Malaysia oh Malaysia!

Been told by Along and Angah about the landslide at Bukit Antarabangsa upon landing at the airport. Been abroad for 6 days and had been cut out of the outside world. Gave little thought to the news as I imagine it was something like the slide in ULU YAM PERDANA which occured a day before I left. Two casualties and only a house involved. Catched the news about Bkt AntaraBangsa through newspaper the next day and I said "Ya Allah! This is massive! Masya Allah!"

The next day inbetween the massive coverage about the tragedy, most newspaper carried out the very rhethoric statements from the administrators, authorities and regulators:

a) Hill slide developement- immidiate freeze!
b) No more development of high land
c) All states to stop development
d)No more approval of hill slopes

bla bla bla

I really got sick with all these rhetorics! It is always like that. Any tragedy that struck, immidietly the next minute these people would be issuing statements like these. It would be just months later, all theese restrictions be broken, consented by the very same people who made the ruling earlier.
If really we learnt from the Highland Tower tragedy in 1996, we wouldnt have seen the Bukit Antrabangsa tragedy, insyaAllah. SEE WHAT HAPPENED NOW?

Remember the car incidents that rammed into a person dining outside the restaurant at section 14? Immidietely after the incident, there was statement- NO TABLES AND CHAIRS ALLOWED OUTSIDE EATING OUTLETS. See what happened now? Tables chairs are just every where and any where!!!!!!

Back to Bukit Antarabangsa tragedy, a newspaper quoted the saying of the top leader " Saya HARAP semua permit pembangunan tanah tinggi dibekukan!" I am amused!!! am amazed! Why didnt the leader said "Saya BEKU KAN semua permit pembangunan tanah tinggi!!!"

DAto Seri, you have the power. Do it please! Do it! Stop the same old song which we all really got fed up!!! IF it is me, it is ok since I am power less. I am only "BERHARAP" but you who is the top leader you could "ENFORCE!"

Many years back, as I was about to board the cable car at the Sentosa Island in Spore, I suddently realized about the cable car tragedy there where a ship struck the cable, plungging the car into the water. Casualty, dont know how many. I asked the operator " Would it happen? I am nervous"

The operator responded "Mr, In Spore be rest assured that if it already happened, it will not happen again....."

I never believe him then, but now, in relation to the series of repeated tragedy in Malaysia, I think the operator was RIGHT!!!

Homeless? Am I?

Last raya left me pondering and wondering for quite a while. Am I homeless? I meant back home in my hometown, am I really homeless? Or it was just my sheer perception about the whole thing. Since my beloved mum passed away in 2005 our family home has been rented out. Not really to generate income but just need a care taker to manage the house. Other wise it may just get rotten with time. RM 160 pm, thanks to Pak Cik Mat my uncle who manage to secure the tenant.
Ever since then, a trip back home either landed us in my sis house or bro's. Either one, no problem then. Time passsed. Sis and Bro both got their daughter and son in law respectively. My own children have grown up, both in age and size! :)-That drive us a step back ward about putting up nights at their places. Imagine the 7 of us checking in, surely the numbers are enough to cramp the house.

Raya time was even worse. Their children, inlaws etc were also back home. Not to mention the grand children. We took two step back, rented a hotel in the city.

Raya nite in a hotel? apa ni? Macam out station jer...no feel lah!

This year, we decided to stay back in our very own home. We did not go back up north. Just a day trip down south. Hey!!! No bad actually. We were kept real busy with activities. The children were busy in the kitchen and me in the garden. With so many things to do, we were kept occupied all day.

Home less am I?
Nope, I am not!

New Chef Back Home!

Suddently Along is so crazy about cooking. Of late, she has been preparing delicious meals back home. It started with her trying out her skill based on the cook book. Now she has gained the confidence and hence been trying out all sorts of dishes yang kekadang tu tak tau apa nama. Well done Along. Thats the way, aha! aha! I like it. Week end, holiday or semester break, she would be in the kitchen, much to the delight of our maid!

The situation now is relly in great contrast to few years back where even her own plate need to be cleared up by the maid! Use to tell her to catch up with the cooking skills or she would be embarassed depan mertua!

Guessed my challenge is taken up.!!!! My regret? These few days I am down with the excruciating gastricitis pain and have to fore go those delicious meals!!!

Once again, well done Along!!!!!!

Angah Cam ne yer? Angah pandai gakkkk he he pandai beli lauk siap masak kat kedai!!! *peace*

A flower for my gal

Adik received a bouquet of flower on her 20th birthday, delivered by a florist! What an event. At 20, a kampung boy like me, who first made a living in the capital city as a student, the birthday went unnoticed! When I was a child, birthday or birthday party were not heard at all. A kampung boy was more concern about nose diving into Sungai SENTAB, bicycle racing, lastik burung, tangkap ikan dalam sawah padi, main meriam buluh etc etc. Birthday? Whats that?

Today, my gal and her other siblings , being of Gen Y not only celebrated their birthday every year but started getting flowers from florist!

Asked, from who, she said "From Ampibia! her closest buddy at MMU Melaka". So thoughtful Phia.

Mmmmm.... eeeerrrrr... the one given by Phia , Adik shared with us all.
The one given by *ehhmmmm.....* of cozzzzzz Adik kept it to her self! :)-

Ouchhh!!!!! The pain!

4th September 2008. @4 am. It was adik's 20th birthday. It was a day after the 3rd anniversary of my dearest almarhum bonda passed away three years ago.I woke to the excruciating pain in my upper stomach. Never felt like this before. It wasnt sharp but burning. Woke up my beloved, applied some oilment (what else could we do?), visited the rest room but fruitless. The pain continued and my beloved decided to send me to Azzaharah Medical Centre. After some discussion I decided to drive to PMC. Beloved wanted to accompany but i said I was all right. Drove there alone. The most unwise thing I had ever done! On the way the pain became unbearable and I headed straight to the PMC emergency unit. Was it "angin?" or Was it "heart problem?" I was praying it would be the former. Dr Shireen Kaur attended and I was put straight on bed. Called my close buddy Raziff to inform him of my where about. At least , there is some one around if anything WERE to happen!!!! He arrived in no time. Thank you buddy. Truly honour your thoughfulness.

Dr Shireen Kaur gave me a jab and she said the pain would go off if it is gastricitis. Raziff exchanged notes with me about his experience ( Two weeks ago I sent him to this same place-reason: Chest pain!!).

15 minutes the pain slowly dissapeared! Alhamdulillah. Blood test done. TEPONIN T negative! This is an enzyme excreted if a person has a heart attack. Raziff described the procedure and medication so well that the nurse later asked me "Your friend is in the medicl line? ke" Phuuuh! Caya lah "Dr" Raziff!!!!!!

By now sms started coming in. YONG, the super caring sister was pretty upset for not being informed. RR, CSM, RI SRD all asking about my well being.

Cardiologist Datuk Aru saw me and treted me to the stress test. Cleared all.

Given some medication and a day off.

What and experince!

1) Syukur to Allah SWT the most merciful
2) TQ to my beloved wife Dr Hendon
3)TQ to "Dr" Raziff who was in attendance through out
4) TQ to Along for your concern
5) TQ to all for the prayers

a dozen kids! the G8! SEMASHURIAN

Recently, fresh after coming back from a family vacation in Redang, we drove down for another 3 days vacation in PD KONDO. This wasnt in the agenda initially since we already set our mind to go east coast. Angah the montel (opsss the comel) wanted to have a gathering of the SEMASHURIAN.They were starved of accomodation. As a way out, I booked out a two nite stay in PD Kondo.TQ to Hajah Saerah, the residence manager who was very obliging despite the short notice.

Of we went, in two cars. Amal and Along came in on public transport the next day. All in all there were 14 of us! Angah;s friend totalled 7! All ladies except me. Hah! The only kumbang antara bunga...PEACE!

It was fun...fun...and fun...the kids were so extrovert, sporting and adventurous! We went karaoke. Farah, being below 12 was barred from entering. I was doing the song selection when I heard the groups walked in noisily. Suddently I heard and saw Farah in front of me...Lerrrr cam ne boleh masuk?

We smuggled her! Said one of the girl. Makkk OOOiiiii...

the nite was really short when we went beserk singing in our very own ways. There was Broery(you know who)Ella, etc etc

That nite the girls stayed up till early morning, only t0 wake up the next day for go carting. Again the girls went beserk! As said by the operators...here goes all the beauty models..in the stop pit,Amal, mistaken the brake and the power pedal, bangggggg the cart in front..Blurrr ...PEACE!

Didnt join them for the banana boat ride, but I heard one....heee hee Sorry, tak ingat nama..could not get on board due to ........*Toooooot*

Farhana was out done with her heavy make up all the while. Dah besaq rupa nya anak kecil ini. Farah had her hey day with Farhana for they both share this same interest. Once farah make up me while I was in deep sleep!!! Huh!

Ayu...the most extrovert of all I think. Very out spoken, very open. She volunteerd automatically to be the POCO POCO lead dancer, though the session actually best known as KECOH KECOH!

Aminas was the real awet muda. Mistaken for a form 3 girl. Ini species Kancil, very tiny. Once a dentist one day, I think she need a platform to treat her patients! PEACE!

Amphibia ...the most matured..very quiet but pleasant characters. Minum;;air kosong. Makan:roti. Diet concious. :)

The rest were very pleasant and adorable too. Apa tak nye....on the way back sume jadi Paris Hilton lah konon..spect RM 10 kat batu lapan! ...PEACE!

Girls, Pak cik cant remember all your names but surely I would always treasure the warmth and excitement of the short outing.It was so joyful...and in fact until now I could still hear the singing and laughters

Girls, There is always another time. Let me know if you all are ready!

What an embarassment!!

OOOOOO what a shame.
It was about twenty years ago, with only Along and Angah into being. For the first time in my life I would be going to Kelantan though I had, by then, been to so many other parts of the world. By the way, I could speak a “good” Klate through acquaintances during UNI days. Well, good in the eyes of the non-klantanese. With the Klantanese they know right away , I am “Klate Clup”.Hence, I promise not to try my klatenese while there.Early morning we drove up to DungunG Terengganu to fetch WATI, our relative. Can’t really remember whether LEHA our maid came along or not. After a nite at Batu BUruk we drove to Klate. For the first time in my life, I stepped to this land of Serambi Mekah. Fascinated by the extra super friendly people there. They are so courteous, so helpful, and so polite. So much so, my other half really got touched by the very klantanese, she didn’t take the change for the short ride on BECA RODA TIGA (Taxi to the klantanese). Those days RM 10 was big amount and the pakcik beca too was very touched with her gratitude.
In the morning I went out scouting for packed breakfast. (We stayed at the budget hotel though). Went to the stall scouting for breakfast. Here it goes:

MakCIK: Nok make gapo ?

Me: Ada apa Cik?

Mak Cik: OOO..ado belako , nasi kerabu, nasi dage, nasi goreng, nasi BERLAUK....

Me: Nasi BERLAUK? Nasi apa tu? Ada ke nasi tak ada lauk?

MakCIK: oooo..tu nasi biaso lah wey (awang), cumonyo dio ado mace mace lauk .

I learnt a new thing.

T cut short the story, it was time to drive home. We decided to drive back to Kedah via the east –west motorway connecting JELI and Grik. I was checking the engine before the long journey home when suddenly a PAJERO pulled up. Down came a big sized guy, serbaned (Turbaned) and politely asked whether I was having a breakdown or in difficulty. He offered his help if I was in need. Told him I was ok and politely thanked him. After salaam, we parted. MasyaAllah..in this new land, a stranger being so polite and helpful. Don’t talk about America, UK or elsewhere, even in KL you can’t and shouldn’t trust strangest!!!!

To the polite stranger, may Allah bless you.

Here goes the other incident, he he he which I shall never ever forget.
Many a time I related this TRUE incident to my peers, subordinates and even students and they burst into laughter.

We were driving on the outskirt of Kota Baru, looking for a way out to JELI. Though there were many signages, none depicted JELI. I presumed it was because JELI was a distance from KB and hence no mention of it. We went round and round and round until decided to seek help. I pulled by the road side and saw an old Chinese man, big belly, wearing singlet and a kain pelikat in front of a shop house. Knowing he was Chinese, automatically I was switched to be “Chinese”

Me: Hello Towkey aaa...sikit mau tanyia aaa,,sikalang wa mau pigi JELI. Wa sula pusing pusing manyiak kali , wa tatak yumpa itu yalan maaa.Mau pigi JELI apa maciam?

He looked at me up, down, up down in between his thick glasses on his nose. Then he smiled.

Chinese Man (CM) : oooooo sene jo. Demo gi terus ikuk jale ni, jupo sepe 3(simpang 3) kornar kiri, lepas tu straight ja,,, tu jale gi JELI larrrrr

Ya Allah! He could speak PURE PERFECT KLANTANESE while I was trying to imitate his dialect and be “Chinese”. I blushed. Embarrassed. Really embarrassing. Politely I thanked him in my real standard BM!!!!!!

CM: slamat jale..he he he..ni kawe nok tanyo ni. Guano demo kecek supo tu? Demo cino ko kawe cino?Oh my God!!!! Before more embarrassment I once again thanked him and drove straight towards JELI, grinning all the way, not sure out of humour or embarassesement!!!!!!