Selling Your Soul

"Cubalah, Encik....cubalah, free for life...cubalah..." pleads the lady. It was nearing 10 pm. The look on the lady's face haunts me. She was small, a hand shorter than me with straight dark hair cut at shoulder length. Her eyes...oh God! her eyes.... you can see desperation in her eyes. I tried walking away...but she persistently pursued me...even though after I remark "Never mind, thank you"... she still shadowed me along with that horrifying pleading voice.."Cubalah, Encik...cubalah"... I had a quick glance at her. My eyes were drawn to her face, thin almost gaunt like.

She was pitching her sale line. As though getting customer to sign up for the bank credit card is her life line. As though her very soul is at stake. I shudder to think what forces somebody to act so desperately.

There must be a better way of convincing people to take up your offer for God sake! And haunting them with your pleadings aren't it!

"Cubalah, Encik....cubalah, free for life.....cubalah"

Benar : Dare to be Free

I feel strongly about this issue:



There's a walk for a free and fair Media. Read more about it here.

A Long Tiring Journey

Just came back from Kluang, Johor. Went there Sunday around 10 pm after attending a wedding dinner of Mimi's friend. Mimi accompanied me to Kluang. Thanks Dear :). Arrived in Kluang around 1 am. Quite an uneventful journey going there. Haven't been to Kluang since the last 20 odd years or so. The place definitely changed. More people, more buildings, more roads and of course more traffics.

Around 9 am went for a meeting. Meeting ended around 12.00 pm and went to visit a site in Kluang after that.

Started back home Monday 1 pm, used the 'scenic' route and arrived around 7 pm. Exited Ayer Keroh exit, had a late lunch of chicken rice in Sg. Udang near the Trendak Camp (not bad, definitely should try if you're around there). From there traveled to Masjid Tanah, Ramuan China Besar, Ramuan China Kecil, entered Negri Sembilan through Rembau.

From there passed several villages until reached Port Dickson. Continue to Lukut, Chua, Bukit Pelandok and arrived in Selangor through Sepang.

NEED TO REST!

Here In My Home

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The Path Most Travelled

In the dawn of my life,

as I lay awaken,
by the sights,
and sounds,
and smells,
of people living their lives.
Some moved with purpose,
others endlessly roaming this earth,
looking for a cause,
a meaning,
of existence or at least,
a purpose for their meandering.

Sometimes at awed,
most of the times frightened,
the journey that men have took,
through chasm of indignities,
across mountains of hatred,
over oceans of doubts.
A few breaks free,
the shackles that is mass indifferences,
or worse,
the fate of being unnoticed.
But that few,
whether by the lies that is might,
or the strength that is right.
Have force history,
to take a moment notice.

Ha! what path had they undertook?
What stories could such a person holds
dear in his chest or laid bare open?
Upon them, we looks for similarity.
If not that,
at the very least,
an attempt to be similar.

As I started this journey,
traveled this path called life,
my steps hesitant,
but proceed I must.
Slowly and steadily,
the steps grows surer,
the stride grows longer,
the pace grows faster.

How else can a man chart his destiny,
if not by taking a step at a time.
How else can a man measure himself,
if not by the distance he had traveled.

A walk in the Park

I took these pictures using my wife's friend's camera while we were at the Butterfly Park.

Neutrality vs. Subservient

In Malaysia, the civil servant is expected to obey and be 'loyal' towards the government of the day. The will of the 'political master' is the command unto the civil servant. The political master set the policies and the civil servant implement them. But at the same time, civil servants by nature have to be neutral in implementing government's policies, without regards towards race, religion or even political preferences.

The problem exist when the policies of the political master are bias against their opponent and detractors. What becomes the civil servant? Stuck between political will and principal neutrality, how should a civil servant conduct him or herself?

It is my opinion that, neutrality is the pillar of our civil servants. The public pays their salary and also all of their offices and equipments. By right, a civil servant have to act in accordance to the needs and rights of the people. They should serve without fear or favor and also fairly and justly. To do otherwise, is to betray the trust of the people. Should the political will commands otherwise. The civil servant have a right to not obey such unjust commands.

A New Kid in Town

Finally, my wife just posted her first blog. You can find her link in the Other's People Writings. It'll be an interesting blog, since my wife have more flair in expressing herself and sharing her experiences with others. Enjoy:)

This is a Test for Adding Pictures

From left : Emak, Mimi, Abah

Time Hundred Most Influential

I just watched the news on ntv7 that, Robert Downey Jr. is listed in the Time 100. Go Downey! I've always thought that he is a good artist and entertainer. But more interestingly, ntv7 forgot or purposely ignored the fact that a Malaysian was listed in the list. This is what's so funny, we always like to highlight our so called 'successes' and we'll always shout such 'successes' to the four corner of the world. But this listing of our 'illustrious son of the nation' seems to be ignored by the news. I'm not sure whether or not it is everyday that a Malaysian managed to make it in any list (though we do have several entries in Forbes Most Riches) but somehow snubbing it outright is really 'to your face' politics.

I'm not particularly sure how the people were selected. It would be nice if the editors can be transparent about it. How did they quantify 'influential' in the first place? Is it by the news worthiness? Is it by public recognition? Is it by lobbyist waiting in the TIME lobby trying not to look like lobbyist?

Well anyway, kudos to Anwar Ibrahim for being listed. I wonder how I can be listed in future Time 100 list?

A most unfortunate turn of event

**Sigh**

Another attempt at drowning and strangling the freedom of expression and speech.

Lo! within this land,
beautifully carved by God,
upon which millions,
nay! billions,
of life striving,
to seek His benevolence,
alas! a few darken souls,
building four walls,
to enclosed our spirits,
fey! our heart of hearts,
shall slowly wither?
Never!

Prevention of Lightning Fatality While Showering

I'm sure by now that most of you have heard that the ministry of Foreign Affair is proposing to the government requiring solo oversea traveling female consent from their family before journeying to prevent them being used as 'mule' for drug traffickers.

In the same vein as this proposal, I'm also proposing that we put in the Penal Code the crime of showering during lightning storm. We all know that there is a possibility (no matter how small) of being electrocuted while showering during lightning storms. This incident could even be fatal to the individual involved. So as to stop people from being harmed from this situation, I proposed that we equate the action of showering during lightning storms to that of trying to kill one self, which is a criminal offense. Thus punishable for jail terms and/or caning.

Hopefully with this proposal, we can reduce the number of possible death by lightning electrocution during shower.

World Press Freedom Day

Today is the day we 'celebrate' the freedom of our press and also to pay tribute to journalist that have 'fallen' in the line of duty.

It is timely for me to remind myself and all, the importance of having a free, fair and credible press. A trustworthy press that holds itself with dignity and integrity will undoubtedly advanced the cause of the people and also democracy. The press should be seen as the Fourth Estate, that forces the other state arms (Judiciary, Legislative, Executive) to be accountable to the people.

Such qualities of press are unfortunately lacking within this nation of ours. It is up to us to demand a better press.

A Requiem for the Fallen:

Arise, arise, O! you who have fallen,
your tears and blood shall not be forsaken,
your legacy and faith shall not be forgotten,
lest we the living forever be silence.

Arise, arise, O! you who have martyred,
your glory awaits you in the hall of the Departed,
your battles are o'er but alas not the war,
we the living shall fight the oppressor.

Arise, arise, O! you who have fallen,
we the living shall be unforgiven.

May Day: A tribute to the Anarchists

Fourth of May,
what a tragic day,
blood shed for a rest day,
for a less hour work day,
the anarchist hope and pray,
the police march in formation,
a bomb exploded causing consternation,
Degan dies for a senseless show,
gunshots fired between friends and foes,
workers and polices lay wounded and dead,
what a bloodied path to tread,
caught were the eight,
what a terrible fate,
a trial to follow,
all but one sentence to the gallows,
of the seven,
two were commuted to life,
while Lingg prefers the dynamite,
the rest were dutifully hanged,
but slowly not as planned,
before his death,
Spies shouted his last breath,
"The time will come
when our silence will be
more powerful than the voices
you strangle today!"

Happy May Day!

I was supposed to write this at 12 am sharp but I fell asleep :D

Anyway, Happy May Day! Let us all not forget the trials and tribulations of workers and labourers around the world that fought and continuously fight for our rights. Long live the proletariat!

Btw, we should demand that we only work 8 hours a day again!