Taj Mahal (Almost A Wordless Blog)

And there she is…my very first glimpse of Taj Mahal…

 

GE 13 Is On 5th May 2013

Malaysians will go to the voting centre to start casting their votes on the 5th May 2013. Just one more sleep to get this over with and for the past few days, the FB and Twitters have been lambasted with all kinds of accusations, personal attacks, character blasting from all sides of contesting parties. I find this so disturbing that Malaysians have come to this.

Malaysia has come a long way to be where we are.  It is not easy to manage family members, let alone 28 million that comes in all shapes, sizes, background, religion, skin colour and such.

There is no room for experimentation in managing a country. The progress we are enjoying right now has come with a lot of sacrifices from many people from the day we gained our independence.

But sometimes, leaders being human, can forget and be too proud of their collective achievements. That the sky will never fall and that the rakyat will never speak.

Years ago when there was no influx of social media channels, leaders needed to walk across paddy fields and rubber plantations to get to the rakyat. Nowadays, there are all methods of communications. But, this lack personal engagement of which is crucial when you want to win the heart of hearts of the rakyat. There are still at least 50% of the population which falls below the Gen Y generation who I think will prefer the face to face engagement. But, there is now a good mix of the 50% balance that comes from Gen X and Y who are rebellious and want change. They have not experienced the pain, sufferings and sacrifices what Baby Boomers and the Older Generation had. But, that does not mean they are not the thinking generation. They like to be a part of this change and I think some of the efforts in engaging them by the current Government has done for the past 5 years may have come a tad too late.

My thoughts on some issues:

• The seasoned politicians who think that all voters are the same as 30 years ago should resign and contribute from different platform. They are now more well-informed, connected to the world, are curious and sometimes pledge loyalty to only themselves.
• There is now no more room for speeches on preferred racial proportions. The key word now is equality.
• Those who are empowered to manage all the ministries, departments and key jobs should be trained in the best practices of government administration functions especially leadership, communication, diplomatic relationship and crisis management. Key competencies ought be to built across the board.  They ought to be profiled and assessed just as how big corporations are being managed. Not suitable? Then there is the door. Thank you.
• Malaysia still lack a good crisis media management. Sometimes, all too many people speak at the same time, shoot themselves back at the foot and allowing the world to gawk at the circus, wondering how on earth these people get to be there.

I just got back from India where I spent one week there for work with the association that I represent. Great, exotic country. Met many wonderful people and created new network and opened new opportunities. But, I thought of Malaysia every day without fail. I longed to be home to a familiar turf where I can get any of my comfort food anytime of the day and without fear of walking in the city at 2 am.

The culture of learning is strong everywhere. I saw universities, colleges and research institutes. I was in a big room full of Phd holders and double masters for that one week. I was amazed.

On the tilted end, I also saw poverty where I have not seen in Malaysia. I saw street children, women living on the pavements, beggars were everywhere, people still bathing from street side water pumps and where switching on the air-conditioned in a taxi will attract extra charges. I am sure all these people want to be living in a better condition and not like that but it was such that they were like that. I saw this old man rummaging through a pile high thrash in front of a restaurant; once in a while stopping for picking up left overs and eating them.

Malaysians are pampered and spoilt lot. Those who are still complaining they do not have enough food ought be bundled and shipped out from the country.

The departure day arrived on that Sunday one week later. As I walked towards the plane, I saw the MAS logo, the familiar Malaysian faces and I felt overjoyed knowing that I am going home.

As we landed the taxiway 6 hours later I prayed a word of thanks to God for bringing me back home safely to my country and to my family. I do not want to be elsewhere. I felt that I wanted to kiss the ground. I will feel like this each time I am coming home from any of the travels.

I hope that after this 5th May 2013, I will still have a peaceful country that I love so and want to go home to.

Happy Voting Day my fellow Malaysians and vote wisely.

Goodbye, Bruno

 

 

It is hard to say goodbye.

Bruno crossed the Rainbow Bridge today after a period of illness due to FIV. We will always treasure and love you, our handsome boy.

I visit her blog at least once a week, just checking whether she had brought it down. Nope, the hurtful postings are still there. Just last week I quietly opened up the print out of a particular posting she did 4 years back. It was this piece of paper, carefully folded and placed in a bag and hidden away at the back of the cabinet. Just as carefully as how it was folded, and that was how carefully I thumbed through the content. I broke down and cried, wondering where have I gone wrong.

Never in my life thinking that I should be feeling this way. Feeling used, disappointed, sad, angry why things turn for the worse.

You see, I de friended my own daughter on Facebook.

And that, tantamount to packing your own kid’s clothes in a bag, throw it out on the lawn and changed the pad lock.

I used to care what she wrote. Nowadays, they are just reminders why I did what I did. I suppose the old adage, “You have to be cruel to be kind” is true to my one and only daughter. No regrets. Just a wishful thinking that she would realize her behaviour and brattish actions were so deeply hurtful and disappointing.

Be The Best Of Whatever You Are

Years ago, when I was young, I dreamed of greatness for my life. Had a ride of my life. I finally found my Soul Mate in this second life and I am grateful. My empty soul is now filled.

In that first life, that was when I gave birth to my daughter. And, I dreamed of the same greatness for her life. And, if she is reading this, this is all I have to say to her:

If you can’t be a pine on the top of the hill
Be a scrub in the valley–but be
The best little scrub by the side of the rill;
Be a bush if you can’t be a tree.

If you can’t be a bush be a bit of the grass,
And some highway some happier make;
If you can’t be a muskie then just be a bass–
But the liveliest bass in the lake!

We can’t all be captains, we’ve got to be crew,
There’s something for all of us here.
There’s big work to do and there’s lesser to do,
And the task we must do is the near.

If you can’t be a highway then just be a trail,
If you can’t be the sun be a star;
It isn’t by size that you win or you fail–
Be the best of whatever you are!

~ Douglas Malloch

April Is Here

The first quarter of the year has come and gone.

General Election Is Around The Corner

The parliament has been dissolved effective today, 3rd April 2013. And so was the announcement made by the Prime Minister today at 11.30am.

Within the next few weeks, my fellow Malaysians will exercise their rights by going to the voting centers all over the country.

 

The last I went for voting was 5 years ago. Have not realized how fast the time flies. A lot of people do not realize that 5 years are just a blink of an eye and today I sat in the car, reflecting on my own life journey for the past 5 years.

As what one of my friends said in his FB status, “Remember to go to the nearest mamak’s or kopitiam to remind ourselves that in the end we are all united by teh tarik, tosai, and roti bakar!”

I would add a few more items there – nasi lemak and roti canai!

Happy Voting, my Fellow Malaysians.