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.

Communists in Malaya

Of late, there have been a lot of comments, in a blog, about Chin Peng, the leader of the now defunct Communist Party of the then Malaya. There had been calls for him to be given permission to come back and reside in Malaysia. Currently, he is in the neighbouring country of Thailand.

Communists in the old Malaya, performed atrocities on the locals to instill fear into them, to do as they demanded. They fought against the Japanese and the British with the sole aim of ruling the nation with their communist ideology. Many loved ones were tortured, killed and maimed. cruelly. Those bereaved should be respected, and if bringing back Chin Peng to Malaysia would bring relief to their mental sufferings, then the people advocating for his return are right.

It doesn’t seem so, after hearing on first hand, the expressions of hate, and curses thrown down at the communists for their atrocities on the people of Malaya. The supporters for the admittance of Chin Peng argue that he cannot do any more damage. and that the government should forgive and forget. And that, if they could release Rashid Maidin and Samsiah Fakeh, why not Chin Peng. This, actually, they should be asking the people who had lost their loved ones, their elders, their innocent friends, their hopes, their happiness, their right to live peacefully in this world.

The damage had already been done. Don’t kindle back the ugly and painful truth and scenes that most of the nation’s elders are slowly trying to get of their minds. The appealers fail to realize that Chin Peng was THE LEADER, and the others had just followed instructions. 

One must realize that former communist-members of all races, had been allowed to continue to lead their lives in Malaysia. No probes are being done on their past communist-history. As such, it is hoped that the Chin Peng issue is not argued taking race into consideration, especially in these times when we are trying to break down our racial barriers.

To our learned politicians, please do not be too eager to respond in the external media, to comments made in the blogs, and threaten to make drastic actions. This will only make the issues blow out of proportion. Blogs are only there to for the bloggers to disseminate and exchange information, present and argue viewpoints, may they be good or bad. Many even express their feelings poetically and yet many others, comedically. If you are really aggravated about any issues please just respond back in the blogs. The bloggers will always appreciate it.

About the Taiping railway station

Taiping, being a popular destination for the nation’s local tourists, it is sad to note that nothing much has been done to attract the visitors to this first railway station of Malaysia. The station does not even have the year it was built (1885), stated prominently anywhere on its building. The year, itself, would attract some attention and scrutiny. It is disappointing that when the other heritage buildings in Taiping could have the date of their emergence inscribed on them, the famous railway station remains almost anonymous.

I have been staying in nearby Kamunting for over 35 years and consider myself as a patriotic Taipingite, with frequent visits to the railway station. The station doesn’t seem to have changed much all these years. Perhaps the Taiping authorities prefer the railway station to look exactly as it was in 1885. But that is quite impossible, what with the heavy traffic in front of its tarred road and the long stretch of eateries, just opposite the station.

The eateries are also an eyesore. Just entering one will make you wonder if these were also built in 1885.One could easily imagine mice having a hey day at night. The shops, if we can call these as such, don’t seem to have been visited by the health officers.

The ironic fact is that high-rise multistory, condominium type quarters for hospital staff, had been built just nearby, and with an extended town of Medan Taiping just around the corner, the railway station has been completely overlooked.

Avoid losing your things to snatch thieves

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Travellers going to the poor countries are always are being warned of bags and suitcases lost to thieves. Just turning your face on to the other side, just for a while, will result in the above things to go missing.

Malaysia cannot be considered a poor country, but bag snatching is very rampant here.It has become one of the commonest crimes being committed, often the victims getting injured fatally, and even dying piteously.

Snatch thieves seem to be always preying on the fairer sex to carry out their despicable profession. Here are some guidelines for the Malaysian women, to counter the acts of the scoundrels. I hope these will, in some ways, help them to safeguard their

belongings.

1. Have your motorbike fixed with a box with lid, and keep the bag inside.
2. Always lookout, in the front mirrors of your bike, for any motorbike following at the back. If you have the slightest doubt or suspicion, stop by the side and let it pass.
3. Always have a look around your area, for any person, or persons with motorbike loitering around. Under trees. Under any unused structures. Or even the coffee shop nearby. Are they coming out after you have passed them? Have a look behind.
4. If possible do not carry handbags. Keep the cash and valuables in a small purse.
5. Do not wear expensive jewelry when going out. If you want to attend a function go with a male family member. The presence of a male companion will, to a certain extent, discourage snatch thieves from doing their acts.
6. If you must carry a handbag do not put any valuables in it, such as cash, your I.C., passport, bankbook, bankcards, etc. Without the valuables, the handbag is not worth much. So don’t hold it tightly.
7. Do not loop the belt of your bag around your hand; you will get dragged up, unceremoniously, when the snatch thief pulls it. Your life is more important than the bag.
8. Report to the police of any attempts by snatch thieves, even if you did not lose anything, so that the police will be aware of the place and make more patrols.

Makkal Sakthi

So, another political party for the local Indians, the Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party(MMKP), has been added to the already crowded Indian-based parties – Malaysian Indian Congress(MIC), with Samy Vellu as the leader, the Indian Progressive Front(IPF), led by Pandithan’s wife after his demise, Kayveas’ People’s Progressive Party( PPP), and Malaysian Indian United Party(MIUP) of Anwar’s former close aide and once a leader of his Party Keadilan, Nallakaruppan.

The new party, MMKP, was formed by Thanenthiran, the former coordinator of the banned Hindraf movement. It, certainly, looks odd that Indians, being the minority race of just about 2 million in Malaysia, should have the most number of parties representing them. And, hearing what is being talked about in the media, it looks like this is not the end of it!

The emergence of MMKP, or popularly known as just Makkal Sakthi, is quite sudden, seeing that it had already been approved by Registrar Of Societies (ROS), within a few months, and came into being just within a few days after the release of the final three leaders of the outlawed Hindraf movement, on May 9. Perhaps, this is to provide a lawful venue for the disgruntled members of the outlawed organization, to vent their grouses and grievances, rather than they getting dragged into mob-like activities and scenarios.

The slogan ‘Makkal Sakthi’, or ‘People Power’, in English, had been very synonymous with Hindraf, when it was formed, and was used unsparingly during the last general election, by the opposition. Naturally, this gives the impression that the Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party is nothing more than a breakaway party of Hindraf. As such, it would seem that the former members of Hindraf do have a reason to be satisfied and smug.

What is arguable is whether the authorising person in R.O.S. was fully satisfied with the party having a strong, revolutionary, and to a large extent, the too down to earth slogan of ‘People Power’ or ‘Makkal Sakthi’ to its name. If he was, then he should be commended for his brevity and impartialness of his decision to approve the Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party, in its originality. One can’t help, but heap praises on the R.O.S. for this.

The Indians, at least now, have another voice to reach out for help in their quest for their welfare and betterment. Good as it may sound, there are sounds made around the public that there are too many political parties for the Indians, thus, fragmenting them, and making their voice weak and piteously inaudible, when presenting their grievances.

However, there is still some goodness in this for them; it should be admitted that the Indian political parties would fall head over heels, and compete amongst themselves, trying to champion their cause, to attain the much desired popularity. And that, is a victory of some sort for the Indians. But, sadly, a tremendous blow for the hopes and aspirations of Malaysians, who would rather see a Malaysia undivided by racially inclined political parties.

A tribute to mothers

You knew the pain

But face it you dared

Just for the happiness

Of knowing

Someone is  waiting

In you,

To grasp the love

That has always been

In your heart.

Oh, mothers of the world

Tell us, oh, please tell us

Where do you find

So much love

Never ending love

And a bit more!

To give us in abundance

To trickle onto us

To pour over us

In times of our

Darkness and despair

Expecting nothing in return

Except

A little bit of

Your love back!

*******************

Mother

I am no poet

But wrote I this poem

That doesn’t rhyme

But I wouldn’t care it to rhyme

Less my real feelings

Be lost.

 

Mother, mummy, mum, ma

Or whatever names you go by

The inner love that you scoop and

Heap upon us

Endlessly, wanting nothing, but the

Rights to pour out the love that you do.

 

Oh, mother

Mountains may move

Oceans may disappear

The earth may rot

Humans may starve but

Eternal love for us is always there

Right with you, strongly ever!

 

Temple Of The Wild Boars

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Every weekend, towards the evening, busloads of people and hundreds of others in cars and motorcycles are flocking to the town of Taiping. The influx starts on Fridays, and continues on Saturdays and Sundays. At one time, you can see at least 40 buses parked around the area! Further inside, near the temple grounds, the presence of hundreds of cars and motorcycles will be the order of the day.

The reason for the above exodus is this. There is an Hindu temple – the Sri Muniswarar Allayam - just above the foothill of a small hill range, near the housing estate named, Taman Zenith. Every evening, without fail, at about 7pm, several wild boars come out into the open, from the dense forest beside the temple, to the temple grounds, and run into the den specially made for them, amidst the cheers of the people, waiting so patiently around the ropes of the enclosure.

People are awed and bewildered by their temerity, as they eagerly come towards them, and feed on whatever edible offerings given to them. Words have that these wild boars bring luck to whoever having physical contacts with them. There are stories of people having struck it rich in the numbers games, after having touched the creatures. Now, one can see people, on a very crowded day, rushing head over heels, just to touch them. One can also, very often, see some, with their favourite numbers for the weekend, rubbing these papers on the bodies of the wild boars, mumbling, “ Money come! Money come!” The Hindu temple is also having busy weekends attending to the devotees, praying for their good well being. Flowers and prayer items are being sold out at brisk space.

Food for the wild boars are being sold in the temple grounds. One can be tickled to see the wild boars eating anything that was offered – rice varieties of nasi campur, nasi lemak, fried as well as curry chicken! Having had their fill, one or two wild boars will just lie down and doze off around there, while others will go around to people calling out to them with packets of food in their hands.

In these bleak economic times, one wonders how people can find the time and resources to come from all the way from as far as Johor and Pahang, just to visit this small temple near the forest. Perhaps, they have some hidden anticipations.

The Penang Bayan Lepas Airport - a shortcoming

A little grievance about the northernmost airport of Malaysia.

The Penang Bayan Lepas Airport, as it is called,  does not have any watch towers for the visitors and users alike, to see the planes embark or depart. Human beings, being the social animal they are, like to, after seeing off their friends or loved ones into the transport ducts of the terminal, see their plane finally lifting off. They can wait several hours just for that! Some even wave good bye, involuntarily! Just for a feeling of inner satisfaction of having sent away their loved ones properly.

But the Bayan Lepas Airport doesn’t make any allowance for that. Even coming out from the main building and going under the hot sun, to the sides, for a view of the planes, also proves futile, as the long stretch of buildings completely block any sight seeing, let alone the airplanes.

Two days ago, I went with my friends to the airport. They were sending their beloved sister to India, by MAS. (From Penang the plane would fly to Kuala Lumpur and only from Kuala Lumpur she would be flown to Chennai, India.)

Well, after waving off their sister into the passenger duct, they immediately went about searching for the watch tower. I, too followed them. Enquires from the staff resulted in the negative. There were no watching tower in the airport. Someone suggested going out of the building and trying to get a glimpse of the leaving plane from afar. Which, we duly tried. We went to the left side of airport structures. But, no success here, either. The long stretch of the logistical buildings completely got in the way. We then adventured to the right side. The only sight we got here was a gigantic part of a huge China Airlines Cargo plane, loading probably, that could be seen from where we stood, the car park area of the airport workers’ quarters. That was the furthest we could see. We gave up.

Well, we came back to Taiping, disappointed. So much for people friendliness, of the airport.

Proud Perakman

Our beloved Sultan of Perak, is a well learned, impartial and compassionate person. In my opinion, I am sure the Sultan was not keen to waste the rakyat’s (citizens) money by having another election. That’s why when someone with authority went and saw him, he had made the decision he made. A lot of people are making unnecessary comments about him.

He is, undeniably, very impartial. Recent events have proved the Perak royalty is really that. The Raja Muda’s presence at the May 7, Perak State Assembly, and his speech, is a point in example. He had been waiting in the V.I.P. room, patiently, during all the ruckus. With his power and royalness in stature, he could have easily intervened into that day’s despicable procedures. If he had intervened, then there would have been people saying that he was taking sides. Even in his speech, he did not make any comments regarding the chaos, again for the same reason. He just kept to his protocol. Just do not misjudge him because of that.

The other incident, was his cordial welcome of Nizar Jamaluddin, after he was given the judgement as the rightful Mentri Besar by the High Court. I am sure the royalties were following the day’s court proceedings and the outcome. The Raja Muda was informed officially that Nizar was the lawful Menteri Besar, and he duly gave Nizar his warm reception in the investiture ceremony. One could have seen the pictures in the newspapers. A smiling Raja Nazrin Shah, together with the then proclaimed Menteri Besar, Nizar. If the royalty was taking side it could have easily snubbed Nizar. Please put paid to rest the thinking that the Perak royalty is not impartial, once and for all.

The royalty has been having the people to its heart, always. And politicians, don’t always rush to the royalties with the problems caused by yourselves, and place the royalties into embarrassing situations, especially, in these flip-flop times.

Daulat Tuanku!

S.M. Mohamed Idris - A man worthy of recognition

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Many persons unknown to the ordinary man in the street, are being conferred the honourable title of 'Datuk', because of recommendations from the heads of political parties. Only the party members, and probably the people around a nominated person’s area, may know the person, and he may have not done much for the people. He may have got the title because with the dignitary in front of his name, the party head may have thought that it would be easier for the titled person to achieve something, or get concessions from the government for the people. Or he may have got the title, merely for the number of years he had served in the party, at an executive level.

One person who is in the limelight very often due to his constant, direct involvement in the welfare of the people of the nation is the Consumer Association President CAP) of Penang, the 82 year old, evergreen S.M. Mohamed Idris. He really provides a caring service to the ordinary populace, by disseminating timely advice on matters ranging from health, environment, law and even to prudent investments, among others. His research and comments are many in the newspapers, not to mention about the informative books and booklets that his Consumer Association produces for the betterment of the people. His years of service for the welfare of the Malaysian consumers are long. As such, he is well known and it is very depressing, to see that this dedicated man has still to get the recognition that he is worthy of.

Mat Rempit - An excellent idea to eradicate the menace

An article in The Star on 8^th May 2009, said the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan, was keen on the idea of setting up rehabilitation centers for illegal racers, instead of merely punishing them. This is indeed an excellent idea. We know that the Mat Rempits are merely youngsters, and punishing them physically or sending them to jail will only make them feel more outcasted from society, and when they were put back into the main stream, they might have a tendency to act in an anti establishment manner. Many times, violence begets violence.

The honorable IGP had also said, “Discipline must be instilled in youngsters and the responsibility lies with the families, the parents, relatives and siblings”. Yes, he hit it right on the head. The police were and are, not responsible for instilling discipline to youngsters. The responsibility lies with the families and friends, and also to a large extent to the schools. The police can only serve out punishments.

In the same article, Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat seem to have said, regarding convicted snatch thieves and Mat Rempits, “These people are getting out of hand. They should be caned or punished in painful ways so that they can be taught a lesson”. Here, I beg to differ a little. Mat Rempits should not be bunched together with the snatch thieves, even though there might be one or two cases of Mat Rempits being involved in those despicable crimes. Snatch thieves are not all teenagers or youths. There are adults involved.

We must also think of the agony the families of the convicted youths go through with the thought of their offsprings undergoing severe punishments, due to their own failure in leading their loved ones to the rightful path.

But the honorable Menteri Besar’s reasoning that the younger generation was getting involved in unhealthy activities because they lacked Islamic knowledge and were idling too much, is very true. Rehabilitation centers do instill religious values, among other programs. It is very apt to send the wayward Mat Rempits to rehabilitation centers, as well as do community services. But do not let the snatch thieves go off easily. Let them undergo real deterrent punishments.

To the non-Malaysian readers, 'Mat Rempits' are those teenagers who race their motorbikes on public roads, often doing dangerous stunts, like lifting front wheels  off the road, disregarding the danger they pose to the other road users.

What they do in a cyber cafe

Cyber cafes are supposed to be places where people go to send emails, write letters, surf the web and do school assignments, print, scan, etc. But what is actually happening is, youngsters are playing away computer games at almost all the computer shops which have network facilities. I should know, for I had operated a cyber café for about four years, six years back in Taiping, from year 1999. So, I think it might interest you to know what actually happened, in a cyber café. I will tell you the actual going ons in my cyber café, for you to make your own opinion regarding the good and bad of the outlets.

Apart from selling and repairing computers, I also ran the cyber café business. My shop had only twelve computers, then. I will normally open the shop for business at about 9 am. in the morning. Even at that time, a few boys will be waiting outside the shop, waiting anxiously for me to open the shop doors. Mind you, they will even stand around me when I was unlocking the doors, so that they can rush inside and pick good places! They should know because they were the very regular users. They knew which computers were smooth and which were not! These were schoolboys of the afternoon sessions. They lived in the kampungs and tamans around my shop. They will go back home after playing and loitering in the shop for about two to three hours. They will come back again wearing uniforms, and play some more! There were one or two boys who, once in a while, will shed off their school uniforms and wear normal clothes, and continue playing or loitering in the shop! Their reasons on enquiring were, they were on medical leave or not well, and will be going to clinic. Some morning session boys will come to the computer shop first, at about 2pm after school, play games or do some internet chatting, and only then go home.

I did not allow any cigarette smoking in my shop, even though it was not air-conditioned. Not even in the bathroom. I did catch a few of them trying to puff away at the back, near the bathroom and they were strongly warned of not being admitted inside, if they were caught again. They stopped. Even adults were no exception. And when using the internet, nobody was allowed to go into adult websites. Strictly forbidden, with notices on the wall. Many a times, did I catch my customers, both adults and schoolboys, trying to browse adult sites. They were told not to do so, in strong terms. Believe me, even boys as young as ten knew how to enter the smut sites, due to their constant minglings with their senior friends!

Online chatting, using the various chat programs in the net, was the next popular thing for those clients of mine. They can chat away for hours. People showed various reactions on their faces and actions while chatting. Some smiled, some laughed, patting the shoulders of their friends sitting beside, and there was a girl who even shed tears, while doing her chatting.

Writing letters or doing school assignments were quite impossible in my place, when the boys were playing the network games, for they will be shouting around instructions and challenging one another, often using vulgar words. Games of ‘Half Life’ and ‘Counter Strike’ were the clear favourites, which solely involved searching and killing the adversaries, using various warfare weapons.

Parents, too, often brought their children, even as young five or six years old, to my place so that these children could familiarize themselves with the first feelings of the computers. I had installed a few computer games for the children, and it became my enthusiastic responsibility to teach these children how to play the games, using the mouse and the various keys of the keyboard. I loved to see their eyes of bewilderment and excitement while they played the games!

Several incidents had discouraged me from continuing with my computer business, the main one being the gradual lessening in the business income, due to strong competitions from the newly opened cyber cafes around the area. Other incidents mainly pertained to the addiction of schoolboys to the computer games and their loitering in my shop. Once, a lady in a nurse’s uniform came inside and took her teenager son away, after whacking him in front of the others in the shop, and to my chagrin, shouting at me that he was never in the house, because of my shop. Another day, a gentleman also did the same thing with his son, only this time he just shouted at him. Being a sensitive person at heart, I had felt very guilty, then, and finally decided to put a stop to this business.





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