"Class of its own ..."

Years back, a local television programme generated wide interest after it successfully brought together parents with their long-lost children, separated siblings and missing friends.
Then came the Internet, bringing along with it various networking websites that connect people around the world.
Gaining popularity among them is Facebook which enables us to ‘track down’ school-mates of those long gone years and renew our friendship.
Facebook got me and Ja-are connected with lots of catching-up to do.
When I told him about this blog, he mentioned that Mani, our former school-mate, had also created a blog to get us all together.
So when I finally got to speak to Mani, he graciously said that he had created the blog for VI class of 1978 “just two minutes ago” as an earlier initiative was left idle.
“The whole idea of the blog is to keep in touch with one another and have a common base to spell out our intentions, activities,” he wrote.
Calling on ‘friends, classmates and batchmates’ to write to the blog, Mani would also love to see ex-school teachers sharing their thoughts to make the blog a “Class of its own”. Click here.

‘Walk-in’ friendship club …

Everytime new stamps are issued, you are bound to see them at the Kuala Lumpur General Post Office. They have been meeting quite often although most of the occasions without prior arrangement.

With Pos Malaysia coming out with at least one set of new stamps a month, the possibility of such get-together has no doubt increased.
Because of this , they have grown to know each other well and could easily tell if you are someone new.
But that does not stop a newcomer from joining the ‘friendship club’ and discuss the subject of their meeting – stamps.
Like many ardent collectors, sixty-four year-old Andy Tan and Ong Leong Say, 55, would thronged the post office to get the latest issue of first-day covers (FDC).
As they stick the stamps on the specially-designed 30 sen envelopes, they exchanged views about the stamps issued today to mark the centenary celebration of the scouts association in Malaysia.
What makes collecting FDC interesting is it provides information about the stamps and why there were issued.
“This is not just a hobby but knowledge,” says Tan, who has been collecting stamps for 30 years.
Ong agreed, saying he has learned, among other things, about culture, costumes, artefacts and monuments from the stamps issued over the years.

Like only a friend can...

Some things are often taken for granted especially when they are considered small. Like the time when a friend might have given you his new phone number and you thought you already had it listed.

It takes a friend to remind us of the things we take for granted -- a roof over our head, food to eat, clothes to wear, a job to go to, good health and even blogging. So when he emailed me this photo with those "little, big words", I will not take for granted but to say: "Thank you, my friend"

Always a journalist...

Despite no longer being the New Straits Times (NST) Group Editor, Ahmad A.Talib never stops writing. Describing himself as "Ex (Axed) journalist", he continues writing about things close to his heart through his widely-read Pahit Manis blog.
We were fortunate when he slotted some time to share his thoughts about reporting with a group of senior journalists and editors at Wisma Bernama today.
He started reporting in 1972 with Bernama before being lured by the NST Group.
Ahmad remained ‘brutal’ about writing when he said it would be "sinful" in terms of professional outlook if editors stop doing so.
"In NST those days, we made it a point to get gatekeepers to circulate a “must-do” list.
"This is to make sure people who manage desks and units go out to meet their contacts, attend functions and write stories and features.
"We used to have bureau chiefs taking turn to write news analysis for a column which was prominently displayed on page 2 of the newspaper," he said.
It was regulated in such a way that the "13 or 14 bureau chiefs" knew whose turn it was to write for any particular day.
Because of the good understanding and teamwork they had, everyone was ensured of a two-week break before their next article was due.
"Everybody had a chance to write, they cannot hide or find excuses that they don’t have time because the articles would form the basis of their year-end appraisal.
"Once you become a journalist and you stop writing, you cannot qualify to be a journalist," said Ahmad, whose blog commands a respectable 400 to 500 hits a day.

'Speechless' Farizal says goodbye...

For someone who has been covering speeches, Ahmad Farizal was 'speechless' when colleagues held a farewell party for him as he leaves to join a newspaper group.
But like the many Bernama-groomed reporters who have found fame and fortune elsewhere, Farizal would preferably do the talking through his writings.
I guess it was because of his good writing skills that the economic reporter was offered a job by the newspaper.
"It's hard to leave because deep in my heart is Bernama," he confided privately.
"I will always treasure the friendship and writing skills that I gained...from zero to what I am today," said Farizal, who joined Bernama almost four years ago.

Keeping my chin up ...

If ever I should feel my world is crumbling down, I would just think about my good friend Zulkiple Ibrahim to keep my chin up. Despite being bogged with "a number of chronic and debilitating health problems", he has persevered. Although at one stage he had to use the wheelchair, he insisted on coming to the office. But that’s not all. The man who still remembers the long-demolished "Panggung Garuda" in his hometown Pasir Mas, has had to cope with other trying demands. It needs a gallant man to say these words.

Global village beckons ...

It was a pleasant surprise to know that my friend Param, now based in Washington, shares his birthday with the country – August 31. The information would have escaped my mind if not for Facebook which Param had wanted me to join. Since he left Bernama to join AFP, Param has gone places including to a city where we were once based almost the same time.
“Yes, I have been marking my birthday for the last 14 years outside Malaysia but always in the company of Malaysians whether I was in Spore, Manila or DC. Most of the times at the Malaysian embassy for the Merdeka celebrations - so double bonus lah brudder! All best and nice to see you again on facebook. Cheers-Param" he wrote today.
Nani, another ex-Bernama journalist now living in New York, is also connected to friends in Malaysia through Facebook or ‘Mukabuku’ as she describes it.
Its amazing how you can be linked with friends and in turn discover that both of you might know the same people either from school, college or work. Small world!
As the internet increasingly linked people together across the globe, the concept of a global village envisioned by Marshall McLuhan, more than 40 years ago, has somewhat become a reality. In his book Understanding Media published in 1964, McLuhan had described how electronic mass media collapsed space and time barriers in human communication, enabling people to interact and live on a global scale.
In this sense, the globe has been turned into a village by the electronic mass media.

Fresh-look, more user-friendly …

As we continue to embrace the new media, Bernama has revamped its web-site to provide the public with more and easier access to information.
Located at www.bernama.com , the web-site has an exciting new-design and a more user-friendly navigation menu that easily permits visitors to find up-to-date information through a single click on the home page.
Featuring the various sections and services, the fresh-look would provide the dynamism for Bernama to stay competitive and relevant even as it turned 40 last May.
With the monthly hits notching 40 million, it is essential for Bernama, being the national news agency, to maintain an effective web-site that contains information which is important to the public.
The Bernama website has also proven to be the gateway between Malaysia and the world, bringing Malaysians who are studying or working abroad closer to home with up-to-date reports.
As an interactive channel, a new segment “What Say You” has been incorporated to enable the public to give their views on topical issues.
To literally set the discussions going is the question: ‘What needs to be done to improve Malaysia’s public transportation system?’
What matters you, matter us, so to speak.
The public can also share their thoughts by writing to the Opinions column, which has been re-branded from what was known as Editors’ Pick.

“Friends have come from afar, …"

(Picture taken from Beijing Olympics official website)

A chanting troupe intoned the Confucian proverb "Friends have come from afar, how happy we are" as China greeted the world with a spectacular opening of the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing tonight.
President Hu Jintao officially declared the Games open at the “Bird’s Nest” stadium in front of 90,000 spectators and a worldwide television audience of up to four billion.
The opening ceremony, directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Zhang Yimou, saw a parade of 5,000 cheerful competitors from 204 nations, most in their national costumes.
Malaysian Chef-de-mission and two-time Olympian Ho Koh Chye led the Malaysian contingent with cyclist Mohd Azizul Hasni Awang proudly carrying the Jalur Gemilang. The Malaysian contingent looked resplendent in their yellow-and-gold attire – the men in baju Melayu and women in baju kebaya.
With a 33-strong contingent, Malaysia are competing in nine sports – archery, aquatics, badminton, cycling, taekwondo, sailing, shooting, track and field and weighlifting.
Malaysia were the 10th contingent to marched into the stadium after Madagascar. The order for the march past was based on the number of strokes written for the names of the participating countries in simplified Chinese character.
The ceremony caps seven years of work that reshaped the Chinese capital and set the seal on an economic boom that has seen China and its 1.3 billion people emerge as a new superpower.
The extravaganza, cramming 5,000 years of history into one evening, avoided many of the clichéd images of China – no pandas, no red lanterns and no dragon dances.
But the magic was not lost with some 15,000 performers and 29,000 colourful fireworks giving the Games, held every four years, a glittering start.
China did not take astrological chances, opening the Games at the auspicious moment of eight o’clock on the eight month of 2008.

Footnote: *While 204 countries are participating in the Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), says Brunei Darussalam did not register any athletes for competition.

A friendly advice ...

For someone in a hot seat, my colleague Zul S, knows too well that the country’s political temperature can easily rise with an impeding by-election in the northern state of Penang.

He is concern that things could get of out hands if the competing parties resort to overzealous campaigning in Permatang Pauh.
“Please tell your political friends to campaign with decorum,” he said as I told him that I have found new vigour to blog, mostly about friendship, communication, journalism and Bernama.
As Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the General News Service, Zul oversees Bernama’s reporting coverage of the upcoming election – the first since last March general elections.
Nominations will be held on August 16 while polling is on August 26.
The parliamentary seat fell vacant following the resignation of Parti Keadilan Rakyat President Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on July 31.
“The MPs (Members of Parliament) can be friendly among themselves when they are outside the august ‘dewan’.
“But once they get inside they can become the worst of enemies,” said Zul, a seasoned journalist when it comes to covering elections.

Happy Birthday ASEAN ...

As we celebrate the 41st anniversary of ASEAN today, I recalled meeting ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan at a media forum in Bangkok in March.
In his keynote address, he cited the ASEAN Charter and underlined the crucial importance of a sense of ownership of and belonging to ASEAN of all its peoples.
“ASEAN is not an organization of leaders of the nations, but of all their peoples.
“The media as popular communication channel can help ASEAN to reach out to the 567 million people of ASEAN…The media can serve as a platform for social dialogue to create just and equitable society,” he said.
“How do we bring the sense of care and compassion and concern to the people of ASEAN?, if the media, if the journalists, if the people in the profession of the Fourth Estate are not inducted into this process of community building.
I remember him saying that the media can help “by paying attention to what ASEAN is doing, by being more critical to what ASEAN is doing, by being more proactive in advising, in giving us your ideas, your fears, your doubts, and your hopes about ASEAN”.
“How many columnists, how many journalists, how many TV broadcasters, who are really prepared to dialogue, to discuss, to exchange on the issues of the wider community of ASEAN?
Dr Surin went on to quote novelist Arthur Miller who once said “the newspaper is a nation talking to itself”.
“Think about that “the newspaper is a nation talking to itself”. Meaning if you are really free as a newspaper then all the problems of your society must be registered on the page of your newspaper because you bring all the problems on the page, because you have the right to question “what’s going on in society?”, because you have the right to contribute for the betterment of the society, of yours. A newspaper is a nation talking to itself.”

'True blue' Victorian forever ...

Rashdan Rashid completed school at Victoria Institution (VI) in 1996 but keeps going back to it.
Being a committee member of the Victoria Institution Old Boys’ Association (VIOBA), he is even more attached to his alma mater, aiming to bring back its "glory days".
"You can say that I was made for VI and VI was made for me," said the "old" Victorian.

Calling himself the 'VIOBA clubhouse caretaker', he has big plans for the school which was founded in 1893.
"I will bring prominent figures, big names who are product of VI to inspire the present batch of students," he said enthusiastically at the clubhouse this morning as a monorail rolled on elevated tracks in the background at Jalan Hang Tuah.
To realize his dream, Rashdan is determine to get as many ex-students as possible to join the 86 year-old VIOBA as life members.
"Of the 2,000-plus active members now, only 600 are life members," said Rashdan who proudly administers the club website: www.vioba.com.my .
For the moment, he is literally in high spirit preparing for VIOBA annual dinner to be held at KL Tower on August 30.
"Don't forget that, bro," he reminded me as we reminisced our VI days.
"VI is my life...no one can take that away from me," said the father of four boys, who naturally harbours the hope that his sons would follow his foot-step at VI.

Rashdan is glad that the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) president Raja Amir Shah Raja Abdul Aziz is pro-active in efforts to bring back the glory days for the school.
High among the list of things-to-do is the setting-up of the Mokhtar Dahari football academy. The legendary striker, a former student of the school, was one of the best players in Asia in the 1970s.
He died at age 37 of muscular dystrophy on 11 July 1991.

*Rashdan can be contacted at 012-2055296.

Man without ears ...

"What do you call a man without ears?" asked MGN, our likeable colleague, who has set questions for numerous motor treasure hunts.
"Earless…dumb…no-ear man..," I replied but he just smiled, each time.
And when I finally gave up, he coolly said:
"Well, you can call him anything…he won’t hear you".
Ha, ha, ha, and I thought it was funny.
On a serious note, it’s no laughing matter if you have ears but do not hear. Better still, not just hear but listen.
From all these years in this profession, I’ve learnt pretty well the importance of listening.

In his book Organizational Behavior, Stephen P.Robbins said: “Too many people take listening skills for granted. They confuse hearing with listening”.
What’s the difference?
Hearing is merely picking up sound vibrations. Listening is making sense out of what we hear.
In other words, listening requires paying attention, interpreting and remembering sound stimuli.
My mind flashes back to school-days and recalled the favourite phrase from teachers:
"Are you all listening?"

A reliable motoring friend …

While speed kills, the Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) makes no pretentious about being fast in providing service.
Having them back you up is most comforting when your car won’t start just as you want to begin the day’s journey.
More often than not, the fault lies with worn-out batteries as what happened to me this morning.
When AAM patrolman Firdhaus said I could use credit card to pay for the maintenance-free battery that he brought along to replace the lead acid battery in my car, I was surprised.

“Never thought that you would bring along the swipe machine for credit card,” I said as I gave him the money.
He said he did not have to bring the machine as all he needed to do was contact his office to do the verification if members chose to use credit cards.
“There have been instances of vehicle breakdown in the middle of nowhere and the owners do not have enough cash, so they pay by credit card,” said Firdhaus.
But what he did took along with him was a KL road directory so he would not lose his way.
"24-hours protection, 365 days a year is our commitment," says AAM on its website.
"AAM is proud that that we are still considered as the No. 1 Motoring Friend," said the organization which was established in 1932.

More than a doctor ...

Dealing with distraught souls, oncologist Dr Fabian Lee packs lots of patience.
He sees cancer-stricken patients daily, giving them hope whenever they are down.
It’s no simple task though as anyone diagnosed with life-threatening illness easily feels fearful and helpless.
They sink into depression and misery and this takes a toll on them mentally and physically.
"Be strong, you can conquer it…we are here to help you," Dr Lee would tell his patients.
For many, he is more than a doctor but a friend.
When a dispirited patient wants to abandon chemotherapy, he would listen to her grievances before reasoning out why she should carry on with the treatment.
"I know women are afraid of losing their hair but it will grow again after the treatment," he told us when met at his ward today.
Having such illness is an experience that changes anyone.
We become grateful for things which we previously took for granted such as good health.
Tough times also bring us closer to family and friends.

"Falling down is not defeat...Defeat is when you refuse to get up!"

Shabery reiterates new media-friendly stance ...

Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek reinforces his new media-friendly approach, saying the government and civil servants must be ready to adapt them whether they like it or not.
"Business cannot be as usual for us, and our best defence against the new media is to continue to be clean, honest and efficient in our public delivery system.
"In this battle for credibility in the new media, and between the new media and the mainstream media, we as part of the establishment will be their punching bags.
“But we cannot fear them,” he said in his paper titled "The New Media: Articulating the Right Values" tabled at the Civil Service Conference in Kuala Lumpur.
Shabery said: "They will not be influential or powerful if we are clean, honest, credible, trustworthy and efficient in our administration and public service delivery."
"If we do not have anything to hide, if we do not abuse our power or office, these new media per se, will not have such an impact for they would be deprived of any ammunition against us," he said.
"Most of us make the mistake of defining the new media as anti-government and anti-establishment when in fact there were bloggers and online news sites that subscribe to the government's policies and programmes,” he stated.
Media-savvy Shabery contended that if the bloggers and online news sites were critical, they were critical of the way some policies and programmes were implemented.
"In other words, there are myths and fallacies about bloggers and opponents of the government, which can be easily debunked when communication is open and free," he said.
For example, RTM's live telecast of Parliament sitting had shown the people the actual proceedings and allowed them to make judgment on the performances of their parliamentary representatives, he said.
Shabery also urged the mainstream media not "to compete head on with the new media", which rely on the mainstream media for news and information.
He said citizen journalists acted as a watchdog to the mainstream media by analysing, observing and interpreting materials published by the mainstream media, highlighting their inaccuracies, spins and outright lies.
Saying that citizen journalists complemented the mainstream media, he believed that "this augurs well for the democratisation of information."
He observed that there were times when professional journalists in the mainstream media were taken to task by citizen journalists for sloppy reporting and misleading editorials.
"This is a value that should be duly recognised and applauded by all of us, politicians, administrators and lawmakers alike. This will allow for feedback mechanism of any new policy, plan or programme," he said.
He said it could also act as an early warning system to detect any wrongdoings by any quarters within the democratic structure of the country.
Shabery felt the country did not need new laws to curb the new media as the present ones were adequate.
However, he said, the defamation and sedition laws, which aimed to protect the rights of citizens against malice, should also apply to the new media, especially in the case of blogs.
"Over time, users of online information will know where to place them in their hierarchies of trust, and over time, the same would be expected of blogs that want to be known as credible and trustworthy," he said.

The minister has a website NotaShabery.com , featuring his speeches, comments and opinion on current issues. The website aims to create a forum where readers are free to comment and give their points of view.

Olympic Games: Of friendship and peace ...

With the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games set to start on Friday, the world's attention is increasingly focussed on China.
Like the Five Olympic Rings from which they draw their colour and inspiration, Fuwa will serve as the official mascots of the Games, carrying a message of friendship and peace -- and good wishes from China -- to children all over the world.
Designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who form an intimate circle of friends, Fuwa also embody the natural characteristics of four of China's most popular animals -- the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow -- and the Olympic Flame.
Each of Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name -- a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China.
Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope and Nini is the Swallow.
When their names are put together -- Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni -- they say "Welcome to Beijing," offering a warm invitation that reflects the mission of Fuwa as young ambassadors for the Olympic Games.
Fuwa also embody both the landscape and the dreams and aspirations of people from every part of the vast country of China.
In their origins and their headpieces, the five elements of nature -- the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky could be seen -- all stylistically rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentation.
(Source: The official website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games)

Welcoming friends ...

A day after signing an MoU to enhance broadcasting and information cooperation with Malaysia, the delegation from Brunei Darussalam visited Bernama headquarters to get a closer look at our operations.
Energy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Pehin Awang Yahya Bakar led the delegation.
They were given a briefing on the role and services provided by Bernama which celebrated its 40th anniversary on May 20.
“It is said life begins at 40,” quipped editor-in-chief Yong Soo Heong before ending his briefing.
Apart from the Editorial Department, Pehin Awang Yahya and his delegation visited Bernama TV and Radio 24 – the agency’s venture into the broadcasting world.
Starting as a small audio-visual unit in 1998, Bernama TV launched its 24-hour operation on February 28.

The Brunei delegation also visited the NAM News Network (NNN) located on the 15th floor of Wisma Bernama.
Seeing NNN up-and-running must have been jubilant for Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Department Pengiran Datuk Paduka Ismail Pengiran Mohamed.
He had attended the Conference of the Ministers of Information of Non-Aligned Countries (Cominac) in November 2005 which endorsed host Malaysia’s proposal to set-up NNN.
But that was not the only joy for him.
He gave a big smile when he saw his “just a phone call away” phrase in this blog.
Talk about new media …

Friendship “just a phone call away” …

A senior Brunei official describes the close relationship between the two countries as “just a phone call away”. Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Department Pengiran Datuk Paduka Ismail Pengiran Mohamed says the cooperation were taking place not just among leaders but among government officials and the people.
In a television interview with RTM this morning, he said cooperation in broadcasting and information fields would be enhanced with the signing of a memorandum of understanding following yesterday’s meeting.
"That this interview is being telecast live to Brunei testifies the close cooperation," said Pengiran Ismail, a former Radio Television Brunei (RTB) director.

Malaysian Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Energy Minister in Brunei's Prime Minister's Department Pehin Awang Yahya Pegawan Mudin Datuk Paduka Bakar witnessed the signing of the MoU at Angkasapuri.


It coincides with the on-going four-day visit of the Crown Prince of Brunei, Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah starting Friday. Flags of both countries lined the highway leading to Parliament to mark the visit.
Even more significant is that today is Friendship Day!

Armchair globe-trotter ...

Like postage stamps attached to envelope, 57-year-old R.Govindasamy has stuck to stamp collecting since his school days, turning the hobby into a profitable family business.
Long before globalisation became a buzzword, Govin was already"on-line" with people from all over the globe from his home in Ipoh, in the state of Perak.
"In my teen days, I use to have pen pals from over 60 countries and everyday I would eagerly wait for the postman to come, expecting to get between five to six letters," said the father of four.
The hobby enabled Govin to see the world without leaving home.
It helped him improve his English as he wrote regularly to pen pals while introducing Malaysia through stamps he exchanged with them.
He still writes to overseas contacts to get supply for his philately business of 27 years. Govin also deals in numismatic, selling old currency notes and coins.
So passionate is he with the trade that he travels to Kuala Lumpur every first weekend of the month to hold his 'market fair' at the Heritage Hotel at the old railway station building.
Today is no exception.

"Everyone is the same here, whether they are lawyers, doctors, businessmen, students...they come because of their interest in stamps and old currencies," he said.

Neighbourly ties …

In the spirit of friendship, we are just too happy to have information officers from Brunei Darussalam coming for brief attachment in Bernama.
Though the training stint is short, it will hopefully go a long way to deepen ties.
This is our commitment in the context of bilateral cooperation in broadcasting and information between Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.
The two-day meeting started at Angkasapuri today with both sides renewing pledges to keep the strong bond going.
Apart from sending photojournalists, Brunei Darussalam Information Department has sought Bernama’s assistance in sports reporting.
Bernama will also participate in a photo exhibition of our two countries to be held next year.
In the meantime, the department could take advantage of the internet-linked NAM News Network (NNN), based in Wisma Bernama, to contribute news and photos about the oil-rich neighbour.

Blair embarks on inter-faith understanding ...

The war on Iraq must have been traumatic for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair who is now busy promoting inter-faith dialogue.
He says the dialogue does address the root causes of terrorism for it lessens ignorance and promotes greater understanding among people of different religions.
We had asked him if inter-faith dialogue could address the root causes of terrorism since Western governments had failed to do so despite repeated calls by the Islamic world since the 9/11 terror attacks.
Blair was the British prime minister when the US-British coalition force invaded Iraq in 2003. He retired in June last year after 10 years in office.
Blair, who is on his first visit to Malaysia to give a lecture on the Rule of Law at the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Law Lecture today, said he was actually disappointed that he had just discovered the country.
"After some days (in Malaysia), I find it's a wonderful country, really beautiful country, (with) very warm people. Very lively, actually.
"In cultural terms and every other sense and there is a lot going on which you can rightly be proud. This is my first visit, I hope it won't be my last, I'm sure it won't be," said the casually-dressed Blair.
He admitted during the interview that he was a fan of Newcastle United FC.
"I know many people out here who are either Manchester United or Arsenal fans," he said.

Opening up to a wireless world ....

Since his appointment as Information Minister in the Cabinet formed after last March General Elections, Shabery Cheek has brought much improvement. He is bold to open up even in areas considered 'taboo' before the election.
Two days after holding office, he directed officials to installed 'Wi-Fi' within the ministry's vast Angkasapuri complex.
"It's illogical to block anyone from accessing the Internet when Kuala Lumpur is moving towards becoming a wireless city," he said last night at a forum to discuss ways of improving RTM's news bulletins.
In line with his 'openness', Shabery has invited bloggers -- previously regarded as 'nuisance' to appear on prime-time weekly slot to talk about their blogs.
Even known government and BN critics have had their fair share of glamour appearing live on the 20-minute show that could be extended in view of its growing popularity.
Despite reservations from several colleagues on live TV coverage of parliamentary sessions, Shabery managed to convince them on the need to allow public viewing access to matters that concern them.
More changes are in store as Shabery keeps his heart and mind open to views on how the ministry could deliver effectively.

Not just coffee brewing at Starbucks ...

A news report today says Starbucks Corp will concentrate more of its growth in China and Japan as the company braces with slumping sales in the US and Australia. Starbucks founder and CEO Howard Schultz had earlier this month announced plans to close 600 stores in the US and eliminate as many as 12,000 jobs or 7 percent of the workforce. The coffeeshop chain employed about 172,000 as at last September. According to the report, Starbucks would shut three-fourths of its 84 stores in Australia within the next few days, backing away from a market it entered eight years ago.

During a trip to Beijing last year, the Starbucks logo at a particular outlet caught my attention as it blended with the local surrounding.

The kind of friend ...

Flipping through the pages of an old note-book, I came across the following writing:

"A fairly good friend will tell u not to worry and that it will all come right.
A perfect friend helps u face the truth and stays beside u, whatever comes"

It took me a while to recall why I had made those notes.
I then realised that it was an SMS I received from someone.
Between good and perfect, a friend in need is a friend indeed.

Never too late ...

In this new media age, it’s never too late to become a blogger.
I’m happy that my colleague Salbiah Said, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Bernama Economic Service, has entered blogosphere -- salbiahs.blogspot.com.

With her vast experience and high-profile position, I’m sure her jottings would benefit readers.
As blogging becomes trendy, I recalled writing an e-mail to my then editor-in-chief while on a press fellowship in Cambridge in November 2004.

“Our competitors are emerging in new forms as a result of advancement in the information age. Online diarists or "bloggers", for instance, are coming to the fore in such a tremendous speed that even their existence have often been misrepresented. What began as a hobby is turning into serious business and changing the face of journalism. Blogs (short for weblogs) have become common feature in providing accounts such as the US-led invasion on Iraq and the recent US presidential election, prompting big-timers like CNN and BBC, to venture into this new field. Back home, blogger Jeff Ooi is riding high on the global wave of this web influence, giving an alternative 'no holds bar' information channel for free. The big question for us is how do we deal with this new competition while struggling to keep pace with our traditional competitors (subcribers???)”

It’s been more than three years since and blogs are posing an even greater threat to the mainstream media, capturing a bigger slice of readership especially among the younger generation.
While the editor-in-chief has retired, Jeff Ooi has enhanced his profile having been elected as a member of parliament in the March 2008 General Election.

Memories of you ...

Wouldn't miss at all the date of a friend's birthday today. But as we are far apart, here's a dedication:

"Memories of you
alive
Like corpuscles in blood
flow and flow on
Through arteries and veins
through glories and pains".

Between Xango and kopi-tiam...

An office-mate suffering from brain tumor claimed she managed to put off surgery just by taking Xango -- a mangosteen-extract juice. The US-formulated drink is said to have the right remedy to tackle cancer and many other illnesses.
Testimonials about the positive effect of Xango could be viewed from a number of its-related website.
Just as Xango is emerging steadily in the Malaysian market, coffee remains a favourite beverage. This could be seen with the growing number of 'Kopi-tiam' cafes operating under various brand chain in the country. Because of the wide interest in such outlets, the typical floral-designed kopi-tiam cup and saucer of yesteryears are making a comeback, perhaps as strong as coffee.

Aziz takes charge at Utusan ....

Utusan Malaysia reported today the appointment of Aziz Ishak as acting group editor-in-chief with Khalid Mohd going on a three-month leave tomorrow prior to retirement.
Forty-four year old Aziz has been with the newspaper for 24 years and made a big impact as a defence writer in his days of reporting.
We go a long way covering the political beat and the prime minister when Dr Mahathir was in office.

Despite his high position, Aziz remains down-to-earth.
When I phoned to congratulate him of his appointment, he told me that it was a temporary slot.
Well, I don't think so, bro. You're the man who's going to lead Utusan for years to come.

Stamping a passion .....

Once acclaimed as "King of hobbies" and "Hobby of kings", wonder if stamp-collecting still appeals to the public especially the young. With e-mails being fast, cheap and easy mode of modern correspondence, posting letters in stamp-affixed envelopes is something of the past for many. While stamp-collecting has taken a backseat, my interest in first-day covers (FDC) remains strong. Having spent time and money on them, its not just a past-time hobby for me but a passion.


This set of stamps issued on 5th May 1957 reflected the economy of the country as it braces for Independence on 31st August 1957.


Among my treasured collection is this set of bird stamps which cost me a bomb.

Away from the maddening crowd ...

A trip to Hulu Langat could provide some peace of mind for KL city folks. Many have in fact invested in properties in the area and settling down in new townships in its vicinity. It is interesting that Wikipaedia has provided information about Hulu Langat town, saying it is famous for its durians. The town is also popular for its recreational activities and natural surroundings. Among the popular spots of eco-tourism are the Sungai Gabai Waterfalls, the Semenyih Water Reservoir and the Sungai Congkak Forest Recreational Centre.


Enterprising residents are taking advantage of the many visitors to the area to sell fruits such as durians, rambutans and mangosteens or set-up small business like Restoren Pohon Bambu, offering kampung food.
Like many 'kampung-less' city dwellers, I had dreamed of owning a small plot somewhere in Hulu Langat to build a weekend home. After scanning some newspaper advertisements, I found a tempting offer and contacted the seller who took me to view the place. With a small stream passing through the land, I had visualised it to be an ideal place to refresh the mind. I utilised whatever savings I had to pay the booking fee but kept it a secret from my family. I had wanted to surprise them with a 'kampung house' -- a place to go to on weekends.
It's been two years since and I'm still wondering if I could finally own that small piece of land as the seller had run into problems.

The true measure of friendship ...

True friends are hard to come by, truthful friends even harder.
In real life, most friends are mere acquaintances -- they are there because they are part of the social construct.
You have to interact with them and, so as not to become an island, engage them.
The true measure of friendship will be judged when we are left on our own while the world moves on around us.

Of friendship....

Someone I considered a friend must have felt guilty when he emailed me something to ponder about. I thought its best if I post it here so I could continue pondering about it.

Two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey, they had an argument; and one friend slapped the other in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand:
"Today, my best friend slapped me in the face"

They kept on walking until they found an oasis where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.
After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone:
"Today, my best friend saved my life"

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him: "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?"

The friend replied:
"When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away, but when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it".

Is there a "Spielberg" somewhere in Malaysia?

In 1964, Steven Spielberg, then a 16-year-old, directed his first full-length movie "Firelight".
With a budget of US$600, the science fiction film about aliens abducting earthlings, made a profit of US$100.
"Firelight" had been a point of no return for Spielberg, who is now among the most recognisable names in the global filmmaking industry.
Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek believes there is a Spielberg somewhere in Malaysia, if only he or she could be unearthed early.
"The important thing is, in the creative industry, one has to start early," he said.
In fact, one has to start early in any field, including sports, the minister said.
An athlete who wants to be world champion should start honing his or her skills early and take part in major competitions, he said.
"Raphael Nadal is only 22 years old but he is already a Wimbledon champion," said Ahmad Shabery, referring to the Spanish tennis player who won the prestigious championship after beating defending champion Roger Federer on July 2.
As a minister in charge of the media and creative industry, Ahmad Shabery is aware that the ministry should provide a platform to encourage such activity, as well as to support institutions which offer courses related to the industry.
"These young people are taught to create content but where do they go to air their works? Which cinema is willing to show a short film of 10-minute?
"In the end, the assignments are just handed over to the lecturer for marking purposes, and after that they will be stored away," he said.
But things are changing thanks to a programme that promotes creativity among the young people, aptly called the Young Artiste Programme.
"I believe among the assignments given, there will be some which are better than those produced by television stations.
"Sometimes, making a 10-minute film is much more difficult than a long-winding drama," he said when launching the Young Artiste Programme aimed at spurring the development of the local content industry.
The programme, targeted at those aged 30 and below, is jointly organised by Filem Negara and Radio Television Malaysia (RTM).
It covers four categories namely comedy, documentary, experimental and animation, each with a length of between five to 10 minutes.
The programme will be aired on Saturdays and Sundays on RTM for 30 minutes, starting tommorow.
Ahmad Shabery hoped the programme would help the development of the local content industry, thus meeting the demand from television channels, which are on the increase lately.
He said industry players should not think merely of getting air time over RTM and other local stations but also at the international level.
"When the (Korean drama series) Winter Sonata was aired here, the people are beginning to talk about South Korea and no just India or Hong Kong," said Ahmad Shabery, who hoped that one day local series, such as the "Gerak Khas" police drama, would be aired on television stations in that country.
He was confident that Malaysia's creative industry would be successful if it
was spearheaded by young people.
Apart from having high creativity, they understand their contemporary better.
"Look at Yahoo! and Google which are started by the young people... they are now becoming part of our daily lives in this multimedia era," he said.

Historic Melaka and George Town made it...

A temple in Cambodia, two historic Malaysian trading towns and an early agricultural site from Papua New Guinea have been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Honoured were the 11th century Preah Vihear temple site, perched on a mountaintop on the Thai-Cambodia border; the cities of the Straits of Malacca, Melaka and George Town in Malaysia, and the Kuk Early Agricultural Site in Papua New Guinea, marking the country's first entry on the list.
The UNESCO committee has been meeting in this oldest of Canadian cities of Quebec since Wednesday to consider adding to its coveted list of protected architectural and natural wonders.
A total of 45 new sites were vying for inclusion on the list this year at the meeting which ends on Thursday.

AU retires after 37 years ...

Bernama general manager Azman Ujang, or AU, retires from his post today after 37 years with the organisation.
He began his journalistic career as a cadet reporter at the Bernama bureau in Kuching, Sarawak, in 1971.
He later headed the Sabah bureau and seven years later, was transferred to the Bernama headquarters as editor at the Economics Desk.
During his career he had also headed the General News, Features and Foreign desks.
The 57 year-old Azman was editor-in-chief from 2004 to 2007 before being appointed general manager.

Deja vu...

Looking at the smiling, cheerful faces of the new graduates as they walked into Dewan Sri Budiman, I'm overcome with pride. My daughter is among those receiving their scroll on this day at 1.30pm.
It was here 17 years ago I received my journalism degree from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UITM), then known as ITM.
As her name was splashed on the two giant screens above the stage, I realised how proud it is for a parent to share the joy of their children on convocation day.

When a man dies ...

He would often be by himself among piles of clothes in his Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman store. At first glance, you could guess the man was no ordinary staff despite his simple look.
Talking to him, makes you humbled for he held no barrier to get into a conversation.
He would only chuckled when I told him it was a proud moment for me to meet the man behind the name.
He just smile when I joked that he would have amassed millions of ringgit from his self-name enterprise.
He was funny when tongue-in-cheek he told me he would not be able to make much if most people were of my size.
Looking back, I realised his store is among the few that could readily cater for customers whose waistline matches the number of Bernama's years of operation -- 40 and beyond.
You could easily find slacks for the big-sized guys at his outlets. They come at a reasonable price too.
So it is with a tinge of sadness to read about his death in the newspapers today.
I will cherish the memories that I had of him for I will never see him again.
Thanks to the Blackberry, I have immortalised a moment in time with M.H.Kamdar -- the founder of Kamdar. He was 81.

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count,
it's the life in your years." -- Abraham Lincoln

'Sape' takes Ulu Baram man to Paris …

Sarawak's melodious stringed instrument, the Sape, has taken a man from remote Ulu Baram to perform at the Unesco’s headquarters in Paris -- the world city of arts and culture.
Being an accomplished sape player, Mathew Ngau Jau, 56, from Long Semiang in Ulu Baram, Sarawak is all too happy to introduce the guitar-like instrument to music lovers outside the country.
"I feel very proud to present the music of my ethnic Orang Ulu Kenyah to the world.
"In my place, this instrument is an ordinary sound but here people from all over appreciate it.
"I hope my sons will continue playing this instrument so that the world continues to know about Orang Ulu, Kenyah and Malaysia," he told me after another highly-applauded performance.
Having played the instrument since childhood, Jau became a professional musician 10 years ago.
He is among musicians brought to Paris by the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry to showcase Malaysia’s traditional music and cultural performance.
Their presence is part of Malaysia’s attempt to get Melaka and Penang listed as Unesco’s world heritage sites.

Education key to overcome racial, religious hatred...

As the Internet broadcast of an anti-Islamic video came under attack at the Unesco executive board meeting in Paris today, Malaysia says education is crucial in inoculating people against racial and religious hatred.
Making his maiden speech at the board's 179th session, Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein says the search for accommodation between many races, cultures and religions in the face of globalization and the free flow of information had become the world’s problem.
"Ignorance of others, causes people to fear one another and fearing one another leads to hate. Stereotyping and extremism of any kind is wrong," he said.
"Demonizing Islam, Muslims and the Holy Quran by the airing of the film Fitna through the Net in the name of freedom of speech and expression is not only unacceptable but outright dangerous," he said.
Globalization and the related ICT revolution have resulted in a "globalized telecommunications reality" where communication and knowledge flows in a global environment that is complex and unpredictable.
Hishammuddin says it is not only unacceptable but simply dangerous to have a deep divide between "information have and have nots" and "knowledge know and know nots".
"Nor it is acceptable and even dangerous that in this so-called global village, languages, religions, cultural and regional values and identities, be put at risk of being levelled out in a world dominated by the cultural norms of the powerful," he said.

Hishammuddin makes debut in Unesco executive board...

Having been re-appointed as Education Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein makes his maiden appearance in the 58-member executive board of Unesco which opens its 179th session in Paris today.
The minister had worked tirelessly to earn Malaysia a firmer place in the crucial United Nations agency.
He has struck a close working relationship with Unesco director-general Koichiro Matsuura, who made no secret about his happiness with Hishammuddin’s contribution.
Saying he was looking forward to future prospects of bilateral cooperation between Unesco and Malaysia, Matsuura thanked Malaysia for its unfailing support of the organisations various activities.
"I should like you to know how pleased I was to learn of your re-appointment as Minister of Education in the recently-formed Government of Malaysia," he said in a letter to Hishammuddin.
Matsuura was in Kuala Lumpur recently to attend the 43rd South-East Asia Ministers of Education (SEAMEO) Council Conference during which he signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding between Unesco and SEAMEO.

Congrats, Shabery!

The opening ceremony of an East Asia Media Forum here in Bangkok had just been over when I received an SMS on my handphone.
“TAHNIAH KAWAN SDRA SABREE CHEEK JADI MEN PENERANGAN!”
A while later came another message :“What’s Shabery no?”
Yet another, a few minutes later.
“Kawan baik hang shabery cheek jadi menteri kita.”
I could feel the excitement back home as the Prime Minister announced his Cabinet line-up following the Barisan Nasional’s fresh mandate in the just-concluded general elections.
Shabery had convincingly trounced a Parti Keadilan Rakyat hopeful to retain the Kemaman seat, paving the way for a deserving promotion as the Minister of Information.
He had been the Parliamentary Secretary to the Foreign Ministry prior to the elections.
Knowing Shabery, I’m sure he will be bringing fresh ideas and approaches to deal with the alternative media especially blogs, seen to have made a big impact in the recent polls.
Even before the day was over, another message came in:
“Bro. tlg sms hp no ahmad shabery. Tk”

Tip of an iceberg…

This gigantic iceberg had been towed away by ships from a rig in St. Johns, Newfoundland. The water was calm and the sun was almost directly overhead enabling a diver to get into the water and click this picture. The weight of the iceberg was estimated at 300,000,000 tons.

Friends...

Tried my luck to get in touch with former university mates by posting a note on our Stracomm group email. Was I happy that it prompted some response. While some said they were still at their old place, there were those looking for new job opportunities...

Making a difference...

A giant ship engine failed. The ship's owners tried one expert after
another, but none of them could figure how to fix the engine.
Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he
was young. He carried a large bag of tools with him and when he
arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very
carefully, top to bottom.
Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he
would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached
into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something.
Instantly, the engine lurched into life. He carefully put his hammer away.
The engine was fixed!
A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars.
"What?!" the owners exclaimed.
"He hardly did anything!"
So they wrote the old man a note saying: "Please send us an itemized bill."

CAN YOU GUESS WHAT WAS THE BREAK DOWN?
The man sent a bill that read :
Tapping with a hammer............ $ 2.00
Knowing where to tap.............. $ 9,998.00

--Its ALL about knowledge! --

Effort is important but knowing where to make an effort in your life
makes all the difference.

Of being hurt...

An award-winning Malaysian film director once said during a year-end interview that she had learned a valuable lesson that year.
"If you have been belittled, humiliated or jilted by the person you love, you are the luckiest person on earth," she said.
"Why?" the reporter wondered.
"You know what hurt means...for someone who has gone through the experience, surely you would not want to hurt others," she said.
The people you meet who affect your life and the success and downfalls you experience help to create who you are and who you become.
Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.
If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open your heart.
If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.
Make every day count.
Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again.

Indonesia's Antara takes over OANA presidency ...

Antara, the Indonesian national news agency, formally took over from Bernama of Malaysia the presidency of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) at its 13th general assembly which ended in Jakarta today.
The three-year term to lead the 40-member organization comes at a momentous time as Antara will be celebrating its 70th anniversary tomorrow.
Antara chief executive officer Dr Ahmad Mukhlis Yusuf is the new OANA president while editor-in-chief M. Saiful Hadi has been named secretary-general.
By tradition, Bernama would fill one of the four vice-presidency slots along with Itar-Tass (Russia), IRNA (Iran) and Xinhua (China).
The assembly also re-elected Press Trust of India (PTI), Yonhap (South Korea), Vietnam News Agency (VNA), Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Kyodo (Japan) and newcomer Azertac (Azerbaijan) as board members.
The next Executive Board Meeting will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, next year while the 14th general assembly in 2010 will be hosted by Anadolu news agency of Turkey to coincide with its 90th anniversary.
Earlier, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), which initiated the formation of OANA in 1961, pledged to work with the organisation towards promoting a better-informed society.
Unesco South East Asia Representative Prof Hubert Gijzen said the world, more than ever, was in need of timely information, communication and mutual understanding.
"Technological advances have given communication and information professionals and practitioners like you more powerful tools, new media and wider platforms for providing timely information to the public," he said at the plenary session. The text of his speech was read out by Jakarta-based Unesco programme specialist Dr Linda Santiago Posadas.
Gijzen said rather than consider the new developments as a threat, the agencies should seize the opportunities to bring about a spirit of innovation.

Life is about ...

Life is about waking up each day to discover something new; meeting old people but making new conversations; walking through old roads but still feeling nice about it; realizing that you have grown a day older but still feeling young at heart;
meeting busy schedules but still finding time to smile; being nostalgic about 'PAST' but looking forward better days to come...

Malaysia offers places for Brunei officers....

Malaysia has offered places for officers from Brunei Darussalam to attend courses at the Tun Abdul Razak Broadcasting Institute (Iptar) in Kuala Lumpur.
Iptar will be upgraded into a university college in January next year.
Deputy Minister of Information Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the offer was made in tandem with efforts to boost bilateral cooperation in broadcasting between the two friendly neighbours.

Zahid, on a three-day visit to Brunei Darussalam, extended the offer during his meeting with the Energy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, who is also the minister responsible for broadcasting.
The deputy minister said Iptar would cooperate with Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Mara and Limkokwing University College of Creative Technology to conduct the courses.
Present at the meeting were Malaysian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari, Information Ministry deputy secretary-general Dr Rothiah Omar, Director-General of the National Film Development Corporation, Malaysia (Finas), Raja Rozaimie Dalnish, and Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Department of Brunei Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Ismail bin Pengiran Haji Mohammad.
Zahid said he was satisfied with the bilateral cooperation of the two countries in information and broadcasting through RTM and RTB, between the information departments of Malaysia and Brunei and the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama).
He also indicated the possibility of expanding the cooperation through recently-launched Bernama-run Radio24.
Awang Yahya welcomed initiatives to enhance cooperation in information and broadcasting.
Tonight, Zahid attended the Senandung Muhibah concert, jointly staged by RTM-RTB at Jerudong Park Amphitheatre.

Of filial piety ...

While the story of Si-Tanggang has become a Malaysian folklore, as with the tale of Malin Kundang in Indonesia, Brunei too has its own legend of an unfilial son.
Not far from its famous Kampung Ayer is a small rocky island aptly named ‘Jong Batu’. Locals believe that it was a vessel which had turned into a rock.
Legend has it that a poor boy had set out to better his life, leaving behind his widowed mother. After many years, he achieved success and became the captain of a huge ship, forgetting his humble roots in the process. One day, Nakhoda Manis, who had by then married, anchored his ship near his birthplace while taking shelter from an impending storm.
On hearing news of his presence, his ageing mother rowed out in a small boat calling out to her long lost son. With his wife by his side, Nakhoda Manis was too embarrassed to acknowledge his mother and turned his back on her. He ordered his crew to shoo her away. The mother, brokenhearted and depressed, then placed a curse on her unfilial son. After a while, the sky turned dark and the wind became strong. Storm came and his ship slowly began to sink at the site where ‘Jong Batu’ is now.

For days of Auld Lang Syne …

Five years ago, on this date, some 40 motivated souls who were just starting their post-graduate stint held a Hari Raya gathering. It was to be a project for their Strategic Communication class. Being working people, it was not difficult for them to pool resources to make it a memorable night. A senior state politician who was known to one of the students even took the trouble to fly down to be with them and left for home on the last flight that night. Some wondered what magic the guy had to make the politician (who later became a deputy minister) spend time with the class.
With an amiable lecturer, whom they referred to as ‘Cefu’, the class was such fun that there was never a dull moment whenever they gathered for their once-a-week class. To make them better connected and informed of the class, a Yahoo Group was created which they aptly called stracommastersnov02. It proved to be an effective communication channel for through it they shared information not just about class assignments and projects but matters of interest concerning their classmates. Some posted anecdotes, anniversary messages and even wedding invitation! It was so special that the group of November ’02 students continued updating the site even after passing the Strategic Communication class. Some vowed to make it a lifetime communication channel. One of them posted a line yesterday and was lucky enough that it prompted a single response. Wonder where the others are…

Tribute to a man who saved my life ....

With the grace of Allah, Datuk Dr Nik Zainal Abidin Abdul Rahman had saved many lives in his illustrious career as cardiologist. I'm one of them.
When I laid in coma at the Gleneagles Hospital last November, he answered the emergency call and rushed to my aid.
He told me days later that they had initially thought I had a stroke as I was "almost breathless, gasping for air".
My face was pale and bluish.
Without wasting any time, he ran some tests on my brains, fearing it could have been severely affected by the attack.
But my brain gave a positive response.
I may have been out for two or three hours during which they finally traced the problem to my swelling water-logged lungs.
The doctors zeroed in my ailment as acute pneumonia and took steps to drain out the water from my body. I should be lucky to have survived.
Dr Nik told me that I could have been ‘gone’ if I had been half an hour late to the hospital.
"You gave us quite an excitement last night,'" his words still ringing in my ears when he saw me after I regained consciousness.
With tube placed in my mouth, I couldn't talk and could only gazed at him.
I recalled him telling the nurse that I was a strong guy to survive the ordeal.
When I finally had the chance to thanked him after they had taken the tube off my mouth several days later, he was his usual-self.
I now realise of his admirable traits -- unassuming and down-to-earth despite his high-achievement.
I remember him for his bow-tie but what would now endeared me to him is the memories of a man who had literally given me a new breath of life.
As I read the obituaries of this great man in the newspapers today, I couldn't help feeling moved by what he has done to the country.
And in my silent prayer, I am thankful to have crossed path with the man whom I will never get a chance to meet again.
For all the lives that he had saved, Dr Nik lost his when his four-wheel drive collided with a lorry near Karak Highway as he was heading towards Bentong from his house in Janda Baik on Monday, Oct 29.
In him, I found a man, a great man, who had passionately devoted his life to saving lives.
Al-Fatihah...

The road to Alhambra ...

As we travelled to Alhambra, the neatly grown trees on both sides of the highway caught the eye. Juan, our journalist friend from EFE, said they were olive trees.
"If I have to buy a gift, I would get olive oil instead of perfume," he said.

Wikipedia says the Alhambra (Arabic: literally "the red one"; the complete name is "Qal'at al-Hambra", which means "The red fortress").
It is a palace and fortress complex of the Moorish monarchs of Granada in southern Spain (known as Al-Andalus when the fortress was constructed), occupying a hilly terrace on the southeastern border of the city of Granada.

Once the residence of the Muslim kings of Granada and their court, the Alhambra is now one of Spain's major tourist attractions exhibiting the country's most famous Islamic architecture, together with Christian 16th century and later interventions in buildings and gardens that marked its image as it can be seen today.
It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.