Kamariah Sabeh.

 Saturday 16.11.2024.

As I was sitting in my den, waiting for the Isya' prayers, the wife came from her bedroom, informing me that Kamariah Sabeh died this morning. Immediately I passed the information to Hank and Padir. She was Padir's classmate in the 6th form at KGV, and both entered University of Malaya together. That was how I got to know her. Hank also had some history with her, but I'll let him tell you more.

I remember one Hari Raya Padir took me to her house in Terusan Seberang. She was in her padi field behind the house. This was the early university days. Her padi planting was real. We had a lot of the padi growing in Kuala Pilah at that time (1965). When she eventually joined us on the visit, I could see the brown stain on nails of her feet, normally carried by the padi planters.

We would often bump into each other, the 2 years we were together at the university - I was 1 year her senior. We made a few mutual friends. UM was the only Malaysian university then, but the intake was only about 600 per year.

Through the years we would also meet each other, but once in a long while only, and that was because we both finally made Seremban our final stop.

I mentioned in my earlier blog about meeting her when the late Akbar Baba collapsed near his car at the Ampang Giant (now the Ampang UTC). It was all coincidental. I ran to help Akbar sit up, then Kamariah suddenly appeared. I immediately asked her to fetch some water from the nearby restaurant (it's still there).

This is a sad passing of an acquaintance I wished I had kept closer contact with. But her passing marks the passing of fond memories associated with having known her. I also knew her late husband who left her several years ago.

May God Have Mercy on you, Kamariah, amin.

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Daim 1938 - 2024.

 Fri 15.11.2024.

This belated note does not mean that this piece is an afterthought. I was just finding a suitable time to at least add this note in my collection of comments I'd felt worthwhile making. Certainly Daim was one UMNO stalwart worth making a note about.

The recent photos of him in the on-going court case involving the charges against him surprised me as looking sickly, with one eye drooping, and being wheeled around in a wheelchair. His passing on the morning of 13.11.2024, at 86, now, sadly, confirmed his state of health.

He was the Finance Minister at 46, back in 1984 until 1991, and again at 61 in 1999 until 2001. Certainly he was clearly in charge at that Ministry. There was the financial crisis for the country. And UMNO, too, had its own financial issues. I was a delegate at one UMNO National Convention when he made the phone calls for the contribution in front of the delegates. And his personal wealth is an attribute to his financial savvy.

Anwar's and Zahid's absence of public condolences is the manifestation of the lack of class on their part. That's  unsurprising.  But Mahathir's quick and eloquent tribute somewhat made up for the accolades due but not forthcoming from the nation on a man who pulled his weight in the financial management of the country. Sending that young side-kick to pay respect to the bereaved family was more insolence than benevolence.

In the 67-year history of the country's political revival from British colonialism, many people have been elected and chosen for the vital positions of responsibilities in the chosen governments running and developing the young nation. Not all had fulfilled their duties. Daim did.  Just look at the facts, a few of them touched by Mahathir's tribute. And to prove the point, Daim himself found his niche in the opportunities he created for the country he served.

Let Malaysian history record the passing of this man in the proper manner.  Let's put value where value is deserving.

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So, it's Trump again.

 Wed 6.11.2024.

So, in spite of, or maybe because of, all that Trump and his supporters have done, Americans have reelected the man. Mind you, Trump and his supporters have done hell of a lot, and it's the whole lot of the Bad and the Ugly. I don't see much of any Good.

Or is it because of the alternative staring at the Americans in their faces - that Kamaldevi Harris woman ? They're not ready for an Indian (not Red Indian - the real India Indian) woman, maybe.

I would have given Kamala a chance before she belatedly became a candidate, after the Democratic Party finally forced Biden to drop out. But actually she lost my sympathy as soon as she became the Vice President, when she made that unqualified support statement for Israel. And she did stop over at Singapore, but paid scant notice to neighbouring Indonesia and Malaysia. So that was that.

The Trump antics right from his first Presidency to the Capitol attack instigated by him threw me off the man. How can a leader of the Western World behave publicly like that? It's just insane.

We'll see how Trump leads USA for the second time.

Maybe Trump and the US deserve each other.

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