Ayam Karan.

Tengahari tadi masa nak ambil anak balik sekolah, aku dok sembang dengan dua orang yang dah jauh berumur. Kedua-duanya menunggu cucu. Pakcik yang dua orang ni seingat aku dah hampir 4 tahun berkecimpung sebagai supir mengambil cucu balik sekolah.

Aku biasa bersembang dengan mereka berdua ni. Sesekali terdengar cerita sedih pasal kematian isteri pakcik yang muda sikit. Acapkali bila bersembang, akan ada sahaja diceritakan keperitan hidup berdua bila anak-anak semuanya sibuk. Jiran yang berbangsa Cina sebelah rumah yang selalu tolong bawak pergi klinik. Cuma, bila anak perempuan yang duduk di KL balik, maka dialah yang akan bawa arwah emak dia pergi berubat sana dan sini. Sebut ajer di mana, akan dibawanya. Tapi almaklumlah, duduk di KL dan bukan senang nak dapat balik Melaka setiap hujung minggu.

Sekarang pakcik tu tinggal seorang di rumah. Cucu yang diambil balik sekolah akan duduk dengan dia sehingga petang, sebelum ayahnya datang.

Sedang pakcik tu bercerita, tetiba pakcik yang lebih tua menyampuk...

"kan senang kau duduk KL, ghumah anak sulung kau tu. Aku tengok dia bertanggungjawab. Suami dia pun baik orangnya."

Kau nak sughuh aku dok ghumah berlapis tu? Apa aku nak buat kat sana? Nanti jadi macam ayam karan. Makan tidur, makan tidur, lepas tu penyakit datang."

Kami tergelak dengan jawapan yang diberi. Pakcik tu pandang kat aku dan kata, kau dah tua nanti kau tahulah apa yang aku cakap ni...

Chris Leong Jan Foo

When I was at Great Eastern Takaful Gear Up Conference at Grand Lexis in Port Dickson over the weekend, the special memories that I shared with my late mentor kept playing in my mind. Chris Leong Jan Foo. I will always remember this name. I just wanna share with you my friends, my first ever encounter with Mr Leong.

After I decided that formal education was not my cup of tea, I plunged myself into the work force. No qualifications and no experience, I needed a job to get by. I scoured through the Malay Mail searching for job opening that suits my entry level. After sometimes, I saw one walk-in interview to be held the next day.

I went to Wisma Nusantara to try my luck. There were a few candidates and most of them dressed smartly. As for me, the underwear was mine. The shoe, socks, long pants, long sleeve shirt and neck tie, belongs to a few friends. Thank you guys.

I sat nervously waiting for my turn. Looking at those smartly attired candidates, I knew I had no chance. That was my first real life interview. I had no resume, except for a few copies of my school certificates to show. I practised in my mind making sure that I got my name right, my family story and education background right. My friends told me those were the normal things that they would ask in an interview.

"Encik Rosman, please follow me", said the receptionist. A sweet girl from Sabah. Her sweetness can't soothe the fear that was building up inside of me. I entered the room, there he was, a fat and fierce looking China man greeted and ushered me to the chair. I sat down still rehearsing inside my mind, looking down and clamping my fist to control my nervousness.

"So, Rosman. Do you smoke?"

Yes.

"There is a room adjacent to this room, complete with table, chairs and air conditioning unit. But, it is empty and I need someone to sit there and make miracles"

Phew! I was sweating despite the coldness of his room. Make miracles? Who? Me?

" I want you to listen to what I am going to say and when I am finished, I want you to give your best answer. The room is yours if you can answer my question. Ok?"

I just nodded as I was not able to answer a simple yes.

"OK. let me put it this way. This cigarette pack is rectangular in shape. I want you to imagine that it is round in shape. All you have to do is convince me that this cigarette pack is round in shape and not rectangular as I see it. And, don't crumple it to make it round."

Can I...

"No. You can't ask me any question."

But, I need your participation to help me get to the answer. I pleaded with him. I was so desperate for the job. Living in KL without proper paper qualification, opportunity was scarce. I was hoping for a miracle. My mind was busy thinking how to answer this guy and get the job. After much deliberation, Mr Leong agreed to my request, that is he would allow me to ask him questions.

I was so relieved, but still clueless. Suddenly, somewhere in my distant memory, I remember about this 'thinking outside the box' theory, or whatever that you wanna call it. That gave me the confidence that I so desired. With renewed strength, I sat up straight, smiled and asked him,

Can I have your full name?

"Leong Jan Foo."

If I bring you to a commissioner of oath, and you change your name to , let say, Foo Kok Keong, then from today onwards you will be known as Foo Kok Keong. Am I right?

Mr Leong nodded in agreement.

So, Mr Leong, you are sitting on a chair, as my hand gestured towards him. And if the first person who designed and crafted the chair called it a table, then you and me would be sitting on a table. Aren't we?

Once again, he nodded and with a smile on his face. At that moment, that was the sweetest smile that I've ever seen. I was so desperate for the job, remember?

Knowing that I was on the right track, I posed the last question to Mr Leong.

Then Mr Leong, if the first person who found this shape, and I held high the cigarette pack and running a finger to indicate the shape, and called it round, then this cigarette pack is round in shape and not rectangular as you see it.

There was an eerie silence. I think I can hear a pin drop. It was almost a minute of silence when Mr Leong stood up, walked towards me and gestured for me to stand up. He walked towards the door, opened it and said "follow me to your room." I followed him and we entered the next room. He asked me to sit on the chair and said

"I like the way your mind works. I want you to start work tomorrow and come before 9. I don't like late comers." And he left me to wonder what had just happened. I felt shaken but relieved. I spent quite sometimes before I left the office. On the way out, I noticed that the reception area was deserted, and the Sabahan girl congratulated me.

Why the memories of me and Mr Leong suddenly cropped up at Post Dickson? I am not sure. I guess all the good things that I experienced at the conference reminded me of the good things that Mr Leong said to me. His parting words before I left the company to a greener pasture was,

"Rosman, you are a very quiet person albeit with an independent mind."

It's My Life.

I made mistakes. Everybody does. The first time is called a mistake. The second same mistake no longer a mistake. It is a choice! Yes! I made the choice to repeat it. With mistakes, come repercussions. No choice. Have to accept it.

I weathered the storm.

Getting married and have two wonderful sons, somewhat made me realised what's important. Being there for my sons, a matter of choice. Growing old together with my lovely wife, a matter of the heart. Without them, I am not sure where I will be at this moment. My wife completes me. My sons are the darlings of my life.

When things were rough, I had to be strong. I had to show that I was strong. It was mentally challenging to act strong when your confidence was tested. I survived, for now. I know that life is about choices, not coincidence. We have to accept the consequences of all our choices, good or bad. To gather support or ask for help when things did't go as planned, it took courage. Honesty the best policy, so they said.

Yes! I made the choice to fight. Not to beg. I made the choice to go this way, the way of the fighters. It was not smooth sailings, but I managed.

The strength that I projected, I disguised it quite well. I think so. I don't talk about my failures, my weakness, my past, my struggles, my dreams, my hopes to anyone. Not because I was all cocooned up inside, rather I was not prepared to hear the response from my loved ones. So, I carry on. Still am. Life goes on, so they say.

I always love to hear Mariah Carey sings HERO.

.......

IT'S A LONG ROAD

WHEN YOU FACE THE WORLD ALONE

NO ONE REACHES OUT A HAND

FOR YOU TO HOLD

.......

LORD KNOWS

DREAMS ARE HARD TO FOLLOW

BUT DON'T LET ANYONE

TEAR THEM AWAY

HOLD ON

THERE WILL BE TOMORROW

IN TIME

YOU'LL FIND THE WAY

.......

I just hope that when the day comes, when the moment finally arrives, I'll be singing MY WAY with my loved ones tagging along. It definitely will be more memorable when my parents are still around.

What is success when you don't have family to share with?

Cubit Tanda Sayang?

Cubit tanda sayang. 

Kita biasa mendengarnya.

Cubit-cubitan dan senggol-senggolan adalah tajuk lagu popular dari Indonesia.

Ada yang menjadikan aktiviti mencubit semasa berduaan, tanpa dilihat oleh orang lain. 

Pasangan bercinta biasa lakukan aktiviti mencubit ni.

Ada yang mencubit kerana hendak lepaskan geram pada orang yang dicubit. Anak murid biasa dicubit guru kerana pelbagai kesalahan yang dibuat. 

Begitu juga anak-anak yang dicubit ibubapa kerana melakukan tindakan yang tidak wajar.

Kanak-kanak yang comel dicubit kerana kita geram dengan kecomelan atau keletah mereka.

Kalau anak berumur tiga tahun, 

yang tidak tahu apa-apa, 

dicubit dengan penuh rasa marah/geram oleh ibu atau bapa, sehingga menyebabkan anak itu 

melalak kerana tidak tahan sakit, 

apakah itu termasuk kategori mencubit tanda sayang?

Kalau ya pun anak itu memalukan kita 

di khalayak ramai, 

tidak perlulah kita menunjukkan 'sayang' begitu sekali. Apalah yang anak-anak kecil itu tahu tindakan mereka memalukan kita sebagai ibubapa?

Kalau inginkan anak-anak yang duduk diam dan tidak bercakap, peliharalah anak patung!

M = d(I) + n(S)

Budak Kampung was having a conversation with the Wise Man. It was a good conversation on misunderstanding. Explaining the causes and repercussions of misunderstanding, The Wise Man used a simple analogy in explaining each and every point. The Budak Kampung listened attentively, digesting each point as if it would be the last that he would hear from the Wise Man.

"It happens every day, in almost every conversation" said the Wise Man. "That is why they go on national television for a debate". (While this entry is written, LGE and CSL are going against each other.)

"What do they expect to achieve, Wise Man?" asked the Budak Kampung.

"All they want to proof that misunderstanding exist everyday. And they thought by going live on national tv, they can clear their misunderstandings."

"Can they achieve that... I mean clear the misunderstanding?" quipped the Budak Kampung.

"Son, how could they clear the misunderstanding in a debate? What they didn't realise is that they are going to create more confusion as they themselves didn't know what caused their misunderstanding."

"Okay Wise Man, can you share with me what caused misunderstanding in the first place?". The Budak Kampung hope that this will help him become a better leader and avoid misunderstanding with his followers.

"Son, misunderstanding, if I may explain in a mathematical formula, it goes like this"

M =  d(I) + n(S),

where

M is misunderstanding
d(I) is the degree of your Ignorance
n(S) is the length of time you remain stupid

"So, simply put, misunderstanding is highly correlated to your level of ignorance and a pinch of stupidity."

"Thank you Wise Man."

"You are most welcome son."

Seposen tu!

Tanjung Keling di Melaka, majoritinya penduduk Melayu. Pekannya kecil, lebih kecil dari pekan koboi. Dan bangsa Cina membuka kedai perniagaan.

Situasi yang biasa di negagha kita. Di pekan2 kecik, sehinggalah ke bandaghaya, memang diakui bangsa Cina yang kuasai ekonomi dan perniagaan ghuncit. Melayu dan India jadi pengguna dan pembeli. Jadi, kita membesau dengan membeli baghang keperluan dapur di kedai Cina. Kita dah macam diikat ketaatan utk membeli di kedai Cina. Dalam aspek ekonomi yang lan pun, kita akan lebih selesa berurusan dengan bangsa Cina dan bukannya bangsa Melayu.

Kalau ada kedai Pak Mat yang jaghaknya lebih kurang 100 meter dari ghumah kita, dan kedai Ah Seng jaghaknya tambah lagi 100 meter, mak kita akan sughuh kita pergi kedai Ah Seng. Sebagai anak, kita memilih ke kedai Pak Mat sebab dekat. Tapi kenapa mak kita sughuh pergi kedai Ah Seng?

Keghana dah berpuluh tahun membeli di kedai Ah Seng dan boleh berhutang. Cukup bulan bayau. Satu lagi, kekadang dapat limau masa Tahun Baghu Cina. Begitulah adat berniaga. Pelanggan diikat kesetiaan dengan ghamahnya pembeli, senyum manis tauke, dan kekadang limau mandarin.

Lagi pun, Pak Mat baghu 15 tahun berniaga. Pak Mat hanya mampu melihat kaum sebangsa dengan dia lalu dan tidak singgah. Kekadang bangsa dia balik dgn penuh bakul motor dan kekadang hanya satu tin susu pekat manis F&N.

Pak Mat pun pergi siasat kenapa bangsa dia tidak boleh membeli 1 tin susu pekat F&N di kedai dia, tapi megheka sanggup ke depan lagi 100 meter untuk membeli hanya 1 tin susu pekat F&N. Ghupanya kedai Ah Seng menjual seposen lebih mughah daghi kedai Pak Mat. Pak Mat mula buat perkiraan. "kalau aku kughangkan seposen, bolehkah pembekal kughangkan seposen?"

Seposen sudah memadai untuk Ah Seng memastikan owang Melayu tidak pergi membeli di kedai Pak Mat.

Kita terikat dengan kesetiaan dan seposen jadi ukuran. Kita dapat jimat seposen tapi pada masa yang sama, kita tidak membantu membangunkan perniagaan orang Melayu. Kita pertahankan hak kita sebagai pengguna dan menyalahkan Pak Mat kerana jual lebih mahal, tanpa kita sedari kita tidak melaksanakan tanggungjawab kita membantu meningkatkan perniagaan owang Melayu.

Seposen membezakan antara hak dan tanggungjawab. Itu belum lagi diikat dengan sekaki payung setiap tahun.

Seposen tu!

What rights do you have.......

Sometimes in the past either we were at the receiving end or at the giving end of a certain issue at hand. It is always easy to be at the giving end when you will not be held accountable for what you say or do. It is always easy to find one's fault and start making judgement. It is always easy to be at the giving end.

When you are at the receiving end, sometimes what was said, shattered your confidence. The words that you heard over the years will have an adverse effects on your beliefs system. Let me ask you one simple question.

HOW MANY TIMES IN A DAY YOU HAVE SOMEONE MOTIVATING YOU?

Chances are that zero. Let me ask you another question.

HOW MANY TIMES IN A DAY YOU HAVE SOMEONE TRYING TO UNDERMINE YOUR CAPABILITIES?

Your answer is as good as mine.

You see, some might think that they know you. They think that they know what's going on. So they say something with that assumptions. The way they say it, their facial expression and gestures, wow! They think that their say is the final say that you  must oblige. You are not supposed to be better!

So, what rights do you have to question the capabilities of another person? What rights do you have to impose your inadequacies on others? What rights do you have to tell others what they can or can not do to improve their life?

If you can't say something good, shut up!

But if you still want to say it because you like to hear yourself talking, say it politely. Do not impose. Do Not patronise. Do not presume.

Be an energy giver, and stop being an energy sucker. Will ya?

Termination of service.

Some of us are good pay master. We pay our bills on time, sometimes before due date. Some are not good at paying but good at using and excellent at complaining.

Which one is the lesser evil? No electricity or no water supply? We all agree that no water is 100 times worse than having no electricity.

You forgot to update payment, your usage to the credit card is halted. It will cause embarassment when your card is rejected and you are playing host to your boss.

You can't connect to the internet when you miss the dateline.

Then, comes the ultimate termination of service. Your oxygen supply is terminated. That is it. You simply can't appeal for extension or plead for leniency.

Off you go to the next world.

Touch Window.

The evolution of hand-held phone. Or mobile phone we know today.

I first bought my hand phone in 1996. It was an NEC Primero Basic. It cost me RM1250.00 inclusive of the registration with Celcom with the old 010 prefix. It was like a weird moment when the phone rang when I was in the Mini Bus. Everybody was searching for the culprit. Hehehe. The ringing tone was not like we have right now. It was the standard ringing sound at your house and you can't control the volume or turn it into silent mode. The only accessory available was the antenna. You can replace it with the gold coloured dome. Unscrew the original antennae and replaced it with the gold coloured one. It was something to be proud of at that moment.

The most recognisable one of course the ATUR phone. It was bulky, just like the size of a car battery. But, you bring it to the jungle and you are connected to the outside world.

Then arrived a newer version of phone that came with text messaging system. I remember maxis came out with what is known as the sms language, with all the short form. Everyone went crazy. At one point of time, there was even an sms contest to determine who was the fastest to send text messages. And I found that my phone had become obsolete. So I bought a new phone to keep pace with the trend. Soon, the market was flooded with varieties of hand phones to choose from.

At present, touch screen is the trend. Sliding the screen will take you to a new page. Nowadays, hand phones not only to make/receive calls and smses, there are a lot more applications that we can use. Video conferencing, 3G, GPS, Google Maps, cameras. What else? So many applications to choose from. The size of the phone varied dramatically. When it was first introduced, the normal size was just like the size of your palm. Then the size was reduced until you can hide it behind your palm. Remember the advertisement when a man thought that the girl across the table was flirting with him? Remember that? Actually the girl was using the smallest hand phone and was talking to someone. Now look at the Tablet or IPad. It was like talking to a table mirror if you don't bring your bluetooth.

Touch Window came much earlier than touch screen.

I do it every time I wind up my car window so that the window slides perfectly into the panel.

What you say, matters.

I attended an NLP talk this morning at Public Mutual Branch in Melaka. To me it was the most entertaining and mind opening session that I had ever attended in my career as UTC with PM. A lot of ideas were shared by En Khairil Annuar Abd Kadir, soon to be GAM from Bangsar Branch. One thing that made me glued to my seat was his attitude. Not only was he positive, you can see it in his facial expression, his voice was very melodramatic. I can feel it. I simply love this guy

One of the things that really touched me was when he talked about limiting beliefs. I have my own belief system. So do you. Then I remember my first entry about wired differently. This is not about wired differently. This is simply about what you believe.

I believe that we always have this small talk with our friends, siblings, relatives, office mates about our limitations. More often than not, they don't realise that they help to reinforce our limiting beliefs. And we unknowingly help to cement it further. Even worse when we talk to ourselves, reaffirming those small talks.

I don't think that prospect would sign up
Slow down a bit. Don't push yourself too hard.
I don't think you can hit that target. That target is beyond your capability.
Come on.... it is still early...

The above are just examples of small talk that we have almost daily. But, if we entertain it very often, most probably we find ourselves losing focus on our objectives. Talking to ourselves daily about what we can't do, is going to eat up our confidence. We might lose direction and interest. Soon, we'll find ourselves doing something else.

The onus is on us to change our beliefs system. All those small talks, should stop. Implant new beliefs system that direct us towards our dreams and objectives. In anything that we do, we have a choice. To stick to the old limiting beliefs or get a new one. Mix around with people with positive attitude. Make them your peer group. Talk to them. Engage them in your quest for success.

Do not glorify past achievements. Do not rationalise your need to remain negative.

Say what you want. Place your order. Then do it. Keep on doing it, until you make it. Don't entertain those small talk. Put a stop to it.

It's okay son. Everybody does it.

The story goes like this...

One day, a young boy and his father were cruising along a highway when they were stopped for speeding. His father wind down the window and started to plead with the traffic policeman. The officer ignored the plea and asked for driving licence. His father obliged, took out the driving licence and clipped a RM 50.00 note to it and gave it to the officer. The son found it very weird and asked his dad why he gave the officer RM 50.00 when all the officer asked for was his driving licence....

Its okay son. Everybody does it.

Later, when he attended primary school, he brought back a form to apply for the free text book and gave it to his dad. The young boy reminded his dad to attach a certified true copy of the latest salary slip. So, his dad filled up the form, attached the certified salary slip and gave it to the young boy. The son was amazed when he saw that his father's salary on the slip was way much lower than his actual take. He asked his dad about the discrepancy....

Its okay son. Everybody does it.

At year six, he sat for his UPSR and got straight As. He was delighted. So, the whole family expecting that he will go to a boarding school. The offer did not come. Everybody was frustrated. Only much later that he received an offer to study at a prestigious boarding school. The day came when the whole family sent him there. So he started anew and soon he made friends. During one of the school holidays, he overheard his father's telephone conversation with an unknown person. "you know what, I went to the Ministry and offered something in return for my son's admittance to his current school". The boy was taken aback. He confronted his father about it...

Its okay son. Everybody does it.

Years later, the young boy has grown up and became a man. He was successful in his field. His statement moved the market. His anger sent shivers throughout the community. People queing up for his signature and letter of support. A lot of people either respect, adore or envy him. One day he received a RM100 million law suit for slander. It was all over the news the next day. His father was so incensed and drove all the way to the city to confront the son.

"How could you do this? Why didn't you check the facts before you say something about other people? Don't you have integrity? I bet you have no clue what integrity was all about."

All the while, the son listened attentively with a smile and said...

Its okay dad. Everybody does it in politics.

I just quit. And it pays to quit!

This is my story. Real life story.

I started smoking way back when I was 11 years old. My first attempt at smoking, I used dried coconut husk, rolled it in a small piece of newspaper. It was a bitter experience. The first time that I inhaled the smoke, I could feel the smoke filled up my lung at no time. I started to cough until my eyes became watery. Did I stop? No! I took my second puff. Learning from that first attempt, I inhaled slowly. That was much better. Wow! I was in heaven.

Then I graduated to cigar. My late grandmother used to smoke cigar. What brand I can't recall, most probably cap ikan. I thought cigar was the same like a cigarette. It was even worse than my first time smoking the man-made cigarette.

When I was in a boarding school, I was caught smoking in Form 2. I was walking up the stairs at Block C when a form 4 prefect stopped me and said "I can smell smoke all over you." I was at his mercy. Luckily he offered me a plea bargain. "I'll let you of the hook tonight. But the next time I catch you smoking, then I'll bring you to to see HM." What a relief. Did I stop? Heck No.

I continued my smoking and was caught in form 3. I was made to stand on the stage during assembly and took my whipping in the office of the SA. Did I stop? Nope.

Then came the day when I decided to quit smoking. It was at night, I just came back from getting my second pack of Dunhill 14 for that day. It was January 18, 1987. I didn't know what came over me. I threw the cigarette pack that I just bought, together with the lighter and ash tray. Then I went to sleep. The next morning was terrible. I suffered for close to two weeks before I finally get to use to smoke-free lung. During those two weeks, I easily lost my temper. I hit my next room neighbour for he poke fun at me. Fortunately he understood when I said I have not smoked for a few days.

Days became weeks. Weeks became months. Months became years. It was not smooth sailing. I can tell you that. It was not that easy to stay away from cigarettes. The urge was always there. It came at any time of the day. The frequency was consistent. It was even worse when I started working. But I managed to weather the temptations.

Then I was transferred to Alor Setar in February 1990. Those in that office never knew that I used to be a smoker. Finally, I succumbed to the pressure. 1st january 1991, I started smoking again. The first puff after almost 4 years, was terrible. My office mates were surprised when they saw me smoking. Some challenged my decision and reasons for taking up the habit again. No one could make me changed my mind. I continued smoking and increased the intake. When I quit in 87, I smoked two packs of Dunhill 14. Now, two and a half packs of Dunhill 20.

I quit for the second time, a week after my sister's wedding in November 1995. Alhamdulillah, my lung is smoke free until now. I can say for sure now, after 16 years and second attempt, that I will never never never again be a smoker. One thing that I can testify was that, it was not easy to quit smoking and stay away from cigarettes. It was not easy. I didn't have any rules or method or follow any scientific proven mechanisms to quit smoking.

I just quit.

Chance meeting my ex....

This evening, on the way to fetch my wife, I stopped at shell Semabok Perdana. Akmal said he wanted a bottle of Revive, so I had to go inside and get him a bottle of Revive, and paid my gas at the counter. As I was about to leave, a girl acknowledging me...

"En Rosman..."

And I looked up, there she was, Baizura, my ex student at KYM. She studied BBA under UUM franchised programme at KYM. She smiled at me and then I said...

I remember your face but I could not recall your name... and before I could finish my sentence, she replied with a smile, BAIZURA.

I noticed her husband was there beside the atm and shook hand with him.

Every time I met my former students, in fb or in person, I kinda have this habit. I would ask the same question to each and every one of them

Did I ever chase you out from my class?

They instantly know what I meant. So, Baizura said she was never. In that case, she never came late for my class.

Then, I realised she was heavily pregnant. I asked her when she's due. She replied that any time now. And I asked her whether it is her first, and she duly answered yes. She was all smiling, looking radiant and resplendent. And her handsome husband just observing our conversation.

And then I realised, my tummy is bigger than hers!

Before parting ways, she invited me to come to her husband's restaurant, which is located at Bukit Beruang, selling Nasi Arab. So, I replied one of these days I'll bring my wife and kids for a sumptuous treat of Mandy Goat (hehehe) or Mandy Mutton or Mandy Lamb.

To me, it was always a pleasure for being acknowledged by my former students. How time flies. Many of my former student are married with kids. One thing is for sure....

I am getting older...

All mixed up.

I told my brother that I won't be around for his wedding reception. But at 11 am, I was at my father's house and everybody started asking...

This is actually what happened. Please bear with me as I go around the bush to lay the fault on others. Kih kih kih.

I learned English from standard 1 in 1974 until form 5 1984. From a,an and the to vocabularies. To say that I mastered my English, is an overstatement. I understood spoken English. Written English? hmmm..

Then in 1985, I took ESL and TOEFL. Then only I came across American English. All those years I thought every Mat Saleh speak English that I know. Suddenly I made a lot of spelling errors and realised that certain words have two ways of spelling. One is British English and the other one is the American English or American way. It is no laughing matter. The Americans, as I was told, like to be different from the British. Serious.

That their roadways is the exact opposite of what I used to in Malaysia was not new to me as I watched o lot of American movies on tv.

Then came the sports. I realised that they are a bunch of low self-esteem people who claimed that their national champion is the World Champion. Phew! Certain sports they don't even play against other countries in a world cup tournament, yet they claim to be the World Champion. Luckily they never became champion in the World Cup of Football, or soccer as they call it. And they have a game which is called Football. And the funny thing was that it was played using hand. Hehehe. They confused between foot and hand. Hahaha.

What else?

Ha ah... The way they write the date. We are used to have day/month/year where as the Americans write it with this format: month/day/year. The famous one is of course the 9/11.

Last Saturday, I drove all the way from Melaka to Royale Bintang in Seremban for a Leadership Seminar. It was a one day seminar, the same day that my brother getting married. I reached the hotel around 8.20 and waited for others to arrive. It was almost 9 when I didn't see any familiar faces and a check with the reception, I was told that the seminar that I was to attend was not listed as one of the functions that day. So I called my boss.

Me: Hey boss, I thought the seminar supposed to start at 9. No  familiar faces around and the hotel staff told me that there was no booking.

Boss: what seminar?

Me: The Leadership Seminar


Boss: That one ah! It is on the April 2nd, not today...

You see...

How could I know that 4/2/2012 is April 2nd, 2012. One day after April Fool.

Memories still linger.

Marriage is a union of two souls. Pledging love to each other and vowing to stay together through thick and thin. It is a life long journey, where by two people trying to complete each other. It is a challenge to create and build true and everlasting love between them, for you can never find true love anywhere but inside your heart. The struggle to preserve the sanctity of the marriage is the main priority of any married couple.

Then come the children. They never asked to be born. But we tried and persisted, and out they came. One after another. And we shifted our energy and focus towards upbringing them, to nurture them, to provide the best we could so that they have a better childhood experience than we were.

So, our married life becomes more complete with their arrivals. Children always expect their parents to be like a superman or superwoman. They expect us to know everything. Sometimes they challenge our nerves, sometimes our intelligence. Sometimes they play trick on us. No matter what, we love them. They might forget about their roots, yet we still love them. And sometimes they question our stand on an issues, yet we still love them. The parental love is sometimes beyond explanation. Sometimes we as parents we simply can't understand the extend other parents take to show their love for their children. Being overly protective, I personally think is not good. There are limits to what and we can profess our love to our children.

While going through our daily routines, we are tested in many ways. A phone call late at night from the police or hospital send shivers through our spine. Or a diagnose confirmed our fears. Adjustments have to be made. Living a daily life has become a chore. Priorities changed overnight. Faith are seriously tested. Hope is all we've got.

Try as we may, ALLAH's will is beyond us. Suddenly, you are going to carry on without your spouse. The obscure feeling, being hollow, all at one might derail your plan for the future. We accept what happened in good faith. To ALLAH we pray so that we will be amongst HIS blessed servant.

Everybody dies. The question is when and how. Life goes on, though full or uncertainties. Your children now have one parent less. You have to be strong for them. They seem a little bit loss. You miss your spouse, hey miss their father/mother even more. You cried, they cried. It takes sometimes to get over it, but the memories linger.

You decided its about time to move on with life. The searching for a new partner is on. Careful considerations about the children's feeling is paramount. It is between your need for a partner in life and their opposing to it. They see it as a betrayal on your part. But then, children don't understand the need of an adult. Certain needs can be provided by the children, or siblings, parents and relatives. But that special need to love and to be loved by the opposite sex, only a partner in life can provide.

By writing this, I think now I understood what happened to my brother and his four children. So my brother lost his wife to cancer and his children lost their mother. It was heart wrenching moment when my brother stuttered over the phone telling me 'kak daimah dah tak da'. I was lost for words, not that I and my brother were talking quite often though. But that weird moment when silence was so deafening.

So yesterday, Feb 4 th, my brother remarried. It is good that he has found a new love. I hope that they'll happily with true love. And for his children, I also hope that they can accept their father's new bride and give her a chance. Fret not, his wife is not a replacement for your beloved mother. You and your mother shared a beautiful life together and no one can take that away from you. No one can. Not in a thousand years.

To arwah Kak Daimah, may ALLAH showers you with HIS blessings.

Memories still linger.

Pak Pandir

Pak Pandir dan Mak Andeh baghu je dipindahkan ke tempat baghu. Ladang getah ni terletak di seberang jalan besau. Esok jam 5 pagi, seperti biasa Pak Pandir bergeghak menuju ke ladang getahnya. Biasanya lepas tengahari baghu Pak Pandir balik ghumah. Tapi pagi tu, sebelum jam 7 pagi pak pandir dah tercongok depan pintu ghumah dia. Mak Andeh kehairanan.

Mak Andeh: kenapa bapaknya pulang awai nau?


Pak Pandir: Aku pergilah ke ladang baghu kita tu. Bila aku nak sebeghang jalan aku nampak ada notis besau tertulis DILARANG MEMOTONG.



Satu pagi, sebelum Pak Pandir pergi ladang, Mak Andeh pesan 'kalau2 ada terjumpa orang jual nasi ayam, awak belilah dua bungkus. saya malas nak masak hari ni. Pak Pandir pun singgah ke gerai jual nasi ayam masa haluan balik.

Pak Pandir: nak, bungkuskan pakcik dua nasi ayam ya. Tapi ayam dan nasi tu kamu asingkan ya.


Pekedai: kenapa nak diasingkan pakcik?


Pak Pandir: pakcik tak mahu ayam tu makan semua nasi tu.



'Mak kau! maghi sini kejap'. Jeghit Pak Pandir memmanggil Mak Andeh. Terkocok-kocoh Mak Andeh datang. 'Ada apanya jeghit2 panggil saya ni', balas Mak Andeh.

Pak Pandir: ni ha... aku tanam pokoknya mangga. tapi kenapa pokok ubi yang tumbuh.


Mak Andeh: awak tanam pokok mangga kat tempat lain agaknya...


Pak Pandir: kat sini le aku tanam pokok mangga tu. sebagai penanda, aku pagaukan dengan batang ubi.




Pak Pandir baghu balik daghi ladang.

Pak Pandir: sayang.... panasnya kat luau, sampai berpeluh abang


Mak Andeh: abang bukan setakat berpeluh, badan abang pun ada bau peluh. eeee..... ada kotoran peluh aka daki melekat pada baju.....

Pak Pandir: alamak!


Mak Andeh: tak apa, nanti abang sental baju tu ya guna sabun cap kapak.

Would you read and share? I know I did.

In one the emails i received a few years ago.

Please read and share with people you know. It might not benefit you, but it might do good on others.

At a  fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children,  the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be  forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its  dedicated staff, he offered a question: 

"When  not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done  with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children  do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural  order of things in my son?" 

The  audience was stilled by the query.  

The  father continued. "I believe, that when a child like Shay, physically and  mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true  human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other people treat  that child."Then he told the following story:

Shay  and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were  playing baseball. Shay asked,"Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's  father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on  their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to  play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some  confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his  handicaps.

Shay's  father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could  play, not expecting much. The boy looked around for guidance and said,  "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he  can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth  inning."  

Shay  struggled over to the team's bench put on a team shirt with a broad smile  and his Father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The  boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the  eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by  three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in  the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously  ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear  as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth  inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded,  the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at  bat. At  this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the  game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was  all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat  properly, much less connect with the ball.

However,  as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the other team  putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps  to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact.  The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again  took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the  pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right  back to the pitcher.  

The  game would now be over, but the pitcher picked up the soft grounder and  could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have  been out and that would have been the end of the game. 

Instead,  the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, out  of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams  started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had  Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base. He scampered down the  baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone  yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching  his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to  make it to second base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the  right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a  chance to be the hero for his team for the first time. He could have  thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the  pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far  over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as  the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. 

All  were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay"

Shay  reached third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and turned him  in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to  third" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and those watching  were on their feet were screaming, "Shay, run home! Shay ran to home,  stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam"  and won the game for his team.

That  day, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, the boys  from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this  world. 

Shay  didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having never  forgotten being the hero and making his Father so happy and coming home  and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the  day!

Pertandingan Berpantun

Buat julung kalinya, Saya menganjurkan pertandingan berpantun di blog ini. Pertandingan ini dibuat secara suka-suka sebagai menghargai rakan2 semua di samping mengenengahkan bakat berpantun.

Pertandingan ini bukanlah acara berbalas pantun. Cuma anda bleh menghantar seberapa banyak pantun yang anda suka.

Saya yang akan mengadilinya dan membuat keputusan pantun yang terbaik. Hanya seorang sahaja yang akan menerima hadiah di atas.

Pantun kali ini bertemakan Maulidir Rasul. Dan perkataan RASUL mesti digunakan dalam pantun anda.

Pertandingan ini bermula sekarang sehingga hari Jumaat 3 Februari 2012 jam 11.59:59 minit malam.

Hadiah untuk pertandingan kali ini.

Kumpul, cuci dan jual.

Ah Seng adalah seorang pengumpul botol terpakai yang tegar. Beliau mula menceburkan diri dalam aktiviti mengumpul, mencuci dan menjual botol sejak dari lepas sekolah. Ini sahaja pekerjaan yang beliau buat selama 40 tahun. Dengan cari, cuci dan jual botol, beliau menyara kehidupan sekeluarga.

Beliau akan keluar awal pagi dan balik lewat apabila bakul basikal dah penuh. Kalau penuh awal, beliau akan keluar lagi. Kadang2 kalau rezeki baik, beliau akan keluar berkali2. Biasanya, beliau akan balik sebelum senja. Sebelah malamnya, botol2 yang dikutip akan dicuci dan dikeringkan. Esoknya, beliau akan menjual botol2 yang dah kering kepada pelanggan tetapnya.

Salah satu tempat dan hari yang suka dipergi beliau ialah di pantai pada hujung minggu. Pada satu Ahad petang, beliau tiba di pantai tersebut dan tersenyum lebar..... Banyak botol bertebaran di kawasan pantai. "banyak botol wa dapat ptg ni" kata Ah Seng di dalam hati.

Beliau terus memulakan aktiviti pengumpulan botol tanpa henti. Tiba2, beliau ternampak satu botol yang agak pelik dan bertutup rapat. Tiada tanda2 botol tersebut pernah dibuka. Apabila Ah Seng membuka tudung botol tersebut, keluarlah jin seraya berkata, 

"hei manusia, akan aku tunaikan tiga hajat kamu kerana telah membebaskan aku dari botol ini"

Tanpa berlengah, Ah Seng pun berkata. "jin, wa mau lu tolong wa kutip semua botol"

Dengan sekelip mata, semua botol telah dikumpulkan jin tersebut. "apa permintaan kedua kamu wahai manusia?"

Ah Seng pun menyuruh jin tersebut membasuh semua botol yang terkumpul, dan dengan sendirinya, semua botol tersebut sudah menjadi bersih dan kering.

"Wahai manusia, apakah permintaan ketiga dan terakhir kamu?"

Maka Ah Seng, yang hanya tahu kumpul, cuci dan jual, menyuruh jin menjual kesemua botol tersebut.

Jin tersebut pun melaksanakan hajat Ah Seng dan Ah Seng merasa gembira dan puas hati kerana jin tersebut telah memudahkan aktiviti mengumpul, mencuci dan menjual botol2 tersebut.

Begitu juga dengan kita. Kekadang kita dah terbiasa melakukan sasuatu perkara, apabila datang peluang dan ruang untuk melakukan perkara yang lebih baik, kita tutup minda dan penglihatan kita rapat2, kerana lebih mudah melakukan perkara yang sama berulang kali dari melakukan satu perkara baru.