The following was a post on my Facebook yesterday 16 May 2020 to commemorate Teacher's Day.
It takes a big heart to shape little minds.
It is a humid and stuffy afternoon now. The dark clouds and occasional sound of thunder that threatened to burst into a thunderstorm had passed by my house as just a drizzle. Another area in JB is probably experiencing the heavy downpour.
Actually, it is such a good time to take an afternoon nap. But I've been taking too many daytime dozing sessions (especially in the situation of MCO and fasting) that it is becoming not such a good thing. So in conjunction with Teacher's Day, I've decided to explore my Facebook friends list and find out how many of them are teachers or do work related to the teaching profession (lecturers, librarians, counselors and the like).
Here's what I've found :
1. Facebook does not display my friends list in alphabetical order. Nor is it in frequency of interaction (some people who are inactive are found in the top half of the list while some who regularly respond to my posts are near the bottom).
2. I have a total of 466 Facebook friends (including some duplicates and those who have passed on). Of these, 46 are teachers. That works out to a whisker under 10%.
3. Fourteen (14) of those teachers are my fellow batchmates of MCE/SPM 1979.
4. Of my FB friends, I have seven (7) teachers who taught at MRSM Kuantan.
5. Four (4) persons on the list are family members (one sister-in-law, one daughter-in-law and two nieces). Yeah, ladies all of them. The guys in my family are not inclined to teach.
6. I have three (3) friends called Zura (Azura, Norazura and Maizura). Guess what.... all three are teachers.
`Selamat Hari Guru' to all my teacher and educator friends. All your combined weight in gold can never match the value of the knowledge you have imparted.
................................................
Wan Shahriza, Zulika Abdullah, Roswati Abdul Wahab (a), Kharmilla Abdullah, Siti Hamidah, Sir Peter Ng, Noordin Mohd Yusof, Nor Ezan, Azura Omar, Cahaya Malam, Rashidah Jailani, Shahrin Mohamad, Azie Amin, Norazura Abd Talip, Hazlin Nazri, Puan Faizah Aziz-Wells, Marz Zain Al Din, Roseline Mairon, Khairanum Subari, Paula Khoo, Eniey Ab Rahim, Cikgu Rahmah Sahamid, Daud Mohamad, Siti Zaleha Muhammed Said, Adriana Ismail, Nida Elias, Cordelia Mason, Cikgu Mohdzin Abu, Zulkafli Hassan, Fauziah Abdul Ghani, Saufie Ali, Cikgu Zakaria Mohdnoor, Ruzaini A Arshah, Wanmai Wanman, Cikgu Kandan Saikon, Yang Farina Abdul Aziz, Kak Yong Irna, Abdul Razak, Haziah Hashim, Rohana Mustapha, Nur Diyana Zainal Abidin, Atun Manap, Suzyanna Mokhtar, Pat Goh, Ana Wahid and Cikgu Zamri Mohamed Isa.
(Mohon maaf banyak2 jika saya ada tertinggal nama sahabat yg juga seorang cikgu atau pernah menjadi cikgu)
.............................................
Sunday 17 May 2020
Sunday 3 May 2020
Relaxing the MCO restrictions
The Malaysian government has seen a bit of light at the end of the tunnel...
Tomorrow Monday 4 May 2020 sees the relaxation of some restrictions imposed under the Movement Control Order. Many people have expressed their concern that such a move would cause a possible 3rd wave of Covid-19 infections. Among the words used to describe the government's decision include 'premature', 'risky', 'drastic', 'worrying' plus a few other unflattering terms. The recurrence of the pandemic at Hokkaido, Japan has been quoted as an example.
Such concerns and criticisms are understandable. 'We have held on for so long.... why can't we see it through for a few more days? The virus is not totally eradicated yet. Why sacrifice the hard work of all frontliners just for the sake of the economy?'
In this particular situation, I agree with the Prime Minister and his team. I am sure the government has made careful discussion and deliberation before arriving at the decision. I believe it was made upon consideration of the need to balance risk and necessity with due thought towards the capability of our healthcare system. Discounting the earlier blunders made by certain ministers and government departments, I support this move.
Not all of us have sufficient savings, stable jobs, or comfortable homes with internet connectivity. As I've read in a Facebook posting somewhere, we are not all in the same boat. Each of us face this crisis under different circumstances. There are many amongst us whose savings have dried up, live in cramped low-cost housing, and depend on welfare food handouts for their daily meals. The easing of restrictions may provide opportunities to some of these people to eke out a living or, at the very least, allow a few hours of respite outside their homes.
It is not like a free-for-all situation come this Monday. The Ministry of Health still imposes strict guidelines on how businesses are allowed to operate (the so-called SOP). A full lockdown can be imposed on selected locations should there be a breach of the rules. Therefore it becomes imperative that we, as responsible citizens, play our part to follow the government's directives. Of course, there would be doubters who say that not everybody would comply; just look at the number of MCO offences that have been committed so far. The only response I can offer is, as long as we call ourselves human beings, there would always be someone who has a mind of his own. I put my trust with the authorities to deal with such idiots.
Having said that, my only gripe with the relaxed MCO is still the closure of mosques and suraus. While the objective may be to prevent a large group of people from congregating, a partial (or sectional) opening of mosques should be made available. Most mosques in Malaysia have external corridors or verandahs, apart from the main prayer hall. These sections are enough to allow the occasional traveler, food-delivery guy, or policeman manning a roadblock to perform his prayer in peace and perhaps rest for a while. And he may use the moment to recite a du'a or two, asking the Almighty for assistance and guidance in this trying period. As it is now, we see photos of runners and cops praying by the roadside being posted on social media. Mosques in Singapore had made this facility available since the very start of their lockdown. They even marked out the prayer spaces on the floor so that no jemaah would stand close to one another. I fail to understand why we have not done the same.
I would even venture to suggest that the occasional 'solat berjemaah' be allowed, as long as the number of persons is small and appropriate spacing is practiced. An example of such a situation is when I stop at a mosque to pray and at the same time, there is another traveler with the same intention.
If the Prime Minister can allow Pak Salleh to open his restaurant provided the seating arrangement comply with the SOP, why can't he allow Pak Imam to open his mosque too?
In this month of Ramadhan, I am drawn towards a verse in the holy Al-Qur'an :
"And when My servants ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way."
(Al- Baqarah, verse 186)
Tomorrow Monday 4 May 2020 sees the relaxation of some restrictions imposed under the Movement Control Order. Many people have expressed their concern that such a move would cause a possible 3rd wave of Covid-19 infections. Among the words used to describe the government's decision include 'premature', 'risky', 'drastic', 'worrying' plus a few other unflattering terms. The recurrence of the pandemic at Hokkaido, Japan has been quoted as an example.
Such concerns and criticisms are understandable. 'We have held on for so long.... why can't we see it through for a few more days? The virus is not totally eradicated yet. Why sacrifice the hard work of all frontliners just for the sake of the economy?'
In this particular situation, I agree with the Prime Minister and his team. I am sure the government has made careful discussion and deliberation before arriving at the decision. I believe it was made upon consideration of the need to balance risk and necessity with due thought towards the capability of our healthcare system. Discounting the earlier blunders made by certain ministers and government departments, I support this move.
Not all of us have sufficient savings, stable jobs, or comfortable homes with internet connectivity. As I've read in a Facebook posting somewhere, we are not all in the same boat. Each of us face this crisis under different circumstances. There are many amongst us whose savings have dried up, live in cramped low-cost housing, and depend on welfare food handouts for their daily meals. The easing of restrictions may provide opportunities to some of these people to eke out a living or, at the very least, allow a few hours of respite outside their homes.
It is not like a free-for-all situation come this Monday. The Ministry of Health still imposes strict guidelines on how businesses are allowed to operate (the so-called SOP). A full lockdown can be imposed on selected locations should there be a breach of the rules. Therefore it becomes imperative that we, as responsible citizens, play our part to follow the government's directives. Of course, there would be doubters who say that not everybody would comply; just look at the number of MCO offences that have been committed so far. The only response I can offer is, as long as we call ourselves human beings, there would always be someone who has a mind of his own. I put my trust with the authorities to deal with such idiots.
Having said that, my only gripe with the relaxed MCO is still the closure of mosques and suraus. While the objective may be to prevent a large group of people from congregating, a partial (or sectional) opening of mosques should be made available. Most mosques in Malaysia have external corridors or verandahs, apart from the main prayer hall. These sections are enough to allow the occasional traveler, food-delivery guy, or policeman manning a roadblock to perform his prayer in peace and perhaps rest for a while. And he may use the moment to recite a du'a or two, asking the Almighty for assistance and guidance in this trying period. As it is now, we see photos of runners and cops praying by the roadside being posted on social media. Mosques in Singapore had made this facility available since the very start of their lockdown. They even marked out the prayer spaces on the floor so that no jemaah would stand close to one another. I fail to understand why we have not done the same.
I would even venture to suggest that the occasional 'solat berjemaah' be allowed, as long as the number of persons is small and appropriate spacing is practiced. An example of such a situation is when I stop at a mosque to pray and at the same time, there is another traveler with the same intention.
If the Prime Minister can allow Pak Salleh to open his restaurant provided the seating arrangement comply with the SOP, why can't he allow Pak Imam to open his mosque too?
In this month of Ramadhan, I am drawn towards a verse in the holy Al-Qur'an :
"And when My servants ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way."
(Al- Baqarah, verse 186)
Thursday 30 April 2020
One local destination a month (2nd edition) - Part 3 : Masjid Raja Haji Fisabilillah, Cyberjaya
This delayed posting of the third place I visited this year would probably be the last one for quite a while. In the current global Covid-19 pandemic, local travel has been severely restricted. It is not clear when the lockdown would end but I guess it is better to remain at home rather than risk being infected and also spread the disease.
Our visit to the Masjid Raja Haji Fisabilillah at Cyberjaya, Selangor was made on 8 March 2020, ten days before the Malaysian government imposed the first Movement Control Order (MCO). We made the stop at the mosque on our way back to Johor Bahru after attending a friend's wedding reception at Shah Alam the day before. The mosque itself is nothing historical. It is of modern design, in line with most other buildings within the technocrat setting of the Cyberjaya township. My interest lies with the person the mosque is named after.
Raja Haji Fisabillah Ibni Opu Daeng Chelak (1727 - 1784) was a warrior of Bugis royal lineage. He was the younger brother of Raja Lumu who later became Sultan Salehuddin Shah, the first sultan of Selangor. Raja Haji was well-known for his bravery in fighting the Dutch colonialists. He was killed during a raid against the Dutch at Teluk Ketapang in Melaka. He was initially buried in Melaka but his remains were claimed by his descendants and re-buried at Pulau Penyengat near the city of Tanjung Pinang on Bintan Island in Riau, Indonesia.
I browsed Google Maps in search of the tomb (makam) of Raja Haji and was surprised to note that the cemetery at Pulau Penyengat is well-maintained and attracts many visitors and historians. The Indonesian government has also recognized the late warrior's achievement and awarded him with a posthumous title. In terms of straight-line measurement, the distance between the mosque at Cyberjaya and the tomb at Pulau Penyengat is only about 400km. Of course in seafaring terms, such a distance is quite amazing, considering the time period of those days.
If the Almighty permits, I would like to make a trip to Tanjung Pinang one day. As history has shown, the people of Selangor, Johor and Riau are closely related and were once the same nation.
Our visit to the Masjid Raja Haji Fisabilillah at Cyberjaya, Selangor was made on 8 March 2020, ten days before the Malaysian government imposed the first Movement Control Order (MCO). We made the stop at the mosque on our way back to Johor Bahru after attending a friend's wedding reception at Shah Alam the day before. The mosque itself is nothing historical. It is of modern design, in line with most other buildings within the technocrat setting of the Cyberjaya township. My interest lies with the person the mosque is named after.
Raja Haji Fisabillah Ibni Opu Daeng Chelak (1727 - 1784) was a warrior of Bugis royal lineage. He was the younger brother of Raja Lumu who later became Sultan Salehuddin Shah, the first sultan of Selangor. Raja Haji was well-known for his bravery in fighting the Dutch colonialists. He was killed during a raid against the Dutch at Teluk Ketapang in Melaka. He was initially buried in Melaka but his remains were claimed by his descendants and re-buried at Pulau Penyengat near the city of Tanjung Pinang on Bintan Island in Riau, Indonesia.
I browsed Google Maps in search of the tomb (makam) of Raja Haji and was surprised to note that the cemetery at Pulau Penyengat is well-maintained and attracts many visitors and historians. The Indonesian government has also recognized the late warrior's achievement and awarded him with a posthumous title. In terms of straight-line measurement, the distance between the mosque at Cyberjaya and the tomb at Pulau Penyengat is only about 400km. Of course in seafaring terms, such a distance is quite amazing, considering the time period of those days.
If the Almighty permits, I would like to make a trip to Tanjung Pinang one day. As history has shown, the people of Selangor, Johor and Riau are closely related and were once the same nation.
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| Masjid Raja Haji Fisabilillah. Visited 8 March 2020 |
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| Side view |
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| Interior of prayer hall |
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| Commemorative plaque about its official opening |
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| Open and bright hallway |
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| Rear view |
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| Google Earth image showing locations of mosque and tomb (click on picture to enlarge) |
Tuesday 21 April 2020
Goreng
Masak tauge goreng lada
Lada ditumbuk lada putih,
Tuan menagih pada yang ada
Saya merajuk pada yang kasih...
(pantun dari halaman web DBP)
Dalam mencari maksud pada perkataan 'goreng', saya telah merujuk kepada Kamus Dewan yang saya miliki (edisi keempat tahun 2007). Terdapat dua (2) definisi bagi perkataan tersebut iaitu :
1. Yang dipanggang dalam kuali, yang dimasak dengan minyak.
2. Kecekapan memetik gitar mengikut tempo rancak (bahasa percakapan)
Maksud yang pertama itu adalah jelas dan tidak perlu dihuraikan. Maksud yang kedua pula adalah satu slanga (percakapan tidak rasmi) bagi aksi bermain gitar di mana petikan tali gitar itu dibuat dengan rancak dan nyaring, terutamanya pada bahagian 'gitar solo' dalam sesebuah lagu.
Para peminat muzik sudah tentu faham maksud kedua perkataan ini. Antara pemuzik tanahair yang pandai 'menggoreng' gitar ialah allahyarham M Shariff dan allahyarham A Rahman Hassan. Bagi saya, penggoreng gitar barat yang paling saya minati ialah Mark Knopfler.
Sebenarnya, rujukan yang saya buat ialah untuk mencari satu lagi maksud perkataan 'goreng' yang saya mula dengar ketika zaman persekolahan berpuluh tahun dahulu. 'Goreng' yang dimaksudkan ini juga digunakan dalam percakapan tidak formal. Tidak pasti pula samada istilah ini masih disebut oleh pelajar-pelajar masa kini.
Oleh kerana Kamus Dewan saya edisi lama, saya pun membuat semakan di internet. Manalah tahu, mungkin sudah ada definisi baru. Maaf... tiada definisi baru di laman web DBP.
Jadi, bagaimana ya untuk saya terangkan maksud ketiga perkataan 'goreng' ini (ikut pemahaman saya lah)? Mungkin saya boleh beri contoh pengunaannya.
Contoh 1 : Soalan karangan dalam kertas periksa BM tadi susah betul. Ceritakan satu keadaan yang boleh menerangkan maksud peribahasa 'Lalang ditanam, takkan padi yang tumbuh!'. Saya tak pernah pun dengar perumpamaan itu. Mana ada orang tanam lalang. Saya pun goreng je jawapannya.
Contoh 2 : Aku duk dengar dengan tekun mamat tu bagi ceramah tentang periuk masak yang terhebat di pasaran. Boleh grill, steam, air-fry, bake, smoke dan segala macam metode memasak. Dan bagaimana kalau kita jadi ahli, boleh tingkatkan jualan dengan hanya dapatkan tiga orang `downline' dan terus jana pendapatan beribu-ribu dalam masa beberapa bulan sahaja! Dalam bab menggoreng ni, tiada yang lebih hebat dari promoter MLM.
Kecekapan menggoreng cara ini kadangkala ada munafaatnya. Tetapi haruslah berhati-hati... terlebih goreng boleh jadi hangus.
Lima ratus negara tu memang sah-sah lah menggoreng. Tersalah sebut, katanya. Yang dimaksudkan ialah 500 peserta dari seluruh dunia. Ok lah... saya pun tidak pasti sebesar mana sesi 'video conferencing' yang dianjurkan oleh Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia. Mungkin talian sambungan mereka tersangatlah lancar dan jelas. Kami kumpulan rakan sekolah lama, buat panggilan video guna Google Duo, seramai tujuh atau lapan orang pun tersekat-sekat.
Panjang juga celoteh saya pada hari ini. Terima kasih kerana sudi membaca.
Gambar sekadar hiasan. Tempe dan tahu goreng. Enak di makan dalam waktu pergerakan terhad PKP.
Lada ditumbuk lada putih,
Tuan menagih pada yang ada
Saya merajuk pada yang kasih...
(pantun dari halaman web DBP)
Dalam mencari maksud pada perkataan 'goreng', saya telah merujuk kepada Kamus Dewan yang saya miliki (edisi keempat tahun 2007). Terdapat dua (2) definisi bagi perkataan tersebut iaitu :
1. Yang dipanggang dalam kuali, yang dimasak dengan minyak.
2. Kecekapan memetik gitar mengikut tempo rancak (bahasa percakapan)
Maksud yang pertama itu adalah jelas dan tidak perlu dihuraikan. Maksud yang kedua pula adalah satu slanga (percakapan tidak rasmi) bagi aksi bermain gitar di mana petikan tali gitar itu dibuat dengan rancak dan nyaring, terutamanya pada bahagian 'gitar solo' dalam sesebuah lagu.
Para peminat muzik sudah tentu faham maksud kedua perkataan ini. Antara pemuzik tanahair yang pandai 'menggoreng' gitar ialah allahyarham M Shariff dan allahyarham A Rahman Hassan. Bagi saya, penggoreng gitar barat yang paling saya minati ialah Mark Knopfler.
Sebenarnya, rujukan yang saya buat ialah untuk mencari satu lagi maksud perkataan 'goreng' yang saya mula dengar ketika zaman persekolahan berpuluh tahun dahulu. 'Goreng' yang dimaksudkan ini juga digunakan dalam percakapan tidak formal. Tidak pasti pula samada istilah ini masih disebut oleh pelajar-pelajar masa kini.
Oleh kerana Kamus Dewan saya edisi lama, saya pun membuat semakan di internet. Manalah tahu, mungkin sudah ada definisi baru. Maaf... tiada definisi baru di laman web DBP.
Jadi, bagaimana ya untuk saya terangkan maksud ketiga perkataan 'goreng' ini (ikut pemahaman saya lah)? Mungkin saya boleh beri contoh pengunaannya.
Contoh 1 : Soalan karangan dalam kertas periksa BM tadi susah betul. Ceritakan satu keadaan yang boleh menerangkan maksud peribahasa 'Lalang ditanam, takkan padi yang tumbuh!'. Saya tak pernah pun dengar perumpamaan itu. Mana ada orang tanam lalang. Saya pun goreng je jawapannya.
Contoh 2 : Aku duk dengar dengan tekun mamat tu bagi ceramah tentang periuk masak yang terhebat di pasaran. Boleh grill, steam, air-fry, bake, smoke dan segala macam metode memasak. Dan bagaimana kalau kita jadi ahli, boleh tingkatkan jualan dengan hanya dapatkan tiga orang `downline' dan terus jana pendapatan beribu-ribu dalam masa beberapa bulan sahaja! Dalam bab menggoreng ni, tiada yang lebih hebat dari promoter MLM.
Kecekapan menggoreng cara ini kadangkala ada munafaatnya. Tetapi haruslah berhati-hati... terlebih goreng boleh jadi hangus.
Lima ratus negara tu memang sah-sah lah menggoreng. Tersalah sebut, katanya. Yang dimaksudkan ialah 500 peserta dari seluruh dunia. Ok lah... saya pun tidak pasti sebesar mana sesi 'video conferencing' yang dianjurkan oleh Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia. Mungkin talian sambungan mereka tersangatlah lancar dan jelas. Kami kumpulan rakan sekolah lama, buat panggilan video guna Google Duo, seramai tujuh atau lapan orang pun tersekat-sekat.
Panjang juga celoteh saya pada hari ini. Terima kasih kerana sudi membaca.
Gambar sekadar hiasan. Tempe dan tahu goreng. Enak di makan dalam waktu pergerakan terhad PKP.
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| Tempe dan tahu goreng dari Segamat Station Kopitiam |
Monday 13 April 2020
Getting a haircut is essential
Today 13 April 2020 marks the 27th day that Malaysia has been in lockdown. The restriction would have ended tomorrow on the 28th day (1st extension from the original 14 days). However, the government has decided that it is necessary to impose a second extension for another 14 days to fight this Covid-19 outbreak. The MCO will now be in force until 28 April 2020, for now at least.
In making the announcement on this so-called third phase of the movement restriction, the Ministry of International Trade & Industry (MITI) declared that a number of businesses would be allowed to operate, joining the other essential services previously mentioned in the first order. Among these are barbers and hair salons, although with the proviso of doing haircuts only. This little bit of news caused wide surprise amongst many. The Penang state government decided not to follow the federal government's move. Social media was rife with comments questioning the wisdom of uplifting the restriction for getting haircuts. The association for barbers and hairdressers came out with statements that they would see out the MCO. Even the Health Ministry requested the move to be reconsidered.
Hmmm.... one ministry requesting another ministry in the public domain. There is a disconnect somewhere.
Anyway, if I'm given the choice between cutting my hair or cutting the grass in the compound of my house, I would choose the latter. Because :
1. The grasscutter can do his work without the need to be in close contact with me.
2. A compound where the grass is neatly trimmed and free of weeds and 'kemuncup' is soothing to the eyes and calming to the nerves.
3. Sporting a long (but stylish) hairstyle is not alien to me.
Take care friends. Stay safe. Grit your teeth and wait for the sunshine.
In making the announcement on this so-called third phase of the movement restriction, the Ministry of International Trade & Industry (MITI) declared that a number of businesses would be allowed to operate, joining the other essential services previously mentioned in the first order. Among these are barbers and hair salons, although with the proviso of doing haircuts only. This little bit of news caused wide surprise amongst many. The Penang state government decided not to follow the federal government's move. Social media was rife with comments questioning the wisdom of uplifting the restriction for getting haircuts. The association for barbers and hairdressers came out with statements that they would see out the MCO. Even the Health Ministry requested the move to be reconsidered.
Hmmm.... one ministry requesting another ministry in the public domain. There is a disconnect somewhere.
Anyway, if I'm given the choice between cutting my hair or cutting the grass in the compound of my house, I would choose the latter. Because :
1. The grasscutter can do his work without the need to be in close contact with me.
2. A compound where the grass is neatly trimmed and free of weeds and 'kemuncup' is soothing to the eyes and calming to the nerves.
3. Sporting a long (but stylish) hairstyle is not alien to me.
Take care friends. Stay safe. Grit your teeth and wait for the sunshine.
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| With batchmate Rommel Abu Hassan, somewhere in the UK in early 1980s |
Sunday 5 April 2020
Not all government advice is worth following
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| Failing in style is not always a bad thing |
'If a thing is worth doing, it's worth doing badly.' - G. K. Chesterton
In July 2009, I wrote a post about Heroic Failures, where I shared a story from a book written by Stephen Pile. That particular book was bought when I was a student in the 1980s. After a lapse of more than 20 years, Mr Pile has produced another compilation of similar stories.
This latest book is titled 'The Not Terribly Good Book of Heroic Failures'. It is a collection of stories from all over the world about people who not only did not succeed in what they wanted to do but managed to do (or not do it, depending on your point of view) in some style. While it is hilarious to read of other people's bungling attempts, there are some inspiring stories too. Just goes to show that sometimes, if you're going to make a mistake, make it a big one, embarrassment aside.
I'll share two snippets from the book.
..........................
1. The Worst Moment for a Crime
Choosing the right moment is vitally important in any crime. Mr David Goodall of Barnsley, for example, set off in January 1979 to do a little bit of shoplifting. Once inside the Barnsley branch of British Home Stores, he had hardly stolen his first item when he was simultaneously seized by eight pairs of hands. The shop was holding a convention of store detectives at the time.
2. The Least Successful Equal-Pay Advertisement
In 1976, the European Economic Community pointed out to the Irish government that it had not yet implemented the agreed sex-equality legislation. The Dublin government immediately advertised for an equal-pay enforcement officer. The advertisement offered different salary scales for men and women.
...........................
On 30 March 2020, the Women's Development Department, an agency under the Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga Dan Masyarakat (a ministry I won't attempt to translate into English) published four (4) public advisory posters on their Facebook page. Each poster carried different tips on ways to improve family relationship during the Movement Control Order restriction. The posters immediately came under heavy fire from various sections of the community for being sexist and disrespectful to the role of women in the household. This prompted the head of the department to issue a formal apology and the posters were withdrawn the very next day. Even the apology was criticized for having a condescending tone.
In light of what happened, I felt that Mr Pile's book is somewhat relevant. I would like to suggest to the person/team from KPWKM who produced those posters to try get hold of this book (or any of the other Heroic Failure books) so that you may be relieved to know that you are not alone in making blunders. Your posters (although now retracted) are being quoted by many media channels over the world.
But what is past, is past. Take some time to chill and re-group. Come back with a better and knockout campaign to redeem yourself. Malaysia Boleh!
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| Poster No.1 : Work from home... but dress-up too |
Tuesday 31 March 2020
One local destination a month (2nd edition) - Part 2 : Kelip-kelip Sungai Cherating, Kuantan
As mentioned in an earlier post, we drove up to Kuantan to attend the wedding reception of the son of a former teacher. Cikgu Hussain was a history teacher at MRSM Kuantan in the late '70s. I did not take history as an elective subject so, strictly speaking, I was not his student. But Cikgu Hussain was also a warden, so that makes all of us who stay at the hostel as his responsibility too. He was a very firm but cordial warden. Very well-liked and respected by most students, even the naughty ones. This is demonstrated by the large number of former students who made the effort to fulfill his invitation.
In planning for the trip to Kuantan, I decided to include a visit to the firefly conservation area at Cherating. My blogger friend, Jehan Bakar had posted about it on her Facebook page a few times. I sent her a whatsapp message asking if it was a good time to take the boat trip up Sungai Cherating. She promptly replied that is was okay and offered to make the advance booking for me since she personally knows the tour operator.
Kelip-kelip Sungai Cherating is located about 35km north of Kuantan town, on the coastal road to Kemaman, Terengganu. I've traveled on this road many times during the years I worked at a water treatment plant project in Dungun. I never knew that there was a firefly conservation area at Sungai Cherating. I had never been on a boat trip to watch fireflies before. Now is a good time as any.
From our hotel in Balok, we took a leisurely drive towards Cherating and reached the jetty a few minutes before 7pm. After registering and paying for our tickets, we were asked to wait in the briefing room. The tour is run by a gentleman named Hafiz who gave an introduction of the particular species of firefly that has made the mangrove banks of Sg Cherating as their habitat. There are thousands of firefly species in the world, he says, but the one found here is unique to the area. A Japanese researcher has identified the species as pteroptyx bearni. They are the non-synchronous type, meaning that they don't flash their lights in tandem. As a comparison, the fireflies at Kuala Selangor are the synchronous type. He told us that he would be calling the bugs to fly down from the trees towards us in the boat. It is a skill he has mastered after years of observation and study. The bugs are of the size smaller than a housefly but larger than a mosquito. His final request to us before we headed for the boats was not to catch (or kill) any firefly and not take photographs. Just enjoy the experience.
It was a cloudless night that evening. Thousands of stars were brightly shining in the sky. Since my knowledge of astronomy is practically nil, I could not name any. But I enjoyed the sight nonetheless. The moon was nearly full and it was quite bright. Hafiz assured us that the brightness would not hamper our sight of the fireflies.
The tide was rising and the current was coming in swiftly from the sea. The high water level meant that the overhanging branches of the mangroves were very close to the water's surface. The boat traveled upriver for about an hour or so. At certain locations, Hafiz would slow down the boat and indicate to us where some of the fireflies are congregating. Right side at about 3 o'clock. Or on your left, 10 o'clock about 2 meters above the water. Here and there he would call out such directions.
Af first, we couldn't see anything. Then Hafiz would flash a pocket-light while lovingly calling upon the bugs as if they were his sweethearts. The tree branches would suddenly glow with hundreds of tiny pinpricks of light. These lights would then fly down towards the boat passengers who mostly watched in awe. I don't exactly know how Hafiz does it; the pocket-light could have been of a specific wavelength or he could have flashed it in a certain sequence. What he mentioned in the briefing about his skill was there for us to see.
Some of the bugs would land on us, seemingly unafraid. I managed to guide one into my hands which were cupped so as to create a dark hollow. Indeed it was a tiny creature and magical too. After watching it beam out a few pulses, I let it go and watch it fly back to the trees.
It was truly an experience to remember. Nature and its beauty.
The only drawback throughout the tour that I can think of is that we could not remain stationary at any one spot with the boat engine switched off for too long because of the fast-moving current. To experience the scene in relative quiet of the night would have been perfect.
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| Kelip-kelip is the Malay name for firefly. Visited on 08 February 2020 |
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| Sungai Cherating upstream view before dusk |
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| Briefing room is reasonably sized and has information posters |
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| En. Hafiz conducting the briefing prior to the boat tour |
Tuesday 24 March 2020
MCO Day7
We are into the 7th Day of the Movement Control Order, imposed by the government in an attempt to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus. Another week to go, provided that the restriction order is not extended. It looks to me that a further extension of the lockdown is very likely because the rate of new infected cases is still on the rise.
I've found that the best representation of the Covid-19 infection curve is given by Bernama. Yesterday 23 March 2020 saw the highest single-day increase since the first discovery on 25 January 2020. There were 212 new cases, bringing the total to 1,518 persons to date. The so-called 'flattening of the curve' has not yet happened.
I've found that the best representation of the Covid-19 infection curve is given by Bernama. Yesterday 23 March 2020 saw the highest single-day increase since the first discovery on 25 January 2020. There were 212 new cases, bringing the total to 1,518 persons to date. The so-called 'flattening of the curve' has not yet happened.
| Infographic from Bernama |
After two consecutive days of being totally at home, I had to pop out to the supermarket because our grocery stock has run low. This time I drove alone to AEON Mall at Bandar Dato' Onn, about 15 minutes from where I live. As expected, the traffic on the roads is very light, surreal even. The open-air car park at the mall was perhaps only a quarter full. AEON had designated only a single entrance and a separate exit. At the entrance, a security guard used a thermometer to scan my temperature while another squirted hand sanitizer before allowing me to stand in line. The floor is marked with tape at regular intervals to designate the distancing requirement as advised by the health authorities. AEON controls the number of people in their store by allowing some to enter only after the corresponding number has left. Generally, most shoppers came alone and went about their business in a calm and quiet manner. No standing close to each other or clambering for stuff on the shelves. I could be having a bad BO problem and nobody would notice, hehehe. Most edible items on the shelves are adequately stocked. Only fresh eggs seem to be sold out.
In line with the government directives, only the supermarket section is open. The general merchandise sections plus all the other tenants are closed. Overall, I believe that we Malaysians are a well-mannered and compliant lot. Of course, there are few jerks who are too stubborn for their own good. God may have created all men as equals but unfortunately, some chose to be stupid on their own accord.
Take care everyone. Covid-19 is now a worldwide problem. It has become more difficult to name a country that has not been affected by it compared to those that have.
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| Standing in line before being allowed in |
Update 25.03.2020 @ 3.00pm : The MCO is extended by another 2 weeks to 14 April 2020.
Thursday 19 March 2020
After Day 1 of Movement Control Order (MCO)
In the previous post two days ago, I mentioned my intention to drop by Larkin Sentral Market on the first day of the MCO. I changed that decision. Instead of going to the largest wet market in Johor Bahru, we went to Mydin Hypermarket at Taman Rinting to see if the situation is different from our experience at Tesco.
Before I describe the situation at Mydin, let me first briefly recap my Day 1 MCO :
1. Our youngest son safely arrived home around 4.00 am after driving from Shah Alam. He was previously working at a restaurant and had resigned before the government announced the partial lockdown. I was slightly worried that he might face problems in getting home due to the inter-state movement restriction.
2. A message came in my MRSM Kuantan alumni whatsapp group confirming that one of our friends has been infected with the coronavirus. He was part of the group we call Kuatagh Pioneers (the first batch of students enrolled at MRSM Kuantan) who held a reunion at Jakarta the weekend before. Among those who attended the reunion were some former teachers. The implications of this bit of worrying news are still being contemplated. Nonetheless, my prayers for the infected senior and that no other participants of that event had been affected.
3. My wife and I went to do some grocery shopping at Mydin Mall in Taman Rinting. There was very little traffic on the road, indicating that the MCO does have some effect. The situation at the hypermarket was calm and orderly. Apart from the hypermarket itself, the other tenants within the mall were closed. A few stalls in the foodcourt were in business but only for takeaways. The number of shoppers, I would say, is about average on a normal weekend. The hypermarket was well-stocked. There were no empty shelves although some essential items have a purchase limit for each customer. I did not see any shopper hoard stuff into his trolley. Overall, I applaud the Mydin chain for managing their business quite well in these trying times.
4. On the way home, we stopped by one of our regular restaurants that sells nasi campur. They had a large array of pre-cooked lauk pauk, all for sale on takeaway basis only. I was happy that they were open for business because, judging from the number of customers, they are providing a much-needed service too.
Another 13 days to go unless the Prime Minister decides an extension is required if the outbreak does not reverse its upward trend. Let's hope and pray that this pandemic ends soon.
Before I describe the situation at Mydin, let me first briefly recap my Day 1 MCO :
1. Our youngest son safely arrived home around 4.00 am after driving from Shah Alam. He was previously working at a restaurant and had resigned before the government announced the partial lockdown. I was slightly worried that he might face problems in getting home due to the inter-state movement restriction.
2. A message came in my MRSM Kuantan alumni whatsapp group confirming that one of our friends has been infected with the coronavirus. He was part of the group we call Kuatagh Pioneers (the first batch of students enrolled at MRSM Kuantan) who held a reunion at Jakarta the weekend before. Among those who attended the reunion were some former teachers. The implications of this bit of worrying news are still being contemplated. Nonetheless, my prayers for the infected senior and that no other participants of that event had been affected.
3. My wife and I went to do some grocery shopping at Mydin Mall in Taman Rinting. There was very little traffic on the road, indicating that the MCO does have some effect. The situation at the hypermarket was calm and orderly. Apart from the hypermarket itself, the other tenants within the mall were closed. A few stalls in the foodcourt were in business but only for takeaways. The number of shoppers, I would say, is about average on a normal weekend. The hypermarket was well-stocked. There were no empty shelves although some essential items have a purchase limit for each customer. I did not see any shopper hoard stuff into his trolley. Overall, I applaud the Mydin chain for managing their business quite well in these trying times.
4. On the way home, we stopped by one of our regular restaurants that sells nasi campur. They had a large array of pre-cooked lauk pauk, all for sale on takeaway basis only. I was happy that they were open for business because, judging from the number of customers, they are providing a much-needed service too.
Another 13 days to go unless the Prime Minister decides an extension is required if the outbreak does not reverse its upward trend. Let's hope and pray that this pandemic ends soon.
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| Enough toilet rolls at Mydin for everyone |
Tuesday 17 March 2020
Panic buying
Yesterday 16 March 2020, the Prime Minister of Malaysia announced a Movement Control Order that is intended to curb the Covid-19 virus outbreak. The Order would be effective tomorrow 18 March 2020 and last up to 31 March 2020.
I do not intend to go into details of the restrictions contained in the order. Just to note that it did spark a spree of panic buying among some citizens in this country. While the government has gone to great lengths to assure the people not to panic (provision stores and markets would be allowed to operate), there is no way to prevent certain segments of the community from hoarding stuff as if the world is about to end. In some ways, that is understandable. For the majority of Malaysians, it is a situation they have never faced before. Uncharted waters. Unknown territory, We are human beings after all... we fear the unknown.
Earlier today I decided to drop by a local supermarket to see the situation for myself. I chose to go to Tesco at Setia Tropika which is actually not our normal place to shop for groceries. I thought that maybe this relatively smaller supermarket would not be a target for hoarders. How wrong I was.
The rows and rows of empty shelves were quite astonishing. Many of the essential items are sold out. Tesco had run out of stocks to replenish.
I picked up the few items I need that are still available. At the checkout counter, I asked the cashier when the panic buying happened. She said that it was yesterday evening. It was crazy.
Well, the actual 2-week restriction period will start tomorrow. I'll probably make a quick trip to Larkin wet market to see if there are some people still in panic mode.
I do not intend to go into details of the restrictions contained in the order. Just to note that it did spark a spree of panic buying among some citizens in this country. While the government has gone to great lengths to assure the people not to panic (provision stores and markets would be allowed to operate), there is no way to prevent certain segments of the community from hoarding stuff as if the world is about to end. In some ways, that is understandable. For the majority of Malaysians, it is a situation they have never faced before. Uncharted waters. Unknown territory, We are human beings after all... we fear the unknown.
Earlier today I decided to drop by a local supermarket to see the situation for myself. I chose to go to Tesco at Setia Tropika which is actually not our normal place to shop for groceries. I thought that maybe this relatively smaller supermarket would not be a target for hoarders. How wrong I was.
The rows and rows of empty shelves were quite astonishing. Many of the essential items are sold out. Tesco had run out of stocks to replenish.
I picked up the few items I need that are still available. At the checkout counter, I asked the cashier when the panic buying happened. She said that it was yesterday evening. It was crazy.
Well, the actual 2-week restriction period will start tomorrow. I'll probably make a quick trip to Larkin wet market to see if there are some people still in panic mode.
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| Fresh vegetable section |
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| Canned food |
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| Total wipeout of toilet rolls. Only kitchen towels left |
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| Just a few bags of rice remain |
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| Frozen foodstuff all but gone |
Friday 6 March 2020
Online impostor
Social media can both be a boon or a bane. Very useful at most times but can be dangerous too.
A few days ago, I received an early morning whatsapp message from a friend. He's checking to see if I had actually sent him a Facebook Messenger request to connect. I quickly replied that it was not me and thanked him for letting me know.
I then went to my Facebook account to put up a status informing friends that my account has possibly been cloned and for them not to respond to any message from this fake account. A few minutes after that status update, some friends replied that indeed, they had received message request from someone suspicious. I then did a Facebook search on my own profile and true enough, there was another account using my name and photo but without any personal details. It was created about 12 hours earlier.
I made a report to Facebook about this fake account and my report was acknowledged by them via email. The next day, I did a similar search and found out that the fake profile is no longer there.
What do such impostors do with these clone accounts? From the feedback that I got from friends who had been similarly cloned, one trick that these impostors use is to send messages to other friends on our list with request or appeal for financial aid. Some trusting friends would mistakenly think that we are actually in need of such help and therefore would send the money.
Anyway, it was a good thing I managed to act quickly. I again sent a whatsapp message to the friend who gave me the heads-up. It's good to know that I have friends who check up on me once in a while.
Whatsapp and Facebook. Two social media platforms that I depend too much on.
A few days ago, I received an early morning whatsapp message from a friend. He's checking to see if I had actually sent him a Facebook Messenger request to connect. I quickly replied that it was not me and thanked him for letting me know.
I then went to my Facebook account to put up a status informing friends that my account has possibly been cloned and for them not to respond to any message from this fake account. A few minutes after that status update, some friends replied that indeed, they had received message request from someone suspicious. I then did a Facebook search on my own profile and true enough, there was another account using my name and photo but without any personal details. It was created about 12 hours earlier.
I made a report to Facebook about this fake account and my report was acknowledged by them via email. The next day, I did a similar search and found out that the fake profile is no longer there.
What do such impostors do with these clone accounts? From the feedback that I got from friends who had been similarly cloned, one trick that these impostors use is to send messages to other friends on our list with request or appeal for financial aid. Some trusting friends would mistakenly think that we are actually in need of such help and therefore would send the money.
Anyway, it was a good thing I managed to act quickly. I again sent a whatsapp message to the friend who gave me the heads-up. It's good to know that I have friends who check up on me once in a while.
Whatsapp and Facebook. Two social media platforms that I depend too much on.
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| Screen capture of the impostor's attempt to connect with a friend |
Thursday 20 February 2020
One local destination a month (2nd edition) - Part 1 : Tikam Batu, Kedah
Once in a while, I take the rural roads rather than the highways when traveling. This is especially true if I'm in no particular hurry and have no fixed duration to reach my destination. In such instances, I would be on the lookout for interesting places to stop.
We were in Penang in early January to visit our besan (my daughter-in-law's parents). While up north, I decided to make the short trip to Sungai Petani in Kedah to visit an old friend whom I've not seen since our student days in the UK. This friend is recovering from some ailments and had been out of work for a number of years. I had actually visited him a few years earlier but at that time, he was in the CCU of Sungai Petani Hospital so I did not actually manage to speak to him at all.
From Penang island, we took the ferry across to Butterworth. I decided to head on to Sungai Petani on the old Federal Route 1. The main objective was to make a stop to see a rice harvester machine that is being used as a prop next to the welcome signage at the Kedah border.
Mesin Padi Tikam Batu is located just after Merdeka Bridge that spans across Sungai Muda. This river forms the border between mainland Penang and Kedah.
According to media reports, the rice harvester and signage was erected by Majlis Perbandaran Sungai Petani in February 2019. It is quite a novel idea and I appreciate the council for making the effort. The location is perfect, with wide paddy fields in the background. Although not quite a tourist destination, I hope the council would maintain it well.
I stopped by the location only for a few minutes and regretted not looking at the machine in detail. I would have loved to know the manufacturer and specifications, even though the harvester could be just a mock-up. Online searches have not yielded any details.
We were in Penang in early January to visit our besan (my daughter-in-law's parents). While up north, I decided to make the short trip to Sungai Petani in Kedah to visit an old friend whom I've not seen since our student days in the UK. This friend is recovering from some ailments and had been out of work for a number of years. I had actually visited him a few years earlier but at that time, he was in the CCU of Sungai Petani Hospital so I did not actually manage to speak to him at all.
From Penang island, we took the ferry across to Butterworth. I decided to head on to Sungai Petani on the old Federal Route 1. The main objective was to make a stop to see a rice harvester machine that is being used as a prop next to the welcome signage at the Kedah border.
Mesin Padi Tikam Batu is located just after Merdeka Bridge that spans across Sungai Muda. This river forms the border between mainland Penang and Kedah.
According to media reports, the rice harvester and signage was erected by Majlis Perbandaran Sungai Petani in February 2019. It is quite a novel idea and I appreciate the council for making the effort. The location is perfect, with wide paddy fields in the background. Although not quite a tourist destination, I hope the council would maintain it well.
I stopped by the location only for a few minutes and regretted not looking at the machine in detail. I would have loved to know the manufacturer and specifications, even though the harvester could be just a mock-up. Online searches have not yielded any details.
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| Welcome to Kedah, the premier rice-growing region in Malaysia. Visited on 02 January 2020 |
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| Rice Harvester |
Saturday 15 February 2020
Maisarah and her grandfather...
What does a doting grandfather do when he gets to meet his adorable granddaughter?
He takes selfies with her...
And what does the grandfather do when he has a collection of selfies over a period of a year?
He compiles them into a still video which he would repeatedly view without feeling the least bit bored...
He takes selfies with her...
And what does the grandfather do when he has a collection of selfies over a period of a year?
He compiles them into a still video which he would repeatedly view without feeling the least bit bored...
Wednesday 12 February 2020
Tempat jatuh lagi dikenang...
We made a short trip to Kuantan the previous weekend. The main purpose was to fulfil an invitation by a former teacher to attend the wedding reception of his son. As always, we took the opportunity to visit other places as well. It was a packed weekend of activities but truly a memorable one.
I am not going to write about the whole trip but just an initial short post. A visit to Kuantan would almost always mean a stop at my former school, Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Kuantan. Although I spent only two years there, it was my first experience of boarding school. A lot happened in those two years. The many friendships that began there have seen the test of time and most relationships have grown stronger till this day.
It has been 40 years since I completed my secondary education at MRSM Kuantan. The students there today call me `Pakcik', which is actually nice to hear. The school has evolved too, although at one time, MARA had plans to re-locate it or shut it down but the dedicated effort of some alumni managed to make the authorities change their mind.
I believe the school still produce quality graduates with respectable attitudes. I am proud to have been a product of this school and I hope they are equally proud of their former students too.
Footnote : My first post on MRSM Kuantan was in August 2008 - An east coast education
I am not going to write about the whole trip but just an initial short post. A visit to Kuantan would almost always mean a stop at my former school, Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Kuantan. Although I spent only two years there, it was my first experience of boarding school. A lot happened in those two years. The many friendships that began there have seen the test of time and most relationships have grown stronger till this day.
It has been 40 years since I completed my secondary education at MRSM Kuantan. The students there today call me `Pakcik', which is actually nice to hear. The school has evolved too, although at one time, MARA had plans to re-locate it or shut it down but the dedicated effort of some alumni managed to make the authorities change their mind.
I believe the school still produce quality graduates with respectable attitudes. I am proud to have been a product of this school and I hope they are equally proud of their former students too.
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| This signage structure had been erected for some time now but it took me a while to realise that "MRSMKU' has two meanings |
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| At the main entrance signage wall. The motto on the school badge is not the original one as coined by a former student |
Footnote : My first post on MRSM Kuantan was in August 2008 - An east coast education
Tuesday 4 February 2020
Bonsai gardening... an update
In the past few months, I have rekindled my interest in bonsai gardening and have now added a few different plant varieties to expand my small collection. I have adopted a simple approach with regard to this latest pastime. I intend to develop my trees from small plants or new growth (cuttings or seeds) rather than buy a mature bonsai from a nursery. While this would take quite a long time before I can get a beautiful plant, the process of growing and shaping the trees is what gives me the most satisfaction. As the saying goes, it's not the destination but the journey.
With this in mind and after viewing a number of youtube videos of other bonsai enthusiasts, I had a closer look at the plants already growing in my compound. Unexpectedly, a large number of these can be developed or trained into bonsai. The plants were mostly planted by my mother more than ten years ago, some in pots and some in the ground. They include bougainvillea, orange jessamine (kemuning), ixora (jenjarum), hokiantea and premna (bebuas). Using these plants as a starting point, I bought a number of small flower pots and began the replanting process. I also scavenged a few varieties of ficus that were growing wild on wall cracks around the compound of my house.
As my knowledge of local bonsai species increased, I bought a few other starter stock (basically small shrubs or plants in polybag) from nearby nurseries and re-planted them in pots, usually taking the opportunity to propagate a few more trees by way of cuttings. My success rate in getting new trees from cuttings has been fairly average so far. This has spurred me to try other methods of propagation such as air layering. A continuous learning process plus many months of trial and error. Bonsai is a hobby that demands tons of patience.
My current collection of bonsai plants in training is as follows :
1. Bougainvillea (pink flower). Recently re-potted into a bonsai pot and pruned to shape. It is perhaps the first tree in my collection that can be said to have achieved the bonsai criteria. My next task is to increase foliage and reduce leaf size. This I'll do after the present crop of flowers has dropped off.
2. Premna (Malay name : bebuas). This bebuas tree was originally a shrub that we planted for its edible leaves. The tree grew up to 15 ft tall and had blocked the view from one of the bedroom windows. I chopped it down and even burned the stump. At that time, I had no interest in bonsai yet. Luckily for me, I found some shrubs growing at the edges of my compound, most probably from droppings of birds that ate the fruits from the original premna tree. I dug up these shrubs, pruned them and then planted them in pots. Other than ficus, premna cuttings seem to be the easiest to propagate.
3. Ficus. I have four varieties of ficus, two of which I know the names (ficus benjamina and ficus religiosa) while the other two I'm still unsure. There are hundreds of ficus varieties, so it may take me a while to correctly identify them. The religiosa (also called bodhi) was prised from a crack in a drain next to my house. I initially had two specimens but one died. The living one seems to be doing well.
4. Santalia. Scientific name - wrigthia religiosa. Also known by the local name of jeliti or anting putri. The starter plant was bought as a potted shrub from a nursery. The roots were totally pot-bound and I had to crack the pot to release the plant. I pruned the roots and branches and then re-planted it in a new pot. I used some of the pruned branches as cuttings and managed to get a few more shoots, although they took quite a while to sprout. On the other hand, the root mass which I had initially thrown away on a compost pile showed signs of re-growth after a few weeks. I recovered the discarded root mass, dug a proper hole in the ground at another location and re-planted it. Since then, the new re-planted roots have sprouted many healthy shoots and I now have a new source of future santalia bonsai material.
5. Louhansong (podocarpus). This plant was bought as a polybag specimen about 6 inches tall. I have re-potted it and made some cuttings to grow into new plants. But they seem to grow ever so slowly. Podocarpus is a popular plant used in roadside landscaping. I've seen mature trees up to 20 feet tall.
6. Aloe Vera. Now, don't be surprised. Aloe vera is a succulent and succulents are not known to be good bonsai material. However, I have seen bonsai veteran from Canada, Nigel Saunders (see my reference to him in an earlier post, link provided below) develop aloe vera as a bonsai. Since I already have a number of pots of the plant, why not try to create a bonsai version of one.
The above list is not exhaustive. I have a few other varieties which are still in very early stages of training. I'll mention them in the next update. As you may note, this interest in growing bonsai has made me learn the name of many plants. Even while driving, I am now more observant of the various trees growing around us, whether they grow wild or in a landscaped environment.
After reviewing my old posts, I'm a bit surprised that I have written about gardening only once (Do something green today - 16 Oct 2018). Perhaps it is now time for me to write more.
With this in mind and after viewing a number of youtube videos of other bonsai enthusiasts, I had a closer look at the plants already growing in my compound. Unexpectedly, a large number of these can be developed or trained into bonsai. The plants were mostly planted by my mother more than ten years ago, some in pots and some in the ground. They include bougainvillea, orange jessamine (kemuning), ixora (jenjarum), hokiantea and premna (bebuas). Using these plants as a starting point, I bought a number of small flower pots and began the replanting process. I also scavenged a few varieties of ficus that were growing wild on wall cracks around the compound of my house.
As my knowledge of local bonsai species increased, I bought a few other starter stock (basically small shrubs or plants in polybag) from nearby nurseries and re-planted them in pots, usually taking the opportunity to propagate a few more trees by way of cuttings. My success rate in getting new trees from cuttings has been fairly average so far. This has spurred me to try other methods of propagation such as air layering. A continuous learning process plus many months of trial and error. Bonsai is a hobby that demands tons of patience.
My current collection of bonsai plants in training is as follows :
1. Bougainvillea (pink flower). Recently re-potted into a bonsai pot and pruned to shape. It is perhaps the first tree in my collection that can be said to have achieved the bonsai criteria. My next task is to increase foliage and reduce leaf size. This I'll do after the present crop of flowers has dropped off.
2. Premna (Malay name : bebuas). This bebuas tree was originally a shrub that we planted for its edible leaves. The tree grew up to 15 ft tall and had blocked the view from one of the bedroom windows. I chopped it down and even burned the stump. At that time, I had no interest in bonsai yet. Luckily for me, I found some shrubs growing at the edges of my compound, most probably from droppings of birds that ate the fruits from the original premna tree. I dug up these shrubs, pruned them and then planted them in pots. Other than ficus, premna cuttings seem to be the easiest to propagate.
3. Ficus. I have four varieties of ficus, two of which I know the names (ficus benjamina and ficus religiosa) while the other two I'm still unsure. There are hundreds of ficus varieties, so it may take me a while to correctly identify them. The religiosa (also called bodhi) was prised from a crack in a drain next to my house. I initially had two specimens but one died. The living one seems to be doing well.
4. Santalia. Scientific name - wrigthia religiosa. Also known by the local name of jeliti or anting putri. The starter plant was bought as a potted shrub from a nursery. The roots were totally pot-bound and I had to crack the pot to release the plant. I pruned the roots and branches and then re-planted it in a new pot. I used some of the pruned branches as cuttings and managed to get a few more shoots, although they took quite a while to sprout. On the other hand, the root mass which I had initially thrown away on a compost pile showed signs of re-growth after a few weeks. I recovered the discarded root mass, dug a proper hole in the ground at another location and re-planted it. Since then, the new re-planted roots have sprouted many healthy shoots and I now have a new source of future santalia bonsai material.
5. Louhansong (podocarpus). This plant was bought as a polybag specimen about 6 inches tall. I have re-potted it and made some cuttings to grow into new plants. But they seem to grow ever so slowly. Podocarpus is a popular plant used in roadside landscaping. I've seen mature trees up to 20 feet tall.
6. Aloe Vera. Now, don't be surprised. Aloe vera is a succulent and succulents are not known to be good bonsai material. However, I have seen bonsai veteran from Canada, Nigel Saunders (see my reference to him in an earlier post, link provided below) develop aloe vera as a bonsai. Since I already have a number of pots of the plant, why not try to create a bonsai version of one.
The above list is not exhaustive. I have a few other varieties which are still in very early stages of training. I'll mention them in the next update. As you may note, this interest in growing bonsai has made me learn the name of many plants. Even while driving, I am now more observant of the various trees growing around us, whether they grow wild or in a landscaped environment.
After reviewing my old posts, I'm a bit surprised that I have written about gardening only once (Do something green today - 16 Oct 2018). Perhaps it is now time for me to write more.
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| Attempt no.1 at turning a bougainvillea into bonsai. The 1st re-pot in Sept 2018 |
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| The 2nd re-pot with pruning and defoliating in Dec 2019 |
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| A view of my collection of really small plants. Still a long way to go |
Monday 27 January 2020
One Local Destination A Month : A Revival
In 2017, I embarked upon an initiative to do a monthly travel stint to a local destination that I've not been to before. It was an idea that came from an old school friend who posted about it on her Facebook wall on the final day of 2016.
I used that travel experience to write blog postings as a way to document the visits. The first post was about a trip to the Galeri Darurat Bukit Kepong in Muar, Johor which I visited in January 2017. Following that first entry, I continued to update the series for the subsequent months but only up till October. Although I had traveled to Perak and Penang in the last two months of the year, I failed to write the final two posts to complete the collection.
I am now using this opportunity to summarise my travel articles for 2017 which includes a brief mention of the two missing destinations.
1. January 27 : Bukit Kepong, Johor
2. February 17 : Tanjung Kling, Melaka
3. March 24 : Lumut, Perak
4. April 30 : Taiping, Perak
5. May 24 : Jugra, Selangor
6. June 28 : Mersing, Johor
7. July 17 : Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan
8. August 25 : Pedas / Linggi, Negeri Sembilan
9. September 16 : Kuala Gandah & Temerloh, Pahang
10. October 10 : Ulu Rening, Selangor
11. November 30 : Ipoh, Perak
12. December 2 : Teluk Bahang, Penang
Part 11 : Labu Sayong Signature Restaurant, Ipoh, Perak
We were on our way to Penang at the end of November and had stopped for lunch at a restaurant in Meru, Ipoh. I felt that this place deserved a mention in my list because it is one of the few Malay restaurants serving authentic local cuisine in a fine dining setup.
Part 12 : Entopia, Teluk Bahang, Penang
Many years ago, this place was simply called the Penang Butterfly Farm. Many constructive upgrades have been done and it is now re-branded as Entopia. Apart from butterflies, the exhibits also include other insects and reptiles. Truly a place worth visiting.
I plan to do another 1LD1M series this year, although I'll be a bit more flexible as to the places that I wish to write about. You can say that it is in the spirit of Visit Malaysia Year 2020. Again, I'm not sure if I can complete another 12-part chapter but we shall see. The first trip in January has already been done so the post shall be published soon, God-willing.
I used that travel experience to write blog postings as a way to document the visits. The first post was about a trip to the Galeri Darurat Bukit Kepong in Muar, Johor which I visited in January 2017. Following that first entry, I continued to update the series for the subsequent months but only up till October. Although I had traveled to Perak and Penang in the last two months of the year, I failed to write the final two posts to complete the collection.
I am now using this opportunity to summarise my travel articles for 2017 which includes a brief mention of the two missing destinations.
1. January 27 : Bukit Kepong, Johor
2. February 17 : Tanjung Kling, Melaka
3. March 24 : Lumut, Perak
4. April 30 : Taiping, Perak
5. May 24 : Jugra, Selangor
6. June 28 : Mersing, Johor
7. July 17 : Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan
8. August 25 : Pedas / Linggi, Negeri Sembilan
9. September 16 : Kuala Gandah & Temerloh, Pahang
10. October 10 : Ulu Rening, Selangor
11. November 30 : Ipoh, Perak
12. December 2 : Teluk Bahang, Penang
Part 11 : Labu Sayong Signature Restaurant, Ipoh, Perak
We were on our way to Penang at the end of November and had stopped for lunch at a restaurant in Meru, Ipoh. I felt that this place deserved a mention in my list because it is one of the few Malay restaurants serving authentic local cuisine in a fine dining setup.
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| Traditional Malay architecture |
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| Interior setting. Note the `labu sayong' water pitcher that lends its name |
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| Can't remember the name of this fish dish but the taste was exquisite |
Part 12 : Entopia, Teluk Bahang, Penang
Many years ago, this place was simply called the Penang Butterfly Farm. Many constructive upgrades have been done and it is now re-branded as Entopia. Apart from butterflies, the exhibits also include other insects and reptiles. Truly a place worth visiting.
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| A rare pic of my better half |
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| According to the information plaque, this variety is known as Leopard Lacewing |
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| Tarantula |
I plan to do another 1LD1M series this year, although I'll be a bit more flexible as to the places that I wish to write about. You can say that it is in the spirit of Visit Malaysia Year 2020. Again, I'm not sure if I can complete another 12-part chapter but we shall see. The first trip in January has already been done so the post shall be published soon, God-willing.
Friday 24 January 2020
20/20 Vision...
As noted previously, the whole of 2019 has passed without me making any significant entry in this blog. Many things happened last year but somehow I could not push myself to put them down in writing. This disinterest in blogging has, of course, occurred before, so I shall refrain from making any excuses. Similarly, there is no promise that the new year 2020 would bring any improvement in the creative drive.
So we'll just get on with it. No need to express what my visions are for this year's blogging target.
Just to re-cap on two events of note that happened last year :
19 April 2019 (Friday) - My father, Hj Isma Yatim Bin Hj Ramli, passed away in early morning just before dawn. By the grace of the Almighty, the arrangement for burial went smoothly and the whole process was completed before mid-day. Innalillahi wainna ilaihi rojiun.
2 November 2019 (Saturday) - Our second son, Harith Shahiran, tied the knot with a young lady from Kota Damansara in Selangor. The latest addition to our family is called Aisyah Bt Abdullah.
May good things happen this year that would be worth writing about...
Trivia : 20/20 Vision does not necessarily mean that you have perfect eyesight. It is a term used to express normal visual acuity (clarity and sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet. If you have 20/20 vision, you can clearly see the eye chart placed 20 feet away from you, as what the average person would be able to see. If you have 20/30 vision, it means your eyesight is worse than average. At 20 feet away, you can only read letters that the average person can read at 30 feet distance.
Conversely, a person with 20/15 vision has sharper eyesight than most. At 20 feet, he is able to read a line on the eye chart the average person can see at 15 feet.
So we'll just get on with it. No need to express what my visions are for this year's blogging target.
Just to re-cap on two events of note that happened last year :
19 April 2019 (Friday) - My father, Hj Isma Yatim Bin Hj Ramli, passed away in early morning just before dawn. By the grace of the Almighty, the arrangement for burial went smoothly and the whole process was completed before mid-day. Innalillahi wainna ilaihi rojiun.
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| My mother, brothers and sister at my father's grave about a month after burial |
2 November 2019 (Saturday) - Our second son, Harith Shahiran, tied the knot with a young lady from Kota Damansara in Selangor. The latest addition to our family is called Aisyah Bt Abdullah.
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| Harith & Aisyah |
May good things happen this year that would be worth writing about...
Trivia : 20/20 Vision does not necessarily mean that you have perfect eyesight. It is a term used to express normal visual acuity (clarity and sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet. If you have 20/20 vision, you can clearly see the eye chart placed 20 feet away from you, as what the average person would be able to see. If you have 20/30 vision, it means your eyesight is worse than average. At 20 feet away, you can only read letters that the average person can read at 30 feet distance.
Conversely, a person with 20/15 vision has sharper eyesight than most. At 20 feet, he is able to read a line on the eye chart the average person can see at 15 feet.
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