Merdeka !

Another year of celebration for Merdeka. Malaysia is approaching retirement age and is still learning how to age gracefully. I remember 31 August with such pride for being a Malaysian, a Malay living in my own beautiful country. But I also experience a sense of sadness for my race, the Malays, as they will lose their sense of identity if they don't fully internalised this idependence in their own country. It's the 'semangat' that's lacking among so many young Malays who are being swept in the tide of modernisation, political ideation, and religious belief. Some are so willing to trade this 'semangat' for their own selfish ends or just follow what others ask them to do. The recent demonstration against ISA showed how short-sighted they are. As my son said, most Malays are just followers and are easily influenced without using their rational thinking. To me, Merdeka means much more - real independence, as I have gone through my life as a Malay who did not receive respect on my own land but being ridiculed and thus suffered low self-esteem. It was quite a struggle for me in 1957 to establish my Malay indentity and to prove that I was just as good as the Chinese and the Indians in my school. I thank the Malay leaders who provided this opportunity for me to move forward. I never forget this but many Malays forget how they were being helped and are ready to bite the hand that feed them. Sad to say, I see this lack of 'semangat' among many young Malays, even among my own children. But having just a 'semangat' is not enough as there's need to prove that we are as good as anyone else and strive for the best. So, happy MERDEKA and be proud of being Malaysians living in this beautiful land and work together to keep the peace.

Pre-Merdeka day was spent in Sri Menanti with Najidah. She came for a visit to complete our book project. It's completed and insyallah will go into print next year. As a reward to our hard work, we decided to take time off to visit this old royal town, Sri Menanti, to see the magnificent old Royal Palace, built without using a single nail, completed in 1908.
The palace has majestic backdrop of green hills and serene surrounding. I just hope it won't get muddled up with new development and housing estate.




Najidah at the Dewan Santapan in the Royal Palace of Sri Menanti.












The garden of Sri Menanti Royal Palace.








It is magnificent, indeed - an official residence for the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan and his consort, the Tunku Ampuan. The Palace is a muzeum now exhibiting our Minangkabau connection.



We missed the Adat Perpatih Festival in July and I aim to see and learn my cultural heritage in the festival next year. Both my parents came from Adat Perpatih culture but unfortunately my family abandoned the practice and removed ourselves by living in Malacca.

The Palace is acknowledged in the Malaysian Book of Records as the tallest Timber Palace. As we came at a time when they were busy rearranging, redecorating etc, etc in preparation for the grand celebration in October, we missed the atmosphere of a Palace. But the garden is beautiful and we planned to come again after October 2009. My friend Sharipah said, we should go and see such place the latest 6 months after the celebration. Later than that, the place will go into dump for being neglected - that's Malaysian culture - grand opening celebration but very poor maintenance after.

En. Nordin and Pn. Azura, the persons incharge of the muzeum suggested we go to Bahau to see Teratak Zaaba which we have not heard before. Eager to see something new we drove to Bahau. Shidah, my former student, lives. Since we couldn't fine Teratak Zaaba, Najidah called her to find out where. With her instruction we found it. If you're interested to go there, do not go to Bahau town but turn to Batu Kikir to Kampung Bukit Kerdas, you won't miss it. Thank you Shidah for invitating us to break our fast with your family but we had to decline. We need to reach PD before dark to break our fast and terawih. Maybe some day I'll pay you a visit as I have promise.d.

Teratak Zaaba is something worth visiting. The traditional Negeri Sembilan architecture house is gorgeous and well-maintained. There is also a history of the life of Pendeta Zaaba, a Malay scholar who had tremedous inflence on the Malay language and Malay culture. He died on 23 October 1973. I still have regrets in my heart for not keeping intact his first edition book on Bahasa Melayu called Pelita Bahasa. Somebody borrowed and never returned it. I recalled vaguely my father's friendship with him as they were teaching together in SITC in 1930s.

We made it to PD well before breaking fast time for me to cook ayam salai masak lemak cili api, a Negeri Sembilan traditonal dish which I learned from my mother but promptly forgot about it. My effort was nothing to shout about but OK for a novice taste bud like Najidah's. Wll try again the next time with proper ingredients.






Old is beautiful if you know how to take care of it. I am always proud of my Malay heritage.

First Day of Fasting

Nothing much happens so far today. I had my sahur at midnight last night and didn't get up except to drink some water. I still have the same problem as before, getting up so often to toilet to relieve myself. Though it doesn't effect my sleep as I go back to dreamland immediately my head touches the pillow, it's quite annoying.

School holidays have begun but the resort is rather quiet because few guests are arriving. The security guards have a reprieve this fasting month. They usually experience tough times dealing with demanding resort guests who pick a fight. Poor security guards. They are paid pittance and have to deal with aggressive, irresponsible people especially those who are drunk. Talking to them made me admire them for being patience, firm and diplomatic. They have little training but use common sense and experience as their guide. Most of the guards are retirees. Some of the young guards, mostly Indians, who were caught drunk on duty, their services have been terminated. This is quite a big relief to me as I have felt so unsecured having security guards who slept and got drunk on the job.

My brother, Mahir, and family paid me a visit last Saturday. In our conversation he said he didn't like traveling or going anywhere now except to stay at home where he felt most comfortable. Shahabudin's mother-in-law said the same thing - she doesn't even want to go out for dinner, preferring to have it at home. I do feel the same way sometimes, preferring to stay in but traveling bug is still bugging me. I still have plans and dreams to trudge places different from mine, seeing different things and enjoying different experience. I know one day soon I'll share the same feeling as my brother's when I'll feel most secured in my own environment, enjoying my own company with peace. But meanwhile, world you haven't seen enough of me yet!

The H1N1 scare is very real. I heard many people made a mockery of it saying the government is blowing the horn too loud and told me to disregard it. A friend told me that a Singapore doctor said it was ridiculous and that the government is making a stupid mistake. Whatever it is, they are entitled to their belief and I hope it doesn't infect them. Sometimes we always have the perception that other people will get it but not us but once we get infected then we blame other people. That's the arrogance of human beings. Anyway, I don't want to take chances and so further travel is kept on hold. I pray that this H1N1 flu will go away soon and not taking more lives.

A friend forward an email about taking care of our own personal hygiene and not depending on the masks to keep away the virus. It's simple and we should make it our daily practice. Washing hands regularly especially after using the toilet is important. I use hand sanitizer to avoid my hands being wet too often which can result in knuckle pain. The small bottle is always in my handbag.

Cleaning the nostrils twice a day is another must. This reminds me of why during abolution in preparing for prayer, Muslims are required to clean their noses. But most of the time we do it as a routine without understanding the purpose behind it. Blowing water out of the nose strongly helps to get rid of the dirt or virus which get stuck in our nostrils. I admit that I am one of those ignorant Muslims but with this knowledge, I change my habit.

Gurgling with warm salt water regularly is another way of keeping personal hygiene to keep away the virus. The virus enters our body through nostrils and mouths, so it makes sense to keep them clean. This is another practice which a Muslim is supposed to do during abolution - to wash the mouth and gurgle 3 times. We do it of course but as a routine practice - as long as we komor-komor 3 kali, cukup. There is a reason for every routine practice Muslims are supposed to do. For the uztaz and ustazah who teach Agama Islam, these are the information that should be given to children and adults alike - not just the routine practice without explaining the reasons why and focusing on the batal and the haram.

Using the mask helps but keeping personal hygiene and avoiding crowded places are crucial to keep away the virus. Let's hope H1N1 will go away soon and leave our country free. My itchy feet is just waiting for the fasting month and raya to be over so that I can travel again.

To my Muslim readers, Selamat Berpuasa.

Lazy day

It's quiet again this Sunday evening. Most people have gone back to where they came from. This morning the cleaners complained that the resort guests dirtied the place by throwing beer cans and broken bottles everywhere. Drunk, they urinated at the steps-so disgusting!! Doesn't it make sense that Islam forbids alcohol consumption? Once drunk they become animals and all senses go to the sewage. I hate these people and they are really poison. Unfortunately many of them are young and educated as education seems only for chasing a piece 0f paper - nothing else! Now I have no mood to go out to buy vegetables and no mood to do my walking exercise. I'll do it tomorrow.

On Sunday 9 August, I went to KL (PWTC) by LRT. I had no desire to drive there even though it was Sunday and the road was supposed to be clear but I didn't trust KL traffic. Traveling by LRT was no better, it was just as crowded. I met 2 lady tourists from Finland who wanted to go to Tasik Perdana by bus. They looked so flustered and unhappy. One of them showed me a tourist map of KL and complained that they couldn't find the places indicated there. I bet it was an old map of KL.With so many road changes, the map has to be updated regularly and I am sure it was not done. I can understand how frustrated they felt, getting lost in a foreign country. They grumbled that traveling in Malaysia is so difficult and the maps are no help. I wanted to help but I myself am not sure of my way around KL. Fortunately the lady at the LRT counter was helpful and she knew the way and which bus to take. I hoped they found their way there.

While traveling in LRT, I have a strange feeling that I was not in my own country. I heard different languages spoken. Almost everyone I got in contact with was a foreigner, mostly foreign workers - Indonesians, Philippinos, Indians, Bangladeshis, Vietnamese etc. Hei, what happened to my Malaysia? KL is full of foreign workers and some of them lack manners and forget that Malaysia is not their country. Social problems are increasing every year, criminal activities are getting worse and more and more unpleasant happenings occur almost everyday. With some bad Malaysians around, the situation is not safe.

The Tilawah Al Quran Exhibition was on at PWTC. I went there for a purpose - to see the Permata Hijrah exhibits for they offer eye treatment. I was encouraged to visit and see what they can offer. Razali and Dr. Norsiah of Unimas and Ahmad Bazli suggested that I try their glaucoma treatment. I was skeptical at first but decided to try it anyway. Their eye drop and eye spray seem simple and it costs me RM650.00 during this promotion.

3 days later, after returning from Taiping, I went to UMSC for my eye checkup with Dr. Tajunisa. She did visual field test as well and was pleased at the result - there was no further damage and my eye pressure is safe at 14. Please be aware that I am not saying that Permata Hijrah works but I was happy with the outcome of the test. What contributes to this good result maybe due to my regular walking exercise (except today - too lazy!), minimizing computer use and TV and lead a more relaxed life. I hope I'll be able to maintain this good result throughout with the help of Permata Hijrah. Oh yes, one thing I wasn't aware which Azizah pointed out - I didn't use my reading glasses when I read newpapers at her verandah. I still need reading glasses though if I am reading indoors. This pleases me much and I am watching myself for further development, if any. I have hope and I have prayers.

Tomorrow will be a day as good as today.
Insyaallah.

Kuala Gula

It's a conspiracy!! I know it is. I bet Abang Trafik Police is watching my NCC car and the moment I made a mistake, they will issue traffic summon to tell me to stay home. I am not a fast driver who disregards speed limit but sometimes I miss the change of speed limit along the highway. Hence, I got another police traffic summon. I don't have the faintest idea where it was but the summon said I drove 97 km at a 90 km limit in May. Hai Abang Trafik Police, tolonglah saman kereta yang laju macam hantu tu, especially the big busses along the highway. Dia orang tu tak kena saman ke? I wonder many times whether the big stage busses carrying so many passengers ever being summoned for violating speed limit? The drivers drove like devils overtaking at 120km or more. Singapore cars blatantly disregarded the speed limit, do they ever get tickets for over-speeding? Oh well, I have to pay RM200.00 the other day for that summon. Seems like I am going to go broke paying speeding tickets. Frust betul dibuatnya!

Last Monday (10th Aug) I drove to Taiping with care. Usually people took 3 hours to reach there but I took almost 5 hours, taking my sweet time, stopping at 3 rest areas. I like to stop at Tapah rest area but I wish the cleaners do their work - cleaning the toilet! My daughters said most Malaysians are not toilet trained. They dirty and wet the floor, put tissues in the sink, don't flush and at one time I saw a Chinese lady taught her 9 months old son pee in the sink. I was so disgusted and scolded her. She glared at me. Some Malays and Indians and some Chinese too wash themseleves as if they are bathing, wetting the floor and dirtying it. Lack of supervision by the cleaning contractor results in cleaners taking their own time just watching people using the toilets -no effort to go in and to clean it. Most of them are foreign workers - Indonesians, Indians and Bangladeshis. I stood watching them, grouped together chatting. Coupled with irresponsible toilet users, no wonder the state of some public toilets in Malaysia is deplorable. I can see effort is being made to keep these places clean and beautiful but it would be fruitless if the public remains selfish.

I love driving up north of Malaysia. The scenery is refreshing with green trees, blue hills and darker blue mountains as the background. But greedy hands spoiled the scenery especially around Ipoh area. I dislike to see hills being hacked for commercial gains. If it is not controlled, in a few years time, greed will destroy our natural heritage.



I spend 2 days at Shahabudin's beautiful home in Taiping. I felt like going home to my family and enjoyed Shahabudin's and Azizah's hospitality. They made me feel welcomed. Thank you Budin and Zah and I hope I could return your hospitality one day.





Azizah and her cute grandson, Iman.













I liked talking to Atan, their son though disabled, he is so matured and conversation with him is just like talking to any normal people. We shared a common passion - cats. They have 12 street cats whom they nurtured and they flourished under their care.






Girl, a street cat simply claimed their house as hers and refused to leave since 3 months ago and now she controls the household, perching on an arm chair like a Queen. It was fun seeing them everywhere in the house.









I used to have 12 mixed persian cats before - beautiful, lazy and spoilt. 5 have been adopted and we lost 5 - stolen and died. Now we have 2, Montel Mok and Regal Raisa. We adore them. This photo is taken just before leaving for Taiping - my loving cuddle to say bye, bye Mok!











My intention going Taiping was to go to Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary. With Shahabudin, Azizah and a friend, Hj. Khamis, we drove to Kuala Gula which is about 50 km from Taiping. It seems it is nearer from Bukit Merah. I have read articles about the migratory birds which flew thousands of miles across the oceans to Australia and New Zealand and back. Kuala Gula was chosen to be a stop for resting. I know this time is not a good time to see the birds but I just wanted to know where Kuala Gula is and planned to go there again in December when the migration is on the way. The migration starts in September through March and the end of the year is a perfect time for bird-watching.



The jetty and resort are expected to be ready by the end of the year. It would be very pleasant sitting on the bank of the river. We hired a boat with Tan, a knowledgeable guide, to take us to the wetland.















The scenery is breathtaking and unspoiled. Unfortunately human intervention in term of the roaring engines of fishing boats frightened the birds away. There weren't many birds around at this time of the year except the egrets, red herons, kingfishers and a specie of Siberian birds who has adopted Kuala Gula as their home. You need a powerful binoculars to see them and should go either early morning or in the evening. Tan lent us his binoculars and we had quite a good education on migratory birds from him.




We learned about prawn catching and cockles harvesting as well.



An old lady harvesting a boatfull of cockles.





I returned to PJ the next day to keep an appointment with my eye specialist. I promised to visit Kuala Gula again to satisfy my curiosity to see the exciting birds but I need to buy a powerful binoculars. The one Sharipah and I bought in Moscow is not powerful enough to give me a clear vision of the birds.

I am not an ardent bird-watcher but love watching them fly free, for freedom is the key to life. Safeguard your freedom. Compromising it means the death of your self-respect.

Birth Certificate

The officer at the National Registration Department, Port Dickson branch was patient enough to explain to me the process of getting a copy of my old birth certificate. I thought I would get it in a jiffy since everything is computerized now, but at the NRD, he said, they are still processing it as it involves millions. I hope they make a good job of it, screening, and not dispensing copies of birth certificates to those cheats who are not Malaysian citizens. So I don't mind waiting for 2 weeks, it's not urgent enough for me.

Imagine after almost 66 years, I have to produce my birth certificate and I don't have the faintest idea where it is. I know I have the original copy, torn and tattered somewhere but where? That old copy is precious as it is the proof of my initial existence in this world as a Malay in my country, Tanah Melayu but where is my country now?

The Adat Perpatih requires me and my 9 siblings (2 have passed away) to be present at the Pejabat Daerah, Rembau, for the transfer of my mother's few pieces of land to our names, particularly the 4 girls in my family. All my sisters are not keen to own the lands and would like my cousins, Cham and Jaafar, to have it as they have been living there for years. But the Adat says it is Tanah Pusaka and it would go to the rightful children. If it is not claimed, the land would go to the government, so what will happen to Jaafar, my schizo cousin then? Hence, the need for my birth certificate-to prove that I am one of Abdul Rahman Hj. Muyiddin's and Maimunah Hj. Zakaria's children.

The Pejabat Daerah Rembau requires all 9 of us to be present at the court to transfer the titles of the land to our names (girls). The male members of the family have to be present too - what a hassle!! I am not sure whether my 74 year old brother would be able to come or care enough to come. I don't blame him and my other brothers though, it doesn't concern them and they are not interested but the Adat makes it so difficult. Anah, my quiet younger sister says 'Tanah sekangkang kera tapi prosesnya susah sangat.' She volunteers to see this process goes through.

Well Anah, we will work on it so that our cousin, Jaafar, will not be displaced. I hope PD National Registration office will pursue my application of a copy of my birth certificate within the promised time frame.

So no matter how old you are, as long as you still exist in this world, you are important. Keep your birth certificate intact!

My enemies

Yesterday a group of young men with rifles were down at the lagoon. They were arranged in semi circle with pointed guns upwards. With berets and uniforms, they looked serious and professionals. After waiting a while, then baaannggg, the shots rang out giving my heart a big jerk. A few of my arch enemies, the crows, fell down. But looking at the number of men shooting and the number of crows shot dead, it was not worth it. That black devils are too smart for the rifles of human beings. They flew away in flock. The men patiently waited and sure enough, the flock flew back to the trees at the lagoon. Another baaangg and a few more fell. It went on till evening.


I guess, this is a campaign to get rid of that black devils. I hate them!. They are becoming bolder by the day, disregarding the comfort of hotel guests and apartment dwellers. They make so much noise and leave their droppings everywhere. One or two came to my balcony and perched on the Astro disc, disregarding my presense at the garden chair. They looked at me defiently, inching nearer to get the food on my table. Shooing them away has no effect. They just didn't care, they stared and waited for me to get up and go away so that they can enjoy my bread. Yes, I stood up and took a broom, then only they flew away. I hate these ugly black devils, just like I hate some ugly black human beings who cannot be trusted and will stab your back at the first opportunity. They are the devils of the country.

I wonder, is there any other way that we can get rid of these crows more effectively, rather than shooting them? The number is increasing and they become real nuisance. Beside making incessant noise, they are scavengers, toppling rubbish bins and dirtying the ground with their droppings and the left over food discarded by selfish holiday makers along the lagoon. The attitude of these brain-damaged people made the place dirty and attractive to scavengers like the crows and rats. I have killed 13 rats so far who 'graced' my balcony by using rat glue. For a resort, this is a turn-off.

There is nothing much the management can do. There is very little money in the kitty. Many owners do not pay maintenance fees for years. A few have run up bill to over RM 35,000.00. Demand for paymkent was iognored. Many of them are rich professionals and businessmen. I couln't believe my eyes when I saw the list - the lawyers, the Datuks, the doctors etc. This is how sick the mind of some selfish rich people. They keep on taking. Demand for payment through the court took years and in the meantime the resort is going down the drain.

I am in the Management Council at this resort, a voluntary work, and have to fight constantly with the contractors to do their job to keep this place clean. Most of the time my complaints fell on deaf ears as the contractor has won the contract for another year and they become complacent. The Manager of this resort is so slow in taking action. Believe me, most people complaint that government servants are slow in their work but here, it is unbelievable. Decisions took forever to be enforced. I wonder whether it is worth for me to stress myself by getting involved in the management. But I notice after making so much noise, there is some improvement. I hope things will get better.

I miss my little birds actually - the starlings, the sunbirds, the doves etc who used to visit my balcony. I left leftover rice and bread for them to feed and I love the sound of their chirpings. But since I found out that the crows ate everything and left nothing for them, I stopped putting food there. So my little birds stopped coming but not the ugly devils. They are my worst enemies.

For those friends who sent condolences for my oldest sister, Zawiyah, passing, thank you. For Muslims, please sedekah alfatihah. May God bless you all.