A Pinch of Salt

Shameful...

2012-01-26T03:01:00.000-08:00

As I watched the video clips in regards to the ruckus made during a ABU-Hindraf gathering in Shah Alam, I felt repulsive and totally disgusted with the entire episode. I see the ugly head of racism, disrespect, intolerance and the disruptive rape of our Malaysian society cord. I wonder if the leaders of our country or even our Royal Malaysian Police are aware or play a part on this or knowingly turned a blind eye to such acts of cowardice? I humbly asked our so-called leaders of this nation, do you see what millions had witnessed or are you part of the racist team to turn this country into a mess of bloodshed all over again? Do you want to see blood flowing like rivers on this land of ours before you react or do you plunged the knives purposely to cause more blood flow in this country and bleed it to death? Would you like to have your sons and daughters blood flowing at every streets and at every corner of this beloved nation of ours before you stop such blatant abuse? You cannot expect the meek, the quiet or even the patient to sit quietly at the fence and see their families being bludgeoned to death, do you? Do you really expect the people of Malaysia to accept such behaviours at the gathering which tantamount to actual barbaric, a rape of our freedom in this country and also, the sowing of racial discord? Is there not enough evidence for you, Mr. PM and Mr. Home Ministry/Security Minister or even all the bloody dungus Cabinet Ministers in this country to do anything at all? Is "Let the RMP do their investigation" gonna work or are you expecting more deaths like Kugans or Teoh Beng Hocks or Sarbanis before you start reacting? Answer! That's my question to you! How many more have to be sacrificed and die tragically before you react? Each bloody day these blundering idiots push the line of tolerance to a level of cracking and no leaders lift a single finger to defuse the situation! These cohorts of race haters and hooligans should be punished. I really shudder at the thought of what would happen had it been a Malay people gathering and the function crashers are Indian youths or Chinese youths? Mayhem is the word that will look like child's play when all hell break loose. The bottomline is : people like these; irrespective of race, color or creed , who are out to create such mayhem should be punished. Period!

You bet, I am ANGRY. You bet, I am APPALLED. You bet, I smell a CONSPIRACY to create fear and de-stabilise the unity of the peace-loving people of Malaysia! I am really ANGRY that a small fraction of insensitive youths does this to a community of elderly people of various races and show so much of disrespect and humiliate a particular community. I ask the community leaders, where are you when such things happened? You , the leaders of UMNO, MCA and MIC in the so-called BN fold shout aloud that the people should put their trust in you and for 50 years the people of Malaysia had put that trust in you; what do we get today? This particular happening in Shah Alam says it all so ever clearly. You have failed your mandate and you have failed the people of Malaysia!

You, the leaders of BN, I charged you GUILTY in the sight of God of not only failure to protect the rights of the people of Malaysia but you daily rape, brutalised and even threatened our lives with you shadowy hands of abuse and corrupt practises. I am a CHRISTIAN and even that right of professing my own religion had been forcibly taken away from me subtly and accusation that we are converting this people and that people to create such a misunderstanding. Worse of all, you create fear in the people and so much mistrust; all for the sake of staying in power and further raping this land, our minds and our families lives! Playing the racial and religion trump cards is a convenient tool to stay in power. There is NEVER a real conscientious effort on the part of the government to built the communities. You divide and conquer the people just like our penjajah used to do. The only difference is you called it a government of the disguise in 1Malaysia!

My words may be harsh today but I am really DISGUSTED with these type of behaviours. Also, to the MCA head honcho, CSL, what have you got to say? Well, Mr.Leader of MIC, what have you got to say? So, the people/youths/old people/elderly still cannot and should not criticize the leaders of this country? Well, I've got news for you. You are also a contributor and part of the team that will see innocent blood being shed because you did absolutely NOTHING while in power! That's a fact! Digest the fact! It doesn't matter if the gathering was a ABU-Hindraf gathering. Innocent lives are there. Are you blind to the colors of the skins or only the colors of the wallet? Or better still, this is not your fight. Look, it doesn't matter if there are Malays, Chinese or Indians at that gathering, they are MALAYSIANS for goodness heaven sake! Wake up! Please wake up! That's somebody's father, mother, sister, brother, uncle, aunty and so on. In my book, your hands are equally bloodied and guilt of bloodshed just like your predecessors together with your MCA/MIC team. My grandfather was a strong supporter of MCA during his days; how wrong he has been all these years. How bloody wrong he has been!

It is not about elections anymore as far as I am concerned. For me, it is about the decency of living, respect and waking up with my family safe each day. I pray to GOD that He would watch over this beloved nation of ours. Let's arise people; Malays, Chinese, Indians and the rest of the communities to pray for God's grace upon our lives today. Please, I plead, let all of our children have a future in this beloved nation of ours called Malaysia!

Chronicles of CNY days...

2012-01-25T20:28:00.000-08:00

Call me a sentimental fool or even a "softie" if you want to but spending CNY celebrations with family can be quite an experience. I dunno, maybe I have mellowed a lot but not the "angin" side ( that's what my wife says! ). I felt really........ blessed, so blessed ( yup! that's the word! ) being able to have lunch, dinner and even spend time chatting with mom, brother, sister, mom-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, cousins, nephews, uncles, aunties and relatives. It is not everyday or every week that you get to meet up and catch up. Every one and everybody from every nook and corner of the world is back for CNY celebrations. It's always special occasions that you get to see everybody and that's special. I can only think of 3 occasions where one ( Chinese community ) could actually catch up which is CNY, weddings and morbidly, funerals! BTW, if you are not married, you will be constantly hounded/bombarded with the ultimate annoying/nut-wrenching question of "When are you getting married?" followed by the impetuous question of " Are you okay ar? Is something wrong with you?" To me, my answer is simple and curt, " Oh! I'll only be a burden and trouble to the girl's family and my family if I get married coz' I'll laze at home and be a bummer!" and as their eyes almost popped out and jaws dropped to the floor, I'll continue, " Also I have too many old relatives while my parents are old. So each time, they pass away, I have to be my family's representative. It is quite taxing -lor!" Usually, by this time, the questions stopped and they would move away from me as fast as possible! Smart, right?

For me, though we go through CNY every year, as usual, the wallet gets thinner each passing year ( bosses "complaining"/ making a big fuss of not making enough/no profit for the year and every inconceivable excuses available! typical slavemaster mentality! Sheesh! ) , the expenses goes a little higher each year, the restaurants charged higher for food each freaking year, the mandarin oranges get more sour each time but the fact remained that the children's smile gets wider or get more blunt each year! However, over the recent years, the "disturbing" trend of opening the ang pow packet immediately after receipt can be quite a harrowing experience for the givers rather than the receivers. I remembered one smart-alec opened the ang pow and proclaimed loudly to every available pair of ears in a get-together function, " Aiiiiiyyaaaaah! Five ringgit only ! " Then I hear another exclaimed, " Aiyooo, you are better. I have two ringgit only! ". Gone are the days when the red packets are kept in pockets; only to be opened in the safe confine of the room! Nowadays, it's like a public proclamation of kiasu mentality! Oh! How I wished I could spank that kids' bottoms till it fluffed up like "fatt koew" and tell them it's okay to be spanked on CNY day!! Hey, kids, it's not a business day, ok? It's Chinese New Year; for crying out loud! Be thankful-lar...

Jokes aside, CNY is a great day of celebration, seriously. This year, I really felt blessed though I feel tired at the end of the day. It's the dumb medicines anyway! I was glad that I had the opportunity to meet up and spend some time with my friends, Ramesh & Indra from Taiping. What a couple! Humble, down-to-earth and great friends. Yunno, each time , Ramesh and Indra are back in Melaka, they would give me a call. That's really thoughtful of them and I do hope to bring the family to spend a few days in Taiping and meet up with them someday. Then, there's meeting up with Kenneth Wong PL, our extended family. It is really nice to be able to meet up , speak to him and even get to hear of his plans for the new year. He treated all of us a sumptuous and a costly dinner. Thank you so much, Kenneth. CNY also brings about the picture of the physical growth of our family members and relatives. Some of my cousins and nephews have grown up; signalling the aging process for uncles like us! I guess, we can't beat the natural process, huh? Well, still blessed to be aging gracefully!

I took a picture with mom the other day. I really cherished that photo a lot as I looked into it daily. She's been a great mom especially her Hainanese food fare, culinary skills and her cares for me all these years. We hugged each other as we took the photo that day. That was really special to me and it meant a lot to me. The one person I missed the most and missing from the photo was Dad. I really miss his quiet ways, his humor and his humble ways. I must admit, I DO miss my dad quite a fair bit especially on days like this and that's why I've been under the weather for the past few days. I could never describe to you how I really miss my Dad. I miss eating sambal belacan with him - the simple fare in life. I also miss his favourite dish - salted vegetables with duck soup. ( he cooks it with such finesse that it would just blow your mind! ) Most of all, I miss being able to spend some time with him. He really meant a lot to me. He will always be a gem in my heart, always! Thanks for watching over me , Dad!~

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

2012-01-20T17:18:00.000-08:00

To all my friends who would be celebrating Chinese New Year 2012,

My family and I wishes all of you,

"GONG XI FA CAI"

May this 2012 year be a great year to you and your family!

~ Drive safe & be blessed always ~

Fish....

2012-01-19T23:23:00.000-08:00

Last night, I waited patiently for "Jamie's Fish Supper " program to go on the air but I only caught the program at about 1.00am this morning. I must say that it was again a truly interesting program and it is all about sustaining our fish stock in the ocean by choosing alternative fish for the more popular fish such as cod, haddock, tuna and salmon. It is insanely mind-boggling and outrageous to know that A LOT , and I mean, A LOT of fishes caught in the nets are thrown back DEAD to the sea. Some say it is a circle of life but this Englishman says it's depleting our fish stock of actually good quality fish. Yunno what, Jamie Oliver is just brilliant with his recipes and he makes things really simple for folks like us! Also, I guess, he puts the money where his mouth is by cooking up some really nice fare with the use of lesser known fish type and I must say, I have to agree with this Englishman's view. Rightly so, I am also of the opinion...nope! convinced... that much of our own fish stocks in our seas are also depleting fast and at an alarming rate. I have to say it is not just the fishermen who are guilty of this physical glut and rape of the sea fishes but the gluttony by the call of the ever blinding/blinking/bleeping dollars. I am also of the considered opinion that chefs themselves are equally guilty for their fish preferences and over-hype of certain high quality fishes that makes the fishing industry of catching such fishes such a lucrative business. Thus, discarding the alternative fish which are actually equally good quality fish.

Ironically, earlier in the evening, I was watching " Swords: Life on the Line " and this is one terrific documentary on fishing captains, crew and vessels which hunts big game fish for a living. Though it is interesting enough to know that there are people out there who would practically gambled their lives away to earn a living on the dangerous horizons of the high seas but the pulling out of huge swordfish and fantastically fat yellow fin tuna to the deck is no laughing matter. It is A LOT of yellow fin tuna ( prized catch about US$1,000 plus a piece and probably cost a firtune in Japan! ), blue fin tuna and swordfish. It is ironic that people are talking about depleting fish stocks in the ocean while there are still people merticulously picking them out of the sea.

Anyway, I am all for conservation of fishes in our seas today. I believe alternative fish and fish farming may be the answer. We should eat alternative fish rather than eating the same popular species which may deplete the stock further. I know it may sound a little bit queer but there are some fishes which are good alternative. Then there is fish farming and there has got to be a serious effort in ensuring enough supply not just like another NFC project fiasco. Read the AG Report and you will see how fish farming in Sabah can go awry and cynically wrong altogether! Hmmmmmnnnnn.....Malaysia memang boleh!

I also found the movement "Fish Fight" campaign which is the brainchild of famous chefs such as Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay, Heston Blumenthal, Hugh Fearnly-Whittingstall, Eric Lanlard and Gizzi Erskine are really conscious and worthy conservation efforts in ensuring fish stock conservation and conscientious efforts in making people understand the need for alternative fish usage. Well, the next time, you pick out a fish at the market, you'll know what to do, I hope! Have fun at the markets!~

Cockerel lesson...

2012-01-16T21:51:00.000-08:00

Today, as I was early for my appointment at the outskirts of the town, I decided to do some reading of my file and get myself a cup of coffee at a nearby stall. The proprietor was a pleasant elderly lady who greeted me "Good morning, young man " in English and asked for my drink. I was like a jackass for a moment as she repeated the greetings and repeated the same question followed by " Can I help you, young man? ". I just looked at her and stammered ; replied, " Kopi O kosong would do." She smiled and replied , " That would be good. Can I get you anything else?" I told her it would be good if she could bring me a tausah pau. I then went back to my file and within minutes the coffee appeared together with a nice looking tau sah pau ( sweet red bean paste bun ). I thanked her and I struck some small talk with her and I came to know that she had learned the language by speaking to her customers and that her daughters had helped her. I complimented her that she spoke good English and I was impressed. It just goes to show that there is simply no barrier if you set your mind to learn a language or do a task. I learned an invaluable lesson when I looked at this elderly lady. The sheer tenancy to learn a language, speak it well and overcoming the difficulties are applaudable effort! I guess, the phrase "learning never stop" rings true in every sense. What a great start to the morning!

Then, I saw a cockerel and two hens started to move into the coffee shop. Being at the outskirt of town, seeing chicken roaming in the coffeeshop is a welcome sight. The funny thing is that the cockerel walked toward the stainless steel steamer where the steaming buns were kept. At first , it circled the steamer, then it started to peck at the steamer. The pecking activity went on for a few minutes and it actually "disturbed" my concentration and I diverted my eye from the file to the cockerel. This pompous little cockerel ( they are not that big built in the village ) strutted and raised up it's chest while moving it's feathers to make it look bigger. I was wondering what the heck is the cockerel doing. Then I realised that the funny bird saw its reflection and started to strut its' stuff to the image at the stainless steel steamer. I almost choked on my coffee as I see it constantly darting and pecking at the reflection. Everytime the bird took a peck at the reflection, it would then re-coiled back and make its beak to go through some sharpening process on the hard concrete ground. Then it would start its assault all over again on the reflection. It soon got tired and moved away but not before giving the reflection some dirty look!

I guess, as I reflected on what had happened, it just reminded me how we are like that at times. So insecure , pompous and paranoid at times. Heck! We are even afraid of our own reflection nowadays. I definitely took away some valuable lessons as I walked out of the shop hours ago. "Have a good day, now!" was what the elderly lady greeted me as I walked out of the shop. I turned back and smiled. She gave me the biggest smile ever and that really made a difference. Somehow the day seemed brighter despite the gloomy heavy dark clouds hovering over my head. Even if it rained, I would still be wearing this silly smile. A smile is just infectious. Don't you agree?

Some day...some day...

2012-01-13T02:39:00.000-08:00

The last few days had been frustrating days for me and the ultimate crunch to the nuts came from yesterday's incidents. I do not want to dwell on those unpleasant occasions but I'll go crazy if I don't some how release the pent-up anger all these time. Like I said many times, I have nothing against people who are rich & powerful in their finance or wherever their gains comes from or whatever position they are but I am against all form of bullying, belittling, character bashing and even throwing "little people" like me and many others like me under the moving truck/bus/trailer or even at a moving train. I am frustrated for being treated like some rug under people's feet or even the punching bag of some " office politics ". If that wasn't bad enough, making one the scapegoat or heaping blaming to the little people really gets me on nerves. The worst part of all is that little people like us will have to keep our mouth shut, swallow whatever integrity we have and hung our heads so low that even the nuts hanging between our legs seemed taller at that time! It is so damn frustrating that we just have to give in to such people. Maybe you could say that little people like us gave in to such things but I want to tell you this. These rich & powerful plus wicked people knows that little people like us would require our salary to feed our family and knowing very well that they are in such a position to do so, they milked us dry until our bones are grounded to dust! Yes, for little people like us, to speak up is pure suicidal. To point out mistake is like having your hanging item get stuck between the zippers while to voice out is like waiting for your coffin to be lowered into a simmering burning fire.

The rich, powerful and evil will always have the little people like us as toys to toy around and people like us would just have to harden our knuckles and grit our teeth plus let it slide. I am proud to say that I come from the very school of hard knock but yesterday was like the last straw. If I do have my way, believe me, it only takes me minutes to turn over to the "new" leaf which is my old ways, I would have made the Spanish inquisition torture ways look like child's play and probably make them eat some of their nice front rows of teeth. Period! I was that mad yesterday and I just felt so ............helpless! I was torn between providing the meals for the family and letting my abuser/perpetrator a taste/piece of what I am capable to do. Finding myself in trouble or landing in the 40 odd metal bars cell doesn't seemed to faze me at all. BUT somehow, in the midst of my anger, I just grit my teeth real hard ( I have a slightly chipped tooth now! ) and I just took some water to wash my face. I don't know whether my tears mixed with the water or it was just tears streaming down my face. It is that frustrating,boy. I hate to become a punching bag for others and I hate being made to look like a fool. I hate being made the scapegoat for some rich and powerful idiot games! Many times, I just give in because friends told me that I have to be patient, kind, loving and "that's how it is in the office" thingy. Well, I've got news for you - these people DO need to learn the lesson of not mistreating people because even the sleeping lion will roar occasionally and I am NO EXCEPTION! These people need to understand that there is a certain level of patience and integrity of a person is really worth fighting for. A man has no value and meaning in life if he has no integrity. My late father taught me this lesson and I thank him for teaching me this.

Yesterday, my wife hugged me tight and I felt so indebted to her. I swallowed my anger and I took a good look at my wife and daughter while I thought of my son very much. I wish I don't have to go through this again and neither should they. Honestly, at that split moment, I thought of them and I doused off my fire of anger, went on my knees and let my soul be tormented by this sudden baptism of patience and love. It cooled me tremendously but I told my wife firmly that this will not change my stand in the office. She looked at me pleadingly with those soft hazel eyes which she knows will softened my anger. I only have this to say the people who are constantly out there to harass the little people in the office - The bullying has to stop, clamouring for favours have to stop and throwing a fellow colleague under the bus is totally unacceptable. Own up your faults and don't let others become your scapegoat, you heartless idiots!

Who knows - the tables will be turned someday.....some day.......some day ......

Free...the fight just begun...

2012-01-10T23:56:00.000-08:00

"DSAI is freed !" One of my colleague in the office broke the deafening morning silence of the day amidst our head and eyes glued to the monitor screen doing our intense work. I popped my head out of the cubicle area and smiled to my colleague and slumped back to my chair. So, DSAI is freed - finally... the drama. The joyful euphoria left a lasting expression into many people in my office the other day but there were also people who were virtually not interested at the news at all. Anyway, as I sipped my green tea concoction in my " have-not-washed-in-ages blue mug, the stinging question that goes through my mind was "What's next then?"

My analysis of the matter is that this is just an individual. OK! Before you put poison darts and let fly quadtrillion of knives, machetes, spears, metal balls or whatever sharp and pointed weapons to my ever -smart looking body of yesteryears, just stay with me for a while or at least , allow me to humour you.

As a person, I am very glad that the nonsensical and illogical saga is over for this man and his family. Look, like it or not, he is just a man like any of us who will be subjected to such abuse when you are in the the dirty world of politics. This saga had drained so much out of the poor man and his family - physically, mentally and socially. Honestly, I can never imagine what he and his family had to go through which is virtually a living hell for them, I guess. I am primarily more concerned for his wife and family who had to endure all the slander, shame and humiliation all these years. It is just so embarrassing and so cruel to do that to a family. I really sympathised with this man and his family. The stress, strain and the days of uncertainty could have really drained the daylights out of them. I am glad that the family's strength and the One Above had kept them sane and durable during these difficult and hostile times. Sometimes, it is so ironic that the sly, the slanderers, the wicked, the evil-minded and even the nasty blokes gets away scott free these days. You kinda wanna ask God, " Why?" or "Yean?" ( in Tamil ). Like I always say, I will put it all in a box and ask God when I get there one day!

Now, my reservation is not on the man but what is important is this : Are there any more capable leaders like him? Why is it so important for him to be a PM if the opposition wins in the next election? Can't it be someone else for a change? My point is simply this - It is not the individual but the good ideals of having good governance of the country is of the utmost importance. OK, people say he is the unifying factor of all the opposition parties. Yup, I may have to agree with that but I can't see his fellow leaders having the same "brick skin and strength" he is having. One man cannot help re-built this nation if the rest of his merry men are again racist, crooks, criminals and corrupt practitioners! There is a need for him to get his political house in order if there is any chance to sniff the colossal joy of winning or taste the bitter agony of defeat ultimately in the coming GE13. Winning is possible if everyone gets their political houses right with the right-minded leaders in the lead. All I am saying is that I have confidence in PR but I don't have confidence in PKR. To me, PKR looks shaky and almost a carbon copy of the present ruling people. With people coming in from the same old regime boat of corrupt practises into the party , I am really skeptical if these people are really out to tumble out the old geezers of corrupt regime or going for a trial ride on the tidal wave of change and then rape the country all over again! I guess, that's the worry of most fence seaters out there which roughly makes up of 40% of the general population, I would say. Afterall, frogs leap high and will sing when shown the bags, right? We have plenty of examples around already, don't we? All I am saying is there is a real need to screen the potential candidates for the next coming GE13 and DSAI has go to get it right.. Yeah, a few good men sounds interesting but not when it comes to governing the country, man! That's my bluntest opinion as far as I am concerned. There is a real need for men and women of substance and incorruptible characters to run this already disturbed country with great care and good governance.

I pray that for the coming GE13, the potential candidates had better get into shape and stop being peddlers of words lest they will fall very flat on their faces, be it from the ruling party or the opposition. The days of flattery by big makan, the sour dosage of racial trump cards, fear tactics and even empty promises are grandly over as the voters are really scrutinising the potential candidates. It takes a real moron and nitwit to use these pre-historic tactics to win votes. Maybe, just maybe, it will work at the kampungs and the rural folks but not in the urban areas. I pray for good leaders to prevail. Ones that would be true Malaysian in every sense. We have had enough of racism, imbalance shift of fear tactics, arm-twisting policies, blundering policies that plunder the very wealth of this nation and the rape of the land.

Vote wisely, vote right and pray!~

The name is Caitlyn....

2012-01-04T23:17:00.000-08:00

Last night, I had a wonderful time cradling a small bundle of joy in my arms. I guess, I must say that after not having a baby in your arms for such a long time, I feel kinda awkward and started to have crazy ideas if I could still have the "kingsize cushion" for this little child to nestle in. The last time I become the human dunlopillo was to Ryan and Ashley, my lovely nephew and niece. Anyway, as I handled the baby and took over the carrying duties from Jessica's arms, I managed to get it into my "chicken wing -L position " and nestled that bundle of joy nicely in my arms. Wow! What a feeling! OK, before you have any ideas that I am gonna have any addition to the family, just wipe the smirk smile off your faces and understand that I may have the desire for it but certainly not the energy level for it! Way pass that enthusiasm to wake up in the middle of the night to feed the baby or even to rock the baby to sleep! No funny ideas eventhough I have had Thai oil and traditional massage which was expected to give me the booster of a lifetime but I tell you this, it makes me sleep better that's all and I am happy with that! So, no funny ideas,ok?
Coming back to the fragile baby, this is Caitlyn Louis. The latest addition to the Louis family!( Hooray! The nicest people in town! ) It is a real joy for me to be able to hold this girl lest carry her in the two bedded room as the mother, Abby, propped up and slumped on her bed. Poor lady had exhausted all her energy earlier in the morning from all the shouting, dramatic wailing, hair-pulling, strings of not-so-nice words, pulsating tai-chi pushing effort to get the baby to see the first light of the day - the operating theatre bright surgical light! Hahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.................. Seriously, Bless Abby for being the mother of the child for she had meticulously carried this baby for the past 9 months and it was no easy task with all the temptation of food, foul moods, cravings and all that. Then we have Dinesh, the father. I tell you, blessed the fathers for putting up for 9 months of undulating & swings of mood, absorbing headaches and creamy deprivation of waking up nightmares on "sending mommy to hospital " drills! Red-eyed ( from very lack of sleep or probably crying with joy or is it " Thank God , the ordeal of waiting and anticipation has ended! Hahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaa.......), blurry but still steady as the hair is in perfect place eventhough he had been up since 5.00am in the morning to get everything ready and send the wife and children to hospital and school respectively. Do not forget that he had to ensure everything was in order but obviously not being able to hide his joy of having the new addition into the family. That's one proud father, man. Cheers to you, Dinesh!
Then there's the proud big brother, Dave ( tired-looking, red-eyed, feverish but steady fella ) and the younger brother, Caleb ( fresh - ponteng from school-lar, energetic, grinning from ear to ear and playful ) in the room. What a great family who now has a newest beauty joining them in the family.
I could see that the baby girl, Caitlyn was very much awake and eyes were like round marbles looking around probably thinking, " Who are all these strange-looking people making faces and doing monkey faces to me?". Oh!Boy, I was told that she was awake from 5.00pm and the clock at my hp reads 9.30pm. She made some baby sounds and was moving her tiny hands around. She then had her dose of milk before switching off to sleep easily. Boy! We were all so amazed how fast she fell asleep and compared it to the father-lar. We had a good laugh together. What a bundle of joy indeed! Somehow, looking at this baby, it brings a lot of joy to me. So small, so fragile and so........precious little girl!
Indeed, a beautiful life was introduced and thrusted into the world yesterday morning and the name is Caitlyn Louis!~

Danke, 2011, Ole! 2012...

2012-01-01T01:46:00.000-08:00

Several hours ago, I was at a bereavement sit-in for the sudden demise of a very respected elderly person of my church, Uncle Kok Kong Pow. I remembered that 14 months ago, my family and I had attended the sit-in for the demise of this elderly man's beloved wife, Anna Kok. I guess, this elderly man must have loved his wife a lot that God must have granted him the wish to re-join his wife in a far better place in heaven.

I guess, many of us would be glad to say that he is rightfully in a better place but for the living, having lost a dear person of the family is really a difficult time. I guess, we will never know how a grieving family feels until we see one of our loved ones lying in the coffin someday. I also presumed that as time goes by, they would come to grip with the fact that God has a plan for each and everyone. Well, everyone is quite morbid on the topic of death but the fact remains that we would all one day would have to die somehow. No one can go through the enigma of immortality because we are first and foremost a human being made up of flesh , blood and spirit. So, we might as well choose to die courageously, honorably and with distinct satisfaction - that's what my thoughts are at the moment.

At the stroke of midnight, a blitzkrieg of sudden fancy flashing lights and deafening burst of booms screeched across the sky, lighting up the upper heavens playground ushering the new year 2012. It is indeed exciting to usher in the new year while it is also good to reflect on all things which had happened in our lives in the previous year. They say, "experiences enriched us and make us wiser." and I tend to agree with that. There are so many things I want to reflect and give thanks as I start the new year. I guess, there is no better way to start than to give all thanks to the Lord above for sustaining my life thus far. I will never know when He will pull the windplug outta my life but I am quite sure, He knows best. God had been my spiritual strength all this while and He has never ever failed me. There have been many circumstances in life in which I am practically pinned to the wall but He peeled me off the wall and brought me back to my original state. There had been many occasions when things seemed impossible and in a knotted mess. He made a way and unknotted the situations for me and led me through to safety. I remembered the strength He endowed me during the horrific days of the floods. I was disillusioned, tired, pumped out, frustrated and almost to the brink of mental collapse but somehow, I comforted by His Hands over my heart. I couldn't explained where my energy came from and how I could manage to complete my work in the best manner I could. I really couldn't explained it and surprisingly, the people that I met were generally pleasant and good. If that's not God's favour and grace, I wouldn't have any answers to that. There are many times too, I felt like throwing in the towel to just give up. Somehow, it is just a small still voice that continue to egg me on by telling me , "Another day, my child. Another day!". Oh! If only I could tell you how God had preserved my life! I could have easily kicked the bucket in May ( a lot of you could be crying buckets by then and would have to spent some money on bouquet of flowers ( try not to pick the flowers from the neighbouring cemetry plot,ok?), I guess! Hahahahahahaaa..........) but some how, it was not to be. It was a great prompting and intervention from Him that saved my life! I will always remember that prompting and can you imagine a mule like me going to see a doctor?! I guess, it's His mighty hands that made it happened or I must be doing something right in His eyes! Or worst, He hadn't finished "torturing" me yet with more situations to come by! Hahahahaaaaaaaa....... Seriously, whatever He wants me to do, I will do because this life of mine belongs to Him and him alone. As a matter of fact, I owe this wretched life of mine to Him. So, thank you, God for continuing to pump in air to my lungs, aerated my blood vessels and keep my heart beating in steady rhythm of perfect harmony!
I am also thankful to my wife, SLing and my family who are my constant supporters. They have been through a lot for me and with me. I am ever so thankful to them for supporting me eventhough I can be a cow ( not the ones associated with our NFC scheme! ) and a donkey ( they say donkey meat can be tough! ) at times. There are things that I kept close to my heart and things that are dear to me as I speak fondly of the tremendous support I've had from my family. Suffice for me to thank you so much and I am really blessed with this family. There had been many instances, they have to put up with cranky and crabby old man's behaviour and almost neurotic behavioral patterns but Thank God ! They survived me! Hahahahahaaaaa.......... They are truly very loving towards me and I could never asked for anything more. The highest accolades I could humanly possibly give would be to my family for taking the trouble to understand , withstand and stand up for me in my light and my darkest hour in life. They stood by me - rain or shine, with or without umbrella , along side me . That I appreciate a lot.There are really no words to describe or be emotional about it when I speak fondly of my family. I pray that they would put up with me for another year and for years to come as I get more senile and less coherent in years to come! Hahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...........
Next comes, my dearly loved friends. I have so many to mention but none would compare to friends like Vive, Sathy, Errol, Jessica, Jason, Shirley, Dinesh, Abby, Lih Gin, Steven , Wan Sin, Teo CK and the list goes on. Old friends & new friends, you know who you are and you are really important in my life. It is difficult not to thank them because they play significant and very prominent roles in my life. If there is a secret to be told, I grew up in life with help of good friends. Yeah, family was there to provide and give support but friends helped me along my life and pulled me out of the rut whenever I landed myself in some dark sinister mischief or acidic test of life. There are just too many situations to even start and I just wanna thank everyone for investing in my life in whatever way you did. I truly appreciated the gesture and a special place in my heart is where those wonderful helpings are stored. No, these storage of good memories would not clogged my arteries for sure! There has been a tremendous influx of good helps from friends over the years and I truly appreciate that a lot. Sometimes, their calls in difficult times helped in maintaining sanity over a certain period of time and helped in coming back to focus on a lot of matters. I am comforted that good friends stood by my family in the hour of my need and helped my family a lot especially during my medical matters. Yunno, you can never imagine how relieved and how comforted I was to see the faces of my friends with my family during that time. I tell you the truth, had I kicked the bucket and sang looney tunes on harp that day, I would be comforted to know that I have great friends to help & guide my family even when I may be laid to rest in the 6'X4' plot of land. [ btw, I would have liked that my body be thrown in the sea to be devoured by sharks minus all the important parts donated to the public who needs them, of course!! In that way, people who catch the sharks for their fins and eat the fins would have cholesterol , diabetes, heart problem and so on!! hahahahahahahhaaaa........ ) I am blessed too when I met up with some of my college mates and our lecturers in one of of get-together. I am so thankful to them for teaching me some finer pointers in life and I have not forgotten what they did for me - the experiences of travels, responsibilities and so on. Rightly so, this was one of the highlights in my life plus my very first time/epic/historical driving experience into KL ( I hate KL, I tell you! My views are still as intact as the ping pongs on me! hahahahahahaaaaaa....... ). Seriously, I am comforted that God had surrounded me with good friends and I am so blessed by them. So, thank you, my friends for taking the trouble to know me and for willingly or unwillingly investing in my life. I pray too that I have been a blessing to you and your family for the past year and for the years to come.
So, goodbye to 2011 and here's to 2012! We may not know what will be in store for us at the bend of the new year 2012 but one thing is for sure, we have to give our best and live our best. We will fail and fall many times as we trudged on in the ever -challenging times ahead of us but we know that we have 3 important forces ( God, family and friends ) behind us as we take that step of faith in a blind new year.
Well, we've got 365 days to find out, isn't it? Let's explore and do our best. Shall we start?

Sweet, Sour & "Hot" Haadyai....

2011-12-29T22:43:00.000-08:00

After two days of fun-filled adventure in Penang, my friends and I headed out up north to our friendly neighbour's land, Thailand. Specifically, we were Haadyai bound to get our yearly dose of porkiliciousness, shopping and sight-seeing. Our excitement, enthusiasm and expectations were high but somehow, it just took a small dip and sometimes mingle with a lemonistic twist of disappointments as the days went by. Nevertheless, I must say that we had quite a good time at times and that should overshadow some of the nasty experiences we had encountered over the days.

For me, I had a brand new experience in Thai massages. For the record, I experienced Thai Oil massage and Thai traditional massage during our stay in Haadyai. I really love the Thai traditional massage but it also caused me to sustain an old injury to my knee area. Bah! All in all, I still manged to have a great time out there. It is not the place that matters, actually. It is the friends and the company that matters. With good friend and great company, good times will prevail 100%. I will never forget the experience I had gone through while doing the oil massage which was meticulously and craftily executed by middle-aged strong hands to soothe away the tense muscles and aches. I almost choked with laughter when I was asked if I would like to have my stick and nuts ( referred as Ping Pong ) massaged for better mileage usage in the future! My curt, firm but pleasing answer was a straight "NO" as my mileage is still within the top flight performance! Thereafter, I could have sworn that the pressure points massage were simply more intense but subtly smooth at times. In the toot-toot, as Vive & Jason joked on what had happened to Shirley and Sathy, we could only burst out in thunderous laughter and laughed at the lighter moments of our experience. That's what sharing of experience is all about. For the traditional massage, I had a rather serious but sweet looking experienced middle-aged massager who almost emptied the entire contents in my bowels and my stomach during the massage. The pain during the massage was intense and at times, I could feel my pee running through the pipeline but I like it. Call me a pain sadist if you want but I REALLY enjoyed this massage. The sound of dump, crackle and thud can be heard as my body is being moulded, twisted, moved around and worked like a dough of bread! I loved it! I truly loved it. Somehow, after the massages, your stomach seemed be growling for food and there is no shortage of food when you are in Haadyai.

Later on, we joined with the rest of our families to have a great dinner. This time, there weren't any pork leg stew or fried pork leg on the platter. Instead, we opted for "healthier" pork parts, the crispy ears and some nice parts. So, that fulfilled our quota of having pork on this land. What we enjoyed most was actually walking around and spending time shopping for items. Bargaining we had to do but somehow, this doesn't augur well with the locals. My personal observation is that the people in this town had become less hospitable and more impatient. We had some nasty experience while at the market when we tried to bargain for some food stuff and also on clothing. The rudeness and impatience level had indeed gone up while tourism is a major income garner for the people of Haadyai. It is a crying shame if this pattern of humanistic behaviour persists and carries on. It will definitely affect tourist like me to go to other places in the future. Afterall, it has been my third year being in this town and I like it here when the people were so friendly and hospitable at that time. I have also come to realisation that things aren't what they used to be one year ago. There seemed to be a steady rise in prices and I really don't know if the people in Haadyai had been hard pressed by the economy affecting their country or simply have a go at the tourists. One thing I do know is that fruit prices are just insanely expensive while some favourite foods such as Padthai, BBQ satay pork sausages and some local sweet cakes aren't at the the prices they used to be. I don't know if I was the only person feeling this way but it certainly was felt by my friends too.

Anyway, the bright spots of the trip were still aplenty especially the night porridge meal, teh tarik, wan tan mee, Samurai Pork burger and the ginger drink. That was truly awesome! The dinner seafood meal was also great especially the freshness of the seafood fare and the herbs & spices. Every meal was like hot, hot, hot and the chillies are really extravagantly hot. It was one hot and arduous time as one sits in the bathroom toilet to carry out the morning ritualistic bowels cleansing exercise each morning, I tell you! But it was fun all the way. Anyway, where in the world are you going to see an elephant in the restaurant when you are having your dinner? Yes, you got it right - only in Haadyai!

The one thing I have always enjoyed while in Haadyai is the morning walks. Usually, I would wake up early together with SLing and we would take our walks at the market. For me, I just wanted to catch up with the other side of Haadyai which was at a standstill before the chaos starts. You could see office workers, people of all shapes and size plus the traders doing their early morning shopping and so on. The Buddhist monks were there to offer prayers to the people who would take up an offering to them. Everyone wants a touch of blessing from the monks, somehow. It was humbling to see smartly dressed men and womenfolk on their knees handing out an offering to the monks to have them bless their day. I almost wanted to shout out to them and tell them that there is an even greater God in sight that needs only an offering of a repented heart rather than all these offerings. If only they would come to know of this Son of God...if only they know Him......

Anyway, as we strolled down the street that morning, I also had the opportunity to see the beautiful rows of flower selling stalls. The sights and smells were awesome. So fragrant and so .........fresh! As usual, the market food captivates me alot. The sight, smell and taste of good market food always gets me in my element. However, I have to be on my watch as my body doesn't permits me to gobble up or chow down any food I like especially when dealing with carbos. One thing I enjoyed on one of the mornings was the burnt kopi -o at one of the run down shops in the market area. I love that burnt coffee taste and with some mini yue char kuehs , it was just simply marvelous. Food and sights fills my palate each day as I am in Haadyai. I guess, this is the uniqueness of Haadyai or for that matter any place in the world.

I constantly take my walks alone as I roamed the streets of Haadyai in the mornings. It was really good to see people in their early morning rituals. I saw a dim sum shop, a pork stand selling grilled pork, kueh teow soup shop, another stall selling Thai cakes and kuehs ( I tried a few and they are mildly sweet ) plus a host of beautiful people preparing to face the brunt of the day. They are generally courteous and they smiled at me as I flashed my not-so-Darlie white teeth and smiles to them. Like I said, I am always intrigued by people's everyday life and what I saw plus experience added a whole new spectrum of culture in my life. I love to travel and eat. I just wished someone would just offered me a job to travel, eat and write articles over the experiences! Now, that would be a real dream of mine! Anyway, fat hopes and fat belly are what I am going to get for the time being. I can hear my doctor screaming in my ears in my next appointment telling me that there will be an extension of my medication and probably an increase of dosages in my medication in my never-ending quest to fight for a better healthy life. Hahahahahaaaaaaa................it sounds so moronic and brilliant at the same time! Sometimes, I really don't know who and what I am anymore! Hmmmmmnnnnnnnn...............wouldn't it be interesting to publish a book on my travels and experiences over the years? Probably entitled my book "1000 places to go, eat and still not die !" Hahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaa...........

As we end our journey in Haadyai and crossed over the darker side of town.....oooopssss....the brighter side of Malaysian border, we were exhausted by all the happenings, eating , laughter and fun shared during these 6 days of adventure starting from Melaka - Penang- Haadyai, Thailand. The beautiful families and good friends have made this trip a truly wonderful experience. I have always followed Andrew Zimmen's catch phrase wherever I go : If it looks good, EAT IT!

We may have no new bras/panties ( Haadyai was once famous for slashed down prices of the undergarment world, ok? ) to show nor new items to show but we have had one good wealth of togetherness and fun which would last us a momentous life time. Kap Kun Ka, sweet, sour and hot Haadyai!~

Christmas!

2011-12-29T19:07:00.000-08:00

What a privilege it was to be able to spend Christmas Day with Vive's cell group at Regency Heights hall on Christmas Day. Prior to this event, my friends and I attended Christmas Day service at Tabernacle of Praise Church, Penang. It was a glorious morning especially with the dance and special Christmas Day presentation of narration and songs. Truly a beautiful service and with the message brought forward by Rev.Gideon, you know that your day can just get better as it progressed. I guess, being able to spend time on Christmas Day with great friends and have great fellowship truly meant a lot to me. Most important of all, my family and I were together for this Christmas. Good friends from Penang maketh this occasion so much more meaningful. Wished that some friends who couldn't make it for the trip could have joined us and made this day much more merrier! Yeah! We missed you people!

Again, Vive, Sathy, BA & Jessy made all of us comfortable with our stay in Penang and invited us for the Combined Cell Christmas Party to be held at Regency Height hall. The only problem was that we had to literally sing for our dinner! Well, Vive sorta twisted our arms by telling us that if we don't sing, we ain't gonna get fed! Hahahahahahaaaaaaaaa........ As my son was in charge of the sing along session, obviously the whole Melaka team was not spared of this. By the way, it was one way for us to flex our golden voices after all these years and so, why not, let's do! Afterall, another challenge given is another challenge accepted for a good cause.Anyway, we were willing to do it at the best of our capability. I must say though, we did quite alright and we didn't sing out of tune. We even spruced up the evening by backing up Sathy's testimony with "Chin Chia Ho" song too! That was fun! That was truly fun! There were fun and games too for the adults to enlighten the wonderful evening of food and fellowship.

I must say that I am very blessed by the wonderful reception and gesture by Bro. Wilbur and his wife, Mary. Truly remarkable personalities and really energetic people. Throughout the dinner, they were constantly mingling around and making sure that everything was in order. Food was aplenty and laughters filled the air at every second. These are the ingredients for a great evening. With people like BA & Jessy, Kuna & Cheng, Vive & Sathy plus John ,Wilbur, Mary, Lin Ken, Yi Lin and the rest of the cell members, it was just another awesome night of fun and fellowship. It was good to note that families came for the dinner and the reception was just amazing. The Cellympics Games were also funny , entertaining and hilarious at times but it was all for good fun. I am amazed by the amount of effort put in to ensure that the dinner was a great success. I am even more astonished by the closeness and the easy ways of the people mixing and mingling easily with one another. It was a good night and a night to remember with so many fond memories and warm hospitality.

I guess, in many ways, I love Christmas this way. Sharing , giving and putting out your best for everyone. No pretense, no extra ordinary flavoring of the personality and no unwanted ways. Just simple, humble and " what you see is what you get " hearts. That night, I enjoyed the company I was with and the light conversations that ensued. Christmas will always have a special place in my heart because of the beautiful people that I have shared the day with. It is not about the food or the presents but just the gentle sharing of hearts with great and beautiful people that really matters. Tired , we may be on that day but the tiredness was taken away with the soft laughters, jokes and even a touch of coffee and some tea. Nothing beats that simplicity of the moment. We may not be able to re-capture that moment of time anymore but we can try to make it a better day and a better moment the next time we meet. Friendship at its best is friendship at its heart. Someone asked me the other day, what was the best memory I had after spending two days in Penang. My answer is simply this : The smiles of the people I know and the smiles of the people I had served! Nothing beats that! Absolutely nothing beats that!

My Christmas had been made wonderful by the touch from so many people. THANK YOU SO MUCH for a great time and for showing so much love to my family and my extended family members too. I am ever so thankful that my life have been blessed with so many people who had in one way or another shaped my life for the better. You people are the everyday heroes in my life. Your lives have richly blessed mine and you people are an inspiration to me.

Kap Kun Kha, people!

Christmas with The Community II - 2011

2011-12-29T18:11:00.000-08:00

Christmas with the Community 2011 organised by Tabernacle of Praise (TOP) Church, Penang has been the pinnacle event for my group of friends this year. It is truly an honour, joy and such a blessing to be able to play a small part in joining hands with the TOPians in serving the community in Jelutong town.This year, my friends together with their families and I had the opportunity to man a game stall ( Game Stall No.11 ) and also helped out at the Registration Counter. It was fun shopping for the gifts for our stall and we got shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, badges, puzzles, tumblers, mechanical pencils, lots of sweets and chocolates too. It was really fun being able to bless the children and the people who came to our stall to play the game. I guess, the real blessing is seeing the deep upwards curve lines of smiles on the faces of the people. From the young to the elderly, the smiles were infectious and this was also evident in the faces of the wonderful volunteers.

I guess, this great reaction of smiles and hospitality starts early with the great P&W and short sharing before the start of the event. Inspiring words from Commander-in Chief, Rev.Gideon Lee helped a long way in provoking good thoughts, good will and positive vibes for the carnival-like event. I guess, for us ( Jason, Shirley, Bryan, Timothy, Errol , Jessica, Jocelyn , Josephine, Lih Gin, SLing, SYuen and myself ) our blessings started much earlier that day. Upon arrival in Penang, we headed straight for Beng Teik School to get a glimpse of our stall, helped out where possible and got everything in order before heading off to Vive's house for a quick shower. With 16 of us including JWee and Adeline plus Vive & Sathy, taking turns to bathe and getting ready was a real comical extravaganza but fun. Our destination was Cheng & Kuna's place for dinner. Once again, Cheng's culinary skill shone like the stars in the sky. I tell you this, her food spread easily could have earned her 3 Michelin stars in my books. The food spread was simply delicious, awesome and inspiring fresh! From the salads to the lasagna , the roasted turkey & stuffing to the oxtail specials were heavenly inspired creation! Like I said, it started off to a great start of the holidays and we had the best time of fellowship with everyone including BA, Jessy, Rev.Gideon and his family. I was so blessed and I realised that things like this happen because the hearts had been set right on a good solid ground of hospitality, blessings and good grounding of the Word. I am truly very thankful to Cheng & Kuna for hosting us with great food and fellowship. They are simply humble,big-hearted and genuinely awesome people.

Coming back to the CWC event, it was good to see so many youths taking part in helping out the event. Again, their raw talent of spicing and making things in a happening manner works in sprucing up the upbeat of the event. As for me, being able to see familiar faces at the CWC event makes me happy. There are so many familiar TOPians and it was a joy greeting each other and worked hand-in-hand to give our best to the community that day. I guess, in many ways, TOPians and the community were painting the Jelutong town in the multi-facet colours of red, white, blue in synchronised colors of the Malaysian flag. People from all walks of life, shapes, colors, creed and in all ethnic races i.e. Chinese, Malay, Indians, Nepalese and others were walking into the CWC event with all sorts of contorted facial expressions but one thing is sure that is :- they ALL come out of the event wearing a big smile on their faces and bags of goodies in tow. I really wish that churches in our country today would just rise up and take up the challenge of reaching out to the community today like TOP Penang rather than fattening their own kitty , wallow in their own sob -story of excuses or even coming out with outdated phrases like "every church has their own ways of doing things" mentality. It doesn't take a genius to understand the idea of reaching out to the community. Even an idiot/vagrant on the street understands the meaning of food and what it meant to re-live the joy we once felt in our hearts. It's Christmas. Think about it! That's the whole message of Christmas! Look, ruthless society practises, relentless pursuit of wealth plus the outrageous practise of stinginess and harshness of life has robbed the people of the simple joys of life. If we , as people of God could somehow use whatever opportunity to reach out , play a part and restore the joys that God had intended, it would be awesome. Instead, some churches still languished in the same old verse that " we would always have the poor amongst us" ( we know this already by hard as we are drilled day in and day out! ) and thereby, do nothing but fattened our butts on the pew seats of our congregation, fattened the accounts in our banks and let others do the job of feeding, nurturing, reaching out and helping out thus limiting our perspective and very existence with God. Harsh it may sound but this is a hard reality that we have to accept and change for the better lest we continue to lack and languished in the black hole of complacency and the killer "feel good" factor . I guess, the direction taken by the church and its leadership is important in ensuring that we reach out to the community when others fail to see that need. God bless the TOPians and their leadership for this great event and fore sight. I know, I have been blessed not because my friends and I are guests/helpers but because we are first and foremost the community and then, helpers and friends. That's what I learn over this richly blessing experience and I know that my friends and I would cherished this memories a lot. I was indeed very blessed in my heart when I saw some of the poor folks whom I have met last year and to be remembered by them is a great honour indeed. As usual, the games stalls were a great hit while the hair cut area was equally busy. The busiest stalls were easily the food stalls while PAP Smear Test Room and Blood Donation Room were also prepared. There was also a Health Talk Room and the crowd was easily in the region of 1,700 to 1,800 in count. That, to me, is a grand success indeed! All Glory to God!

As the day died down towards the closing time at 2.00pm, our game stall were still having a long queue. Not to disappoint the young & the old, we continue to give out as much gifts as possible and we still have plenty to give away. By the time, we finished the last participant to our stall, it was easily at about 2.45pm. Our children were exhausted but happy to be part of the great event. As we cleaned up the stall and do our part to help out where possible, smiles were posted on our faces. The smiles were smiles of gratitude, smiles of happiness and smiles of satisfaction that we have completed our task and be a part of this event to reach out to the community. That's one big great satisfaction feeling,man! Well done, people! I am so proud of the team from Melaka who did their best for the people of Jelutong. It was a great honour to be given the opportunity by the local church, TOP Penang to participate in such an event. Thank you, TOPians for this opportunity. Just wanted to extend our heartiest thanks to Vive, Sathy, BA & Jessy too for taking good care of us , feeding us well and ensuring that we had a great time out here in Penang! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Will we be back if we are invited again? SURE, we will be there. Wouldn't miss it though. What an event! What a joyous occasion indeed! What a great day for HIM! Amen!~

Fear, Feared.....

2011-12-20T20:36:00.000-08:00

I am just reminded of an article and audio sermon in which I came about in regards to the atrocities committed by Josef Stalin, Russia's deadliest dictator of all time. At that time, even in reading and listening to some examples of the atrocities, I cringed and gasped in exasperation over the heinous act against humanity. One that I could remember was about during a state dignitary dinner function. It was a function held for foreign dignitaries and it was hosted by Josef Stalin. One of the more daring dignitaries had heard about the difficult times which had befallen the Russian communities and the mass human extermination process carried out by Stalin's regime. Plucking up his courage, he asked Josef Stalin, how does he intend to get the Russian people to follow all his rule and to accept all his policies for the government of that day.

Josef Stalin was dining on his scrumptious meal, laughed a little when he summoned his head waiter to bring him a live chicken. As the chicken was brought to him, he caressed the chicken and started to de-feather the chicken in slow manner. The de-feathering process was painfully slow and the guests were particularly uneasy and queasy but none dared to move a muscle. This went on and on until the last piece of feather fell off the poor bird. Stalin then released the featherless chicken which was vulnerably exposed to the bone-cold air-conditioning air. It walked unsteadily for a few seconds and then, the chicken muzzled its shivering body towards the pants of Josef Stalin probably seeking comfort at the hem of the pants. At this moment, Stalin remarked, " Gentleman, this is how the Russian people are going to follow the direction of my rule. First, you take away all the comforts from them and you rule them with discipline. Then when they had come to their senses, they will follow your rule. This is how I intend to rule the Russian people." There wasn't a dry eye in the banquet hall that day but the tears would not fall for fear had gripped their hearts immensely. I guess, that's just my definition of the word "fear".

I am just reminded of this story when I read the caption of the news on the multi-media portal which read " I was the most feared PM." You draw your own conclusions and your own deductions. Me, I'll be having a cup of steaming hot coffee.......digressing!

Tilt in the Scottish Kilt....

2011-12-11T02:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday evening, SLing and I had the wonderful privilige to spend some time with our former lecturers and friends. This wonderful get-together/reunion was the brainchild of my closest buddy in college, Santokh Singh and his lovely wife, Jane, who happens to be Soon Ling's classmate in college at our younger times. I just wanted to thank Toki ( Santokh's pet name! ) for taking the trouble to get this going despite all our busy schedules, emergencies and what not. This get-together/reunion was long overdued but after some tenacious effort by Toki & Jane, we, the lucky ones were able to meet up with our respected lecturers in Mr. Indran, Mr.Bernard Lau, Mr. Rajasingam and Mr.Bala. To me, I was determined to come for this get-together because I have not seen these people for the past 23 years! I must say with all honesty that what ever outdoor skills, dealing with individuals, public relations, damage control skills, craziness, risk taking, loving nature and improving oneself, I learnt and owe it to these lecturers. I am particularly indebted to Mr. Indran and Mr.Bernard because I have watched these two men who really took the trouble to actually teach and instill something good in us that would last a lasting impression. From Bukit Takun, Gunung Tahan, Pulau Pemanggil to Pulau Redang, the memories and stories flowed easily and it was just a delight. The occassion was significantly made merrier with the presence of Gopi, Ragu, Fabian and Thuruvan. It was really heartwarming to be able to see, hugged, speak and exchanged pleasantries with Gopi, Ragu, Fabian and Thuruvan after all these years. It was just wonderful for me. I could never hide my joy of meeting Toki & Jane as they are special to me. Toki was my roomate and also, my teaching partner during my teaching practical days in MPLP Teachers' college. We truly stuck to our choices of mates in life in Soon Ling and Jane. Yup! They were good choices. The only tinge of sadness was that there were many who said that they would make it for this event but I guess, they had other commitments and emergencies to deal with. Anyway, it wasn't gonna damper our spirit for a good evening.

After our drinks and getting to know each others' on-going happenings, we adjourned to Mr.Indran's place to see his "nest" after all these years. I tell you this, Mr. Indran is a class above when it comes to hosting us. I am truly humbled by his willingness to open his house for us to stop by and what a delight we had. I love his treetop house and it's architecture. I am told that he built it with his children and that's one skillful man! It took him 4 years to complete but it is truly a perfect hide away with books and wooden flooring. I love the raised platform of Chengal wood and it makes the corner terrace such a delight. The decoratives in the house were memorabilia from the yester years and they would cost a fortune nowadays. The one place which really caught my eyes is the cosy place below the treehouse. Again, the walls were adorned with pretty women memorabilia of the yester years such as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Lauren Bacall and a host of others. Even the pirate decorative piece at the centre of the coffee table was classic. However, my eye caught the most significant piece of art ever which was hanging on the wall with small cursive letter which says: "a simpler life". That is so significant!

For the first time too, I met up with Mrs. Indran. A quiet, pleasant lady but truly a remarkable woman - simply because she had to put up with such an energetic man like Mr. Indran! The drinks flowed and our conversation continued over memories of the years involving college activities and Kelab Kembara activities. As usual, Mr. Bernard would crack his jokes and he is truly a gentleman too. He is easy-going, joker and truly a fun guy. We had a great time with his jokes and his experiences with his buddies, Mr. Indran, Mr. Raja and Mr. Bala! Mind you, these are people in their late sixties and I have nothing but pure respect for these "young at hearts."

As Soon Ling & I bid our farewells to our beloved lecturers and friends, I felt enriched in life by their presence and their sharing of experiences. I truly am humbled by the experience and the experiences of others. We could never gauge how our lives could affect or enrich others but by what I experienced yesterday night, I must say, I am truly blessed with these people and what they have done during those early years. They touched lives more than they can ever imagine. I remember thanking Mr. Indran and Mr. Bernard for all the knowledge and experiences they had shared with us earlier in our college days. It is the same principles, knowledge and heart that I have passed on to the leaders and children in the Royal Rangers Ministry of Melaka # 1 where I am serving. Mr. Indran aptly replied, " Thank you." He did say something along with it but I didn't catch it but that wasn't important. To me, acknowledging the blesser is itself a reward for me. At least, I still get that chance in life to thank them both personally in person. How awesome can it get, right?

My dear friends had made arrangements for us to meet again next year for another great time of reunion. Let's hope to have a bigger group of friends so that we could have a great time of fellowship, catching up and also, just let the good times roll again. For those who had missed the get-together/reunion, people, we lived only once in our lives - let's make it count, shall we?

Toki & Jane, THANK YOU SO MUCH from the bottom of my heart!~

Twisted Views....

2011-12-07T21:19:00.000-08:00

I really don't know whether should I laugh or should I cry at the stupidity of some corroded minds of some religious clerics/scholars available on this planet for that matter. I was actually astounded and stepping on the verge of mental disgust on the paranoia of what I read over the papers ( Pg.48 -World News - Star papers today ) during my lunch hour break. To me , it was hilarious for a split moment and then, it just dawned on me how distasteful and how insane can one get. I really felt that it is not only degrading to the women folk any where in the world but also a huge disrespect to my Muslim friends as well. The article and what was said not only insulted my intelligence but also the intelligence of any reader of this world. I am really appalled by such notions of degrading oneself to even come up with such ideas. It just comes to show as though our parents had failed us in our walk with God, understanding of basic living and knowing our physical body. I really could not understand the association of sex with fruits and vegetables at all. Of course , I have heard of aphrodisiac food, herbs and spices but to associate general sexual acts with fruits and vegetables are really of moronic state of mind, pure nonsensical notion and against the order of nature as it is. Moreover, my question is why is it always associated with sex? If sex is such a dirty act, then it is high time EDUCATION takes place. Let us all be teachers to our young ones rather than letting the internet ( and such narrow minded people! ) be the parents of our children's sex education! This is the problem when narrow-mindedness are in operatives and every damn thing is associated with sex!

I believe with all my heart that SEX is a beautiful thing between legally married couple. Make no mistake about it. It is personal, it is special and it is very INTIMATE between two LEGALLY MARRIED people! Please see the boldly highlighted words! So, if you are having extra-marital affairs, one night stands, single & single flings, living together, affairs or whatever names you want may want to concoct out, sorry! it is simply called LUST and SIN! No other words for that!

Anyway, I wonder if aubergine, luffa ( petola) , corn, strawberry, persimmons, wasabi plant, winter melon, bitter gourd, lemongrass (serai ), ladies fingers and what not vegetables & fruits will be banned next .......! I wonder ......... just how far our intelligence can be insulted! OMG!

Hmmnn..The Salary.

2011-12-04T07:09:00.000-08:00

Two days ago, I made an early morning trip to the bank to check on my finance. After some anxious and obnoxious moments of anxiety, an amount flashed across the screen indicating that the much awaited salary had been banked-in. Don't get me wrong. It wasn't that I am complaining about the lateness of the salary payment or freaked out over it. ( I almost jumped off the office building (sigh! luckily only 2 storey! ) after receiving calls from my telco provider and bank that my payments are overdue! ) In fact, I am fully aware that it is well within the rights of my employers to pay our salaries between the 1st to the 7th of the month. However, it was a real welcome sight and a real relief as the bank screen flashed the anticipated amount as I have bills to pay and mouths to feed just like any other employee in this country and their responsibilities to their respective families.

In actual fact, that day was nothing new as I have had regular days like this as I evaluate my monthly expenses and so on. So, after squeezing my account dry with the last ringgit available, it was back to the drawing table on the division the bounty from my sweat ,blood and tears for the month. I had prepared two envelopes to divide my monthly bounty. I took a slightly longish envelope started writing the expenses to be paid on the envelope and put the amount into it. This envelope was meant for my Home Mafioso chieftain, SLing! It was sad to see a big chunk goes to Home Mafioso's expenses control of the month especially allowances, utilities, vegetables and food money plus tuition fees and others. It was like chopping off one arm and one leg off the body parts with the bleeding still on-going. Then, it was another envelope whereby another big chunk was assigned for my car payments, cellphone bill, mom's house rental, payments, "extortion" monies and other bills. After dissecting the meagre bounty , I was left with the month's living expenses which was a really small sum indeed. As I slumped back against my working chair, I made a small fan out of the extremely small excess of the month in front of me. Without much ado, I slipped them into my wallet thinking which wan tan mee stall or roti canai stall would be better for my lunch hour treat in the coming days! Ah! I've been reminded that we've gotta eat to survive and also, survive to eat! Either way, I am confused, I think??!!
To be honest, I am not complaining. I am just thankful that I have a job in hand and at least, have a salary to feed the family. ( I've been reminded on this countless number of times ! ) I likened myself like an Indon construction worker but the only difference and twist are that I looked smarter and dressed up nicer than the construction worker! Anyway, "money not enough" syndrome is a real problem among employees today and so it is with me. But I've learned to accept the fact that bosses will be bosses while employees will be employees - oppressed, depressed and systematically compressed to oblivion by boardroom games and decisions, power struggles and power shifts. I am way pass that and I am just thankful that I can fill those two envelopes I have each month though I will be left with a rather scary amount at the end of the month.
Ah! I would rather not think about it. After all, it is another 27 days before I can fill those envelopes again and start the vicious cycle of " feel good " again! In the meantime, just gonna "enjoy" the days, I guess. There are many things for us to be thankful each day ( I'm constantly reminded of this by my bourgeoisie-minded superiors ! ) and I really am gonna be just thankful. By the way, I just want you to know that this is my cynical satire look and real jab/stab at life.

Dinner...

2011-12-01T07:41:00.000-08:00

Last night, while SLing and SYuen were out in KL for some "girl power" fun with SLing's colleagues in GEng & SBee, I was attending a family meal in a home. I remembered rushing from workplace to the home because I had worked late that evening. After about 40 scrubs and a good dose of body shampoo, I was lost in translation a few minutes by the sheer rustling of gentle waters over the forlorn tired body but I have a dinner date to attend.

Ramping up my car, I headed towards On Tin's home for dinner. Earlier, ( two days ago ) I was told that it would be a steamboat dinner. Honestly, I ain't crazy about steamboat meals but I'll go with it anyway. I like my stuff fried and crispy, actually. Anyway, as I stepped into the living room, I could smell the instaneous aroma of tom yam smell plus the bunga kantan and limau purut smell ( kafir lime leaves ). The aroma itself was really the taste bud opener. As usual, my gracious host, BLing scooped tonnes of vegetables plus fish balls and fish paste related good stuffs onto my bowl. At our dinner table were KLan, Jacq, Aaron, On Tin, Xin Yi and BLing herself. We made some small talks and soon, it was like all of us had been friends for a long time. It was easily one of the most pleasurable dinners I've ever had. The conversation topics were light and always littered with jokes, aspirations and hopes were discussed while great food were continually piled onto our plates. I swear to you, it was the night I had the most fish related food and vegetables in the entire year! Again, I am not exactly a fish lover but I am more the meat kinda guy. Pork is my kinda meat! Somehow, the good conversation and great chuckles plus laughter made the evening really good. There is an old saying that says simple food will taste exceptionally good especially with the good company to share with. I am 100% in support of this old saying!
I really enjoyed having conversation which each and everyone of the guests. It was good to know that having a simple meal like this could trigger really meaningful, intellectual and constructive conversations. I am happy indeed. Belly was full and I had great company for conversation - I couldn't ask for more. That night I left for home, digesting and digressing all that had been spoken and eaten too. It was simply a great evening. Just wanted to thank BLing and On Tin for being such gracious host! I know that I would never be hungry whenever I am this couple's house. Truly simple, good-hearted and blessed couple. So, to BLing & On Tin, thank you so much for inviting me and giving me a hearty meal! I really appreciate the goodness you both had poured into my life!

Awareness 2....

2011-11-24T21:58:00.000-08:00

In continuation of my last article " Awareness", I would like to add that child abuse does not only covers the sexual abuse part but also the physical and verbal abuse as well. BTW, it includes bullying too which is more severe amongst the girls and in schools today. We live in a society that constantly pressurizes the young ones to profess their manhood and we actually get more hoods or hoots than man! It is no surprise that physical abuse of children are indeed on the rampant especially in broken homes or plain evilness on the part of the adults/parents involved who may be abused in their younger lives as well. Like I said, it is a vicious circle that needed a full stop.

Let us not take every occurence and link it to this but to give an indepth study of the chain of events before concluding that the case is an abuse case. We are far too sane than to follow the herd metality when it comes to such matter but of course, each case required close scrutiny and genuinity. We need to be calm and respond accordingly when the signs of abuse are there. Generally, I believe that the signs are there and we need to correspond and react accordingly. I must confess, in all genuine honesty, that I have no pity for abusers of any kind. I remember dealing with a number of cases and it just boils my blood when things like this happen. I give not even a millimeter of breathing space to these abusers. The excuses these abusers give are just plain pathetic and lame excuses. To me, the excuses are really just rubbish, pathetic and inhumane.

Bullying is one of the kinds of abuse children had to endure in this society of ours. To me, a bully is just another coward pretending under the cloak of pretense authorithy or popularity. This is especially rampant in girls' schools. Mothers, take a good look at your daughter and start to see if there are changes in them which are not normal. Usually, a girl would be too shy to mention it or even too timid to talk about it because they want to "blend" in the peers andthus, they endure the bullying. Teach your daughters to stand up for their rights and be assertive in their words, thoughts and action. It is okay to be different. It is okay to have an opinion. It is difficult for some but it will help your child a long long way in her life. I know because I have a daughter and a son too to raise up and I will defend them to bits because I love my children and that's what every good parent should /must do. We do not spoilt them by sparing the rod or disciplining them when they are wrong but we are to teach them the right way of living with the solid foundation of God's love as the main anchor in their lives.

I must say that the world is an ever-willing teacher cum parents to our children today. Don't ever let the world be the parents of our children. It only leads to a road of careless living, moral decay and joyful fun that only leads to more destruction in our humanistic values. Let us , as parents, take up our responsibility to really care and be concern with their lives. Built their lives on a sure, solid and good foundation of God's love. Build confidence, build encouragement, be a patient listener and build support & rapport with our children. You will never know who and how you will be an inspiration to any child or even your own children. We all do mistakes and cry along the way as we raise our children with our first hand experience at parenthood but the greatest love & effort we can give to our children is to lift them up and equipped them with good values that they would not be held in the dungeon of false joy and ever-challenging spoils of the world.

Wake up and be aware that all the money in the world would not do one bit of a good when your child is screaming for some love from you or fallen into an abyss of difficulties. That is most important as far as I am concerned. I have lived through that and I am sure there are many others who would agree with me on this matter. Don't let chasing enough wealth be your excuse because it is always never enough and what is enough, anyway, right? Be aware and be watchful over the ills of today's world order. Keep your children safe and help keep the other people's children safe too. That is the only way we can stop these abuses!

Awareness....

2011-11-24T09:33:00.000-08:00

Tired and drained mentally & physically was all I could say as I arrived home after work last night. However, as I arrived home, SLing informed me of a talk which was to be held in CCC Melaka. Despite the hectic schedule and physically drained day, we decided to attend the talk and I must say that it was good that we had decided to attend this talk. I was blessed by the talk. Most important of all, there seemed to be a breakthrough in the age of topic of sexual abuse.

Perhaps, I must first of all give thanks and credit to Pastor Joanne Lee of CCC Melaka for her good support and "bravery" in being the host for the ultra-sensitive topic of the talk which is " Awareness & Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse". I daringly and openly say that sex had been a great taboo topic in our churches today that awareness is virtually none existence or simply brushed aside with comments like " your parents should teach you", evasive and avoidance of this topic or/and this topic is even skipped during church marriage counselling sessions! Tell me if I am wrong on this matter. I personally feel that the church community and parents alike had been "careless" in this topic that many young people had turn to electronic media as their parents/teachers when it comes to sexual education. This often led to a wrong idea of what sex and sexuality is all about. We can preached about sex and quoted from the 1001 scriptures available and speak till our mouths foamed but if it has not been explicitly and thoroughly explained, it is just another wasteful talk as far as I am concerned. Let us not forget that pornography, illicit pictures and erotic stories and media are actually a click away and every-ready parents to our children . It is important for us , as parents and adults to teach our young ones the right meaning to sex and sexuality in our society today. I agree 100% with both Lai Cheng and Evelyn, the speakers from Save & Protect the Children Organisation on the need to educate our children well in knowing their body parts with firm, assertive and sure manner. They are right in saying that we, as adults, are to listen, believe, praise and protect these children when they tell us of such abuses and to respond calmly & effectively for these children. Gone are the days when we are shy to teach our children and name parts of our body with flowery fictitious names instead of the actual real body parts names. From their presentation of a short video which was wonderfully narrated by Jo Kukathas and testimonies from child sexual abuse survivors, one can only cringed and shake one's head on how such things could have happened. Molestation and sexual abuse since the age of 8 by grandfather, raped by two girls at the age of 12 and one man , in turn, became a sexual predator in his later years, sodomised by respected village head at 10 and molested by cousin during younger days are just some of the testimonies that were shared that night. I could see that a lot of heads were shaken in disgust and there were even gasped as the video clip was played. To me, these are real problems that plaque our society today. It is a vicious cycle that need a full-stop. So-called trusted adults, people close to the family, sexual predators and sexual offender are real. We have to recognised the fact that these predators are planners and never co-incidences while they prey on weak and low self-esteemed children after gaining the trust of the people around the child and the child itself. Children sexual abuse is real and let us not kid ourselves by turning a blind eye to this. BTW, the definition of children are those below the age of 18 years of age. Make no mistake of the age! Yes, that includes our school going teenagers too and surprised not that sexual predators can come in the form of male (85%) or female (15%) of all ages, races, any level of the people's strata and group of people.

As adults, we have a compulsory duty to protect the children in our family and our society. Let us not kid ourselves by keeping our eyes shut on these matter. Even in prisons, I was informed, that adults or sexual offenders who rape or sexually abuse children are beaten half dead by the inmates.I have said it many times before and I will say it again that if as parents, we do not know the whereabouts our our children after 10pm, we are reckless and we are presenting our children freely to the hands of these sexual predators. We need to know where our children are, who are they mixing with and what are they doing. Communication is important and it will save lives. Trust me, our children always wants to be a grown-up so fast that they are actually not thinking straight and easily landing themselves at the clutches of these predators. Afterall, growing up as an adult comes with responsibilities and another factor is that we must always feel for our child and the child of our neighbour. I have seen enough to convince me that if we continue to chase our careers, fattened our bank accounts at all cost or simply ignoring the needs of our child, we are equally guilty of messing up our children's lives. Excuses that we are all doing this for our brighter future will proved futile and meaningless over the trauma our child would have to go through. There is just too many examples and experiences to share. Suffice to say that I have seen enough to stand up and support this worthy cause of Protect & Save the Children!

YES!

2011-11-21T20:38:00.000-08:00

Exhilarating, pulsating, nail-biting, thrilling, in awe and pure proudness is what I could describe while watching the 26th SEA Games football final between the host, Indonesia and our very own Malaysia team. What a classic match! There is no feeling to describe how proud I am towards the Malaysian team who had played their hearts out at the final. I was glued to my seat from the first whistle to the whistle that signalled the goal scored by our Malaysian team skipper, Baddrol Bakthiar. Elation, relief , two hands lifted up together with the shouts of " YEEEEAAAAAHHHHH " could have woken up my neighbours but who cares! Malaysia WON the gold medal of the 26th Edition of the SEA GAMES, man!

I remembered the last time I cried out " YES! YES! YES!" and jumped out of my sofa seat with both fists raised was on the 34th minute when the Malaysian team equalised after trailing 1-0 at that time! What a gem of a goal! A comedy of errors as one commentator put it but I call it a touch of class, man. I could hear my sweet wife bellowed " IVAN! Are you mad?" I didn't care, I just shouted " GOAL! GOAL GOAL!" as I pumped my two fists to the air! Yup! I was like a lunatic on the loose but it was a great feeling. Great feeling! I guess, every Malaysian would have reacted the same way as I did. I guess, if you a sports person, you can relate to what I am saying because you would understand what I am feeling. Even though I may not be putting on a national jersey on my back, my support as a Malaysian is always there for the Malaysian team. The team deserve all praises for what they have to go through and still came up winners. They have to put up with a very hostile crowd of about 80,000 people , the lousy reception, treatment and the heckles/tackles on the field.

It was really a match to remember. My pick for hero of the team would be Khairul Fahmi a.k.a Apek, the goalkeeper. He was outstanding throughout the entire competition and he stopped two to three sure goals in the final. Had it been any other custodian between the post that night, it would have been a completely different story! The penalty save was really crucial and Apek did it with brilliance by diving well to stop the spot kick shot from Ferdinan Sinaga. He is a sure a pair of steady hands between the post. He deserved as much accolades as the skipper and the rest of the team members. What is heartening is that there is hope for Malaysian football which had gone through some rough patch over the years. There seemed to be a steady rise of talents and more dedication when playing for the country. I guess, just like many Malaysians, I pray that this successes will not go into their heads and missed out the real passion for the game. It is always very special representing our school, our college, our state and even our country in any sporting events. It's special.......very special.

So, to the Malaysian SEA Games football team, WELL DONE! WELL DONE INDEED!~

Soon Ling....

2011-11-17T20:50:00.000-08:00

Today, I pay tribute and heartfelt admiration to one special person in my life, Soon Ling. Today, she celebrates her birthday but most important of all, she has been a tremendous confidant, a good listener , a warm & loving person and most of all, she is a great wife with endless skills of torture methodologies and pain-inflicting antics of curriculum at times! Ahh! But I was only joking! She also does have a glare and stare of a double edged sword sharper than the German or the Japanese precision knives! Hahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa................

That should put us off for being too serious, right? Anyway, Soon Ling has been and always will be very important in my life. Nope! I am not been held at knife-point or even having my nuts squeezed by a nutcracker device to say something nice but I want to share a light moment-lar.

Soon Ling is such a strong woman. Over the years , she has been a tremendous support to me and the children. If I am the hot-headed and vile-tempered rascal, she is the calm, cool and collected individual. She is really a real soother in the turbulence times and she has always been a tremendous comforter in my low ends of my life. I guess, in many ways, she is the real unsung hero in our family. What I like about her is that the dinner dishes are quite standard and predictable namely Chai Seam, mixed vegetables with broccoli, mushroom, carrots, snap peas and cauliflower , boiled ladies fingers with oyster sauce sprinkler with fried shallots, black sauce chicken with mushroom , fried fish, fried eggs, fried beancurd with light soya sauce dressing, chicken varuval, wong kiong chicken, black sauce pork and fried luncheon meat! That should cover the list and make this article longer a bit. Hey! That's quite good already,ok? The lists had steadily grown over the years and that's an achievement, baby! Hahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa................

Seriously, there is a side to her that many do not see. She is gentle, a good tongue-lasher when it warrants a good wake-up call, a really good wife and a great mother to my children. She is always very concern for my well-being and my children's welfare. She cries easily when she is hurt or angry but she always comes out stronger after a good cry. She is always there to hug me whenever I am down or give a word of comfort every time the family is backed to the walls in all sorts of life situations. She also has a very big heart when it comes to gifts for our close friends and family. She can be direct, sarcastic and annoying at times but she is the strength in the quiet form for this family.

In many ways, she dedicated her life to this family of ours and her sacrifice has been enormous. How could I not love such a woman who has given everything she got for me and this family of ours? I love her to bits , actually. That is the true and bold confession of my heart and my public proclamation and attestation of my love to her . Call me a romantic fool or even an eccentric clown but I see a good woman whom I loved very much the minute I laid my eyes on her and that NEVER changed until this day!

So, to Soon Ling, BLESSED BIRTHDAY ( 18th November ) and you are in my heart always!

Twenty-Two...

2011-11-15T15:06:00.000-08:00

Today, twenty two (22) years ago, SLing and I scribbled our names down the intricate triplicate copy of one of the most important documents of our lives called the ROMC or commonly known as Registration Of Marriage Certificate. At that time, we were the young and sweet 22 and 24 years old while so much passion, love and joy for one another. I guess, the same passion, love and joy is still there though the old body creaks and tweaks from time to time.

Someone asked me the other day, "How do you do it? Keeping your sanity? " I looked at that person and said simply " Quarrel each day, hate everything you do with each other and spike her drinks so that she goes to sleep early everyday! " I swear that person's eyes went two times larger and the jaw dropped! Anyway, the truth of the matter is that there is a lot of patience, give and take attitude ( more give than take, I guess! ) and a lot of mutual respect. Never mind about the physical appearance. That type of "beauty" can be "rectified" with the splashing of the tons of ringgit notes on one hundred and one cream ; but growing wider and getting some wrinkles here and there are part of the ageing process. It doesn't/should not change who we are on the inside.

Personally, the main foundation of a good marriage is the building of the trust foundation. We have to entrust our lives to one another and support one another. SLing and I built this foundation long before we penned our names down that paper. Nowadays, we see young couples practised " lip service" in everything while filling divorce papers are faster that ordering a Big Mac at McDonalds. The other thing that brought us to where we are is our non-obsession with finance. Sure! Money is important in our daily lives and our future. We would be moronic to think that we could live on sunshine and air in this world but we have to be able to draw the line between greed and over-indulgence. Planning your finance and keeping a sound check on your financial resources are important but do not take the excuses of keeping for the future to over-hoard your finances and let it become an amplified obsession. Learn to go for short trips or even holidays and make it with the family. You don't need to go far away for your holidays. Sometimes local trips could give you immense joy by just enjoying the cool breeze or even some eye openers in terms of daily living. SLing and I have always enjoyed our short holidays whatever conditions we would be as long as we are there as a family.

Loving one another is the next factor. Though we may seemed like having a go at one another during our cat fights and the appearance of claws, SLing and I are really loving to one another. You have to love that person as a whole , to feel and be crazy enough to pen your death warrant on that paper! That's the beauty of SLing ,actually. Me? I came from a rough and tumbling world of chaotic bliss that I learned to be where I am slowly but surely!

Forgiving and letting go of our baggages are our next formula/elixir for making it thus far. Many times, when we quarrel, we genuinely did not feel good about it. Sometimes, tempers flared and we say a lot of stupid/hurtful things along the way. I admit that I am mainly guilty for a lot of these at times. I guess, in many ways, both of us have different understanding on a lot of matter but the bottomline is how do we agree on a common ground. This is where forgiveness and a lot of heart is required. No need to dragged "old stories" and old baggages into the arguments and make it bigger than the air balloons in the sky! Move past that and focus in problem solving rather than making the problem worst.

SLing and I have also set certain rules in our lives such as zero tolerance to whatever vices. This is our real foundation all these years. We have seen in our lives how vices could really get couples into financial quandary, home-wrecking situations and head mess! We move on when it comes to things like this!

I am not saying that we are the "bestest" couple in the world. We are still learning the curve and learning each step of our relationship every day. We may not be perfect and we do not want to be perfect or else we will probably poison one another! We falter too just like any other couples in this world. The least we can do is live with one another and try making our lives pleasurable and enjoyable. Afterall, we all want to be happy, right? Afterall, being happy is such a subjective word. Our "happiness" definition may defer from person to person but to me, being able to spend 22 years of my life and probably another 22 more in the future with this woman, SLing seemed alright, awesome and blissful!

Here's a toast to 22 years of fun and more fun ( or funny - whichever comes along! ) ahead!

Pretty Girl's Birthday

2011-11-15T14:06:00.000-08:00

It's Ashley's birthday!

What a cake! Yummmmmmmyyyyyyy!

The Three "Musketeeers"

Getting all pretty and nice!

The ever-smiling brother, Ryan!

The pretty girl, Ashley!

Bare necessities.....

2011-11-07T22:34:00.000-08:00

Last weekend getaway for the Royal Rangers leaders and families was probably the most "trying times" ever for the leaders and their families. You see, we went to a very basic kelong to have some time of fishing and rest. As usual, there were it's mumblings, grumblings, complaints, whining and so on but it was really an eye-opener for me. Imagine, we survived just one day without the basic necessities like bathing, proper place to sleep and weathering the hot & cold day ( the wind in the night & early morning was freezing cold!). For me, I just love the place in the sense that it had it's basic facilities like partitioned empty rooms, enough shades, toilet cum bathroom ( size of probably 4'X4' ) and enough fishing areas. I guess, many of us are not used to such "lack" of facilities as we are quite accustomed to resort-like facilities and thereby, the surface of unpleasantness.

OK, not everyone like fishing and having to face such difficulties but I am really glad we all managed to weather the difficulties not matter how difficult it was. Though some swore by their ancestral graves that they would not return to such horrid place, I know that I will come back here someday on my own. I like the place, honestly. It is basic and an angler's paradise as far as I am concerned. It is not as though I am against modern facilities but I really felt that we have been too dependent and pampered to extinction by modern conveniences that we simply forget how to live in simple ways. I love the salty breeze and the tugging of fish on my line. It gives me a thrill to feel the tugging of the fish no matter how small the fish may be. Yunno, every trip to the kelong is a learning experience. From fishing rods to lines to hooks and to baits seemed to make a difference. I have learned a lot by watching another group of anglers led by one Mr Lim. He told me that he comes here regularly which was like every month and thereby, when he deftly flicked his light long fishing rod for some bait fish, it wasn't hard to know that this was an experienced hand. It was fun being able to learn from him and he was the one who informed me that the fishing action starts at night and at the wee hours of the morning. Thanks to Errol, I was able to wake up at 4.00am and started fishing. It was at this hour till about 8.00am that I managed to catch 3 palm sizes fishes. By the way, Mr. Lim caught a nice size ikan pari, one nice ikan ebek ( sometimes known as ikan cermin ) and two good sized ikan putih! The fishes were put into a freezer box filled with ice while the smaller ones are left in the airated baby pool. So, there are fishes near the kelong but it is just that we weren't able to land those fishes because probably, we used the wrong size hooks, baits and so on. Many factors could have been the reason for the lack of landing some nice looking fish on our part but we had a great time landing those bait fishes with our Apollos size 8 and size 10. I guess, to me, seeing the young leaders and our young family members landing bait fishes and the glow on their faces are indeed priceless. Some were even terrified of putting the umpun-umpun or fishing worm on the hooks and made a mess out it causing laughter every where. These are some of the lighter moments and memories which will last in my mind and heart. I most sincerely hoped that these memories would last in these young people's heart and mind. Imagine, they don't even know how to hook a worm to a fishing hook! To me, these are the basics in which I learned long long time ago and not feel squeamish about it. By the way, the young leaders really deserved applauding for taking the trouble to help out the young ones during fishing time. It enlightened my heart a lot seeing all the effort they put in to ensure a good time at the kelong.

At the end of the day, we had to leave the kelong after spending 24 hours there. Under the blistering sun, I kinda miss the place. To me, it was serene , doing what I like most and away from the maddening crowd, corporate political life games, murderous envy & ambitions of the corporate ladder and the ever prevalent piles of unending work. So, was I at home at the kelong during those times? YEAH, I was !~

Small people...

2011-11-03T03:20:00.000-07:00

The most backward decision our Education Ministry can ever do is to pull the plug on the PPSMI program despite the PAGE petition and a good number of parent's disapproval for pulling the stop on this program. Ah! " Never mind, they are a small group!" - that 's what our TPPM was probably thinking and has down played the significance of the PAGE group. Well, Mr. TPPM, I have news for you. These people are NOT a small group of irrelevant parents or individuals. These are individuals and adults with good intentions for the future of this country. They are not here to shout and gain a popularity contest with the TPPM. They are here because they really want to do something about the slackening and declining imminent death in our education system. Afterall, it has been ministers after ministers coming in and out to implement this and that and what is there to show at the end - a comedy of errors plus a whole load of comical blunders and plundering from printing books and selection of books for our schools curriculum. Well, some inflated ego-booster statistics and one peacock arrogance of an Education Minister while our children languished poorly in speaking English lest communicating in English.

You bet, I SUPPORT PAGE group and PPSMI program - 100%. Logically, you can't implement a program such as PPSMI and then abandoned it just because of some pressure here and there just for political reasons. It is always the excuse of rural children can't cope and oppose to the use English language over the predominant Bahasa Melayu language. I came from a kampung environment and I love the kampung feeling. My parents have always encouraged me to strive for the best in my education. I have seen that in my neighbours in our kampungs. I have seen my parents sacrificed so much for the payment my tuition and so on. Wouldn't any parent - be it in the rural area, urban or even the kampungs, do the same for their children? Yup, I see the stopping of this program was mainly due to political pressure and a grand survival to save one's skin from a political assault. There isn't an ounce of caring for what the children and parents have to go through. I KNOW because I have children studying maths and science in English and they ARE comfortable with the English language usage, ok? Have you any ounce of compassion or care for the parents and children who had invested time and money for their future , Mr. TPPM? Ah, why do you even bother, Mr. TPPM? Afterall, your children are probably having a whale of a time in some college/ university overseas, right? Try not sending them there and let them "feel" the Malaysian education system and our local universities. You see, that's the problem of the politicians in this country of ours. They are allowed to send their children overseas to learn English and what not but won't lift a finger to make English a better language for all of children in this country. Look, we are already comfortable and able to converse and write Bahasa Melayu well enough. English is the language forward in our nation today. We have to be competent in the language to able to compete globally one day. It is no wonder that our children comes back from overseas with a general degree because the level of our children's English is so low that they would have to take a proficiency test before they can even apply for the course they want or spent the 1st yearly grasping the English language. That is what is wrong with this nation of ours. It's a humiliation and a real setback for our children to be told that our English in Malaysia is not good enough for overseas requirements! That's a fact and swallow that, Mr. TPPM! That's why MOET test is there to ensure that our children can grasped the English language before they can proceed to move on in their professional course.

It is a known fact that reliable and good reference books for maths, science and other skilled related studies are in English. If our children are not exposed to such language and have a good grasped on the English language, how are they gonna ever extract facts and have forward thinking? I am appalled when I read some of the test scripts that were handed to me by some of my friends in the teaching industry. I just don't know whether I should cry or laugh at some of the answers the students gave for their professional papers. It only shows the shallowness of our education system. When the GM of a private company complained that the engineers and technicians who graduated from our local universities/overseas universities can't even understand the English language SOP manuals, there is something critically wrong in our learning system.

I guess, this is another blundering act by our government of the day by plugging off the PPSMI program. Hmmmmnnnnnnnn............ GE13. Now, I await with anticipation.........together will ALL the other small people......

STOP THE ROT!

2011-10-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

I have read almost at a glance of the Auditor General Report on our government departments and at the stage where I am, I can safely say that I find it utterly disgracefully disgusting plus revolting to have come to know of so much wastage/leakages, corrupt practises and total lack of responsibilities of these so-called people governing our country. I say it before and I will say it again - if the report remains only a report and no further actions are taken against these dastardly daring criminals, all these exercises of audits are a waste of time & resources while the country is being drained and bled left, right and centre to ultimate bankruptcy! Where is the accountability and integrity part of the enforcement? Why are the "big fishes" still swimming their ways into the government departments and getting these contracts? Have they not learn from the previous years or are they intentionally allowed to do so because of the " you scratch my back and I scratch your back" kickback concept?

What I cannot stand is that these unscrupulous people steal and short-changed the very food that nourishes the children too. Imagine, even children are being made to suffer for such devilish and inhumane act! I really can't imagine blundering and blowing RM 270 million on tourism and we still get one thousand and one excuses when this department had been caught virtually with their pants down! What about paying RM 170 per kg for sugar and the paper trail went through so many hands, internal audit and payment made to contractor without raising any body's eyebrow or suspicion? What about paying of RM 21,000 plus per month to a pensioner who actually should be getting RM 214.00 plus every month? They have the cheek to explain this as a "decimal point error". Gosh! This is really ridiculous! What about excuses like drums and fish traps were being swept away by floods when the money had been pocketed? What about sub-standard building projects and water pumps? What about agricultural leaders who pocketed money for the projects which supposed to help them to rise up the poor status in their people? What about "supposedly poor people" who got these project are actually quite rich especially by their houses standards and their possessions? What about paying RM 5,000 plus as transport charges for Tupperware products costing RM 4,000 plus? Gosh! The transport charges is higher than the actual Tupperware products itself! Now, that's mind-boggling and I would like to quote, with permission, from Mr. Patrick Teoh's favourite tag line here!

Sub-standard schools, sub-standard tools and equipment ( Marine Dept would have a field day explaining their over-charged outboard motor engines , binoculars and so on! ), below standard food stuff, GLCs "generous" 2 to 3 months bonus to staff even when the GLCs are not making money or even the ones who are making money are not paying a sen to the government! What type of business/accounting practises and even accountability are we running in this country when you import cows for breeding programs ; only to sell the same breeding cows and have no off-springs? We call that successful national entity?

The public is virtually fed-up with such blatant corruption and this is seen in many electronic media responses. The question is this: Where is the enforcement part? This has been a yearly affair and yet nothing is being done to curb such blatant abuses and corruption. This is the time where the MACC should come into fore play ( sound cooky and kinky but that's the word! ) and get those corrupt people to the books or are they too "chicken" to get these people and rather be in the throwing of people off buildings business which would be more lucrative! Are they just too chicken/afraid to touch any of these "business Napoleons" and "unseen Invincible hands of dirty politicians and their cronies? I can safely say that if this continues to persists with the turning of blind eyes to such practises and getting free passes out of jail, this country is going down to the dumps faster than anyone can imagine. Let's not kid ourselves and say that we are getting some growth in our economy that year or this year. I believe this is an eye-shadow trick to fool us in believing this will be happening. Just take your money and buy your groceries and tell me that our economy is getting better. That's a whole load of bullshit of the highest level! Food essentials/foodstuff are on the rise all the time and just asks parents who has babies. Ask them how much do they spent on milk powder and ask them what is the price for babies milk powder today. Some would probably jump off high rise building or "voluntarily" jump of building or even strangled themselves to death when the next round of milk powder increase comes. So now, we better get another new government entity with some fancy name running just to raise cows for their milk and processed them into milk powder to help our milk powder increase! Let's get/import another 8000 cows from overseas as starters for our project, shall we? Tsk!Tsk!Tsk!

I believe the people should voice their discontent to the government and be united in getting these crooks and their crook masters to prison for what they have done. To me , that tantamount to cheating and a real breach of trust. We must ensure that all levels of our society fight vehemently against this disease of feeding these barbaric economic robbers and thieves! If we do nothing, we are just gonna fatten these "cows" and robbers and allow this norm to its full vicious cycle again. Let's be united and make a change in our ballot papers. Let's not allow these people a free hand at looting our already depleted National Treasury. Already our monetary spending power and quality had been cut down sizably while inflation rate is on the rise. It doesn't matter if you are supporting BN or PR, for as long as corruption is the name to combat, let's make our vote known that we are supporting the team which is out to combat corruption of such kind indefinitely. The people has enough of such nonsense. Let's make them known by petitoning our parlimentarians and the people to support any move to stop all these nonsense.

To our government of leaders, government department heads/servants and enforcement departments today, STOP these abuses! STOP these wastage! STOP building little Napoleons! STOP feeding the devils! CHANGES will come if the levels of lackadaisical attitude, arrogance, denials and wastage continues.

Afterall, the ballot papers and the people are the determiner. I appeal to the people of our beloved nation, rise up and let's make a change to our country. Let us allow our ballot paper to speak!!

I appeal to our nation leaders and people who genuinely care for this nation - STOP THE ROT and STOP IT NOW!

Banting delight....always!

2011-10-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

Deepavali has always been a very special occasion for me and my family. Together with good family friends and family, we would always ensure that we make our much-awaited food galore pilgrimage to Banting to visit Sathy's family. This year was no different and as we gathered in the morning near the toll house in Ayer Keroh, we know that we would have a really good time together. To be honest, it wasn't so much for the food but the opportunity to travel with good friends, fellowship and honest discussion helped a lot in a long way. We started out our journey at about 10.00am and by the time we reached Sg.Raba, Banting, it was hitting 12noon. We were happy to meet up with Vive, Vive's mom, Sathy and her family and my son, JWee . There were hugs and handshakes all around and it was like a big happy family reunion on a very special occasion.

As usual, Sathy's mom had prepared a real feast for us. She is such a wonderful Indian food cook and her dishes are ALWAYS finger-licking good, I tell you! Chicken curry, chicken varuval, mutton parietal, sweet acar, vegetables, briyani rice, putu mayam and fish cutlets were the sumptuous spread of food laid out on the table. Finally, some good home cook Indian food to wet one's culinary palate and taste!

The fish cutlet was easily THE dish for the day and Auntie Ellama's speciality while the mutton was succulently tender, nicely marinated and infused with all the spices and herbs. We had a great time downing the food in record time though I have to watch the diet a bit because there were just so many nice dishes. Half an hour after our arrival at Sathy's home in Banting, Eddy and Alicia together with their cute daughters, Tiffany and Symphony arrived at the home. Eddy & Alicia are our friends and the friendship we have is simply marvelous. Two of the most genuinely good people you can find and that's my compliment to them. Again, we greeted each other with warmth pleasantries and we had a great time of fellowship and playing with the girls. By this time, Steven, Errol and myself gathered around the newly erected roofed extension at the back section of the house and took a swig at the local nice brew called the toddy! As it was a fresh and came only from one tree source, the taste was sweet and nice. Yes, there may seemed to have a tinge of sourness due to the fast fermentation basis but it tasted really good. The chilled toddy made it extra special nice-lar. It seemed to cooled off my body after the blistering sun started it's human melting rays that morning. By mid-afternoon, the rain started to fall insanely at the vicinity area followed by a blitzkrieg of lightning and booming thunder! Ginger tea made by Sathy's mum made a whole lot of difference to a gloomy cold weather.

We were thinking, " There goes of Tg.Sepat pau and fishball escapade!" Anyway, the weather ruckus stopped and it was time to go. We were dragging our feet from leaving our Deepavali sanctuary but after some effort to lift our butts off the sofa and comfort of the cool tarmac of tiles, it was time to seek out the pau. Oh Yeah! The pau we got indeed but just the vegetarian ones and the meat pau were all sold out. We shared two packs of fishball and decided against getting fish ball to our home but will get the pau for breakfast tomorrow. After some deft moves by our cars in small and narrow roads of the track to the pau rendezvous point and exits, we were off to Teong Ji Restoran in Lukut for some seafood fare. Kum Heong lala, Assam Jenak fish ( the assam is quite 'kao' in taste and nice ) , paku vegetables cooked with sambal (over-burnt a bit but a delicately nice vege! ) , herb wrapped chicken, egg oyster omelette, house speciality seafood tofu ( this is really nice! ), yam with slices of pork and another vegetable dish fed 15 of us that night.

Honestly, that's what happens when you travelled with a bunch of fun and peace-loving friends on a day out for a festival celebrations. It was unpretentious, it was fun and most important of all, it was a day for friends. Thank you , friends for a really good time. It was nice to be able to reminiscent on some golden years of my kampung life too. Something we all should do from time to time as I reflected on what Sathy's dad said to me ( some very meaningful aspects and reflections of life ) that moment we were drinking our toddy at the back extension!

Deepavali Greetings

2011-10-24T21:44:00.000-07:00

To all my Indian friends, familiy and the Indian community,

My family & I wishes you

A VERY HAPPY DEEPAVALI CELEBRATIONS

God bless each and everyone of you

Drive safe , be good and our thoughts are with you always!

RR Melaka # 1 - 19th Council of Achievement 2011

2011-10-23T21:57:00.000-07:00

The recently concluded RR Melaka # 1- 19th Council of Achievement 2011 signalled the end of another wondrous, dynamic and fun-filled year in God's ministry of shaping and moulding lives of young children. This year, I am particularly overwhelmed with joy and admiration for my young leaders for taking the initiative to lead the Royal Rangers Ministry to a whole new level of serving and working along side our Maker in Heaven. I must say without doubt that these leaders had proven time and time again that youthfulness and being young at age is not a matter when it comes to serving the Lord in ministries today. In fact, they have shown us, the "not-so-young leaders" that they are respectful, understanding, capable and hardworking in every aspect of leadership. I am so proud of them and they are Bryan Lee, Stefanie Sim, Stephen Raj, John Ng, Josephine Gan, Bryan Chiew, Foo Shwu Yuen, Paul Raj, Lewis Raj, Mathew Chiam, Malcom Chiam, Jenny Liong and Jocelyn Gan. It really fills my heart with joy and admiration to them for doing a great job in organising the Council of Achievement. I could write pages and pages about these young ones but I just wanted them to know that my heart is so ever thankful to them for really taking a deep interest and care for this ministry. It made me very happy knowing that this ministry would be in good hands of these young leaders.

The RR emblem in koolam design was actually a wonderful combined effort of so many of these young leaders and it was such a delight to the eyes. It takes creativity, effort and most important of all, patience to get the koolam done in the right RR spirit - Ready for Anything! That started off our Bollywood Night theme on the right track. As preparations were meticulously carried out at the best of our resources and ability, everything seemed to come into place. As parents trickled in at our function as the clock struck 7.00pm, you could sensed a time of great fellowship and a great night in store. We were pleasantly surprised by the presence of our former commanders and friends who are really great supporters of this ministry, Vive, Sathy & Lih Gin. It was a real pleasant surprise for me and our team - thanks to the effort of Comdr. Bryan Lee! I was also very glad and happy to see my son, Joa Wee in his light brown jippa outfit looking dashing and handsome too! (Ah! Like father like son -lar!hahahahaaaa..... ). Their presence really cheered up many of us and we exchanged warm hugs. The opening skit was then carried out by Discovery & Adventure Rangers with the main lead roles being held by DR Ashley Chia and AR Dave N.Louis. It was their wonderfully choreographed entertaining "Jai Ho" song to accompany the lighting up of the electrically controlled flickering flames. Never mind if there were mis-stepped dance moves or non-uniformity of movements, it was a great effort by these young ones that matters! The night was about honoring the children for their achievement for the year and I could see proud and beaming faces of parents as their children are called up to receive their advancement patches and merits. That's what it is all about -honoring the children and their parents for their commitment, hardwork and passion for the ministry.

We also honored two important recipients in Josephine Gan and Jocelyn Gan in completing their requirements for Silver Medal of Achievement Award and Bronze Medal of Achievement Award. Two fine young leaders in progress. They most certainly deserve their accolades and honor for their completion of advancement merits and trail.

The closing skit to the tune of " Kuch Kuch Kotahey" was one hilarious and joyful ending to a great night. Again, the fun and innocence of the children are brightly portrayed and the dance moves were hilarious - thanks to the ideas & dance moves of Bollywood debutant directorial brilliance/genius of Comdr. Stefanie Sim! ( clap!clap!clap! Incidentally, she is also in-charge of the opening skit too! ) It was fun and that's all that matters. As food and drinks ensued at the end of the function, fellowship was the order of the day. Parents, adults, friends and children mingled together in a fun-filled night of laughter, light conversation and bonding.

The clearing up after the function really surprised me. The young leaders and children in their own initiative took responsibility and cleared up the place after the event. It was a real delight seeing them work - systematically! Within minutes, everything was cleared, put back at their respective places, cleaned, stocked up and stashed away in the storeroom. That was really a delightful touch by the children and leaders.

As the crowd thinned further, the young leaders ( Comdr. Bryan, Comdr. Stefanie, Comdr. Stephen and Comdr. John ) organising team and the older leaders gathered in the room for a short discussion on the event. There were cheers and rounds of applause everywhere for a great job done on the event. A few pointers were forwarded but overall, it was a great effort and truly one successful night. My heart goes out to these young leaders because they are so talented and they are such a delight to work with. Nurtured with care, concern, gentle love and hard facts reality have been impactful to these young lives. I believe with all my heart that all the investment of time, love, concern, hard discipline at times and a lot of caring heart showered by the commanders ( Comdr.Steven, Comdr. Errol, Comdr. Jessica, Comdr. Jason and myself ) had helped a long way.

I must say, THANK YOU to all the young commanders for you people truly deserve all the glory and honor from the Lord for your wonderful efforts. From the bottom of my heart , THANK YOU SO MUCH for making me so proud of your people. I really felt very blessed by your efforts! Onwards march to another wonderful year in 2012, shall we?

A plea....

2011-10-23T19:59:00.000-07:00

Early of the week, I watched a short movie clip on the capture of the estrangled Libyan dethroned President, Muammar Gaddafi and I must say it was a ghastly sight. Moments later, I clicked on to the next clip, it showed this man lying on the ground in a pool of blood and his upper body was naked and rolled on the ground many times by his captors as if inspecting a body of carcass. I fell back on my chair , stunned and disgusted, thinking to myself how could a leader of a country ends his life in an ignominious and tragic end. How could a leader die in the hands of his captors in such a bloodied fashion? 40 years of the reign of terror and fear, some people say, make his captors do the things they do. Retribution was another view given as a simplistic explanation. To me, a dictator or not, one surely doesn't need to end up dying in such a gruesome way. Someone reminded me the same treatment was being given to Saddam Hussein - almost identical fate end for both these leaders. Both of them were viewed as dictators by the fellow countrymen while one was hung for his crimes ; the other had a bullet hole in his head.

How could someone rule the country for 40 years and not make enemies and the countrymen to grieve at every turn of the country decision making? Well, I guess, the people of the country got fed-up with his ruling government tricks, I guess. Yunno, it shows me the vulnerability and fragile society we live in today who would just turn in a matter of a split second if bad governance and tirade of corruption practises are not checked or rectified. I guess, when society is backed to the wall by such oppression and daily sufferance, eventually, they would rise up and change the course of history of that land. No country in this world can ever claim that there has been no bloodshed in their struggle to gain independence and achieving peace & order. I am just saddened by the fact that aggressors and irresponsible people we have in our land are stirring such a sentiment. I guess, when the resentment is at hilt and at boiling point, the people loses as we lose our rationality and our minds to "herd mentality" and racial/religious hatred stokers. Chaos , resentment and evilness will reign but who will gain and what is gained and at what price? Are we prepared to sacrifice the blood of our teenage sons and daughters for the cause? Are we prepare to sacrifice our wife and family members only to be slained by an unjustifiable cause of mistrust and misinterpretation of our living lives? What is there except the mere ignorance , inflated egos and racial/religious hatred stokers that are taking advantage of the already fragile society we live in? Why can't we all live in peace & harmony in this nation of ours? Where have our conscience go? Where have our responsibility towards lives go? Aren't our hands stained enough with blood of the innocents that screams from the land below towards our Maker in Heaven?

Do we need another bloodshed to stain our already bloodied and bruised nation of ours? Have anyone in our leadership of the nation today ever wake up and realised that we have built our nation through the same hands that toiled the land and which also will be the very hands that pulls the triggers to riddle the bodies of innocent lives all in one go? Where are rationale and calm leaders? Where are the "good men and women" in our country? Where are those who hates corruption and malpractices? Where? Would you stand up and be counted as credible today?
I shuddered at the fate of our nation today. If we fail to check the evil man-made conflicts and concoctions of twisted plans to further divide the society in our nation, we are no better than the perpetrators that carried out the self-righteous executions that I have witnessed over the tube over the years. I say it again and I will say it a zillion times, common sense must prevail. Understanding must prevail. The love from the heart for every person from every race or creed must prevail. Prayers for the nation; no matter what religion you embrace, must prevail and supercede all selfish, arrogant and mindless ways of the men/women. Corrupt, thieves and mindless leaders must go if we are to make a difference in our country and lives today. I pray for hope for our nation. I pray for God's mercy upon our lives, our family and our nation today. Would you do so in your own special way too? I asked this of you as/and from the point of view of a simple citizen of this country of ours.
God bless each and every one of you.

Traffic blues...

2011-10-19T22:38:00.000-07:00

This morning I was cruising along road reaching the cross junction road along Jalan Bachang and Lebuh AMJ when suddenly I really had to slam hard on the brakes together with a few other cars which were moving nicely along the road. This hard-braking slamming and a few curses ( I've gotta be honest, right? Now, don't look so angelic, ok? ) occurred because of this moronic white monkey motorcycle fella called the traffic policeman came along, stopped in the middle of the road when the traffic light is DEFINITELY GREEN and pointed his pointer finger to every vehicle at the cross section to stop or come to a halt instaneously.

I believe, I wasn't the only vehicle owner who felt very disturbed to the hilt of hysterical anger over this matter. By the love of God, it is done during traffic rush hour as one is going towards work in town. To rub salt to the already wounded and bleeding injury, the grinding stoppage of vehicles on a traffic rush hour was for 2 bloody Jabatan Pertanian buses and 4 cars plus 3 police traffic outriders to go along the road! "Buoy loh maik" ( Excuse me!Hainanese glossary! ) This one is really too much-lar. If VVIP, ambulance or some dignitaries or even some big shot clown, I think, the public can accept-lar but two bloody Jabatan Pertanian buses. What? The buses are carrying gold or what? Even if the buses crashed, I don't think the nation is EVER gonna have a brain -drain in this sector at all, man! Even the driver of the vehicle in front of my car, a Malay man came out from his car and shouted some Malay mild obscenities while the traffic policeman just pointed to him. The Chinese lady at the back of my carry was waving her hands about and honking her horn twice! That's how disgusted the people get this morning. It was really hard to slam on the brakes suddenly and to grind your vehicle to a stop just for these clowns to pass by! It is pure rubbish and abuse of power here! It's totally crap as far as I am concerned. Why can't these people in the so-called themselves " important people" follow traffic rules just like everyone else? By right, even politicians, assemblymen and even elected representatives should adhere to traffic rules just like everyone else and set a better example to the people than making the popular proverb " Cakap tak serupa bikin" a confirmed reality. I remembered an overseas friend of mine told me that this special "traffic rules breaking" escort thing only occurs in Malaysia as in other European countries, they would have to obey traffic rules as usual except the President, PM , King or even the Head of the country! Other than this, all are to follow traffic rules as usual! Think about it. Afterall, we all pay our road tax and have every right to use the roads and to obey the traffic rules and regulations. I am pretty damn sure that the traffic light on the road the buses are travelling is RED in colour. So, my question is simply this : Why aren't they getting the summon ticket like any other motorist in this country of ours? Why do we need to pay summons when traffic offenders like this gets off scott-free for what they did? If just because they have written to the police to get their escort for their journey is the ticket for breaking all traffic rules , then each and everyone of us should also get police escort when our child goes to school ( Crime is on the rise and fearful for our children! ) or when our grandmothers ( hey, there are some young and "able" grandmas out there ,ok? ) want to give birth or even when our grandfather is going for vasectomy! Let's get the escort services ( sounds corny, right? Hahahahaaa.....) and break all the traffic rules, shall we?

Look , this is my point. If you are in a chartered bus attending a government function then plan the journey ahead especially the timing. If you plan properly and go early to your function, that's not a shameful thing-lar. It is in fact a noble thing because being earlier means you are ready for the function. Here's the bloody problem with Malaysian - we are always the latecomers, dilly-dally habitual latecomers! That's why our bus drivers have to break all known land travelling speed records with the aided help of the equally hellish outriders as partners in crime at times! Get my drift! Go early for your function and adhere to traffic rules-lar! Let's be responsible road users!

Ah! To my friends in the blue uniform, I am sorry, guys. I know, you're doing your duties and you get crap from the upper dongs just like every one else but it is frustrating for members of the public like me who are using the roads to earn a living each day. It is not easy to stop your vehicle while travelling just because you raise your finger to ask us to stop,ok? Afterall, you don't want the traffic accident records to hit the roof , right?

"Pandu cermat, Jiwa selamat" is the slogan I used to know. Still applicable-kah?

Medical Day!

2011-10-17T20:38:00.000-07:00

Recently, I had my medical follow-up with my attending physician and I tell you, it was a roller-coaster of feeling as far as I am concerned. Everything is okay except the sugar level and the weight. Mind you, this is a passionate man who is genuinely concerned for my health and I must admit that I had been "reckless" a bit lately. Nope! Let me re-phrase that: reckless for the past 3 months! ( They say confession is good for the soul! ). Anyway, I could not get away from getting an earful of advice from this physician of mine and at times, I felt ashamed of myself. Anyway, I am more determined to take better care of myself and to respond adequately. Eventhough he had a string of patients at his clinic, he really took the time to explain to me the need to trim the fats ( Ouch! It hurts! ) and to get ample rest or else I'll be meeting my Maker faster than he can dispense medicine to his patients! I took that in seriously because I could see his piercing eyes and thick eyebrows eyeballing me every second I blinked. It is a daunting and intimidating sight to behold! His bottomline is this : Eat wisely, exercise or you'll die! Short, sweet and simple - advice noted!

Armed with this , I took the decision to get some attention for my toothache that had been bugging me for about a month or two now. Yup! I can withstand the pain that I am going through. I guess, I am immune to pain unless I couldn't sleep or stand the pain anymore. If I think, I could swallow the pain, I would just endure it. Anyway, I decided against it and I drove to the nearest govt. dental clinic to get my pain resolved once and for all. I am really glad I did that and I am really impressed with the services rendered. There is indeed a vast improvement in attitude and services from the front counter to the doctors. It was a pleasant experience, I would say. Though I still have to wait for about an hour before I get to meet the dental doctor, I was very glad for his explanation and his professionalism in handling my dental conditions. He took a note of the medication I am taking and explained in detail before asking me to decided what I wanted to do with my tooth. I had only one word in my mind - EXTRACT the pain out of me, buddy! That was exactly what he did. He gave me two shots of nerve numbing fluid shots and 15 -20 minutes later, he was extracting the source of my nightmare for the past 2 months. Phew! What a relief but then my nightmare continues-lar the following morning as the tooth was quite a big one, blood still oozed out from the vacated area. Gotta be patient and let it heal naturally - that's what the doctor said. So, that means, popping the painkillers and hoping for the best. So, even if I woke up about 4 times to spit out the coagulated blood and ease myself, it was still worth it or is it? I dunno but I do feel relief from the excruciating prior to pulling out of the tooth but at the same time, tired due to the lack of sleep and rest.

Yunno, the pain was mainly due to the bad tooth being broken into half and the sharp edge had cut into the underside and sides of the tongue. That caused an inflammation and swollen a bit while the bad tooth doesn't help one bit. The pain was so bad that for about a week , I had difficulties in swallowing solids without having to feel the sensational pain of the highest level. I understood now what it means by pain that Job and C.S.Lewis described when drinking water would also have the same effects of pain. It was excruciating but I guess, I had endured it and learned from it. So, I learned something new again and I am thankful for that. Afterall, life is not always a bed of roses but it is also a bed of thorns and pain, right? We learn and we all learn from experience, right?

Books, books, books.....

2011-10-09T17:58:00.000-07:00

If you want to know what makes me happy, the answer would be spending time in a book store, reading and browsing through books. I must confessed that this is one part of my life that is seldom seen by friends except for my close friends and family. I just love to read and I love books a lot. I am not picky when it comes to book but I really enjoy topics that comes from the heart. So, yesterday is a fine example of how excited and how happy I am to be able to spend almost a day at the bookstores; not just bookstores but extra ordinary book stores.

Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to go on board the largest floating book store in the vessel MV Logos Hope together with my family and my friends, Errol & Jessica plus their two daughters, Josephine and Jocelyn. The vessel is truly in remarkable shape while the spread of books on various titles were great. The currency for trading were in Logos unit namely 100 unit is equivalent to RM 8.00. The crowd was like never ending and the queue was hopelessly long at times. Thank God that we were able set off early from Melaka and headed towards Port Klang Cruise Centre to board the vessel and get our book stuff. I am generally happy with my purchases and the fun I had. It was a blast indeed especially books with so many titles. The vessel was squeeky clean while the crew of volunteers and young people were remarkably courteous and smiling all the time. People of every shape and size plus every race, color and creed were there. I guess, that's Christian service at the best. There were just so many nationalities on board the vessel. I was very impressed with the experience. It was a great experience. Anyway, the biggest surprise came later in the day as we were travelling back from Port Klang heading towards Kajang for satay- Kajang style.

It was totally surprising that during our journey towards satay Kajang, we saw some road banners which read " Big Bad Wolf Book Sale ". SLing then alerted me about what my sis-in-law, Jade had told us about this book sales. It was simply too hard to resist and a quick check with Errol, our driver for the day, we were off to MAEPS, Bangi for the book sales. Somehow Satay Kajang got lost in translation and we landed up at a huge car park and we boarded this beautifully painted shuttle services to get to the Exhibition Centre Hall A. So, we trudged along with anticipation and excitement of the prospect of reviewing tons of books and titles. The only problem was if our wallets could handled the tons of books. Then came our moment of truth as we walked into the hall. I don't know about the rest but my jaw dropped and eyes almost popped out of it's sockets when I saw the sea of human beings browsing a hall full of books. It is like one Boeing 747 hanger filled with books. Gosh! I was deliriously dumbstrucked by the mountainous volumes of books and magazines. I didn't even know where to begin and for a moment I was in cloud nine. I went for the Cooking section - I didn't even flinched one bit and I never looked back! I looked at the prices and I almost fainted. They are so wonderfully priced. The cheapest being RM 3.00 while the highest I saw was RM 25.00 - hard cover, okay! For me, I got those books within the range of RM 5-RM 12 while my highest was at RM 25.00 ( That's for Jamie Oliver cookbook - Jamie's Kitchen - hard cover , mind you! I was thrilled to bits, I tell you! ) As I browsed books after books after books, I bumped into many people ( hands, legs, shoulder, bum, front, back, side, heads -you name it ; every part was bumped into! ) and I am so glad that there are so many book lovers. Even SLing managed to get a book or two to read and sauntered down at one spot after being tired of walking around the convention hall. The books range from Children, Coffee Table, National Geographic hard covers, Cooking Books, Computers, Religion, Professional, Business, Management, Biographies and many more sections. WOW is the word I would use! For a book lover like me, this is PARADISE, I tell you! I truly enjoyed the time I spent reading and browsing through the books. It was like those younger days where I would spent a lot of time running to the libraries, just to read something. It was really amazing experience for me.

I just want to say a big THANK YOU to Errol, Jessica, Josephine and Jocelyn for taking us and joining us on this trip fun. It was really a great time of fun, fellowship and bookship! Did we get our Hj.Samuri Sate Kajang? Oh Yes, we most certainly did and they tasted fantastic after some hardwork of browsing and straining our eyes on tons of books on Logos Hope and Big Bad Wolf Book Sales!

A big THANK YOU to BOOKXCESS for bringing us the tons of books for our enrichment and enjoyment. It is really a real pleasure and satisfaction in having to own books of interest though our wallets do get lighter after the experience but it is a good investment for our wallets - as far as I am concerned! After all, knowledge is wealth, right?

A day..

2011-10-06T07:29:00.000-07:00

Early yesterday morning, I was on my way back from an assignment when I decided to have a stop at my favourite duck mee stall to have my food. Seemed like a typical day for me as I ordered my duck mee and a platter of fish ball & prawn crackers. Even before my food arrived at my table, I could hear a ruckus of laughter and chatter coming from my next table. Seated on my right hand side of the table were 7 ladies cum "aunties" cum "mosquitoes" from the land of unbelievable lungs power and thunderous voice. Every now and then, shrieks of laughter and unbelievable power of hand and leg movements were noted. It was at this time that I realised that the day is not going to be the same anymore. Somehow, I braved the occassional slap sounds, voluminous voices of chatter and mixture of some rather "flowery" words here and there. Then, my food arrived. The duck mee was tasteless while the fish ball and prawn crackers were flat like a gassed-out balloon on a circus stand. I had a tough time swallowing the food and to top off the already miserable day, the barley drink was equally flat and tasteless. Well, I chugged down the meal as I had paid for them while putting up with the 7 "aunties". Hey, I've gotta spruce my day with some positiveness, right? So, I did the next best thing - I sized up the aunties one by one at my adjacent table. They are roughly in their early 40's though they try to look younger in their "tight" fitting, body hugging attires and bling-bling were every where and any where available. Seriously, I don't know if they are real or plated, real rock or glass. I guess, in some parts of their attire, certain body parts such as the blubber and spare tyres cannot be hidden but they flaunt it anyway! Hooray for women's power-lar! In the midst of the ruckus of laughter and the drama, I heard "The Voice". I dubbed this one as the loudest, graftiest, roughest voice ever. Incidentally , she is the roundest too. I sometimes wonder when the plastic chair is gonna give way! I guess, big ones had tremendous staying lung power and butt power too-lar! Then there is The Expressionist. Always doing something with her hands or her feet when she's talking. So full of expression, exasperation and perspiration too! Next comes, The Hawker. She shocked me to my hide when speaking in her group, she raised one of her feet to the seat and hanker there. The only items missing are the spit bowl and the toothpick! The worst part, she was wearing short pants and there were lots of the five sen, ten sen decorative marks on her feet but she chatters the world away. Then I saw The Glutton. Every now and then as the rest are talking, this one would just continue to stuff her mouth with something to eat as though there would be no more food tomorrow or the world is comingto an end! The best part is that she is simply the slimmest of them all. They say in Hokkien - "chiak liao bee"! Then comes The Hair. This one keeps flinging her hair back as though she had the Sunsilk hair thingy or some supermodel from third world country. I wonder if she has neck problems or it is just a habitual thing. Then comes The Seller/Introducer who sits nearer to my table is next. She is the one that continues to take things out of her huge handbag and showing everyone what she has and how much is the price of this item or that items. Lipsticks to eye shadow to skin care products were pulled out of the bag like a magician whose tricks had gone horribly wrong. I swear, I didn't see any flawless skin nor smooth face surface here! Of course, the last is The Mortician. If you are guessing that this is the nice looking one, you've got it wrong! Yes, she may have the bread and butter as the men folks may say it but sorry to say that the weight and application of her make-up would make plastering concrete walls such a joy and I would have to recommend Dynamo to remove the face plastering off this woman. No cleanser is gonna do the job, I tell you!
It is horribly wrong to eavesdrop but if you are sitting an earshot from these ladies' conversation, you can't help but hear what had transpired. Topics are always centred on their family, husbands and other people's gossip. It really intrigues me what women folks will talk about when they are so free. The Voice even remarked that though they meet everyday, they stilll have so much to talk about and no need to work some more. That made me choked on my coffee but I was civil enough not to spray my mouthful of black coffee away. I was thinking aloud, " Aunty, so free ah! Please go to work and earn some hard earned money-lar like everyone else! At least , be productive for your own family and the country rather than non-productive chatters!"
The Expressionist then said, " Hey, no good-meh! We are already working what! Who is going to spend our husbands money if not us, right? We also work very hard day and night-mah." ( stressing the night part ! Sheesh! ). Another round of loud laughter was heard. When it came to the topics of "working hard at night" and so on, I felt it was time for me to get back to work after filling my stomach with some food. In many ways , I am envious of these ladies for having so much time in their hands. Well, life has to go on, right? Still, it is a good experience for me. Never knew, sitting around a coffeeshop can bring so much joy! Afterall, every day is a learning day, right? You will never know what will happen or what lies at the next corner. So, live your days to the fullest and learn to laugh at life! Cheers!

WHAT A MALAYSIAN SHOULD KNOW...

2011-09-28T19:26:00.000-07:00

Received this piece from a young lady, Ivy Wong, which is ridiculously funny and hope it would brightened up your day as it did to mine!

NATIONAL EXCUSE FOR HAIR LOSS

Ajinomoto...lots of it.

NATIONAL INSTANT FOOD

Maggi Mee

NATIONAL BREAKFAST

Nasi Lemak

NATIONAL LUNCH

Nasi Ayam

NATIONAL SUPPER

Roti Canai & Teh Tarik

NATIONAL EXCUSE FOR BEING LATE

Traffic Jam

NATIONAL FRUIT FOR INDUCING MENSTRUATION

Pineapple

NATIONAL APHRODISIAC DRINK

Stout..Many Malaysian men swear by it. But then after a few pints they start swearing at everything .....

NATIONAL FAKE ILLNESS FOR GETTING MC (MEN)

Food poisoning

NATIONAL FAKE ILLNESS FOR GETTING MC ( WOMEN )

Menstrual Pain

NATIONAL CURE FOR DIARRHOEA

Cap Kaki Tiga

NATIONAL CURE FOR HEATINESS

Cap Badak

NATIONAL CURE FOR HEADACHES AND ALL OTHER ILLNESS

Panadol

NATIONAL CURE FOR DIZZINESS/FAINTING SPELLS/HYSTERIA

Minyak Angin Cap Kapak

NATIONAL CAUSE OF DIZZINESS ( FOR YUPPIES )

Happy Hours

NATIONAL INSTANT CURE FOR DIZZINESS ( FOR YUPPIES )

The sight of a police road block

NATIONAL RICE COOKER

National Rice Cooker

NATIONAL RUBBISH DUMP/ DUMP SITE

Anywhere, as long as it is not your house

NATIONAL MOST MIS-PRONOUNCED NAME

Carrefour

NATIONAL ANSWER FOR " WHERE ARE YOU?"

On the way

NATIONAL OFFICIAL TIME FOR BEING LATE

10 minutes

NATIONAL ANSWER TO QUENCH A RAGING TEMPER

Chill-lar

NATIONAL REASON FOR PRICE INCREASE

Petrol Naik

NATIONAL REASON FOR PETROL INCREASE

Still cheaper than other country

NATIONAL EXCUSE FOR CAUSING TRAFFIC JAM

There was accident on the other side of the road

NATIONAL EXCUSE FOR NOT USING THE SAFETY BELT IN CAR ( WOMEN )

You tak paham. Saya rasa sesak sebab ini barang ada besar sikit. Jadi ,susahlah mau cerita.

NATIONAL REASON FOR REJECTING INVITATION

"I got some work to do....u all go first."

NATIONAL REASON FOR COLLAPSED BUILDING, SLOPE FAILURES, LANDSLIDES & LEAKY PARLIMENT ROOF

An act of God

NATIONAL EXCUSE FOR IRRESPONSIBLE POLITICAL STATEMENTS

None. We were misquoted

NATIONAL MINISTERIAL REASON FOR INCREASING TOLL RATES

Lu ingat ini jalan saya punya bapak punyakah?

NATIONAL EXCUSE FOR JUMPING QUEUE

Everybody jumping what!

NATIONAL EXCUSE FOR NOT PAYING SAMAN ACCORDING TO DUE DATE

government will give discount one of these days

NATIONAL EXCUSE TO BRIBE

Minum kopi

There you have it , folks!~

The Voice

2011-09-28T02:35:00.000-07:00

Anyone watching the new singing competition, " The Voice" would undoubtedly agree with me that the talents are exceptionally gifted and good for this inaugral competition. With equally talented "coaches" like Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera and CeeLo Green, you bet, it's gonna be one great vocal fight. I must say, I have truly enjoyed wacthing and hearing these talents sing, man. AND they can SING, man! Yunno, in many ways, I really marvelled at God's wonderful gift of vocals and musical talents to these people. Of course, like any other competition, you would have some who just would not make the cut but it's a gallant effort though.

I have truly enjoyed listening to talents like Javier Colon, Dia Frampton , Vicci Martinez, Xenia, Beverly McClellan, Thompson Sisters, Angela Wolff, just to name a few. As usual, the anti-climax is that the competition was held some time back this year and though the winner had been made known through the internet media, it was still nice to go through all the segments of the competition before the finale. Last night, the competition was still the quarterfinal stage going into the semi-finals stage. You know me, I couldn't wait that long, as usual, and so, I did my usual stuff of going straight to the finale with the magical flicker of the fingers on the internet. Viola! I could see the finale and it was really great especially seeing the competitors singing with established singers and their coaches. It was a heart-lighted moment for me. Some of the most beautiful songs I've heard been sung and tweaked to suit the vocals are like " Time After Time", " Stitch by Stitch", " I Won't Back Down", " Stand by Me", " Everyday People" ( this one is truly fun and one spectacle of colors!), " Man in the Mirror" and many others.

I really appreciate good music and I say it from my heart that it can be soothing to our soul~ wouldn't you agree? Have great fun plugging at the music now!

What Utter Rubbish!

2011-09-27T07:51:00.000-07:00

It is appalling enough to read so much rubbish, anguish, garbage and pain splashed over our morning paper each day and now, we have three MACC officers getting desk duties for their "little heist" on some money changer not too long ago. What is wrong with our authorities, man? I have never ever heard "robbers" getting such a treatment! I guess, this is only applicable to government servants of this country. It is not just the preferential treatment these thieves are getting but also, the backing of the same department that is really appalling indeed. As far as I know, robbers are usually locked up first before they are assigned to desk duties! So, someone please explain to me that there is a difference between MACC robbers and the usual robbers/snatch thief/ petty thief from the streets? If my memory and my cerebral intelligence serves me right, a robber is a robber a.k.a. a lawbreaker and law breakers go to lock-up/jail, right? How can we ever trust or even see any integrity in this department which was supposedly set up to eradicate and fight corruption in the first place? It is not only an embarrassment to the current government but most importantly, public funds used in funding this department is simply soiled by these so-called corruption busters. It is not a confidence boost to the society and it only shows the shallowness of our government department these days. OK! Maybe one department only, you may argue and I can accept that benefit of doubt. But when I see mission schools in Melaka struggling to even get the funds to repair the school building, it kinda kicks you in the yunno-where and you come to a conclusion that it is rampant inefficiencies in most government department. There is an apt Malay proverb that says it all - "Harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi." It is an embarrassment and what is saddening is the integrity and the accountability are missing totally today from these establishments. Accountability and integrity are such prolific dirty words these days and it is the ruins of this nation of ours. I have always believed that integrity, morality and accountability starts from the very top of the command chain. If it doesn't flow from the very the top of command, we are in trouble. It doesn't matter whether we are in the government, private sector, private lives or even our religious foundation. If those values are not uphold, we are in trouble. Corruption and favoritism are the accepted norms of life today and this will ruin the very nation that our forefathers painstakingly built over the years. I often wondered, how many more lives must be sacrificed to cover up such blatant expensive foul-ups and how many lives would be ruined by such questionable characters and greedy people of authority in our society today?

I shudder too each time EPF partakes in the government financial programmes as funds for our old age are being depleted right before our very eyes and it's called nation building by our leaders? With the raising of retirement age to 60, I am afraid that I might not be able to enjoy the fruits of my sweat, blood and tears when I come to that age! I guess, more money will be pumped in to bail out some crap company in this country soon! Afterall, it's a lottery to squander the public's funds - it's been years- why stop now, right? What about funds that had already been siphoned off or shall we call it "leaks" that had happened? Mind you, do we really need submarines for our country defence? Afterall, we still have trigger-happy Dirty Harry cops and Arnold Schwarzenegger wannabes running our streets today! The only invasion I foresee happening and is happening are the constant raiding of the public funds, the plundering of the nation's kitty and the in-coming influx of our neighbouring nations maids cum domestic/business helpers etc.etc.! Yessiree, that's the only invasion our country has to be ready rather than arming our already flustered armed forces and police with more firepower that they'll probably have to go for 2-3 year training cum kursus and more karipap eating sessions before they can actually handled the firepower in their hands! When will we ever learn from the vast leakages that had been bleeding our nation for so long? It doesn't take a genius to just run down to the grocery store and see what RM 50 can do to feed a family these days. Sheesh! That's more terrifying than having meetings after meeting and assemblies after assemblies just to get into the groove of our karipap sessions and more souvenir giving sessions.

BTW, "Undilah" video clip can be quite fun, actually! Oh! the censorship board haven't taken a snip off the "sensitive" part. Seriously, what sensitive part you may be asking , right? I don't know and I find it rather entertaining and catchy clip unless our leaders are scared of their own shadow-lar. Afterall, wayang kulit show comes early to them this year. Well, the consolation is that at least some people are taking note of the need for change. I am waiting for the coming election, I guess. I truly am looking forward to it! My vote is for CHANGE! Wouldn't that be yours too? I'm with the Digi yellow man!

JE2....

2011-09-16T20:52:00.000-07:00

If there is any movie in this year that would tickled you pink, give you cramps in the stomach and make you bend over in tumulous and roaring laughter, it would most certainly be the movie " Johnny English 2 : Reborn". I had the privilege to watch this movie with my family and Din's family last Thursday at MBO Cineplex. It was after work and I just wanted to unwind to have some fun and I really can't remember laughing so much in my life. I am sure all the muscles in my face are fully stretched, worked out and aching from such laughter exercise. It is a really funny movie , to start with, but horrendously entertaining in a good way. Of course, certain scenes in the movies can be quite unreaslistic but who cares anyway. It is a good laughter-filled movie and that's all that matters , really! SLing was laughing all the way and in a good way, I was glad we went to the movies that night. I have not seen her laughed so much and that's good, actually. What more, we had popcorns, good company and great fun together.

Yunno, sometimes, the happier times in life are simply the simple things we do with our family, right? Anyway, go and check out the movie. Yeah! The tickets cost may scare you a little bit but what's that compared to the family time and great laughter together! Laugh more and spread some cheer , will you?

Pictoral birthday....

2011-09-13T03:18:00.000-07:00

Wondering what would they do for my birthday? Hmmmmnnnnn....

I wonder if my sister knows......

Will my beloved aunty be involved ?...she's whispering something to my sister...

I guess, only my sister knows......

Even my "birds" are silent these days....sigh.......

Hope there will be girls around...especially my cousin.....pweeet!.....with presents, of course!

Sigh...even my lovable parents are pretty quiet but they are all dressed up...why? I wonder...

I hope there will be food..... lots of food! My "Ah John" would love food!.....

Especially the CAKE! I hope my parents remember......

Definitely would love my "birds" to flock together......

Aaaahhhhh.....I would love presents....lots of them........the bigger the better....

But then again, my sister is pretty happy.......

Bet she knows something I don't know about....interesting......

But then again....it's just wishful thinking........

GOD please make it happen...... I would love a birthday party.......

Something likes this would be good!

Afterall, I believe I am kinda cute & smart 4 year old boy! What do you think?

Ah! Why do I have to think so much? I'm only a Buckaroo!

* This blog posting is specially dedicated to Ryan & Ashley

wonderful parents, Wei & Jade *

9/11- A lesson for us.......

2011-09-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

I know that many stories had been written and many words had been said while many documentaries had been made about this historical dark history of our times, I just wanted to say that I was too stumped for words even though it has been a decade since it happened. Tonight, as I watched the documentary on historical dark decade of our humanistic existence in this world on Nat Geo channel, my heart was filled with great sorrow and one indescribable sadness over the death of almost 3,000 people on two acts of insane monstrosity of cowardly act supposedly championed one's fanatic religious beliefs.

It is just so sickening sad that a father, a mother, a son, a husband, a wife and every human relationship applicable lost someone that fateful morning on September 11, 2001. What man , woman or child could bear that heavy human loss on that fateful morning? That is why we, as citizens of our country must bear witness and stand up to assure that our country do not turn into the breeding ground for terrorism , terrorist cells, training grounds for terrorist or even cultist of every level. It is important that we understand this need to eradicate religious fanaticism or even terrorist sympathizers just because of our religious blind inclination. Let's us be constantly reminded of the Al-Maunah case which brought so much pain and unwanted deaths. Just as the 9/11 incident and our own Al-Maunah case, it is never about a Muslim died or a non-Muslim died . It is simply the death of a thousand deaths of innocent lives ; be it a Malay, Chinese, Indian, Sikh, Eurasian , Iban or even a Kadazan. Lives are more precious than some dangerous, failed and wayward ideology. It is important for us to recognise the fact that what can killing innocent lives, blowing up buildings, killing innocent women & children or even blowing up public amenities help in their selfish religious group. As I see it, it is not about defending their religious stand but a genocide of human beings of the highest level and that's called pure evilness and treachery. I greatly condemned such acts of terrorism and I find it a convenient excuse by such evil people to intimidate the innocent people. I am greatly grieved too as I looked into the Waco Texas debacle , the senseless Oklahoma bombing, Madrid bombing, Japan subway gas attack, London subway bombings, Mumbai bombings and massacre and many other senseless so-called religious cause attacks! I asked again, what is achieved by killing innocent lives? I appealed to sane thinking individuals to wake up from their slumber of such lies and insane individual worshipping of religious leaders or even morally corrupt leaders. Taking the life of another person doesn't win you points in your freedom fight or make you gained any respect. It just makes the statistics of widows, widower, orphans grow dramatically higher! Think of the lives that are senselessly altered altogether when one losses one's loved ones or even the massive re-building of lives one has to go through. I know that sense of loss - believe me. I "celebrated" my dad's death anniversary two days ago in my own quiet ways and I still feel his loss even though it was through illness and after more than 10 years now. It is a real loss to me and it is difficult every time that date comes around each year. What more for someone who lost their loved ones through such cowardice act of suicide bombings. I can't imagine what they have to go through to re-build their lives - could you?

The 9/11 event is a tragic grim reminder to us that religious fanaticsm has no place in our society and must be weeded out. STOP harboring such religious fanatics, terrorist cells and even questionable individuals of undesirable elements under their belts. Don't ever allow such religious goons to even try to con us into taking up arms and saying it is for a good cause because taking up arms meant certain death. It is death to logic, death to authority and death to society. BTW, it doesn't make our religion attractive if we keep taking up arms to defend our religious beliefs and say it is okay because that would make us martyr , isn't it? We have to constantly check these motives in our everyday walk with God. It doesn't make sense if God wants us to kill people just because they don't want to join us, right? After all, God is love. That's what my Bible says. Yunno, the greatest and simplest wisdom God ever gave us is our common sense. I just wish that some people would just use them daily and life would be much simpler minus all the complexity.

As I reflect on those lives which were loss on that fateful day of 9/11, I could only say a prayer and pray that God is watching over them up there. Let healing takes place and let us all love life and our neighbours as we should irrespective of race, color or creed.

God bless you all!

The Irony of A Sweet Life....

2011-09-06T20:46:00.000-07:00

Men:
1. All men are extremely busy.

2. Although they are so busy, they still have time for women.

3. Although they have time for women, they don't really care for them.

4. Although they don't really care for them, they always have one around.

5. Although they always have one around them, they always try their luck with others.

Women:

1. The most important thing for a woman is financial security.

2. Although this is so important, they still go out and buy expensive clothes and stuff.

3. Although they always buy expensive clothes, they never have something to wear.

4. Although they never have something to wear, they always dress beautifully.

5. Although they always dress beautifully, their clothes are always just "an old rag".

6. Although their clothes are always "just an old rag", they still expect you to compliment them.

7. Although they expect you to compliment them, when you do, they don't believe you.

Wisdom:

I am married for 22 years now and one day, I took a look at my wife and said, “ Honey, 22 years ago, we had a rented apartment, an old Toyota KE30 car, slept on simple mattresses and watched 14-inch color TV, but I got to sleep every night with a hot and beautiful 22 year old black-haired woman.”

"Now , we have a RM 160,000.00 home, one Proton and one Myvi car worth about RM 90,000.00, a nice big bed, a LCD TV and two wonderful children but I am sleeping with a 44 year old woman with a sprinkle of white hair here and there. It seems to me that you are not holding up your side of things.”

My wife is a VERY REASONABLE woman.

She told me to go ahead to go out and find myself a hot 22 YEAR-OLD woman and she would MAKE SURE that I would once again be living in a rented apartment, driving an old Toyota KE30, sleeping on simple mattresses and watching a 14-inch China made TV. Ooh! She added this “ Yunno , honey, Lorena Bobbitt’s story had been truly an inspirational story for women all these years!”.

AREN'T OLDER WOMEN GREAT? THEY REALLY KNOW HOW TO SOLVE YOUR MID-LIFE CRISIS. Hahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.............................................That's fun!

[ Thanks to my friend, Mr. Ramesh Rajasivam for is ever delightfullly fun articles! )

Fernly Love...

2011-09-05T18:20:00.000-07:00

Received my early Kiwi gift from good friends, Vive, Sathy, BA & Jessie.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

The great combo...baggy and airy

The fernly special... Now, I felt like Adam, the MAN!~

Ain' I sexy?

Camp Quips & Funnies....

2011-09-02T02:22:00.000-07:00

1) Camper : Comdr, are we there yet? [ Bus just reached Seremban R&R! ]
     Comdr.:   (Scratched head, stressed!!!! )

2) Comdr: I am serious. I am REALLY serious! We are leaving at 6.00am!
                    [ Call made to latecomers. ]
    Camper: Really?

3) Camper : Do we have to eat all the vegetables?
    Comdr   : YES. Start swallowing everything! NOW!

4) Camper : Eeee.......! Leech! Coooool!

( sitting down and play the toes of feet which are covered with blood! )

5) Camper : Awesome! Can we go in the cave again?
                      [ Comdr. panting and trying to catch his breath! ]

6) Comdr: Eeeuuu! What's that smell?
                    [ Camper walks sheepishly away with a wide smile! ]

7) Camper : I give you RM 2.00, you find the ping pong ball for me?
                     [ Young camper trying to bribe his leader during game session! ]

8) Chants: FALL! FALL! FALL! [ As father and son walk on the wood across the pond ! ]

9) Camper : Wah lau eeehh..............

10) Camper: Comdr, it's so dark! I can't see a thing! ( dramatized )
                       [ Exasperated boy during jungle night walk! ]

11) Comdr : Wake up! It is time to get up!
      Camper: Nufffff....aarggggghhhhh........ [ Comdr. turned over the mattress! ]

12) Camper : Comdr, SAVE ME!
                        [ panting, catching breath and raving during jungle night walk! ]

13) Camper : Comdr, have a look at the souvenirs I took from the cave! ( enthusiatically )
       Comdr. : Oh My God! That's a bag full of stones! How did you get it out? (*pening* )

14) Camper : DURIANS!
       Comdr. : Come to papa, DURIANS!

15) Camper 1 : Did you bathe or not?
        Camper 2 : Got.... a little.
        Camper 1 : What you mean by a little?
        Camper 2 : I on the tap then I off it -lor! Bathe already! Cold-lar!

16) Camper 1 : I like all the food but the vegetables are not good, comdr.
        Camper 2 : I agree, comdr. The vegetables kinda looked hard.
        Comdr.     : Just eat! Swallow NOW! If you don't eat, I'll put another scoop on your plates
                            [ Camper 1 & 2 eating quickly ]

17)  Camper    : Comdr, the drinks are very sweet. I'll test one more time!
        Comdr.    : Very funny! Get away from the drinks and eat your food!

18)  Comdr.   : Heeeeyyyyy, we are at the wind tunnel area. Who farted? Aiyooooo..........
                            [ Everyone just turned their face away and pretended not to know! ]

19) Comdr.    : [ During caving activity ] Why is the water around this area warm-arh?
                            [ Camper smiled sheepishly and move on with "selamba" face! ]

20) Comdr.    : The marble rock face here is so smooth and rounded........ nice.....
       Camper   :   (quickly quipped ) Like baby's bottoms!

21) Camper : Comdr, this is an awesomest camp! When are we going home?
       Comdr.    : ( scratching head...stressed!!! )

22) Camper : Comdr, where are we now? Are we going to arrive home soon?
                           [ Bus is still in Gopeng town!]

Comdr. : Not yet, boy. We need to go down Ipoh, then make a turn to Kuala Kangsar.

Then turn into Taiping, get into East-West highway, come down from

Kota Baru and then take the highway down to Kuantan and then to Melaka.

Camper : Ohhhhh.....so far. OK! [ smilingly went to his seat! ]

23) Camper : Comdr, the bread is so hard.

Comdr. : Ya-lah.....it is toasted bread. Sure-lar, hard! Eat up! Clean up your plate!

24) Camper : Comdr, I can't sleep.

Comdr : OK, you can't sleep but I can sleep,ok? Now , GO TO SLEEP!

( Clock showing 1.45am )

25) Camper 1 : Comdr, I need to go to the toilet.

Comdr. : OK! OK! Let's go. [ escorting boy to toilet - time : 1.50am ]

Camper 2 : Comdr, I want to go to toilet.

Comdr. : Why can't you go with Camper 1 just now?

Camper 2 : Not ready yet just now.

Comdr. : OK! OK! Let's go [ escorting boy to toilet - time: 2.10 am ]

Camper 1 : Comdr ............

Comdr. : What?

Camper 1 : Thank you. [ Time : 2.20am ]

Camper 2 : Comdr.....

Comdr. : What ??????

Camper 2 : Thank you... [ Time : 2.25am ]

Comdr. : Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh............ [ start pulling hairs! ]

A twisted look into the intricate & confusing life of a Royal Rangers commander during camps!

Confession of Mine....

2011-09-01T01:31:00.000-07:00

For the past few months as my team of commanders and I started planning for this year's RR Melaka # 1 Annual Camp, I was rocked by a lot of uncertainties, pressuring life work and unnerving questions and doubts of my own abilities in my heart and head. I must confessed that I am not only physically & spiritually challenged but mentally drained as well. There has been time when I questioned myself if I am sane enough to get this year's camp going with so much challenges coming my way and the short period of time ahead. You see, when you start doing something for GOD, the other side will get busy with schemes/plans to derail your faith with GOD. I know that I have gone through this a gazillion times before but this time it was pretty hard for me. The trying times comes fast and horrendously more challenging than the last one. I have taken the opportunity to hide all that I felt in my heart and at times, the shower room is my last comfort place. I cried my heart out and I raved my lungs out in the shower room amidst the torrential blizzard of water. I am very handicapped by my physical well-being lately as I have had difficulties in breathing properly after a workout or even great adjustment to my health conditions. I kept a lot of my physical condition away from family and friends as I did not want them to worry until the end of the camp. I was also very upset and down when I had to get into a difficult situation with a friend who wasn't focused at that time while my heart was truly focused in getting the camp planned for the children. I wasn't mad or angry with this friend; I was just dissappointed, that's all. I am constantly reminded that our rewards are in Heaven waiting for us if we would just do His works for the children whom we are entrusted to inspire and to teach His ways.

I must confessed that a few months ago, I had this tugging in my heart to organise a camp for the RR children. I must tell you that I struggled with the tugging in my heart. I even tried putting off the tugging and tried to reasoned with my not-so-good physical condition but to no avail. GOD was persistent in pursuing me and I was just being disobedient. No matter what, GOD's urging in the Word , "Do not fear!" rings loud and clear in my heart and head. Finally, I relented and I told GOD that I will do it but for the last time, please! I really felt that I can't keep on doing this as it can be quite taxing for me. I guess, GOD knows best, right?

My first order of the day was to search for the camp site. I consulted my good buddy , Vive and he eventually suggested that I take a look at MyGopeng Resort in Gopeng , Perak. At first I was buoyed by the distance we are going to travel for a camp but somehow, I knew in my heart that good campsites need travelling. So, I made arrangements to go to Penang with the family and made a specific trip to MyGopeng Resort to have a look at the place. During our tour there , I met up with Yusof, the guide. We chatted up about the place and I asked God in my heart if this is the place HE wants us to be. My heart was at peace and I knew instantly that this was going to be our camp site for our annual camp. The rest, as they say, was history, I guess. The one thing that struck my mind the most was our meeting with the CEO of MyGopeng Resort, Mr. Lim K.S. I am amazed how God had arranged everything and our discussion on camp fees per person were struck and how one good handshake sealed the deal for our camp. If that is not God's grace and favour, what can it be? Then, I searched for the camp theme and the camp scripture. It came easily to me but there is one problem - the camp scripture impressed upon my heart is Isaiah 41:10. This was the same scripture as our camp in Eagle Ranch Camp in Port Dickson ( Camp theme: Faith In, Fear Out! ) I prayed for days on this and I was impressed that this is a continuation of what God wants to do to each and everyone of us in this times. So, birthed " Stand Up, Move On! ". I am amazed by GOD's great and amazing works He is doing. So, I obeyed and came up with the camp theme and the camp scripture. I also prayed to the Lord for HIM to grant me this favour to convince my leaders on the camp, camp theme and camp scripture. But first, I had to convince my core mature leaders in Errol , Jessica, Steven and Jason about this camp before I could bring it up to my upcoming leaders in Stefanie, Bryan Lee, John, Stephen, Ivy, Daniel, JWee, Josephine, Lewis, SYuen, Jocelyn, Bryan Chiew and Paul. Upon receipt of their approval of the camp, the ground work begun. Camp forms, camp details, programs and all the minute details were discussed week after week. It wasn't easy too when we had to deal with the assigned representative of the resort who didn't understand our needs. I had to drill into him on our camp costs and activity needed for our camp. It was an enormous camp cost involved while I had to keep the camp fees affordable while ensuring maximum participation for the camp. It was days of tough discussions and decision making. Initially, in my moments of flawed thinking, I had wanted to maintain our regular camp fees which was virtually impossible to pay for the enormous camp fees involved. After much discussion, I finally admitted, understood and accepted the advice and constructive criticism that cost have gone up and we can't maintain our former camp fees as costs for food, accommodation and gas had escalated so much over the years. I owned up that I was wrong and I needed to hear from my fellow leaders and friends. I prayed that GOD would help us in this matter and we finally settled on tier camp fees to softened the enormous camp fees involved. Thank God for the support from our church and our fellow supporters that we were able to get the necessary camp fees. With sponsorship pledge made by friends, commanders and I, we were able to sponsor some camp cost and some children. That was truly the rewarding feeling knowing that we were able to run our camp with the "just nice" resources we have. To be honest, we had about RM 100.00 as float money for any eventualities during the camp and I was more than happy! Praise God for that!

Then came the participants and safety aspects. I was adamant on the need to have the right minded participants for the camps. This time my team and I decided to give the opportunity to Ranger Kids to join in as well. I gave out a lot of camp forms with specific instructions that the camp forms be handed in before the last date of registration. I guess, it's the habitual late handing in of camp forms that really stressed me out. There were a lot of late registrations and pull outs which were not a good thing for me. I was really stressed out by this as I had to confirmed with the resort on my participants while I had to get the initial payment in a month before the camp and 8 days before the camp for final payments. My integrity was on the line when I shook that hands of the CEO of MyGopeng Resort as a Christian - this was very important to me. They needed a name list and a breakdown in males and females for accommodation placement. I then started having heart palpitations for several weeks but I kept this info from family and friends. I take it all in good spirit and I asked the Lord for HIS strength upon my life. Slowly but surely, my heart palpitations stopped and I am able to carry on with my planning. One night while I was sleeping on the mattress on the floor, I was awakened in my sleep and I heard the words, " Do not fear for I am with you" rings very clearly. I immediately went on my knees and I prayed. I thanked the Lord for HIS words of comfort and I knew that HE would make all things good.

While at the camp, my challenges were the physical challenges in jungle night walk and the caving activity. I made a silent prayer even at the very last moment of the activity. I prayed that the Lord would strengthened me and give protection upon the lives around me so that we can enjoy His beauty. I prayed that my heart would not give way and cause me problems but to allow me to enjoy His beautiful creation and have a really great time with my family, my commanders and the children. As I am here, writing this stuff down, I am truly amazed and thankful how GOD had preserved my life. I prayed too that He would preserved the children's lives and make them understand HIS creation of life. So thankful to my leaders ( young and old ) who had worked so tirelessly and merticulously in ensuring the safety, the enjoyment and the fun of the children.

Like I said earlier, if I were to die that day, I would rather die in the hands of my commanders and be with my Rangers children doing what I like most - outdoor activities! ( I don't know if it would traumatic for them or happiness for them ! Hahahahah.......) There is no better satisfaction than that. Yes, to die doing God's will for the children in the Royal Rangers ministry. Prior to this camp, I had initially wanted to quit the Royal Rangers ministry while making this SUMO Camp 2011 as my swansong activity. I have even confessed to my commanders and friends of this intention until Bee Ling gave me these words of encouragement from the Lord during the 2nd Night Rally P&W session :

"I have looked into your heart. I know you are still moving on with the vision I have placed in you. Now, you are beginning to see the fruits of your labour for me. I know all your plans, you planned them with a pure heart and for that I am blessed. For all your plans I was there to bless you as you have blessed my heart. I have never stop loving you." - Amen.

These words encouraged me and lifted me a lot spiritually. I have never been more encouraged in my life. I seriously don't know what I'll do next but I know that I won't quit now though this body of mine may be more fragile than ever as the years go by. I guess, physical bodies won't lie especially the tweaks and creaks of the bones but the spirit in me stay strong as ever. So, to parents, my commanders, children and friends, let's continue to encourage one another because you'll never know what your words of encouragement can do to another person. Me? I am just another instrument of GOD in a great symphony orchestra of moulding, shaping and building lives the best way I know how. What is the purpose of this writing, you may ask? It is simple - I just need your understanding and great patience on this old Hainanese man called Ivan, your love for this ministry and your commitment in supporting this ministry. See the leaders and young lives that we have built over the years. That's all I asked for. Now, this is truly the confession from my heart!~

RR Melaka #1 Annual Camp - SUMO Camp 2011

2011-08-31T22:57:00.000-07:00

"The best annual camp EVER, comdr!". "Wow, awesome!". "Awesomest camp ever,comdr!". "Greatest camp ever, comdr!" These are some of the responses I received from the rangers children at the end of the Royal Rangers Melaka # 1 Annual Camp 2011 which was held at MyGopeng Resort, Perak on 27th-29th August, 2011. For all the many accolades, praises, genuine sharing of feelings and compliments given, I can only give ALL glory and honor to the One above, our Lord Jesus Christ! HE is the one that had made it all possible for us to enjoy such a camp. My team of commanders and I are only HIS instruments, to be honest. To say that I marveled at God's grace is indeed an understatement. I am really and truly indebted to the Lord for enabling my team of commanders (young & old) to run this camp to the very best of our ability. I am also truly thankful to so many people who had trusted us in our mission, supported us in prayer and finance plus found fit to give us the responsibilities to run this camp. Sure, we have our ups and downs in many areas of planning and discussion but at the end of the day, mutual love and respect prevail plus everything went on smoothly. We had great weather, a good speaker ( for once in our annual camp, the boys & girls are wide awake during and after the sharing of the Word! ), no one was sick and even Nature was kind to us.

We started our journey from Melaka at about 6.30am and we had one pit stop in Dengkil to have our breakfast - sausage buns and Dutch lady chocolate drinks compliments from David & Faith Sim - THANK YOU SO MUCH! There was just an all-round excitement for the camp. Traffic was smooth and when we arrived at Gopeng town, two lorries and a landcruiser was waiting for us to bring us to the camp site. I immediately recognised our guide/facilitator Yusof ( met him earlier when I did the booking) and Jus ( a Sabahan ). You could see that the eyes of the adults and children rounded up and lighted up instaneously. Afterall, only SLing, SYuen, JWee and myself had been to our camp site since we made the booking. The children and adults enjoyed the rumbled and tumbled ride in the lorries while excitement and anticipation filled the air as we arrived at the campsite. Everyone was just so happy to be at the campsite and as we were briefed of the camp itinerary of the day plus the do's and don'ts , we were virtually left to enjoy the beautiful secondary jungle setting.

Simple, rustic and splendid spread of food consisting of fried fish ( tasted heavenly, I was told ) eggs, vegetables and fruits were our companions for about an hour. We, the commanders made each and every children thanked the kitchen staff for preparing such beautiful dishes for us. This went on every time we are served a meal because I believe that these staff cooked from their hearts and we should thanked them for their effort even though it may seemed menial. I can only tell you this - the meals that were churned out after this turned out much tastier and vibrant! The children and adults just loved it. We then went into our cabin type accommodations in Huts No.20.21 and 22 - simple yet comfortable place. Our day of activity started with team building games carried out by Yusof, Jus and Ambrose. What a great time we had! There was so much laughter, fun and such spirit of camaraderie! The games were well-thought, well-organised and purposeful. At the end of the day, Yusof had to leave us as he would be celebrating Raya holidays with his family in Penang. I bid him farewell and he told me that my group is in good hands of Jus, the Sabahan.

After dinner, Night rally was our next program. The young commanders, Stefanie, JWee, Daniel, John, Matthew Sim and Mathew Chiam started out the night rally with the Praise & Worship session. That night, we were the only occupants of the entire resort and so, we sang our hearts out to the Lord making a joyful noise unto HIM. It was a marvelous session and Bro. Dinesh came out to bring the message, there wasn't any sleepy eyes but rounded and awake eyes indeed! That is a miracle itself! I knew deep in my heart that this camp is off to a wonderful start. Afterall, GOD is our first itinerary while the activities are the icing on the cake. That perspective has to be right in any camp that we had run all these years. I am thankful that that perspective is alive and well today! Then came the jungle night walk led by Jus and Ambrose. We started out pitch dark on a 85 degrees uphill climb the hill behind our cabin. It was physically taxing for my aging body and a few others but we did the climb successfully especially with each and everyone of us helping one another. The young commanders positioned themselves and pushed themselves to help everyone along the way. It warmed my heart knowing that the young commanders have learned well. Their spirit of togetherness and willingness to help these young ones truly made my heart leapt with joy. As we trudged on, we came to a clearing and within minutes, Ambrose was on a tree trying to shake down a marmoset from a tree. Jus used his torchlight to show the children the marmoset and then we were off into Orang Asli reservation land. We managed to get a glimpse of "kelip-kelip" or fireflies and it excited a lot of the children. We were then given a briefing by Jus on the purpose of walk and I pitched in by explaining to the children how sharp our sensors were as we walked along the pitched dark palm oil plantation. The next funny activity was the hunt for leeches from the children and adult bodies. There were 2 or three children who had some leech bites but I eventually showed the old boys and girls on how to completely end the life of a leech. I guess, it was an eye opener for them. I told them too that I have learn this method from an orang asli guide during my college days when I had the opportunity to go for a trip to Taman Negara. I never knew that this would come in handy someday! Anyway, that night everyone in my cabin sleep like a baby with occasional trumpeting of harmonious wind-pipe musical extravaganza.

The next morning, fresh and ready, we headed out towards Gua Tempurung for our caving activity. Earlier in the morning before the sun was out, I was praying in my cabin that everyone would be able to get to do the caving activity and to see the wondrous beauty of His creation through the limestone formation. Indeed, after meeting up with En.Manan, he told me that everyone can go into the cave as it had not rained the day before our arrival. So, it was safe for everyone to go into the cave. I quickly went to ticketing counter to buy our tickets before he changes his mind. Anyway, En.Manan assigned to us one En.Halim as a cave guide. En.Halim turned out to be a great cave guide and one experienced caver. A humble man and truly one which I respect a lot. He explained to us the rock formation thoroughly and he was so joyful in helping and answering the children's question. Before going into the camp, SLing, SYuen and JWee and a few good friends had persuaded me not to go for the caving activity which is 2 1/2 hours walk through steps and river crossings. They were afraid that it could be too strenuous for my heart. I tell you this, I did struggle a bit initially especially knowing the condition I am in but I told the Lord that if I were to die , I would rather die in the arms of my fellow commanders of the Royal Rangers ministry. I know I'll be very happy dying doing the things I like most and among the company of the people I love the most - the children and the leaders of this wonderful ministry. Nope, it wasn't an ego, pride or even something to prove trip as far as I am concerned! It is really something I love doing a lot - I just love the outdoors, the people I am with and getting them to see the beauty of God's creation. There was 640 steps uphill in the cave and another 120 steps down hill. Then it's a 10feet slide down a smooth rounded slab of marble, into a 3 feet hole on the ground before we reached the river path. Then there is another crawl into another 3 feet hole before we crawled and maneuvered for about an hour in a running water path with sharp rocks, V-shaped stalactites hanging over our heads and almost butt to face crawling. It was hilarious but adrenaline pumping as well. The rock formation were exceptionally beautiful while the gigantic marble stone slabs were smooth and nice. I am really thankful to JWee, Stefanie, Bryan, Bee Ling and Errol for continuous watching over me to ensure that I am okay. Along the way, Aidan, our youngest ever camper, told the commanders that he is cold. I immediately removed my t-shirt and asked them to drape over him so that he won't feel that cold. It helped him as the big shirt would cover his small body and give him some extra heat. I guess, being shirtless made a few people stunned for a while but it was okay with me though I shine out like a sore thumb with my slightly bulging tummy and whittish skin colour! I told everyone that I am well protected with some extra blubber oil on my body and that was a light moment to give some extra boost to the children to crawl on in the flowing river. When we finally emerged from the cave, it was sounds of joy and everyone washed themselves up. Again, every child and adult thanked En.Halim for his expertise and for his help. As I chat up with En.Halim, he told me that he was very impressed with our children, young leaders and adults for being able to get through the cave without complaint. He was also very impressed with how close knitted our group was and how co-operative we were with one another. He told me personally that he was really very impressed and thoroughly enjoyed his caving experience with our group knowing that we are a church group. It made my humble heart filled with joy that day. The children were oozing with stories for one another and the atmosphere was truly amazing. They really enjoyed this experience and again, God's favour made the difference. As we got our way back to the resort, lunch awaited us and this time, the plates were cleaner than clean while dishes were simply lapped up without noise. From here on, we had our obstacle course activity and telematches. Again, so much joy and laughter filled the day. After freshening up, the night rally started and it was even better than the first night. Truly, God had blessed us with a good speaker in Bro.Dinesh and with great P&W team. After the rally , we had night games and durian feast-compliments from the commanders for all the boys and girls. As it was our last night, we really will miss this place and we lingered along later in the night until the wee hours of the morning.

The next morning, we had our morning devotion carried out by Adventure Ranger, Lewis and Bryan Chew. So proud of them! Then, it was breakfast of sumptuous nasi lemak. With picture session next, we then went on to Tiger Court Session! It was fun, laughter and more fun all the way - the Melaka # 1 way! As usual, before leaving the resort, everyone- children and adult took the opportunity to thank the kitchen staff and facilitators personally for the hospitality and love shown to us during our 3D2N stay at the resort - again , the Melaka # 1 way. It was our small gesture of thanks in recognising their hardwork and love for us during our stay here. These are things we take for granted at times - think about it!

As I left the resort, I felt a tinge of sadness because I really miss this outback paradise. I had so much fun & laughter, so much fondness for nature plus the children's antics and I felt thankful to be alive because God has enabled me to do the activities throughout this camp. Who would have thought of a 46 year old man successfully doing a 1 1/2 hours strenuous jungle night walk and 2 1/2 hours of energy-sapping caving activity after 3 months of angioplasty? Truly, GOD enabled me! YES , HE DID!

That's why the camp theme is aptly named : Stand Up, Move On! ( SUMO Camp 2011 ). Thank you, Lord!~

Learning.....

2011-08-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

I must say that every time the holy month for the Muslims comes i.e. the Ramadan, I really enjoy spending time at Pasar Ramadan. Not only it is filled with the wondrous sights, colors and culinary palate, it is the vibrancy of the atmosphere that usually wet my appetite. You see, you get an assortment of dishes and local cakes and cuisines that you don't normally see on normal days. It is so hard to describe them. Somehow, the unique dishes and long forgotten food stuff such as the local kuih-muih will somehow appear. It is like seeing dying art of kuih being revived while unique dishes are dished out every evening. Somehow the culturally rich Malay dishes and sweeteners permeates the bazaar-like atmosphere.

I went to one bazaar in which I shall leave unnamed one evening as I wanted to sample some special barbecue chicken known as ayam percik locally. I know that I could get this locally anywhere but somehow, the ones in the Ramadan bazaar would taste much better because of the seller's own secret recipe to this dish. Afterall, I am one that would always try to get into new flavours and challenge my tastebud a bit.

I noted that there was this pakcik gabbed in a worn T-shirt and long pants in front of me who was walking very slowly along the road. He had a rather old looking motorcycle helmet anchored on his v-shaped left arm and he really looked worn out. With crowds moving around in a slow pace at the bazaar, I too slowly inched my way to the stalls while having a look at the food galore in store for my gastronomical delight. Then, the pakcik stopped as he reached the ayam percik stall and so did I. I then inched my way through politely and pick out my ayam percik just as the pakcik did. I saw that the pakcik picked up two chicken pieces and took out some cash to pay for it. Then , I could hear the seller telling the pakcik the price of the chicken pieces and that he had given not enough cash for the chicken pieces. Trying to mind my own business, which I obviously could not, I could hear the young seller telling the pakcik that the cash is RM 1.00 short. The poor pakcik tried explaining to the young man that he had not enough and if he would sell him a smaller piece of chicken for the cash he had which was RM 4.00. Surprising , the young seller was adamant at RM 5.00 for the chicken pieces and the seller then took a piece of chicken out and return the balance of RM 1.50 to the old man. I could see that the pakcik was quite dejected but he put on a brave front. He then said to the seller that he wanted to buy the chicken piece for his children. He kinda pleaded politely with the seller but the young man would not budge one bit. I was really pissed by this time. I picked up two pieces of chicken , gave the young man the cash and gave a piece of my mind. I said to the young man in BM and translated as follows: " (A)Bang, isn't this the holy month? Can you not show some good spirit for this old pakcik?" I guess, the young man was embarrased a bit but I could see how pride does get in the way. He kept a blank face and continue doing his stuff. I know, deep in him, I have hit a raw nerve. Not to cause unneccessary scene, I just took the pakcik one side and gave my ayam perciks to him. The pakcik told me that I didn't have to do that but I said to him that it is okay with me. Yunno, he said this to me, " Terima kasih, nak. Pakcik memang tak cukup duit tadi. Cuma teringat anak-anak di rumah menanti berbuka. Itu saja. Terima kasih atas budi baik kamu." I told him it's nothing and I got to know him as Pakcik Hamid as we walk down the road. I also came to know that he is a general worker/odd job worker with 3 young children. He did not complain to me about anything but just kept thanking me. I told him I am alright and that I have suddenly lost interest in getting ayam percik. He looked at me with grateful eyes and I bid farewell to him as I weaved through the stalls to see what were in offering at the stalls. He then walked back to where his motorcyle was situated.

I suddenly lost interest in the bazaar as I thought of what had happened while I took about 10 paces. I know that everyone is out there to do business but there are times, one has to gauge the genuine case from the opportunity reapers. Again, one would say that it is hard to determine which is genuine and which is fake, right? Again, is it difficult to really be charitable a bit at times? I am sure as we debate on this matter , there would be no end to this.

As I walked back to my car, I saw Pakcik Hamid riding his old Yamaha m/cycle with his three pieces of ayam percik hanging by the left side handle. I smiled, got into my car, switched on the engine and Dr.Ravi Zacharias voice on my car stereo boomed, " We need to change on the inside of us, so that we can affect the outside of us....." How true! How very true!

Truth....

2011-08-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

To our faith detractors ~

"Our suffering is not worthy the name of suffering. When I consider my crosses, tribulations, and temptations, I shame myself almost to death, thinking what are they in comparison of the sufferings of my blessed Savior Christ Jesus."

~ Martin Luther

Utter Rubbish!

2011-08-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

It is bad enough to have to deal with ridiculous politicians who are constantly on the drug-octane high to fan racial and religious hatred, now , we have our infamous Information Minister who says that Bersih supporters are paid RM 50.00 to attend the rally. My God, how stupid can a full-skirted..sorry...mind my manners, full-fledged minister get? Not only does it show the shallowness of our elected representative intelligence but also an almost blatant stupidity of a so-called learned minister of this country. I seriously think ( Nope! Now , I am pretty convinced! ) that our country is run by clowns of the highest level. Our ministers seemed to like to have a gun and shoot at their foot all the time! What insult to the intelligence of the people of this country! What an insult! My Bible says " out of abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh!" If the heart and mind had devised wicked plans and harboring wicked gains, the mouth will speak the same things! It got me thinking that it must be this accepted culture of "handing of money as incentives" that must have caused our numb/doink Minister to speak like that! Shameful is NOT the word to describe such man but I purely felt sad for all the good upbringing he had gone through which had gone down the drain by his mere careless and irresponsible words. It is bad enough we have another froggie who spew dastardly racialistic and sow hatred vibes among the races. Now, we even have rakyat rejected elected representative and Senator spinning vociferous statements to burn down newspaper companies and being defenders of God! Captain America seemed a better choice to watch than these clowns,man. Aiyoo...their words and charades will probably make Malcolm Mulgridge, the famous peddler of words, rolled in his grave! Seriously, I just can't understand it. Here is a learned man and he talks like some road side vendor on the streets. Perhaps road side vendors are more polite than this so-call minister. What he said did not even rise to the dignity of an error! It is what we call in the philosophical term as "nonsense"! Mr. Minister, if you are man enough, please tell this to Marina Mahathir and her family who joined her at the walk that day. Tell her that she and her family were paid RM 50.00 each to walk during the Bersih Rally. Tell this to the many out there who walked without fear nor favour as they thronged the streets of KL that day, man. Tell this to the Malay man who died during the rally- tell this to his family that he sold his soul for RM 50!! Go ahead, Mr.Minister, tell it to his family! Tell it to the bleeding and tear-gassed people - men, women, children on the street that day. Tell it to the Malays, the Chinese, the Indians, the Sikhs, the Seranis, the Sabahan and the Sarawakians who were gathered there that they were given RM 50 to sell their soul to the Bersih organisers! What an utter rubbish, indeed! Even the beggar on the street would not want to be bludgeoned, beaten, tear-gassed, sprayed with chemical/pepper- laced water or even harrassed about all for the sake of RM 50! Come on, common sense must prevail!

If it is any indication of what is coming in this country, my hope is for ministers and froggy elected representatives like these are to be packed, shipped and phased out in the next GE or better still send to Timbuktu, Namibia or even Mogadishu to be put in the real battlefield! A farmer once told me that we must separate the pretending weeds from the actual grain stalks if we are to have a great harvest in the fields. Afterall, weeds are meant to be tied together and given to the cows, is it not?

GOD is GOD!

2011-08-12T03:06:00.000-07:00

Today I am truly saddened by what had happened to human values in our lives. I am truly saddened that a shameful Senator and a rejected so-called elected representative of a constituent can cry out such vile notions that not only brings shame to one's character but one's own religious belief. My God! I have so many Muslim friends and luckily, they don't act like these people do. I am not questioning their religious inclination but I questioned their motives and bad potrayal of their own religion. It is really so sad. Yes, it also occurs in our own religion too, yunno.

Look, God is perfect and God doesn't need anyone to defend HIM. Get that straight and into your head. Have we not learn that God is GOD and nothing compares to Him? He made the heavens ,the earth, the sun and the moon and everything in it and so, would HE need any defenders at all? For crying out loud, GOD is GOD! It is human beings with their own assumptions, sinful nature of the heart and constant prejudices that made us the most useless living emblem in the face of this earth at times, man.

I really feel ashamed and disgusted just reading, hearing and seeing these people trying to destroy what fabric of good society we are having today all for the sake of staying in power to govern this fragile country of ours. The very fabric of society sanity and good relations are virtually being ripped apart by these rapist and peddlers of words of our daily living. If continuous bringing of dominant fear and malicious lies of religion are being potrayed to hoodwink the society , I shudder at the prospect of our very existence in this beloved country of ours. What lunacy! What hypocrisy! What shameful ways of life!

I am comforted in my heart when my Muslim friends and former students called me up and assured me that these are not the views of all the people in their religion. Even my uncle who is a Muslim convert called me to completely ignore such views and lunatics. Yunno, I felt really sad and I told my friends and uncle - what has gone terribly wrong with leaders like these. They sow bucketful of seeds and grains of hatred, fear and lunacy which only brings so much harm to their fellow brethren and also to the non -Muslims as a whole. How could this be ever attractive to a non-Muslim like me if that is being proffessed and drummed up time and time again? I know the saying that in a bunch of apples , there will be rotten ones but my contention is if the rotten ones are left as it is, they will spoil even the good ones especially with their stain.

I have NEVER EVER known any religion which are being practised in this country of ours that promote BURNING, SPEWING THREATS, KILLING, SHEDDING BLOOD, DESTROY, FIGHTING , RAPING or even glorify EVILNESS at all! As far as I know, religion teaches us to do the good stuff rather than the evil stuff. It is really confusing and the signals sent are truly remarkably inconsistent with the religions that are being professed and practised all over the whole except for Satanic worshipping, of course! It is mind-boggling that these people can say what they want and still get around scott-free without the need to see the truth or even get to the truth. It is doubly and utterly embarrassing because these are the people who are in team that governs this country today. So much religious fear, pressure and intimidation concocted to cloud the perception of our citizen today. I failed to see where our future lies if we are producing leaders of such level. It is sickening and really ties up in line with the Chinese month of Hungry Ghost! I am utterly disgusted and disappointed with our government non-committal action at the stoking up of these type of religious slur because believe it or not, a lot of us treasure and value racial harmony and freedom to practise our religion and our lives.

As always, let us continue to pray for the well being of the people of this nation of ours. Let us cry out to GOD to spare His wrath upon our land. Let us petition to GOD to forgive those who bring mischief and bring bad intentions to our lands and our families. Pray too that God would heal our hearts from these unkind words, malicious actions and unwarranted intentions. Pray too that God would deliver us all away from such harm and such people.

God bless each and everyone of you!

I AM...

2011-08-04T01:35:00.000-07:00

This morning, I was on my way for some work in Gemas when I digress and digest the sermon which was presented by Christian apologetics, Dr.Ravi Zacharias, one of my favourite preachers. One quip that caught my immediate attention was this: G.K. Chesterton said this when Time magazine asked him of his opinion on what was wrong with the world today. He wrote ," Dear Sir, concerning your question on what is wrong with our world today, I AM. Yours truly, G.K Chesterton." I must say that I am neither a Christian philosopher nor a poetic man in any sense but what G.K.Chesterton made a lot of sense. If the world and environment we are living in is in a wrong direction, why won't we just do our part in doing the right part and go completely on the opposite even though we may be just one person? In fact, yesterday evening, I had a good tongue lashing from a good friend who constantly reminded me of the need to inspire others and be a role model to others. We may not feel to do something or even feel like an inspiration to others but we all have a role to play in this community we live in whether we like it or not. Being an inspiration to others is not something you can switch on or switch off as you like. We are constantly being watched, looked upon or sometimes frowned upon in our actions we potray each day. I am constantly reminded of this by this good friend of mine that sometimes our lives can be the only Bible that people looked upon. It is definitely so true! Yup, we are scrutinised even more when we are leaders in our homes, our workplace, our community and even our place of worship. I guess, I am guilty as charged for being complacent at times or even given leeway for such thoughts to arise. It is good to know that I have good friends to remind me of this and put me in my place at times.

Anyway, today, I took a bold step of moving towards that direction. For years now, I have this lady colleague of mine who is a Muslim lady. She is a petite young lady, single and a decent woman. I wanted to bless her today and so, after coming back from my work in Gemas, I decided to get her some goodies for her "buka puasa" time later today. So, I got her a box of buah kurma or dates, a box of freshly baked vanilla cake, two big pack of Soya bean drinks, a can of peaches and a can of pineapple; all nicely packed and bundled into a special Raya paper bag. I know it didn't sound an awful lot but that's what I could afford, actually. Anyway, I gave it to her when I got back to the office and she was elated. I guess, that's all that matters to me. Mind you, it is not about buying things for others but taking the initiative to breakdown barriers of misconception, respecting other colleagues and taking the trouble to actually care for someone other than our family members and friends. It isn't easy, right but it is doable! It didn't cost me much for what I did but the lighted-up face of my colleague says it all. Again, that's priceless! Like always, that's all that matters, yunno. Afterall, we are all gonna end up by our 6'X4' plot some day and we can't bring all our riches and glory to our graves ; so, I suggest you spread some goodness around to brighten up the already gloomy world we live in ! BTW, I just sent a batch of SMILEYs to my colleagues in KL today. Can you imagine their faces when they see the SMILEYs? Hmmmmnnnn.... I bet , you can imagine that ,right?

Hope..Malaysia team!

2011-07-29T22:02:00.000-07:00

The other day, I was on the edge of my seat watching the epic World Cup 2014 qualifying match between Malaysia and Singapore. So, the Singaporeans had their "naturalised" players on the field and so on but it did not outshine the good match between the teams. No matter how you look at the game, it ended 1-1 on the 2nd leg and eventually ( plus effectively ) ended our hopes of going further in the World Cup 2014 rounds. But one thing was for sure, it was a fantastic match and to see a sell-out game at our Bukit Jalil Stadium was another plus point. Who says we are not passionate about our national football team-lar? When it matters most, the people will jam the stadium. I think, the most important thing is the fact that the football team is presently playing well despite the results. Honestly, I have never been excited like I am right now when speaking of the football team.( It has been quite a while! ) I must say that the team under Mr. Rajagopal has improved tremendously but like any other teams, we are constantly plagued with silly technical mistakes and school boy errors. Nevertheless, taking no credit away from the boys, they have fought hard and tried their very best. I feel that gives us all, the footballing fans, a sense of hope and a sense of dare to dream again!

Personally, I feel this team can go far and hopefully, they don't get "big-headed" but stay very focused in their mission to bring honour to the country someday. Their spirit, their work rate and their commitment was pretty solid. At that minute when the first goal was scored , I leapt off my cushion , raising two hands above my head; clenching fist and shouted, " Goaaaaalllll! Yeeeeaaaahhh! " That feels good! It has been far too long when I felt that rush of adrenaline excitement over our national team. Then , the equalising goal came but it didn't dampened my spirit. It was a thrill knowing what the national team can do that matters. Seriously, I wish the players could have worked and chased every ball till they drop of exhaustion that day but their efforts were superb. I applaud them for that. I also wish that they could have moved the ball and play short passes rather than the long balls which was easily blanked out by the Singaporean defence. Like I said, we can talk till the clouds come down on "what could happen if...." from the game but what is important is to look forward for the next game. Yes, they had shown good promise, good talent and good commitment. I tell you, the goalkeeper, Khairul Fahmi a.k.a. Apek was spectacular and easily the toast of the team together with Safee & the rest of the team members. Yes, we have the talents and I think, we need to instill the winning mentality in our boys.

I remembered last year when I bought the Malaysian blue jersey from a street vendor in Haadyai for my son, I bargained with him on the price and got the Malaysian team jersey cheap. According to the vendor, it's a losing team and why would anyone wants to buy that colours. But, I remained patriotic to my country and believed they can come out tops the next time. They did and they did their country proud by doing their best. I am just glad that the Malaysian football team is finally waking up, cleaning and licking up their wounds, bruised and battered reputation. Like I have always said, when the head is right, the body parts are going to work just fine. GO MALAYSIA!

Social Satire....

2011-07-28T01:24:00.000-07:00

Today I almost fall off my chair when I read that our so-called "Barang Naik" MPs are "asking" (dirty word!) for more money allocations for their constituents before the next coming election. To me, it is a farce. Where have all the earlier money gone in the first place? Everyone from the street sweeper to the trishaw puller to the yuppies and the dumb-ass bureaucratic leaders knows that each constituent is allocated a certain sum of money to develop that constituent. Where? Where have all that money gone to? It is such a shame that with all the hype of elections, erections, blinding bright bling-bling from ring and South African diamond bracelets, curvy new wife and ballot papers war, we still have places in our country that do not have clean pipe water, proper roads and even electricity supply. Worst of all, all food essentials are hitting the ceiling in prices. OK! Let's be serious. Maybe these folks need to drum up support from the young children on the need to save money during their children days so that they can donate their money to get these basis amenities to their kampungs or even villages. Maybe, just maybe with enough savings, we could use this money to lower down our food subsidies so that we can get cheaper price. Please-lar, Please-lar, please-lar, people, DON'T laugh-lar because if our First Lady can save money from her teen days to buy the beautiful ring - why can't the kampung folks and children do the same, right? OK, in the first place we need to get the money first,right? Apamacam mau dapat duit? Hmmmmnnnnnnn.......

So, ok, let's go and speak to our our elected MP or WR and let's try to get some allocation from them. Let's not get the funds from the PR ones. They constantly have to have gatherings and dinners to raise funds. It is just like what we are going through in our religious establishment today too. Everything buy coupons or pass the biscuit tin around. If all things failed, let's try to cook up some story that they are siphoning off our constituent monies and get our MACC involved but we have to pardon them a bit because they are only 3 year old establishment-mah. That's what our PM said. But wait a minute, aren't they called ACA the last time? As far as I know, they have been around for some time now but ok-lor, someone "messed" up their establishment alphabets and so, they look like ACA, talk like ACA, sound like ACA but they are not MACC,ok? Anyway, better get them involved in event we fail to get our money. Afterall, if all things fail, we can still, at least, sell bodies or even body parts that comes off from the MACC building or from some recreational forest somewhere. The market for such parts are quite a fair bit and lucrative. There wouldn't be much problem getting these parts for export as all relevant export forms can be processed and assessed. Nothing is secret-lar. If the First Lady ring can get through, this one is kacang putih one, baby! If cannot, these spare parts can be hand carried as we are champion-lar in ensuring the entry and exit datas are erased without trace. Anyway, we have to be careful a bit when wrapping these part ( no yellow cloth, please! ) because we don't want to arouse the suspicion of our Wildlife and Game Dept. They might mistaken them for some animal parts and all will be lost for time is the essence in raising fund for our constituent.
The other way is to raise awareness of the people for a rally. We don't wear yellow-lar. It makes us look bad in yellow-mah. We don't protest nor take stones to throw at people or take penknife to such rally. We take flower only and make sure it is not yellow colour. Cannot clash with royal colours-mah. We should all find a place like near Tung Shin Hospital and everyone empty their pockets of loose change or ringgits so that they can be collected for this purpose of cutting down the subsidies-lor. We should also register ourselves at the special counter using our ICs and make sure we re-register over and over again so that we look like a big group-lar. Age from 21 to 101 , who cares. As long as our names are on the list , can already. Small-small group, nobody will notice. No one will check one-lar. We should also welcome our enforcement officers who will generously toss us a few cans of perfume-scented tear gas canisters to ensure we cry a bit to look pitiful for the newspapers and this will catch the world's attention that our country really need all the loose change and ringgits so that we can help reduce our country subsidies. They will also spray all with black pepper sauce-like water to remind us that stepping on a few cows head is not a good act because black pepper sauce goes well with cowhead meat and brains! It is also food. No good to waste food. This is to ensure the whole world can take an example and follow our lead in food conservation - good to the last skin!Maybe, just maybe, we could actually sell some cowheads meat to raise funds for this cause too........something along Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution movement........hmmmmnnnnnnn......interesting, kan? What to do-lah, desperate times means desperate measures for the survival of our kampungs, tamans and society-lor, right? Malaysia Boleh-mah! What you think? OK or not?

Sleepless...sleep less

2011-07-25T06:37:00.000-07:00

The other day I was having quite a day. So, the first thing I wanted to do was to get on the comfy of the bed and have a great slumber. Somehow, I twisted and turned so much that my sommersaulting exercise on bed irritated my poor wife a lot coz' she too felt the tremors of my constant shifting on the bed. It is not that I am small in size but the shifting part can be quite a thing. I guess, I was really very uncomfortable and this was robbing me of my sleep. Trust me, I counted sheeps from white to black for all I know and I even tried imagining counting stars ( from honey stars to dunno what stars are available! ) but to no avail. Eyes were wide open like crystallised marbles in the middle of the sunny day. I keep staring at the asbestos ceiling and I remembered doing mental paintings of Picasso and Michelangelo pieces too. Somehow, the eyes and mind just won't shut down!

Then I prayed and they say, if you can' sleep you better pray. So, I prayed, put my hands to my chest and crossed them. Then I felt really morbid as I felt as though I am lying down on my casket with the way I lay straight, arms cross - sheez! I burst out giggling at the thought and my poor wife gave me a nudge and grudgingly said , " What's the matter with you? Do you what time it is? It's 11.30pm! Why aren't you asleep?". I turned to her, opened my mouth and wanted to explain what I had felt but I guess, I couldn't. If I did , I probably would have send her into a hysterical streak - probably some wailing can be heard but some hairs strands would definitely be found on the bed edge the following morning.

She just turned over and started rambling, " What's the matter with you? Are you okay? ". I stared at her almost in oblivion and then I decided something on the spot. I told her, " I really can't sleep and I have not being feeling well since this evening." She was rather awake now and with softer tone, " So , what is wrong? Have you taken your medicine? Hey, don't scare me ,ok?"." We need you , yunno! " " Yeah! I know. Who is going to pay the bills, right?", I answered. Well, it was my way to humour her, actually! She just rolled her eyes back and sauntered to her bedside. Well, I told her that I am fine and I have had my medicine. I added " But I have this heart palpitations since evening." " So, is it a good thing or not so good thing?" followed by a string of questions. By now, she was eyeing me suspiciously if I am playing a trick on her. She said, " You better don't play tricks on me or else you are going to get it from me." Hmmmmnnnnnn..... sound familiar but I assured her that I can't sleep ( I did NOT lie! ) and it goes on off with times. " Ohhh.....so what are the symptoms and so on?" " I dunno, sometimes it comes and sometimes it doesn't happen." I said. She asked , " So, when did this palpitations started - for how long , how many times a day....." and the list goes on and on.

I looked at her intently, searching my inner self, gathering my thoughts and answered, " Every time I see you." She looked at me and said , " You #44%4%8910! Go to sleep! ". I laughed my head off and hugged her. She muttered something and then gave me a kick and missed a very vital part of the human anatomy ( Phew! That was close! ) and asked me to sleep down where the spare mattress was located! Gladly, I scrambled to the spare mattress and the next thing I knew, 2 pillows flew my way and then I heard her said, " The next time you do this - you sleep in the bathroom!" Ah! It was fun, though and at least, I still have my sense of humour, right? Did I get to sleep that night.....well, I did....at about 2.30am with a smile on my face. It is good to turn an unpleasant situation to one that is quite fun,don't you think so? It helps to strengthen the relationship, right?
Yunno, I have told myself countless number of times that if one day I were to konk off without much hu-ha, I would rather wear a silly smile on my "not-so-nice looking" face than looking like a grouchy ol'man!~

Nice Ashley.....

2011-07-25T06:19:00.000-07:00

What cha looking at? ( "Engine" not yet warm -up! )

Warmed up - the jolly good goodie!

Yo! I am at my happy best!

I am sweet, ain't I ? Finger licking good!

Hmmmmnnnn......this is as sweet as you can get from me!

I wonder if my brother is looking at me! Of course, I am prettier-lar!

Yo! Yo! I've got the "look"-lar!

Prayer Of Getting Old.....

2011-07-21T22:36:00.000-07:00

Lord, thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older and will some day be old. Keep me from becoming talkative, naggy and from the particularly fatal habit of thinking too much.

Keep me away from the habit of I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details and do keep me sane. Give me wings to get to the point. I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of others' pain. Help me to endure them with patience. Seal my lips on my own aches and pains - they are increasing and my love of rehearsing them is becoming stronger as the years go by. Help me to stay strong so that these legs would not creak and tweak while the body would not be the subject of endless strips of medication pills.

Teach me the glory lesson occasionally, that it is possible that I may be mistaken. Keep me reasonably sweet, I do not want to be a saint - some of them are very hard to live with - but a sour old man is one of the crowning works of the devil.

Make me thoughtful but not moody, helpful, but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all--but thy knowest, Lord, that I want a few good friends at the end of the day beside my 6' X 4' plot.

Father's ABC....

2011-07-20T22:22:00.000-07:00

Always trust your children to God's care.

Bring them to church.

Challenge them to high goals.

Delight in their achievements.

Exalt the Lord in their presence.

Frown on evil.

Give them love.

Hear their problems.

Ignore not their childish fears.

Joyfully accept their apologies.

Keep their confidence.

Live a good example before them.

Make them your friends.

Never ignore their endless questions.

Open your heart to their love.

Pray for them by name.

Quicken your interest in their spirituality.

Remember their needs.

Show them the way of salvation.

Teach them to work.

Understand they are still young.

Verify your statements.

Wean them from bad company.

eXpect them to obey.

Yearn for God's best for them.

Zealously guide them in Bible truth.

Character...

2011-07-20T01:44:00.000-07:00

The circumstances amid which you live determine your reputation;

The truth you believe determines your character.

Reputation is what you are supposed to be;

Character is what you are.....

Reputation is what you have when you come to a new community;

Character is what you have when you go away.

Your reputation is made in a moment;

Your character is built in a lifetime.....

Reputation is what men say about you on your tombstone;

Character is what the angels say about you before the throne of God. - William Hersey Davis

Unprecedentedly fun....

2011-07-15T01:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday night, my family and I had a good night out for our dinner ( my wife and daughter "belanja" me a meal-lar!). After dinner, we went round Jusco and with no handphone in my pockets ( I left the handphone at home!), it was great. It was pure bliss not having the handphone to ring or tug it along in my shallow pants at times. So, as I walked around and did my usual window shopping, I ended up at the DIY Store. I guess, I am always intrigued by DIY stores and what is in store for pesky shoppers like me who would thinking gazillion times before purchasing anything. I guess, this time was no different coz' there was a salesgirl who kinda "kept" an eye on me after I stood at one section for almost 30 minutes before I decided not to buy the item! Poor girl was so stressed keeping an eye at me. Anyway, as I was walking around the stationery section, suddenly, I noted these yellow smileys magnet tabs - big, medium and small hanging at the rack.

It instantaneously caught my attention and I immediately thought of my colleagues at work. I deduced that with so much work over the months, we have all been sucked into this world of depressing work atmosphere, grouchiness , mood swings ( Nope, we haven't reach menopause or whatever pause ! ) while tiredness had crept in while our faces, when we get home would give our pet fishes in the aquarium or our pet piglet massive heart attack! Yup! We are like people who are with the prune juice diet program, man! I am always reminded by SLing and SYuen how "ugly" I look every time I arrived home after work. I guess, I have tried every trick in the book to leave my work problems at the bell hanging at my front door but somehow I am "infected" and hopelessly disillusioned by the work sometimes/all the time.

Equipped with this constant cynical stares and love reminders from my family, I felt I could ACTUALLY do something good for my fellow colleagues. I know that they are going to think that I have gone bonkers ( it is not that they have thought of that about me ! ) but I think, it is time for a good change. So, I decided to buy a whole bunch of them and it doesn't cost me much at all. Mere RM 10.00 for 5 good packs of mood lifting encouragement magnet tabs. Yunno, when I paid for the items, I actually feel good and excited on what I am going do with it. For the first time in many months, I feel good that I could really contribute something to my colleagues.

Today, this morning, I did something unprecedented and I am happy I did it. There were three colleagues in the office when I arrived at work. Armed with courage and cheerful disposition ( usually, I am as grumpy ( flies would stop flying! ) and as serious as they are! Sometimes, our work place atmosphere is almost similar to a funeral parlour if you want to know! hahahahahahahahaha.........) , I gave out the yellow smiley magnet tab to each of the staff. They were dumbstruck at first but they then chuckled and laughed. That broke the silence and the doomness of the day! I explained that we had been so sour in our faces over work that even our family members can't recognise us when we got home and so, I wanted to give them an encouragement. Their faces lit up and I knew, I had done my part. I then laid out the rest of the smileys at the tables of the staffs that had not reported for work yet. Yup! Everyone of them got a yellow smiley magnet tab from me. It doesn't matter if I had to fork out extra from my pocket for these colleagues of mine or even wonder what they thought of me. It really doesn't matter. I guess, their smiles, which will put some facial muscles to work, says it all to me. Yup, it is a great day indeed!

Hey, I know it sounds crazy but if you can make one of your colleagues smile today, that is an achievement and you no need to jump off the building - MACC will do it for you! hahahahahaaaaahaaaa...................Nope, I am not on drugs ( I am only on Cardiprin, Plavix, Concor, Imdur, Zorcor and Metformin, promise! ) nor on weeds........just plain ol' me!

Encouragement....

2011-07-15T00:37:00.000-07:00

The students of Sabarmati Ashram were assigned various other jobs besides studies. After doing their personal work they would do various kinds of work which was of vocational importance like stitching clothes or knitting the ropes of a 'charpoi'. The boys would bet on who was the fastest in completing his work.

Once, a boy called Parthasarthy had to stitch a shirt and Prabhudas Gandhi had to knit a charpoi. Both of them had a bet on who would finish the work first. Prabhudas said that he would complete his work by Saturday. Gandhi while eating his food had overheard the entire conversation that took place between the two boys.

It was Saturday afternoon and Gandhi who remembered all about the bet asked Prabhudas if he had finished making the charpoi. Prabudas said that he had completed only half of it yet. Gandhi then asked him, "Don't you have any plans of completing it by today?" "How can I do it?" said Prabhudas. Gandhi said," You will not study today. Instead you will make the other half of the charpoi which you have left." In the evening Gandhi again asked Prabhudas about the charpoi. Prabhudas said that he hadn't finished it yet. "After your dinner you will not go out to play but you will make the charpoi until your work is done."

Prabhudas sat alone and carried on with the work while all the other children went out for a walk with Gandhi. His fingers had started aching as he had been working since morning. Everybody was now preparing to go to sleep and Prabhudas was still working. Gandhi asked if he had finished. Prabhudas said that he had only five more yards to knit. Gandhi stayed back with him and encouraged Prabhudas while he read a book.

It was 11 o'clock in the night and the work was still not over. Prabhudas was very tired and finally his fingers stopped functioning. He started crying.

It was then that Gandhi went up to Prabhudas and said : "One should do as one says: You had placed a bet that you will finish your work by today but you did not."

God's Coffee...

2011-07-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:

"If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us."

God brews the coffee, not the cups.......... Enjoy your coffee!

"The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything."

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

Truly Inspiring.....

2011-07-10T23:31:00.000-07:00

This morning, pictures of Aunty Annie Ooi captured my heart and truly epitomed the true meaning of inspiration, dedication and standing up for a good cause. These captured pictures inspires and truly blessed my heart! After being gassed and sprayed with chemical laced waters from the police truck, she still stood tall. If only our Malaysian leaders would learn such dedication and commitment to do the right thing for this nation of ours.

To me, a picture like this is truly priceless! No matter what our race, religion or even who we are , we can stand together, united and helping one another in times like this. Truly inspiring!~

What a Walk....

2011-07-09T09:06:00.000-07:00

DISGRACEFUL and DISGUSTING are the two words I would describe to the chains of events which had unfolded in our nation today. These words aptly described the actions taken by the RMP and though they hogged the limelight at every available Govt station, news and electronic media which blared their horns that they did well. To me, they are real reason why there are so many injuries to the BERSIH walkers. Shooting out tear gas canister at dangerous range, chasing, bringing down, roughing and hounding walkers like a bunch of blood thirsty hounds. It's an absolute disgrace and inhumane,man.

I have never been so disgusted in my life when our so-call leaders claim success for the clampdown of the walkers and so on. What laughable success are you talking about? Had it not been the unnecessary roadblocks , checking and blocking out of the roads towards the intended place, you would see a sea of people walking in peace for a good cause. Evidently, that the prospect of having more people join the walk absolutely petrified and mystified them. So, the RMP has to do their job of maintaining law and order but I have never seen a more determined crowd. BTW, how does it feel to bludgeon, hound, harrass, kick and whack the daylights out of your fellow citizens? Does it feel good to hurt innocent people? Does it gives you joy in breaking the legs, hands, neck, bones and scream blood on your fellow citizen's body? I wonder if the authorities and the so-called people who govern this country could actually sleep at night and have a conscience? If the IGP says that this is just a restrained exercise on the part of the RMP, why don't he volunteers to be bludgeoned by his own FRU unit people? Ah! God knows and God is watching.

Today, I saw Malaysians from all walks of life come together to walk for a good purpose. Today, I saw racial barriers torn down and Malaysian from all walks of life coming in unity to rise up against a non-hearing and corrupt community of leaders. I am really inspired and encouraged by these brave souls. From the beginning to the end, I did not see any person out to create havoc at the so-called illegal walk. It is and always will be known as a peaceful rally. Somehow, the twisted authorities soon carried out orders to fire water cannons and what not at the walkers. It was really disheartening to know that a peaceful rally walk could evoke such a reaction from the RMP and the FRU unit. It is shameful to claim success when we all know the truth behind it - publicity stunt and a way to con the minds of the simple folks back in the rural areas. Woi, wake up, even the rural area are waking up and tired of such tirade of lies! A good friend of mine in a kampung called me to tell me that the Gomen are probably out of their minds for carrying out such scare tactics. He further told me it won't work anymore-lar.Gosh! The price of democracy and freedom over the eradication of corruption and power abuses. John Maxwell is right when he said ," Absolute power corrupts absolutely."

God, have mercy in this land of ours. God, hear the cry of your people over the corrupt nation and leaders we served.Give strength to the renewed, rejuvenated and the restored people! God, have mercy over our nation!

To the BERSIH rally walkers, I salute each and everyone of YOU!

KOTOR-lar....

2011-07-06T18:19:00.000-07:00

Believe me, I really wanted to stop writing about Bersih 2.0 rally until I read about the stupendous dose of stupidity on the part of our "men in blue". First and foremost, I must apologise to some of my good friends who are still in the force plus those who have left the force, I pray that you would not see my political bend on this matter but mere common sense. So, buddies, wherever you are, my sincere apologies but more importantly, the investigations on the recent "findings' of mischievous items of trying to cause havoc during the Bersih rally is truly laughable and a laughing stock for police investigations. I really expect our people in blue to stop taking the simplistic path of pin pointing such "stupid" evidence on the rally walkers. Should actually check the Police Evidence Room first to see if any of the previous days/weeks evidence of Bersih T-shirts or some street gang war items are missing there!

Come on! Petrol bombs, parangs , machete and what not are being planted at specific locations so that these so-called policemen on duty could find them is a REALLY far -fetched story indeed! Even a spastic fella would understand that you would not stashed things like this " "so openly and suspiciously " so that people can find it-lar. Aiyoo! The credibility and the reputation of the RMP is TOTALLY tarnished once and for all this time. The least these people can do is do a thorough investigations on who would benefit the most if chaos occur. Certainly not the Bersih organisers-lar. Certainly not the TRUE BERSIH supporters. Simple logic will tell you who would benefit the most - especially those shouting so loud about bloodshed and trying to stop the "Walk"-lar.

Let's be logical and cast away sentiments/biasness/prejudices, shall we? The scenario is simply this - the Organisers had assured/said/spoke till saliva fills to buckets, time and time again, it is a PEACEFUL walk. TRUE supporters of BERSIH would not go to that length to jeopardise their cause, would they? WHO then spoke and shouted so loudly about bloodshed and hooliganism or even fearful of planted hooligans to cause havoc? WHO-ar? What about deployment of martial arts exponents of various kinds to show boisterous support? WHO-ar?Listen, if I am going to create havoc in such a rally, I might as well use Kapak Siam, which is easily concealable or even smaller concealed weapons like knuckle buster, blistered chains, pen knives and so on , right? Why go through such a length to keep those items are strategic places when one can carry them with one self? Look, as I was looking at the pictures of the seized parangs, these are the ones which are usually used by Indons during the clashes at their kongsi and usually over women trouble-lar! As for the petrol bombs or petrol cocktails , it doesn't need a genius to assemble such a concoction,man. For Bersih t-shirt, gosh, there had been so many cases of confiscation of Bersih t-shirts and 1,001 printers plus garment manufacturers in the country,man. Come on-lar. There has to be tighter and more professional approach in investigations, man.
The other point from me is that outsiders coming in to join in the rally is really unavoidable and these are the ones that would most probably be "planted" or even cajoled into joining the walk to kick a fuss and create havoc. Hell, a fistful of ringgits in the hands of some drug addicts, Mat Gian, Rempits, Sikals, Indons, Myanmars, Boh Sia ,Bakul Sia or whatever, who knows what can happen, right? But the question has always been this - Who are the ones handing out the fistful of ringgits that are not caught? Instead, these fellas end up in some dump somewhere later on or even been given a ticket " Go Out of Jail" seasoned pass! It has always been like that because troublemakers will make peaceful rallies difficult. I hope that good supporters would quickly identify and stand up to "identify" these troublemakers when something do happen. It is always that people shy away from identifying these rascals that led to these rascals walking scot-free! Ahh! It's the Malaysian culture,already. What's the use when we have so many incidences that had happened in this country and these people blatantly got scot-free because "they want to express themselves" like what our so-called nauseating Home Minister confessed, right? Well, the men in blue is as guilty as the inconsistent and erroneous Home Minister but I believe that the chain of command comes from the top. If the rot is at the top of the command chain, how do you expect the bottomliners to follow otherwise except for some brave souls, of course , who will be persecuted for failing to adhere to command, right?
I believe, good and true supporters of Bersih would adhere to a peaceful rally. I remembered in my younger days when I was at school, my BM teacher, Cikgu Ramli used to teach us about "perkatan lawan" . So, perkatan lawan untuk "BERSIH" is "KOTOR"! Funny, isn't it? Such a clean word can mean so dirty to so many corrupt people! Hmmmmmmnnnnnnn.......interesting!