember this incident when my grandfather applied simple psychology and logic to me. He asked me to take a bamboo pole and start hitting the durian tree. He narrated to me the fruits would be tastier and nice. Like an idiot, I started whacking the durian trees like crazy until the bamboo splinted. Later I realized, by doing that I would chased away all the squirrels and of course the durian fruits would be nice and perfect. Up to this date when I see a durian fruit, the memories of the old man appears. I got played out but a lesson learnt. Simple reverse psychology and I applied it when I became Boss in Guthrie.
During the green pigeon season he would take his shot gun and brought me along with him. We would wait at the right spot, the flight path of the green pigeons or the particular tree where the pigeons normally seek shelter. Once the shot was fired, I was the hunting dog to collect the victims. I would carry along a “tudung saji” because the pallets from the shotgun may hit five or six birds at a single shot. I ran back to my grandfather where he slaughtered them.
I love the time when someone from big town wanted to buy bamboo poles. My grandfather cut down the bamboo, tied them together as a raft and taken upstream to the main road where the lorry could collect them. I would hitch a ride on the raft. When the water was shallow, I helped to push or pull but when the water getting deeper I jumped on the bamboo raft for a free and safe ride. Few other kids of my age would come along and we enjoyed the rafting expedition.
My grandfather disallowed me to play top with nails. It was dangerous. He made me a nail less top instead and we call it “gasing kepala”. It spins all right but I could not join the other kids playing the usual top with nail. Hitting an opponent top and split it open was not my kind of game, forbidden by my grandfather. I think he was absolutely right for it was not ethical to destroy someone property. My grandfather made me a kite as well as elastic. The elastic was only to be used to scare away animals not to harm them. My grandfather was very strict on this. During the month of Ramadan he would find a thick bamboo, strapped it with steel wires, bought fifty cents worth of carbide and allowed me to play bamboo canon. He was never far away watching me exploding the environment. All the animals would run helter shelter. It was real fun during the loud boom and I could hear my grandmother’s voice yelling from the house.
During the hot season, my grandparents would open up a farm across the river and planted maize and tapioca. The river water was the source of watering and during this time the water was shallow enough to walk across. I helped to water the farm and took the opportunity to dip myself into the river. I love to barbeque matured maize and it was very sweet and tasty. We made flour out of the tapioca and turned into several “kuihs”.
The only fruit trees my grandfather allowed me to climb were mangos teen tree. This tree got a lot of branches and I could cling to them easily, however it was strictly forbidden to climb after the rainfall. The branches became very slippery.
When I was a small kid, I hated cats and sometimes I just threw them down over the window to the ground. My grandfather would yell at me and I told him the cat would not die anyway. Whatever, I should not do that to other living things. Allah forbids.
My two children would not believe what I went through when I was a kid and they would be nowhere near the experiences I had. Turning back the clock, I would not regret going through the same.
I sat on the old bicycle carrier and my grandfather cycled slowly to the Surau for the Maghreb and Isyakh prayer. Sometimes I dozed off when the Ustaz preaching got too lengthy for me to bear.
In the evening my grandfather and I planted two or three fish traps “lukah” at allocated spots in the river. This was when I learnt how to swim with his supervision. When the current was swift, I walked upstream along the bank and then I floated diagonally to reach the other end. The best time when we picked the “lukah” early the next morning and I would be excited to see the catch. The process had to be done carefully as sometimes snakes were also trapped. My grandfather disallowed me from handling the fishes as some species had poisonous stings.
After a downpour, the old man would take his “jala” to the river and tried our luck. There were plenty of fishes swimming about after every downpour. I would tie a small basket at my waist, collected the catch and trotted along the river with the basket immersed in water of which the catch would remain alive. Once I accidentally stepped on bamboo shrapnel and my grandmother shelled at my grandfather.
During durian season, I accompanied my grandfather at the “dusun” and we stayed in silted makeshift hut, we call “dangau”. To chase away the mosquitoes, I collected dead branches and leaves to start a bonfire. It was a beautiful sound when the durian dropped at night. My grandfather used the torchlight and collected the durian immediately. He disallowed me to follow him and he scared me that tigers love to eat fresh durians. I smiled when my grandfather was away and someone came to buy durians. I turned Towkay and kept the return to myself. Those days we were talking only 20, 30 or 50 cents per fruit. Sometimes I just donated it free especially when my playmates came around. I would always remember this incident when my grandfather applied simple psychology and logic to me. He asked me to take a bamboo pole and start hitting the durian tree. He narrated to me the fruits would be tastier and nice. Like an idiot, I started whacking the durian trees like crazy until the bamboo splinted. Later I realized, by doing that I would chased away all the squirrels and of course the durian fruits would be nice and perfect. Up to this date when I see a durian fruit, the memories of the old man appears. I got played out but a lesson learnt. Simple reverse psychology and I applied it when I became Boss in Guthrie.
During the green pigeon season he would take his shot gun and brought me along with him. We would wait at the right spot, the flight path of the green pigeons or the particular tree where the pigeons normally seek shelter. Once the shot was fired, I was the hunting dog to collect the victims. I would carry along a “tudung saji” because the pallets from the shotgun may hit five or six birds at a single shot. I ran back to my grandfather where he slaughtered them.
I love the time when someone from big town wanted to buy bamboo poles. My grandfather cut down the bamboo, tied them together as a raft and taken upstream to the main road where the lorry could collect them. I would hitch a ride on the raft. When the water was shallow, I helped to push or pull but when the water getting deeper I jumped on the bamboo raft for a free and safe ride. Few other kids of my age would come along and we enjoyed the rafting expedition.
My grandfather disallowed me to play top with nails. It was dangerous. He made me a nail less top instead and we call it “gasing kepala”. It spins all right but I could not join the other kids playing the usual top with nail. Hitting an opponent top and split it open was not my kind of game, forbidden by my grandfather. I think he was absolutely right for it was not ethical to destroy someone property. My grandfather made me a kite as well as elastic. The elastic was only to be used to scare away animals not to harm them. My grandfather was very strict on this. During the month of Ramadan he would find a thick bamboo, strapped it with steel wires, bought fifty cents worth of carbide and allowed me to play bamboo canon. He was never far away watching me exploding the environment. All the animals would run helter shelter. It was real fun during the loud boom and I could hear my grandmother’s voice yelling from the house.
During the hot season, my grandparents would open up a farm across the river and planted maize and tapioca. The river water was the source of watering and during this time the water was shallow enough to walk across. I helped to water the farm and took the opportunity to dip myself into the river. I love to barbeque matured maize and it was very sweet and tasty. We made flour out of the tapioca and turned into several “kuihs”.
The only fruit trees my grandfather allowed me to climb were mangos teen tree. This tree got a lot of branches and I could cling to them easily, however it was strictly forbidden to climb after the rainfall. The branches became very slippery.
When I was a small kid, I hated cats and sometimes I just threw them down over the window to the ground. My grandfather would yell at me and I told him the cat would not die anyway. Whatever, I should not do that to other living things. Allah forbids.
My two children would not believe what I went through when I was a kid and they would be nowhere near the experiences I had. Turning back the clock, I would not regret going through the same.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Migrated to KRU.
I had stayed thirty two (32) years in Kampong Raja Uda which qualify me to be a permanent resident. I decided to make KRU my home since 1 August 1977. My wife was transferred to federal posting in KL on 1 July 1977 and I was seconded to Guthrie Export Port Klang from Guthrie Management Services, KL on 1 August 1977. Since my wife and I were relocated to the Klang Valley, I rented a bungalow at No: 2 Jalan Lengkongan, just opposite the Methodist Boys School and closed to the Fire station. It was late Haji Ghazali Adam wife Hajjah Zakiah Suda who assisted me to get the bungalow. The rental then was only RM 300 per month. My son was three years old and my daughter was two when we arrived at Port Klang. Both my children just had to cross the road to attend their Primary schooling. I stayed eight years at 2 Jalan Lengkongan. I remember one early morning sometimes in 1981, the bungalow shook when there was a loud explosion at the South Port during an inferno.
Mak Midah sundry store was my monthly domestic supplier and Ah Kow would come around daily in his van selling fishes and vegetables. It was sometimes in 1981, Mak Midah introduced me to a Housing Developer and I purchased a double storey house down the road at 128 Jalan Lengkongan. The house was completed in 1984 and I moved in on the Maal Hijrah day. The house is strategically located, just behind the kampong Mosque, opposite the Community Hall and walking distance to Mak Midah sundry store. The house is facing the kampong proper and the frontage neighbor was late Haji Yusof. The family was very close with Haji Yusuf and wife Mak Aji Timah and they took care of our house whenever we were outstation. Haji Yusuf passed away while I was in Medina performing the Haj in 1995 and Mak Aji Timah left the kampong to stay with his daughter. The house where they stayed was sold, demolished and now an eating stall on the plot of land. I have no complained since it is an additional security to my home.
The Ketua Kampong then was late Tok Nan, the Nazir was late Haji Jantan Ismail, the Imam was Ustaz Hashim and the UMNO Chief was Mat Nor Katim. PAS did not exist then in Kampong Raja Uda. The Assistant Imam was Haji Mat Jebah and he looks after welfare of deaths in the kampong. Up to this date he is still dedicated to the job. Late Ustaz Hashim would deliver his kuliah in the Mosque and once a month late Dato Haji Baharom (the Selangor Mufti) would deliver his.
Most of the residents that I associated with at the Mosque had passed away. Namely, Abang Leman (goreng pisang seller) Haji Rabani (the Barber) Mat Deros (Bilal then Imam) Haji Kasim (the Siak) Haji Ibrahim Libya, Haji Baharom, Pak Pin, Haji Zainudin, Raja Sadin (Mosque Treasurer) Haji Mat Yunus (Mosque Secretary) Haji Basir (Mosque Bilal) Haji Ibrahim, Haji Pak Wan (the Siak), Pak Mat Gunting (the Siak) and many more whose name I cannot recall. It was a good community where we were all united. I was one of the youngest in the group then. I was present at all the Mosque functions and contributed at all means affordable. Back stabbing and smear campaign was unheard of.
The original Mosque was small, extended and now a grand RM 12 million Mosque is under way. The initial project was suspended due to the collapsed of BN government in Selangor. Right from the beginning, the Project was controversial because the RM 10.2 million project handed by the state government to late Dato Zakaria Mat Deros family.
As time passed by, the kampong UMNO was broken into seven branches, the adjacent Port Garden decided to build their own Surau and finally PAS set up a Markas in the kampong. Lately the Port Klang Assemblyman from Party Keadilan is the local kampong boy and makes his residence as Keadilan port. The Mosque Committee members are now made of mainly PAS members who create further dissatisfaction and division among the community.
Sad to say, if not check, the kampong residents would disintegrate. Each would go their own way. The harmony of the 80s and 90s are now all gone.
Yours truly comingle freely with everybody immaterial of their political ideology, whether he is from UMNO or PAS. Though some are very suspicious of me, I don’t care a damn; I believe on justice and the right direction towards communal harmony.
Mak Midah sundry store was my monthly domestic supplier and Ah Kow would come around daily in his van selling fishes and vegetables. It was sometimes in 1981, Mak Midah introduced me to a Housing Developer and I purchased a double storey house down the road at 128 Jalan Lengkongan. The house was completed in 1984 and I moved in on the Maal Hijrah day. The house is strategically located, just behind the kampong Mosque, opposite the Community Hall and walking distance to Mak Midah sundry store. The house is facing the kampong proper and the frontage neighbor was late Haji Yusof. The family was very close with Haji Yusuf and wife Mak Aji Timah and they took care of our house whenever we were outstation. Haji Yusuf passed away while I was in Medina performing the Haj in 1995 and Mak Aji Timah left the kampong to stay with his daughter. The house where they stayed was sold, demolished and now an eating stall on the plot of land. I have no complained since it is an additional security to my home.
The Ketua Kampong then was late Tok Nan, the Nazir was late Haji Jantan Ismail, the Imam was Ustaz Hashim and the UMNO Chief was Mat Nor Katim. PAS did not exist then in Kampong Raja Uda. The Assistant Imam was Haji Mat Jebah and he looks after welfare of deaths in the kampong. Up to this date he is still dedicated to the job. Late Ustaz Hashim would deliver his kuliah in the Mosque and once a month late Dato Haji Baharom (the Selangor Mufti) would deliver his.
Most of the residents that I associated with at the Mosque had passed away. Namely, Abang Leman (goreng pisang seller) Haji Rabani (the Barber) Mat Deros (Bilal then Imam) Haji Kasim (the Siak) Haji Ibrahim Libya, Haji Baharom, Pak Pin, Haji Zainudin, Raja Sadin (Mosque Treasurer) Haji Mat Yunus (Mosque Secretary) Haji Basir (Mosque Bilal) Haji Ibrahim, Haji Pak Wan (the Siak), Pak Mat Gunting (the Siak) and many more whose name I cannot recall. It was a good community where we were all united. I was one of the youngest in the group then. I was present at all the Mosque functions and contributed at all means affordable. Back stabbing and smear campaign was unheard of.
The original Mosque was small, extended and now a grand RM 12 million Mosque is under way. The initial project was suspended due to the collapsed of BN government in Selangor. Right from the beginning, the Project was controversial because the RM 10.2 million project handed by the state government to late Dato Zakaria Mat Deros family.
As time passed by, the kampong UMNO was broken into seven branches, the adjacent Port Garden decided to build their own Surau and finally PAS set up a Markas in the kampong. Lately the Port Klang Assemblyman from Party Keadilan is the local kampong boy and makes his residence as Keadilan port. The Mosque Committee members are now made of mainly PAS members who create further dissatisfaction and division among the community.
Sad to say, if not check, the kampong residents would disintegrate. Each would go their own way. The harmony of the 80s and 90s are now all gone.
Yours truly comingle freely with everybody immaterial of their political ideology, whether he is from UMNO or PAS. Though some are very suspicious of me, I don’t care a damn; I believe on justice and the right direction towards communal harmony.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
US Israel VS Islam.
Barrack Hussein Obama President of the most powerful nation in the world and Hillary Rodham Clinton, US Secretary of State had clearly told Israel to stop building settlement on Palestinian land. You think Israel care? No way, the Jews would proceed as planned and US just cannot do anything. The announcement to Israel was just to please the Palestinians and the Muslim world in general. It was just a bloody gimmick. To show the world that US is doing something towards peace in the Middle East. I don’t trust a word what Obama delivered at Al Azhar University in Cairo recently.
If the US is really serious on stopping the construction of new settlement, what they should do is stop all aid to Israel. I bet all development would be slowed down or even halted. Can US Administration stop all aid to Israel? No way….. Obama stop the aid, Obama would have to find his ancestral home in Kenya or migrate to Indonesia squatting with his former classmates.
Israel had violated several UN Resolutions but no actions taken by US. What if it a Muslim country that violate a UN Resolution? US would be the first to take it up to the Security Council and proposed an economic sanction. The participating nations in the Security Council would happily raise their hands to support the motion. Iraq had suffered the worst economic sanction in history. The Iraq government did not suffer; it was the people, the children starving of nutritional milk and medicines. The mortality rate of babies and children was high. US purposely created an issue and bullshit to the world that Sadam had weapon of mass destructions. US were so afraid of Sadam because Israel security was at stake. Finally US captured Sadam, put him on trial and hanged him. Having eliminated Sadam, what the hell US still doing in Iraq? Up to date, nobody has found any weapon of mass destruction in Iraq. Any WMD and chemical that was sold to Iraq by Donald Rumsfeld had been used against the Kurds and Iranians. US should withdraw all military personnel and equipment immediately and concentrate on Iraq nation building and restructuring. US should pump all the aid to Iraq instead of Israel.
US getting jittered that North Korea is adamant about the buildup of nuclear arm in the eastern hemisphere. North Korea war heads can easily reach West America and US is afraid of North Korea knocking on their door. It is an open secret that Israel has nuclear arm in their possession and of course with US blessing. All Arab Muslim countries are within range from Israel. The Arabs have to kowtow to America, if not they would be label as axis of evil, Syria and Iran. Iran is isolated and they don’t care a dam about US and proceed with the nuclear arm race. US is so afraid that they had installed nuclear shield in Poland just to protrude to the world that they are defending European nations and America in general from possible nuclear attack from Russia or Iran.
US integrity among Muslim nations is damn low after Bush declared War on Terror. Millions of Muslim perished for nothing. 9/11 was created as a passport to diminish Muslims and discredit Islam. US, British and Allied Forces were busy in Afghanistan and Iraq, at the same time Israel was busy at Gaza, West Bank and Lebanon.
As I see it, the oppression against Muslims would not end until Doomsday. One Muslim killed in Gaza, Iraq or Afghanistan, several would rise to fight the Crusade military Forces. Would you not do the same if your father is killed? Therefore the escalation would continue. You hit me; I hate and hit you back.
I hate WAR.
If the US is really serious on stopping the construction of new settlement, what they should do is stop all aid to Israel. I bet all development would be slowed down or even halted. Can US Administration stop all aid to Israel? No way….. Obama stop the aid, Obama would have to find his ancestral home in Kenya or migrate to Indonesia squatting with his former classmates.
Israel had violated several UN Resolutions but no actions taken by US. What if it a Muslim country that violate a UN Resolution? US would be the first to take it up to the Security Council and proposed an economic sanction. The participating nations in the Security Council would happily raise their hands to support the motion. Iraq had suffered the worst economic sanction in history. The Iraq government did not suffer; it was the people, the children starving of nutritional milk and medicines. The mortality rate of babies and children was high. US purposely created an issue and bullshit to the world that Sadam had weapon of mass destructions. US were so afraid of Sadam because Israel security was at stake. Finally US captured Sadam, put him on trial and hanged him. Having eliminated Sadam, what the hell US still doing in Iraq? Up to date, nobody has found any weapon of mass destruction in Iraq. Any WMD and chemical that was sold to Iraq by Donald Rumsfeld had been used against the Kurds and Iranians. US should withdraw all military personnel and equipment immediately and concentrate on Iraq nation building and restructuring. US should pump all the aid to Iraq instead of Israel.
US getting jittered that North Korea is adamant about the buildup of nuclear arm in the eastern hemisphere. North Korea war heads can easily reach West America and US is afraid of North Korea knocking on their door. It is an open secret that Israel has nuclear arm in their possession and of course with US blessing. All Arab Muslim countries are within range from Israel. The Arabs have to kowtow to America, if not they would be label as axis of evil, Syria and Iran. Iran is isolated and they don’t care a dam about US and proceed with the nuclear arm race. US is so afraid that they had installed nuclear shield in Poland just to protrude to the world that they are defending European nations and America in general from possible nuclear attack from Russia or Iran.
US integrity among Muslim nations is damn low after Bush declared War on Terror. Millions of Muslim perished for nothing. 9/11 was created as a passport to diminish Muslims and discredit Islam. US, British and Allied Forces were busy in Afghanistan and Iraq, at the same time Israel was busy at Gaza, West Bank and Lebanon.
As I see it, the oppression against Muslims would not end until Doomsday. One Muslim killed in Gaza, Iraq or Afghanistan, several would rise to fight the Crusade military Forces. Would you not do the same if your father is killed? Therefore the escalation would continue. You hit me; I hate and hit you back.
I hate WAR.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Blogging.
Someone asked me what I do now? I have been missing from the morning gossips at the warong and the teh tarik at night. I told him I am a Blogger. He was taken aback and looked curious. I told him I was serious that I am a Blogger. I had to go a long way explaining to him what is a Blogger and the necessary tools I must have. Unlike a Logger, I do not need an axe and saw. What I need is a computer, telephone line, internet access, time and brain. For a start, I told him to read my blog and I even insert a column for him to comment democratically on my articles.
A Blogger can write anything his heart and brain out. It must be factual. In other word it can record history and diary simultaneously. The limitations are getting emotional, spreading lies, racial sensitivity, personal humiliation and binding to ethics. Surely I don’t write so and so is a bastard. For such stupidity and ethics violation, I can be sued in Court. The articles posted are no more personal because the whole world with internet access can read the posted articles. I covered on almost all topics varied from the day I was born to the latest nuclear underground testing by the North Koreans except on religions. I dare not touch on this subject because I am not a Master of even my own religion less others. I leave it to the expert. There are Bloggers who possess only the basic knowledge of Islam but they write as if they are the Mufti. The danger is, if the write out is incorrect or just slightly out of context and readers subscribe to the article, the sins would multiply by multiply. In Islam, there are several schools of thoughts with different interpretations depending on the “mazhab”. The best policies, if you are not well verse, avoid it.
Twenty years down the road my ancestors can recollect all my articles and they have a good history of me and the happenings of the day. Perhaps they would even know who were their great grandparents, uncles and aunties.
The only cost involve is my internet line and of course, my time. I have no specific time for blogging. I retired nine years ago and if I don’t read and write, my brain would get rusty. During my working days, analyzing and drafting reports were the norm of the day. Writing and reading stimulate the brain. The bad habit come along with blogging, I tend to smoke more when I am deeply indulged with the keyboards. That’s when idea starts coming but my wife hates the idea.
Thanking Allah, for I have lived to this date, 63 years and I have plenty of postings to record in www.pakmus.blogspot.com. It would be a history book in the making for my children and his children’s children.
A Blogger can write anything his heart and brain out. It must be factual. In other word it can record history and diary simultaneously. The limitations are getting emotional, spreading lies, racial sensitivity, personal humiliation and binding to ethics. Surely I don’t write so and so is a bastard. For such stupidity and ethics violation, I can be sued in Court. The articles posted are no more personal because the whole world with internet access can read the posted articles. I covered on almost all topics varied from the day I was born to the latest nuclear underground testing by the North Koreans except on religions. I dare not touch on this subject because I am not a Master of even my own religion less others. I leave it to the expert. There are Bloggers who possess only the basic knowledge of Islam but they write as if they are the Mufti. The danger is, if the write out is incorrect or just slightly out of context and readers subscribe to the article, the sins would multiply by multiply. In Islam, there are several schools of thoughts with different interpretations depending on the “mazhab”. The best policies, if you are not well verse, avoid it.
Twenty years down the road my ancestors can recollect all my articles and they have a good history of me and the happenings of the day. Perhaps they would even know who were their great grandparents, uncles and aunties.
The only cost involve is my internet line and of course, my time. I have no specific time for blogging. I retired nine years ago and if I don’t read and write, my brain would get rusty. During my working days, analyzing and drafting reports were the norm of the day. Writing and reading stimulate the brain. The bad habit come along with blogging, I tend to smoke more when I am deeply indulged with the keyboards. That’s when idea starts coming but my wife hates the idea.
Thanking Allah, for I have lived to this date, 63 years and I have plenty of postings to record in www.pakmus.blogspot.com. It would be a history book in the making for my children and his children’s children.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Muktamar - 2009.
Hosted by PAS Selangor, it was held at Stadium Melawati in Shah Alam. For the first time PAS had a grand venue holding the Muktamar. It was normally held at PAS Main Markas at Taman Melewar. Thanks to the Selangor PR government. PAS can never dream of holding their Muktamar in such a grand venue. PAS should also thanks the Selangorean for toppling the BN government during the last election. I hope Delegates would not get carried away towards UMNO culture. I notice some Delegates were wearing black songkok and baju Melayu instead of the normal white skull caps and the white jubah. It is a step towards moving towards UMNO culture. They are now occupying five star hotels in Shah Alam and surrounding. Some came in with Mercedes and BMW instead of Proton Saga or Datsun 120Y. Good for PAS but the ordinary poor kampong PAS members are watching and they are not stupid anymore.
The highlight of the Muktamar was the Deputy President post and contested by incumbent Ustaz Nasharuddin Mat Isa, Husam Musa and PAS number 1 Orator, Mat Sabu. Husam Musa and Mat Sabu do not belong to the ulamak group. The Delegates returned Ustaz Nasharuddin as the Deputy and Haji Hadi Awang as President uncontested. PAS Delegates still preferred Ulamak as their top two leaders. However these two top personnel, the President and the Deputy had spoken quietly (muzakarah) with UMNO to form a unity government. I am please that Tuan Guru Nik Aziz, PAS spiritual leader had objected strongly and I share the same view. The moment PAS and UMNO join forces, I would be the first to shred and hand over my PAS membership card. I don’t trust UMNO because UMNO is like a cat. Would be exceptionally nice in your cuddle but behind your back, caught unaware it would steal away your fish. PAS was played out once by UMNO. If they (the leaders) don’t learn their lesson, they (the leaders) must be up to something fishy. Some of PAS leaders are also ambitious of holding Ministerial and Menteri Besar post and to achieve these is to have PAS amalgamate with UMNO forming unity government. PAS is slowly being receptive by the Chinese and Indians because they are tired and fed up with UMNO as playmaker in the government administration. Once the unity government between PAS and UMNO realized, the Chinese and Indians would run back to base and we are back to square one to achieve a truly Malaysian political aspirations. The non Malays would interpret “Ketuanan Melayu” stands above “Ketuanan Rakyat”. So, what is the meaning of 1Malaysia? The direction is still unclear between the Malays and the Non Malays as well.
The most major resolution adopted unanimously by the delegates was the setting of Royal Commission on the UMNO takeover of Perak government. The President had also requested the Prime Minister to clean his name and he however maintain that the talk (muzakarah) between PAS and UMNO to proceed with reservations.
I wonder why MCA is keeping their mouth shut about the talk between PAS and UMNO. On the other hand, MCA yelled out when PAS is working closely with DAP on the Pakatan Rakyat collusion. For what you know when PAS and UMNO joined together, MCA and DAP would hold each others hands. That would be interesting……………
I still subscribe and very much incline towards Justice and Freedom. My backbone remains upright, breathing the air of democracy and throws my heart out when things are crooked.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
If I am Mahathir.
If I am Mahathir at this age of 84 and after surviving two open heart surgeries I would just find the praying mat and devote my time to the Almighty. What more do I want? I had traveled to most part of the world, even to Antarctica and the only place I have not been is the grave. Allah had given me to live up to this age and He must have reasons. I must be thankful for even the Holy Prophet himself (pbuh) only lived up to 63 years. Maybe Allah is kind enough to give time for me to repent all my sins during the tenure of my Premiership. Like my favorite song I used to sing, “My way”. I used to do my way; the end is near and now let other people do their way. I should step aside and just count the end of my days.
Everybody must meet the Almighty someday. No exception. No place to hide.
I had been the Prime Minister of Malaysia for 22 years and I have no problem with money. The Saudi King and the Saud families are my acquaintance, I would just buy myself a penthouse in Medina and another in Mecca nearest to the Mosques as my sanctuary. Every fortnight I would shuttle between the two cities, only 480 kilometer away and I would spend my time in the Holy Land praying the five daily prayers at the Holy Prophet Mosque in Medina (Masjid Nabawi) and the Grand Mosque in Mecca (Masjidil Haram). Every living year I perform the Haj and be the guest of the Saudi King. My rituals would be made simpler than the ordinary Malaysian because I was once the Chairman of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC). Surely the Kingdom would provide me all the protocol and security for my safe and easy passage. If I happen to die in one of the cities, it is Allah blessing for these two places are the two last places on earth to be destroyed during Doomsday.
Food in Mecca should not be a problem for me. Since I had two bypasses I should avoid oil and the Arabic breads are not fried. If I am longing for Malay food or sambal belacan there is a Malay Restaurant operated by Felda at Safwan Tower very close to Masjidil Haram. There are also plenty of Pakistan and Mamak Restaurants both in Mecca and Medina to supply me the curry and briyani. I got to be careful on my diet because another Doctor is always by me. I don’t have to worry about the halal and haram because in Mecca and Medina all food and drinks are halal.
At this age, I should give up politic completely and after all, I have witnessed the departure of Abdullah Badawi and paralyzed the son in law. Now my son is the Deputy Trade Minister and he can always make an excuse to start trading with the Saudi Kingdom and simultaneously he can drop by to visit me. Perhaps the Prime Minister can allow him to use the Malaysian Executive jet and I can hitch a ride home to Malaysia to check on the Prime Minister himself whether he is following my instructions.
Surely in Mecca and Medina I can stroll freely, shopping or slow walking because both cities are safe. There are no such things as Mat Rempit and snatch thieves there. No one dare to hurt anybody there because the law of the Kingdom is hudud. I would understudy in depth about this hudud thing and since I have declared Malaysia as a Muslim country perhaps I would recommend to the Prime Minister to implement that hudud law in Malaysia some day. Who cares whether Kit Siang or Karpal strongly objecting because it is no more my problem? It’s Najib. If they are getting too much I ask Najib’s cousin to throw them to Kemunting Inn. Let the Chinaman and the Bahei rot there for they should very well know that Malaysia is a Malay Kingdom.
I surely would like to recommend to the Saudi King to privatize the highways in Saudi Arabia and collect tolls. PLUS Malaysia would be my top recommendation to get the project. The Jeddah/Medina/Mecca highways is fully utilize throughout the year as Muslims from all over the world would come to Saudi Arabia to perform the umrah and Haj. I would ask PLUS to upgrade the R&R so that Malaysians and all pilgrims would enjoy the rest area for its first class toilet facilities, like the one they did in Tapah and clean sand free Surau. At Tapah, the R&R toilets are superbly clean; you can even sleep in the toilets.
BUT……I am not Mahathir. I was just fantasizing if I am Mahathir. I am just an ordinary human being living on my saving, my wife pension and my two children blessings. My end is also near and I too have to meet the Almighty one day. In the meantime I do what I can as a devoted Muslims. My pasts were full of sins and I was leading a flamboyant life during my younger days. Those were the days during the “jahiliyah” era. Almighty Allah is giving me the time to remorse and repents.
Syukur alahamdulillah. (Thanks to Allah).
Everybody must meet the Almighty someday. No exception. No place to hide.
I had been the Prime Minister of Malaysia for 22 years and I have no problem with money. The Saudi King and the Saud families are my acquaintance, I would just buy myself a penthouse in Medina and another in Mecca nearest to the Mosques as my sanctuary. Every fortnight I would shuttle between the two cities, only 480 kilometer away and I would spend my time in the Holy Land praying the five daily prayers at the Holy Prophet Mosque in Medina (Masjid Nabawi) and the Grand Mosque in Mecca (Masjidil Haram). Every living year I perform the Haj and be the guest of the Saudi King. My rituals would be made simpler than the ordinary Malaysian because I was once the Chairman of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC). Surely the Kingdom would provide me all the protocol and security for my safe and easy passage. If I happen to die in one of the cities, it is Allah blessing for these two places are the two last places on earth to be destroyed during Doomsday.
Food in Mecca should not be a problem for me. Since I had two bypasses I should avoid oil and the Arabic breads are not fried. If I am longing for Malay food or sambal belacan there is a Malay Restaurant operated by Felda at Safwan Tower very close to Masjidil Haram. There are also plenty of Pakistan and Mamak Restaurants both in Mecca and Medina to supply me the curry and briyani. I got to be careful on my diet because another Doctor is always by me. I don’t have to worry about the halal and haram because in Mecca and Medina all food and drinks are halal.
At this age, I should give up politic completely and after all, I have witnessed the departure of Abdullah Badawi and paralyzed the son in law. Now my son is the Deputy Trade Minister and he can always make an excuse to start trading with the Saudi Kingdom and simultaneously he can drop by to visit me. Perhaps the Prime Minister can allow him to use the Malaysian Executive jet and I can hitch a ride home to Malaysia to check on the Prime Minister himself whether he is following my instructions.
Surely in Mecca and Medina I can stroll freely, shopping or slow walking because both cities are safe. There are no such things as Mat Rempit and snatch thieves there. No one dare to hurt anybody there because the law of the Kingdom is hudud. I would understudy in depth about this hudud thing and since I have declared Malaysia as a Muslim country perhaps I would recommend to the Prime Minister to implement that hudud law in Malaysia some day. Who cares whether Kit Siang or Karpal strongly objecting because it is no more my problem? It’s Najib. If they are getting too much I ask Najib’s cousin to throw them to Kemunting Inn. Let the Chinaman and the Bahei rot there for they should very well know that Malaysia is a Malay Kingdom.
I surely would like to recommend to the Saudi King to privatize the highways in Saudi Arabia and collect tolls. PLUS Malaysia would be my top recommendation to get the project. The Jeddah/Medina/Mecca highways is fully utilize throughout the year as Muslims from all over the world would come to Saudi Arabia to perform the umrah and Haj. I would ask PLUS to upgrade the R&R so that Malaysians and all pilgrims would enjoy the rest area for its first class toilet facilities, like the one they did in Tapah and clean sand free Surau. At Tapah, the R&R toilets are superbly clean; you can even sleep in the toilets.
BUT……I am not Mahathir. I was just fantasizing if I am Mahathir. I am just an ordinary human being living on my saving, my wife pension and my two children blessings. My end is also near and I too have to meet the Almighty one day. In the meantime I do what I can as a devoted Muslims. My pasts were full of sins and I was leading a flamboyant life during my younger days. Those were the days during the “jahiliyah” era. Almighty Allah is giving me the time to remorse and repents.
Syukur alahamdulillah. (Thanks to Allah).
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The successful takeover.
Effective 1 June 2009, the new elected committee of the kampong Mosque took effect. All Committee Members was elected by the kampong residents except for the post of Nazir. Three (3) names were nominated by the kampong residents and the Jabatan Ugama Islam Selangor chose the most eligible nominated candidate to be the Nazir. The incumbent Nazir rejected nomination having known PAS strategy. It disappointed the regular Mosque goers, however they wanted to give a try to the new elected Committee members.
Since PR government took over Selangor, PAS members in the kampong had been very eager to take over the Mosque administration. They requested for Emergency General Meeting to nominate new Mosque Committee for 2009 – 2011 period. Plan was set up and candidates for nomination were prearranged. Though I am a PAS member but I stayed out during the EGM because I disagreed with the way they wanted to take over the Mosque administration. There was nothing wrong with the incumbent committee and the mosque affair was satisfactorily managed. The residents were happy except for some orthodox PAS members who shunned away from the Mosque and did not want to participate in the Mosque various activities. Most of the previous Committee comprised of Pensioners and they have all the time to manage and made themselves presence during the five daily prayers. I believe there should be no political game in the Mosque. All Muslims irrespective of their political ideologies are facing the same direction (kiblat) when we face Almighty Allah during prayers in the Mosque.
Up to this date, the six years belated General Meeting of the Kampong Khairat Kematian Committee Meeting had not convened when it was last suspended in late April 2009 due to its financial statement irregularities. Main Committee members of the Khairat Kematian are the same people who are holding top positions in the new Mosque Committee. The integrity of some is suspected. One of them was to the extend of swearing in the Mosque with the presence of the former Mosque Committee that he had handed the sum of RM 17,000 to the demised Treasurer of Saham Wakaf of the new Mosque. He only brought along a personal buddy as a witness to testify that he had handed the RM 17,000. To hand an amount of RM 17,000 without a receipt is questionable. The Allahyarham, the Treasurer, of course was not available to testify. The former Mosque Committee took no further action except to make him swear in the name of Allah in front of the Mosque Mimbar. Let Allah do the rest. On this aspect I do not agree with the former Committee because it involved contributor’s money. It should be an in depth investigation and inquiry. The former Mosque Committee was kind enough to close the case of which not many of the kampong residents know about the episode.
I have my reservations for the new Mosque Committee and I just wish they can perform or not, better than the previous. What is utmost important is the “nawaitu” (intention) for holding a position in the Committee. It must be with one single intention, for the sake of Allah. If it is for other reasons, then Allah knows best and Almighty Allah would not render blessing. Holding a position is one thing and whether you can contribute is another. Both must be in tandem. Position must follow with sacrificing of time and energy in the cause of Allah. If you don’t have the time, forget about holding position. Give it to someone who has. If revenge is the ulterior motive, Allah is watching and the akidah (faith) has deviated.
Insyaalah, with Allah blessing I seek for the best for the benefit of my fellow kampong residents. As a resident, I just sit and watch the game play.
Since PR government took over Selangor, PAS members in the kampong had been very eager to take over the Mosque administration. They requested for Emergency General Meeting to nominate new Mosque Committee for 2009 – 2011 period. Plan was set up and candidates for nomination were prearranged. Though I am a PAS member but I stayed out during the EGM because I disagreed with the way they wanted to take over the Mosque administration. There was nothing wrong with the incumbent committee and the mosque affair was satisfactorily managed. The residents were happy except for some orthodox PAS members who shunned away from the Mosque and did not want to participate in the Mosque various activities. Most of the previous Committee comprised of Pensioners and they have all the time to manage and made themselves presence during the five daily prayers. I believe there should be no political game in the Mosque. All Muslims irrespective of their political ideologies are facing the same direction (kiblat) when we face Almighty Allah during prayers in the Mosque.
Up to this date, the six years belated General Meeting of the Kampong Khairat Kematian Committee Meeting had not convened when it was last suspended in late April 2009 due to its financial statement irregularities. Main Committee members of the Khairat Kematian are the same people who are holding top positions in the new Mosque Committee. The integrity of some is suspected. One of them was to the extend of swearing in the Mosque with the presence of the former Mosque Committee that he had handed the sum of RM 17,000 to the demised Treasurer of Saham Wakaf of the new Mosque. He only brought along a personal buddy as a witness to testify that he had handed the RM 17,000. To hand an amount of RM 17,000 without a receipt is questionable. The Allahyarham, the Treasurer, of course was not available to testify. The former Mosque Committee took no further action except to make him swear in the name of Allah in front of the Mosque Mimbar. Let Allah do the rest. On this aspect I do not agree with the former Committee because it involved contributor’s money. It should be an in depth investigation and inquiry. The former Mosque Committee was kind enough to close the case of which not many of the kampong residents know about the episode.
I have my reservations for the new Mosque Committee and I just wish they can perform or not, better than the previous. What is utmost important is the “nawaitu” (intention) for holding a position in the Committee. It must be with one single intention, for the sake of Allah. If it is for other reasons, then Allah knows best and Almighty Allah would not render blessing. Holding a position is one thing and whether you can contribute is another. Both must be in tandem. Position must follow with sacrificing of time and energy in the cause of Allah. If you don’t have the time, forget about holding position. Give it to someone who has. If revenge is the ulterior motive, Allah is watching and the akidah (faith) has deviated.
Insyaalah, with Allah blessing I seek for the best for the benefit of my fellow kampong residents. As a resident, I just sit and watch the game play.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Projek Barisan Nasional.
Whenever we passed a project under construction, it clearly stated, on the signboard, “Ini lah Projek Barisan Nasional” (This is Barisan Nasional Project). However when the project collapsed, the national media declared as Projek Kerajaan. (Government Project). Nothing mentioned about the collapse of Barisan Nasional Project.
A Stadium, the pride of the people of Trengganu, a Barisan Nasional Project completed on 10 May 2008 and on 2 June 2009 40% of the Stadium roof collapsed. The Stadium cost about RM 450 million, built for the SUKMA game and officially opened by the present The Royal Highness the King. Hardly a year old, the roof of the Stadium collapsed and luckily nobody got hurt or killed.
The question is; why the hell when the people money of nearly half a billion spent, the roof could kiss the ground? Who was the Architect? Who was the Structural Engineer? Who was the Project Consultant? Who was the Main Contractor? Who was the Sub Sub Sub Contractor? Who was the Project Engineer? Who was the Project Supervisor? Who was the Clerk of Work? Who issued the Certificate of Fitness? Where was the Maintenance Engineer? He could easily noticed the potential catastrophe if he regularly inspect the Stadium. This time around, nobody can blame nature. No rain and no wind, yet the roof touched down. Finally was the RM 450 million in full was spent to build the Stadium? Is it possible that certain % had gone into someone pocket? Your answer is as good as mine.
Whatever……somebody got to be answerable to this fiasco. Right from the Politicians who decides on this project to the Stadium Cleaner. They can give their statement during the investigations. All along the line must be available for investigations if the Government is really serious to get to the bottom. The Axis of Evil must be identified. It is the people money.
At the end of the day, I have my gut feeling nothing would happen except that more of the people money would be spent to repair the collapsed roof.
Case closed and I rest my case. What to do?
A Stadium, the pride of the people of Trengganu, a Barisan Nasional Project completed on 10 May 2008 and on 2 June 2009 40% of the Stadium roof collapsed. The Stadium cost about RM 450 million, built for the SUKMA game and officially opened by the present The Royal Highness the King. Hardly a year old, the roof of the Stadium collapsed and luckily nobody got hurt or killed.
The question is; why the hell when the people money of nearly half a billion spent, the roof could kiss the ground? Who was the Architect? Who was the Structural Engineer? Who was the Project Consultant? Who was the Main Contractor? Who was the Sub Sub Sub Contractor? Who was the Project Engineer? Who was the Project Supervisor? Who was the Clerk of Work? Who issued the Certificate of Fitness? Where was the Maintenance Engineer? He could easily noticed the potential catastrophe if he regularly inspect the Stadium. This time around, nobody can blame nature. No rain and no wind, yet the roof touched down. Finally was the RM 450 million in full was spent to build the Stadium? Is it possible that certain % had gone into someone pocket? Your answer is as good as mine.
Whatever……somebody got to be answerable to this fiasco. Right from the Politicians who decides on this project to the Stadium Cleaner. They can give their statement during the investigations. All along the line must be available for investigations if the Government is really serious to get to the bottom. The Axis of Evil must be identified. It is the people money.
At the end of the day, I have my gut feeling nothing would happen except that more of the people money would be spent to repair the collapsed roof.
Case closed and I rest my case. What to do?
Monday, June 1, 2009
Forgot about Penanti.
Saturday and Sunday were being so busy and I forgotten about Penanti bye election. The bye election was mild and quiet because BN chicken out and the only excitement was Aminah Abdullah an Independent candidate produced “vcd haram”. The national media gave her a very good coverage and she became celebrity overnight.
Saturday afternoon, after the zohor prayer, I had to be at the Kampong Mosque to witness the “akad nikah” ceremony of Haji Wak Salim’s daughter. The ceremony went smoothly with only one declaration of the marriage vow. Adjourned to Wak Salim house as there was “kenduri tahlil” and “doa selamat”. After the Isyakh prayer Raja Sahar, Sabirin, Nan Marine and me went to Wak Salim house for dinner and to render last minute assistance. Wak Salim insisted on community cooking instead of catering. I went home late and manage to catch up the live telecast of FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Everton. This game did not really interest me as Manchester United was not involved.
Sunday morning, I had to attend an engagement ceremony of Ali Termizi daughter. Raja Sahar, Sabirin and me had to chaperon Ali Termizi as most of our colleagues were at Wak Salim house for the “marhaban”. Lunch was served early as we had Wak Salim house to visit. It was only after the zohor prayer I went with my wife to Wak Salim house. The crowd was still there and I caught up with Capt Fauzi who rushed back from his hometown Bagan Serai, in order not to disappoint Wak. The reception reminds me of a typical kampong wedding where the “gotong royong” concept was imported by Wak Salim by his Kuala Selangor clansman. The Javanese community is very close among themselves and they assist and cooperate with each other.
Back home, I followed the bye election live update from several blogs. Just before I went for my maghrib prayer, PKR candidate was comfortably far ahead. The final result: All the three Independent candidates lost their deposits. The voters in Penanti did not buy Aminah propaganda. She even came back second among the three Independent. Now her credibility had gone down the drain as someone who could not be trusted. Never go to her house when she invites you, as there is a hidden camera and audio waiting for your presence. She would later used against you. Though the voter turnout was low, Dr Mansor obtained 5660 majority and he would be appointed as Penang Deputy Chief Minister 1.
The next bye election would be in MU. Manik Urai in Kelantan and this time there would be a fight between UMNo and PAS. Insyaalah, PR would score again, making it 6 – 1 since 12th General Election tsunami.
Saturday afternoon, after the zohor prayer, I had to be at the Kampong Mosque to witness the “akad nikah” ceremony of Haji Wak Salim’s daughter. The ceremony went smoothly with only one declaration of the marriage vow. Adjourned to Wak Salim house as there was “kenduri tahlil” and “doa selamat”. After the Isyakh prayer Raja Sahar, Sabirin, Nan Marine and me went to Wak Salim house for dinner and to render last minute assistance. Wak Salim insisted on community cooking instead of catering. I went home late and manage to catch up the live telecast of FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Everton. This game did not really interest me as Manchester United was not involved.
Sunday morning, I had to attend an engagement ceremony of Ali Termizi daughter. Raja Sahar, Sabirin and me had to chaperon Ali Termizi as most of our colleagues were at Wak Salim house for the “marhaban”. Lunch was served early as we had Wak Salim house to visit. It was only after the zohor prayer I went with my wife to Wak Salim house. The crowd was still there and I caught up with Capt Fauzi who rushed back from his hometown Bagan Serai, in order not to disappoint Wak. The reception reminds me of a typical kampong wedding where the “gotong royong” concept was imported by Wak Salim by his Kuala Selangor clansman. The Javanese community is very close among themselves and they assist and cooperate with each other.
Back home, I followed the bye election live update from several blogs. Just before I went for my maghrib prayer, PKR candidate was comfortably far ahead. The final result: All the three Independent candidates lost their deposits. The voters in Penanti did not buy Aminah propaganda. She even came back second among the three Independent. Now her credibility had gone down the drain as someone who could not be trusted. Never go to her house when she invites you, as there is a hidden camera and audio waiting for your presence. She would later used against you. Though the voter turnout was low, Dr Mansor obtained 5660 majority and he would be appointed as Penang Deputy Chief Minister 1.
The next bye election would be in MU. Manik Urai in Kelantan and this time there would be a fight between UMNo and PAS. Insyaalah, PR would score again, making it 6 – 1 since 12th General Election tsunami.
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