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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Followers.

19.7.2010.

Great ! 2 followers already ! They shouldn't count as followers, actually. One, they're kin, so they would have followed, anyway. Two, they're lost souls, so they may not realize what they're doing. 

"Awe" (Usop's husband) is lost because he thinks the only real car is a Citroen. Well, he's  wrong. After the 1970's "boat" Citroen, the French carmakers have lost their imagination, sacre bleu !!

Ashraf is lost also because of the car he drives. It's mine !!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------