MARA offers Ezreen Farina to continue her studies via the fast track programme .

I am alone at home today because my wife,Fareen,Alisya and Azman have gone to Johor Bahru to visit my mother in-law. I do not know how long they would be there, perhaps for 3-4 days . They took the opportunity of the fact that Azman is on leave for 10 days (He is finishing his annual leave ) .So, Azman became their driver . I refused to follow them because we just went there last September and I have to oversee the progress of the building of our new house in Klang.

I am not new to being alone because I have been living on my own when I was posted to Port Dickson in year 2000 .For almost 2 years I was living alone there.Of course I felt a bit lonely .

At this age normally ,men feel neglected by their partners .Their wives think that their children have grown up and they have enough property/cash on their possession . They do not have to worry of their security . Subsequently they feel they do not have to take care of their husbands any more . They become egoistic and rude to their husbands.They do not seems to care the feelings of their husbands and forgetting that at senior ages their husbands becomes sensitive .That is why there are marriages that breaks up among senior citizens ,some even grand fathers and grand mothers . Men have to be really passion facing wives of that character in order to ensure their marriages remains intact .

While at home I received a telephone call from MARA informing me that our daughter Ezreen Farina who is waiting for her SPM results has been selected by MARA to continue her studies in information systems via the fast track programme , at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia , Johor Bahru .The course starts on 8th.January 2005 .I do not know whether she is interested in information systems because I once read her notes which she handed over to her school that she wanted to do medicine/dentistry . Any way , immediately I phoned her in JB and informed her about the offer by MARA .I leave it to her to decide .I do not want to make the decision on her behalf.

Earth quake in the Indian Ocean.

On Christmas Day ,25th.Dec.2004 we went to USJ Subang Jaya, Asrina's (our niece's )house where a small feast was held on the occassion of her husband's departure to Mecca to perform the Haj pilgrimage .There we met a number of relatives whom we have not met for some time.

In the evening we left for Port Dickson with two of my brother's ( Mawan's ) children, Nadirah and Safuan. I have always wanted to bring them to Port Dickson for some time because I knew that they have not spent a holiday for some time especially since their mother's death. We just wanted to be nice to them . We spent the night at our apartment ,The Sunshine Bay Resort, P.Dickson.

However after being there I do not know whether the children enjoyed themselves .They just stayed at the apartment without even going to the seaside or the poolside .They only watched the seas from the balcony of the aprtment .They were very passive and did not seem interested at the opportunity of being there .Sometimes I pity them because they do not enjoy life as other ordinary kids .They are very close among themselves ( brothers and sisters )but very cautious and suspicious of others . As such they become very passive and suffer from inferiority complex .The tragic death of their mother could have affected them very much . Any way we tried to encourage them to come out from that situation so that they can feel confident of themselves. After being more than 30 years of working life, I know very well that to be successful in life one has to have good leadership qualities apart from having good education . One with good education alone without having good leadership qualities would not be successful as a leader .

While we were in Port Dickson we heard over the radio that there was an earthquake (Tsunami )in the Indian Ocean which affected 9 countries including our country.So far it is believed more than 150,000 people perished in the disaster. Among the countries worst hit is Indonesia with more than 100,000 deaths .In Malaysia although there were no buildings that collapse , 72 people was reported dead after being drowned by the tidal waves in Penang ,Langkawi ,Kedah and Perlis .But the tremors of the earth quake were felt by many people including people in Shah Alam . Some of the buildings even suffered cracks .

I hope and pray to Allah so that there would not be any more disaster of that nature .However as human beings we must believe that it could be a reminder to mankind .What reminder , I do not know ,only He knows ?( Refer: Surah Al-An'aam :65 ) So being Muslims , we must not forget our obligation to Him. If we have departed from the true path, please come back to the right path. Insyallah , He will guide and protect us .

Our new bungalo under construction at Taman Sri Andalas,Klang.

The Muslims South of Thailand are neglected.

It looks as if diplomatic relations between Malaysia and it's northern neighbour Thailand is suffering a slight hitch as a results of Mr.Thaksin ,Thailand's Prime Minister's recent statement that the Southern Thailand Muslims separatist fighters were trained at the Kelantan Islamic Religious Schools in the jugles of Kelantan .The preposterous statement by the Thai Prime Minister has not been substantiated . It is clear that the Thai government is trying to shift the blame of it's failure to settle it's southern ethnic long outstanding problems . The most recent statement by the Thai Prime Minister which he made yesterday has also included Indonesia which has provided training grounds for the separatist fighters . The Kelantan Menteri Besar-Nik Aziz said , " The Thai Prime Minister has suddenly turn mad as to accuse Malaysia and Indonesia as the provider of training grounds for it's separatist fighters ." The Malaysian and Indonesian government has arrested hundreds of suspected JI ( Jemaah Islamiah ) members and detained under the ISA ( Internal Security Act 1960 ) - detention without trial .It is rather ridiculous for the Malaysian government and for that matter also the Indonesian government not to take action against those involved in the so called training the Thai separatist fighters which could also endanger the country's security .

The long outstanding problem with the Muslims south of Thailand was the lack of development in that region .The Thai government has been neglecting the region for decades . Poverty is the rule of the day and there isn't much opportunity for employment . The young people of the region prefer to find employment in Malaysia rather than go up north to Bangkok .Most of the population have family ties with the people of Kelantan and are being exposed to the development in Malaysia .Hence they began to question their own goverenment's failure to develop their region .

To solve the problem is for the Thai government to introduce development in the region so that the people do not feel neglected.

Alisya with Farin at home.

Alisya posing for Christmas.

Alisya at home

Alisya in Christmas attire

Farin & Alisya infront of our home.

A days hard work - waking up feeling very tired.

This morning I woke up feeling very tired because of yesterday's hard work cleaning our apartment in Subang Jaya which is to be rented out.All the work including the plumbing work were done by us ourselves .Thanks to the little knowledge that I have as a result of practical work( Agriculture Engineering ) when I was a student at UPM Serdang years ago .The work is still not completed because we still have to do some painting on the grills and on the windows and doors frames.I must admit that I have to be thankful to my wife for she has always been by my side to help me doing the work . Without her support and assistance I do not think I would have been successful in completing the work successfully .As a mark of gratitude, that evening we dined out at our club - the Shah Alam Club to a sumptuous dinner.

We are supposed to continue with the work today but my partner ( wife ) suggested that we do it tomorrow .Actually I am the type who do not like to delay my work.I normally complete my work on the same day itself because as long as the work is not completed it will keep on boggling my mind and will affect my sleep .When I was working with the government I used to tell my staffs to complete their work on the same day so that the next day they can start a fresh with new assignments .That was perhaps made me a successful person in my career.

Recently we brought our daughter Farin to an optomologist to have her eyes checked because of her frequent complaints for being unable to see clearly .We were surprised that her shortsightedness was quite bad .So, from that day onwards she became a bespectacled person -the first person in my family to be so at a young age.Any way she looked stunningly a mature person with her spectacles.

Holiday in Penang

Before proceeding to Kangar, I tried to make reservation at some of the popular hotels in the Batu Feringgi area , Penang so that we would not find any difficulty getting a room when we reached Penang .Unfortunately all the hotels in the Batu Feringgi I contacted were fully booked. It was not surprising because it was school holidays and year ending period when normally Malaysians go for holidays.Any way we decided to try our luck just by by walk in booking .

We reached Kangar around 12.30 pm and straight away came to our daughter's hostel to pick her up.The car boothe were almost packed with all our daughter's belongings. We then had lunch at quite a popular restaurant along the Beseri - Padang Besar highway .We decided not to put up a night in Kangar but straight away to proceed to Penang hoping that there would be a room for us at the Batu Feringgi area.( I insisted to stay in the Batu Freinggi area because it has one of the best beaches in the country ).

We reached Penang around 5.30 pm and straight way came to the Casuarina Beach Hotel .We were lucky as there was one room left ;even that it was not facing the sea. Any way we had to be satified with it although it was a bit expensive.I think now a days it is cheaper to go for a holiday overseas than in our own country .(Last December the whole family went for a holiday in Phuket,Thailand and comparatively it was not as expensive as in Penang ).

We had a nice time lazing ourselves on the beaches . Alisya was especially excited for having fun playing with the sand with her auntie ,Farin . In the evening we went to Gurney Drive to have a taste of favourite local food . I was surprised , the good old days of Gurney Drive was gone .The number of Malay/Mamak stalls which sells halal food (without any doubt) were significantly reduced .There was not much choice .As you might guess the crowd were mainly of one particular race only .The environment is no more conducive especially on the cleanliness aspect .It's a sad , sad thing to witness .

There wasn't much thing to see in Penang now a days .We have been to almost all the places and so we decided to cut short our holiday in Penang .

The next morning after about 2 hours visit to Taman Bunga , we left Penang via the ferry .I chose to go by the ferry in order to reminisce the good old days of Penang .We reached home safe at about 8.30 pm.

Relaxing under a coconut tree by the sea-side.

Alisya having a dip at the pool.

Alisya having a drink.

At the pool before dinner

Farin with Alisya at the Casuarina Hotel pool

Alisya waiting at the MRSM Hostel

Alisya at Farin's Hostel

Alisya in Penang...

The spirit of Idilfitri is almost gone .

We had our Idilfitri open house last Sunday 28th.November 2004.It was just a modest one , attended by family members,neighbours and a few close friends.Any way all the food were devoured within a few hours hardly anything left for the late comers. They had to be satisfied with just the biscuits and some left-overs .

Malaysians are lucky for we have ample food to eat .During the Syawal month there are so many open houses so much so we do not have the time to attend to all . Food are lavishly prepared as if they are competing among each other . It is not something cheap because to hold an ordinary open house (by city standard )one have to spend several hundred ringgits and can even reach to several thousands of ringgit depending on the menu and number of invitees .The spirit of visiting friends to renew friendship are almost gone .Now a days people are waiting for open houses invitations before they can make visits .What about those who can't afford to have the open houses ? Does that means that no one would visit their houses ; except perhaps only for close relatives .

I am not against open houses but we should not be too carried away with it as if there is a competition for doing it . Do it in a modest way and must not waste. According to Islam wastage is a friend of the satan .The most important thing is to have a good intention or 'niat' so that whatever we do is in the name of 'ibadah' .

I was in my class last Saturday and the Prof. lectured us on the true meaning of 'ibadah' . I am glad that my perception on ibadah is the same as that of his .Whatever we do in this world with a good intention( niat ) and for the good of mankind are all 'ibadah' . It is not just limited to praying ,fasting , reciting the Quran ,giving of alms etc. And so is my attending the university to learn knowledge which is useful to mankind is also an 'ibadah' and if I die while pursuing that knowledge ,I'll die a 'syahid'. It's a hadith sahih by alBukhary .

We will be going to Kangar again on 3rd.December 2004 to fetch our daughter Ezrin Farina from her hostel . Since she is finishing her school she has a lot of things to bring home . We will be staying in Kangar for 1 night and then proceed to Penang for a short holiday .