Friday, November 19, 2010

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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Monday, November 8, 2010

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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Sunday, November 7, 2010

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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Wednesday, November 3, 2010

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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