The return of a long lost uncle.

21st.November 2004 was a significant day for me because it is today that my long lost uncle appreared at my house. I was very happy for if it had not been for his reappearance today , I would have lost contact with him. Apparently he is the only uncle on my mother's side .I was quite close to him because during my early childhood I was staying with my maternal grandmother where he was the only son .I knew he was a good footballer and was playing for the district team .I remember , I used to pillion ride on his bicycle to the district football field where I watch him play .Our relationship was abruptly shortened when he left for Kuala Lumpur to work .

Although almost 70 I found out that he is still as strong as a horse .He jogs every morning and lead a happy life .Though not rich , he leads a comfortable life .Now, that is the beauty of God's gift . One may not be rich but he is bestowed with good health and thus happiness .Happiness is something that you cannot quantify and it is very subjective .What is the point of having lots and lots of money and property but you are not healthy and cannot enjoy whatever you have ? The farmers and the fishermen may look poor and earn a meagre income but still can put up decent smiles on their faces ,unlike people in the cities who are proud of their status but rarely smiles. What is always in their mind is how to outwit each other and what they can get out of the other .Everything that is put up is superficial and mostly not true .What a mad ,mad world ?

It all depends on hardwork,determination and the will to change.

My youngest daughter Ezrin Farina is back for the Hari Raya Holiday.She came home on 10th.Nov.04 by bus all the way from Kangar where she is attending boarding school at MRSM Beseri.She is infact in the midst of her SPM exams this year.

In two days time we will be celeberating Idilfitri after one month of fasting.This year we are not going any where, not even to my own home town. We want to show our concern and support for our daughter Farin that she is not alone in her quest for success .The whole family are with her as we were with Eileen Farhana when she was sitting for her A-Level Exams.The Id festive can be celeberated any time but her SPM is only this time .Her future depends on this exams.

My late father used to remind me that education was more important than anything else.A poverty stricken family can change for the better if the children of this family obtain good education . I know of a family in my old home town who was worth nothing .They were staying in a hut with very little food to eat .When their father passed away at a very young age, life was much worst. Luckily perhaps with Allah's blessings one by one the children were admitted into boarding school. To cut it short today they are successful happy families and a few of them were even conferred Datukships.

Those days we had to work hard because we had no godfather to help us.There was no relatives in high position who could help because we were just of the same standard then .If you want a scholarship you have to perform extremely well in your studies .Otherwise you don't hope and dream .

In my case for example I was from an 'ulu' place with very little facilities and utilities .There was no electricity and piped water .The roads were made of red earth and each time a heavy vehicle passed through our hair turned 'mat salleh' look and during the rainy season we had to carry our bicycles to school instead of us riding on them .The schools had very little facilities and the teachers were often less qualified,even that they come and go .Some went for further studies or sought other jobs.The turning over was quite high .The qualified one refused to teach there .Most of us too had to work during week ends,to make ends meet .We worked as ice cream sellers, helpers in the coconut plantation ,grass cutters,shop assistants and etc . With that condition ,I managed to get grade 2 for my MCE (Malaysia Certificate of Education )and also a grade 2 for the ( Cambridge School Certificate ) .Those days we sat for double exams at one sitting . I was also among the 3 who passed the Sixth Form Entrance Exams from my school .

I had no body to help me .My parents were not educated.They did not dare face proud government officers for help or assistance .Those days the government officers were not like today .Most of them were proud like the British colonialists . My children today can depend on me .Being educated and a former senior government officer I'll go to any length to seek justice for my children . Any way I don't simply ask for help/assistance if my children don't qualify . It hurts me to see some one who is more qualified being deprived by some one who is less qualified .

Who said that the poor remains poor while the rich becomes richer ? It can be either way too . It all depends on hardwork , determination and the will to change .

Lastly but no least I wish a Happy Idilfitri to my daughter Eileen Farhana who is now in Dublin .I hope and pray that she will be successful in her medical studies and come back ready to be of service to the poor, the down-throdden and the less fortunate in the name of fullfilling our obligation to God .

I hope Bush would change his policy .

The verdict on Mr.Bush has been passed.Unfortunately he won the Presidency for another term - 4 years. Nothing more that can be done .Bush is going to stay put at the White House .A black day for peace loving people of this planet .I do not know which country would be his next target for this war crazy President. It looks it's either Syria , Iran or North Korea or even any other country that tries to be funny with Bush .He is the most powerful man in the world today .51% or so of the American electorate is responsible for any action Bush is going to make .The American electorate is also going to be responsible for the tears shed and blood splurred by victims of war under the pretext of fighting terrorists .Do not talk about peace for no one would believe Mr. Bush .As Mr.Kelly said , he is a liar .To him any country that go against him are harbouring terrorists. Mr.Bush is not interested to find out the root cause why one becomes a terrorist .

His unfair policy on the Palestinians are the actual cause of this phenomena.Other Muslim brothers would be willing to take arms to fight the enemies of Islam .After all what more can they do . Do you just expect them to watch the atrocities done to their Muslim brothers .They have been pushed to the wall until there is no more breathing space .They are deprived of any decent arms to fight back .Either way they are going to die .What other choice they have ?

Any way I hope and pray by the grace of God almighty ,Bush would change his policy ( although that may seems unlikely ) in order to have an equitable and fair solution to the Palestinians .

Peace in Palestine will be peace for the world .

Let the Americans punish Bush for his sins.

To morrow the citizens of the United States will be casting their votes for the Presedential Election.Although ,US is thousands of miles away from Malaysia ,we as educated Malaysians who keeps abreast with the development in other countries especially the US , should be interested to know the outcome of the Presedential Election. A simple minded person may think that whoever is to be the President would not have any bearing to our country Malaysia.To those who thinks so I am very sorry for you, because you are certainly wrong. Directly or indirectly it would have some bearings to other countries especially to the Middle Eastern countries and Muslims as a whole .Mr.Bush was responsible for the unncecessary war in Iraq and his unfair policy towards the Palestinian issue has caused dissatisfactions among Palestinians and the Muslims which then led them resorting to terrorist acts .The Palestinians were denied of their honour as human beings and a country of their own. ( Before 1947, there was no country by the name of Israel. It was created by the British as a gratitude to the Jews for supporting them during World War II ). This resulted in the Palestinians being pushed out of their country and homes to accomodate the Jews .Since then war was part of the daily life of the Palestinians in order to defend their honour and to get back their land .

Although, Senator Kerry may not be any better than Bush , however we as Muslims would like to see Bush being punished for the sins he has committed on us .As the sole super power in the world today the Americans feel that they should not be sujected to any international regulations .They do not have any respect for others and they think they are above the Law and above the United Nations .As long as there is no other super power the status quo remains . That was why the Bush administration was all out for the war in Iraq because President Saddam was growing stronger and could be a challenge to him .The Muslims countries who are rich with oil reserves are potential up and coming super power that could be a threat to the US. However as a result of their master mind of divide and rule the Muslim countries have never been united .Any strong personalities like Muammar Gaddafi of Libya,Saddam Hussein of Iraq and even Dr.Mahathir of Malaysia who could become potential leaders of the Muslim countries were not liked and they try to find ways and means to isolate them . In the end Muammar Gaddafi was turned over because of pressures to the economy of his country , Saddam Hussein was eliminated and Dr.Mahathir resigned .

May Allah protect us. Amin.