Hari Raya and Duit Raya.

After a month of fasting during Ramadhan, today on the first day of the month of Shawal, Malaysians celebrate the Eid Mubarak or Hari Raya Aidilfitri, as it is called in this region. I attended the Hari Raya Aidilfitri prayers at our nearest mosque in Tasek Gelugor with my sons. Typically as on every Hari Raya (Aidilfitri, Aidiladha) the congregation was spilling out into the corridors. Mostly because many city folks have returned home (balik kampung) for their family reunions. In a rural town like this, as in the kampungs, its the kids who enjoy the Hari Raya the most. A typical kampung kid's Hari Raya day goes like this. A morning bath, dress up in their newest clothes, baju Melayu or baju kurung, pay their respects to their parents, grandparents and other elders, collect 'duit raya' (raya money) and then join the rest of their gang for their Hari Raya expedition. First stop, the mosque ,for the Hari Raya prayers. After prayers, loiter a bit until one of the pakciks (uncles) tell them to line up for 'duit raya'. Some bolder kids cycle or walk to the 'open house' of local MP Shariff Omar (Deputy Agriculture minister). At least RM 2 'duit raya' is assured there. And lots of good stuff to eat too (especially the fried chicken and satay). And after that they start doing their house to house rounds. They come in groups of at least two. They see your door is opened. They greet you " assalamu 'alaikum". You reply " 'alaikum salam" and invite them in. You ask them if they want to eat or drink. The daring ones will turn down the refreshments offer and tell you that they just want 'duit raya'. Sometimes it melts my heart to see these little kids, some dragging their tiny tot brother or sister tramping from house to house to accumulate their duit raya. Some came from kampungs as far as 2km away. There's only three housing estates in this rural town, ours is the second oldest. These tamans seems to be the main target of those kids. There is this rural mentality that those who live in brick houses are wealthy. I think, the kampung people with acres of land are much more richer than us. To kids everywhere, in the kampung or taman, Hari Raya is only about how much duit raya they can collect. If they come calling on your house, don't turn them away.Give them their duit raya. After all, this is Aidil Fitri , a time for charity, love for fellow mankind. Selamat Hari Raya.

Our Angkasawan

A Malaysian , Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor was launched into space Wednesday evening (9.22pm Malaysian time) from the Baikonor Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Together with NASA's commander Peggy Whitsun and Russian Yuri Malechencko. The spacecraft is due to dock with the International Space Station, somewhere in space, on Friday. Our spaceman will be in the ISS for 8 days. His mission is to conduct studies on space effects on cells, microbes and other germy-wermy stuffs. I suspect,previous space explorers might have already done that. The US astronaut Whitsun and Russian cosmonaut Malechencko will take over duties at the station for six months. The station's current commander Russian Fyodor Yuchikhin and Russian Flight Engineer Oleg Kotov will return to Earth with Dr Muszaphar . Now, many Malaysians question why did WE send our man to space for ? It cost us RM90 billion for the project. And the mission handed to him ... so pathetic. Just like a lab assistant. Actually, our angkasawan was just listed as a flight participant (read passenger). The government insisted that he be reclassified as an astronaut/cosmonaut. The government should have realised earlier that we don't have what it takes to be in the space hero category. Don't you remember what our government chaps were fantasising about what our Malaysian spaceman was going to do in space ? Pulling 'teh tarik', tossing 'roti canai' and spinning 'gasing' in zero gravity. Which space agency is going to take us seriously ? Well our angkasawan Dr Muszaphar is out there in space now. I wish him all the best and selamat berpuasa and Selamat Hari Raya. He will be regaled as a Malaysian, Muslim, Malay hero when he gets home. And that's what its all about, really.

September stories

September, I don't have a post for September. Some notable incidents happened in September. After a frentic -three weeks search for their missing eight year old daughter. The search ended with the discovery of her abused body in a sports bag, dumped outside a shop in Shah Alam. Just like other caring Malaysians, I wept with the parents and was bitterly outraged at the bestial crime. And I was utterly annoyed and disgusted with Shahrizat, IGP Musa and Nazri for suggesting that the parents should be booked for negligence. Haven't they suffered enough ? IGP Musa's men should be more alert and more dedicated in keeping our streets safe from such 'sickoes'. They are more into serving the ruling party bosses, intimidating peaceful gatherings shooting live bullets at unarmed people. That was in Batu Buruk,Terengganu. Towards the end of the month, Anwar Ibrahim released a video-tape, where lawyer Lingam was filmed speaking on the phone to present LCJ in 2002 [at that time he was CJ of Malaya]. The conversation was about how he (Lingam) can help fix up the judicial appointments, because of his (Lingam's) close connections with the then PM (Dr M) and the cabinet and high profiled business persons. He looked so cocky and arrogant. The government quickly assembled an independent panel to investigate the authencity of the video-tape, not about what the hell is going on between this Lingam fellow and the judges. The Bar Council and other parties wanted an independent royal commission to probe this affair. Two members of the panel seemed very biased to the government. In September too, my second son Fahmie turned 26 and my grandson Hasif celebrated his third birthday.

I Love Malaysia

Malaysia is 50 years old today. Celebrations across the nation began late last night. At the stroke of midnight the present PM , emulating the late great first PM Tunku Abdul Rahman, shouted out `Merdeka !' seven times. Pak Lah's 'Merdeka ' sounded a little feeble, when compared with the late Tunku. This ritual was carried out in every state by the state MBs and CMs. This morning, there were the parades of proud Malaysians, putting their best feet forward. And just concluded was the day's finale the Persembahan Raksasa (Mammoth presentation ?) at the historic Stadium Merdeka, showcasing the eras of the past 4 PMs and the present PM, in dances and patriotic songs. All the state rulers and the Agung attended the show. Just for today, everyone felt that they belonged to this country. But, what about tomorrow, when Arrogance, Avarice and Inefficiency creeps up again to our elected officials, civil servants, and political upstarts. Then the victimised would wish they were not Malaysians. I really love my country and its people, but I dislike people who just love to make our lives miserable, I don't like people who don't care about the poor, the weak and the disabled. Go on and create your wealth, but not at the expense of the defenceless. Go after the crooks and don't cover up your crooked pals. This country has potential to be a great country. Lets not lose our respect and credibility in the eyes of the world. You (the people ? the PM ?) hold the cards.Play it right. Happy Birthday Malaysia.

Shafiq is Thirteen

Yesterday, 23rd August was my youngest child Shafiq's 13th birthday. And I feel so awful that I had forgotten about it yesterday. All of yesterday, I was on the island, attending a seminar on PDKs ( Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti or Rehabilitation in the Community). This is a centre for disabled children and adults, set up by the Social Welfare department, for the disabled within their own community. Most of the kids here were rejected by the Special Education section of the Education Ministry. The main reason was that, some of these kids were not capable of looking after themselves (meaning that they cannot handle them if they wet or dirty themselves). Shafiq attended one of those classes when he was seven. But each time I went to pick him up, after school, I would find him wet or dirty. They never changed his diapers. Even though we provided enough spare diapers, a towel and change of clothes. After a few months, my wife and I decided to send him back to the PDK. He had attended the PDK since he was six, instead of kindy. At least the PDK teacher was more caring than those specialist teachers. Well, he's a big boy now. Good looking and very neat. He is not wearing diapers anymore. He can control his bladder during class. When at home, if he feels like peeing or pooping, he would go to the bathroom and take a bath, fully clothed. After soaking himself, he will strip off his clothes, do his business and continue with his 'hosing' bath. His mum or dad got to soap him up, and let him continue his bath. He will be 'showering' four or five times a day. As for dressing, he likes the comfortable soft worn out ones. He hates the new crispy clothes. And no collared shirts please. The only collared shirts he wears is his uniform. He is very particular about his footwear. If the slipper or sandal straps burst and if his feet outgrows them, we got to find the same design,color as the old one. Those mentioned are some of Shafiq's 'quirks' and habits , we the family has to learn to accept.Its not easy to change him. He does'nt want to change. I'm sorry son, I forgot your birthday. Promise I'll make up to you. (Lina says sorry too, she also forgot your birthday).

Blogophobia

Drats ! The government `wet blankets' are annoyed with us bloggers. If they really "read " blogs they ought to know that not every blogger is a trouble-maker. Are they so naive to think that bloggers are so influential (some bloggers think and claim that they are the most influential bloggers in the land) and can provoke anarchy and riots in this country. They also ought to know that not everybody reads those political blogs. How many percent of Malaysians have access to the internet ? Its so minimal, and yet the government is scared shit of these political bloggers. Some prominent bloggers have made some interesting revelations about governmental misdeeds ( with documental evidences) and this has upset those in power. These expose's should be followed up by the responsible officers, if found to be true. But, no, they want to shut up the 'messengers'. We live in a free country, we are free to talk, to believe and to think. That's what blogging is, a channel to share our views, our thoughts with fellow netizens. And now, I'm not to write what's really on my mind, my opinion of the way this country is being managed, I cannot tell anyone that minister so and so is an idiot (when he really is). Sorry Government, I pay my taxes ,I pay my bills (to pay you) and I pay for my internet access, I have every right to write, to say what I damn please. ( middle finger to you!)

Poverty ?

Pak Lah said that the government is serious about eradicating poverty and all of us must play a part toward this target - Zero Hardcore Poverty by 2010. Pak Lah, I'm afraid that you will not achieve that target, looking at how foodstuff prices have been rising, the ever escalating toll charges, utility tariffs, fuel and transport charges and just about every necessity. We are getting poorer while you and your fat cats are getting richer. You blamed Dr M for indulging in mega projects, so what do you call your brainchild economic regions , aren't they giga-mega projects ? You are all the same, so will the next PM, whoever he is. We don't need anymore developments. We need land, decent homes, affordable transport and reasonably cheap decent food.

ICT Illiterates

Deputy Home minister Tan Chai Hoe urged Malaysian cops to be more ICT savvy. He said that 'cyber' criminals are using their ICT expertise to commit con-jobs in cyberspace. And our cops are caught 'flat-footed' - unable to counter the cyber crooks. You can tell your fellow ministers too, to take ICT courses. Some can't tell the difference between a blog author and a commenter. Always blaming the blogger. What a shame.