......... DAKMA : Dari Lanai Meniti Alam

THE SO-CALLED LIBERALISM.

2010-07-30T18:59:00.006+08:00

Served these Malays right , and by this I mean the minority of the Malays ! --the so-called Liberal Malays .I say this because now, one by one the opposition leaders are blatantly trying to limit the special rights of the Malays , even though they know that Malays were accorded special privileges as enshrined in the constitution.

What do the Malays in the opposition party do ? Nothing ! They just let things be because these Malays desperately need the support of their fellow opposition party members in order to have a shot at forming the next government. They are envious of the Barisan National government ; they want to have administrative powers , they want to be in charge of the country. Thus they would even sell their souls just to gain political support. The sad thing is , they do not only sell their souls ,but in the process they sacrifice the whole Malay race !

Malays who used Islam to woo their fellow Muslims into voting for them do not want to openly admit that they are privately worried about the present situation. Rather as a matter of ego and perverted lust for power , they rallied behind their co-opposition members and instead attack UMNO , a Bumiputra-based political party.

Of course , these Malays won't admit that they are betraying their race . Instead they claim that they are just being liberal , and that Liberalism is a good attribute !

The seeds of 'liberalism' has been sown. Some of the younger Malays are already influenced . They feel proud that they are ' generously' advocating giving up their rights in the name of liberalism. The are moving on with the times- so they claimed . They are the new Malays. The are the champions . They are the heroes.

Allah SWT forbids that these champions, these heroes, these liberals succeed ; otherwise the very survival of the Malay race is at stake.

THOSE WERE THE DAYS......

2010-07-27T20:25:00.004+08:00

The order of the day this time around often send shivers down my spine . Revelations after revelations surface to stare us in the face. Malaysians do not spare one another's feelings any more.Name calling with racial overtones are rampant , and provocations are thrown around like there is no to-morrow. Are we now more matured and liberated - or are we no longer afraid to play with fire ?

I longed for the days when we were more respectful of each other . People were more guarded with their lexicology , semantics , figures of speech and what have you even though they had their fair share of outbursts. The government provided the guiding principles and the people were more conforming , each party playing the political game within the underlying perimeters of responsibility.

To top all this we had the privilege of having a legendary Prime Minister , who just knew what to do in the events of potential threats to our security and well-being . Used to be , I felt so secured under the care of our very own Tun Mahathir . Anytime something unpleasant cropped up , I always felt like a child with a protective father . I knew that if anything threathened the security or the political stability of our beloved land , Tun Mahathir would know what to do and what to say.

Of course Tun would sometimes spelt out unpopular polices within the government or within his own party . People would be fidgeting and sometimes running on edge , but in the end Tun would wind up the restlessness with his wisdom and everything would fall in place.

Alas this sense of ease is no more . The term of government , in between the time after Tun left and Dato'Seri Naib took over , has changed the political landscape drastically . Things sort of went the wrong direction . People were uttering semi seditious comments as if that was the way of life . It was scary , to say the least.

I am counting on Dato' Seri Najib , our beloved Prime Minister to put things right . I know it is a tall order , but God willing we can succeed .

I longed for those good , old days when we were one big tolerant family . I will go on dreaming regardless.

UNITY OF THE MALAYS ?

2010-07-17T22:30:00.008+08:00

Can the Malays from different political standings unite ? I don't think so .

See, I don't use the overstated word ideologies , simply because I don't believe that all political parties in Malaysia have ideologies . One case in point : there is this political party which professes to be the be all and the end all of the religious practice of a certain group , but in reality it is worst than most.

This talk of unity and co-operation among opposing political parties , vis a vis UMNO and PAS had better cease. As long as this individual from PAS has a say in the discussion , this discourse is not going to happen . This individual is filled with vengeance and hatred towards UMNO , thus his decision is not guided by reasons but emotions. It baffles me as to why leaders in UMNO want to even CONSIDER exchanging views with PAS in the first place !

UMNO is gradually taking back its prodigal sons to its fold. It's president is trotting in the fast lane and the masses are warming up . So why bother dealing with this so-called unity talk with PAS - at least for now ?

UMNO may respond to this discussion agenda once this pathetic PAS individual is no longer among the PAS ruling hierachy.

THE BLAME GAME

2010-03-16T10:15:00.005+08:00

UMNO has been around since 1946. The party has been accepted by the people ever since , as seen in the trust given to form the Federal government and the majority of the state governments. The leaders are generally very principled and committed .

The opposition parties who won the state elections in 2008 are now feeling the strain of governing their charge. Prior to this it was so easy to criticize the ruling party and inciting others through hate campaigns.

Now the tables are turned ! The opposition are nursing their wounds . Defects and cracks in their administration and party have surfaced on the double. The executives are feeling the burden ; those who voted them to power are disillusioned , party members and cronies are ill at ease and either complaining loudly or scribbling on the walls.

So , how do the opposition powers - that- be handle this situation ? Easy. Find someone to blame; and what better entity that the Barisan National ! Any wrong move is covered by the claim that this is the 'inheritance' from the past BN government . Any wrong doing committed by their officers would be attributed to the lessons learnt from the BN . Anything and everything negative would be subtly implied to be the fault of the BN in one way or the other . HOW CONVENIENT ! In actual fact the opposition leaders and members have reared their ugly heads. Most of them are corrupt and rotten to the core. On top of that they are inefficient , ineffective and ill suited to the positions they hold . Along with these traits they are also arrogant and recalcitrant.

Don't these people even have a shred of decency in them ?

Let us hope that this will serve as a wake up call for all those people who had made the wrong decisions in voting the opposition in during the last general election !

THE MALAYS IN PERSPECTIVE.

2010-02-14T20:11:00.010+08:00

I guess we, Malays, are a very compromising lot. We have to be, cause time and again some political fanatics among us just sit back and watch while our culture and even our religious principles are ripped apart. Worst, there are even Malays who come forward and lay down excuses in favour of our perpetrators!

What is happening exactly? Why do some of us swallow hook, line and sinker the excuses given by politicians who manipulate issues to their benefit. I can give many examples.

The ruling by the Federal Court (picture above) with regards to the Rightful Mentri Besar of Perak .....The Malays insult the Judiciary, badmouth the royal institution and just refuse to accept the inevitable.

The controversy regarding the initial ban on procession in respect of Prophet Muhammad's birthday. Some individual even went to the extent of trying to justify not having the procession, much to the ire of fellow muslims.

Of course the list goes on and on but unfortunately one is not at liberty to disclose more for fear of treading on forbidden ground viv-a-vis 'contempt of court'.

Suffice to say that we, Malays are very accommodating, very soft hearted and very, very gullible.

WHEN WILL WE EVER LEARN?

THE STUBBORN AND THE RECALCITRANT

2010-02-11T22:16:00.002+08:00

The ruling by the Federal Court with regards to the rightful Mentri Besar of Perak has struck a negative chord among some sore losers.

They claimed that :

The majority of Perakians still support the opposition group

Their leaders still enjoy the respect of the people

They would win the 13th General Election

and so on and so forth

To these recalcitrants I say ........DREAM ON !

BARISAN NASIONAL TO THE FORE......

2010-02-10T17:28:00.009+08:00

The Federal Court has spoken! Alhamdulillah, Dato' Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir is the rightful Mentri Besar of Perak and Barisan Nasional is yet again the ruling party. I have never doubted that in the first place.

After the initial display of frustration and indignation, those on the other side of the political divide have come to their senses and relented, albeit grudgingly.

Right from the start the writings on the wall were very glaring. It was just that some quarters chose to ignore them and continued living in their own fanatical and make-believe world.

Now that the last legal recourse has closed, everyone, particularly Perakians, is ready to move on. The Mentri Besar and his team will no doubt fulfill the obligations of the Barisan Nasional government like they have always done. The policies are in place, the administrators are raring to go and the people are eagerly waiting for the full implementation of the 'rakyat didahulukan pencapaian diutamakan' slogan, which have received rave reviews from the masses.

Ironically, it was reported in the media that some quarters had put forward certain conditions to the government if they were to cooperate with the ruling party (and this was stated after some of these pathetic individuals have bared their souls against the Federal Court's ruling). Conditions? Tut-tut! What were they thinking? Who are they to set conditions? I believe Dr. Zambry and his team are all set to perform their dues with the full backing of the Federal government and, more importantly, the majority of Perakians who, no doubt, are sick and tired of the despicable antics of some misguided dissenters. So to these dissenters .... take it unconditionally, or leave it. See if the majority cares!

To Dato' Seri Dr. Zambry, I have only this to say 'steer your ship, Captain, and may Allah always be with you! '

MY PERAK , YOUR PERAK

2010-02-08T00:35:00.011+08:00

February 9th 2010 is D-Day (Decision Day that is) for all of us, particularly in Perak. The CEO aka the Mentri Besar of Perak will be decided and proclaimed by the court then.

It is my utmost hope that YAB Dato Seri Dr. Zambry bin Abdul Kadir would remain as the Mentri Besar.

He has all the qualities and the the capability to propel Perak to greater heights, having proven his worth ten times over in the twelve months that he has led the BN government in Perak. He has excelled in all spheres of government administration, be it economic, social and what-have-you.

Let us all pray that victory for BN would prevail in Perak. We need all the development that the state has to offer , steered by the able leadership of the present state government.

You and I, Perakians in particular, deserve nothing less !!

THE INDISPENSIBLE TUN DR MAHATHIR

2010-01-21T07:09:00.014+08:00

Ever wonder why Tun Dr Mahathir is so special? I do ....... lots of time . In the final analysis , I do earnestly believe that Tun is Allah's gift to us, Malaysians !

Tun's fearless expose' of events and collabarations , hitherto unknown to all and sundry , shakes us to the bone. I just marvel at the vast field of resources available at Tun's disposal. All this boils down to one important fact - Tun Mahathir commands a lot of influence, visible or not, that inspires him to continue giving his best to the country.

Examples abound as to Tun's wisdom and foresightedness; latest his posting about the sale of land to Singapore, which triggered our government's action towards the guilty party.

Tun's selflessness in devoting valuable time and energy during his retirement is manifested in his endless presentation of ideas and comments for the sole reason of trying to make this country a better place to live, even though he sometimes gets punches and brickbats in the process.

So in view of all this, I am of the opinion that Tun Dr Mahathir should be given a more significant role in our government. YAB Dato' Seri Najib is a very effective Prime Minister, much more superior than his immediate predecessor, and very dynamic in his leadership of the government. Thus I firmly believe that our former prime minister, Tun Mahathir , would be accorded a meaningful place in our administration. It is truly a waste if we do not give ourselves this chance.

Unfortunately , there are people who are obsessed with Mahathir bashing. They profess to speak 'for the people', condemning Tun Mahathir in the most cruel ways, when in actual fact these 'condemners' are themselves nothing compared to Tun Mahathir and do not even command any significant following. What is obvious is that they see Tun Mahathir as a statesman with a huge following in Malaysia and the world over; and thus Tun Mahathir's contribution in the form of ideas and suggestions to the ruling party will render the government more popular. These group of people are in fact blinded by their own arrogance, and motivated by their political agenda.

Fortunately, people in general are again warming up to Tun Dr Mahathir. Those frustrated individuals can hang their heads in shame and pray that they will be forgiven for all the nasty things they say about Tun Dr Mahathir, the slanders, the insults and what have you.

May Allah grant Tun Dr Mahathir a long and blessed life ahead..

RAGE AND RESPONSIBILITY; AND WISHFUL THINKING.

2010-01-08T23:53:00.041+08:00

Almost everybody is angry today, albeit for different reasons. But they have something in common. The anger, and to a certain extent uncontrolled rage, stemmed from the same issue: the use of the word 'ALLAH'.

The situation now is very delicate and precarious. Malaysians of all race and religion should come together and listen to reason. Religion is our guiding principle in life; we should strengthen our faith and resolve to seek divine help to ensure our peace and stability will prevail during this turbulent time.

In the midst of all this turbulence, I cannot help but wish that we don't have to undergo all this tension and uneasiness. I wish that some quarters would just let things be and not challenge sensitive order put forth by the government. What's the big deal about not being allowed to use a word that is so sacred to another religious group when there is easily another terminology that could be used without any restriction?

Moreover ALLAH is not synonymous with God. According to the theory of Semantics, the classification of objects in terms of words used to denote them differs from language to language and culture to culture. Thus, why the obsession to challenge? Is this about ego? Or is this just curiousity to see what happens when one throws a stone at the hornets' nest? Shouldn't one listen to one's mother when she says to ' let sleeping dogs lie '? I wish people are more matured and responsible! But then , responsibility is a lonely word!

I further wish that some quarters who profess to be the guardian of Islam would not adopt hypocrisy as a way of life, proclaiming different convictions on the same issue to different audience. I wish those people being hoodwinked to - in villages and congregations would not be so fanatic to these political leaders and once and for all see them for what they really are.

Sadly in the aftermath of the ruling on the use of the word ALLAH by The Kuala Lumpur High Court recently, rage rules over reason as advocated in the alleged arson cases involving churches. Arson is deplorable and highly-charged religious extremists should be restrained.

Ironically, instead of working together to ease the situation, certain irresponsible parties are quick to point fingers at their political opponents. They know for a fact that this not the work of UMNO, yet they see this as an opportunity to discredit their opponents.

As the Prime Minister says UMNO is a responsible party. So where do you get off pointing fingers at UMNO? And worst, some people insinuate that this is the fault of the government. Please refrain from slander and unsubstantiated accusations? No religion in the world would tolerate this.

Lastly, let us all search our souls. Let our eyes see reality. Shed our fanaticm. Pray that we can ride through this storm unscathed. Pray that all our fellow Malaysians cherish our peaceful co-existence and hope that our nation's security is in no imminent danger.

In all this happenings, I wish the government would hold on to the Internal Security Act. No revision and no amendments! This is not the time yet. This act is not only relevant, but imperative in a multi racial and multi religious society like ours. This is a fact. So live with it!

Breakfast @ Putrajaya

2010-01-07T17:12:00.017+08:00

Woke up this morning feeling very adventurous. The most important meal of the day had to be special, I figured. So me and my other half settled ourselves in Edi's and Shikin's 4 by 4 and headed for the administrative centre of our nation - Putrajaya!

All four of us were agreed on one thing ......the mother of all breakfasts had to be nasi lemak, so we proceeded to Prescint 8. The was this place that Edi thought was the most popular nasi lemak joint in all of Putrajaya because the queue here was always endless.I picked a whole plate of nasi with condiments and what-have-you on the side. Alas , the sambal was too sweet ! It was a real letdown. What's the matter with this stall operator and others like him? Were they trying to 'corrupt' the taste buds of our younger generation; or were they on a mission to inflict the nation with diabetes?

We then headed for home but as luck would have it, enroute out of Putrajaya we happened to pass through Prescint 9. From afar I could see a wonderful dome-like canopy covering a very spacious area. It was incredible! Looked almost like one of those high end coffee joints that our Malaysian yuppies were accustomed to. I had to check this place out.

Chairs were neatly arranged around clean white tables encircling stalls serving authentic Malaysian food. It was well before lunch break so most of the food was being cooked. There were Nasi Ambeng, Lempeng Kelapa , Otak-Otak and a host of other mouth watering dishes. Plus , the Malay kueh was something to die for!

But that was not all. I noticed something out of the ordinary too. Was it my fancy or were all the food operators neatly dressed and carried themselves very professionally ? Most of them were either middle-aged; with one or two a little over sixty. They blended so well with the customers that I could easily mistook them for one. It was a pleasant departure from the norm. Now wasn't that really something?

TOK MAT, SOMEONE WE COULD COUNT ON.

2010-01-03T01:53:00.023+08:00

My condolences to the family of the late Tan Sri Mohamad Rahmat (above). His demise has touched the hearts of many, me included.

I have had the priviledge of knowing Tok Mat through my father way back in the sixtees. My late father and Tok Mat were political buddies though their ages were twenty years apart. My family and I were very touched when Tok Mat appeared at my father's solat jenazah and proceded to join in the Saf.

Almost eight years later, I asked to meet Tok Mat, who was then the minister of information on a political matter. He recognized me instantly and invited me to his office with the glass walls and amazing view. He took immediate action by instantly calling the subject of my predicament, a very, very powerful political leader - who happened to be home during his lunch break..

I was privy to their conversation and I was truly fascinated by the way Tok Mat handled the conversation in my favour. Well, Tok Mat was very, very powerful too because the other leader relented and saw my side of the argument. That was something very meaningful to me and to this day I hold Tok Mat in high esteem.

Tok Mat is gone now answering the call of Allah. May Allah bless your soul. AL FATIHAH.

ALLAH AND THE SCIENCE OF MEANING

2010-01-03T00:43:00.020+08:00

It is apparent that there is an air of uneasiness, to say the least, among the Muslim population ever since the ruling was made regarding the use of the word Allah. The government have cautioned the people to be very, very careful when dealing with this issue considering the emotions and challenges that are affected by the ruling.

ALLAH has always been used by Muslims here & worldwide to mean God in the context of the Islamic religion. The muslims' call for solat five times a day is always preceded by 'ALLAH HUEKBAR' lending credence to the argument that this is the terminology used by the muslim world.

Interestingly, in the realm of Semantics (the study of meaning), the naming of persons or objects, for instance, depends very much on the language, culture and interest of the speakers. A famous linguist, Professor F.R. Palmer ( Emeritus Professor of Linguistics Science, University of Reading ) once argued that .....'The classification of objects in terms of the words used to denote them differs from language to language. If, for instance, we take the English words stool, chair arm-chair, we shall not find precise equivalents in other languages.The French word 'fauteuil' might seem to be equivalent to English 'arm-chair', but whereas the presence of arms is probably an essential characteristic for 'arm-chair' that is not necessarily so for 'fauteuil'.

It can, however, be maintained that there are no real synonyms, that no two words have exactly the same meaning. Indeed it would seem unlikely that two words with exactly the same meaning would both survive in a language or culture.

So is ALLAH synonymous with God ?

Just a little something to ponder on ....... !

OPEN YOUR EYES WIDE .....!

2009-12-27T21:29:00.014+08:00

Malays are the Malays' worst enemies ! I am a Malay and I am sick and tired of the self destruction initiated by Malays against their own.

They are the ones who called for the demise of 'ketuanan Melayu' when in fact the proponents of the concept were just trying to defend the rights of the bumiputra as enshrined in the Federal constitution through Part x11 article 153 .I am not saying that the non Malays do not voice out the opposition to the special rights of the Malays , far from it ......one leader of a component party of Barisan National even ripped the hearts of of bumiputra when it was suggested that the Malays are as immigrant as the next person . But the truth of the matter is , it hurts the most when the Malays themselves forsake the legacy that was inherited. These ingrates just threw the struggles of our forefathers to the wind and danced to the music of their political comarades just so they can pursue their own political agenda!

The dangerous part is, these ingrates are destroying the very foundation this nation is built on. This equality thing is good so long as the special rights of the Malays and the sancity of Islam are protected as guaranteed by the constitution.

The ultimate insult: a senior MALAY political leader denouncing 'ketuanan Melayu'! Please open your minds .... and more importantly, your eyes!

ALL FOR TUN MAHATHIR

2009-11-19T21:45:00.038+08:00

Tun Dr Mahathir (above) as a Senior Minister? That's a very valid suggestion, and I am all for it! It goes without saying that Tun is a legend in his time. A senior position in Dato' Seri Mohd. Najib's cabinet befits this statesman who has an abundance of experience and a renowned effective leadership.

I am very privileged to have had a very meaningful encounter with this eminent man. I can still remember that eventful night in 1999. My then boss had sidelined me out of spite. I had felt betrayed and unjustly treated. I had no other recourse than to see the Prime Minister himself and pour my heart out. It was very late at night and I summoned enough courage to 'gatecrash' the official residence and waited for Tun to return from a formal function. When the gate slowly opened my husband and I slipped through and pass through his security detail to announce my presence to Tun. To my pleasant surprise, he granted my audience....... with the head of security telling me , in no uncertain terms, to be very, very brief.

I was ushered into the living room. Tun Siti Hasmah discreetly left the room and left me and my other half facing the grimly-faced Prime Minister. I then told my story substantiated with facts and figures. Tun listened intently without saying anything. When I had finished my 'presentation', Tun nodded and uttered one single simple sentence. 'We will see about it tomorrow', he said. That was worth a million sentences to me!

The next day I received the all important phone call. I was given the recognition I humbly feel that I rightly deserved!

Yet again Tun had proven that he was wisdom personified. He is a man of his words......... , unlike a certain former head of government who promised the world to so many people but delivered to none , that in the end he left office with nothing honorable to his name ; known to all and sundry as 'a nice guy' who never was!

So fellow Malaysians , let us rally behind this suggestion and give Tun his rightful position to help make Malaysia a better place for all.

WHAT IS YOUR AGENDA MISTER ?

2009-11-19T00:07:00.009+08:00

I am truly saddened by wild accusations hurled at the police force . Among other things, the police are accused of being trigger happy and targetting certain racial groups in their effort to rid the country of criminal activities.

Really, what's the problem? There has to be a hidden agenda behind these uncalled- for accusations .

When a criminal is killed in a shoot out between the ' forces ' of good and evil , some politicians cry out loud in defence of the criminal and are quick to blame the police ; but when a member of the force is killed while trying to protect the public against their criminal attackers, hardly a voice is raised in sympathy for the law enforcers.

Nevertheless I have strong faith in our Malaysian spirit.I hope the majority of Malaysians will come out in support of the police and discard the insinuations of these ugly Malaysians whose intension is just to discredit the police force and the government. After all they are politicians with their own political agenda !

WILL THEY EVER LEARN ?

2009-11-03T19:22:00.026+08:00

What's the matter with the Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS)? I have an axe to grind with these people since way back in 1997 when I was the Member of Parliament for Parit. JAIS was overzealous then; and now they have gotten worst! Back then I had the privilege of voicing my disgust at JAIS in the August house of the Dewan Rakyat. I had pointed out the arrogance and folly of JAIS who was concentrating on minor targets when they should be concentrating on bigger and more important issues. I had said then that they had no conviction, no sense of direction and to my mind, no credibility at all!

Today JAIS has issues with the charismatic Dr Mohd Asri (above), the former mufti of Perlis. I have always held high regards for Dr. Mohd Asri. He is learned, cultured and knowledgable in Islamic affairs. He is not like most conventional gurus who are quick to pass judgements on people, and commited only to their school of thoughts. I perceive Dr Mohd Asri as a breath of fresh air. Very dynamic in his views, people friendly and willing to listen and give appropriate counsel. And more importantly, very pragmatic in his dealings with Islam and women issues.

But why is it that whenever someone or some quarters, like the Sisters in Islam (SIS) for instance, appear to have differing views albeit with the proper Islamic references, they seem to earn the ire of the authorities-that-be ?

I am glad to read that the President of the Malaysian Syariah Lawyers has apologised to the former Perlis mufti. Hold your head high Dr Mohd Asri. I believe more apologies are forthcoming!

THE THINGS PEOPLE DO !

2009-10-29T18:41:00.012+08:00

Huh! Somebody claimed that someone was almost choked to death by the police in broad daylight yesterday and that somebody was holding high office not too long ago. The someone who was almost choked......... emerged later at a formal venue none the worse for his alleged suffering!

Really, it appalls me to think that Malaysians could blatantly utter such allegations and then nonchalantly indulge in activities and word exchanges in full view of the public and media without any signs of their alleged predicament. Don't they have any conscience at all? Or even a streak of decency?

I sincerely hope our young Malaysians see through these lies and manipulations. All the said allegations against our law enforcers seems to have been fabricated out of the evil desire of this subculture to hoodwink the public further. Enough is enough!

This group of old delinquents need to go back to school and learn some manners.

GOOD TO BE BACK !

2009-10-26T20:58:00.012+08:00

Hi guys! I am glad to be back after a good full year of absence from blogging. I had moved from my old address to Kota Damansara while waiting for my new house to be completely MY home - with gadgets and instruments to fit my fancy. Well that aside , can you believe that in this modern world of technology and the cliche about how Malaysian should be IT savvy and up to date, there are housing areas like Kota Damansara that could not get access to house phone lines? Tut! tut! Really those people at Telecom should be ashamed of themselves!

Well, now that I am almost completely settled at my 'dream world', i.e. the wonderful new township of ALAM IMPIAN, I can indulge in one of my favourite pastimes again !

I have another reason to be happy. As you very well know my last posting - about a year ago - was regarding my plea to Tun Mahathir to return to UMNO. Alhamdullillah , Tun is now back into UMNO's fold.

WELCOME BACK DEAR TUN ! And welcome back to me ! It sure is good to be back.

PULANGLAH TUN...........

2008-09-09T23:41:00.002+08:00

"Tun Mahathir Mohamad telah keluar dari UMNO!" Itulah gaungan berita yang menyentakkan ahli UMNO dan rakyat Malaysia seluruhnya. Terasa semacam ada awan kemurungan menyelimuti alam perjuangan kini. Kenapa Tun perlu mengambil keputusan yang begitu mendadak? Bukankah lebih baik menguruskan permasalahan dalaman UMNO dari dalam parti itu sendiri daripada merencana dari luar?

Tun masih mampu menyumbang idea dan pandangan pada UMNO. Tun perlu bersama UMNO untuk mengharungi taufan kekalutan yang melanda tanah air kita sekarang kesan daripada tsunami politik pada 8 Mac dahulu.

Pulanglah ke pangkuan UMNO Tun, demi bangsa kita. Melayu perlu mencari penyelesaian untuk mengukuhkan perjuangan kita. Ingatlah kiasan 'CHELAKA AYAM'.....kalau sudah dibawa bersampan janganlah pula menyeberang sungai. Kalau sudah ada wadah perjuangan perlu apa mencari kaedah lain bagi merongkai simpul kemelutan politik tanah air.

Jangan hiraukan kata-kata cerca dari lidah - lidah durjana. Jangan pedulikan kiasan tak bersopan dari seburuk insan; dan jangan dihitung hujjah dari mereka yang dulu pernah membuatkan UMNO punah (pabila mereka berhijrah untuk menokhtahkan pendaftaran UMNO itu sendiri.)

Duri dalam daging konon! Daging siapa? Daging sipenutur itu sendiri saya kira! Suara sesumbang ini hanya didorong oleh dendam kesumat yang membarah di hati nestapa. Tolak ketepi saja pengucapan begini! Mereka ini tak setara dengan Tun, bakti mereka kepada UMNO sekumin saja... kalaupun ada! Saya amat hairan kenapa orang-orang ini tidak mencontohi tuturkata beradap Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi . Mengapa lebih sudu daripada kuah?

Tun, kembalilah pada UMNO. Suara suara memanggil lebih kuat daripada suruhan pergi !!!

BEWARE THE RIVER OF NO RETURN.....

2008-07-08T15:55:00.012+08:00

The old order changeth

Yielding place to new

And God fulfills himself in many ways.........

Of late these lines from my secondary school literature class , 'Morthe d'Arthur ' by Thomas Malory ,present itself in my mind ever so often. Guess my emotions have been stirred up following the events of these few months .

Since the results of the 12th General Election, the opposition parties seem to be in a state of euphoria. They make it seem as though the country is falling apart and that it is just a matter of time before they wrest power from the Barisan Nasional. They make it look as though the figure needed to change the government ( in terms of Members of Parliament defecting to the other side) is very negligible, when in actual fact to even get one person to defect is almost insurmountable.

And what is the carrot dangling infront of the target group. Heavenly goodies, ........reducing the oil price, getting rid of corruption etc. etc.

Very positive changes......... But let us ponder a while. Are all these promises easily fulfillable? Is the credibility of the promiser or promisers intact ? Can they deliver what they so easily promised? I DOUBT IT !

So beware. Change is not always positive. New brand of people in power are not necessarily the best undertaker of our multiracial government. Once we surrender our governance to another party, there is no turning back! Too much damage would have been done. And too late we get wise.

Take a step back in history. Remember France. Remember The French Revolution. And remember ' A Tale of Two Cities ' by Charles Dickens.

May wisdom prevail.

EAT YOUR HEART OUT , Sallehen !

2008-07-07T16:11:00.016+08:00

Ha , it is pay back time ! And I am smugly contented. I am happy beyond words. A twist of events has proven what I have always believed....... that there are people in this country who are eveready to believe the worst of women , and spare no effort to degrade women .

I am talking about Sallehen Mokyi, the PAS Selangor Youth Chief, of course ! This very PAS leader had protested against Ella and Mas Idayu performing at The Sultan Selangor Cup Football Competition on 6 Julai 2008. According to a report by ' The Star Online' (June 16) , Sallehen and his band of perverted PAS youths submitted a memorandum to the Mentri Besar of Selangor to stop the two artists from performing at the function because 'their dressing and performances do not follow the values of the Islamic and Malay culture '.They contended that the these two FEMALE artists ' performances were not suitable and acceptable because many youngsters would be present there.

Yes, these chauvinistic people did spell out those degrading remarks!!!

Now, apa dah jadi weh ?

I am as pleased as Punch when the protest rally at Kelana Jaya organised by the opposition yesterday , including PAS , displayed an immoral performance in the form of underpants exposure and vulgar lyrics by a MALE rock group chosen by the same opposition parties. And among the audience were very young boys and girls. By the way it was reported that PAS's Murshiddul Am was supposed to deliver a speech at the rally but he did not turn up. I wonder why?

So the moral of the story ? Don't be too hasty to condemn women. Shed your stupid ,negative preconceived perception of women. Remember you are under constant divine survelience.

Isn't it ironic that the shameful and appalling act displayed by the MALE rock singer in an event organised by the opposition, including PAS, took place in the same state of which Sallen Mukyi is the PAS Youth Chief and on the same date as Ella's and Mas Idayu's performance ???

I rest my case.

OF BIG BREAKFAST AND A BIGGER AGENDA

2008-07-06T12:38:00.016+08:00

One of my favourite Breakfast places is Mc D at downtown Bangsar. You might want to know what is so special about this joint compared to other Mc D establishments. Well the answer is simple: Here I get to order my very own SOFT scrambled egg for my Big Breakfast ! And that means the world to me!

Another favourite place is Chili Merah in Shah Alam. They make the best roti canai with that soft , tender texture and heavenly spicy curry to dunk your roti in. And some days ,if I am lucky, I get to eat my roti canai with piping hot, just-cooked gulai daging 'kawah' style.

BUT THIS MORNING I WAS IN A FOUL MOOD!! I resented the threat I faced when I stepped out of my home to go out for breakfast. There was a gathering at Kelana Jaya to protest against the fuel hike, or so they said. I felt intimidated. And awfully suspicious. I couldn't help feeling that there was something more to it than just a genuine show of opinion on our present fuel predicament .It was a global phenomenon , for crying out loud ! . I firmly believe that there was a hidden agenda for all this hu-ha -----like what most people thought.

But most importantly,this kind of protest gathering which had become the norm for some quarters had encroached on my minding-my-own-business breakfast outing. There is always an unsettling feeling, a sense of insecurity towards one's well-being that accompanied these protest moves. Plus these kind of assemblies entail traffic jams ,or at the very least traffic congestions. I abhor this encroachment !! I have the right to go out as and where I please, safe in the knowledge that my movement is within the realm of peaceful co-existence with my fellow countrymen ---------- without this multi- agenda group manupulating our system and our fellow citizens and creating public uneasiness in the process , just so they can pursue their own selfish ambitions.

It is really pathetic. Some of these 'protesters' are legislators at state and federal levels ! Why bother to get yourselves elected if at the end of the day you could not stay away from the streets?

I am sick and tired of these charade. Get your act together. Use the right channels to air your views. Democracy does not dictate that you can create an environment of threat towards other people's convenience........and safety. Grow up and behave !!

And let me and a lot of other hungry people enjoy our breakfast in peace !!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME........!

2008-07-04T13:23:00.008+08:00

Yesterday was my birthday.......again! Had a pleasant surprise when my significant other presented a beautiful orange flavoured birthday cake just as I was about to sit down for tea after a lengthy meeting with my UMNO ladies. Thanks too for the lovely card, Yang.

Other than that nothing really interesting happened this time around, except I decided that after all these years of toiling for the family and servicing the country, I needed to reward myself. And what better time to do it other than on my birthday. So , on the eve of my birthday I decided to present myself with a designer handbag.

I headed for KLCC and started browsing at the bags on display at the boutiques. Hmm very tempting! One particular brand caught my fancy and I made up my mind to buy this one.... and just ignored the hefty price. Anyway there was a big discount because of the ' summer sale '. And after all it was my birthday gift to myself. A girl got to have what a girl got to have ! I digged into my suddenly - worn- out -looking handbag to take out my purse when ,as if on cue, my mobile rang. It was a political call . A very disturbing one . It took all the excitement and pleasure out of my pre birthday shopping.

I went home empty handed and empty hearted !

But what the heck , birthdays come every year. Hope my next one will be more eventful !

OH , WHAT AILS YOU MR BALA ?

2008-07-04T12:47:00.003+08:00

I am disgusted beyond words ! What do these people take us for ? One day an 'explosive' press conference.................the next day another 'explosive' retraction of the 'explosive' statements of the first pc !

Mr Balasubramaniam ( the PI hired by Abdul Razak Baginda) has a lot to answer for his outrageous act in shocking the whole country with declarations that should not have been made in the first place.

Malaysia has always been known as a peaceful country with peace -loving people, but now our whole reputation as a nation is at stake. .......what with sensational and scandalous news bombarding our media every day. Mr Bala's shocker is yet another disgrace !

Search your soul Mr Bala and tell us what actually IS your problem ?

ME AND MY WORLD.......

2008-06-23T01:02:00.009+08:00

I AM A HOPELESS ROMANTIC ! And to me that is a virtue. I just get carried away when soft sentimental songs fill the air conditioned air in my sedan whenever I travel along the highway.It's amazing what listening to these songs can do to me. I get transported to my own nostalgic domain , filled with pleasant memories and the magic swings of days gone by. When I listen to these songs I don't just listen to the music and the vocal , but most of all I immersed myself in the lyrics. Some of these lyrics are just beautiful ....... with narrations of sweet undying love and strong commitments to the love of one's life .What a beautiful world !!!

The ' Classic National' channel on the radio is fantastic. I just love those songs that are accompanied with instruments such as the trumpet, saxaphone and accordion. Those 50s and 60s era have the most beautiful melody that really soothes the ear.The musical band appears unassuming and gently persuasive, with intervals of solo saxaphone and choral blends that are aptly intertwined. I wish I am in a position of authority that can promote this kind of music to the modern audio world .

As for lyrics, I simply love the lovely words crooned by the likes of Tan Sri P Ramlee, Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis and Broery Marantika. The estatic elements in the rhyme and rhythm floats the memory to things beautiful and sentimental. And of course John Lennon's 'Imagine' helps steer the mind to dream on........

By the way , I do cry at the movies too!!!

LOST IN THE WONDER OF LANGKAWI

2008-06-15T20:42:00.017+08:00

Langkawi is fantastic ; and I mean that with a capital F. I spent four wonderful days at Langkawi recently. My last visit was about five months ago. This time around my husband and I stayed at The Frangipani Resort. Although the rate was a bit high , the sights and atmosphere around the resort was well worth it!

We were lucky to get a chalet quite close to the Andaman Sea, where we could see the angry waves crashing against the shore and hear the restless winds lashing against the leaves of the frangipani trees .Dark green coconut palms swayed gracefully in rhythm with the whistlings.

The feeling was truly terrific and therapeutic !

Remember my motto...........when the going gets tough the tough go shopping? Well I do worry a lot about the goings- on in UMNO at the moment , and with the branch meetings due in a month's time I feel there is an excuse to go shopping and fishing. And where else can I combine these two passionate pastimes than in Langkawi!

Our fishing guru in Langkawi was Pak Hassan , a tanned fifty-something fisherman who knew the temperaments of the sea and the moods of our prey. On the second day of our stay , we took off in Pak Hassan's single engined boat with rods and baits............. ready to conquer the sea. The day's takings wasn't the least disappointing. We brought back a pail of cencarus and ikan kembong that were fooled by our appolo baits !

The third day was earmarked for shopping and adventure. I was taken in by the abundance of designs and shapes of crockery and kitchenwares on display at most of the stores. After about an hour or so of looking around I managed to put together a set of twelve different shapes of melamineware for my family barbeque needs . A heap of them and they cost less than a hundred and fifty ringgits!

Next came my usual patronage to my favourite baju kurung material shop. And as predicted by my significant other, I succumbed to temptation and bought three pieces of Italian silk. Yes they were Italian alright, and very attractive too.

Well that was enough shopping for one day............for my needs that is. The rest of the shopping

spree was spent looking for gifts for my clan and friends.

The shopping done, we headed to a simple lunch. Hubby suspected that I was already kenyang with the shopping and not really interested in food. I hate to admit it, but he was half correct.

The weather was still fine with bright clear sky and cool gentle breeze when we headed back to our hotel in our rented car. We decided to cruise along and enjoy the scenery. That was when I noticed how beautiful Langkawi had become. Travelling along the tree lined road puncuated by neat kampung houses really stirred this feeling of pride and appreciation for this beautiful island. At one point during a lonely stretch of road , I was lost in admiration and wonder. The scenery was overwhelming. The sentang tree with creamy white blooms seemed to line both sides of the road endlessly, at times forming natural arches along the way. It was as though we were travelling in a jungle with lush greenery and a tarred road winding admist this wonder of nature. It was awesome. Really awesome !

Suddenly I realised how fortunate we were to have a haven like Langkawi, nature at its best with white sandy beaches and tropical trees, shopping with choices aplenty and sports in abundance.

The BN government which developed Langkawi had done an excellent job. I pray to God that Langkawi and Kedah would return to the Barisan Nasional state government come the 13th General Election, Godwilling.

KAMPUNG WEDDING FEAST IN MODERN STYLE

2008-06-01T07:55:00.008+08:00

As usual wedding feasts sprang by leaps and bounds during the school holiday seasons. I had seven invitations yesterday at several locations within a 20 kilometers radius of Kampong Gajah.

I had planned to go to all seven venues with my lady friends, so at 10.30 sharp seven of us packed ourselves in my brand new 4x4 and headed to our first destination. When we arrived some of the wedding guests were already enjoying the attractive spreads. An emcee somewhere announced our arrivals cos there were two VIPs among us, one a local legislator. That was very flattering, of course!

Now for the food. There was a tantalising spread, with kari tulang, rendang ayam and the never-to-be-missed pecal. Only the meal was served buffet style. I loved buffets especially at hotel restaurants and cafes.............. but at a kenduri ? I am not so much in favour. You see we ladies are all dressed up, so to go to the buffet table and dish out your own curry could be quite risky. Then there is the balancing act to the table with a dish load of food in one hand and a glass of syrup in the other amidst pebbles and loose sands. By the time we reach our table half the fun of eating is gone. Well, anyway we do not go to wedding feasts just to eat but to reciprocate our goodwill and sillaturrahim , right ?

We then moved on to the next feast on the list. As we progressed, we gradually decreased our load from the buffet table. And yes, all the feasts were served buffet style. I had VIP treatment though at Pak Abu's place where I was invited to the main table to eat with the newly weds.

All in all, the day's kenduri was fine but I don't really approve of this buffet style thing at wedding feasts. It somehow robbed me of the nostalgic mood of being in a kampong kenduri. This new arrangement reminds me so much of the hectic city life. And most of all I miss the pampering and extras that come with the old style of serving.

Guess I must be getting too old for kampong wedding feasts!

ONCE A BABY ALWAYS A BABY !

2008-05-29T00:11:00.011+08:00

Today my youngest offspring celebrates her birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMA !!

You were , and still are, the baby of the family. I still remember your baby round face and your dark curly locks, Being the youngest you almost always got you own way, which prompted your siblings to affectionately refer to you as 'the little boss'.

My cute ' little boss ' is now a beautiful , confident young lady. I thank Allah for your generosity and your caring nature. It pleases me to see you doing the things you love to do with passion and enthusiasm...........including baking cake!

Well Ema, may your cake of life be filled with icings and colours and may Allah always be with you.

A 'FINE' WAY TO TEACH OUR YOUNG!!!

2008-05-22T10:34:00.016+08:00

Anybody's birthday coming up anytime soon ? How about having a birthday party at The Lobby, Parliament House, Malaysia!

The sanctity of the august house became a mockery when HINDRAF supporters brought a birthday cake and flowers to parliament. A birthday girl in 'birthday dress' blew six candles, surrounded by opposition MPs. This was a demonstration of sorts staged by HINDRAF supporters. All this at the Parliament lobby!

It was disgraceful. No one, but no one, should use the house for such occassion!

Parliamentarians, past and present, including yours truly who was MP for Parit 1995-1999, have never resorted to such cheap publicity and unacceptable acts, to say the least.

What examples are we setting for our young???

BARACK OBAMA ........A MOUNTAIN OF HOPES.

2008-05-20T20:39:00.010+08:00

The Democrats of the United States of America are nearing their day of reckoning. While votes for the primaries are being cast in Kentucky and Oregon, Americans and the world are waiting anxiously for the tally and the indicators that would point to the potential Democrat nominee.

I have watched with interest the campaign trails, the vote swings and the high dramas that accompanied each candidate. I am indeed impressed with Obama's power of persuasion and excellent oratory skills. I feel that he is someone we can believe in to initiate peaceful co-existence in this world. He seems committed to the cause of democracy.

By the way, do you know that Obama's first name Barack, is interestingly Arabic in origin, ( barakh ). In 'OBAMA from Promise to Power' by David Mendell, Obama was quoted as saying that his name meant '' blessed'' in Arabic, and that his paternal grandfather was a muslim.

God bless you Obama and may you win the presidency!!!

YOU' RE SOO......ADORABLE !!

2008-05-19T19:28:00.005+08:00

Seems just like yesterday we brought you both home from Gleneagles. You were so cute then and you are even more adorable now. HAPPY BIRTHDAY EXIR AND EJAZ !!!

TWIN TOTS AT THE RACES

2008-05-17T05:01:00.014+08:00

The not so enthusiastic twins with their Mama

My two year old twin grandkids had their first taste of organised sports today. It was Sports Day at their Day Care Centre. Initially Elixir and Elijaz had been picked to participate in the 'ten meters flat' but during rehearsal Ejaz did not seem to be in the mood ' to run for nothing'. He 'chose' to be wheeled by Papa instead .At least that was the plan. But what happened at the sports meet was something else !

The scene was quite chaotic. Kids ranging in age from 2 years to around six were assembled at the venue.The bigger ones were quite disiplined, but there was no way to get through to the younger tots. It was a mayhem of sorts! Most of the toddlers were not in the mood, and they surely made known their 'protests' through wailings and wrigglings.The antics that accompanied the din was quite humorous ,by the way.

No stroller race for me!

Mama, don't make me race!

Ejaz decided that he would not participate, wheeled or not, while Exir clung on to Mama for dear life.And there were lots of followers among their contemporaries! I have forgotten how difficult it was to coax young tots to put up a show in unfamiliar surroundings......until now. Most of the tiny tots were wailing and reaching out to their parents. It was difficult enough to put them on the floor, but to ask them to run ? It seemed next to impossible!

After a good one hour or so of waiting for the race to start, the kids seemed more restless. The organizers could do with a more appropriate agenda for the event. The lenghty recitation of the 'ten measures of security' should not be included in the agenda, Most of the kids did not understand what was said , while those who could were not in the mood to listen anyway. Hey, it's Sports Day ! The 'citation' was best suited for some other occassions.

By now it was time for me to leave cos I had to rush to Ipoh to see Makcik who had been warded at a private hospital.The twins stuck to their decision not to race after many efforts to make them change their minds fell on deaf ears.So I left without seeing my grandkids race. Well, better luck to me next time !!!

Elixir (L) and Elijaz (R), in a better mood

IS SILENCE REALLY GOLDEN ?

2008-05-09T05:59:00.006+08:00

When the Mentri Besar of Perak , Dato' Seri Mohd, Nizar, was asked to comment on Mr Karpal Singh's statement regarding the power of the Sultan of Perak in the Dato' Haji Jamry's case, he kept mum as reported by the media. " No, no comment" he was reported as saying!

Words cannot describe the disgust I feel towards this kind of silent response. Why the cowardice to say one's mind -one way or the other? At least be firm in your stance. Show your voters that you have an opinion, especially at a time when one of your Pakatan partners dares issue a most uncalled- for statement, to say the least.

By keeping silent, does the MB therefore agree with Mr Karpal Singh's statement? Normally when the answer is no, especially in serious cases like this, people tend to make known their disapproval. However, as is always the case in Malaysian culture ...'Silence means consent '. I wonder..........!

WILL THE REAL CEO PLEASE STAND UP ?

2008-05-04T20:27:00.008+08:00

I have had enough of this new PR govt drama. Even when the JAIP 's Director episode has hardly left the scene , now the EXCO of the PR govt, Dato' Ngeh Koo Ham, came out with another threat to our civil servants, as reported by the press, Sunday . Give show cause letter or terminate the services of those who do not work in accordance with the PR policy in Perak ?

Really Dato' Seri Nizar, does your EXCO member go around issuing threats as though he is the most powerful administrator in Perak? And do you not realise that your EXCO is acting like he calls the shots in so far as the state administeration is concerned? Wasn't it this EXCO and his party who wanted to boycott the swearing in ceremony of the Mentri Besar of Perak not too long ago?

Who is the "CEO" of Perak anyway? Oops............ I forgot , your party only won six seats in the 12th General Election!

WHEN THE -POWERS -THAT- BE REARS IT'S UGLY HEAD......

2008-04-29T22:05:00.011+08:00

'Dato' Hj Jamry ordered to vacate his office at JAIP within 24 hours!' screamed the RTM news headline barely 2 hours ago. I was shocked. Appalled, in fact.! Dato' Jamry is a very committed government officer. high on intregrity and commendable in duty.He is very accomadating . always humble and would bent over backwards to help the needy. I should know cos I had the priviledge to work with him in Perak Tengah for eight years.Thus the unexpected turn of events concerning the well respected administrator of Islamic affairs in the state of Perak came as a total surprise, to say the least.

There are many questions that beg to be answered. Why did the Mentri Besar deem it proper to issue a 24 hours notice( as reported widely by the local media) to an officer of the state without outlining the reasons behind such an unprecedented act towards a JAIP Director? Does the MB know what he is doing, or is he so blinded by his new found political power ? Are the people of Perak to understand that hitherto any state officer is subjected to rash decisions without been given any chance to defend oneself? I would like to ask.........what philosophy or theory of management is applied by the PR government in this matter ?And, more importantly, does he not know that he is responsible and answerable to H.R.H. The Sultan of Perak ?

Dato ' Jamry is a dedicated govt. officer. I believe he is welcomed wherever he is asked to serve.JAIP 's loss is some other department's gain. However, on the positive side, this episode that happened to him is a blessing in disguise for the rakyat in general. The shoddy treatment accorded to Dato' Jamry, without any doubt, has put on show the antics of the PR govt in Perak. It is hoped that this worrying trend would lift the veil that has blurred the visions of the voters in Perak and elsewhere.The people now know the terrible mistake that they have made when they voted in the PR candidates. Never mind , .........regret away, it is ok; next time vote wisely and place your trust in the accomplished hands of the Barisan Nasional.

BALKIS.........THE MUCH COVETED "MAIDEN "!

2008-04-28T17:29:00.016+08:00

I followed with interest the reaction of the new Selangor government with regards to the dissolution of BALKIS by its members three days after the 12th General Election. I read with disbelieve the statement issued by the Selangor Mentri Besar's wife, Puan Sri Salbiah Tunut, that she should be BALKIS's President as she is the Menteri Besar's wife (Sunday Star 27 April 2008). She reportedly gave this statement to the press flanked by Pakatan Rakyat's women elected representatives.

Actually,as a woman I am embarrassed by all this Pakatan-led showboating.

Did it not occur to anyone that on the day BALKIS was dissolved, it was still under the jurisdiction of the former president, simply because the new Menteri Besar had not been sworn in yet? To my mind, those who failed to understand this simple fact inadvertently displayed a lack of comprehension on a very elementary logic.

I have had the honour to be associated with BALKIS's counterpart in Perak, namely BAIDURI, and I found that the members were honorable and trust worthy. I have been told that every time there was a trip involving the association, the members had to pay their own way if they wanted to participate. In fact, there were known to be cases of member wives who wanted to join in these trips but could not do so because of the high personal expenditures involved.

So Datin Seri Zaharah Kechik, cheer up. To my mind, you did nothing wrong. Your intentions were noble. You wanted to be sure that the funds were to be secured for proper use. You did the right thing ,so don't ever let anybody tell you otherwise!

To those who are too eager and too quick to point fingers at BALKIS, think twice before you embarrass yourselves. This in an NGO, so doesn't this validity issue fall under the purview of the ROS? Why all the silly hooha? Please be reminded, that the voters are watching!

THE KERIS..........THE KERIS !

2008-04-27T11:07:00.007+08:00

Now what was Hishammuddin thinking?

I read the other day that our Dato Seri Hisham was very sorry for waving a symbolic kris at PWTC which raised a lot of comments from within & without. Apologise for drawing and kissing the keris at The UMNO Youth General Assembly last year?

I just want to ask him one simple question.

Did he unsheathe the keris to 'warn' the non-Malays that he was in a warrior-bloodshed mood and woe betide those who crossed his path? If so, apologise away. But if not, why apologise?

In my humble opinion Dato Seri Hisham, you did the unthinkable. You used the keris in vain! But wait...apologise properly to the Malays as well. The keris is historically a very sacred legacy. It depicts and has always depicted the determination and empowerment of the Malays in the face of challenges and any impending attack to the entire community.

Now, was Hishammudin and his 'community' under a real physical attack from some quarter? Were we in real mortal danger with real mortal consequences? If yes, say so. If not, why use the keris at the Assembly? Was that a publicity gimmick, and was it worth it?

One should never ever, use the keris as a symbol merely to suit one's own mood & agenda. The keris was not designed for any one person alone!

AL-FATIHAH

2008-04-23T23:06:00.011+08:00

One of my best friends, Hamsiah, passed away peacefully on a wet Sunday night ,20th April 2008 .She was not only my political allay, but also my confidante , having served as my secretary ( Wanita UMNO ) for close to fourteen years. We had our share of tensed and anxious moments as well as joyous and fulfilling days.

She sacrificed enormously in the spirit of political affinity, and was always prepared to give her best in the name of duty and commitment to her country and community. Even when she was diagnosed with cancer, she continued to contribute her service best as she could for the party, besides taking care of her family single-handedly . Farewell Hamsiah . I miss you dearly and will always treasure the bond that we share. May Allah be with you always. Al Fatihah.

OF ROTI CANAI AND NASI LEMAK.

2008-04-20T14:36:00.013+08:00

Woke up this morning with a sudden craving for nasi lemak. Must have been the blog I read last night about someone eating nasi lemak bungkus at an R and R location somewhere along the north south highway.His nasi lemak sounded so convincingly delicious, that I just had to have nasi lemak for breakfast today! Talk about the influence of bloggers!!

After subuh prayer, I put on a casual baju kurung and persuaded my other half that a morning drive amidst kampung scenery and serene lifestyle would freshen the mind and soul .....and the therapy would only be completed with a plate of nasi lemak and kopi o .After all this was my home kampong, Kampong Gajah, and I had a whole three hours before my first community function .

There was this eating place I spotted the other week.So we started up the main road towards Telok Intan and turned into a mud track leadind to this wooden structure premise.From a distance I could see that the place was quite packed.We were about twenty meters from the entrance when I noticed the attention we were attracting. A set of no less than fifteen eyes were focussed on me, hubby and the car. It was very unsettling! One middle-aged guy even put down his morning paper just to join in the silent eye 'feast'. Hubby got the cue when I almost grabbed the steering wheel to make a Uturn back to the main road. Another people habit I was not confortable with. Why couldn't everybody just ignored us so we could eat our nasi lemak, pay the bill and took our departure unnoticed like they did in Kuala Lumpur! Ah well, that was the end of nasi lemak kampong. Hope the nasi lemak there was not that delicious after all..

Next stop was Telok Intan itself. We proceeded to this new Medan Selera on the outskirts of town. Good, there was
ample parking space..... too many infact, that hubby was spoilt for choice and went a full round of the parking lot before taking a space nearest to the entrance. So pleasantly unlike Kuala Lumpur..

We chose a stall selling roti canai. Hubby just loved roti canai and would unhesitatingly order roti canai for breakfast
on one condition ---- the roti canai must be direct from the kwali AND the roti canai maker must be handling the dough and doing nothing else! You see he had to be sure thet the roti canai maker did not touch his nose or clean tables while
waiting for the roti to be done. "The dough easily absorbed dirt and if their hands were dirty, the roti canai would be soo 'enriched' " he reasoned.

I had to have my nasi lemak. Firt stall did not get through my ISO standard. This particular stall had his sambal separated from the anchovies ! Didn't his mother teach him how to make the original sambal bilis! You mixed the bilis and the sambal in the kwali and not on the nasi lemak plate. My nasi lemak must be authentic. Nasi lemak cooked in coco-nut milk with onions and ginger and salt to taste. The sambal must be sambal ikan bilis cooked with blended dried chillies and not chilibok.Eggs must be hard- boiled , and slices of cucumber on the plate would neutralise the 'hotness' of the sambal. That's nasi lemak for you." Go make your own nasi lemak " my husband would say. And my children? " Mak, please, please open a nasi lemak stall
We can then enjoy our nasi lemak in peace," they said.

At last I found a stall that fulfilled my sambal bilis standard. I ordered the basic authentic nasi lemak plate and a cup of black coffee. I sat beside hubby, who was happily tucking in his second roti canai, waiting for my order to come. After about two minutes the waiter with the nasi lemak in one hand and kopi o in the other made his way to my table. He set the plate and cup of kopi o in front of me. That was when I had a full view of this grissly forty something man. His shirt , hanging loosely on his body, was wet and stained; his hair uncombed and everything about him was unkempt. Now how was I going to enjoy my nasi lemak ????

WHEN HE'S GOOD HE'S VERY, VERY GOOD; WHEN HE'S BAD HE'S ..............

2008-04-15T09:08:00.029+08:00

Just came back from Ipoh last night. I was one of the priviledged grassroots to be invited to this very hyped meeting with our VIP officials. It was in every sense a no holds barred session .Very refreshing , yet not without its share of tense , 'sparks-fly' moments. Nothing serious though, just politics democrasy at its best. Everyone was given an oppurtunity to air his or her views.Some seized the honour of taking the floor and dancing to the music of the ever enthusiastic crowd; others shouted themselves hoarse to egg on the speakers with encores and catcalls, while a majority sat back taking in the morning's event with mixed feelings of awe and admiration.

To me it potrayed a total spectrum of emotions : pent- up anger, disillusionments, love and esprit de core, compassion and even unexpected outburst of sentiments best left untouched. I watched transfixed as each 'delegate' spoke with earnest and a degree of seriousness rarely seen before. Each proposal was carefully presented with every solution laced with pressure, emitting a sense of urgency as if the worries of Malaysia were the burden of this selected group of speakers who were now assembled in the moderately lighted room. But the surprise that awaited me was something out of the blue!

Normally dignified middle-aged leaders ,well groomed and exuding an aura of authority and sophistication were suddenly transformed into angry orators, quoting words so unpleasant that drew gasps of disapproval..... or was it approval from fellow 'grassroots'.I was totally taken aback. One well-dressed professional who was always respectful, mild-mannered and soft spoken suddenly reared his ugly head. He stood straight and defiant infront of the much conveted mike and bared his emotions throwing challenges and provoking the highly charged gallery.I have never seen this side of him before! Reminds me of a Communication 101 class I attended at Marshall U which, among others, dictated that every person had four 'characters' visible exclusively only at certain times and to certain people. Apparently what I was withnessing at that point in time was a side of him that emerged only very, very rarely. And what a sight !!!. This character was like a man possessed.... so adamant, so hostile and so not acceptable!!!.

Perak dialect, vocab and intonation, came to the fore. Words previously regarded as taboo flowed like a burst pipe on a stormy day. It was certainly a day of revelation. Angry young men displaying raw emotions and throwing caution to the winds, well adorned ladies poignantly taking in the scenario and at times tempting to pull some of these boisterous speakers by the ears ,and aged gentlemen trying to come to terms with this new breed of politicians, and lamententing the demise of well rehearsed opinions and polished manners. It was totally unbelievable! All pent up emotions broke loose, some well received, others unrelevant and uncalled for.

But at the end of the day, reasons prevailed. Admittedly, issues had to be tackled, personalities had to be cautioned, and actions had to be perceived to have been taken.

The officals who were treated to a show of diversed opinions and display of hitherto unexposed antics had an earful and an armful. The crowd dispersed with hope and expectation that this episode would pave the way to a storming of brains and the setting of new directions for the party; and that in the final analysis the party is supreme, that this sacred 'wadah perjuangan' should be preserved at all cost and that the light at the end of the tunnel is nigh!!!

CELAKA AYAM

2008-04-09T12:56:00.016+08:00

Matahari masih terbit di ufuk timur. Helang di pucuk angsana masih berwarna hitam.Cempaka putih masih harum semerbak. Namun suasana tanah air kita diliputi mega mendung yang muncul dengan tiba-tiba tanpa dijangka , jauh sekali diundang.

Nenek moyang pejuang bangsa menggadai nyawa di medan pembebasan ibu pertiwi, tanpa memikirkan kepentingan diri . Kini, di simpang mana perjalanan kita di lebuhraya perjuangan politik ini? Lupakah kita pada perjuangan bangsa ? Mana letaknya rasa kasih dan sayang kita pada wadah perjuangan?

Generasi yang kita warisi tidak berlepas begitu saja tanpa memupuk dan membimbing kita ke arah pemeliharaan maruah dan ketuanan bangsa. Dari bumi Dato' Sagor dan Dato' Maharajalela berbagai pesanan dan pembahasaan diturunkan. Cicit Dato' Sagor , Allahyarham Dato' Mohd. Abas meninggalkan kata -kata hikmah yang diwarisi daripada moyangnya. . . .

Jangan diikut CELAKA AYAM .........

Ada makanan dikais-kais

Hendak berlaki patuk anak

Helang terbang khabarkan diri

Rumah tuan diberak berak

Dibawa bersampan menyeberang sungai

Bertelor sebiji rioh sekampung.........

Oleh itu hubaya hubayalah............agar nasi tidak menjadi bubur!!!

FIRST BORN.........BIG AMBITIONS AND A BIG HEART

2008-04-08T14:25:00.008+08:00

My favourite son, aka my only son, was a big baby when he was born one morning on the ninth day of April 1968. He was a big baby ,weighing 8lbs 2 ozs ( sounds very much like dough huh?) - can't help it , that was how we recorded our offspring's weight back then!

He is still my big boy .........with competitive yet easy-going nature ,and persuasive charm . And very caring - almost to a fault! HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY KIDDO and may Allah always be with you.

HAJI ZABRI........SADLY MISSED

2008-04-07T14:25:00.005+08:00

Haji Zabri was a fine man, a good friend and a very hospitable host. He passed away peacefully in the wee hours of 1st April 2008. We had been working together for a whole term when I was a member of the state government EXCO. I know I might not have been the best of bosses; but nevertheless we had a fantastic working relationship. He always took the brunts whenever problems cropped up with the constituents!

He was selfless, very frank and was well accepted by friends and political foes alike. I haven't been able to "sembang sembang" with him as much as I had wanted to ever since I left office, but we did remember to meet up once in a while.

Haji Zabri left two daughters to mourn his loss........ and a host of friends. SEMOGA ALLAH MENCUCURI RAHMAT KE ATAS ROHNYA. AL-FATIHAH.

Ah women......when DO we get to be counted?

2008-04-06T20:53:00.008+08:00

50 years of independence. 12 times of general elections. Half the country populated by women. And yet the status of women still leaves much to be desired. Examples abound as to how unjust we Malaysians are to women. Yes and I repeat Malaysians .........including women as well!

A case in point. Ever notice how kampong protocol treats the husbands of VIPs? At any public functions at constituency level, the wife of a wakil rakyat/VIP will be accorded a seating place beside her VIP or YB husband. As for husbands of VIPs or YBs, well,please find your own seat!

I would like to share here a very disillusioning incident that happened to me in 1995. I was then a newly elected Member of Parliament eagerly performing my duties and serving my constituents. I was invited to officiate a Family Day function. Family... ok? So I invited my husband to come along. I was full of excitement, this function being one of the first few functions that I would be officiating. As soon as my car reached the venue, I was prepared to be on my best everything, posture, modes of address, speech .....and the like. I opened the door and stepped out gracefully, adjust my sarong, straighten my baju kurung and put on my charming smile, ready for the task ahead, My husband meanwhile understandingly took his time and came out a good two minutes later. But surprise! surprise! ; the head of the reception committe with another person carring a tray whisked past me and headed straight to my husband. "Welcome YB' he greeted while picking a rosette from the tray and proceeded to pin it onto my bewildered husband's shirt. My embarrassed other half whispered something to him and pointed towards me. Our red-faced Mr.Male Chavenist mumbled something and make a Uturn towards me apologising profusely. Turned out he thought that the MP had to be a man! What maddenning logic!!!

Another time, another place. I was officiating a co-operative society AGM. I noticed that all the board members were men, so I thought I would chide them and suggest that they elect at least one or two women to the board ( me being a member of government administeration and all). The women applauded while the men in the audience smiled. Came refreshment time the topic of women board members cropped up again. I reiterated my stand. Then the Chairman of the board offered his opinion . " But..." he said " All the women are grandmas !" This from a man who was himself over the hill , so to speak. He must be sixty something and so were the rest of his committee. Hello! aren't all of you grandpas? The gall of these men!
How come it is all right for them to be committee members at a grandpa's age where as the same is not applicable to women?
And women, come to the fore and say your mind...PLEASE!

MY MIDDLE CHILD..........ALWAYS SOOO.....MANJA!

2008-04-06T00:16:00.007+08:00

I remember that eventful afternoon of April 6 many years ago.Allah Almighty entrusted to me a beautiful baby girl with a fair "mango-sliced" complexion and dark wavy hair. You were, and still are, so beautiful, sensitive, warm and very manja. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MANJA , AND MAY ALLAH ALWAYS BE WITH YOU.!

Sorry, for the gap guys ( had to leave for kampong)

2008-04-02T23:57:00.011+08:00

Now fo find Eric's venue. why must they have two padangs? The smaller kids ' padang was about 3 minutes sprint away We managed to squeeze our way among the audience of mostly parents and wandering children , just when Eric's group was about to proceed to the starting point. Eric was in Class 1A, therefore their class would be the first to participate. Phew ! That was close!

My next assignment was to videotape "Eric in action" in his maiden sports participation. Fine, except I had no idea how to operate his Diddid's videocam! You see, Tok was supposed to capture him in action after undergoing a thorough course in videocam handling from Eric's mom.And conveniently, Tok had to feel dizzy at this all important time and left Opah to handle this very complicated task. Ah well, what to do , just try and leave everything to luck.

Me in action

I positioned myself like a pro (gaya mesti ada) and just press the red button, of course after flapping out what looked like it could be flapped. Good, the screen showed moving objects! Not so difficult huh? Except the images looked giant sizes! Then it occured to me that the cam was in zoom mode. The screen had only one image......Eric's head. There was no time for trial and error adjustment. The race was about to start. Eric was getting ready to run, and Opah was at a loss. Eric leaped from the starting line, Opah trained the camera ,like a pro of course, and pressed the red button. Done! Got the image....... a full screen of the back of Eric's head!

CONGRATS. Eric.You did very well and you looked so cute when you beamed with pride on getting the medallion. As for Opah......truly glad I was there with you.

My darling Eric and his medallion( picture courtesy of Fairuz)

Yesterday ...when everything went haywire

2008-03-30T13:59:00.008+08:00

Today finally ..... my maiden post! Thanks DI, Da and Ma.The only 3 children I have in this world. Between them they managed to corner me, intimidate me and even bribe me (with free service ) to start this blog. At last my very own blog. So glad to be with you guys out there.

Yesterday was my grandson Eric's school sportsday. Me and Tok planned to drive up north to Ipoh to watch him race and to
see big sis Elise receive her outstanding awards at her school. I was supposed to be just a guest revelling in my grandchildren's achievements. But that was not to be.Last minute plan changing by the children's parents render me an easy victim of the' out - of- touch- Grandma' syndrome.

Firstly we ,Tok and me ,were entrusted with the task of sending Eric to school . Excuse me, which gate aaa...? Three gates and half kilometer of half running ,and half walking later, me with Eric in tow reached Gate no. 3; to be greeted by the gateman with " cepatlah u sudah lambat"I glared at him with my politically menacing look ang saying under my breath " don't u think I know?