Yusof Ahmad.

24.11.2015.

There he was, on bed no.5 in the HDW (High Dependency Ward), with an oxygen tube in his mouth, a feeding tube in his nose, and other wires on his body to monitor his heartbeat and bp, in deep coma, my old friend,  Yusof bin Ahmad, 76, at the Sungai Buloh Hospital outside KL. It was about 12.40 p.m., visiting hours, today Tuesday 24th November, 2015.

The attending nurse said he's now 5 days in coma. It's the heart. Yesterday was bad, and the doctor had given him the maximum dose of whatever he was administering. Surprisingly today, though still in coma, he seems better, though the bp is still low, and he remains in critical condition

The old TMS group had whatsapped the news 2 days ago. I had to be in KL today, and as usual I took the bus. When I finished my business at about 11.30, I took the train from KL Central to Sg. Buloh, then a taxi to the hospital, which was less than 10 minutes away.

I first remembered Yusof when he and my future "biras", Shafiei Ramli, were demonstrating the marching movements on the TMS field, in front of the school hostel. They had both just came back from the Outward Bound School, Lumut. This must have been around 1959 ! (56 years ago).I wasn't acquainted with either of them at that time, but I knew their names. Shafiei was the headboy. I can't remember if Yusof was a Prefect. I called Shafiei after my visit just now.

Later in life Yusof married my second cousin from Sawah Lebar. Yusof is from Gunung Pasir. This was his first wife. She died much later from breast cancer, and he remarried, a bit later, his present wife,  from Seremban. For a while they were running a mobile market van in Paroi Jaya, where they were staying.

When Yusof was working at the Survey Department at College Road, KL, at first the family was renting a house in Kampong Baru, close to office. Later they moved to Ampang Jaya, and we became neighbours, one street away. Then I moved out, but they stayed on until the wife passed away in hospital in Kuala Pilah. Actually the first time she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she responded to medical treatment, including mamosectomy. Years later the cancer tragically returned. 

I used to go out with Yusof, when we were in KL, both when he was in Kampong Baru and Ampang Jaya. Of course we visited each other often in Ampang Jaya, but lost contact when I moved out, but now and then we'd bump into each other. The last time I spoke to him was on his mobile, when my brother Ajit gave me his number. At that time he was staying with one of his kids in Seremben 2, where Ajit is. That was after his eldest daughter, born when they were in Ampang Jaya, had just died, also from breast cancer.

I didn't stay long at the hospital. I pray Yusof recovers.

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NB

Sadly, Yusof never recovered. He died one day after my visit.

May God Bless you, my friend.

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Jali.

17.10.2015.

Jali was just 51 when he died, 14 years ago.  Sakinah, his widow, gave me his age just now during their son, Fitri's, wedding.

When Sakinah passed the invitation card to Idah about 2 weeks ago (unnamed, but the message passed was well understood), I had straightaway determined that I'd not miss this reception.

Jali was one of the three Terachi first cousins I'd felt close to, more than Bang Sarip, Kak Ngah, Daro,  Jamlus,  Wok and Wati,  although Bang Sarip stayed with us for a while in Tanjung Malim.  The other 2 were Udin, a teacher with an American M.A., and Khalid, a police sergeant.  

When in Felda I visited Jali at his staff quarters in Segamat and later in Seri Ledang. The first time I met Sakinah was at Induk's house in Terachi. It was Hari Raya or a wedding, I can't remember. But I remember noticing the rows of gold bangles she was wearing, and I said "so much gold !" At the wedding just now they weren't there, but I still asked about them. She laughed.

When I got the card and saw the address of the reception venue I knew Fitri must be doing well. This was at up-scale Bukit Jelutong. I was right. In fact all 6 children of Jali are university educated, the last girl doing her Law finals at UUM (GPA 3.2 she said). Jali didn't go to university, but would have been very proud of his children.

Sakinah said the Felda plot is now hers, all of 10 acres now about to be replanted with oil palm. My experience says that should give her nett 3K monthly for at least 25 years. With Jali's pension and the children doing famously, she'd be  comfortable. That is fantastic for the memory of poor Jali. Fitri himself has a First Class engineering degree.

I had to choose between Sakinah and Dek Ma, who had arranged for Dahlia's remarriage at the same day today, but as I said, it was an easy choice. In fact Ajit called while on my way to Bukit Jelutong and I told him, but Dek Ma's call came when I was inside the petrol station and the phone was in the car. I saw the missed call but did not call back.

We were the first guests to arrive - it was only11 o'clock , but stayed  until the couple had sat on the "pelamin", and then, in spite of the  light rain, took our leave. It was about 1.40. A nice wedding, we both remarked. I'm glad we came. We said prayers for Jali.

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The sickness in UMNO.

15.10.2015.

Basically many Malays are sick of UMNO. That's its main ill. And it could be fatal for the party.

Maulud, at 75 a long-time member, this morning during golf said it. I'm sick of UMNO. "I dah meluat."

There are two main scenes.

Officially, party leaders high and low, new and old, say they support the President. So they attack everyone who sounds anything like critical of Najib. There seems to be no limits to their public condemnation and the offensiveness of their language. Even the statement made by the Malay Rulers has been painted over to show lack of substance.

However, on the streets to almost a man everyone says Najib should go.

Najib supporters say this mamak Mahathir is senile and made worse mistakes in his time.

So is that admitting Najib's mistakes now ?

We are talking about the current problems. Mahathir has left office. The questions waiting for answers are right in front of us. No clear answers are given. The committees set up by Najib to purportedly find answers have been saboteged by Najib himself. The whole world has taken notice, based on newspapers in the US, Singapore, Switzerland and others countries.

The Bank Negara Governor and the AG are publicly locking horns now. Those supporting Najib are calling Zeti careless and lazy. A State leader two days ago in a speech in a closed meeting said how can Bank Negara revoke something it has given 5 years ago ?  This is a world-recognized Central Bank Governor we're talking about, while everybody knows the questionable appointment of the new AG. It's not merely filling of form, as sneered by the AG. In which case all court cases are filling of forms, anyway. Any  permission can be revoked. Surely the AG himself accepts that. More so if some conditions have been broken, not known before the committment.

There was an analogy given about working together in a boat, and throwing the captain overboard would be disasterous.

That was not an accurate description of the current political mess. We are not in a boat out at sea. UMNO's President is not the captain sailing any boat. He has very serious questions he's unable or unwilling to answer.  That means big trouble for GE 14, the disaster waiting to happen to the party. If he cannot explain these issues, or if he's guilty of any crime committed, his downfall would bring UMNO down with him. UMNO has to be led by someone else before that happens. UMNO had rejected Onn Jaafar, its first President, when he tried to bring non-Malays into the party. The party had governed the country since then. Up to now, that is.

Party members, all of them, and not just the 25 Supreme Council members, and not just the 192 divisional heads, claimed to be  3.5 million strong, must decide between an erring President or the Party. This is "pening kepala" lah !

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Acik at Boting.

4.10.2015.

For some time now I'd wanted to visit Acik at Boting. She'd moved in with Nosa Ngatngat, I was told, since Jimikoling moved back his belongings to Acik's Senaling house. At that time Jimikoling only came back weekends, but now apparently he's moving back for good. In fact he came to Boting about 10 minutes behind us this afternoon and said he's rewiring the Senaling house, so that was proof. Jimikoling is a trained wireman.

This Boting plot was acquired by Pakcik Udin, and is a few acres in size. Nosa built the original house when Pakcik Udin was still alive. This was my second visit to the house, and I was surprised by the rebuilt house. It's been tastefully enlarged and redesigned inside and out. The fixtures were also nicely done. I thought Nosa said it cost her 200 grand ! The original house was less than 80 grand.

I asked to see Acik's room and was shown the middle bedroom with two single beds, a cupboard, a wall a/c and a stand fan. So I said to Acik she should just stay with Nosa here and forget about her Senaling house. I said Jimikoling loves his wife (his third) and Acik must accept that, and not be bothered about her ways.

Acik is my last remaining aunty. All other siblings of my late mother are gone now. Acik herself is almost 80 now, I figure. She's still healthy, but is becoming more forgetful. She couldn't recognize No. 2 Son at Calit's kenduri yesterday.

The Boting house should be good for Acik. The house sits in the middle of agricultural land, and the green scenery looks pleasant to me. There's a surau and a mosque nearby, so that part of her daily routine should be covered, though I don't think she goes to the surau anymore The only drawback seems to be the distance to the nearest neighbour. 

I should try to visit her more often, I resolve.

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Amal and her wedding.

3.10.2015.

Yesterday, Friday 2nd. of October 2015, Amal was married off by Calit, her dad, my youngest brother, at Husayn Mosque, S2 at about quarter to four, to Wassim. Today, Saturday, the reception was held at Warisan Puteri.

On both days it was the meeting again of relatives and friends of old that I more than anything else savoured.

I was seated at the main table next to Dato' Dr. Nordin Keling, a 90-year-old relative from Tg. Jati, the former Veterinary Sec.Gen. Like Suman a.k.a. Ibrahim Keling (Dato') his younger brother, Nordin is quite deaf without his hearing aid. Between the loud music and his condition, our attempted conversation largely failed.  I had to practically put my mouth next to his  ear ! He said he's 1 year younger than Mahathir, and they know each other. He said Mahathir would always ask how old is he. Dr. Nordin asked me what I think of Ku Nan, the UMNO Sec. Gen. He said he remembers him when he was a contractor for the veterinary services, and Najib was in the Ministry. 

I was part of the receiving party, so until the married couple arrived, I met most of the guests that came. Most of the old relatives and friends were still recognizable through the wrinkles and white hair.  Nab the "wassup girl" was there. "G-man" the PKR donation collector and Fahmy, my PKR nephew also came, and I corrected him about spelling his own father's name - it's Muhammad Fadzil, no just Fadzil, I insisted. Then "Jimikoling" and "Deka" and "Jingkung" and "Kito", Cikgu Othman's son, a very long-time neighbour from Tobek Koring  came, and  so many more, all seemed to have made the trip. My two ex-Appeal Court Judges golfing kakis also made it, and I put them together at one table.

Yesterday Timah prepared the high tea for 100. There were at least 150 that came. So you know what happened. To-day KRS prepared food for 750.  1,200 came. Guess what happened.  Food that was supposed to last until 4 p.m. didn't survive 1 o'clock.   Idah was so nervous, she was sweating, but Calit & Nina seemed cool. The next day Calit came to the house and cried in front of Idah. Luckily I was at golf.

After the "menyembah" ceremony at about 3.30, conducted by Bang Piei, the reception only slowly trailed off, in spite of the "food crisis". I met some more friends who had come late, and the food didn't seem to matter. Other than that, I think Calit pulled off a successful wedding reception.  I saw the 24-year-olds truly happy, and that was the important thing. 

We stopped at Man Tom Yum on the way home. I had a  coconut drink and mee ladna (no chicken), followed by black coffee. Everybody else ordered different food and drinks.  I saw Wok at   the next table with her own group.  So now everybody is refuelling because of the "food crisis". Wok is a cousin and a full-fledged  Police Superintendent now attached to SPRM Putra Jaya. I made her pay for our table  before they left ahead of us. I gave her Dekna's number, and asked  her to call Dekna, adding if they have lunch together  Wok should pay because she has  worked longer and has  a bigger pay.

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Rizal

23.8.2015.

I had to decide yesterday, Saturday 22nd August, whether to send Rizal on his betrothal, which was decided earlier, or attend my grandson Husyn's 1st birthday ? It was an easy choice because I'd committed to Rizal first. Also, this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, while Husyn has many,many more birthdays coming. Plus, I'm the leader of Rizal's delegation.

So, after my last visit to Felda Sg. Lui maybe 35 years ago, here I was again, entrusted with asking for a young woman's hands in marriage to the second son of my fourth brother. 

If  I didn't ask Idah to go to Mashitok's house to get the clarification for the proposed ceremony, we would probably be still in the dark. Mash did come to the house two weeks ago to tell me and Idah "Rizal nak bertunang." That was all he said, literally. Even at the last minute Yah said he didn't want the "tepak sireh." Two days later we went to the house to clear things up. In turned out Mash and Yah, too, were not sure. It was all up to Rizal. After waiting for some time, being told he was on the way home from work, we went back to my car, and Rizal arrived just as I switched the engine on. So there at the car window I got the itinerary all sorted out, and here we were at almost 12 noon, the appointed time, at Aisha's house, Sg. Lui, where the parents and family were already waiting.

I'd prepared a small write-up of some pepatah-petiteh a la adat meminang Nogori, but couldn't print it up because my 8-year-old hp stupid printer decided to quit on me, and my regular computer repairer said it's cheaper to replace than repair, and I'm not about to buy a new one. So I made up my mind early that I'd just go by the seat of my pants.

It went ok. We were there at 12, and we were ready to wrap things up before one, with "menyarung cicin" & photos, and lunch all thrown in. In fact the four of us in my car were even able to visit Bang Kalang just around the corner. Bang Kaland a.k.a. Razak Yaacob a.k.a. Jalaluddin Yaacob is the younger brother of the late Bang Sudin, my biras.

Nothing is cheap nowadays. Aisha's parents want a 10,000 dowry. I suppose the two of them can share that sum. After all they're going to get it for themselves. I might even suggest to Rizal to write a cheque - just don't bank it, ha ha. I said to the father, details should be discussed between Rizal & Aisha. We want everything to end well.

On the way home we stopped for cendul pulut at Bal's classmate's warong at Air Itam, had coffee at Cik Ani's house in Bahau, visited my parents' graves at Melang, bought cempedak and pisang goreng at Paroi (made Calit pay !), and finally reached the house. Wafa and her twin brothers were at S2.

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Is the PM a crook ?

9.8.2015.

Events are unfolding at an incredible pace, in UMNO's business and all it touches.

Looking at the answers given by Najib & Co, incredible is an apt adjective.

I was a delegate to the Seremban UMNO division annual general assembly on 1st. of August. I came dutifully at 8.30, the appointed time. I asked both the Secretary and the executive secretary about the programme for the day, because the letter said  the meeting would be at Pusat Dakwah, but the opening ceremony by Najib at Kelana Resort. That's typical UMNO confusion. When the answer was everything at Pusat Dakwah on Najib's instruction, "to cut costs" ( ha ha !), morning session for opening ceremony, after Zohor for the meeting proper, I left the hall and came back around 1.50.  Mohd. Nor Bakar, the fish monger told me Isa and the freshly sacked Hasan Malek were there. In fact the tv showed  Hasan Malek sitting in the front row right in front of Najib.  If I was sacked, I wouldn't be anywhere near Najib, at least not in in first 3 days. Anyway, I'm not trying to get a chairmanship at a GLC , I suppose!

In the aftermath of the shoot-out of the 28th. of August, when the DPM Muhyiddin, the Minister Shafiei Apdal , (and of course poor Hasan Malik), the AG were summarily sacked, and 4 of the PAC members were kicked upstairs, Najib effectively sabotaged his own self-designed framework for the  defence of the 1MDB debacle. Events may well materialise to the contrary, but to my mind this is the ultimate suicidal act.

At the Pusat Dakwah function, JASA, the UMNO propaganda arm, had distributed  "22 Jawapan Najib Razak." The smartly and expensively  printed booklet obviously is an attempt to "answer" all the criticisms that have for the last several months been hurled at Najib. There are 22 listed answers by count. In fact some of the answers are related to others, so there are actually 14 answers, not 22. Even here there is  something missing !

To the 14 groups of questions, I would add 7 that I think Najib should also answer:  the 2.6 billion "donation",  the sacking of the DPM,  2 Ministers and the AG,  the 25-million diamond ring, Isa Samad's role in Felda and the financial nightmare looming, the fall of the ringgit,  the rise of the cost of living, and the image of a concerned leader.

Taking the ringgit's fall first, I remember talking to a senior MoF officer who served under both Mahathir and Dollah, who later served in NS, who observed that Mahathir had a DAILY meeting beginning at 8.30 SHARP to monitor the ringgit crisis in 1997. When Dollah took over, sometimes the meeting, which continued, took place, sometimes not, but always NEVER  on time. Now I wonder if Najib chairs similiar ringgit-crisis committee meeting anymore.

On the 2.6 billion "donation", well nobody would have known about the money if the WSJ had not blown the lid. Even then Najib certainly took his time in admitting it, when he could have started saying it was this extremely generous donation before the GE 13 the moment it was exposed. Now he thinks he's turning the table on PKR and DAP by demanding that they also must declare their political contributions. Najib cannot expect us to believe the excuse of "party funds" when even the Deputy President of UMNO did not know about it when the humongous gift was first made. And to use his private a/c ? And on the subject,  there are videos of Najib saying clearly how "trust a/c" are  to be administered. 

I have spoken to a former member of the Malaysian Bench, a former First Board Plantation executive, a former head of a State Special Branch, a nasi lemak seller, and many of my friends of various political inclinations, and ALL say:  it's beyond belief anyone would give THAT much, unless it's for something in return, in which case it's corruption of the highest order; that this contravenes the Money Laundering Act; that since this was 2 years ago, the Income Tax Act has also been broken.    

On the whole-sale sackings, it's true that it's Najib's right. But the way he was using his right was wrong ! He doesn't know right from wrong.

When Anwar was sacked, he had committed a crime. What crime has Muhyiddin committed ? 2 days after he spoke out, again, against 1MDB, in an UMNO closed forum, suddenly Najib jumped out from his usual lethargic modus operandi  and fired the Deputy President and a Vice President of his own ruling party (and that Vice President from Sabah, the state that probably saved BN in the last general elections). If  Najib goes now, it's UMNO that will decide who becomes the PM.  The leadership of the party would pass to the incumbent Deputy President. 

The AG is not the secretary to the Cabinet. He beholds his position to the King, and his removal must follow strict constitutionsl ritual. His health ? He says differently, but the Chief Secretary seems to know better.  Not a dismissal ? Clearly there's constructive dismissal if ever there was one ! And talk about nicities - Gani has only until October to reach his retirement age, and Najib could have made a personal call. 

The 4 members of the PAC being "kicked upstairs"? This, together with the removal of the AG, is obviously sabotaging the mechanism that Najib himself put in place in the defence of the 1MDB debacle.

  

In view of that 2.6 billion, in retrospect, the story of Rosmah's  25-million diamond ring is not exactly ridiculous.

And why is Isa Samad still in Felda ? The KWSP and similiar government-connected funds were used in the IPO that saw FGV shares starting at 4.50 or thereabout. It's now 1.60. So what happens to the retirement funds and the rest of the investors ? And what about the losses in the current accounts, and the bad investments in and out of the country ? I hear Isa now has an escort car when he travels. Raja Alias who built Felda to what it was before the politicians took over, would sometimes drive his little Honda ( the old tiny breed, not the new super variety) to work. He'd probably hide his face "malu" if he had the Felsco escort. But then, he may not need protection.

I know Najib, like Mahathir, used to "walkabout" also. Has he done so recently ? Does he know the actual cost of living right now ? Yesterday I bought some fruits on the PLUS. I couldn't believe the prices. You should check it out, too.

You see and hear all the time leaders in the West cutting short whatever their doing  to asap attend to domestic catasrophies. They know they  are put there by the people, and the least they can do is to at least appear to show concern,  especially when tragedies strike. When floods strike and mountains move Najib just carries on playing golf with the US President or visiting rich friends in the Middle East. In the latter case he even drags two Vice Presidents along, when either one or both can cancel the trip. The rich and powerful host would have understood. So much for "rakyat didahulukan"!

Now back to the 14 questions.

The Altantuya case is settled as far as the Courts of Law go. The question that Mahathir had raised is who gave the instruction to the two officers convicted ? He's not accusing Najib.

That Malaysia is a corrupt country ? Come on lah !

That BRIM is corruption ?  You give out cash for what ?  Is it to buy votes ? Do all the receipients deserve it ? My neighbour, a retired school teacher (not a graduate) who drives TWO Mercedeses, because they have a school catering service and houses for rent, duly gets her BRIM.

The 1MDB issue. Has enough been said ? Certainly not enough has been explained. And now the "Salam 1 Malaysia" has been removed on tv. Afraid it's being equated to 1MDB ?

The crooked bridge ? This was a Cabinet decision. Do facts change when Cabinet changes ? Why are excuses been offered NOW ?

That Najib's performance was better than Dolah's ? More UMNO seats, yes. But combined Parliament BN seats were 63.1% in GE 12 with Dollah, and less than 60 % in GE 13 with Najib ! Which is worse ?

That EPU is being bypassed. Just talk to the Government Servants. Just look at the PMO's set up. And all the "Pemudah" etc.

The abondonment of the Bumiputra "agenda" ? Talk to the Bumiputra contractors at the District Offices. The 1 Malaysia slogan - now playing soccer at the district selection the Indian players cry out "1 Malaysia!" and they have to take in one or two more of them. That's not a problem, but the intonation is the "Malay quota" concept of the Bumiputra agenda in the big scheme of things is being openly challanged and succumbs for the sake of appearance and correctness.

Has crime rate increased since the abolishment of ISA (and the Emergency Ordinance) ? Don't just quote figures nobody can countercheck. Listen to the stories being told also. And Singapore must know something we don't for keeping THEIR ISA  intact.

The purchase of the new executive jet. It's timing, my friend, it's timing. You make people pay more for everything and you splurge on a new jet ! How dumb can you be ?

It's true the GST has noble intentions, and just about all the countries in the Free World have done it. Since the implementation, have you studied the impact and the implementation ? It's supposed to be a restructuring of tax, some more and some less. But I pay GST for everything now, so it's all more now. Even paying for my daughter's PTPTN I have to pay GST where I paid no such tax before. Explain that.

Finally, this Mahathir thing.

Sure, the old man made a lot of mistakes in his 22 years. In such a long time who wouldn't ? But it looks bad if you make the same mistakes after him. In less time.

When Lim Kok Wing told the old man to be careful to not lose his legacy ( probably prodded by his boss) I can almost see the smirk on the old man's face. The point is,legacy you don't dictate. History dictates. We shall see what has been done in the 22 years Mahathir was PM, all the good, the bad and the ugly.  The thing is, Mahathir's premiership is over and can't be undone. It's the current affairs that we must put right while we can. 

Maybe the biggest mistake Mahathir made was making Najib  PM.

It would be a sad, sad day for UMNO if a son destroys what the father painstakingly  built.

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