Merdeka! Malaysia!

Merdeka day is just about two months away. There will be a lot of coaxings, persuasions, earnest requests, and pleadings to the extent of almost begging, by various leaders around the nation, to the citizens of the nation to fly the national flag - on their vehicles, at their business premises, houses, factories and firms. 

Subsequently, at times, small flags for the vehicles will be distributed free. Dignified personalities will even go to the extent of attaching the flags on to the screens on the vehicles, their enthusiastic show of patriotism captured by the cameras and videos of the media. 

 How sad! This is what is happening in Malaysia. People got to be persuaded, in various ways, to fly the flag. In fact, it should be the people who should be eager to display the flag, without the asking. And they are not doing that. Why? It is not that they don’t have a flag or the means to buy one. The reason is simple - DISSATISFACTION. Dissatisfaction with the state of things in the nation; dissatisfaction with the rise in the price of commodities, dissatisfaction with the loss of their livelihood or income due to the huge presence of foreign workers, dissatisfaction with the crimes being committed almost routinely, dissatisfaction with the politicians for not fulfilling their bright promises, dissatisfaction with the exceedingly authoritarian stance taken by some personnel in power. 

Yes, it all draws up to dissatisfaction. Hopefully, this time around the people will set aside their feeling of dissatisfaction for a while, and fly the national flag, if not for showing their patriotism to the nation, at least to show a good example to the children and youths, that patriotism to the nation can’t be haggled with any other feelings of the mind. 

Well, sometimes it doesn’t make sense, but that’s the way it is, in our beloved nation of Malaysia. Hope to see more flags flying this time around. Start now! Merdeka!

Unity in Flags

Many times, when there were telecasts of international sports or other international events, flags of the nations of the world would be shown. I had often, if not always, had been confused by the similarities of the Malaysian flag to the flags of Liberia and USA.
I had many times mumbled to myself, “here comes our Malaysian flag”, when, in fact, it had been USA or the Liberian flag!

Here, I would like to show the three flags that are similar, accompanied by a brief description of the flags. The flags from left to right are from Liberia, the USA and of course Malaysia which is below.

Flag of Malaysia

The flag of Malaysia has a dark blue canton with a yellow crescent and a star with 14 points inside the canton, and 14 blue and white stripes inside the flag itself.

The 14 red and white stripes represents the 14 states, including the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan. The crescent indicates Islam as the official religion and the 14 points of the stars shows the equal status of the 14 states. The red colour in the flag denotes courage, the white colour - purity and honesty. The blue colour of the canton represents the unity and harmony of the peoples of Malaysia. The yellow colour of the crescent and the star represents royal colour the Rulers.
Flag of Liberia

The flag of Liberia consists of a blue canton and a white star inside, and with 11 red and white stripes. Liberia, which is in the west coast of Africa had been the home of the freed slaves of the US in the early days and the flag itself was designed after the USA flag. The white star indicates purity and the 11 red and white stripes signifies the 11 states that signed the Liberian Declaration of Independance in 1847.
Flag of USA

The flag of the United States consists of a blue canton and fifty, small white stars inside it. It has thirteen red and white stripes. The fifty small stars indicate the fifty states of the US. The thirteen stripes represents the thirteen colonies that opposed the British crown and became the first states of the Union.

Malaysia - Let's hope for the best

“Didn’t I tell you not to drink whisky with the money that I gave you?” scolded the man, on meeting the beggar who had just staggered out from the liquor shop.

“No, sir, it was brandy!” said the drunken beggar.

The above joke seems to nicely denote the true characteristics of the politicians in Malaysia, today. It’s not that they are alcohol consumers. Any way, we don't expect the man and the beggar to converse in fluent English in Malaysia. Their conversation would have most likely gone like this, with Malaysian ingredients:

Man: Tadi saya kasi awak dua ringgit, awak sudah pigi minum samsu ka? Saya panggil awak tausa minum samsu lagi!

Beggar: Tara incik, itu bukan samsu la. Itu tuak!

The point is that they, the politicians, didn’t really change, as we had foolishly hoped, and made to hope. People threw in their votes for them, believing that these politicians were, sincerely, willing to change for the better. But events lately, have shown to be otherwise; they are back to their very best, in their familiar territory. Trying to illegalize NGO’s, the dress code arguments, bus fare hikes, party hopping and mud slinging are just a few of the issues that had been on the news medias, before the general elections, and yet now.

Looking at the antics of the opposition parties, these past two years, it is very clear that we won’t be having an able government to replace the present one. Or, will we? The answer seems to be big NO! I would be pleased if anyone can say differently.

It seems that we’ve got to put up with the present administration and hope for the best. I sincerely hope that the discriminations, discrepancies, divulgences and the dictatorial tendencies will be gradually diminished under the current people in power. In my opinion, the Prime Minister is doing quite okay. His KPI(Key Performance Indicator - initiated by his government) looks encouraging. I don’t have statistics and figures to prove that. Only his actions and reactions are my guidance, the contemporary medias, are my source. I, however, can’t say much about the politicians on his parole. Only time can tell. They always tend to say one thing today, and another thing the next day, in tandem to the surroundings and the situations.

We have millions of youths amongst us. I hope our beloved nation will produce men of substance, administrative efficiency, not to mention the ever desired and highly valued trait - principle.

Obama's Cairo speech

So Obama had finally delivered his maiden speech, especially made for the Muslim world. On Thursday, June 4, 2009, it was. It was a much-awaited event, seeing the numerous discussions, in hope and skepticism, about it in CNN, BBC and also Aljajeera, before the speech itself. I just mentioned these three news networks only, because these are the ones I watch mainly to satisfy my appetite for foreign news. My apologies to the other news networks, not that they would give a hoot to what networks I watch and what I didn’t! If I was Mr.Obama himself, then it would have been different! All the channels would be falling over each other to ensure that I was watching their programs. And see that I was pampered enough while doing that. A popcorn here, a nugget there! But I am not Obama and let’s just leave it at that.

Coming back to the real Obama, I am a great fan of him, just as I am a great fan of P.Ramlee, only that both are from different time zones and careers, both trying to please the masses.

On the speech day, I hid the Astro remote under the pile of newspapers on the side desk, so that my wife couldn’t find it to change to her favorite serial drama channel. It seemed to have been a waste of time and an unnecessary exercise on my part to have extracted the idea from the brilliant brain of mine. For one whole hour, my wife and her neighbour friend were talking outside, standing on both sides of the fence, the latest local happenings, while Obama was orating inside about international matters.

Regarding the Obama speech, one, who was not familiar with Obama,would have thought that he was a Muslim clergyman, as Obama was speaking at great length about the glorious days of the Muslim world, often referring to the holy Koran. Luckily for him, he did mention he was a Christian once. Otherwise, even I would have had my doubts, having said I was an Obama fan and all that! It was enlightening, though.

Obama spoke eloquently; forcefully and yet expectantly at times, as suits the matter at hand. His speech was full of the character and the charisma that he exudes. It covered the nuclear arms predicaments, the Israeli Palestine conflicts, issues of women’s rights, democracy, USA's involvement in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, human rights and various other disorders of the world, which I had forgotten already. But I couldn’t forget one thing though. Kuala Lumpur was mentioned in his speech! Malaysia, being a small nation, it was very dramatic to hear its administration’s heart being uttered so publicly. I felt proud of my nation at the time.

My wait for his speech was worth it. I am sure the other citizens would have also felt the same, even though they might have some grievances with the nation. I, too have my dissatisfactions. So Malaysia better watch out! Malaysianlayman will be flying out anytime over the troubled structures! If they have not already fallen!

Taiping Hospital - The diabetes department - my experience

I am a newly confirmed diabetic patient of the Taiping hospital. The hospital had given me the date June 2nd for my blood and urine check-up. Today is that dreaded day. Dreaded day, because I am not proud to admit that I am afraid of any form of needles. This is my second check-up; the first one was done in January. (My glucose level, then, was FBS: 10.3).

Yesterday, at about 7pm, I had rechecked the forms; 2 forms - one for blood and the other for the urine. The date was 2/6/09 all right, but no time for the visit was written. My mother, the poor soul also a diabetic and a regular visitor to the hospital, told me to go before 8am as a lot of people would be coming for their check-up. The forms had also something else scribbled at the side, like ‘paasa 10 ml’. I could not make out the first word, but the others were sure enough ‘10 ml’. I thought, “Oh, so they will be taking 10 milliliters of my blood and urine for the check up.” I was just imagining how much 10 milliliters of blood would look like in the small tube, when it suddenly hit me. No, it was not the amount of blood or urine. It was the time I was supposed to start my pre check-up fast – puasa 10 malam! Ok, I was ready!

Next morning, I arrived at the hospital at about 7.10 am. I thought it was still too early and decided to go in at 7.30am. Once you have entered the hospital you will be looked upon as a patient. I wanted to be just myself just a while longer. I could see the movements of the hospital staff in and out of the main entrance. I sat in the car to while away the time. At 7.30am sharp I was at the reception counter for the blood and urine collection department. Wow! There were already about 30 patients sitting in the chairs in front! I was surprised. “So many early birds…eh?…And I thought I was early!” I mumbled to myself. Well, I knew what to do the next time!

I placed the forms in the plastic tray, as was required. Two staffs – one man and a woman, in their whites - were sitting behind the counter, and were busy attending to the forms, calling out names and giving the forms back, now attached with small plastic like tubes. The forms were also found attached with pieces of papers with numbers. The patients will go into the room nearby when their numbers are announced by the electronic voice system and allow themselves to be extracted for blood samples.

Chairs in the front rows, near the counter, were all occupied, so I sat in a chair at the back, which was unfortunate, due to a TV at the other end on the left was having a singing program broadcasted with sound quite loud for a hospital. A malay lady was singing a pop song. It was quite nice to hear, but I was not in a position to enjoy it at that time. The singer was just giving undue competition to the voice from the lady staff at the counter, calling out names of the patients. Maybe at another time and another place. Both my ears were all up to trying to catch my name being called, which can be at anytime. Remember, the patients were just required to place their forms in the trays and go and get seated in a chair. No numbers were given yet. It was ‘first come, first served’ basis, but of course, at the prerogative of the staff at the counter. A number would have at least told me how long I have to wait, and get myself prepared to make a rush to the counter, before the next name is called. Otherwise, sometimes you will get grumbled upon, you know. With the numbers system, I would have had time to see if any legs were blocking my path to the counter! Anyway, I waited.

I did not have to wait very long, however. My name was called, and I rushed. Fortunately, no legs to trip over! I was given my two forms back; the urine-form intact, but the blood-form with 2 small tubes, with red and blue caps, respectively, in a small plastic bag pinned to it. Also pinned together were 2 pieces of papers with the same call numbers printed on both. The time printed in small prints said 8.03am. I looked at my watch. It said 7.49am. I looked in my hand phone, which I had always trusted not to go wrong, where time is concerned. It showed 7.50am. So the numbers print out machine at the counter is about 10 minutes late! And I also wondered, why two pieces of slips with the same call numbers? It was for coordination or traceability purposes, I thought. Good show!

I am not telling my name or the call number at this time, just in case this is read by any staff of this department and traces this article to me. I just fear that the next time I visit them they will extract out more of my blood than required!

I was required to go to the washroom first, to take my sample of urine. The washroom was at the back, just nearby. Just in front of the washroom there was an express bus ticket-type counter. The aperture in the wall had a small plank attached outside, on which were found small, transparent, numbered plastic bottles. I had been told to take one of these. I did so and ventured inside the washroom.

I was pleased to see the place very clean. I went inside one of the two toilets. However, sad to say, the door of both the toilets had no bolts inside. I had to use one hand, stretched backwards, to keep the door closed to prevent any unwanted visits by anyone, which was fortunate, because I felt someone pushing at the door, then. I let out an artificial cough and continued on with the requirements. So much for a man’s privacy. I wondered whether it was the work of the vandals or whether the hospital authorities had removed them on purpose, for reasons best known to them.

I took the bottle of urine sample, and putting the urine-form on a metallic tray, right at the back of the aperture, I placed the bottle of urine on the form. This is the normal procedure, I was told, by a gent nearby. What if the sample got accidentally placed on the wrong form, I wondered. I consoled myself by accepting that it is just a ‘what if’. Anyway, it would have been safer if someone inside the aperture had immediately written the number of the bottle on to the form, the moment the bottle was placed together with the form. Well, my work with the urine sample had finished.

I, then, went to the front and seated myself in a chair near the blood-sample room, and waited for my number to be announced. When my number came up I went inside the room, quite nervously. Two ladies in light blue uniforms were in the room attending to two other patients and I was told to sit on another chair inside the room. Having dealt with her patient, a lady in the blue requested me to be seated in the chair just vacated. She wanted me to stretch out my hand. I did so timidly, shame on me! Perhaps the lady had noticed my timidity, and tried to have a conversation, “ Where are you from, uncle?” she asked.

“Taman ………” I replied. (I am playing safe here so I won’t be traced!) All the while she was inserting the needle into the vein near the ankle. I felt a short sharp pain and grimaced.

“Is it far from here?” she was slowly dragging out the syringe sucking out blood in the process!

“Not very far,” I said, slowly, searching for the nametag on her, keen to know the name of the person interested in my welfare. There was none. I looked at other lady. She, too, had no nametag. Well, how nice it would have been to know the names of these considerate women.

"That’s all uncle,” the lady attending to me said, “Please come back to the clinic in one week’s time.”

I said a ‘thank you’ and came away from the hospital, much relieved.


My sincere suggestions to the hospital authorities:

Write the time of the visit on the forms.
Write clearly the pre requirements before the check-up, e.g. Puasa 10 malam.
Decrease the volume of the TV.
Give out numbers to those placing the check-up forms in the trays.
Correct the time of the numbers disposing machine.
Fix bolts to the toilet doors.
Let a hospital staff dispense the urine sample bottles. 

Thank you.

1Malaysia – People First.