On this auspicious day we tend to ask ourselves what "Merdeka" meant to us. Historically the word although meant the independence of our nation but it has the connotation of what our forefathers and leaders had done i.e. "Pengorbanan untuk Negara" or sacrifice for the nation. Read any history books or autobiographies with regards to our nation's independence it will unfold stories of sacrifice of time, money, and oneself for that one ultimate goal of obtaining the independence. The whole nation united and worked towards that goal and waited with anxiety on the outcome of our beloved Tun Abdul Rahman's entourage to the UK to give us back the power to decide our nation's own destiny - Merdeka.
As Uncle Ben told Spiderman - with power comes responsibility. All our 6 Prime Ministers knew this and if you could just chart what they have done for the nation its as if they had sat down together in a mamak stall and decide who should do what i.e. the theme for each ruling term. The 1st PM brought us Independence and Perpaduan, the 2nd PM started on eradicating poverty by rural development and NEP, the 3rd PM emphasised on education and military, with all the foundation of a nation put in place the 4th PM took upon the development and industrialization of the nation, the 5th PM saw the importance of inner strength and human capital development to go hand in hand with the industrialisation of the nation, and the current PM emphasised on glokalisation - globalization with local values, strength and harmony.
As such to me, even today, Merdeka is not only about the independence of our nation, the right to choose and the right to decide but that independence, that right must be done and carried out responsibly. Because the ultimate, as was then and is now is - the sacrifice for the nation. The well-being of the nation, the nation building, the harmony that is required between races to achieve that, must be sustained. The Malaysian Constitution has rightly shown the way - the drafter of the Constitution must have been given the Divine guidance as the Constitution serves as a beacon to each and every one of us Malaysian the ultimate sacrifice.
Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Smoking
Call me bias, old fashion, kampong, unstylish or untrendy, whatever - guilty as charged but I am anti smoking. I've come to a conclusion that smokers need to have their high either due to mental need, physical need, habit, or to boost a low self-esteem, to look modern, stylish, confident, a sign that they have arrived, or just plain addicted.
The image of a sweet young thing seemingly with a quiet confidence, demure and appealing is shattered the moment she took out that cigerette pack and lighter. Inhaling and exhaling the cigarette 'stylishly' like in movies and tv, I felt sad for her as in my eyes she has turned into someone who wanted to be seen as not your common next-door-girl but a sophisticated young lady. I had to resist my maternal urge to go over to her to tell her that it does not work. I have even contemplated giving her flyer about the bad effects of smoking. My children may have tired of my various ways of "advising" them against smoking. It may sink in or may not but that is all a mother could do.
Restaurants should follow the airport policy of putting smokers in a room and let them inhale each others smoke - secondary and primary - instead of having a room for non-smokers and giving smokers the prime location of the airy outdoor under a covered verandah to enjoy the sunrise and sunset. Why oh why do we the non-smokers have to tolerate silently the pungent smelly cigars and the nausiating cigeratte smoke. Why are smokers allowed to enjoy their sins at our expense?
I know there will be many who disagree with me as statistics have shown that there is a rising % of smokers especially amongst youngsters. I have a feeling I may get a lot of flak on this.
The image of a sweet young thing seemingly with a quiet confidence, demure and appealing is shattered the moment she took out that cigerette pack and lighter. Inhaling and exhaling the cigarette 'stylishly' like in movies and tv, I felt sad for her as in my eyes she has turned into someone who wanted to be seen as not your common next-door-girl but a sophisticated young lady. I had to resist my maternal urge to go over to her to tell her that it does not work. I have even contemplated giving her flyer about the bad effects of smoking. My children may have tired of my various ways of "advising" them against smoking. It may sink in or may not but that is all a mother could do.
Restaurants should follow the airport policy of putting smokers in a room and let them inhale each others smoke - secondary and primary - instead of having a room for non-smokers and giving smokers the prime location of the airy outdoor under a covered verandah to enjoy the sunrise and sunset. Why oh why do we the non-smokers have to tolerate silently the pungent smelly cigars and the nausiating cigeratte smoke. Why are smokers allowed to enjoy their sins at our expense?
I know there will be many who disagree with me as statistics have shown that there is a rising % of smokers especially amongst youngsters. I have a feeling I may get a lot of flak on this.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Death of family and friend
My auntie passed away at 3.00am early morning last friday. Part of me was saddened by her passing away but part of me can't help but having this sense of tranquility for her as after suffering for more than a year, God had fated her to be with Him on such a holy day - a Friday and in the month of the holy Ramadhan. She was going in and out of hospital after that fateful day when she was stung by a centipede and her internal organs deteriorated one after another until her death. Her six children together with their spouses and children were enough to fill up the living room to pray tahlil for her. Mum and I went back to Kota Bharu to be with them in their hour of grief.
Yet another hearbreaking news when my niece in Port Dickson, after several years of poor health, also passed away. I griefed for her as she was relatively still young with no children. Through the years of her illness she was reduced to skins and bones and she had to rely everything on the maid. My heart goes out to her mum as it is any mum's nightmare to cradle her daughter who died before her.
And today I received news that a college friend passed away in his sleep. The last time I saw him was a few months back. We were reminiscing on our college days and although he was the "dakwah" type I would almost always make fun of him and he would humor me by going along with it and laughed it off.
The passing away of loved ones and friends are always painful. Al-fatihah.
Yet another hearbreaking news when my niece in Port Dickson, after several years of poor health, also passed away. I griefed for her as she was relatively still young with no children. Through the years of her illness she was reduced to skins and bones and she had to rely everything on the maid. My heart goes out to her mum as it is any mum's nightmare to cradle her daughter who died before her.
And today I received news that a college friend passed away in his sleep. The last time I saw him was a few months back. We were reminiscing on our college days and although he was the "dakwah" type I would almost always make fun of him and he would humor me by going along with it and laughed it off.
The passing away of loved ones and friends are always painful. Al-fatihah.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
The fasting
Tomorrow InsyaAllah all Muslims around the world will start the fast. We are not only to restrain ourselves from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk but also to refrain from bad thoughts and actions. In addition its the month of reverence, forgiveness, piety and devout to the Oneness of God.
Refraining from eating is not difficult in fact it makes the breaking of fast so special and that first few mouthful are heavenly. And devoting oneself to God felt the most natural thing to do and its like giving food to the soul and spirit. However there are some things that I just could not get used to - waking up at 4.45 am, half awake prepare the food, wake everybody up and eat, then wait for another 15 minutes until the prayer time. Everything about that routine is torturous. Any food does not look tempting at that time of the morning and eating is more of pushing and shoving it down the throat. And waking up everybody, oh my God, its like going to war especially with my two boys. But I guess this year will be different as all the kids have gone to college. So for this year we agreed to skip that morning sahur and eat before we go to bed. Hope it works !!
There are 3 things a Muslim must do as Ramadhan approaches - Ask for forgiveness from their parents, Ask for forgiveness between husband and wife, and Ask for forgiveness from others around us. So friends I wished to ask for forgiveness for any wrong doings that I may have done to you and I pray that all of us would be in good health and God bestow us with good tidings and protect us from any harm.
Refraining from eating is not difficult in fact it makes the breaking of fast so special and that first few mouthful are heavenly. And devoting oneself to God felt the most natural thing to do and its like giving food to the soul and spirit. However there are some things that I just could not get used to - waking up at 4.45 am, half awake prepare the food, wake everybody up and eat, then wait for another 15 minutes until the prayer time. Everything about that routine is torturous. Any food does not look tempting at that time of the morning and eating is more of pushing and shoving it down the throat. And waking up everybody, oh my God, its like going to war especially with my two boys. But I guess this year will be different as all the kids have gone to college. So for this year we agreed to skip that morning sahur and eat before we go to bed. Hope it works !!
There are 3 things a Muslim must do as Ramadhan approaches - Ask for forgiveness from their parents, Ask for forgiveness between husband and wife, and Ask for forgiveness from others around us. So friends I wished to ask for forgiveness for any wrong doings that I may have done to you and I pray that all of us would be in good health and God bestow us with good tidings and protect us from any harm.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Convocation
Today is my convocation where I received my PhD scroll from the Chancellor of University Malaya Sultan Azlan Shah. I was feeling abit down since my three children could not attend and be with me on this auspicious day as their Universities have started the semester. Along, my eldest son phoned from Melbourne to say how proud he was of his mom. Oh great sorrow when my two other kids seems not to realise the significance and did not give any response to my sms. I even withhold one ticket just in case one of them could make it.
However I was pleased as my mom, eldest sister, sister-in-law together with my two nephews, and of course my beloved were here. My hands were full with 3 flower bouquets and 2 sticks of ferrero rocher. Hahaha and my sister sms me to say that I looked comel !!! - that itself is like another bouquet of ferrero rocher. After the ceremony we all went for lunch at the KLGCC and it was a fitting end to a wonderful day.
The whole morning ceremony was for the conferment of Honorary Degree, Emeritus Professor and PhD. There were 5 speeches. The first was from the Chancellor himself which was understandably regal and formal. Emeritus Prof Dr Kumar Das was inspiring while the other three wasn't. I always felt that a good speech should - Relate to the audience, witty, straight-to-the-point without it being too lengthy, with the right intonation that shows passion, with some eye contact, current, having depth limiting the pie in the sky, not too full of yourself and last but not least speak with humility.
However I was pleased as my mom, eldest sister, sister-in-law together with my two nephews, and of course my beloved were here. My hands were full with 3 flower bouquets and 2 sticks of ferrero rocher. Hahaha and my sister sms me to say that I looked comel !!! - that itself is like another bouquet of ferrero rocher. After the ceremony we all went for lunch at the KLGCC and it was a fitting end to a wonderful day.
The whole morning ceremony was for the conferment of Honorary Degree, Emeritus Professor and PhD. There were 5 speeches. The first was from the Chancellor himself which was understandably regal and formal. Emeritus Prof Dr Kumar Das was inspiring while the other three wasn't. I always felt that a good speech should - Relate to the audience, witty, straight-to-the-point without it being too lengthy, with the right intonation that shows passion, with some eye contact, current, having depth limiting the pie in the sky, not too full of yourself and last but not least speak with humility.
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