Two weddings and a Happy New Year to you.

26.12.2010.

First there was Pa' Ijoi's 2nd daughter's wedding 24th. 25th. But the whole thing started months ago when they started buying the usual stuff - "bunga telor" etc. The last few days were just finishing touches, but Puan Hajjah Faridah, the brand new hajjah, took care of them. As usual, I might add. 

All the brothers & sisters except two showed up early to give morale support, if not actually digging in and making themselves useful. Even washing the dirty dishes helped. Nodi came later, but that's understandable because she came with her brood all the way from Sabah. 

Kak Mot's grand entrance for her younger brother's very first wedding celebration was difficult to fathom, though. As the oldest surviving sister, it would have made a fond scene to see her busy among the family members, fussing over the prenuptial details. It would have made a difference to Pa' Ijoi, I'm sure.

Today was Idah's cousin's kenduri , also the first wedding, for her daughter with  Christopher,  an Indian convert. That's why we saw a group of Indians from his side of the family sitting at one of the special tables at the reception at the Rasah Kemayan Golf Club. You might have wondered where they came from.

Pa' Ijoi's kenduri was grand by Kampong Lonek's usual standard - with the steep-roofed and bannered Arabic tents, the scallops and covered chairs.  Christopher's do was actually quite nicely done, too.

In fact we had to miss Pa' Ijoi's return reception in Palong because of Christopher's reception, but Pa' Ijoi cannot complain because we gave full support to him for the last several days.

In a couple of days it'll be a "Happy New Year."

I'm just going through my golf's "buku 555". As in the past 10 years, it looks like I can afford a  new pair of shoes this year, thanks to Cik Taib, Tok Mail, Muhsin and Usop pokak. I think I'll maintain my average of 300 bucks per month. Not bad for 66-year-old 14-handicapper, eh ?

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MIA, for a while.......

14.12.2010.

Down, but not out. 

First, the weekends of weddings, which are still going on, seeing that the school holidays are still here. The good thing about it is that there is no jam at the Ampangan junctions on the way to my morning golf at SIGC. 

Then there was Idah's return from the hajj. 

And Pa' Ijoi's kenduri at month's end. 

And finally my internet problem. A crane drove through the telecom's line in our neighbourhood that week that disrupted telecommunication's connection all over. When the line was restored, my pc wouldn't connect to the internet. First I thought it was the pc. Then maybe it was the telephone line. Then the Telekom man said it was my modem, so I bought a new one. In fact it was the setting at telecoms. That makes the new modem unnecessary. 

So, here I am, back at first chance. 

Mat Sham's wedding reception for his son was the ultimate. What else can I say - the Agong came. Beat that. Hank was with me at the same table. A few other OP's came by. Many more were sighted but not approached. How we all have aged. But Hank managed to correct my spelling. He said argument has no "e". I have no argument with that. 

Then Idah's return. With 3 delays. Without 1 bag. 

The first delay was from 12 midnight to 10 am, then to 1.35 pm. Then the one-and-a half hour wait at the wrong exit. The missing bag arrived by lorry in Seremban 1 week later. Apparently the handlers in Jeddah simply decided to let the bag travel unaccompanied on another aircraft later - against the basic safety precaution I thought everyone else in the whole world knows about air travel. 

All the children were there to receive her. Except we waited at the wrong exit. KLIA decided to let the returning pilgrims out through the domestic arrival instead of the international one. Nobody told us. But everyone else was at the domestic exit. We must have missed something. 

Idah was fine, except for the traditional "Makkah cough". But she stayed in bed for two days. The fatigue finally caught up with her.

Hoorai ! No more Maggi mee. 

Once Idah recovers. 

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Hari Raya Haji 2010.

19.11.2010.

We always call it "Raya Haji." This common sobriquet conveys the more colourful mental image to me than the more pedantic "Aid il Adha." Even "Raya Korban" is less a mouthful. It's the second "Raya" the Muslims celebrate each year. Arguably it's less "fun", but it carries different but equally important connotations. 

This year it carried extra meaning to me. It's the first time since I got married 39 years ago that I "celebrated" a "Raya" without my wife. She's in the Holy Land. We've been keeping in touch daily, thanks to the mobile phone, though I had to remind her to stick to the cheaper sms. So I knew about the heavy rains and the 3 million pilgrims. I have also kept her abreast with important news item, important to her, that is - the passing of an old friend and neighbour in Damansara Utama, news of the children's activities and so forth. 

When I went in 1983, and when my parents went even earlier,we had to rely on the written post. In fact I wrote to my late father so often tha he said his jemaah friends were jealous. One reason my letters received prompt delivery, I believe, was because I used Arabic letters on the envelopes ("Jawi"). 

To-day was the last of the 3 days of the "casting of the stones" at the three pillars normally performed by Malaysian pilgrims - the "nafar thani" - when many others leave for Makkah from Mina after the first day - the "nafar awwal." So this Asr this third day of the Eid was the last time we recited the "takbir" at the end of the five compulsory daily prayers or "solat". 

All the married boys, and Dekna , my daughter, came back for the Eid. No. 3 the bachelor son was MIA. Yesterday, the second day of Eid, he finally took the time to acknowledge my existence by sending an sms saying he's tied with work. I assume that he was working through the holidays, which I find hard to swallow, but I give him the benefit of doubt, though he has been untruthful before. When he gets married and has a son who does it to him he'll probably feel what I'm feeling now. But he's forgiven all the same. Just blame it on youth. 

Meanwhile Idah says she has completed the rituals and is now back in her accomodations in Makkah. Just now I told her that we'd just repaired Dekna's  car, and that she should relax and not do the "tawaf" anymore, until the farewell or "tawaf wida'." She said her return flight is as per original schedule. That's another 9 days.

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Iman's weekend with Atok.

8.11.2010.

Iman my 4+ granddaughter called last week and said she'll visit this weekend, and she made good her promise. She knows Atok is all alone because Nanny is in Makkah. But Atok was in KL with Mak Su Dekna  when she reached Seremban Friday afternoon.  She called and I said we're on the way back. But what with the purchase at Low Yat and the quick dinner, Iman was asleep when we finally reached home. 

To make amends Atok and Mak Su Dekna took her to PD in Uncle Memi's car. We took her to Telok Kemang at the Batu Lapan beach and Mak Su Dekna brought her to the edge of the water so the waves broke over her little fair legs, and she seemed to enjoy it. I don't know if it's her first time, but she said "sungai" and we kept correcting her "laut, laut." 

When we took her close to the ponies she was scared and pulled away. It being Saturday, and what with the Deepavali holidays, there was the expected large crowd.  

The tide was in, and the waves rush  to the beach. I don't remember, though, the sand to be not white the way I always picture it. The sad part was the garbage floating at the water's edge and strewn most everywhere else - around the foodstalls and the concrete path and  in the drains. 

Building the foodstalls too near the beach also spoils everything. People come to picnic and bring their own food anyway. I remember the old days ( I spent part of my schooling at the 4th milestone College now no longer there) when old ladies hawk nasi lemak and kueh carried in rattan baskets walking up and down the beach. The beach was long and clean and the swimmers frolic in the clean looking water. 

We bought "ais krim potong" with the red beans in them, and Iman enjoyed hers and made a mess with the melting ice cream. I came prepared with a small towel and cleaned her up and threw the paper wrapper when she finished. No dustbin around, so I contributed to the anti-social behaviour by leaving the wrapper on top of a pile of rubbish somebody had collected on a stump by the track. 

We had to go back as it was time, but made a stop at Jusco. Dekna wanted to eat something and we got into "Secret Recipe", to Iman's  delight.  She's got  good appetite. 

That night she wanted to sleep with her Mak Su, but later Banjat picked her up to their room, because she's quite "lasak". Dekna  said the next morning  her head was this way and her feet that way.

I left for my Sunday golf before Iman woke up. I knew they would have left by the time I came back, and they had. I asked Dekna if they'll come back for Raya Haji, but she's not sure. I think I'll call her. 

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Of history, justice, use of resources, US and us.

7.11.2010.

Ban Hong, Tiong Meng and their friend and I were exchanging opinions about the DPM's recent call to make history compulsory in schools. Tiong Meng's friend said there's no need for it. Study medicine or such useful knowledge instead, he said. Tiong Meng and I almost simultaneously responded that history is important lest we repeat the mistakes of the past, and I added that history happens, even as we sat there. I know the background for the negative reaction - because of the recent cultural clash about "immigrants" and "sons of the soil." A working formula that allows a viable and stable coexistence in our multiracial society must be found. 

For whatever it's worth, the "Barisan National" formula has worked before. It's human nature, unfortunately, to become bored with the familiar, and the face of BN has been around long enough to become boring and ripe for blame.

I read the NST column by my old classmate, Gnanalingam ( Tan Sri, of West Port and now Maika fame ) about what he termed as significant improvements in the workings of the courts of law in the country. I agree with him regarding the changes. But I don't agree that it's because of one man. That's too much praise for too little evidence. But what is more incredible is the denominator quoted for the judges and the number of cases. Surely these figures are available to the government of the day. If so, what is being done about it ? 

The answer obviously is to increase the number of judges at all levels. Tap the brightest brains at school, train the young lawyers to fill up the judicial service, pick the best graduates for post-graduate studies and so on. Malaysia does not have unlimited resources. All the more reason for wise spending by the government. The infrastructure can always be improved. City and rural folks deserve these improvements, and the contrasting standards because of geography must be reduced. So why did we spend 4 billions on the two submarines ? 

Remember, once in service, these vessels have to be maintained. Are we going to wage war on Singapore ? Because we're certainly not going to war with Indonesia or Thailand or Vietnam or China. How many roads can be built with the 4 billions ? 

The US State Secretary's 54-hour stop-over has come and gone and there are serious articles being churned out about it. What's the big deal ? The US is no longer the centre of the universe in spite of its own opinion. We don't even measure up to the importance given to Singapore. The US Government (not the people) befriends and make enemies as they see fit. Look at what they have done in pretty much everywhere in the world. The US Government answers to no one, not even the UN. 

In our recent case  Secretary Clinton only just in the nick of time avoided thumbing her nose at her hosts by meeting with Brother Anwar Bin Ibrahim, leaving nonetheless the signal that the man must be given a fair trial. Better than what she's giving those still uncharged in Guantanamo, perhaps. 

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This & that, again.

3.11.2010.

Early in the morning Idah sms'd saying it's raining very heavily in Makkah and it's flooding ! That's news indeed. The last time I saw a picture of the Holy Mosque being flooded must have been an old National Geographic photo somewhere, or a faded picture in someone's house. I hoped Idah took some photos, though that's not the concern now - it's her safety, but she said she's OK. This afternoon the dates she said she posted from Medinah arrived by courier. I don't know when she actually sent the parcel, but the Port Kelang stamp is for 19th. October. In fact she also included one prayer mat, some pistacios and another variety of nuts, two bags of which were burst, no doubt from the gentle Arabian handling. Also received this afternoon were two MPS cheques for the return of the deposits for the two facilities that were supposed to be used next month, but is now cancelled, but that is another story. 

I made a quick visit to Guardian Pharmacy at Centre Point for some supplements replenishments, and met Ika, Amar Din's only daughter, with her bf. I teased her  with "the same one ah?" because I've met the couple a couple (what else) of times before, but these beaus all look alike to me, you know, the greasy hair, the low-slung long shorts, and the lost look. She said she has one more semester for her QS degree course from UM. As the cashier was waiting for the slow line for the card clearance, I mentioned that Seremban has internet problems , and some people have switched to Maxis, and Ika said they have done that. To my question she said dad doesn't do much surfing because he doesn't bother to learn the set up. I took the opportunity to give her my blog address and ask that she comments.

I've done some "spring cleaning" in my den. I told Pak Itam he should see how much garbage I've accumulated. Not wanting some "sensitive" documents to scatter about around the dustbins outside, I set up a small bonfire and managed to singe half the garden plants Idah so lovingly cultivates. I hope the 26 days left before her return would be enough time to hide the evidence. 

There's been a problem lately about signing in into my Geni website. Dekna won't help, but no.2 son said it's because I have not visited it for too long. But just now, while going through my e mail and spotting a Geni posting I pottered around and somehow managed to get back into my site. I saw Dr. Noordin Keling's comments made almost one year ago. And I replied. From now on I must make regular visits to keep the account open.

The bye-elections come to an end in a few days' time. Looks like it's BN for Batu Sapi and touch-and-go for Galas. Hak Tam and I have agreed to a draw, so that's 5 dollars saved. 

Meanwhile I understand some people say Rosmah is now Acting Premier. But it's better put in Malay - "Pemangku P.M." I thought she's done that a long time ago. Clinton (the wife) is in town. Will she meet Anwar ? Lee Ban Hong said no one can stop her. I said this is an official visit and she should respect the sentiments of her host. But if she can tolerate her husband's hanky panky, she can tolerate Anwar. But then again, there's no account for taste. 

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The Mines Resort Golf Club.

30.10.2010.

Last week it was the girls. This week it's the boys. It's the PGA Tour /Asia Tour co-sanctioned tournament for 40 selected golfers, including a solitary player from Malaysia, being held for 4 days at the Mines Resort Golf Club. Like the international feature at last week ladies' tournament, this week's men's game also drew world class professional golfers,  from 13 countries. The set-up here is different from last week's KLGCC. For one thing, the big, deep lake here is like one very large water hazard that dominates the entire area when compared to all the ponds that seem strewn about to frustrate at KLGGC. Five of the inward nine holes are adjacent to the lake and it can certainly become a factor if the players fail to hit it straight. For another thing, while several holes end up toward the clubhouse in constrict fashion at KLGCC, here the outward and inward nines  are like two loops going out and away from the clubhouse and coming back and ending again at the clubhouse. Otherwise the preparation and maintainence of the courses are similiarly spectacular and worthy of the international attention given by the golfing world. As I said before, well prepared international events like these give good exposure to the country. Being the world's leading producer of oil palm is fine, and in fact is probably more substantive to the well-being of the country, but big sporting events are very newsworthy, and we need all the good exposures that we can get.

Unlike at KLGCC, though, this time we posted ourselves at the first par 4 green until the entire field went through. Surprisingly, if my count was correct, there were only 5 birdies, one double bogey, maybe three bogeys and the rest all pars here. Surprising because this is not a long par 4 and except for a strategically placed large angsana almost in the middle and three quarterways to the green, there are no obvious treacheries here. Nobody was put off by the tree, and the three or four who went into the greenside bunker all came out with aplomb. And yet birdies were rare birds indeed. 

After the last and currently leading flight went through the first hole, Pak Itam ,who like Tiong Meng last week, is responsible for my being here, and I decided to look for lunch or something. He said let's go to the Sapura kiosk, Sapura being one of the sponsors has a hospitality tent, and Pak Itam said he might be able to get ourselves fixed up. Sure enough, the two girls manning the kiosk were more than happy to oblige. In fact they called over another lady who seemed more senior. She said to follow her, and we ended up inside the expensively laid hospitality tent overlooking the 18th. hole. It was 12.45 and we needed little prompting to dig into the six-star hotel fare. Pak Itam must have been hungry because he filled his plate to overflow and cleaned it up. I was more choosy and started with the expensive-looking cold cuts. Would you believe it; as we were enjoying our free lunch who walked in accompanied by several very attentive ladies but the former Tunku Ampuan Najihah of Negeri Sembilan, and they just sat at the next table.

Pak Itam ordered coffee, but I suggested we disappear before more royalty came, and we left without waiting for the coffee. To morrow is the fourth and last day of the competition. Ustaz Ahmad invited me at the mosque Friday for a doa selamat at 12 tomorrow at his house just behind mine. I think I'll go to the competition for a short while in the morning, and come back early to go for the doa selamat. Kill two birds with one stone. 

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Tiada sapi batu di galas.

27.10.2010.

Actually it's Batu Sapi and Galas. And the old Malay proverb goes "tiada beban, batu di galas." It means doing unnecessary work, or more pointedly, carrying out a stupid undertaking. We're talking about the next upcoming bye-elections, of course. One in one end of the country, and the other at the other end. In the peninsula we'd call Galas east. But on the map of Malaysia, Galas is west, and Batu Sapi east. East or west, both sound remote to me. And the undertaking, though not stupid, seems needlessly burdensome.

Needless to say, these were tragic times for the two bereaved families whose losses necessitated the whole thing. The clever reporters have been quick to catch the negative undercurrents in both areas of contest. Ku Li is said to be miffed by some negative remarks by his own candidate. or rather "adoptive" candidate. That could spell trouble later. Teck Lee is already having differences with PKR, with whom there was supposed to be a political deal. So it's a three-cornered affair there, and much vote splitting is certain. In a way bye-elections are  parochial, and Kelantan and Sabah each tends to be more parochial than others. State and local issues will weigh in more than national ones. Candidates' personalities would carry more significance than expected, and the hard work and clever campaigning at the house-to-house level right to the last day, especially counter -  and multiple visits, are going to cause trouble.  Linda and Teck Lee can build up on their past experience, although in the BN's candidate's case it will be the late husband's record. The PKR candidate is said to be a prominent lawyer, but to the general public he would have to start from scratch.

Hak Tam has a rm 5-wager with me. He takes PAS for Galas, and I take BN for Batu Sapi. I think he'll win in Kelantan, but I think I'll win in Sabah. That means it'll be all square. We shall see.

For us the bet is just " tak da kerja, lawan Batu Sapi dan Galas." 

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KLGCC

24.10.2010.

The last time I stepped on to the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club must have been in 1994, a full 16 years ago. Unsurprisingly, when I visited again this morning for the third & last day of The Inaugral Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia 2010 ladies' golf competition, I couldn't place anything back from memory. It's been too long, and changes have been too great, for anything to come back into recognition. And with added  decorative structures and cosmetic touches  for the big event, everything  looked unfamiliar  to me.

I'd come because Tiong Meng had an extra ticket and knows that I'm a fan of Michelle Wie. So to day I not only followed her for 16 of the full 18 holes, but also met and spoke to her father, and later had a close look at her mother at the 16th hole.Now I know why Michelle is 6-foot tall. Both parents are large by Asian standard. 

I only watched a few other flights after Michelle had completed her round. On the 18th. par 4, she obviously laid up because of the water hazard. The second shot was from a free drop from the cart path and it was not a particularly good one because of the grass and the slope and a small tree close to the right of the target line, and there was the large pond protecting the front of the green. It was a brave effort but the ball went straight into the water.It was the next shot that probably best describes her game. Facing the water hazard again, and the high likelihood of a double-bogey 6, she hit a high ball that dropped softly about a foot from the hole and spun back about another foot away. She made the put for what was under the circumstances a great bogey 5. 

We watched five of the last seven flights that teed off from the back nine, all at the par 4 ninth, their last hole. This hole, too, has a pond on the right protecting it. Everybody we saw made the green on the second shot except for a few who laid up and went on for their three-on. Excepting again the famous Englishwoman, Laura Davies. She did not get a particularly good drive - it must have been an iron because she's a prodigous hitter. Her ball was on the left slope and it was a half-club short, and it hit the concrete embankment on the slope of the green, and the ball ricochetted about 90 degrees into the middle of the water. The general comments on KLGCC by the sportswriters, and I agree, is that this is not a particularly long course, but it's a tricky one. Number one, there are plenty of water hazards. Number two, the fairways are narrow. And thirdly, all the greens are undulating, and at stimpmeter 10, and with the grass used slow and grainy by professional standards. And the misses I saw Michelle made I think were because of these. But those who scored on this last day were those who read their putts well. In fact these professionals cannot win if they cannot putt. And watching the remarkable shotmaking of Michelle Wie - the drive, the mid-irons , the pitching and chipping, and especially her the sandwedge - I think it's her putting that is preventing her from becoming a truly great golfer. 

One thing that one gets from watching these sportswomen (or men) up close is the difference between reality and what one gets from the tv. All these people are less "bulky" in person. Laura Davies looks big and heavy on tv. In person she looked lighter. Michelle is downright thin in person, though taller than I expected. The Korean girl, Hee Young Park, who was in her group, is downright small, maybe 5-foot, but could she belt the ball ! On the short driveable par 4 on the back 9, using her driver while her two much bigger playing partners did not, she reached the green in one and narrowly missed her eagle putt. 

I must remark on the very Malaysian crowd control. We hear about the crowd control in China, where golf is supposed to be new and the spectators haven't learned the proper etiquette. Well, the Malaysian crowd today probably can easily be similiarly rated. Despite the repeated calls by the large number of marshalls to not use the mobile phone, not use the camera, not move, and not talk while the players take their swings, many continued to do so.  More than once the players had to regroup themselves. There was even one occassion when two or three spectators blithely walked across the fairway in front when a golfer was about to tee-off. 

I think the tournament was a success. I think these well-run international sporting events are newsworthy and give the country a big impact. Sports surely cross multinational borders while extolling the physical prowess of well-trained athletes that speak of national pride more than mere individual achievement. The country could do with a better overall sports development, as shown by the large and very successful Korean contingent to day. Just don't let the politicians run them. 

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UMNO General Assembly 2010.

23.10.2010.

Just managed to catch on tv the PM at his quite short closing address at the 2010 UMNO GA in PWTC. Of course"short" is relative, but seeing that this is in fact the 4th. day of the deliberations and the tons of bombast that must have been sprayed in the Merdeka Hall and splashed on newspages with the usual journalistic spin , short was refreshing. 

At times dead serious and other times quite ribald, Najib was on familiar territory, and the audiance seemed to have given him fair hearing in spite of the yawns picked by the cameras. The centre of his message was simple. He is asking for the Malays to appreciate the "great things" that UMNO have done in the last 6 decades and to show this appreciation by returning UMNO to power in all future elections because only UMNO can deliver while its detractors can only offer rethoric. 

Having attended many of these conventions in the past, I know that there were surely plenty of speakers from both ends of the quality spectrum, and much more in between. That, I can assure you, is one area where UMNO lacks little. 

I remember Najib , when he was a junior Minister, was not shy of using some Bengali phrases to add punch to his speech, as others used their Islamic knowledge fully to embellish their  lengthy discourses with  strategically placed Arabic quotations. This time around even the non-Islamic educated Youth leader liberaly injected intellectual-sounding but opaque Arabic words into his prose when in fact more limpid sounding Malay words carrying the exact same meaning were available. So much for bombast. 

The truth of the matter is, talk is cheap. Results matter, and in the last two years many results face the so-called "Malay agenda" right in the face. Only time, and there isn't too much of it left, will tell whether all this talk can regain the lost electoral votes, resolve the unfulfilled social promises, and in general remedy the lingering public malaise somehow sensed by the bigger majority of the Malays. And that is not even beginning to talk about racial issues.

What is certain, though, is the fact that the opportunists among the top UMNO leadership must be culled, and quickly. They are easy enough to identify. If they are not quickly removed from position of influence, the rakyat may well make their feelings known in the next GE. They have done that in 2008. They can do it again. No idle talk here.

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This week's round up.

19.10.2010.

Had to be early at the "blood centre" at the KKA (Klinik Kesihatan Ampangan) this morning. In fact I was first to arrive ( 6.30 a.m.) and also first in line. The last time, three months ago, I was also first to arrive but was around eighth in line because I did not immediately go to the numbering machine, you know, the contraption they all have at banks and other crowd-collecting centres that quite effectively calm people down to waiting in a more orderly fashion. To day the machine was kaput, but the double-numbered slips were already made available and this was a practical replacement. The only complain to day was the young Malay orderly who came at 7, and at that he was being pressed by an older, more experienced looking female staff who apologised on his behalf - "orang baru, encik" (new staff, sir). I asked what happened to the elderly tall Indian guy who usually opened at 6.45 ? Apparently he had just retired. 

While waiting for the doors to open, I spoke to the old man who came behind me as he opened up his portable chair, and asked how old he was. I did not expect him to mention too old an age, but was surprised that he was, in fact, 83 ! I congratulated him for  his years, forgetting for the moment we were all here in the still dark wee hours for a health check-up. He said that he also sits on a chair when praying in the mosque. The guy behind him joined in and said many old men now bring chairs for prayers, while the young and healthy don't even bother to come. The banter then went to the budget, cheating cases and "Ah Longs" and "orang putih" laws. By then the discussion group had widened up, and I just stopped participating. Then the young Malay orderly came and I went in quickly. 

I had told Tiong Meng to delay play at the Club to day because of the KKA appointment. In fact because I was "no: 1" there was no delay - we teed off at 7.30, our normal time, and I even managed to buy some Malay cakes by the roadside, which was my breakfast because for the blood test I had to fast, so the last meal last night was at 9 p.m., ten hours ago. 

After the game, Tiong Meng, Ah Man and Yu Kan left early after our refreshments at the Club's cafeteria, but I lingered and joined Pak Itam, Sulaiman "Saturday" (Sabtu) and Maulud who came in later because they were two flights behind. As usual the "political talk" was about the MB, Anwar, the PERKASA-UMNO clash and similiar-vein connundrums. 

But Maulud brought mirth when he went tangent to the arguements at hand, and suddenly said he told Baha yesterday about this young chap being interviewed by an old Javanese religious teacher. "How many prayers do we have to perform daily ?" The young man seemed ignorant and keep quiet. "What is the first one ?" he was further asked, and that, too, he did not give an answer. "Subuh !" the old Javanese answered his own question, with some exasperation. "After Subuh ?" he next questioned. Again the poor chap couldn't answer. " Johor !" the old Javanese said in his thick accent for "Zohor" the mid day prayers. "After Johor ?" the old Javanese now quiet angrily queried. The young man now perked up and this time quickly answered "Singapore !" We all had a good laugh. 

Tiong Meng called when I was driving to town for lunch (instead of my Maggi mee) and said there's a golf sale at Jusco, so after lunch I went. But while eating at the stall, alone, because this was almost three and the lunch crowd was gone, I asked the stall staff about the notice "Layan Diri / Self Servis" and said the second part was in Malay or what, because "self" obviously was English, but "servis"? Like the young chap in Maulud's story, no answer was offered.                                                                                                                          There was nothing much at the golf sale, so I decided to pop into the supermarket and looked around. I bought a few items and on the way out saw the "Roti Papa" kiosk and stopped and asked for "Roti Mama". The old Chinese operator grinned and said no mamas, only papas. His Malay assistant joined and said go to Econsave. In fact at Econsave they have a "Roti Mama" kiosk. Actually Roti Papa costs 1.80 while Roti Mama 1.50. I suppose the difference  figures. 

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Madinah and Maggi mee.

17.10.2010.

We finally saw Idah enter the Kelana Jaya LTH departure hall well past 1 a.m. Thursday 14th. October. Since we were "KT18" and "KT 17" had left by 9 p.m., I don't understand why they couldn't let the KT 18 crowd enter the air-conned hall earlier, as that also would lessen the crowding. The last phone call was made from the car as we travelled back to Seremban. Imar sms through her phone when they were waiting to be processed at Madinah airport at about 1 p.m. Thursday, Malaysian time. Idah did not sort out her sim card until the next day, and the children were duly informed and all but Banjat have called. 

Today I saw the missed call while playing at KDRSM with Dato' Ismail and Taib, and called back. All the calls thus far showed Idah in good spirits and good health, except for some running nose. I told her to rub on the "vicks" ointment I gave her. Calit called yesterday and said I should have enough stock of Maggi mee. Well, I have a few packets left. I have already drawn up the week's menu:

Day 1: Maggi mee with eggs.

Day 2: Maggi mee with sawi.

         Day 3: Maggi mee with anchovies.

             Day 4: Maggi mee with large onions.

                Day 5: Maggi mee with hot Thai sauce.

           Day 6: Maggi mee with mushroom.

 Day 7: Maggi mee with eggs.

After that I'm in trouble. Firstly, the "Maggi mee with eggs" is coming around again. Secondly, I'll be up to here with Maggi mee by then. Thirdly, if there's any truth in what they say about too much Maggi mee, I'd probably be crawling on my knees by the end of the week.

Idah said yesterday she had posted some Madinah dates. I hope this packet arrives soon. Then I can have Maggi mee with Madinah dates. For a change.

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Idah's fulfilment of her Holy Haj.

14.10.2010.

It's not a done deal, but in the early hours of Thursday morning, the 14th. of October, 2010 C.E. or the 6th. of Zulkaedah, 1431Hijriah, Idah entered the departure hall at the Kelana Jaya LTH complex, on the first part of a lifetime journey to be the "guest of God" at the Holy Land. Her group will land in Madinah at approximately 1 pm Malaysian time, Thursday, where she'll do the ziarah and the 40 solats over about 8 days at the Mosque of the Holy Prophet before travelling by road  to Mekah to await the day of the "wukuf" or "stay" in the plains of Arafah, then with the stoning of the devil at the three pillars in Mina over 3 days, the completion of the haj with the "tahlul". And then it'll back to the Holy Mosque for the "tawaf" and "sa'i" . 

We arranged for an all-ladies do'a on Sunday afternoon. I suggested that she just call the immediate neighbours because going for the haj nowadays doesn't involve the whole village like the old times.  She agreed, but before you knew it about 60 ladies of various ages and sizes  descended upon our humble abode. Anyway I was glad that Idah managed to get most of her close friends to come. I felt that it gave her a sense of satisfaction that they all came to bid her a good journey. 

Before we left the house immediately after the Magrib prayers, everybody had the chance to spill the expected tears, and with the call of the Azan by Salleh from the surau,  I drove out of the porch with Dekna by my side and Idah, still wiping her tears, at the back. After the very long wait at Kelana Jaya, there was another round of parting tears with the children before she finally entered the departure hall.

Dekna managed to make a last phone call from the car as we travelled back on the Plus highway to Seremban. It would be a long 45 days for me, but if she does what I told her to do, it would be a deeply meaningful and busy stay, and all too short an experience for her. I pray that she remains healthy, because this is the most physical of the Islamic rituals. Good health, not always guaranteed, makes a big difference. Dr. Miszua and my brother, Dr. Din, have given her all the medical advice, and she's stocked with enough pills and ointments to last two hajs, but God Determines everything, insya'allah. 

On her part, she said I should avoid living on Maggi mee and eat proper food, but I said not to worry. I eat like a bird, anyway - very little, though often. I had already pictured it in my mind - get a lot of eggs and beef sausages, the said Maggi mee, and plenty of fresh fruits and orange juice, and I'm set up. 

As usual many also asked that she prayed for them, in Mekah and at the grave of the Prophet. In fact I saw several pieces of paper with names and notes to remind her.This is customary. Take the opportunity of being on Holy Ground and make supplications to the All Mighty.  But God Listens from everywhere. 

I did my haj 27 years earlier, but without Idah. I was not yet 39, but the friends from the new surau at Damansara Utama didn't find it hard to convince me to join them, "while young and healthy", they said. But there were other reasons,to tell in another story. The 3 kids were young, Memi being only one (no Dekna yet), and that meant I go solo. 

Years ago Idah said for her first haj she'd like to do it with Dekna. Well, looks like that is now not happening. Anyway, I don't think Dekna is ready to embark on such a holy journey. So she has plenty of time to accumulate all her worldly sins. That would make her own inevitable pilgrimmage not only more meaningful, but also infinitely more necessary.

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Reflections.

1.10.2010

In just 12 days' time Idah will leave for her pilgrimage, and I'll be "home alone" for about six weeks. That was about the length of time that I left her when I went for my pilgrimage, alone, twenty seven years ago.

She had three small children to keep her company then. We have four of them now, but they've all flown the coop, as they say. In fact Dekna, our only girl, was conceived after I returned from that pilgrimage. Checked the dates. 

Dek Ma, my sister, sms'ed me (how else, nowadays) saying Nora, her third daughter, is doing her housemanship now. So she's following Dr. Din's, her uncle, footsteps. Good for her. Only, I used to tease her about her skinny frame. But she's the tough outdoor kind, actually. 

Memi is still trying to get his bosses at CIMB to transfer him to their audit department. He needs the necessary experience for his ACCA, but they're not obliging.  Unlike his brother Ashraf, Memi, in spite of his girlish sounding nickname (I gave him a masculine name; the mother shortened it and it sounds girlish now) is not so diplomatic, and that of course explains a lot. 

The recent Raya saw a lot of weddings to attend. I went to some, the wife went to the others, and between us we covered all the invitations. I purposedly declined going to those invitations addressed to "Mak Idah & keluarga." There was also one with a double-reception; at home and a 5-star hotel. This was from her niece, a doctor, but the hotel part was conveyed verbally and only to her, and that, too, by a secretary. This I declined, but she went. Apparently a number of royalties also came, so I guess I wasn't missed. 

Ashraf  says the stork is coming again. If it's true, that would be no. 3. Banjat remains stagnant at one. Adib has said something to Idah, and she has taken her to "berubat" but I've kept my nose out of the ladies' conspiracies. 

Usop's spa is apparently operational now, after some problems with the Melaka authorities. I heard the Fire department was giving her a hard time, as was with  City hall. I don't understand the attitude. Where's the help for Bumiputra enterpreneurs ? I think they just want grease on their palms, honestly. 

My golf game is slowly, slowly coming back, after the 6-week break. I checked my 555 notebook, and see that I'm still in the black, so that's ok. I'm trying out some of the putting tips I see on youtube. You won't believe what you can catch on  webbsite. 

OK, I have to go back to the delayed Ryder cup match in Wales on Astro now. The first day, shown live, is delayed by rain, lots of it. Why they choose this place, I don't understand. I have been to Wales. It's wet. wet, wet. So, I may have to wait, wait, wait. 

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K.P.HARRIS, R.I.P.

23.9.2010.

I had barely finished my last posting when Ati, my sister, called, informing me of Pak Cik Aris' passing. 

We moved to Tanjong Malim in 1950. Not all of my siblings were born yet, of course. Dad was posted to Sultan Idris Training College (now Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris) to teach. We stayed for 6 years. 

Tg. Malim carries a lot of memories for me. I was 6, and this was my first schooling days, first at the Sekolah Latihan Tanjong Malim, the Malay school that served as the training school for the trainee teachers who were the students of S.I.T.C., and after standard 4, for two years at the Special Malay Class I & II, at the Methodist English School just across the road from the S.I.T.C. padang. 

I remember the celebrations at the town padang for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (we were still a British Colony).

I also remember the "Emergency", the euphimism applied for the period of the jungle (and once in a while urban) warfare waged by the British Administration against the armed communist terrorists. As it happened, Tg. Malim gained notoriety for that ambush on the D.O.'s armed party that went up to repair the sabotaged town reservoir that resulted in the 14 government dead and a public rebuke by General Templer. 

And then there was Pak Cik Aris. 

How dad got him to come I'll now never find out. But he didn't come with us from the very beginning. That was "Lebai." Lebai was one of dad's pupils at the Kuala Pilah Malay School where he taught before the Tg. Malim posting. He had finished Standard 6, the highest class for all the Malay schools at that time. After Standard 6, except for the fortunate few who were very clever, very connected or very rich (often all three), everybody went to look for work. Mostly they became government clerks, or policemen, or soldiers.

Lebai, at dad's invitation, followed us to Tg. Malim, eventually to help him set up our own private mini photo studio, my father's surprising interest, and later, side-income. 

After a short while Pak Cik Aris came.  Later, Pak Cik Chup, mom's first cousin, Yusof Awang (also called Usop Pokeh) also came.   He didn't stay long. Pak Cik Chup married  late in life to a satay seller at the Malay Bazaar, and they later moved to Kg. Datuk Harun on the old Kelang Road.  Pak Cik Chup  is buried there. But this merits another story.

When Lebai left us after less than a year to join the army (what else), Pak Cik Aris filled up the assisstant photographer's position that eventually outlasted our own Tg. Malim stay. When dad got reassigned back to Kuala Pilah in 1956, Pak Cik Aris, having found a vocation he had become fond of, chose to remain behind. And until only a few years ago, Tanjong Malim was his home. 

Right from those early days, Pak Cik Aris had chosen his trade name, "K.P. Haris" - coining his real name with the initials of his original home town - Kuala Pilah. Through the years he lived on his camera work. When dad set up his mini-studio he did the developing work himself, plus all the art work when he did the Raya cards thing. Pak Cik Aris learned the developing as well, but when we left Tg. Malim he stopped developing his photos himself and concentrated only on snapping the shots only. Apparently sufficient income was earned by him to survive almost his entire lifetime on this taking of photos of the endless batches of SITC students who got through the college gates every three years.

Pak Cik never married. Once in a few years he'd suddenly appear in Kuala Pilah and visited us. When I was at MU he sent word about the death of Pak Cik Jaya through another undergraduate, which showed that he kept track of me. When I started working , my work sometimes took me to Tg. Malim, and I used to look for him when time permitted. Mostly I failed, but a few times I met him. He was staying at the same old surau in the College grounds. He used to keep an extra "kain pelikat" under the mimbar of the town mosque. So I know he kept his daily solat. 

A few years ago he came back to KP, "for good", he said at that time. He moved to Mak Cik Putih's house, a relative of his. Mak Cik Putih's late son, a doctor, even gave him an electric-powered bicycle, which he rode around Kuala Pilah town with glee. And there I thought he'd spend the rest of his days.

I learned with sadness to-day that Pak Cik chose not to put his roots down here after all. Apparently he became difficult in his old set ways. I believe Mak Cik Putih and her family had opened their home to him like family that he was.  He had settled in at first. But he became restless and wanted to be on his own again, and back in Tanjong Malim in particular. So they obligingly sent him back to Tanjong Malim. He stayed for about a year.  Then he fell sick and was hospitalised. They fetched him, but he didn't want to come back to Mak Cik Putih's house. The old folks homes in Negeri were full, but they found one in Melaka that accepted him.

Recently, he fell sick again. And last night he was gone. He died at the hospital in Melaka. They brought back the remains to Kuala Pilah this morning. It was bathed and put in the burial shroud at the Bukit Temensu surau, which is in fact built on the land owned by Mak Cik Putih's late father, donated (wakaf) for the surau. About 30 of us stood and prayed before the body. 

It was sad for me to see the lonely Pak Cik Aris, who came to us in Tanjong Malim alone, stayed back there alone, and finally died all alone. 

He was at least 86, just slightly younger than my late mother when she died.  Mom had a soft spot for him, although I remember one time she scolded him over something quite trivial.  In the last years of her life, I knew she still used to give him some money whenever he made one of those infrequent surprise visits. She would have cried for him. Sadly, I see no tears to-day. 

Goodbye, K.P. Haris. 

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Idah going for the Hajj.

23.9.2010.

So, at the ripe (right?) age of 60, my wife will leave for Madinah and thence Mekah on or around 15th. October (Tabung Haji reserves the right to change this, as usual), that is in 22 days' time. 

This is the 5th Pillar of Islam ("arkan al din" - rukun Islam), and it should be her final religious obligation in her lifetime. I had always wanted to do the hajj before the age of 40.  I  managed to fulfill that "target" in 1983, one year ahead of time. But I went alone, and now she's going alone. 

I went alone because the 3rd boy, Memi, was only 1, and the other 2 were still small and at school. Anyway, she wasn't "ready". She says she is now. 

She's going alone without me because I feel that I had undertaken my 1983 trip with full spiritual satisfaction, having immersed myself mentally and physically in the preparations for it. 

I have been taught that this is the most "physical" of the compulsory  ibadah. I had to take care of my body so that I could perform the haj undistracted by ill-health, as I witnessed happened to many of my relatives. In fact Hamdan, a friend who went on the same trip, of my own age, was sick during part of the pilgrimage and had to be carried on a stretcher to do his "tawaf" and "sai". So, for about 45 days prior to leaving for the Holy Land, I jogged every evening for about 3 km to build up my stamina.

On my mental preparation, I joined my friends for the standard "kursus haji" and other related "ceramahs", but finally decided to read up more on the concept of the haj, and concluded that, other than the surahs from the Quran that I had already learned by heart from small, I should pray to God in the language that I know, Malay.  I can truely say what I really want to, with sincerity, knowing God Knows, anyway. And, thankfully, except for the cough that everybody had, I was in good health throughout, and I felt I was able to offer my humble supplications in intimate terms to my God. 

As I had expected, it was hard physically. But perhaps because I was prepared for it, I was able to endure the heat, the extreme crowding of all the places of worship, the 8-hour bus trip (standing !) from the Plains of Arafat through Muzdalifah to Mina, where the casting of the stones at the 3 pillars (jamrah) were performed, and even enjoyed the food throughout the entire stay. I performed the "tawaf" and the "sai", in spite of coming in the second last flight from KL, with relative ease, even when the jemaah in the Holy Mosque was at its peak of about 2 million, it being Haji Akbar that year, and me coming for Haji "Ifrad" - coming direct to Mekah in full "ihram" for 8 full days right through "tahlul" after Mina. Perhaps, among other things, doing the haj when one is younger and stronger  contributes.

Idah is in fairly good health for her age, the aching joints not counting. The slight hypertension she has is being controlled with prescription, and continuously, and I mean continuously ( the bp gadget makes a constant beeping sound ) checking the bp herself. She won't be alone because she's with several close friends like Imar and Mai, and some family members. And she has done the umrah before. So, I think she'll be all right. 

Dekna  has given her a brand new mobile phone so she could keep in touch, and all four kids will give her sufficient cash for her personal expenses, and that should also be ok, too. 

So I won't "naik haji" this time. But when she comes back I'll "naik hajjah !". 

We'll also give her a doa selamat on the 9th. and all send her off to the departure centre on the 15th. I'll wait out the 42 or so days alone here in Seremban, for her safe return. I pray that she remains in God's Safekeeping, and fulfil a virtous journey, Amin. 

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UMNO & PERKASA according to Najib.

18.9.2010.

Mainstream media today, 18th, September carry Najib's less than equivocal statement about UMNO and PERKASA not being at odds with each other. The fact that he has, again, to make this sort of statement, carries significance beyond the obvious. Obviously Najib has to say something to pour some oil over troubled water. His "1 Malaysia" stands confronted by PERKASA in all sorts of way. But obviously also, the Malay voice PERKASA clearly carries cannot be dealt with by Najib in a confrontational manner. That would be a disaster, and he better believe it, no matter what his advisers say to the contrary. 

The accepted need to refocus on racial issues in multiracial Malaysia is undeniable. But this has come about by the increasing stridence in the non-Malay complaints against special Malay rights which have been there all along. While the non-Malay voice has increased in tenor and frequency, the Malays have retaliated by saying basically the same things about their special rights duly legislated all this time.

The increase in racialism is within the non-Malay voice. Up until the current fracas, the multi-racial surface of Malaysian politics had given a calm external demeanour, if not internal quiescence. The multi-racial family was somehow or other a working one. The imbalanced economic distribution of income, with its related sectoral and racial segregation imposed by historical design, was being gradually righted, and the wealth of the nation was being spread, at least superficially, more evenly among the major racial groups.

In depth, in fact, the Chinese businessmen and the Indian professionals have prospered more than the Malay administrators and government servants, and padi planters. All this was not necessarily in spite of the much maligned New Economic Policy, but in fact because of it. For how was the Malay administrator, or the Malay government servant, now with better income because of the Government policies, to spend that income but to go to his Chinese tradesmen for the goods , and the Indian professionals for the services, that make for the better quality of life aspired to ? 

This talk of scholarships for Malay students, and Government jobs for Malay graduates need an objective examination. Look at the number of Malay students attending universities and colleges, at home and abroad. Compare that with the number of non-Malay students in similiar situation. Look at the number of jobs available nationawide, both inside Government agencies and out of them. Without the scholarships the Malay students, already minuscule in comparison, would probably drop to nothing at all in abolute numbers. Without the hold out of government employment, how many would be given the same opportunity by the private businesses? 

If there are now claims of government discrimination for scholarships and jobs, how widespread is the real discrimination by private business toward the Malays ? The need is to move forward, not backward. 

Affirmative action has been good for the whole country because it was addressed at the historical mistakes of the colonial past. The progress that has been made the last half-century, however small, must not be negated by the spread of lies supplanting historical truth, for the sake of sounding liberated. What good is liberty if it means political tragedy ? 

And tragedy will be repeated by history, if national leaders give more importance to rethoric rather than the reality that exists for this small, troubled nation. UMNO was set up to fight for Malay rights, but not at the expense of the other races that make up the national population. Keeping the special rights of the Malays was the agreement struck by the nation's forefathers. It does not mean the downtrodding of the non-Malays. It has never been that way, and the proof is around us. Incidents and individual contradictions don't nullify the bigger picture, for they are the frailties of life. 

The noble effort must persevere. The balancing act continues. Najib has no choice. We all have no choice. 

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Thoughts in Syawal.

16.9.2010.

The month of Syawal came 6 days ago. The celebrations continue. The young 'uns are determined that the 30 days of fasting is balanced with at least 30 days of feasting. Ah, to be young and single-minded!  

The first of Syawal went the usual way, with the morning Eid il Fitri prayers at our surau ( I'm chairman, still ) followed with the lemang, rendang, kueh-mueh etc everybody contributed. In fact everything started the night before when we went around for the "takbir" from house to house. We broke up by street groupings, otherwise we'd have to do about 200 house. This year our group had 2 new additions - Adik & Calit. We did 10 houses and finished the last one before midnight.

After the Eid il Fitri prayers we were back in the house, and the children and those with their own brood came around for "salam Raya" and exchanges of money packets. My wife and I stayed home, but the rest went to their uncles' houses nearby.

For one whole month I kept clear of all political and similiar news, so now I was catching up with all the news breaks and the sensational stories that the local media carry. My word ! - the multiple murders, the racial mudslinging, the UMNO internal quarrels, and the natural disasters in and out of the country ! 

The multiple murders remind me of the murder of the Pahang State Assemblyman by Mona Fendi and her men many years ago. It was said that Mona wouldn't have committed so brazen a murder if not for the fact that she'd done it at least once before in Klang. Because it involved a nonentity, the first case didn't attract public attention, and she found that "this is easy, and I can do this again".

Similiarly this Susilawati case appears to me, after the additional facts reported, that it's a case of "I'd gotten away with it easily before, I can do this again", also.

A few celebrity UMNO leaders are condemning PERKASA, while other leaders, including its President, are not quite taking similiar lines. It's not helpful to the majority of ordinary members who have shown sympathy to the message that PERKASA is carrying, one that everybody thought UMNO itself should be carrying. There's confusion, and that's no good for Najib. PERKASA, like DONG ZONG and the banned HINDRAF, is an NGO, not a political party. But the movement is clearly politically motivated, and what's implicated cannot be ignored. Notwithstanding the rights of the Chinese and the Indians, the special rights of the Malays, already ensconsed in the Federal Constitution , are the vital mainstays of a racially stable Malaysia , which in turn is a prerequisite for the future of this country as an economic entity of any worth. I don't think the Malays will negotiate from any other starting point.

The BN-concocted formula for at least a superficial peaceful multi-racial political co-existence is being dismantled by the forces that were unleashed by the glaring weaknesses of the Dollah regime. Fortunately, that incredibly confused leadership was cut short, but the damage was already done. The lid to the pandora box was opened. An alternative formula to civility has to be found, and real quick, or you can say good bye to "1 Malaysia" and whatever good that that still not totally accepted slogan was meant to achieve.

Najib says he's very proud of the groundwork of nation-building laid by his father, and rightly so. And this country owes a great deal to the man for the high road that it has taken. But Najib has to be very careful, so that he doesn't become tragically the son who buries the noble work of the famously tireless father. 

Najib has to listen to the right advice, and to steer away from the politics of the insidious. The good and tested leaders are still around, and good and tested ideas need not be wasted by casting aside for new and untested ones, just so that a new "look" is achieved. Changing politics need not mean changing political values, like changing shirts. The wisdom of the ages and of wise men past is not nullified just because a new turn of phrase and a new voice has been found. Soothsayers and sychophants are the bane of leadership. 

Least of all, but no less harmful, Najib shouldn't get distracted by personal vendattas, and dissuaded by petty acrimony around him. We rejoice in our good health and fortune. But we should appreciate life more when we hear many others, far away, who are less fortunate. They suffer from hunger and ill-health because of the frailty of their state economy, and the fury of their climate and weather, and we should feel sorry. 

So, in the spirit of the Celebration of the Grace, we should pray for compassion for mankind. 

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Thoughts in Ramadan.

9.9.2010.

To-day is the last day of my 65th. Ramadan, though clearly it does not mean that same number of months of fasting. It seems appropriate that the news on the proposed burning of the Quran by a Christian pastor in the US "to commemorate" the 9/11 aircrafts attacks of the NY WTC has caught my attention, and I share my thoughts here.

The Quran has had desecretions right from the times of the Righteous Caliphs who compiled the Surahs down to the present day. So this burning of whatever number of copies of Quran is not by itself disasterous , much less fatal, to the Quran. The Word of God, as Muslims believe the Quran to be, surely cannot be destroyed by the physical act of burning printed copies of it, any more than the content of the Bible can be erased in like manner.

The teachings of the Quran is to-day held absolute by almost a third of mankind who profess by it, and many more who respect its message. These are the numbers that must be obliterated from the face of the earth  for the Quran to be erased from the knowledge of man. 

The contents of the Quran have been propounded for more than 1,400 years, and its principles tested and practised, with success, throughout the world. The Quran mentions the frailties of man, and human history bears  ample examples of them. The Quran puts a high value to life of any form, and condems unreasonable killing of any kind. 

What the perpetrators of 9/11 did was not from the tenets of the Quran. Christianity and Judaism have as many examples of crimes committed in the name of religion as Islam.  In as much as the terrosist act of a Christian Northern Irishman in recent times cannot cast total condemnation upon Christianity, nor can it be said that some misguided acts by Muslim individuals, ipso facto, have the sympathy of the Muslim community. 

Instead of burning copies of the Quran, as many as possible should be distributed among the non-believers, so that they can try and find out what it really says. If they are true believers of their own God, they should find the content of the Quran not abhorrent to their own religion, because the Quran disallows forcing religious belief, but says to each group is its own belief .

Notwithstanding the  popular Western perception to-day, Islam signify peace, tolerence and the "middle way." The facts of history bear proof also that Muslim communities from the days of the Prophet Muhammad to the  long reign of the Ottomans have been more tolerent of the Jews and other religious groups than  contemporary European states. 

Are we our brother's keepers ? Do we answer for the misguidance of our kin ? The fabric of society is surely many textured, and the spectrum of mankind many hued. That is why all the religious scriptures of the world, as does the Quran, teach man to " enjoin the good and forbid the wrong".  And how surprisingly similiar their injunctions are. 

The pastor in the news clearly is not even following his own religious teaching. 

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Arsyad.

24.7.2010.

It's been a frantic and worrisome week for my No. 2 Son & spouse, and equally so for me & the wife, with Arsyad, our eldest grandson, committed to the ICU at SDMC Subang Jaya Tuesday for pneumonia. It was only Thursday when the danger passed and he was moved to the normal ward. 

Idah  kept telling her friends and relatives who called that our grandson was having a serious case of asmathic attack, until I corrected her, and described the seriousness of pneumonia compared to asthma. 

I was particularly touched by the sms on Wednesday at dawn that our son sent  about his sadness and grave concern for Arsyad's condition and his weakness in fighting the infection.  So we rushed back to the hospital from Seremban. 

Lately my wife has been telling those around her who would listen how clever Arsyad has become since he started kindergarten this year. He's such a good speller ! So the first time we got to his hospital bed Tuesday evening she cried quietly as she stroked his hair, lying gravely sick with the tubes in his nose and arm and finger. I just stood and watched, my heart heavy with grief. 

Since then we have been at the hospital daily except Thursday when he had improved and I fasted puasa sunat Syaaban.  When Tiong Meng called, having found out earlier, I couldn't control the  sob in my throat. I don't know what religion he practices, but I said please pray for my grandson. He'll be 5 next month.

This afternoon we didn't visit because of various social committments in Seremban. But  Arsyad has improved tremendously except for the lingering slight temperature. But my son said that he'll probably get discharged tomorrow.   I said stay on if he's not fully recovered.

This will cost him a bundle, SDMC being private and all that. Fortunately there's the insurance Ija has so wisely invested in. Still, at times like these, costs seem hardly relevant. 

Get well, my dear grandson ! We love you.

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Lawmakers.

19.7.2010.

I was at Parliament recently, but not to watch the debates in the House, rather for a meeting at the adjacent Parliamentry Offices regarding, of all things, a golf tournament planned by the Muhyiddin's  group this 25th. July. In the meantime, I was lingering outside the Assembly Hall and watched the agitated Bung Mokhtar entangling with the DAP from Ipoh Timor or Barat or something, and the DAP Sec Gen Kit Siang.  I didn't  know that my meeting about half-an-hour later would be chaired by the very same Bung Mokhtar. 

I also passed by the Press Con, with a sullen-looking Anwar Ibrahim. What a waste, I thought. A rare Malay personality with the gift of the gab, but totally imbued with his own self-importance ,  and using all his craft to wrangle all those connections from overseas to promote his major cause - himself ! 

I was thinking, how many voters really follow what their respective parliamentarians actually do in Parliament. I saw many empty seats on the cctv. The hallways and the Members Bar and the cafeteria were well patronised, while all makes of cars were coming and going outside. 

I was thinking what was the government thinking when they decided to buy the two submarines for 2 billion. Are they thinking we're going to war with Singapore, or Indonesia, or Thailand perhaps. I heard that one of the subs has some serious technical problems that are going to cost some more hard-earned public money. They could have spent the 2 billion to beef up the army and that would have been more strategically meaningful and practical, if not downright cheaper.

Najib should get some right advice, and real quick. The good thing is the next GE is at least 24 months away. The bad news is UMNO is not ready  for any real fight if it's now.

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