Merdeka!

Tear down divisive walls: Najib

(excerpt NST online)

2009/08/30

KUALA LUMPUR: Likening unity to bridges that connect the people and disunity to walls that divide them, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak tonight urged the people to repair their bridges and tear down the divisive walls that existed among the races.

Addressing the nation in his first National Day message as the prime minister, Najib said the passing of time saw the bridges, which were painstakingly built by the nation's founding fathers, becoming shaky due to attempts by certain quarters whom he described as opportunistic groups out to exploit frictions among the people.

Najib said these groups were exploiting the slip lines that existed among the society, be they are political, religious or social, to satisfy their narrow agenda.

The prime minister also called on the people to keep on fuelling "the burning spirit of patriotism" and to dedicate their energies to making the 1Malaysia vision a success.

Tomorrow is Malaysia's 52nd National Day and the theme for this year's celebrations is "1Malaysia. People First. Performance Now."


"Let us ensure that the flag of honour, Jalur Gemilang, will continue to fly proudly at the international arena. Let us pray that this great journey of ours is blessed and guided by The Almighty."

Taekwondo : 9 - 2

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That was the score when Faraheen won the gold medal for junior level (blue belt) of "Terbuka Kelantan" (Kelantan Open) previous weekend! Congrats dik, so proud of u ~ all the kickings around the house paid off eh?

Called her up to wish her luck that Saturday morning when she was about to start, by that evening her mum called to say that she had won...alhamdulillah.

Don't know the overall results but the team came back with at least 2 gold medals ~ each from Faraheen and her cousin, Ika.

(holding the gold medal together with the silver medal she won in a different open)

It was a leap from last year's performance, her first competition at club's level...she had to stop after less than 1 minute - bleeding nose - such determination to excel in her favourite sport..good for her!

(last year's competition)

I don't know much about Taekwondo, so I searched the net :-)


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(excerpt ~ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taekwondo)

Taekwondo (Korean pronunciation: [tʰɛkwʌndo]) is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. It is the world's most popular martial art in terms of the number of practitioners.[1] Gyeorugi (pronounced [ɡjʌɾuɡi]), a type of sparring, has been an Olympic event since 2000.

In Korean, "tae" means "to strike or break with foot"; "kwon" means "to strike or break with fist"; and "do" means "way" or "method"; so "taekwondo" is loosely translated as "the way of the foot and fist" or "the way of kicking and punching".

A taekwondo student typically wears a uniform (dobok 도복), often white but sometimes black or other colors, with a belt (tti 띠) tied around the waist. The belt indicates the student's rank. The school or place where instruction is given is called the dojang 도장

Today's menu

Into the fourth day of fasting month, and today I tried the recipe from the cooking program I watched on Sunday.

Here's how it (the "Daging Dendeng") went :

- 400gms of meat(beef ~ sliced thinly), marinated with soy sauce and a bit of salt (I cheated a bit and added chopped ginger...hehehe...)

- Left it for 1/2 hour, deep fried until crispy....and pounded it individually with "batu lesung" (mortar and pestle) till its... mmmm... "thinner"(but I had to make sure its still in one piece..haha..) :-)

- 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic and 7 red chilles (deseeded) and pounded/blended it slightly, stir-fried with 3 - 4 tablespoons of oil until fragrant.

- added the fried beef and little bit of salt, cooked for a further 3 - 4 minutes.

... and this was one of the dishes we had for breaking fast today...
:- )

...the result? need to fry it crispier...but I didnt do too badly....
and haha...I already have a "customer"....
my mum called and asked me to cook it for her when I go back next time!
...she has such confidence in me...hehe..


I had actually sent a picture message to my sister back at kampung, and with her "fuyoo!!" reply, she sent me this ~ her menu of the day..."bubur lambuk" (a special kind of rice porridge) ~ mmmm....one of my favourite Ramadhan dish....


(my sister's version)


Luckily I already made it last week - a "trial run" before the fasting month - as it had been quite a while since I cooked it last...hehehe...


(my version)

There are lots of "bubur lambuk" around these days ~ its a "tradition" by some mosques to prepare and distribute it freely during the fasting month...

(zuhri.flickr.com)

(zuhri.flickr.com)

True Wealth

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the purpose of showing his son how the poor people live so he could be thankful for his wealth.



They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked.



"Oh yeah" said the son.

"So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.



The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four."

"We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end."

"We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night."



"Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon."

"We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight."



"We have servants who serve us, but they serve others."

"We buy our food, but they grow theirs."

"We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."



With this the boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added,

"Thanks dad for showing me how poor we are."

Patriotism

Last Thursday, whilst out shopping with a friend, she said that I was very patriotic when she saw me buying a flag for my car in support of the "Fly the Jalur Gemilang" campaign by our Prime Minister.

Hehehe...what she didnt know was that on the day of the launching ~ 12th. August ~ I was in my car when I heard the evening news, and I quickly searched inside my car...and ta-daaa... :-)!!!

(Flags of Malaysia and state of Terengganu)

Alhamdulillah..I'm thankful for my blessed country..so why not?
I am patriotic and this is my "small" way of showing it,
and since last Saturday, the flag has been proudly "flying"...




...and the shadow...



I love it!

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FLAG DUTIES: Time to show some patriotism

(NST Online - Letter)

2009/08/17

MICHAEL NG, Seremban

IN launching the "Fly the Jalur Gemilang" campaign in conjunction with the 52nd Merdeka Day celebration, the prime minister said he wished to see every house, shop, commercial and government building and vehicle fly the national flag.

I have been flying the national flag in my garden for the past four years. My 5-year-old son gets excited each time he sees the flag fluttering in the breeze. I am trying to get him to salute the flag as well.

I hope my action will persuade my neighbours to hoist the national flag, too. Like me, a few had done so previously but I hope more residents will join in this year.

All Malaysians should be loyal to the country even if they disagree with what the government of the day says and does. A government can be removed through the ballot box but as citizens of the country, our rights are enshrined in the Constitution and no one can take that away from us.

There is no place for extremism in our plural society. Those who keep at it will soon find out that the majority of the people will never accept their slanted views.

In my schooldays, I had friends of all races and that has stood me in good stead. Now, I don't feel out of place even if I am in a place where the majority is from one racial group, which is the case at a gym I frequent for my workouts.

Though I am English-educated, I have no problems speaking Bahasa Malaysia to the other gym-goers.

Malaysia is my home and I will live and die here as a Malaysian.

(http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/19ds/Article/index_html)

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Bolt smashes 100 metre World Record

AP Photo/Michael Sohn

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Usain Bolt has proved again he races in a world all his own.

The Olympic champion won a huge matchup against Tyson Gay at the World Championships, beating his chest after he crossed the line and watched the clock stop at 9.58 seconds.

Looking at the clock beyond the finish line, Bolt even beat time itself.

Running full-out in ideal conditions and against the toughest competition possible for the first time in his 22 years, Bolt blew away his own worldrecord by a massive .11 seconds and made Gay seem slow despite setting a U.S. record of 9.71 seconds, the third fastest time in history.

"I got a pretty good start,'' Bolt said. "I was there at 20 meters and that was it.''

It was the biggest increase in the record since electronic time was introduced in 1968.

After Jim Hines ran 9.95 at 1968 Mexico City Olympics, it took 28 years to shave another .11 seconds, as Donovan Bailey clocked 9.84 in 1996.

Bolt did the same in 12 months.

Exactly one year ago at the Beijing Games, Bolt was breezing after 70 meters and set a record of 9.69.

But on the deep indigo blue track of the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Gay pushed him and his own sore groin as far as he could. To no avail.

Gay stayed with him over the first part but once Bolt unfurled that huge stride of his, there was no contest.

Asafa Powell of Jamaica took bronze in 9.84.


(http://english.aljazeera.net/sport/2009/08)

Pergi Tak Kembali

1) Asri of Rabbani dies

2009/08/13

Faridul Anwar Farinordin
(excerpt : NST Online)

KUALA LUMPUR: The leader of popular nasyid group Rabbani, Asri Ibrahim, passed away at Pantai Medical Centre at 11am this morning.

Asri, 40, who was also Rabbani's lead singer, collapsed following a heart attack during a press conference for RTM’s programme Syahadah at Angkasapuri.

He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

( ~ semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat ke atas ruhnya dan ditempatkan bersama para solihin...ameen)

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

The popular nasyeed of Rabbani ~ "Pergi Tak Kembali" (Final Journey) ~ written by arwah Asri with KRU ~ reminding us on the moments before death, saying goodbye forever to everyone with the hope that we have done enough good deeds before we return and face our Creator, Allah The Al-Mighty..

Setiap insan pasti merasa
Saat perpisahan terakhir
Dunia yang fana akan ditinggalkan
Hanya amalan yang dibawa

Terdengar sayup surah dibaca
Sayunya alunan suara
Cemas di dada...lemah tak bermaya
Terbuka hijab di depan mata

Selamat tinggal pada semua
Berpisahlah kita selamanya
Kita tak sama nasib di sana
Baikkah atau sebaliknya

Amalan dan takwa jadi bekalan
Sejahtera bahagia pulang...ke sana

Sekujur badan berselimut putih
Rebah bersemadi sendiri
Mengharap kasih anak dan isteri
Apa mungkin pahala dikirim

Terbaring sempit seluas pusara
Soal-bicara terus bermula
Sesal dan insaf tak berguna lagi
Hancurlah jasad dimamah bumi

Berpisah sudah segalanya
Yang tinggal hanyalah kenangan
Diiring doa dan air mata
Yang pergi takkan kembali lagi

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2) Yasmin Ahmad dies

2009/07/25

Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Renowned film and advertising director Yasmin Ahmad died here at about 11.25pm on Saturday night.

Her death was confirmed by Media Prime Group Chief Operations Officer Datuk Seri Ahmad Farid Ridzuan, who was at the Damansara Specialists Hospital, when contacted by Bernama.

Yasmin, 51, collapsed while presenting a working paper at Sri Pentas, the headquarters of the private television station TV3 on Thursday and was rushed to the Damansara Specialists Hospital.

She was reported to have suffered a stroke and brain haemorrhage.

Yasmin left a legacy of her works in the film and advertisement arenas, thriving on the themes of love, family ties and comedy against the backdrop of multiracial Malaysia.

One of her "product" ~ Merdeka advertisement :
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAvkpqgN36k)

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Al-Fatihah

Malaysian Cartoonist : Lat

@ Mohd Nor bin Khalid was born in March 1951, in a kampung (village) house in Kota Bahru, Malaysia. He grew into a chubby little fellow and was nickname "Bulat" or Lat.

His cartoons have been published in several cartoon books in Malaysia and he is famous throughout the country. Most of his books were originally released in both Malay and English versions by Berita Publishing Sdn. Bhd...and some of it had been released in Japanese, German and American versions.

Some of the titles :

* Be Serious Lat
* Better Lat than Never
* Budak Kampung
* Dr. Who?! (Tribute to former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
featuring compilation of Lat's past comics depicting Mahathir)
* Entahlah Mak...
* It's a Lat Lat Lat Lat World
* Kampung Boy: Yesterday and Today (ISBN 967-969-307-4)
* Kampung Boy: Yesterday and Today (Japanese Version ISBN 4794940246)
* Keluarga SiMamat
* Lat 30 Years Later
* Lat and Gang
* Mat Som (English Version) (ISBN 983-99617-1-3)
* Mat Som (Malay Version)
* Scenes of Malaysian Life[2]
* Kampung Boy
* Kampung Boy - Ein Frechdachs aus Malaysia (German Version)
* Town Boy
* Town Boy (Japanese Version)

[... we only have some of his books :-) ]

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and I love watching these series...


Lat Kampung Boy (part-1)
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK8Ipc-HdKg)





Lat Kampung Boy (part-2) ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvfTnSY6N54


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Lat's Malaysia on show


2009/08/13


By Teresa Yongteresay@nst.com.my
excerpt from : (http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/15lat/Article/index_html)

KUALA LUMPUR: Generations of Malaysians have enjoyed the view of society Datuk Lat has depicted in his cartoons. Documenting our lives and foibles with loving humour, he has become a part of our cultural landscape.

"Lat's Malaysia", an exhibition of 60 original cartoons out of the 2,000 in the New Straits Times Press Bhd's collection, will open tomorrow in the newly renovated Bangsar Shopping Complex.

Organised by NSTP with Bandar Raya Development Bhd (BRDB), the exhibition is the fourth in the "Road to Nationhood" series that began in 2005, showcasing archive materials from the NSTP Resource Centre

"This year we decided to do something different. Lat is one of the country's greatest assets. His work cuts across all racial and political boundaries.

The exhibition will be launched by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, a regular subject of Lat's cartoons. It will be open daily till Aug 31.

Lat, The Early Years, published by NSTP, will also be available at RM120 a copy. It comes with a Lat cartoon bag, said NSTP Resource Centre information services manager Hurriyah Ismail.

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NST : I REMEMBER WHEN... I was one of the Magnificent 7

Zaharah Routin Ibrahim (third from left) with the other six magnificent women,
posing proudly in their uniform

When did the country have its own policewomen? Well, in the beginning, it was just a band of seven female cops in 1955, says Zaharah Routin Ibrahim. Those were exciting times to be in uniform, she tells KOH LAY CHIN

IT was 1955 and I was a teacher in Alor Star. I was just 22 years old, taught students English and was pretty satisfied with my job at the time.

Then one day, I saw the recruitment advertisement in the newspapers for policewomen and I was filled with curiosity.

I mean, women cops, it was unheard of at the time. I applied for the position and the next thing you know, they had called us for interviews.

I was among the lucky seven selected.

I did not know anything about the profession really, but they asked us all sorts of questions, such as why we wanted to become policewomen.

I just told them that it would be a good thing to try. Well, these days I guess the requirements are much higher, of course.

But those days, we were just kampung girls. We were just excited about everything.

I remember travelling to Kuala Lumpur from Kedah by myself. All the way down, alone, for the first time. What a rush it was.

Later on, when we were on duty, I would also drive to Penang by car. People would really stare. Women just really didn't do those things at the time.

You see, the seven of us were a big attraction of sorts in our smart uniforms. We would go to places together and there would be photographers following us everywhere.

We would be at the courts, for example, and most of the time people would pay more attention to us than the actual cases.

You could say we were like celebrities at the time. People were very nice to us, and we were quite relaxed and confident as a result. Plus, we were a team, so that made it easier.

Our training lasted eight months. We were trained by male police officers as well as Miss Barbara Wentworth, a British policewoman.

We were taught the law, including the Penal Code and the ordinance on the protection of women and children. We were also trained to shoot.

We also were trained in midwifery. They took us to hospitals to watch how babies were delivered.

Miss Wentworth had been sent specially from England to train us and she was a serious lady. There was no fooling around with her.

They housed us in a bungalow and the seven of us became like sisters.

I liked the marching very much. We did this every day. I also liked learning judo. Imagine learning self-defence at a time when it was so rare for women to indulge in this sort of activities.

Most of the time, we handled cases which dealt with women and children. For instance, I remember handling many vice cases and took part in many raids on hotels.

I was also involved in the investigation into a murder case in Penang when I was in the crime branch there. But I never had to shoot anyone. Thank God for that.

Everyone was quite gentlemanly and nice to us in those days, and I did not have to handle any roughness or anything like that.

I got married in 1959 and I would have liked to continue in the force but it was hard for me.

I travelled with my husband but there were so few places with posts for policewomen.

So, in the end, I quit the force and became a housewife, later dabbling in a bit of business.

It was exciting serving the country as one of the first seven policewomen.

I miss the job very much and now look fondly back at my experiences.

The New Straits Times Online: bI REMEMBER WHEN.../b I was one of the Magnificent 7

Fruits season

Went to visit our 13-year old nephew, Nazeem in Kuala Kangsar on Saturday and along the way, we went on a "shopping spree" ....
....hehehe...




"pulasan"

"mangga"

"dokong"

"buah tampoi"

"mata kuching" ~ a bit like lychee

"durian" ~ that we had with lunch...mmmmm...

hmmmm....

Anyway, we didnt stay for long as Nazeem had to prepare for his exam this week starting Monday, hope he'd do well...


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Previous month when we were in KT, we had these :

"manggis"



"durian"


"duku"



(and that's me ~ "picking up" rambutan in front of my mum's house)
...with my little "helper" ~ Batrisyia
and Faraheen who took the picture with my hp.
:-)


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oops...hope I'm not making my dear friend in Holland wishing that she's back in Malaysia...hehehe...

The "princesses" in Port Dickson

We had fun in Port Dickson yesterday, and I didnt regret making the last minute decision to join our school's alumni committees/members to go there for the programme arranged by the Ministry of Education.

held at Tiara Beach Resort (with no natural beach in sight..hehe..)

Our alumni's programme was conducted in English ~ we had some games and drama "competition"(and Mas n I were really proud that our "Super Natural" group , with the topic "Bullies in school" won the competition ~ they had good ideas in coming up with the script! yippieeee!!)

(The "Super Natural" in action ~ scene 3 : in the Principal's office)

Having the chance to interact with few selected 16-year old boys and girls from the boarding schools all over Malaysia was such a good experience, that by the end of the day, I learned some things too...

....n with this good feeling, guess I'm not upset anymore that I was elected (few months back) to be a committee member of the alumni for the current term...hehehe..

So it was not a waste leaving the house at 6 in the morning, traveled with 4 others for 1 1/2 hours, despite that the car battery went dead and I reached home at about 9 in the evening.

....till now, the whole day's experience can still make me smile...

and as A.J said in her mail today ..."it was GREAT!!! The students assigned to us were great, they really put their heart & soul into making our programme a success, everything went really well"

and she said that she's "still in a state of euphoria"....I guess the rest of us are too! hehehe...

As we didnt have enough time to summarise the purpose of our programme to the 27 students who were with us, hopefully we have managed to contribute something useful to them and that they have had a good time.

for the 11 of us "princesses" who went to P.D, including our alumni's Madam President, it was just great..

(Logo on our black t-shirts ~ done by one of our members who together with her husband, have been very supportive of alumni's activities (thank u Ros!)- http://piscespair.lelong.com.my)



... the fairy tale ended, we turned back into "ordinary" ladies and went back to our respective towns...hehehe...

* The End *