Felda 2025.

 Tues 26.8.2025.

I'm from Felda 1969.

In two days time, FGV, just 13 years  after being born out of the IPO in 2012, will be delisted from the stock exchange. From the initial listed price of RM 4.55, Felda will pay just RM 1.30 for each share. That's an investor's loss of  RM 3.25. That's probably  RM 3.2 billion.

RM 4.5 billion was raised after the IPO. Felda received RM 5.5 billion. Whoever bought FGV at that time are burnt beyond recognition. I understand some notable corporate bodies were involved, such as EPF and TH. If so, the work is cut out for them to cook up the explanation to their respective shareholders.

I speak with a service of 21 years and 9 months in Felda and its Corporations. My last post was the GM for Felda Transport Corporation. I resigned  from Felda on 31.12.1990 to join another large corporation.

From 15.3.1969 to 13.4 1979, from age 24 years and 9 monts, for 10 years and 1 month,  I was with Felda "Proper". My last post, as the Area Controller for NS , was from 12.2.1977 to 13.4.1979 (for 2 years and 2 months ). From  14.4.1979 to 31.12. 1990 ( for 11 years and 8 months) I was "seconded" to Felda Corporations, serving in 3 different Corporations. I was first the  AGM for Felda Mills Corporation from age 34 years and 4 months, for 10 months. Next, I was the GM for Felda Trading Corporation from age 35 years and 9 months, for 2 years and 2 months.  Then I was back to Felda Mills Corporation, this time as the GM, from age 37 years and 5 months, for 2 years and 8 months. From age 40 years and 6 months I was the GM for Felda Transport Corporation for 5 years and 6 months.

I write, therefore, with substance, and say that it's with a heavy heart that I see the loss of direction endured by Felda, not from a weak basis for its original foundation, but by criminal misguidance, by the political  agenda inserted into its fold over the last 25 years. The amount of money that could have gone to the proper coffers with disciplined management is staggering, to say the least, but more devastating is the absolute wastage of sound material and golden opportunity laid out before it, as the result of the hard work and cost-conscious toils of the early Felda staff, operating from its spartan hq to the tough and bare  scheme offices, in the days of the non-political land-development grand design.  I'm talking about the days when every dollar spent had to be accounted for, and every hour in the field had to be recorded. 

The first political appointee was the late Dr. Yusof Nor from Terengganu. He wasn't too bad, because he often said "No". Those politicians that came after him were all going for the "yes".

I remember the first time the idea mooted for an IPO was first heard. I was one of the opponents - outside the decision-making group, of course. But we didn't stop, among ourselves, even if our voice didn't count, much less heard, objecting to the very idea of going public. Our simple argument was, Felda wasn't cash-strapped. In fact Felda had plenty of excess cash. All government loans were fully paid.  Why not. Oil palm was our main produce, and the world demand was always there. Our staff salaries and perks were not like the private plantations. In fact, among us GM's, some were even embarrassed to be seen alighting from our modest staff Peugeots when attending outside meetings with other corporate managers, coming in their Mercedes' or even Volvos.  When plantations like Dunlop were regularly paying 12-month bonuses to their estate managers , Felda Corporations were at pains to squeeze 3 months, at the most. And don't even try to compare the basic salaries lest you die laughing. The point is, costs were paramount. Thrift ruled.

The one warning our group of dissenters gave out was, why should Felda, with its immense potential, open itself to unfriendly takeover by going public. There was even the joke then that through "Temasek" Lee Kuan Yew could become the next Chairman of Felda.The thing is, in the US, very successful public companies make themselves private so as to avoid unfriendly takeovers.

I guess there's money to be made when large corporations go public - the banks, investors, arrangers etc. A lot of money. That's the convincing argument for producing FGV. Now this is the turnaround.

It's Felda 2025.

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A daughter's care, and about Malaysian health care.

 Tues 19.8.2025.

The door  reads:

Dr. Hamid Hj. Ghazali

MD (USM), MS (UKM),

Board of Urology

Pakar Perunding Urologi.

But this was Kuantan, Pahang.

Here at home in Seremban, Idah had complained of severe pain in her abdominal area about a week ago. As usual it was off to Dr. Miszua. No government clinic for her in spite of my repeated pleas "even Bang Dek goes to the Government clinic, and he was the State Secretary !" The complain, of course, is always about the big crowd. But you can't avoid that.

Anyway, Dr. Miszua suspected she was having bladder / kidney stones, and gave the appropriate pills as immediate temporary relief. The pain went away for maybe a day, and it came back, and it was off to the doctor again. This time I went along to ask for a letter for referring her case to the medical specialist at HTJ (if any). I got the letter. And none too soon. The very next day she had the attack again, and Dekna dutifully took her mother, with that letter,  straight to HTJ. It was about 7 p.m. They were there until the next day.

Dekna said HTJ asked to have alternative examination for the bladder and kidney infection. To get to the local urologist, she has a whole year to wait ! One bloody year !

Dekna didn't waste any time going to the next step - a private clinic examination.  An ultrasound scan at Mawar gave the confirmed images of 2 stones lodged in the bladder and kidney. Next Dekna took her mother to an Urologist at KPJ. The full brief on the medical situation was presented. Then she got on to Dr. Hamid in Kuantan. An appointment was made for Monday 18.8.2025. Dr. Hamid must have pushed aside other patients, that's for sure. The point is, Dekna pulled it off.

They had to leave for Kuantan Sunday. It's not just the distance that confronted them; the traffic wasn't going to be a picnic.

Dekna quietly cried when she bade me goodbye. "She's the only mother you have" I tried to console. I couldn't meet her request that I come along. I had an appointment with the bank and my Treasurer from MUBARAK NS on Monday afternoon, regarding our Koperasi accounts.

Dekna kept us, me and her brothers, updated, almost by the hour. So we knew Idah didn't sleep - she kept going to the toilet, until finally there was blood in the urine.

Before 8 a.m. Monday they were already at Dr. Hamid's clinic. But it was only at noon that Idah got inside. She had to undress fully for the procedure of "laser shooting".

What a big surprise for everybody !

"Auntie ! What do I shoot ? There's nothing to shoot !" the doctor exclaimed.

Apparently the stones have been excreted. That was the blood in the urine last night.

So instead of a second night in Kuantan, by 7 p.m. Monday both mother and daughter were back in the house in Seremban.

And I got my "kacang goring Sempalit".

That, briefly, is a daughter's care. For the government, that was your care for the people.

Nothing wrong with my daughter. Everything wrong with public health care in the country.

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My beloved Habib's repeat of 9.12.2024.

 Sun 17.8.2025.

For the last week or so, the internet connection in the house had been going crazy - on and off, on and off.  I tried to call Telecoms through "100", but like everything in Malaysia now, all public services have gone "on line" with scant regard for Old Timers like me, born pre-"AI", with no familiarity with all these gadgetry-smart 'phone connections. The recorded Telecom answer asked to do this and that until "your time is up" and the line went dead. Yesterday, Saturday, Dekna was home, so I asked her to call Telecoms to complain about the internet disruption. Of course she got through, and eventually got the assurance that the technicians would come this Sunday morning, 10.30 a.m.

I waited from 10.20 a.m. until 2.15 p.m. before 2 very young technicians wearing Telecoms t-shirt finally came. They said they were not told about the 10.30 a,m. part, only to come and solve the problem. So they took little time in just replacing the old black router with the separate modem connection with a brand new "combo" unit that requires no separate modem. The internet line is clear, but the old router has internal connection problem. That was the brief explanation from the young man. Great. My table is neater - only one piece of equipment, with one cable, and the other pieces and cables that cluttered the table are now gone. 

That's not my main story here.

It's a repeat of what my dear, lovely, Habib did on 9.12.2024.

At about 12 noon, I was reading the whatsapps on my phone when a red car drove up to the gate. The Malay driver came out as I got up from my seat to see if it was the Telecom team I was expecting. Instead the man asked "is this child yours ?" pointing to a child I could spot just the top of the head under the front left-seat window of the car. Why, it was Habib !

I grabbed him, and he stiffened his body, making it more difficult for me to pick him up. "My grandson !" I exclaimed, repeating the words to the woman who had come out of the back seat. "This is the second time" I repeated a few times to both man and women, without explaining what I was talking about. "We saw him there, and knew he had snuck out without the parents knowledge. We opened the car door and he just climbed in" they both said, motioning to the same road that Habib took the first time. Climbing in is understandable, because Habib does that all the time when the parents want to take him out in their cars, and he loves riding in their 2 cars.

I thanked the couple profusely, without so much as asking for their names and where they were heading, because they're not local. But I think they know how I felt, hearing that this was a repeat performance, and I certainly know how they must have felt, seeing Habib on the road alone, obviously straying from parental care. Thank God all ended well, and thank God these kind couple found Habib and did what they did - to look for Habib's parents.

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Zara Qairina Mahathir.

 Tues 12.8.2025

One month ago, on 16.7.2025, Zara Qairina was found unconscious and injured at the bottom of multi-storied dorm of her SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar, Sabah. The next day she died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she was taken to and put on life-support. Apparently the school claimed then that she had fallen from the 3rd floor of the dorm. No post-mortem was performed.

Noraidah, the mother, had seen several injuries on her daughter's body during the ritual bathing of the remains. The family sounded the need for a post-mortem. But it was only 2 weeks (30.7.2025) after her daughter's mysterious death that Noraidah made the Police report, demanding for an inquest and post-mortem. 4 days later (3.8.2025) she made another Police report, detailing the injuries she remembered seeing on her daughter's body.

On 8.8.2025 the AGC issued the order for exhumation and post-mortem. The exhumation was the next day, followed by an 8-hour post-mortem by a team of 4 forensic experts. 25 days had passed since the tragic death.

Apparently, the family has access to recordings of reports of bullying and threats of bodily harm on the girl's phone.

The big question is, why was a tragic  death from obvious physical injuries, under questionable circumstances, not fully investigated by the Police straight away in the first place ?

The next question is, why did it take that long for the surely grieving mother to go to the Police ?

I have 4 children of my own, who are grown up now, with children of their own. I know how it must have been devastating for poor Noraidah. Words won't describe it.

I pray that the authorities will now finally do what should have been done straight away on 17.7.2025. All facts must be established, compromised as they are by our own absolutely avoidable failures. I also pray that we all can learn, repent and improve from this sad and tragic episode. I know it's easy to say after the event. I know it'll not bring back Zara Qairina. I know only God Knows Noraidah's feelings and thoughts. At least I say my prayers, and show my sympathy. I must.

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Pulau Tengah, and 5 OP's Johor trip.

 Sun 3.8.2025

I drove back from Pulai Spring Resort, Senai, Johor, on Friday, together with Hank, after spending 3 days on Pulau Tengah, and the last day in JB. It was essentially a Chua Jui Leng treat for us, and it was  great. Certainly it wasn't cheap. But I don't think Chua even gave cost a thought. And there's a likelihood that Hank could make a second trip. Chua wants him to help with the mango bud-grafting thing. Hank had already suggested to me that if we make the next trip, we could take the new KTM KL-JB speed train being launched  this month.

There were five of us - Chua, our generous host, Herman, Francis and the two of us from Seremban. We go back to PD 1961. Herman and Francis flew by Batik Air from Subang, and returned the same way. Our drive from Seremban on Monday took us about two-and-a half hours, not including the pit stops senior guys like us always need. That made Herman to call several times, thinking we couldn't find our way. I'd been to Pulai Spring Golf Resort, for golf, maybe two decades ago, but "Waze" helped this time around. I don't recognize the road anymore. Actually, my second son is with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia just next door.

The first night we stayed at Pulai Spring Resort. Chua used to own it, but sold it about 25 years ago, and the new owners are obviously turning away from golf to more lucrative plans. But Chua maintains some connection and keeps some facilities here. I parked my car in his two special parking bays for the entire Johor stay. Pulau Tengah is a product of Chua's diversification after his Pulai Spring venture.

Chua gave us a taste of his "Black Thorn" durians that afternoon. I learned that he has 100 acres of durian. Wow !  On the way to Pulau Tengah the next day, he picked up some more durians. That evening 2 other OP's joined us for dinner at Pulai Spring - Dr. Shaharum Ujang and Zach, both our juniors from RMC Sg. Besi. 

Tuesday morning we drove to Mersing in Chua's Mercedes 350. It took also about two-and-a half hours, but since Chua was driving much faster, I think the distance is more than Seremban-Senai.

At the Mersing jetty, we took a boat with a huge outboard motor, capable of carrying about 20 people. The 9-nautical-mile crossing  took about 30 minutes. There was some swell,  and the boat took hard thumps repeatedly. I was worried I might get sea-sick, but it was soon over, and we reached the Pulau Tengah jetty.

Chua owns the sole resort on the island. He said some friends had asked if he owns the island, which he doesn't, of course. He has 22 chalets, or villas, evenly divided into 11 "n's" and "s's" - meaning north and south. Hank and I were assigned "10 S", which meant that we were the second last one on that line. But Chua said ours had the best ocean view, and took the other two OP's to our place to show them what he meant. 

This resort isn't cheap, and it wasn't meant to be, I suppose. On our stay it was a lot of "Mat Salleh" and one large well-dressed Malay family (meaning well-heeled, I'm sure) that we saw. For the two of us in our chalet, for 3 days and 2 nights, I estimated to Hank, the cost was for each RM 3,000 for room and RM 360 for food & drinks. The chalet itself was very comfortable and spacious, and should offer no cause for complain to the guests that come here. "10 S" could accommodate, easily, 5 adults, and looking at the bath tub size, all 5 can get in at the same time !

Chua calls his resort "Pulau Batu-Batu", but that's normal for hoteliers. But Pulau Tengah has a checkered history.  The island is 3 km wide, and the highest point is 200 feet from sea-level. It was uninhabited, but had a  wild boar population, so much so it was called, earlier, "Pulau Babi Tengah". But for 9 years, between 1970 and 1980, some 120,000 South Vietnamese refugees called the island home. It was the UN Refugee Council Transit Camp for those escaping the Communist regime that had earlier chased the Americans from South Vietnam in the Vietnam war. The story was, the refugee boats were loaded with gold bars that the obviously affluent Vietnamese took with them heading for mostly USA, and a much lesser number to Europe and Australia. The one thing that has left positive results for Chua and his resort operations must be the complete disappearance of the wild boars. The hungry refugees ate them all up. Plus whatever monkeys and iguanas that must have been there.

Chua said he nets a profit of about RM 3 million per year here. That sounds very ok, because the number of rooms is limited, while operating hotels and resorts isn't cheap.

The most interesting part of Pulau Tengah is the turtle hatchery.

From 2015, a volunteer project turtle hatchery was started. Since 2019, turtle watching  had been expanded to turtle conservation.  Specifically, 2 species are monitored here - the Green turtle, and the Hawkbill turtle. Between 2015 and 2018, 25,200 eggs were laid, and 13,800 turtles released to the sea. The student volunteer said the adult would return in 30 years time. The sad part is that out of 1,000 released, only 1 survives to adulthood. That's the scientific fact. Chua said the Sultan had suggested that the hatchery keeps them for 1 year and "get stronger" before release, but the scientist contradicts that supposition. 

We witnessed the release of about 90 turtles from the hatchery on our first night on the island. The next day we were briefed by the university student volunteer on their noble work. I think this is simply wonderful, and the State and Federal governments should pour money and expand efforts in this noble enterprise, especially when there are innumerable little islands in Malaysia that can provide physical bases.

Our last night was in JB. Chua put us up at a small but quite old hotel just about 400 m from his 25,000-sq. foot bungalow, next to a vacant lot belonging to the Sultan.  He has been here the last 25 years. That explains the close palace contact. In fact the similarly huge bungalow next to his once belonged to one of his children, but it was never occupied and had been sold at a huge profit to the current neighbour - a Singaporean, if I'm not mistaken.

We had  another durian feast in the garden beside the house. After dinner, all adjourned to the durians. Hank had the most, I think. Again it was  "Black Thorn" and "Musang King". Here Dr. Shaharum and Zach joined us again. Chua, Herman and Francis had their "Blue Label" whiskey, while the rest had "Ribena". I took all of 3 "seeds" of durian, when my doctor tells me to eat no more than 2. The Type 2 diabetes I'd been diagnosed with since 2000 compels that.

There were interesting facts I got during this enjoyable trip. Francis Teng is the owner of "Hero Supermarket" that I frequent, because it's the nearest to my house. "Giant Supermarket" was the previous one, 5 years ago, but that also belonged to Francis. He said the sale is about RM 1 m monthly, but he's losing money there. I suggested to him he could easily double the sale if his customers get better parking facilities. "Take over the 100-car parking next door, give customers who purchase more than RM 60 parking vouchers" I said. "And go to the CPO NS, plead to relax the aggressive Police enforcement at the moment", I added. But Francis knows better.

Then there was Dr. Shaharum Ujang, the retired IJN heart surgeon, now running his private practice here. He's from Terachi, KP, exactly the same kampong my father was born. Dr. Shararum also referred to Hashim Meon (Tan Sri). I told him Hashim was my neighbour in Damanasara Utama, PJ, before he moved to Shah Alam. We were in the same mosque committee in Damansara Utama. Hashim also has some family relationship with my father's side, I think, because when my first cousin in Terachi died, he came, and when her oldest brother, Dr. Md. Nor Ghani died, Hashim also came. Dr. Md. Nor (Datuk) was Dr. Ling Liong Sik's Chief Secretary.

This was a memorable outing for me. I think the others also enjoyed it. Hank is responsible for my attendance. I remember Chua very well when in "B" Coy in FMC Sg. Besi. I remember meeting him at the 4th. College, University of Malaya, the week new undergraduates reported for enrolment in 1965. I spoke to him. He was talking to another guy. When asked if he was enrolling, he said he was going overseas. When we used to meet at the OP's gatherings, both in PD and Sg. Besi , however, he said he can't remember me. It doesn't matter. Pulau Tengah, and 5 OP's Johor trip, is memorable.

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Mahathir.

Fri 11.7.2025

100 years old yesterday.

That itself is remarkable.

Looking at him, live on the media, moving about, mixing around, driving, and speaking, slower now, but still clear and clever, and remembering President Jimmy Carter who died recently at exactly 100, wheelchair-bound, not saying anything worthy, looking weak and helpless - no one can not appreciate all of this.

I came in direct contact with Mahathir on 29.11.1993, when he came to officiate MISC's brand new haulage company's yard at the North Port, Port Kelang. I was the GM. As part of the morning's ceremony, he boarded one of our also brand-new truck bearing the number plate "2021". I chose this truck. We didn't have a "2020". I pointed out the plate number to him, not saying anything. He got the message instantly. "The year after" he said, smiling to me. Of course I was referring to his then much publicized "Vision 2020". Wow, I said to myself.

All we Malaysians have to do is look at his tenure as the country's political leader and just mark out the institutions given birth to in that period, you know, Universiti Kebangsaan, Bank Islam etc. Look at the country's economy. Look at the international episodes that heaped praise for the country. Dig out the private stories, eg a foreigner who said there was this great Asian leader who's doing something brave and wonderful in the Middle East, and he was referring to Mahathir.

Not posting this blog, miniscule as it is, would be a sin for me. There's much more under all those records avaiable, both here in this country and internationally. Let somebody bring all out, good and bad, and see the man Mahathir.

The "All quiet on the Western Front" right now in the Malaysia news is a sad reflection, not on Mahathir, but on us all. 

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Amat Teleng.

 Sat 5.7.2025

Our grandmothers were sisters, Amat Teleng and I. His was "Wan Aji" the elder sister to my "Wan Che' Mbin". Their houses are 200 meters apart in Kampong Bukit Temensu. Wan Aji, while she could, would walk over to Wan Che' Mbin's house almost every morning. Those days the traffic on the Jalan Tampin road was sparse. I remember I played "galah adang" with Kayah and Dekwa on the road in the evenings. You'd be insane to do that now. Wan Aji would talk and talk, and Wan Che' Mbin would just listen. She used to show me a scar on her forehead. "Kak Aji hit me with a "gayong" when we were small" she related.

Atok Awang, Wan Aji's husband, I remember vaguely, because he died early. But I remember all the children: the late Pak chik Lai, a retired soldier who married in Peraku, along the Senaling-Senanti inner road; the late Pak Chu Kamil, who retired as a Sarawak High Court Judge; the late Pak Chik Chup, who used to live with us in Tanjung Malim until he got into a fist-fight with the late Pak Chik Haris, also with us, sharing a room at the back of the government quarters "rumah empat" we stayed in 1951 -1956; the late Mak Chik Jenap, Amat Teleng's mother, who smoked, and when she went to "Godong Ating" near the 1930 English school, TMS, for fresh packets, usually around Magrib prayers time, would scratch the wall of Wan Che' Mbin house to frighten the late Mak Tam, my auntie, staying with us there, after her divorce from her ex policeman husband because of his mental health; the late Mak Ngah Biah who settled in Air Hitam, Johor when her Forest Department husband retired, and he got a piece of land as a retirement gift from the Johor State Government for those serving the state; and the late Mak Lang, the "bidan" who spent her last years in Datuk Keramat and died there.

I spent a brief period of my youth with Amat Teleng while in Bukit Temensu. I visited Wan Aji's house often, where he stayed. I remember the note that Pak Chu Kamil pasted on the wall that said "Study Little But Often". I think it's very good advice. We played football with the other Bukit Temensu boys on the TMS padang, when we could. Amat Teleng was quite a dribbler in spite of his "teleng". This was a congenital condition, where his eyes drooped, and he had to lift up his head slightly if he wanted to look up. Surprisingly, all his children, except for the second boy, have the same congenital affliction. There must be a medical explanation. We used to tease the children about it, but they always responded seriously, taking exception to the tease.

Amat Teleng's siblings and first cousins I also knew well, except for his elder brother, Ali, the retired Civil Service officer who died last year. I've never met him, although he did make the very rare visits to Bukit Temensu. Amat's late sister and an elder brother, Shafiei, were with me as UM's undergraduates when I was there 1965-68. Then the cousins: Zahari, who retired as the Melaka State Secretary; Zaharum, who was single and died and was buried in Beting ; Sharif, who was with me in Felda, and resigned and went to do his degree in USA; and his sisters, one of them married to the late Nordin Johan, a key witness in the late Mokhtar Hashim's case. Nordin was Apandi's brother. Apandi was with me in the NS State Assembly. Apandi's ex nurse sister is Datuk Sulaiman's wife. Datuk Sulaiman is an ex Appeals Court Judge. He has been playing golf with me twice a week for the last decade. Before he took up law, he was an HA (now called Medical Assistant or something), That explains the connection to the nurse, I think.

Pak Chu Kamil, before he became a judge, was close to my father. Whenever he came back to Bukit Temensu, he would visit my father and would talk for hours. I knew my father was trying to make him an UMNO member, with an eye for the MB's job. He would have made it, too, I believe. But he never joined UMNO. He drove a Peugeot 404 bearing the number plate BT something. The late Tok Ungkai said it stood for "Bukit Temensu".  Regretfully, Sharif sent me the news only one day after his death, and I missed the funeral I would definitely have attended, just like Zaharum's and Mak Lang's.

Muharram is one of the four "special" Muslim months: Zul kaedah, Zul Hijjah, Muharram and Sya'aban. 9, 10, and 11 Muharram are special fasting dates. Friday is considered a "holy" day. 

Amat Teleng was taken  by ambulance from his Bukit Temensu house on  Thursday 3.7.2025, which was  7 Muharram, because of breathing difficulties.  He had been bedridden for the last 3 years because of a stroke. At about 8.45, which is considered a Friday night, Amat Teleng breathed his last.

Sharif whatsapped me the same night. I left the house for Bukit Temensu after my Subuh prayers on Friday 4.7.2025. The usual heavy traffic made me reach the house at almost 8 a.m. I was told the hospital had not released the remains. I took Indoyo's grandson to the mortuary, and met 2 of Amat Teleng's sons there. I confirmed with them about the "mandi jenazah" (at the Masjid Jame'), funeral prayers (after Juma'at prayers), and burial site (Kampong Petai, Batu 46), and had to take my leave. The hospital had still to attend to the body release, and I had to return to Seremban for my own Friday obligations.

May Allah Bless you, Amat Teleng.

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