Thursday, August 28, 2003
Selamat Hari Merdeka.This coming sunday, all malaysians will be celebrating the 46th Independence Day. I do wonder how many of us really understand the history behind the event. I have to admit that I myself do feel that am lacked of something when thinking abt merdeka. Born 14 yrs after the event, I never experience life before independence. I really wish that I do know more details abt the event. Some groups of people who contribute to the independence of malaysia back in 1957 have been forgetten. One group of them are the 'pondok religious teaches' who really contribute a lot. One of them is Hj Abdullah Fahim, the granddad of our famous 'Pak Lah' who actually chose 31st August as the date of declaring the independence. Sad to say, lots of malaysian have little interest to learn abt 'Merdeka'. All of us do have a challenge to educate our youngsters about the importance of it.
When I was working in Penang last time, merdeka day is just a day to rest, visiting friends or bringing my family to do some shopping in Island Plaza, my favourite shopping complex. When I was a small kid, I do remember that my dad will 'gendong' with his bicycle to Padang Merdeka which is famously as Padang Bank among locals. There we would watch 'Askar barih' or sometime we catch the parade along of the main roads. I live in the heart of KB, Jln Gajah Mati where we can just walk or take trishaw (which are called 'taxi' by Kelantanese) to go anywhere in KB. So folks if you go to Kelantan & wanna get taxi ask for 'kereta sewa'. Some time we do have brass bands show & tatoo events in the stadium where I shouted to joy when the drum major throw the stick to the air and managed to catch it back. (Sometimes, they failed).
When I was in States back in 1991-94 and 95-96, we do also organize some 'makan-makan' and get together during to celebrate it. One of the event that I really enjoy most is having the BBQ among malaysian in California back in 1996. We have a nice BBQ which is organized by Abg Mat & Kak Ros Stockton. Abg Mat & Kak Ros is a nice couple who always love to invite Malaysian for kenduri.
Among the Malaysian who were present during the BBQ were Dr. Bakri Musa, a surgeon (the regular writer in MalaysiaKini) & his Canadian wife, Habib who work for PWC in SF with the family,( now the CEO of NST), Abg Zaidi from Herluces with his Filipino wife, Zam & Jeff & family from Davis, malaysian students from Stockton & Sacramento and a few more that I may forget. We really enjoy the event & have a great time.
For the past 2+ yrs in UK, I never really celebrate 'Merdeka'. I know that the is always the annual event in Brickendonbury, Hertford but we are very far away to join. Yesterday, I gave a call to Pak Cik Mat Nor, the president of Malaysia Spore Society in Liverpool to say hi to him & was invited to their merdeka event this sunday in Liverpool. I went to their Maulid event last time (they came to our Maulid event too) & really enjoy lots of sumptous malay dishes.
Pak Cik Mat Noor & his friends are the sailor who came to this country many many years ago. Some of them have already passed away. I told my wife that we should ziarah them from time to time since this is really encouraged by Islam & a good lesson for our kids too.
My fellow blogger, Penawan just emailed me that his wife, Z does know more abt these people since she used to do some documentaries abt them. In fact, our TYT (ambassador) Dato' Hj Salim managed to visit them before he left for new posting in Malaysia a couple of weeks ago. I will write later abt my experience with Dato Salim ,a unique diplomat who is very humble. I do wish that our pakcik2 will share some great stories during the event this sunday.
The is no meaning for independence if the rakyat feel that the life is more difficult compared to before. Hope to see the government will strive to curb corruption , social illness, racism, inequality among riches & poorer, etc2 and have better education, purchasing power, facilities etc2 for rakyat. I finish with the prayer that Malaysia will continue to be a prosperous, peaceful, 'diberkati Allah' & keep improving from time to time.
Cinta kepada Negara adalah sebahagian drp Iman (Maksud Hadith)
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NASI LEMAK SMS
Assalamualaikum... I am back. Thousands of apologies to my fellow bloggers & readers who regularly visit the site & found out that it has not be updated. Due to some reason, I had chosen to postpone from writing in the past three weeks eventhough I am tempted to do so. Last 2 days, I got an email from my chilhood friend, MA who is currently attached to Shell Brunei. I was complaining to him since I did sms him & ask him 3 times already via email whether he receive the sms of not. Then , he share with me an interesting experience that near to his office in Brunei, there is someone selling nasi lemak via sms where the client can sms him/her so that they can collect the nasi lemak later. What a creative idea? Look how someone does ingeniously make use of the technology! I have to leave now since my second son has been bugging me to accompany him to buy sweets & ice-pop from the newsagent. Will write again.
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Saturday, August 02, 2003
IBUKU SIPENOREH GETAHIbuku sipenoreh getah
buta hurufnya sedari lahir
buta angkanya sedari kecil,
tapi cerah matanya bagai bulan purnama
terang hatinya bagaikan suria pagi.
Sibuta itulah
yang kupanggil ibu
orang pertama mengajarku:
Setajam-tajam
mata pisau torehnya,
tajam lagi simata pena.
(Dato Prof Dr. Hashim Yaacob)
The poem above is from a book title 'Aku Hanya Mahu Ke Seberang; Kumpulan Puisi-Puisi Remaja, Hashim Yaacob, Task Global Sdn Bhd, 2001). I was so delighted to get a copy of above book as a gift from the author himself last year when I visited him in his office in UM on 17.6.2002. I had to wait for more than an hour to meet the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affair) of the oldest university in M'sia, even I did have my appointment set up from UK. However, I told myself to be patient since his secretary, Puan Juriah did tell me that he was really very busy with so many visitors & students who came to meet him since early in mornings. I came to meet him since he is a very unique person ( an academian who got his professorship while in 30s, a dentist who got international recognition, a chartered biologist,a poet, tok dalang, etc who came from a rubber-tapper family in Kelantan) Before this, I only read his poem in newspaper & also learned a lot about this guy from a friend of mine,Dr Zamri,an orthodontist in UM who was doing his master in Leeds University.
I really appreciate that we did spend some quality time together in his office & during lunch next door (which was actually arranged for his lunch time meeting). I did tell him that I do hope to see him to become the next UM VC when the contract of the existing VC finished in March 2003. On nite end of last March, I was so delighted to read a news in Utusan Online that my hope has come truth. I do pray to Allah that Dato' Prof Hashim will continue serve the nation in his fullest capacity and hope one day I will follow his step. I am very proud to meet a rubber tapper's son who has become a very highly calibre person in academics field. I do pray to Allah that his wish on the book that was presented to me ' Semoga Sampai Ke Seberang' will happen soon.
p.s: I met Prof Hashim again during my last trip to
M'sia last June(this time after his office hour)
but I had to apologize to him that I had to turn
down his lunch invitation the next day because
of my tight schedule).
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sang kelate
Sang Kelate is a Kelantanese citizen who
is born and bred in Kota Bharu. He loves
to share his humble thoughts & exchange idea with the readers.
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