After tsunami ,the country is facing a hot season .

Not long ago our country had to struggle with the tsunami disaster.Those affected are still recuperating from the shock and now the nation have to face with another problem - hot season . Till date the Meteorological Department has recorded a temperature as high as 38.4 degree Celcius .The hot weather is compounded further with the haze problem due to the open burning in various parts of the country . This is also due to the hot weather where bushes can easily get burnt .Visibilty in the Klang Valley is really bad.It is expected the situation to last till April .Although officers from the Fire Department have been deployed to control the fire , till date it is still without success .

The Health Department has advised us not to go out of our houses unnecessarily .Infact I am beginning to feel really uneasy due to the hot weather.At certain times I feel like cram on my knee . At night I find it difficult to sleep without the air-condition .
I hope this situation will soon end .
Farin came back yesterday for 2 weeks leave .It is expected that the SPM result would be known on 8th.March 2005.I hope and pray she would get excellent results .

We could only plan , He disposes .

I was flipping through the pages of ' The Star ' today and by chance my eyes was attracted to the column - 'Orbituaries' , where was shown a photo of some one I knew .He was Mr.Lau Yew Chong a former Superintendant of Police . He passed away on 12th.February 2005 in Petaling Jaya at the age of 73.

I knew Mr.Lau Yew Chong about 30 years ago in Segamat ,Johor where I was then a young Police Inspector while Mr.Lau Yew Chong was the OCPD of Segamat ( Officer in charge of Police District ).He was then of the rank of DSP ( Deputy Superintendant of Police ).He was a good boss who guided his officers well .I remember some time in 1973, I was so shocked and panicked when one prisoner whom we were interrogating jumped over the office railings on the 1st.floor and fell to the ground. He broke one of his legs .( Luckily he didn't kick the bucket ).When I informed him of the incident he coolly told me not to worry and he taught me how to prepare the report so that none of us would be blamed for the incident. He was with us for a about 2 years only after which he was transferred to Kuala Lumpur .

I met Mr.Lau Yew Chong again in 1982 in KLang where he was then the Deputy OCCI ( Deputy Officer in Charge of Criminal Investigation ) of Selangor .The Selangor HQ then was in Klang-the building next to the present Post Office .I was then the Deputy OCPD (Admin.) of the District of Klang with the rank of ASP while Mr.Lau was a Superintendant .Not long after that he retired .

I met Mr.Lau Yew Chong for the third time in Petaling Jaya where he was working as a Security Manager at Yeo Hiap Seng Sdn.Bhd.,(a factory that produce bottle/packet drinks) , in 1993.I was then the Deputy OCPD of Shah Alam with the rank of Superintendant.I went to see him because I wanted his company to sponsor publishing our pamphlettes on Crime Prevention. He was very helpful and the company agreed to sponsor us .After that I loose contact with him .

This morning I was stunned for a while after reading about him who passed away 2 days ago.At first I could not beleive it that it was his photo that appeared in the newspaper .A second and third look at it , I realised that it was really him .It was stated that his age was 73 .Well if that is the case may be it's time for him to go .He manage to taste his pension for about 18 years .

Then I was thinking about myself .Time seems run very fast now a days .Soon my time will also come .But , oh God , please do not take me away because my family still need me and I still have many things to accomplish.I want to see our new house in Klang completed.I want to go on a world tour .I want to see my children successfully graduate from universities and I want to see them getting married .I also want to see my grandchildren growing up and I want to go on a second Haj pilgrimage with my wife .But most importantly I want to study my religion (Islam)in depth ( which I am doing it at the University of Malaya ), be a religious person and be ready to face God almighty. Any way as the saying says , we could only plan , He disposes .

Today ,President Susilo of Indonesia is in Kuala Lumpur for a one day official visit .He is here to discuss with the Malaysian government on the plight of the Indonesian legal and illegal workers in this country.The illegals has been given till the end of the month to leave the country .Those arrested after that date would be arrested , repatriated and then banned from coming back into this country .The Indonesian government is worried about this because these Indonesian workers send RM millions every month back to Indonesia and it is a valuable revenue to their government .Any way the Malaysian building industry still need the workers without which the industry would become idle .

Chinese New Year and Maal Hijrah for a bright future.

This year's Chinese New Year fell on the 9th.February 2005. The year of the rooster is not a very good year according to most Feng Shui's masters.We do not know what is ahead of us . We Muslims are forbidden to forecast our future because only God can do so .We are just required to pray to Him and ask for His help and guidance .

As the previous few years after my retirement ,I just went to one house ie. a truely good friend of ours, Mr.Tan Poh Sim and his wife at Jalan Batu Belah Klang . Mr.Tan and his wife are special friends of ours .We have known each other for more than 20 years .He and his wife never miss to visit us during Hari Raya and vice versa .We have other Chinese friends but not as close as Mr.Tan . I am sorry to say that most others are just periodic friends.They are just friends whenever they need us .

I am used to this and I do not care a damn about that .I was prepared to expect this situation .I do not depend on others to continue on living .

February 10, 2005 is the first day of the Muslim Calender Muharram, year 1426.It is also called Maal Hijrah -commemorating the day when Prophet Muhammad went on hijrah from Mecca to Medina. It also means that we Muslims are required to undergo a process of hijrah(change) from bad to good ,from negative to positive .We are called upon to ensure that today is better than yesterday and tomorrow is better than today .As for me I want to make sure that I'll be a better man in the future - better in all aspects ,be it worldly and spiritually .I want to improve my understanding of my religion and to fulfill all my obligation to God .

It's public holiday . But only the two of us are at home . Azman is in Port Dickson having his barbecue party with his friends while Farin is in Batu Pahat where she is spending the Chinese New Year Holidays with her ex-room mate at MRSM Beseri, Perlis and now a course mate at UTM Skudai .

Sometimes I wish I could have more children .The house is so empty without them .We have not move to our new house in Klang - a much bigger one .It would be worse if the situation persist .Any way I have discussed with my wife about what we are going to do when we stay in our new house .If it is possible I would want all my children to stay together under one roof .If it is not, at least I want to make sure that they come back during the week ends ,stay with us for the night and their wives including my daughters ,would take turn to cook the meals for us .I want my wife to rest during the week ends .

JAWI officers - keep up the good work .

It's a controversial hot topic in the Malaysian press recently - the raid by Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan ( JAWI ) officers on a certain night spot in Kuala Lumpur . Apparently it was highlighted by a certain lady 'celeberity' who was one of them who got arrested at the said premises. This so called 'celeberity' alleged that she was man-handled and detained for a few hours at the JAWI headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. She even alleged that the JAWI officers were enjoying themselves looking at the scantily dressed women ,and I presumed including herself too.Well ,does she expect these officers to close their eyes while performing their duties ?

As usual there was a row in the press by those so called moderate and progressive Muslims and of course eagerly chipped in by the non-Muslims expressing their displeasures on the action by the JAWI officers while passing judgement on them without further investigations or attempts to hear their side of the story , typical Malaysian public .It didn't occur to their minds that it is normal for some one who find herself/himself caught in beween the two deep blue seas would find execuses and even to the extent of making wild allegations to justify herself/himself why they are in that predicament .

In the first place what bloody reasons they have to be in that premises where alcohols and drugs being the major menu and being scantily dressed in that hour of the day , way passed mid-night . Don't they think that as cultured single ladies and single men that they should not behave in such a way and be at such premises .Further more it was on the eve of Hari Raya Haji when one should be at home or at the mosque having their prayers .If the non-Muslims want to do such , let them and leave them to enjoy themselves. As Muslims we have certain guide lines and certain laws to abide to .Otherwise don't call ourselves Muslims . Then perhaps we can follow the law of the jungle .There is a law promulgated by the Malaysian parliament that Muslims should not consume liquor and drug and that they must be properly dressed and that they should not frequent such nightspots . The JAWI officers are just doing their duty to enforce such laws and they got lambasted for doing an honest job .Do not think that they preferred to be at the night spot because they would be happier to be at home or at the mosque on that eve of Idil adha .

When there was a hue and cry over juvenile delinquencies and other social problems among our youths , these same people complained that our enforcement officers failed to take actions against these youths .A typical Malaysian public too .For the sake of the so called moderate Muslim country are we to allow these immoral activities to flourish in this country at the expense of our future generations ?

I would like to call upon the JAWI officers not to be deterred by these adverse comments .As long as you are honest in upholding the sanctity of our religion ,you do not have any one to fear, except Allah .Keep up the good work and ensure to maintain a high standard of disciplin among the ranks and files.Leave no opportunity for complaints and God willing ,you will be reawrded , perhaps not in this world but might be in the world after .

Finally Farin is studying at UTM.

We just returned from Johor where we sent our youngest daughter Farin to UTM Skudai,Johor.We left my mother in-law's house in Taman Melodies,JB where we had put up the night , at about 7.40 am.on 17th.January 2005 and reached UTM around 9.00 am. We were a bit late because we lost our way till we reached a place called Pulai.After some inquiries from passers by we finally reached our destination. The process of documentation was quite lengthy as we had to go from office to office and climbed the stairs from floors to floors. My old knees were aching because I forced them to climb up and down the stairs a number of times.Surprisingly, there were no lifts at the administrative block .We had to pay RM. 130.00 for the registration fee .She was given a bag and an umbrella as souvineers . Once our daughter got her student pass we proceeded to the Science Faculty to register for her subjects. There we met Dr. Ong one of her lecturers and paid RM.147.00 for her text books. From there we proceeded to her Residential College - Kolej Tun Dr.Ismail where she got her room keys . There was a little snag here because she was given a room on the ground floor to share with some one but which was already occupied by some one else .We had to come back to the College's Administrative Office to clear the mix up . The officer explained that the room was occupied by that student without the knowledge of the office .Farin was finally given the keys to another room on the 1st.floor to share with also a new student who just reported one day earlier .My wife spent some time unpacking for Farin and arranging things for her while I waited at the residential college's cantin .We had lunch at the college's cantin . The food was quite cheap .Here students have to buy their own food from the cantin .Although there are free bus shuttles , the timing are a bit irregular .Without own transport it is quite an inconvenience there .If I have enough savings may be next year I'll buy Farin a Kancil provided she gets her licence to drive .( I thought of buying her a scooter for use in campus but my wife told me that she doesn't even know how to ride a bicycle how could she ride a scooter ? Ya, a scooter have two tyres while a car have got four. May be a car is much more appropriate.).

At about 2.00 pm we sent Farin to her class which she attended for the first time at UTM. She told me it was a Chemistry class . During the preparatory class ,she would be taught only in 3 subjects ie. Maths , Physics and Chemistry .

After making sure that she was in class , we then left UTM to come back to Shah Alam . We had to come back on the same day because I have an appointment with my doctor the next day on 18th.January 2005 .I am very particular about my health and normally I will make sure that I keep up with all my appointments with the doctor .He is my personal doctor .

We reached home safe at about 7.00 pm.

This morning I went to the Health Clinic at Jalan Tangling ,Kuala Lumpur to have my regular health check up .By regular ,I mean once in 3 months .My blood sugar was on the boarder line ( 5.1 ) while my blood pressure was under control ( 143/82 ).I told my doctor of my new health problem - too often urinating especially at night which affects my sleep .It could be that I am suffering from prostrate at my bladder. For that I was given an additional medication .That means from now onwards I 'll have to take 3 types of pills every day .

The incompetency of MARA officers nearly made my daughter loose her chance to continue her studies.

I am really fed up with the incompetency of the MARA officers.This agency was set up by the government to help the poor and helpless bumiputras.Now, they are running it as if their own family's company.They are not actually helping the poor helpless bumiputras but helping of their own kind only-those who have got connection with them .

On 30th.December 2004, I received a call from a lady officer of the MARA HQ in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur who informed me that my daughter Farin was selected to continue her studies at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia under the Skim Pelajar Cemerlang ( SPC ).This means that she would be studying at Kelas Persediaan SPC at UTM from 8th.January 2005 till May 2005 after which ie. in June she would straight away proceed to Year One of a degree course .Farin was quite happy and was looking forward to go to UTM .

Unfortunately when my son Aizad went to MARA HQ,to fetch the Surat Tajaan MARA ,on 30th.December 2004 he was informed by the officer that there was a mistake/mix-up and that my daughter's name was left out by the UTM list of successful candidates .Any way my son saw the Surat Tajaan MARA in my daughter's name on the officer's table already prepared .He left the MARA HQ empty handed feeling frustrated and angry.If Farin was unsuccessful why in the first place inform us to fetch the Surat Tajaan MARA at his office.To console my daughter, I told her to be patient and there could be a 'hikmah'for all this blunder.

Mysteriously today ( 15th.January 2005 morning) my wife received telephone call from a male officer of the MARA HQ informing her that my daughter has been successful and she is required to report to Pejabat Pendaftar ,Hal Ehwal Pelajar UTM Skudai on 17th.January 2005 .Without haste my wife asked our eldest son Aizad,whose office is in the vicinity, to go to MARA HQ again to fetch the Surat Tajaan MARA .He was told by the officer that he had called our home 2-3 times but no one answered . I think he was just making excuses for his incompetency because there are always people at home all the time .It is highly unlikely that the phone was not picked up if really there was a call made.

My wife was very worried because she did not have enough time to prepare .Just imagine ,we have got only one day to do so.I told my wife not to be unduly worried because I have to check with UTM Skudai for the authenticity of the offer because I do not want to go to JB empty handed again.So, I made a call to the Registrar (Student Affairs ) UTM and was shocked to be told that he had informed MARA HQ on 10th.January 2005 to inform my daughter to report to UTM soonest.He gave me till Monday 17th.January 2005 for last day of registration failing which the offer would be withdrawn. This means that tomorrow morning I have to drive down to Johor Bahru to send our daughter there .Luckily I am retired . What if I am still working ? Imagine the hassle I have to undergo applying for the emergency leave .What if I have a very important meeting which I must attend ?

Now, the victim of the incompetency of the MARA officers is me , a retired senior government officer. At least I am staying near to KL and have the capacity to rush down to MARA HQ and to UTM Skudai without much difficulty .What if the victim is a poor kampong man from Kedah or Trengganu ? The poor girl would have to loose her chance to continue her studies .

I have heard a lot of the incompetency of MARA but did not pay a heed to it until it actually happen to our daughter. What a pity , the bumiputras ? I am glad my eldest daughter Eileen did not take the offer by MARA for sponsorship to read medicine overseas .Instead she took the offer from JPA although she was sponsored by MARA for her secondary education at MRSM .

I was told by my wife's niece Dr.Amelia that she went through unnecessary difficulties when she reported to MARA HQ after her MBBS degree at Sheffield . The beurocracies made things difficult for her.

The big shots at MARA HQ should seriously look into this matter and rectify .Otherwise people will loose confidence in the government .I know our new Prime Minister is a sincere man and please do not put him down .

My dream is to see the world .

I am stuck to my home .I cannot move or be away from my home town more so from the country.Till our new house is completed ,I cannot do anything .Who is going to oversee the development of the project ? Who is going settle the bills if I am not around ? But age is catching up .Health is also a big factor as to what I should do in the future .While I am still able and my health is still good , I have to start my venture as soon as possible - to see the world .

It has been my dream to see the world after my retirement.I wanted to go to the exotic places such as Mongolia , the desert of Central Asia, the Silk Road ,the pyramids of Egypt,the land of the Mayans in South America, the Taj Mahal of India ,even the North and the South Pole ,if it is possible and many others .I am not interested to see the cities. I have been to the big cities such London,Paris ,Rome , Tokyo ,Hong Kong but I do not enjoy being there .They are all the same .Infact Kuala Lumpur is as beautiful and modern as those cities .

I have always been interested in History and Archeology. I want to feel how people of those places cope with life during the ancient days and today .I am not satisfied with just reading history books .I want to be there at the location to get the feel of those people .I think I have saved enough for the expenses to be there .I am only waiting for the right time .The programme ' Travel and Living ' over Astro Channel 11, really fascinate me .If it is possible I want to be one of its anchor man .

2005 is also the year when I and wife would be performing our second prilgrimage to Mecca .Our first pilgrimage was in year 1991 although in between we had performed our ' umrah ', 2-3 times .We want to repeat the pilgrimage in order to correct whatever mistakes we could have accidentally made .In other words this is to make it perfect .

Farin cutting her Birthday cake.
Posted by Hello

31st.Dec.,Farin's birthday cake.
Posted by Hello

Alisya having fun with her new found friend.
Posted by Hello

Alisya and Farin at Danau Bay,Johor Bahru.
Posted by Hello

Our apartment at Sunshine Bay Resort,Port Dickson.
Posted by Hello

Alisya so confident of herself.
Posted by Hello

Zaharah,Alisya and Farin at Danau Bay,Johor Bahru.
Posted by Hello

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.