On the eve of 2010.

30.12.2009.

It's Wednesday 30th. December, one more day before 2010. Tiong Meng said this morning was his last golf round for the year. I'll play one more day, tomorrow.

I came back from Kuantan last night. We stopped at Low Yat to find a replacement for Dekna's  stolen lap top. Petrol cost me RM 174 for the two-way trip. Seri Malayasia Kuantan charged me RM 170 for one night. Dekna  paid for the toll, and we ate at Bangtai's - one dinner on 28th., and lunch on 29th. before we drove back.

Yusni's National Service Camp seems to be doing well. Kuantan seems to be doing well, too. The traffic jams were incredible, though. I can't remember such a mess when I was working and covering Pahang 20 years ago. 

We found a semi-detached house for RM 580 in Tanjung Lumpur. I couldn't believe it is that expensive. We took it anyway, because it seems a nice house in an apparently nice area, and Bangtai is only on the other side of the housing area.  Faraha will join Dekna  in March. 

The politics. Everybody is an expert. Me, my wife and the three boys (minus Dekna ), everybody I talk to at the golf club, and everybody I talk to outside it talk politics. Those supposedly managing the politics, too, only talk it. They're hopeless, thus the onging mess. The BN is turning on its head. Past BN Presidents who are dead and buried must be turning in their graves. One surviving BN President forced another who succeeded him out of office.  If the present one is not careful he might very well follow suit.

Component Parties are in deep shit, too.   Party leaders are being asked to go but all refusing to do so. Even the opposition pact is having their own share of excessive politicking and the accompanying mudslinging. 

There's a BN whip in Parliament, but probably the whip should be used on him with some vigour. C'mon, man. BN nearly lost the vote on the budget. If the pact had won it, they could have used their number to overturn the government and really turn the running of the country inside out. 

Everyone of us who voted in 2008 should demand an explanation from our MPs about where they were that night. We put them in Parliament not so that they can enjoy themselves elswhere. Only old Mahathir dares to criticise the leadership. Whether his points are valid or not is a separate issue, but are the others merely dumb followers ? 

They can obviously lay it on thick on people like Mahathir when they can  ( the loudmouth Nazri was told to shut up), but all seem to keep their own counsel on the strange decisions by the government. Najib will suffer the same predicament that afflicted Dollah, if the rest of the crowd behave like cattle. Najib says "One Malaysia !" and everybody shouts after him "One Malaysia !". I wonder if everyone understands the message. Just like Islam Hadari before. 

The opposition pact is suffering from their unexpected success at the last elections. They were as surprised as the rest of us that they won in five states. They were never prepared to run anything, much less run a state government. They can't even run their own affairs at the moment. Most of their candidates who won were not even properly vetted, and now they and all of us are seeing the quality, or mostly lack of it thereof. 

The economy. In the midst of all these, as they say, "who's minding the store ?". Has the economy recovered after the capitalist meltdown ? The US says it hasn't, and it's bigger and and has deeper pockets. Those Malaysian experts who say we are recovering may not believe their own words, or shouldn't. 

Communism is gone. Capitalism as we know it is also probably gone. Paper wealth should be discarded, and true values of factors of production should be recognized.   The first step ought to be  to replace the greenback as a major international measurement. The gold dinar voiced by Mahathir years ago merit examination. It wasn't his original idea, but he lent voice to it.  We should seriously study and implement it. Greed should not rule the market as it does if left alone. Fair distribution as espoused by the syariah is the answer. Only a government can control that. 

The akhlak. The real mark of civilisation is "akhlak". It's the moral standard that's ordained by the syariah that offers the answer to the decline in the guidance of human behaviour for upholding the welfare and public well-being of the human race. Regardless of creed and religion. The Quran specifically mentions the freedom of choice of religion, and respect for different beliefs, contrary to the current ill-founded commentaries about Islamic fundamentalism. Fundamentalism refers to the true teaching, not the extreme practices of Islam. Akhlak would, in a very small example, restrain the tired bus driver from attempting to answer only to his  greed for more trips, rather than seek rest, and render safety the overwhelming desire for caring for his  passangers. Akhlak also should cause the leaders of the greatest country of the world to give fair assessment of the unfair conditions of the Palestinian one-sided armed conflict. 

I hope 2010 would fare better than 2009. 

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The Reaper says "goodbye '09, welcome '10"

27.12.2009.

It's been an eventful year with lots of "last minute surprises" worthy of a long blog from yours truly. So much so, it deserves some careful thinking, therefore I'll write after I gather some thoughts and give it some serious time.

2010 is 4 days away. "Happy New Year !" and see you later.

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Christmas cheer is here.

22.12.2009.

Yuletide is here, and like true Malaysians everyone gets one more excuse to celebrate, but then, why not ?. And suddenly many interesting news came out daily this last one week. I'm referring to the stolen aircraft engines (so far two only), blasting Mahathir, again, on the bilion-dollar wastages of his premiership, the MCA-PAS-MIC-PKR-, and , of course, UMNO - infighting, the near defeat of the Federal budget in Parliament, and the defeat of Ezette by Bung Muktar, also in Parliament. 

I remember when Ishak Tadin was the GM of KTM and he discovered one locomotive engine missing. I can't remember what happened afterwards. Perhaps we should ask both KTM and Ishak, because they're both still alive. 

A Royal Commission for the aircraft engine theft by the General and his 40 thieves is not a bad idea, but it maybe bad for Najib because he was the Minister then. And Zahid of the Kertam shares episode, the current Defence minister, may not want too much spotlight right now. 

The intra party squabbles can go on and on.  That's why it's called a party. The near defeat of the Federal budget in a BN-controlled house must take the prize. Especially because nowadays there's even a full minister in charge of Parliament. Looks like he's a bloody fool minister. I'm only following his style of using the word bloody on Mahathir. What was he doing ? Anyway, except for Bung Muktar and his new-found toy, where were the other MPs ? They cannot all be busy marrying their second young wives ! 

The best story is Mahathir's reply to Lim Kit Siang and Anwar about his spendthrift ways when Prime Minister ( and for many years helped by Anwar). Get on with the Commission, he said. So get on with it, Najib. I don't think Najib is so stupid as to do what Lim & Partner wants. In fact, I don't think his new partner Anwar is that stupid as to really want the Commission, because Mahathir would have a field day on him alone. This is all so predictable, this Mahathir-bashing to just embarass the old man. I'm afraid others might be embarassed. 

Except Anwar. He's beyond embarassment. 

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The continuing Tiger Woods furore.

18.12.2009.

It's a classic demonstration of the power of the pen, though these days one might say the power of the  keyboard. The media is responsible for quickly putting Tiger Woods on a pedestal. Now it's dismantling his image equally quickly. 

All he wanted to do was be the best golfer of his time. That he has become.  And no amount of his image destruction should take away all that he has achieved on the golf course in the last 19 years, from age 14. 

Let's look at that golf record first. In the first 3 of those 19 years referred to, he was the US Junior Champion consecutively. In the following 3 years he won the US Amateur Championship, also consecutively. Not even Jack Nicklaus, the man whose 18 Majors he's trying to emulate, had done that. 

In the last 13 years, as a professional, he has won the 4 Majors a total of 14 times, averaging more than once per year, and that, too, Nicklaus has not achieved. He has won the Player of the Year more than 10 times, the Vardon Trophy more than 10 times, the Top Money List more than 10 times, and in total PGA wins at age 33, he is now 1 less than Nicklaus and 12 less than  the record holder, the late Sam Snead, who won 84 times in a  very long career.

Throughout his career, only two other golfers have held the No. 1 ranking beside him. At the moment his point average ranking is almost double that of the No. 2 player, Phil Mickelson, who is 3 years older. And to top all these, Forbes magazine reported that at the end of this season Tiger Woods has made US 1 billion from both prize money and endorsements, the most for any professional athelete in history. That's RM 3,500,000,000. That works out to RM 22.4 million per month, or RM 750,000 per day. As a comparison Nazir Razak, CIMB, is reputed to be paid RM 400,000 a month.

Golf-wise, at 33, Tiger Wood is only just approaching his prime. Nicklaus won his last Major when he was 46. After 50, most pro golfers in USA join the Championship Tour, where many like Hale Irwin have won more money than when in the regular PGA Tour. This is to say that there is every reason to believe that Tiger Woods can easily double his earnings in another 13 years, when he'll only be a relatively young 46. Who knows how much he'll make in the Championship Tour. 

In the last 13 years Tiger has gone through 3 major swing changes, "to be better" he said. The record shows that he has become better. He had two eye surgeries and two knee operations. He has set the golfing fraternity on the fitness regimen. He made the golf gurus fashionable and rich. He has made golf equipment technology development  big business. He raised the bar for everybody. TV ratings and commercial endorsements and sponsorship have exploded the prize money and monetary benefits enjoyed by pro golfers worldwide today. Without too much exageration, it's all attributable to one man - Tiger Woods. 

And now in gratitude everybody wants to destroy this guy ?

Let's look now at the stories' background. For all the fame and fortune of Tiger Woods, his has not been the Hollywood lifestyle of wasteful extravagance and debauchery. Sure, there's the mansion and the yacht and the private jet, but no more than the next millionaire. There's been no tabloid sensation partner-changing and all-night partying, and until now, wild fornication and wife-swappings. Admittedly, this was a life-style too good to be true. Therein lies the problem, perhaps. Since this is the USA, it's surely legitimate to ask just how many starlets, male and female, making less money and carrying less fame, have done what Tiger Woods is alleged to have done - visiting night clubs and flirting with beautiful hostesses and persumably getting laid in one-night-stands ? How many up-and-coming executive types do the evening rounds in night spots and hooking-up for casual sex ? There's no excuse for religious sin being offered here. This is simply describing what is on open offer in affluent USA right here and now, where entertainment is on sale and the business has never been better. So, how can you spit on one part of the equation, and leave the other unmolested ?

A famous pro golfer, who has been free with his advice, not so long ago was involved in a messy divorce before marrying, for a short period, the wife of his good friend, who was also relatedly involved in his own messy divorce. Don't you suspect that  illicit relationship had started long before, all guilty of unfaithfulness ? 

Let's look at these women who prostitute themselves. Firstly, why "prostitute" ? The defination is "sex for money". So what's the difference between paying a common whore for sex and the "kiss & tell" of those who, having consented to free sex, now go public with their story for pay ? It's always money, the destroyer. Those who dispense of it, and those grabbing it. The dispenser expects to get something for his dispensation. The grabber knows the layout. Without the money, there'll be no talk. After each transaction the game should be over and out. But ego and greed compete endlessly. Somewhere along the line, something always gives. So, who are the guilty?

We have good company - those seeking public office, and those already in office, Presidents of old times and not so old times, Prime Ministers, from East and West, even men of the cloth, dabbling in both opposite and same sex, both officially prohibited. Where are they now ? Have they been made to pay, or have they been forgiven?  Where are friends and acquaintences, or have they all turned away when they should have turned a blind eye ? Now is the time to show support, or at least understanding. One swallow doesn't make a summer. A drop of ink doesn't really spoil the claypot of milk (susu sebelanga lah ) unless it's a very large drop or a very small pot.

What's next for Tiger ? He should stick to his 2010 schedule and produce the brilliant game expected of him. He's The Golfer, and should make his statement in the customary way, on the golf course. Forget about those sponsors who want to forget him. As he has said himself too many times, winning will take care of the rest. Nobody wants his marriage to end,  I would imagine. He has been very brave to have quickly gone public with his remorse. If Elin is rejecting that, then the loss is hers, too. In as much as stupidity overcame Tiger in his times of weakness, the resilience of true love could surely  stand  the strain  imposed by revelations of that stupidity. Wasn't that part of the matrimonial promise, to love and to cherish, in good times and bad ? 

Everyone is entitled to some mistakes in his lifetime. That's part of being human. You don't necessarily "contra" good deeds with "bad". But I'm sure Tiger has been an adequate provider to his whole family. Elin should have a large enough heart to forgive, if not to forget. That's true love. Not the disposable type everyone is drumming up hatred for now.

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First transfer.

15.12.2009.

It was just six months ago that Dekna was appointed DPP in Putrajaya. On 4th. January she starts in Kuantan, the first of many transfers to come, I'm sure. 

This afternoon I called Bangtai about the rented house in Tanjung Lumpur that he told Idah he had secured. He confirmed it, saying it's semi-detached and looks suitable and is located in a nice area, and they want 580 for it. Since Dekna would later share the house with another DPP, it seems OK to me. But Dekna wants to make a trip after Christmas to see for herself. This means the weekends at home will now become month-end for Idah, or we could make the trip instead.

About the idea of Idah moving with Dekna,  I don't think she can do that,  with her PEKERTI involvement. 

As for me, RPGC and SIGC have reciprocal arrangements, so my golf only changes venues. 

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3rd. Veteran UMNO AGM.

15.12.2009.

Since its belated inception, this was the third General Assembly of Veteran UMNO Malaysia, held at the Puteri Resort, Air Keroh, Melaka. Muhyiddin officiated at dinner; Ali Rustam footed the bill. Neat. 

We  from NS got 70 ringgit each, exactly the petrol and toll costs incurred. Other states were more fortunate because they have more caring MBs. In a way, this was a downgrading. Last year and the year before it was the PM who came, and the venues were "higher class." This year it was just the poolside for dinner, and the meeting hall could hold all of 500 people sitting in close rows without tables, while the Supreme Council sat in two rows in front facing the delegates on the same floor level. Other than the meals prepared specially for the delegates, no other food, for sale or otherwise was available. And all the rooms were converted for 3 or 4-person-occupancy by fitting in a third or fourth bunk. Still Ali reportedly complained that the 250,000-ringgit bill was much higher than expected.

The belated inception I referred to is arguable, of course. In the first place, surely it takes time for UMNO to produce veterans of any kind. On the other hand, the party didn't quickly warm up to the idea of having another internal movement that might compete for popularity. Seeing as to how incumbent party leaders speak out nowadays, maybe the veterans can play a role in voicing caution to caustic comments causing complicating crisis to caucus. 

In the conversations at dinner and breakfast the next morning, everyone  voiced disappointment at the eroding manners of Cabinet members when giving comments in public.   What is the necessity of going out of your way to be nasty ? Is it really macho, or is it being plain  tactless ? It's this sort of foul-mouthing that turned many UMNO members themselves from casting their votes in protest in the last GE. 

The appointment of the assembly chairman that morning was a joke, if not a faux pas . The Secretary had announced that the Supreme Council had deliberated and selected this SC member to be the chairman for the assembly, but  failed to table it to the floor for endorsement.  This technical error was rightly pointed out  by a few members.  Unfortunately, the selected person   spoke up without diplomacy. Riled up  members joined a chorus of objections. The 15-minute verbal fracas was settled when one sane delegate stood up and said "I propose that Mr X (this same candidate) be appointed as the chairman of this assembly".  The  majority of the 440 delegates shouted  "I agree !". When the idiot  tried to save face by starting to say something more about the issue, everyone shouted "proceed with meeting !".  He took off his songkok and proceeded with the meeting. 

In all the excitement, everyone forgot to sing the UMNO song.

And I left the meeting at 10, two hours before time. 

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That's why he's Tiger (if the stories are true).

10.12.2009.

To use golf parlance, Tiger Woods is "in the hazard". After the SUV accident, story upon story about illicit romancing have come out like worms out of the, well, wood. I would like to think these are only stories,  until proven true. 

For 13  years, Tiger had been beating them on the mostly White golf tours.  What they can't do to him on the golf course, now they're only too happy to do off  it,  a chance not to be wasted. 

Firstly, assuming it's all true again, it's consensual sex. 

Secondly,   if I'm virile and worth one billion dollars, all the sweet-young-things that come my way could throw  themselves at  me. 

If you can imagine the situation - an upscale night club, beautiful music and beautiful crowd - pretty young things wouldn't think twice about flirting with Tiger. Honestly, I'd be greatly disappointed if Tiger plays it straight and abstains completely.  A sin is a sin, by any religious standard, so there's no excuse for it,  But sowing wild oats is as old as the Scriptures.  If it was other the the most recognizable athlete in the world, I don't think the stories would  make it to the print. 

Jay at the club this morning remarked flippantly that Elin must be "naive".  Tiger and Elin  should get over it and move on, and charge it all to experience. And similiarly we should all also move on. We should look forword to Tiger's next exploit. 

On  the golf course. 

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Obama with Nobel.

10.12.2009.

Surely it's the belligerent image of US , or US-backed forces marauding into Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Palestine, now and not so long ago Panama, Vietnam, Laos and elswhere ,that stands out in the public mind at the moment ? And now the PEACE prize for the US Commander in Chief ? Of course it's up to the Nobel Foundation whom it wants to honour, but isn't there real honour amongst men any more ? 

This looks like the misnomers of old - calling the Speaker who doesn't speak, the Firemen who kill fires, collateral damages for central ones, d.u.i. for drunk driving, friendly fires for shooting your own people and what's friendly there, and the rest of them. 

So Obama sends 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan and asks his European friends to follow suit and that's worth the Peace prize ?

These comments are all questions here because it's all questionable.

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3rd. rate mentality ?

9.12.2009.

A prominent Malaysian politician said some years ago that this country has first rate infrastructure but third rate mentality, or something to that effect. My experience this afternoon reminded me of that observation.

Pak Itam and I took the 12 noon commuter from Seremban to Subang Jaya with the intention of going to a golf sale in Kelana Jaya. As usual the commuter train's coaches were half-filled  at Seremban, but at each of the 13 stops to KL Central more commuters came in, and we were standing room only by the time we left the last stop before KL Central. 

On the return journey at 6 pm the situation was twice as bad. In fact in all my years of using this KTM commuter service, this was the first time that I saw many passangers standing all the way to Seremban. 

Many Ministers and the last Prime Minister have seen the situation for themselves, and the usual public promises were duly reported in the mainstream media. The real public complains have always been there, but who listen to these anyway. The solution seems so simple - add more coaches and increase the frequency of the trips.

At the Subang Jaya station Pak Itam and I tried all the 6 or 7 available taxis to get us to Kelana Jaya but all refused, and not in a friendly way at that. Just as we were to leave and try out on the road, an Indian taxi driver finally relented and asked for 15 ringgit, which he said was normal and who were we to be choosy anyway. Why give this sort of people taxi licences in the first place ?

It's a wonder that the condemnation on Malaysian public transport is not any louder and more harsh. It must be the fatalistic Eastern resignation to fate that allows people in this country to endure the shortcomings we see everywhere. But I think it's a scandal that Malaysian authorities often boast of our world-class facilities, and  negate everything with poor operations. It's clear that beautiful plans have been turned to grand constructions of all sorts, but the satisfactory functioning of operations  is still not within grasp. I should be mad, but I am just sad. Until the trains run on time, forget about "vision 2020". 

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Swiss Islam.

30.11.2009.

So 51% of the 6 million Swiss voters decided to ban Islamic minerets on mosques in their country. Big deal ! On a world map you can hardly spot Switzerland. Go build more mosques with more minerets elswhere. 

Stopping minerets in Switzerland is not going to stop Islam, even in that tiny country. In fact this pathetic vote only underlines the fact that Islam is already getting into their tiny minds.

Maybe all Muslims worldwide, with their worldwide businesses, should get even. Stop buying everything Swiss. Stop putting their money in any Swiss bank. Stop selling anything to Swiss buyers. Let's see if they can still yodel after that. We can wear Timex or Seiko watches. Can they live without Islamic economy ? Sure, the answer is also yes. But at what cost ? 

Minerets ! 

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Eve of Aidil Adha.2009.

26.11.2009.

It's 4 pm, Thursday on the eve of Aidil Adha. Idah has already made whatever little preparations by way of food that needed to be made. It's not on the scale of Aidil Fitri, but we have to prepare something for the three grandchildren. Only thing is, they're nowhere in sight yet. There has been no word from anyone if they're coming back. We have just been asking each other if Atik, the girl, and Acad and Ameng, the two boys are coming back to see Nanny and Atok.

The fridges have been pretty bare this last week, so some replenishments were in order, and have been carried out. Biscuits and chocolete wafers and fruits and juices have been stocked. We know they all love them. 

Atik's birthday isn't until December 4th., but we thought we'll have an early one and combine it with this Raya Haji, because it's only a week away, and anyway it'll fall on a Friday and everyone would be working. So Idah has prepared something already, and I'll have the two jam bottles of pennies ready for her. The same amount saved for Acad and Ameng each amounted to about 40 ringgit, so it's a good amount for her own piggy-bank. 

And we bought that bright yellow baju kurung last month from Jalan Melayu, KL. I hope it fits. The colour should fit her fair complexion. In fact a bright green might even be more stunning. 

So where are they ? I don't want to call yet. To-morrow morning they'll still be asleep when I go for sembahyang Raya. But Saturday morning I'll probably take them to see the " korban" at the surau. That would be their first one. 

So where are they now ? Wait until my sons have grandchildren of their own. Then they might hurry home a bit. 

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Just catching up on the news.

23.11.2009.

1. MCA current turmoil. 

Wang Hang Tam, whose brother is Wang Fak Yu, is always joking to me "Mati Cina Association ! I want to join UMNO." I said UMNO is no better. 

Worse, in fact, because in 1987 the Courts declared it illegal, something MCA hasn't experienced. But maybe MCA can learn from it. But the sight of Muhyiddin so earnestly trying to act statesman-like makes me want to laugh. It's like seeking advice from the enemy. Certain things in the party must be handled like a marriage, and I'm not trying to copy Muhyiddin here. Only the husband and wife can settle things amicably. The more people who interfere, the worse things become. 

2. Vested interest in PAS Kelantan administration. 

It's never right, whoever does it. It's worse if done by someone who claims the moral highground "holier than thou" attitude. I say that a true "ulama" doesn't enter politics. The moment he does, he loses the "ulama" honorific title because of the way politics is run. There is an obscure hadis that relates to a ulama who was sheltering from the rain under the eaves of a house, but upon realizing whose it was, walked away and out into the rain. When his companion asked why, he said the house owner borrowed money from him and has not yet repaid it. Now, that's "alim." To have your son-in-law work for you constitutes vested interest, surely.

3. Court decisions.

Once you submit anything for the courts to decide, you are liable to its finding. SPR is subject to the courts. There are case laws and the statute books. We have legal submissions. The final decision remains with the courts, all the way to the apex court. If a bye-election is deemed necessary, then bye-election it is. If the reason for dispute is procedural, it's additionaly asinine. But, the corollary, the courts can also look idiotic by saying human behaviour follows strict time limitations. Crime never follow the clock. 

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This one is still the old UMNO.

13.11.2009.

Last week Kudus called and asked if I'd like to attend an UMNO Divisional gathering, to start at 8.30 p.m. I said I'll try to make it. I told the wife about it, saying I'm not keen to go, but she said Kudus had taken the trouble, I should go, so I went. I wish I didn't.

This one was still the old UMNO. UMNO should go for substance and deal frankly with the current issues that bother the people. Not still talk about internal bickering. Not still go on about "courses" which are nothing but indoctrination, and not even subtly done. A one-day plenary session with a Supreme Council memeber would be helpful to both the participants and the HQ people. 

At my age I'm not going to some "Bina Semangat" camp with people half my age and rough it up, taking along my own toiletries and prayer mat. Who says these camps are a must to-day ? Are those instructed to conduct them the best people to instill whatever is deemed missing from ordinary UMNO members ?

When UMNO leaders speak on the podium, they can't just let go as if they are with a group of close friends. They got away with it before 2008. There is a certain decorum in public speaking that UMNO must practice to turn away from the damaging diatribe-slinging speeches.  This is one behaviour that is disliked by the public now. A divisional head, when he speaks in public, can no longer do so as if his audience is compelled to listen to his words when they contain the unacceptible, and self-serving words. Emotional rantings are un acceptible. He has to show a degree of professionalism and some standard of leadership. The dislike for UMNO now is because of its leaders who behave like this. This has to change. A Jelebu Exco member who passed by my table at the golf club some time ago and stopped to speak to me, because we know each other, passed a cruel remark about a Minister, his former boss, without caring to know if at the table everyone would stomach his utterance. It so happened that one of us was a serving Petronas officer. When the Exco member left, perhaps feeling proud that he had so bravely "hentam" the Minister behind his back, the Petronas fellow said " this is what I hate about UMNO." 

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I should've known it - you're on your own.

12.11.2009.

I had that fall from my motorcycle accident on 13th. July. I  received a Police traffics summons on 20th. October for failing to report an accident, under Section 52 (2)Road Transport Act 1987 (Failure to / not reporting an accident within 24 hours). The faint copy of the Police summons AH 037258 was hardly readable as to the Court appearance regarding which court and what date. So, having a daughter and a daughter-in-law who are lawyers, I thought this was "kacang". I couldn't have been more mistaken. I should've known it - you're on your own !

I asked Dekna to check the matter with her sister-in-law and her collegues, and happily waited for the good news. And waited. And waited. 

On 3rd. November I finally realized my predicament and telephoned the Chief Inspector who signed the notice. I explained that I was hospitalized after being brought unconscious from the site of the accident by a passing Police Officer. At no time after regaining consciousness did the Officer tell me, either at the Hospital when he waited at the ward, and later in my house when he came to visit several days later, that I have to make a Police report, I added. The good Inspector told me that's the law, but the offence could be compounded, which meant I didn't have to go to Court after all. So that very morning I went to the Police Station in Seremban 2 and paid RM 300, the maximum fine. The notice on the payment window said that after October 2009, all fines must be paid in full. If I had acted immediately by myself after receiving that notice, I would have saved RM 150.

Just now Dekna called to ask about more details on the original summons, thinking the matter was still pending. What was my response ? 

 "I've settled it ! I thought having a daughter who is a lawyer would be helpful !"

"I'm not familiar with the case."

 "Enough !" 

"OK". The call ended. 

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Malaysian driving.

9.11.2009.

First and formost, I'm also one of these Malaysian drivers and am as guilty as the rest about what I'm about to say here. 

The first time that I took the wheels of a car was way back in 1964, before I sat for my HSC. Acik  Rahmah's husband was at that time a taxi driver who plied mainly the Kuala Pilah-Seremban route. Those were the days when all sorts of cars were used as taxis, but passengers always looked out for the Mercedes.

Acik's husband's taxis changed models - there was the Austin Cambridge and the Vauxhall, but the one that I drove was one of those Mercedes 200 diesels. This was on the way back from Jerantut after sending some personal belongings of the late Taufik Ismail, our neighbour Mail Godang's son, who was on transfer to Jerantut as OCPD. To this day I don't know if the fare was ever paid, because none was paid at Jerantut because Taufik was nowhere around, and the goods were left at the Police Station. Poat Calit could find out from his m.i.l.Makcik Rose, perhaps. Poat is my youngest brother who  married Makcik Rose's daughter. Makcik Rose is the widow of Taufik. Small world. 

In Brunei in 1966 while doing a Geography practical we were assigned some powerful Austin cars, never seen in Malaysia. The undergraduates who had driver's licences enjoyed themselves. I was tempted to offer to drive, but didn't because I didn't have my licence.

In fact when I bought my first brand new car in 1968, an Austin Mini 850 (NC 8157) for $5,300 (eat your hearts out,  guys), I still didn't have a valid licence. I only went for my driving test in Temiang, Seremban, one month after buying the car. After the oral test, during the test drive, when the Chinese tester learned  that I was the ADO of Alor Gajah, Melaka, he  decided  that I deserve a driving licence there and then. He asked me to turn back to the JPJ office and  asked them  to issue a brand new licence to match my brand new car.

Let me assure you that in the 41 years since , I have not had any accident. Except in 1996 when I momentarily lost control of my car in front of the Ulu Bendul school, swerved  the right,  hit a road-sign and damaged  my right front wheel.  Fortunately this was 1996 and the KP-Seremban road traffic was still light.  

A police friend told me recently that the police is thinking of putting up a screen when there is an accident on the  highway. This is so that the  drivers from the opposite side don't slow down to gawk, and cause unnecessary traffic jams and more accidents. In fact Zainal Pak Itam and I saw this afternoon, driving back from Nilai, that they are already using the screen. We saw the jam in front and suspected there  was  an accident.  There was. And there was the jam on the opposite side, too. Then we saw the orange screen. But obviously it failed to hide  the accident.  In fact there was a car that had fallen down to the left  embankment on the opposite highway  because the driver was looking at the accident instead of where he was going.  Firstly, the screen was not large enough. Secondly, the highway is downslope, and no amount of cover-up would do. 

The other problem is the way we drive.  We may be university graduates, but the moment we are behind the steering wheels we're all uneducated maniacs. We drive at our own speed - too fast when we should slow down , too slow when we should speed up.  We do everything we shouldn't do - talk & text on the phone, look for pimples in the rear-view mirror, don't give way,  tailgate and cut in, don't signal, or give the wrong signal, turn and stop without warning,  park as we please, block traffic when we park, and do everything else we shouldn't do when driving. 

Worse, be especially wary of the mousedeer (kancil-lah) driven by a dear, a young lady who thinks she is answerable to no one. The other problem is there are far to many vehicles on the roads. Or too little roadways for all the vehicles.

The standard of the  roads has improved tremendously.  I remember getting extra mileage claim for East Coast roads, and then spending every single cent to put the car back in shape, because of the  poor roads back then. Yet, this road improvement has not kept up to the multifold increase in vehicular volume. The car per capita is worth calculating. 

What is needed is  a drastic improvement in public transportation so that people are encouraged to use it much more.  This is done in many other  countries. That maybe a long way off. The trains are overloaded and always late. The buses are always late and never stick to their routes. The taxis are driven by racing drivers. But do we  also  have  to  kill each other when we drive ? 

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Public perceptions & reality.

7.11.2009.

You have to read/see the news and not draw your own conclusions. They are reported by, well, reporters, who have many constraints - deadline, space & time limitations, editorial slant, favourite & personal spin - plus the knowledge of the subject matter.  

One local news that broke on many front pages a few days ago was the ex-Mufti of Perlis' case. Many of my Chinese acquaintances have asked if this is related to deviant teaching. Many Muslim Malays are already taking sides.

Internationally, the two main areas of newsmaking have been the continuing debates on the western designs for Afghanistan and Palestine, and that shoot-out involving the apparently Muslim US trooper.

The underlining commonality for both geographical locations of the news is that they involve something Islamic. The immediate reaction is predictable - Islam is troublesome. Unfortunately, that, like all generalizations, is erroneous.

In the Malaysian case, the Federal Constitution says that, inter alia, the Head of the Islamic Religion, which is also the Federal Religion but not the official religion, is the State Ruler. In the case of a State without a Ruler, including the Federal Territory, it's the Agong. All Syari'ah Laws come under the auspices of the State Ruler. The teaching and dissimination of Islamic knowledge come under the State's control, and since there are 13 states and 2 Federal territories, there must be 14 different authorizations. The case is apparently purely technical, but hey, it's the Constitutional Law.

In the international cases, the arguements are old and long, and the labelling against Islam comes only out of ignorance.

The illegality of the occupation of Palestine is there to see. The hypocricy and ambivalence of the pro-Israel western nations can best be described by the latest statement of the US State Secretary, that the Jewish settlements on the West Bank be part of the new (again) negotiations. Before, he's  on record saying they must stop.

When the USSR occupied Afghanistan the US supplied the arms to the Afghans to fight them and eventually drive them out. The Afghans could do no wrong. Now that the US and its allies are making a mess of Afghanistan, the Afghans can do no right.

The US trooper may well be Muslim, but Islam is not guilty in this case, just as Christianity is never guilty in Northern Ireland and in all the murders committed by people of Christian faith. Or in the case of the Ku Klax Klan.

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Automative Policy.

1.11.2009.

I'm asking some friends to support me in sending a protest letter to the PM regarding the proposed ban on cars 16 years and older.

Firstly, what sin has been committed by the cars ? 

As it is, Malaysia ia already the second most expensive country to own and run cars in the world. (Singapore takes the cup.) The prices are already ridiculously high. The insurance keeps getting higher every year. The road tax is high - some Asian countries, not to mention developed western countries, don't even charge road tax.

The prices of imported cars are beyond everybody but the truly rich. The highway tolls are high and, unstopped, will break all ceilings.

And still you want to take away my innocent, old car ?

So you want to promote the national car industry. Then why allow easy entry of foreign cars ? Even USA has import limitations. 

What about the kampong folks with their old  jalopies ?. They have  to endure new debts to buy new cars now ? How do they move around , with the public transport being what it is, since pre-Merdeka days  I might add ? 

Old is sinful now ? How many old cars driven by old men are involved in car accidents in the last one year ? How many are young men in new cars ? Shouldn't you ban them instead ? Has the Minister concerned made a study and asked opinions before opening his mouth ? Is this matter a top priority for the government ? This is the wish of the people ? 

If the BN government proceeds with the implementation of this automative policy, you can put down my vote for the opposition for the next general elections. 

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More on KL War Crimes Tribunal.

1.11.2009.

I took the 6.15 commuter train from Seremban to make it to PWTC on Saturday and made it by 8. Thinking there was plenty of time before the 9 o'clock commencement of the second and last day of the Tribunal at Dewan Tun Hussein, I stopped at McDonalds for tea & pancakes (they renamed them "hotcakes"). I needn't have, because when I came to the Dewan they had put up a large spread of food & drinks the length of the  corridor. So I helped myself for the whole duration of the day's proceedings, through morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. 

While having a break in mid-morning, two of the participants joined me at the stand-up table where I'd parked my tea and cakes, and asked what organization I come from. They were surprisingly surprised that I represented myself. "You are interested in all this ?" came the surprising question. By way of answering I replied "which organization do you represent ?". The two mentioned different organizations. "You wouldn't come on your own ?" I quizzed. The answer was "no". "What do you do, to be interested ?" came the counter-question. I added "we should all be interested, because wars are crimes against humanity." "Do you think all these deliberations will have any effect ?" "Immediately, no. Malaysia is too small, too weak and has short reach to have real impact. But we should all support this, because we have to start somewhere. The school children who came for the Conference - that's  a good start. They are exposed, and they can spread the word ." 

The 7 - strong Tribunal delivered the opinion sought by the KL War Crimes Commission on "whether a Head of State and/or Government can unilaterally exempt itself from complying with any provisions of any International Treaties/Conventions (such as the Geneva Conventions) duly ratified by the State without first abrogating the relevant treaty/convention". A unanimous "No". No surprise in that. But the presentations were, to me, properly conducted, and the arguements both from the petitioners and the presiding Justices were professionally made, the Bench even stopping the petitioners many times to insist that they stayed on path to the pertinent submission, and not stray to unrelated monologues of generalized reporting. This, to me, was acting out the conscience of the people gathered in KL for the 4-day proceedings, to say to the world as loudly as possible that at least here in KL people are making a civilised protest to the manner in which many countries in our modern and "civilised" world are conducting their business. This is a call to account, even in the face of the obviously out-manuvered UN. This is to say clearly that USA cannot be allowed to get away with murder. Its citizens must be made to realize this so that they can call their government to account.

The 4-day Conference, small and weak it may be in comparison to what the UN and USA can conduct, has produced sufficient evidence to support this call for accounting. A few important allegations must be put on record here. 

(1) Democracy is only possible at the national level. Even the loudest champion of democracy, USA, does not practice it fully within its borders.  Pushing for democracy is surely quite different from killing or going to war or lying for democracy. That happened with Iraq. That's happening in Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

(2)The UN is undemocratic. The Security Council is anything but democratic. 

(3)The Iraq war was an illegal invasion of a sovereign nation, waged on false pretences, and outrageously rationalised by otherwise intelligent, sane and civilised personalities in the US, UK, Australia and many in the western governments.

(4)The September 11 attacks on the World Trade Towers of New York should be fully re- investigated. A number of facts must be examined:

  (i) How can the two large airlcrafts be so precise in executing the sharp turns into the towers if the people accused had minimal training ? 

  (ii) How can the two modern towers completely and symmiterically collapse in less than two hours merely from the pennetration of the two unarmed aircrafts ? 

  (iii) Why was Bush, on live tv, totally unsurprised when the "news" were broken to him ? 

 (iv) Why was the report made on the disaster so quickly "completed" ? 

   (v) Is there truth in the early rumours that Israel personnel working in the buildings were told earlier not to come to work on the day of the attack ? 

  (vi) Is there truth in the statement made that a US news reporter televised live said that a third building had also collapsed, when in fact the building, shown live on the background, only started to collapse after the statement was made ? 

There is a lot to be answered on the obvious fraud and hypocracy exhibited by the the US. That it boasts as the leader of the world and the champion of justice looks in dire need of proof right now. 

KL has so far been a lone and quite helpless voice. The world needs to listen anyway. 

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CONVOCATION TREND.

30.10.2009.

Yesterday I posted a letter to the VC of UiTM, taking exception to what happened Tuesday.

I attended a covocation at that university on Tuesday. Check that word "convoke". It's to call out, summon. What I saw was incredible. Graduands silently walking across the stage to silently take their certificates of graduation from the silent VC. No names are called, except if you receive a VCA. Only the names quickly scroll silently across on three giant screens above the stage. They don't always match the graduands underneath. My daughter comes under someone else's name, that's how I know. 

I counted maybe 150  parents mostly, sitting with me inside the hall. That's because we came early (at least 90 minutes before the start of the "convocation") and stood in a line outside the hall entrance. The majority of the proud parents were seated outside in tents, but provided with giant tv screens. I doubt if "pride" came to their minds. What's happening here ? Why bother with the whole ceremony, with the parading of the fancifully attired academia behind the the three Malay warriors in leather shoes carrying symbolic keris and two wooden spears, with the accompaniment of the ancient "nobat", the graduands overdressed in their bulky gowns and motar-boards with tassles tossing, and later everyone solemnly standing to the Negaraku ?

Next time just post the damn scroll. 

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CRIMINALISING WAR.

30.10.2009.

I attended the 2-day conference organized by the Perdana Global Peace Organization called the Kuala Lumpur International Conference & Exhibition to Criminalise War at the PWTC on Wedesday and Thursday 28th. & 29th. October. I had to miss the first day of the War Crimes Commission Hearings to-day, Friday because of an association meeting, but intends to go to the second and final day of the Hearings to-morrow morning. 

I think it's incredible that this effort at organizing the call for the civilised world to sit up, take note, and do something to stop wars being waged by powerful nations, is being spearheaded here in Kuala Lumpur by an old ex-PM. Incredible because he no longer holds the reins of power in his own country and faces all the logistics problems faced by such a person doing such a thing. Incredible because Malaysia is hardly the country that looks like having the voice and reach to shake up the global village,  And  incredible that at his age he is bothered and has found another noble cause to champion. 

Listening to all the speakers who came from several countries , and the narrations of two actual ex-prisoners of Guantanamo, I was struck by the eloquence of all, except the Malaysian retired General. It was not the eloquence of strident language, but the chilling phrasing of simple diction describing human cruelty over its own kind.  There wasn't any shrieking diatribe nor abusive expletive being hurled at the absent enemies. The almost subdued adverbs were nevertheless striking and more than telling in the message being offered. The conviction comes out because of the currency of the condition and the reality of the experience possessed by the speakers.

The Malaysian retired General should learn from all this. It's never enough to raise your voice to make people hear you out. Making jokes in a public speech is an aquired art. It would have been better if he was to relate some real experience by Malaysian troops in Congo, Somalia and Bosnia. The Malaysian version of "Black Hawk Down" could have been at least informative. 

There was a large enough crowd that came for the conference, but the giant hall made it look small. Certainly more students could have been invited, because they are the future that needs to be told. I could have called a few friends to come, even if for the one day only, but didn't. 

Even after many say "no more" after two World Wars, wars are still being waged. Modern weapons mean the new wars are more cruel, more gory, more devastating.  It's insane to say you "fight for peace". You don't rape for virginity. 

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27th. October's quick posting but slow boil.

27.10.2009.

In about an hour's time we'll make a quick, long drive to Shah Alam for Dekna's  last graduation. It's literally the last afternoon session of the University's 71st. convocations. Each year the parents are gradually moved further and further from the proper ceremonies, in fact totally out of the actual hall. Next year they might as well just post the scrolls. What's the ceremony for ? 

This is not a day for the graduands to rejoice - they have spent all their joy when they found out their final results months ago by mail and on-line. Sure, they worked their butts out for their degrees, but they had everything going for them - the facilities, the teaching staff, all the financial assisstance in the world. Not to have some measure of success at all is really stretching things a bit. 

The convocation is for the parents. They are the ones to be congratulated, and to receive the bouquets, and not to give them. They are the ones who  scraped and went without from the time the students were only in primary schools - without sleep, without the holidays, without the dispensible little comforts of life, so that the children got enough and not distracted  from  school-work and later university-work. 

University graduates don't start from year 1 at university.  They start from year 1 at Primary School.  Sure the government build the schools and universities and staff them with teachers and syllabuses. But it's the parents who make the young minds want to succeed in education. Nobody else can do that. 

And you take away this special day of gratification from the suffering parents ? Put them in temporary tents and annexes to watch their offsprings walk across the hall to receive that scroll  on a tv monitor, having come all the way from Perlis and Sabah, and like me, Seremban ? Have a heart ! 

Break up the huge ceremony and do it at the actual campuses, not lump all together in one place and one date. Practice some of what you teach. That should be a start. Build it around the parents, for once. They've earned it. Give them this day in their life. Is that too much  to ask? 

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A fully exploited Sunday.

18.10.2009.

This morning it was my usual round of golf at the club. I got out of a possible mess with a timely call of my mobile. I had promised to join Muhsin "the Beltless" (he doesn't wear a belt but looks like he needs one) for this morning, yesterday, before Kampong Pro asked to play with him this morning, also yesterday. I said I was fixed for 9 holes, but Kampong Pro said that's OK, he'll join some others for the second 9. Then Muhsin the Beltless called too late last night saying he'd asked Mubin the Shepherd and Maulud Tok Lembago to make our foursome. When I called Kampong Pro this morning, he was still at home, so I said sorry Muhsin the Beltless had arranged the flight without telling me earlier, and since we're only for 9 holes can I go ahead without him, and Kampong Pro said OK lah, go ahead. What a relief !. 

At 2.30 I went for a Hari Raya do in PJ (PJ in Seremban, not PJ Selangor), organized by an association I'm involved in. The reception was to be from 11 am to 4 pm, but I called Khairuddin, the host, that I'll come at the tail end because I'm sure most will come early, so I should come later to balance the attendance. It was the usual lemang-rendang-ketupat-kuah kacang fare, and this was the penultimate day of Shawal, so it wasn't very exciting food, nor too much talk. The crowd was already sparse, and except for a few faces, I couldn't recognize many people, what with most faces changed with age. 

At 6.30 Kak Tun, Tok Mail's wife, called, inviting us for dinner at Sungai Ujung Club at 8.15. "Wear shoes" she warned. I accepted the invitation and told the wife we'll leave after Maghrib prayers. When I finished prayers she was already dressed, so we were at the club before 8. And before our hosts. 

We thought it was to be a reception for the recent marriage of their daughter in Singapore to her Irish boss, but it wasn't. It was just dinner for the four of us. Kak Tun and my wife are in the same association and meet often and get on well, so it was another dinner for them. Tok Mail and I also share a few activities together, so it was also another dinner for us. The setting was pleasant enough and we talked  and finished the food, except for some remaining buttered prawns and sambal that were dog-bagged. 

We spoke of the Bagan Pinang bye election and the recent UMNO General Assembly, and made different jocular remarks, not unlike the many that have been passed around. While picking from the mixed fruit platter, I mentioned the fact that Tok Mail used to eat papayas together with the seeds. That was when Kak Tun remembered a funny incident involving Tok Mail. Kak Tun had tears running down her eyes telling the story and laughing uncontrollably.

We didn't linger long. Still, the club was already quite empty when we left at close to 10, but it was early night yet. It was a nice little dinner, and totally unexpected. I'll have to reciprocate, I suppose. 

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Golf for the Olympics.

12.10.2009.

Last weekend the IOC announced that golf, with a few other sports, has been voted in to be included in the 2016 & 2020 Olympics. They say it's a return after 100 years. 

The fact is golf is older than the Modern Olympics, with written records of more than 600 years. The follow-up media coverage highlighted the comments made by both exponents, supporters and event-managers of the game who lauded the decision, extolling the feeling of pride for country for players and the increasing worldwide popularity of the sport as justification for its inclusion. 

The Olympics long ago abondoned the impractical self-imposed rule of restricting the Games to only "amateur" sportsmen. The arguments are deserving of another commentary. For now, suffice it to say that relative to other newer, more obscure and less popular sports like wushu, karate, softball and curling, golf surely stands out better for inclusion into the four-yearly World Competition.

The ethics and rules of golf, even as it is played socially among friends, are notorious. For starters, in no other sport do players call a penalty upon themselves.  For the golf outing among four friends, calling penalty upon oneself because of the infringement of an archaic rule about a "free drop" or a "penalty drop" out of a "bad lie" may mean nothing more than the loss of one hole in a game of over eighteen holes . For a professional golfer during a competition, such a penalty is worth literally millions. Too many times these true professionals have  penalised themselves by a stroke, often the difference between winning and losing, simply because the ball that they have "addressed", had merely oscillated in its original spot, not because of any movement made by the player, but because of gravity or wind impacting on that 1.64" ball sitting precariously on uneven grass. 

You can cynically say "well, golf makes that rule." The thing is no one knows it except for the player standing directly over the guilty ball. View this in the light of the "dive" many a professional footballer balatantly makes, in front of live tv, and realize the contrasting moral code of conduct exhibited. Surely this alone epitomizes the Olympic spirit. 

The main argument in support of golf for the Olympics should really be the fact that in this sport is found the true test of skill,  regardless of the size of the competitor, or the food that he eats. In boxing, weightlifting, swimming, atheltics, and gymnastics, just to name a few,  both factors of size and subjectivity of umpiring can greatly influence  the outcome of the competition. The participants must be of the same weight class, or the bigger sportsman obviously has an advantage.  Not in golf. Ian Woosnam was World No. 1 once. He stands at 5' 4" and probably still eats steak and mashed potato. Vijay Singh also was World No. 1 once. He's 6'2" and eats rice (his Malay wife comes from Johore) and the occasional chapatti.  A lot of young and small South Korean   and  Japanese girls are  causing consternation in the ladies' tour by rotating wins  among themselves against the big American girls in their own backyards. Each golf competition is run over four days, a test of consistency. at the same venue, come rain, shine or stormy weather.  And the winner is decided by adding up the total absolute strokes that he makes, including the  misses  and all the penalty strokes referred to earlier. 

Isn't golf a rich man's game ? It's getting expensive now, that's true, but isn't everything else ?. When I started 22 years ago (wow !) a half-set comprising of 7 clubs including the bag cost RM 300. To-day a good driver (the No. 1 club, not the guy who drives his boss to office) alone costs upwards of RM 2,000 ! But as in all things in life, you measure your own clothes. Why buy a Rolls Royce when a Kelisa will do. 

Then there is the playing facility. You can't build your own hockey field and maintain it as well, or your own atheltics tracks. OK, but you say for golf you have to be a member of an expensive golf club. But we now have "walk on" facilities in many clubs, and not all are expensive, and in fact government servants join at government rates. Plus, this country is seeing the beginning of the building of public courses that are a common feature in US, UK, Australia and many parts of the world. For the equivalent of RM 20 you can play at these "munis". The only possible downside to the Olympics inclusion is whether all the noise made for it  ends   in   a whimper.

Look at tennis. It's already in the Olympics. But the last Olympics gold medallist hardly created a ripple in the tennis world, and no ebullent rejoice of medallists stick out in the media. In fact many professional tennis players were not particularly keen to put aside the time from their rich professional schedule. 

All this while, tennis as a popular sport has never quite made a rampage anywhere. Just look at the number of courts and the merchandising. And beyond certain age, you can't run after the ball. 

It's different with golf.  Practically every big town has a golf club with pro-shops and driving ranges.  Most shopping malls in all the major towns have  at least one golf shop. And the golfers don't have to run (unless you lost a wager and haven't paid !).  John Philip Seow plays 9 holes every day and celebrates his 80th birthday this month.

If the criteria for a  sporting activity is the display of an achievable athletic skill unaffected by physical size,  then golf measures up. For Malaysians, this is one world sport that is well within their capabalitities to excel in, as proven by other Asian players to-day. We should welcome the inclusion of this sport in the Modern Olympics. 

Get a Malaysian Olympics Champion in 2016. That's only seven years more. There's time. 

 Meanwhile, I'm off to meet Ong Tiong Meng at the club for our regular  12-4-4. I won't run after the game.

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A.K.Bear.

9.10.2009.

This Sunday Hank has organized a sort of reunion at A.K.Bear's house in Seremban for some Budak Boys. Bear himself has not sent out any similiar message, electronic or otherwise, so I assume the host has consented.

This might very well serve as the 50th. anniversary for the group, having first come together in 1960 or thereabout. By all accounts, everyone is retired. By some accounts, some  have sadly passed on, God save their souls.

I'm included in the confirmed coming list for this Sunday. It's in my town, and these are some very old friends I'm keen to meet again. Most of them I have not maintained regular contacts with all these years. But experience has taught me not to expect too much. Many times in the past I had bumped into some old school friends (not the Budak Boy type) that I recognized in spite of the passage of time, and I had warmed up to, only to be given a kind of cool reception instead. It seems nostalgia doesn't affect everybody in the same way. Or perhaps the other blokes couldn't recall anything. 

Most of the names that I saw on Hank's list have gone on to the top of their professions.  I don't expect less of a Budak Boy. Some have taken circuitous routes there, but I know most have served nobly and without fanfare.

As a parent myself, I'm keen to find out how their children have moved on in life. For all you know, our children might at this very moment be in related fields or even in the same organizations.

Bear built his big house where he's spending his retirement now only after he retired.   His old family house that has now been vacant for a long time is just a short distance away from this new place. When asked  his  answer was the sisters often come back to clean the place. 

Bear must have a lot of bush jackets,  because every time I see him nowadays, he'd be wearing one. He  still drives his last staff car, most probably given to him as a parting momento. The paintwork could do with some rework, though.  Obviously Bear has other priorities. He's a member of SIGC, and we've met there a few times. Unfortunately he doesn't play golf, which is surprising, because he was a national tennis player while still in school. I'm told Bear has been  vocal at the club's AGMs.

So I look forward to Sunday, see some old friends, crack some old jokes, and catch up with what's new with the old candidate at Bagan Pinang. 

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