Dina had an operation

I came home from my Australian Outback 4x4 trip on  Friday 25 October. It was an exhausting trip, the most exciting part being the one week 1200+ km dune driving from Kulgera to Birdsville. It was... 

Whoa, this posting is not going to be about that trip. You can read all about it in my other blog Datomus Travel.

This posting is about the surprise that awaited me when I arrived home that Friday morning. I was told that Dina had an operation to remove both her ears because the cancer on one ear had spread to the other ear. Dina was no where around because I think she was feeling self conscious. Usually she would be there to greet me in her proud but manja way; but not this time. It was only late in the evening when I was leaving for Mama’s house that she made a silent appearance.
Upon seeing her I thought she looked a fright. And she kept her distance knowing that my reactions upon seeing her "new" look was rather unusual.  Of course I reconciled myself soon enough and accepted the fact that the operation was the best thing for her.  At least she is not an invalid with amputated arms or legs or anything like that.  And our love for her has not diminished. Really.

Dina is our cat.

Dina has been with us since 2004 when Becky, Zaki's Alice Smith schoolmate, had to uproot herself and didn't want Dina to go to SPCA. Dina have been spoilt by Becky's father quite a bit; and Becky thought we would be just right to take over. Dina was five years old then. Oh yes, Mek loved her and spoilt her further with extremely frequent brushings of her fur, monthly bath, shampoo, medical checks and healthy cat foods. 

Sure enough she took to living in a house with a garden being a lot more pleasant than the apartment she was used to. So she established her territory quite quickly and would survey her "realm" from the upstairs balcony every so often. The neighbourhood tomcats would also come a- calling quite often and on these visits there would be fierce fights. Being neutered she was not interested in procreation and fended off any attempts by the amorous tomcats that came around. After these fights she would suffer some scratches. I think it must have been on one of these fights that her ears got infected. In spite of medication, it got worse because of Dina's dislike to wearing the funnel collar that could have saved her from scratching her ears. How it became cancerous, I don't know. Suffice to say that this was the result of the biopsy tests of samples of her infection that was sent to Canada for analysis. So the Vet had to operate on her ears. All that cost Mek about RM 5,000.  

Afternote:  Since the operation, she had to go back and forth to the Vet hospital. Her condition deteriorated and finally Mek agreed for Dina to be put to sleep.

Why is my name Muslim?

I’ve always wondered why my father chose this name Mohd Muslim. It is normal, of course, to have the Mohd (for Mohamad) in front of the other name. But why Muslim? Well, one reason could be that he expected me to be pious, religious. Yeah, he did have the idea of sending me to Al Azhar Egypt and with that I’d come back to become an Imam like him, or become a Kadhi or better still, the State Mufti. However, I am glad that he didn’t do that (send me to Egypt) and instead readily agreed to have me join the FMC in Port Dickson and pursue my choice career in the newly formed Air Force.
The other reason could be to make me live up to that name. As a religious scholar himself, he must have been inspired by the famous scholars of the Hadith - Bukhari and Muslim. So naming me Muslim probably have something to do with his desire to make me pious, religious and well versed in Islam.
Related to that, I now could see that my father had visions of the future. I am now living in “his future” and I have seen the Islamic religion being misused for political expediency or to justify hatred between the two major sects - Sunni and Shi’a adherents. And also to justify the jihadist’s world view of the injustices done to the Muslims. Worst still, the Muslim world is way off the mark of being progressive, advanced in knowledge in science and technology; or the arts.
Now, Bukhari and Muslim were great Islamic scholars during the glory days of Islamic civilization where knowledge in science, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, architecture and the arts were renowned while the Europeans were still living in the dark ages. Unfortunately, all that changed with the decline of the various Islamic empires due to corruption of thought and other excesses; and the rise of the European powers and their inventiveness using knowledge gained through efforts of the Islamic scholars whose books and writings were translated into their respective languages. Muslim scholarship, regrettably, retreated into fundamentalism with the rise of wahabism especially in Saudi Arabia. Thus the progressive Muslim society during the days of Bukhari and Muslim became regressive in the century of the Industrial Revolution.  Europe progressed while the Muslim world regressed (until today.)
God even endowed the Islamic countries with the precious commodities needed by the industries of the world -- oil and gas -- but unfortunately, greed and laziness made them “pawn” the wealth to western powers with the technology and financial shrewdness. The so-called knowledge transfer was ineffective at best and young Muslims failed to excel in spite of all the opportunities.
So my father probably had wanted me to know about Bukhari and Muslim and emulate them.  Seek knowledge, the kind of knowledge that the Muslims in those days were free to explore and exploit. Well, I do know about Bukhari and Muslim; and I have been to Bukhara where the Imam Bukhari mausoleum is found.  Imam Muslim, however, is from Nishapur, NE Iran. His grave is there too.
I love learning and believe that it’s never too late to learn.  Thus at this age (74+) I am proficient with the keyboard and up-to-date with the latest in ICT. I design and maintain websites and blogs that even some youngsters don’t do or don’t know how to. 

So I am living up to my name quite well, I think, except that the religious bit is a little wanting.

Chin Peng is dead

Chin Peng died in Bangkok on Sept 16 just five weeks short to his 90th birthday on Oct 21. He was, of course, the MCP leader who wanted to take over Malaya when the Japanese surrendered in 1945. During the void before the BMA was instituted, the MPAJA – the military wing of the MCP --  took reprisal actions against the Malays whom they claim sided with the Japanese during the occupation.  My uncle, Hj Othman – Eton and Wok’s grandfather -- was whisked away into the jungle in the middle of the night and had not been seen or heard of since. And, of course, I had many friends and colleagues who died in the course of duty fighting the CTs during the Emergency years 1948-60 and the second “Emergency” that followed the May 13 riots until 1989.

I can understand that the Chinese DAP supported the idea of bringing his body back for burial in Sitiawan.  He had many relatives in the DAP.  But for PAS and PKR (two Malay-based parties) to support it, saying that he was a hero fighting British colonialism, is simply stupid and unthinking; and ignorant of historical facts. Furthermore, did they not have relatives or friends in the military or police force that died or were maimed during the Emergency years because of Chin Peng? Didn’t these morons not have any feelings for the wives and children of those soldiers and policemen killed or were maimed because of Chin Peng? And Chin Peng or his real name Ong Boon Hua, was not even a Malaysian citizen!  But then the pro-Chin Peng sentiments are also being expressed even by MCA people; and worse still by PAS.  As Shamsul Akmar (The Mole Editor) said in his NST article Sunday 22 Sep 2013 “…there is no cure for imbecility.”

I am glad PM Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak is firm in not allowing even his ashes to be brought into this country. He even told them that if they are so serious about it "take us to court."

Malaysia turns 50

It’ll be a holiday this Monday 16 September 2013.  Malaysia turns 50 on that day.  Only two weeks ago we celebrated Merdeka (Independence) Day on 31 August.  It was a Saturday, and the Monday was not declared holiday in-lieu.

We used to celebrate both days on 31 August, until three years ago (2010) when the Opposition made some hue and cry about the people of Sabah and Sarawak should not be made to celebrate Malaya’s independence day instead of the day when they joined Malaya to form Malaysia on 16 September, 1963.

So, there we are, another holiday for holiday-rich Malaysians.

For the Armed Forces, 16 September is Armed Forces Day when there would usually be a grand “trooping the colours” parade at Sungai Besi Camp; and various units in the country would have an Open Day.

That means the public could visit the units and see displays of weaponry, aircraft and ships at close quarters; and learn about the roles and functions of the Armed Forces. It’s not a holiday though. 
So now, what? Well, this year they’ll still celebrate their 80th anniversary and hold a parade and display at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur on Sept 21.  Hooray!

Afternote:
Would you believe it. A Datuk Seri Dominic Andrew Dago who was involved in the discussion with the Cobbold Commission regarding the formation of Malaysia in 1963, said he suggested the name of the new country should be "Borbrusima," What a scream!

eBerita1310

This is a test of linking/exporting my handiwork regarding the Pudu Rotary Club's weekly newsletter eBerita1310 for the week of 9 Sep 2013.

Tanda Putera

I went to see the Malay movie Tanda Putera by Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba the night of 4 Sep. There was so much controversy that the movie was only released for public viewing on 29 August, more than a year late.  So that made me curious, hence I must see it to verify what the fuss was all about.

It was a ‘tear jerker’ actually.  The acting was superb by the guys who played Tun Razak and Tun Dr Ismail and also the ladies that played Toh Puan Rahah and Toh Puan Nor Ashikin.  The emotions displayed in the scenes when Tun Razak was suffering his advanced leukemia was so real that even I had to wipe my eyes several times.  The movie also managed to show Tun Razak’s caring persona when in London before falling really sick, he went shopping for gifts for all his staff at the PMO and his loved ones. And Tun Razak was a caring person not only to those close to him but more so to the people and the country that he led.
Regarding the main characters, the lady who played Toh Puan Rahah had so much likeness to her; likewise the guy who played Dr Mahathir could be recognised straight away. Good casting.  The gangster CT boss’ acting was also good and believable.  He was despicable, and that meant good acting in my book.  But for the other personalities respective likeness to Hussein Onn, IGP Haniff Omar, Sardon Jubir, Harun Idris, Tunku Abd Rahman or Najib ; there were no likeness at all. And their acting efforts were also stiff at best.
On the issue of May 13 that DAP Lim Guan Eng got so riled up about, well…there were scenes of the riots with the DAP logo/posters quite prominently displayed. For those who have read the NOC report the atrocities depicted only confirm what they’d visualise from the report; but for those that have not read the report it’d appear to them as just another demo, similar to the Arab Spring demos on TV and also our own Bersih nonsense. Really it’s no big deal to worry about; it’s just a visualisation of a page of our history; unless of course you wish to dispute the historical facts. Saying that it'd incite racial tension is a load of BS.  

BTW, a good write-up on May 13 can be found here by blogger Jebat Must Die.

Merdeka 2013

It’s Medeka Day tomorrow 31st August 2013. Somehow the atmosphere is not there; at least I don’t feel it as much as when I was in service. Probably because I am not invited to any of the functions that generals get invited to. No, I am not being sour grapes. I really miss all that pomp and pageantry of parades, dressing up for dinners and such.
And certainly it was not the way I felt on the actual day 56 years ago at the Merdeka Stadium. I was there lining up the inside of the stadium as "point man."   Being senior boys of the FMC we were given this honour. As I witnessed the whole proceedings unfold before me, I felt such great pride to be part of history. I was at a position quite close to the dais where Tunku Abdul Rahman, our first Prime Minister, shouted "Merdeka, Merdeka..." seven times with the crowd shouting likewise in thunderous response. I actually felt the rush of Adrenalin and my bulu roma standing on ends. We all stood at attention watching the Jalur Gemilang, our brand new national flag being hoisted. A new nation was born; and we fought for it through military and diplomatic means. And today when it became known that some fringe lunatics led by our Poet Laureate, Dato A. Samad Said, wanted to change that flag to "Sang Saka Malaya" I felt like doing the unthinkable to this traitor.  I hope the Home Minister will take due action on this unkempt, mad 78 year old man. He and his cohort (Hishamuddin Rais and Adam Adli) that's shown in the picture above deserve to be thrown into the slammer.

Right now there’s too much going on around the world and back home that’s not to my liking.  I am disappointed with the Arabs for being so stupid to be manipulated – one after another – into the Arab Spring. I was in Cairo in May 2011 and saw the devastation to their economy. They had a free and

fair election but the losers didn't like the winners. So they demonstrated again and toppled the democratically-elected government. They are now worse off. I was in Tunisia in Dec 2012 but the Tunisians appear to a bit more sane. Libya and Yemen removed their dictators but they are not any better off. And now Syria who stubbornly resisted the onslaught, is having a civil war since March 2011 (more than 24 months already.)  And with any war, winning counts and by any means. It’s no surprise therefore that the regime would use chemical weapons; but who pushed them into it?  Who sold them the ingredients to make the nerve gas?
I had friends who went to Syria to study and lived there several years. They were full of praise of the living conditions and standards they experienced; and how friendly the people were. How come there is so much animosity now? Is it really a Sunni-Shia issue or some hidden hands at work. Remember, Al Qaeda is also fighting the Assad regime in Syria. So, is the US on the side of Al Qaeda now? I am glad the Brits have learnt their lesson with the Iraqi adventure and voted not to support the US hawks. I wonder if Obama is up to it – to resist all the hawkish noises or join the likes of George W Bush.
On the home front Anwar is making overtures to Najib. His Merdeka message was very conciliatory, excerpts thus:
“Titik pertemuan BN dan PR perlu segera dicari bagi menyelamatkan negara di samping menyeru melupakan kesalahan masing-masing sempena hari kemerdekaan negara esok,” katanya ketika menyampaikan perutusan itu di Ibu Pejabat PKR di Petaling Jaya hari ini.
Cheeky bugger.  I hope Najib won’t be so stupid to fall for this desperado tricks. Meanwhile  PAS is struggling with Shia infiltration in their ranks. And the DAP is compromising their CAT principles. Recently the government of Penang issued an “advisory” to cinemas in the state to not show the film “Tanda Putra” centred on Tun Razak and Tun Ismail’s handling of the aftermath of the May 13, 1969 tragedy which didn’t show DAP in a very good light. To top it all, the Appeal Court acquitted Azilah and Sirul from the charges of murdering Altantuya seven years ago, on a technicality. Just like Anwar got away from two sodomy cases on a technicality.
Our economy is also not doing well with the Ringgit depreciating sharply against the major currencies. With the UMNO General Assembly scheduled for late this year, Najib is not on a very strong footing. I wonder if the acronym RAHMAN is becoming a truism.