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Harap-harap INI KALILAH !
Friday, September 26, 2008
ONE MONTH to LIVE
Dear friends,
We have recently learned that it is not only in Malaysia that events of ridiculous and overwhelming proportions are taking place.
We have all had enough of the ISA, of Teresa and RPK and the UMNO warlords, and the delay of 916. We all know it is not the end of idiocy in Malaysia, and more chaos to come from both sides.
At about the same time of this month, we are met with a financial storm, an economical disaster of the size of a tsunami - which is actually an impending doom since the subprime crisis earlier this year in the US. This is indeed a sign of worse to come.
About a week ago too, I realised a very kind person in my church fraternity who has been suffering chronic pancreatitis for years, is confirmed to have pancreatic cancer and is now walking down the lane of blood tests, imminent major surgery, and the very real possibility of a death earlier than expected.
Who amongst us would have predicted this when we celebrate the new year of 2008? I realised many of us live our 'kehidupan harian' with the convenient complacent presumption that there will be a tomorrow, that status quo will prevail, that life goes on tomorrow. Which is why we are still stuck in sin, in sloth, in stupid endeavours, and pointless worldly ambitions.
If the world is going to end tonight, does it matter if Obama makes it to the White House or Anwar gets to be PM? In the shoe of someone who will die in a matter of months, does it matter to get the Master's degree and an increment in monthly income?
Most certainly, what really matters is the people we are going to leave behind, the footprints we've created while walking with and without God.
It is indeed a Black September, and a reminder a bit too late. I am going to sleep with this thought, what if I have only ONE MORE MONTH to LIVE?
One month to live if I had only this would I still be here writing this?
would I cry should I? or would I laugh could I?
whom will I cling on in these remaining days? On Whose Hope shall I rest? On Whom shall I lean on for comfort for after-life?
I pray for you, dear Brother though we're not that close that whether it is God or not who put those tumours in that you'll have the wisdom to live the final months if that is all you have
dear Brother, how you live will inspire me, should I too, face the good and evil of death at my next corner, at my next turn, or the coming days
One month to live, Would I still be writing this if that is all the time I have
Today, Zaid Ibrahim lost all hope about UMNO's ability for true reform. He said, "The reforms I talk about, I got much criticism from Umno. Sometimes I think I should have changed (to be) like them instead of me trying to change them."
I would like to republish this post:
The Zaid Ibrahim Factor
Let's forget about Anwar Ibrahim for a while. I think Malaysians can be categorised into 3 major groups using the Zaid Ibrahim Factor. Those who agree with him and looks forward to the reforms he has in mind, those who abhor him for the kind of 'keterbukaan' and freedom he has given to the law fraternity, and the threats he has allegedly implied on the Muslim Malay community. Lastly, the third group would be those who have no idea who he is and think that reform in Malaysia means building more bridges, roads and more super-malls.
Off The Edge August issue provided an insightful look into the Malaysian and the lawyer that is in Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, our current de-factor Law Minister, who was brought to the Cabinet after the March 8 BN disaster, despite initially thrown into the bekas YB UMNO rubbish-bin. I suggest you all read it.
Read on, and see which group you belong to. (Read further)
If I have a chance to gather a press conference as a reaction to Ahmad Ismail's ramadan special...
I would most likely make the following statements:-
1. The Chinese and the rest of the Non-Malay community are rudely shocked by the remarks.
2. We are also deeply hurt by the remarks which reduce us to mere squatters without taking into consideration the fifty years of trials and triumphs we share with the Malays as a single entity - as Malaysians.
3. Although it would be a great consolation if Ahmad would make a public apology and retract his racist remarks, we would not pursue it as it is futile if he did not understand the reason why we are hurt by his remarks. It is no use to force the word sorry from his golden mouth if he is not sincere about it or he simply shares a different ideology and understanding of nation-building, civil rights and equality.
4. I, as many other Chinese and the rest of the non-Malay community, only know Malaysia as our Motherland, and would be considered as foreigners in other countries. However, it would be great if we could appease the racial tensions if we could make a mass exodus out of Malaysia to give the whole of Malaysia to the Malays who are so keen to be only owner of the country - but very sorry, we just cannot possibly do it. We are deeply rooted here with so many families, with so many commitments in raising our kids, and our fiscal investments, et cetera.
5. I appeal to Ahmad to give the non-Malays a few quiet hours of his to reconsider and reflect on the remarks he made during the by-elections before he organise another fiery press conference again.
6. We would be always willing to kiss and embrace Ahmad when one day this fiasco can be settled amicably and exchanging apologies and respect.
7. God loves you, Datuk Ahmad, and so do I. Although, it will definitely not be easy to love a person like you, but I will try because God loves you.
Black September 2008: Three Options for Young Malaysians like Fooji
Option 1: If we want to pursue a culture of freedom, of justice and human rights, and Real development in ethics, integrity and human capital as well as the economy - WE MUST reject UMNO, i.e Barisan Nasional (Shame on MCA and Gerakan for still sticking and co-operating with this Monster). How do we reject? Not by violent street protests, for that will be UMNO's preferred ingredient to kickstart part 2 of May 13.
We must never be intimidated to VOTE for BN, must voice out in press, in print about our displeasure and disagreement without violence.
Talk to your Malay colleagues or even the Malays you meet at the mamak stall, ask them what they think is a bigger threat - the selfish Chinese squatters or the corrupt UMNO hooligans?
Please do not buy the UMNO propaganda about Malay rights being threatened. Go speak to a layman Malay.
Option 2: Be afraid and let BN-UMNO rule again. Then, do not bother getting married and starting a family in Malaysia, for it will be game over for this unfortunate country in the next 50 years.
Option 3: Let Malaysia rot, give up the Malaysian dream (if we ever have one) and start a Singaporean Endeavour, or an Australian Attempt.
I might be the only person on the face of the earth that knows you're the greatest woman on earth. I might be the only one who appreciates how amazing you are in every single thing that you do, and how you are with Spencer, "Spence," and in every single thought that you have, and how you say what you mean, and how you almost always mean something that's all about being straight and good. I think most people miss that about you, and I watch them, wondering how they can watch you bring their food, and clear their tables and never get that they just met the greatest woman alive. And the fact that I get it makes me feel good, about me. Melvin Udall, the obsessive-compulsive 'jerk' to single mom Carol.
One of the best books I bought this year must be The Last Lecture, a real lecture-in-a-book by the late Professor Randy Pausch. He gave this lecture as a professor in Carnegie Mellon University in September last year, and the video format has been circulating widely on the internet, and of course the book is currently one of the best non-fiction bestsellers. He died from advanced pancreatic cancer this year.
I bought this book for my girlfriend, and we read it together yesterday. Finished the entire book in a matter of hours.
Guys, you gotta get a copy of this. It is more than just enjoying the reading of the book, it is the afterthought and the reminders the book can generate in you.
The lecture was titled - Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams. How many of us actually make a big deal of our childhood dreams? We all have those dreams as a child, but many of us gave it up to practicality and realism without much imagination and fuss. We settle down for second best and what is easiest.
Here, I shall revisit my own dreams and list them down. Fooji's Childhood Dreams:-
1) To be a famous print(dailies/magazines) columnist 2) To have a cosy, fantastic house 3) To make a great speech 4) To be the most popular guy in school (vain! vain!) 5) To be a stage actor 6) To be the drum major of a major school band 7) To make it to university
How did I do? Hmm......
Children should always be inspired to have dreams. Put no limits to them. That's the beginning of their education.
*W.I.B is the personal blog of fooji. He works for the ministry of health seven days a week, skips his breakfast and looks forward to a good dinner at the end of the day.
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