'Blue rice' for breakfast ...

Nasi Kerabu is an authentic rice dish from Kelantan. The rice is tinted blue after it is soaked and cooked with local flowers called bunga telang.

The blue rice is then served with a combination of fresh aromatic herbs, or known as ulam.
The “kerabu” (some foreigners it described as salad) could be any vegetables or edible leaves though the more or less standard version will have daun kesum, taugeh (bean sprout), thinly cut long green beans, bunga kantan, cucumber and daun kadok.
Apart from that it is also served with fried breaded fish, keropok keping, salted egg, solok lada (fish fillet and coconut-stuffed chillis), and pickled garlic (local gherkins).
You need not go to Kelantan though to get the popular breakfast dish as a number of places in Kuala Lumpur have them. A favourite place is at the Datuk Keramat market which also offers nasi dagang, nasi berlauk and laksam -- all popular Kelantan dish.
I was fortunate to meet an uncle -- Halim, an occasional patron of the place. He was just back from Kelantan where he stayed a for week to attend a relatives wedding.

"I was so happy to be there although not many of our relatives are there anymore," said Halim who has been living in Kuala Lumpur for more than 30 years.

Al-Fatihah for 'Kak' Nawal …..

A light drizzle fell from the sky as the remains of ‘Kak‘ Nawal Ismail was laid to rest at the Taman Ibu Kota Muslim burial ground after the Friday prayers.
The former Bernama journalist died at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital at 3.10am.
Bernama quoted her daughter, Farah Naz Abdul Karim, 32, as saying that Nawal died of septicaemic shock with multi-organ failure. She was 56.
Apart from Farah, she had four other children from her marriage to Abdul Karim Shukor who retired as Bernama chief news editor in 1995.
They married in 1972, a year after Nawal joined Bernama as a cadet reporter. The marriage lasted 20 years.
Nawal left the organization after four years to join a public relations company. She was also involved in publishing magazines and writing drama scripts.


Besides Farah, another daughter Yasmin is also a journalist with The Star, says ‘Abang’ Karim.
Al-Fatihah ...

Stamping the '1Malaysia' feelings ...

The Stamp and Philately Unit at Pos Malaysia headquarters in Kuala Lumpur is full of people every time new collection of stamps and first-day covers are issued. Today is no exception.

Featuring traditional houses of all Malaysian states, the latest collection is aimed at highlighting the rich architectural heritage in the country.
The series of 16 stamps – each in 50 sen denomination – depict the different traditional houses of the 13 states. While many like the designs, some have their reservations.
“Too many varieties…they should have come out with two series,” says avid collector Andy Tan, a regular face at such first-day stamp launch at the post office.


Like many of his fellow collectors, the occasion is an opportune time for them to catch-up with one another.
“For senior citizens like me, everyday is a complimentary, you never know when or where you'll be next,” said the 65 year-old Tan.
Brought together by their philatelic passion, the place is like a friendship area for young and old from various backgrounds to share their interest.

Think about the ‘1Malaysia’ concept and you could consider the situation as one aspect of it.

'Atukship' in mind for Halid ...

With his eldest daughter getting married soon, long-serving Bernama staff Mad Halid Shariff is ready to enter a new phase in his life.
"It's time to prepare for 'Datukship'...a natural Datuk," said a beaming Halid, handing out the invitation cards for the wedding to office-mates.
Twenty-five year old Norhidayah, a research officer at Universiti Putra Malaysia, is the eldest of his six children.
Halid, 54, and his wife Norrizah will hold the reception at their home in Bandar Baru Sentul on August 1.
Widely-known as Bongek -- the name of his kampung in Negeri Sembilan, Halid has been in Bernama for 35 years and had witnessed much of its progress.
"I could not imagine then that Bernama would develop from a news agency to a multimedia organisation with radio and television outfits," said Halid who joined Bernama in 1974 as a library staff.
When the audio-visual department was set-up in 1999, Halid was among its pioneer batch with the crucial responsibility of archiving the visuals. The AV department eventually became what is now known as Bernama TV -- the 24-hour all-news channel on Astro 502.
"I'm glad Bernama is more visible now with the news bulletins in four languages over TV," he said.

Openg gets his Exora...

After waiting anxiously for three months, my colleague Openg finally got his brand-new Proton Exora delivered to him today. Even then, he had to book the vehicle from another outlet which kept its promise to hand it over within a month.
"In fact, I got it in less than two weeks," said the proud owner of WST7696.

Openg can take credit as the first owner of Exora at Wisma Bernama.
The Exora was launched on 15 April 2009 and is the first Malaysian-designed MPV.
"This is a new experience and excitement in my life," says Openg who chose "Blue Haze" for the colour of his 1.6 automatic trasmission.
"The colour tone can change according to the amount of sunlight it gets," he explained.
Asked where he would be taking his family, he said: "Outside KL, it will be Port Dickson, insya-Allah before the fasting month."
While Openg took delivery of the vehicle, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak unveiled Proton Holdings Berhad's Exora 1.6 Manual Transmission (MT) version alongwith Saga Special Edition (Saga SE).
The event was held at the Felda Settlers Day 2009 at Felda Maokil in Segamat, Johor.
The Exora MT will be priced at RM64,998 (metalic) and RM 64,548 (solid) with insurance coverage.
The cars will be available for sale at all Proton Edar and EON showrooms from August 15.

Kuala Krai…remembered

Kuala Krai – the small town in Kelantan where I spent my early childhood, hit the news today as the Manik Urai state by-election gets underway. The nomination was held at the Sultan Yahya Petra secondary school with Barisan Nasional (BN) and PAS locked in a straight fight. The school, where my late father was once a teacher before he took up another job in Kuala Lumpur, would also be the vote tallying centre for the polling on July 14.

In the late 60s and early 70s, I remember Kuala Krai as a small, remote town “at the end of the road”. The railway station was popular though as the train provided the access to the west coast – via Gua Musang to Kuala Lipis and right up to Gemas. The train was the preferred mode of transportation then as going to KL by road was cumbersome.
The radio was popular too during the era known as "pop yeh-yeh". The schoolboys had a band called "Khafileanos" which played alongside several top singers they invited from Kuala Lumpur for their concert at the town's only cinema.

The Bradley Steps was another prominent feature as the place to measure the water levels during monsoon floods. I'm told that the location has been renamed as 'Tangga Krai'.
There was also a kindergarten at Jalan Geale which offered lessons in English for six-year olds. Looking back, it’s a wonder that we could have English classes in such an ‘ulu’ place at that time.
After kindergarten, I went to the Sultan Yahya Petra primary school until Standard 3 before moving to Klang.
With the by-election on, Kuala Krai -- the nearest town to Manik Urai, would no doubt be the dateline for the election news in the coming days.
Bernama reported today that on an ordinary day, Manik Urai with its peaceful environment away from the hustle and bustle of city life, is nothing more than an isolated Malay settlement situated along Jalan Kuala Krai-Gua Musang.
However, all that has changed overnight as approximately 30,000 people who live and work as rubber tappers in Manik Urai, face the intimidating presence of city folks, dignitaries and politicians in their area.
The serene environment changed with the death of its state assemblyman, Ismail Yaacob of Pas, on May 22, which called for a by-election.
How did Manik Urai got its name? I Some claim that the name is connected to a story of a broken necklace which was made of beads (manik) but some older residents believed the name originated from a Malay beauty by the name of Mak Nik Urai who once lived in the village.
"Mak Nik was famous for her beauty and her long beautiful hair, hence they named the place Manik Urai and so I heard," said a resident, Abdullah Jusoh, 64, from Kampung Laloh, about 30kms from Kuala Krai.
His view was shared by Olak Jeram district chief, Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman who said that the woman's family came from Northern Thailand and were among the earliest settlers in the area.
"Although there are varying stories of how the place got its name, most of the older residents insist that it was from Mak Nik Urai who lived in Kampung Pasir, near the Keretapi Tanah Melayu track, around 1940s.
"Mak Nik Urai's family and relatives who were farmers and rubber tappers, continued to expand and they opened other settlements across the railway," he said.
Manik Urai is also famous for its Lata Rek waterfall, located in Kampung Laloh.

Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain. An occasional glance towards the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vintage point.
- Harold B. Melchart

Friends make you happy ...

It was a beautiful Sunday morning for my friend Halim who had breakfast with his wife at the hillside Al-Ghufran mosque cafe at Pinggiran Taman Tun Dr Ismail.
He thoughtfully sms me about it just as I was getting my hair cut at the barber. I had told him about the cafe when he came to see me at the office on Thursday.
He was at the cafe after sending his 16 year-old son for a school-organised course held at the mosque complex.
In our sms exchanges, I asked him what he like about the place.
"As we were eating we were entertained by the chirping sounds of birds. The after rain air smells so fresh. And having breakfast with my darling wife tops it all!," said Halim who was in UPM with me.
Just to know how happy a friend is makes me excited too. For in my silent hope, I would want to make at least three people happy each day as their joy is our strength.
The value of friendship could never be measured in monetary terms.
My primary school-mate Rauf is another happy man today. He held a grand feast at his home in Klang to celebrate the wedding of his son.

Although it has been 36 years since we left the Simpang Lima Primary School in Klang, we still keep the contact. He had in fact phoned me two weeks ago to inform me about the reception.
"Bring along your family," he had told me. I did and it turned out to be another great family outing especially when my elder daughter is getting back to campus this week for her final semester.

Thanks to Rauf, I got to meet other classmates who turned up for the reception. Dr Jayaraj, who runs two dental clinics, Stephen Tew (whose business foray includes futsal centres), Arifin and Tirath Singh.

Hopes dashed for cross-border rugby friendly ...

Forty years after their last rugby friendly, Victoria Institution (VI) and Vajiravudh College (VC) of Bangkok were expected to revive the cross-border match tradition at the Kuala Lumpur school field on Monday. But it looks like the plan has been dashed, at least for now.
I received the news from VI Parent Teachers Association chairman Raja Amir Shah Raja Abdul Aziz, who had been working hard to revive the friendly, via his sms this morning:
“Dear all, unfortunately, VI VC rugby game is cancel due to VC player are quarantine in mckk due to H1N1 flu. The monday game is cancel, pls let others know - ydp ras”

I can imagine how disappointed he is. The first VI-VC rugby match was held in 1963 and later in 1965, 1967 and 1969.
"After being accorded the heritage status and getting its old name back, this would be a motivating factor for all VI stakeholders to support the VI aspiration to be the top school in the country again, both in studies and sports," he had said a few days ago.
Indeed, it would have been great if the friendly match could be revived, not just for both schools but the two neighbouring countries – Malaysia and Thailand.
Dya Singh, VI Sportsman of the Year 1969, remembers the VI-VC rugby tie of that year.
“They were here and they were really good,” he recalled after I told him about the VI-VC game when he dropped by at my office yesterday.

No, Dya Singh did not play in that match. He represented the school in cricket, hockey and football (including alongside his junior, the late Malaysian soccer legend Mokhtar Dahari).
They were in the VI squad who won the Khir Johari Cup for the inter-schools championship in 1969 after defeating the Royal Military College.
The 59 year-old Dya Singh has carved his name as a top musician in Melbourne, Australia, which is his home now.
He leads the Australian multicultural music group named after him and the troupe has been to Japan, Singapore, Kenya, Tanzania, United States, Canada, UK, Pakistan, Germany, Ireland and Thailand since its inception in 1984.
Dya Singh was in the news recently after embarking on a 160 kilometre, six-day charity walk from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka with two friends.

1Team, 1Dream, 1Bernama ...

Taking the cue from the Prime Minister's 1Malaysia call, Bernama formally launches its '1Team, 1Dream, 1Bernama' campaign today to magnify the spirit of oneness among the staff.
For an organisation which has expanded from merely being a wire service, the esprit de corps drive is timely.
Having established itself as the national news agency, Bernama has ventured into the broadcasting sphere with Radio24 Bernama and Bernama TV on Astro Channel 502.



The campaign took off in high spirit with a treasure hunt that drew participation from some 70 staff.
They had to answer 20 questions based literally on "photographs and writings on the walls" on various floors of Wisma Bernama.
The participants were also required to hand in two treasures which were really 'giveaways'.

But the best part of the hunt was that everyone was a winner simply by being a team.
Isn't that what team stands for -- Together Everyone Achieve More!

Being yourself ...

Bon voyage Monsieur Bob ...

Paris is like a second home for my buddy Bob. He has been to the City of Love a couple of times over the last two years. Like many visitors, Bob could not escape the magic and aura that surrounds the city.
He remembers fondly the Citedine and Monoprix. And of course, the Unesco headquarters.
This time around he will be covering a 'new' man -- Muhyiddin Yassin, the deputy prime minister who also holds the Education portfolio.
As Malaysia sits in the Unesco executive board, Muhyiddin will now represents the country at its meetings in Paris, having taken over from Hishammuddin Hussein who has moved to the Home Ministry.
I'm sure Bob will give his best, no matter who's in charge.


File photo of Bob with Hishammuddin at the Unesco hq in 2007

The hillside mosque cafe ...

The Al-Ghufran Mosque at Taman Tun Dr Ismail is extraordinary. Situated on a hillock, it has a cafe which offers good food and a breathtaking view that makes an excellent spot for family and friends get-together. It serves local and Western cuisine from 6am to 11pm daily.
The cafe, which can cater up to 400 people, was opened for business on May 10. It is reputed to be the only one of its kind in the country.


But the cafe is not the only special feature of the mosque. It also provides rooms called 'Kamar Musafir' for out-of-town visitors travelling alone or with families. The rate ranges from RM60 to RM220.
For further information:
Masjid Al-Ghufran
Kompleks Balai Islam
Pinggir Taman Tun Dr Ismail
No 6C, Jalan 4/71B,
Jalan Damansara,
60000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-77282127

Like stars ...

Friends from the Pacific ...

Joseph Ealedona is Managing Director of the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) of Papua New Guinea and one of PNG’s most prominent journalists. He is currently the President of the Pacific Island News Association (PINA) -- the premier regional organisation representing the interests of media professionals in the Pacific region. It links radio, television, newspapers, magazines, online services, national associations and journalism schools in 23 Pacific Island.
PINA runs an online regional news service -- Pacnews which is headquartered in Suva, Fiji.

During our discussion this afternoon, Ealedona expressed interest to link Pacnews with Bernama so as to bring news about the Pacific to Asia and vice-versa.
That would be a win-win situation as the media could encourage people-to-people contact by highlighting news that could interest them such as in trade, tourism, culture and sports.

With internet connectivity, the proposed link-up would not be a problem.
Alternatively, NBC could readily utilized the NAM News Network – NNN either to upload their stories or extract items. PNG is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and had attended the grouping’s ministers of Information conference in Kuala Lumpur in 2005 which gave the go-ahead for the
setting-up of the Malaysia-initiated news exchange entity. NNN is based in Bernama.

Make new friends but keep the old ones ...

Away from home on this Fathers' Day, I must thank my colleague in Kota Kinabalu Newmond for keeping me company. We were at the waterfront just as the sun was going down. It was a fantastic view that would remain vivid in my mind for sometime.
I had arrived in the Sabah capital this afternoon for the 1st Joint Committee on Information and Communication Technology (JC-ICT) Meeting between Malaysia and Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Bernama was roped in as the PNG side had proposed to have exchange of programmes and news between its National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) with us.

As I look forward to meeting the PNG representatives, I cherish the evening chat with Newmond, who has been heading our KK bureau for the last three years.
We spoke about work and non-work stuff. In the process, I learn more about him.
While I get the chance to meet new people as I carry out my job, my friends will always be important in my life. Just as the saying goes:
Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.

Starting a friendship with flowers ...

Browsing the internet, I came across this article about friendship. I thought I should paste it on this blog, more so after a friend emailed me the photo today -- well ahead of friendship day.
Though many of us have little problem of making new friends, some struggle just to get near people they are interested to know.
Here's what the article says:

Starting a friendship is a social skill that takes years to learn. Doing it successfully, like with most skills, involves a lot of trial and error on your part. Knowing when to approach a person, picking the right topic to start a conversation, and finding the guts to start it may come naturally to some people.
Others find making friends difficult due to shyness and the lack of confidence in their verbal skills.
Whichever the case is, one good way to start a friendship without some of the awkwardness is to give flowers on the right occasions.

Flowers can sometimes be more eloquent than people. Different roses, for instance, have varying shades of meaning for every affair.
Also, giving flowers mean that you value a relationship (or future relationship) enough to go out of your way to make the person feel special.
Starting a friendship involves confidence, trust, and effort. Giving flowers certainly makes the person appreciate your efforts more in trying to be friends.
However, before giving flowers to people you'd like to be friends with, make sure that you know the right flowers to pick. They should be appropriate to the occasion.
For example, if you're attending a birthday celebration for a person that you are not that closely acquainted with, giving orange roses says that you want to know her better.
If you're at a wedding, giving yellow roses to the newlyweds mean that you are glad to share their happiness.
Peach and pink roses convey admiration, so if you want to start a friendship with an officemate (or anyone whose work you appreciate), pink or peach flowers are the best choice.

Sketching a new dimension ...

The National Art Gallery's latest display sketches a new dimension -- tourism through art.

Entitled "Mosaics of Malaysia", the exhibition showcases the wide-ranging work of China's renowned artist Zhang Zhou.
National Art Gallery director-general Dr Mohamed Najib Ahmad Dawa said the exhibition was significant as it commemorated 35 years of friendly relations
between Malaysia and China, capped by the recent visit of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to Beijing.
"What makes it special is the sharp observation of a foreign artist to transform the beauty and prosperity of Malaysia's rich culture and landscape into enthralling art pieces," he said as we walked along, admiring the display.
Zhang Zhou has captured not only a number of popular tourist destinations in
detail on canvas but also the country's flora, fauna and habitat. Commissioned by a Malaysian collector, the artist took six years to produce the 100 paintings on display.
The panoramic night view of Kuala Lumpur city centre, Penang Bridge, the Putrajaya mosque, the Siti Khadijah Market in Kota Baharu and the national day parade are among scenes illustrated by the 52 year-old Beijing-born artist.
At the centre of the magnificent spectrum of artworks is a huge, delicate touch entitled "Keranamu Malaysia".

The exhibition, which began yesterday, will run until Aug 31. Admission is free and the opening hours are from 10am to 6pm daily except on public holidays.
"This is something not to be missed as the uniqueness of his artwork illustrates the perspective of a foreign artist towards our surroundings which we often take for granted," Dr Najib said showing Zhang Zhou's fine drawing of rubber trees.

Peace of mind ...

Din 'discovered' this place in Semenyih and jokingly told me that I would cry if I miss it. He told me about its clear stream, clean air and serenity.
Getting to the place was not difficult as it fringes a residential area. But not many people know about it except for those who were bold enough to take the risk to clear the area and turned them into orchards. Apart from matured durian trees, starfruit, banana and papaya were being cultivated.

We bumped into an elderly man on a motorcycle, carrying a basketful of durian which he had just collected from the area.
"This is good durians from the jungle," he said, happily selling us the whole lot for RM40.



A sight to remember ...

Success is an inside job …

Just as someone had tried to boost my sagging morale with words of encouragement, another emailed me about the importance of self-esteem to achieve success.
“It can be hard to identify what exactly healthy self-esteem is.
The signs of an unhealthy self-esteem are usually obvious. Someone who cuts themselves down a lot and is always afraid to make big decisions or use their talents doesn't have healthy self-esteem.
Arrogance and boasting are also signs of a poor self-esteem, even though the person comes across as supremely self-confident. I think we all know our fair share of braggarts. It's hard to spend time with them," he wrote.
"To trust one's mind and to know that one is worthy of happiness is the essence of self-esteem," he remarked.
He goes on to say that someone with high self-esteem is able to persist in the face of difficulties.
And the more one perseveres, the more one is likely to succeed.
"Self-esteem doesn't let us simply feel better...it lets us live better.
And to respond to challenges and opportunities resourcefully.
We usually tend to feel the most comfortable with people whose self-esteem level is similar to ours.
So if you think you have low self-esteem, start seeking out people with healthy self-esteem.
Take note of how they think and behave and try to emulate that. We all need role models and mentors.

P.S. Success is an inside job because success starts from within, with your self-esteem.

Strength within ...

Someone I met a few days ago took the trouble to visit this blog after I told her about it. She had came to see me in the office on Tuesday to explain about the unit trust which she specializes in.
"You don't have to take it, just give me time to explain," she said on the phone prior to the meeting.
I told her it was not only the lack of money that has kept me away from such savings but the anxiety of committing myself into a long-term undertaking at this ripe age.
To this, she spoke of three regrets that most people have when they reach their twilight years: They regret:
* they didn't pursue their dream,
* they didn't show enough love to the people they love and care,
* they didn't let go by not being forgiving enough.

Those words stuck deep in my mind as I slowly picked up the courage to confront my persistent fear of failing health as I get older.
And yes, I've been asked to remind myself from time to time of the inner strength that I have.

"Rule No 1: U are consciously a strong person.
Rule No 2: Don't forget Rule No 1."

A Walk In The Mountains...

A son and his father were walking in the mountains.
Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain:
"AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"
He receives the answer: "Who are you?"
Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"
He receives the answer: "Coward!"
He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"
The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."
And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"
The voice answers: "I admire you!"
Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"
The voice answers: "You are a champion!"
The boy is surprised, but does not understand.
Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE.
It gives you back everything you say or do.
Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.
If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.
If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.
This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life;
Life will give you back everything you have given to it."
YOUR LIFE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. IT'S A REFLECTION OF YOU!

The worth of our lives …

Once I attended a talk by a well known speaker who started off his lecture by holding up a RM100 note.
In the room of 200, he asked: "Who would like this RM100?"
Hands started going up.
He said: "I am going to give this RM100 to one of you - but first, let me do this."
He proceeded to crumple the RM100 note up.
He then asked: "Who still wants it?"
Still the hands were up in the air.
"Well," he replied, "what if I do this?"
He dropped it on the floor and started to grind it with his shoe.
He picked up the note, now crumpled and dirty.
"Now, who still wants it?" he asked.
Still the hands went into the air.
"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth RM100.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.
We feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.
Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who love you.
The worth of our lives comes, not in what we do or who we know but by ...WHO WE ARE.
"You are special - don't ever forget it," he said.

The Seven Wonders of the World ...

A class of primary school students was studying the Seven Wonders of the World.
At the end of the lesson, the students were asked to list what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the following received the most votes:

1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. The Taj Mahal in India
3. The Grand Canyon in Arizona
4. The Panama Canal
5. The Empire State Building
6. The Colosseum in Rome
7. China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.
The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."
The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."
The girl hesitated, then read: "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:

1. to touch...
2. to taste...
3. to see...
4. to hear... (She hesitated a little, and then added...)
5. to feel...
6. to laugh...
7. and to love.


The room was so quiet, you could have heard a pin drop.
Somehow the things we overlook as simple and ordinary are often the most wonderful - and we don't have to travel anywhere special to experience them.
Enjoy your gifts!

The windows ...

A young couple moves into a new neighbourhood.
The next morning while they are having breakfast, the young wife sees her neigbour hang the wash outside.

That laundry is not very clean, she said.
"She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."
Her husband looked on but remained silent.
Eevry time her neighbour would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.
About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:
"Look! She has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this."
The husband said: " I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life: What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look.
Before we give any criticism, it might be a good idea to check our state of mind and ask ourselves if we are ready to see the good rather than to be looking for something in the person we are about to judge.

Counting our blessings ...

A friend reminded me to always count our blessings and be a blessing to others.
Along with her email was a heart-wrenching short film about hunger and poverty brought about by globalization. This award-winning film shows a forgotten portion of the society. Please watch the film .

Media, dialogue and mutual understanding ...

The potential of media in fostering dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation will be the topic of UNESCO World Press Freedom Day 2009 to be celebrated on 2 and 3 May 2009.
As the only UN agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom, UNESCO has placed mutual understanding, and dialogue through media at the core of its mission.
UNESCO’s Constitution, adopted in November 1945, states that the Organization will "collaborate in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of all peoples, through all means of mass communication” and “promote the free flow of ideas by word and image".
At this year’s conference and celebrations, UNESCO invites participants to explore the enormous potential of media to serve as a platform for dialogue and a vehicle for understanding.

With age comes wisdom ...

A guy is 70 years old and loves to fish. He was sitting in his boat the other day when he heard a voice say, "Pick me up."
He looked around and couldn't see any one.
He thought he was dreaming when he heard the voice say again,"Pick me up."
He looked in the water and there, floating on the top, was a frog.
The man said: "Are you talking to me?"
The frog said: "Yes, I'm talking to you. Pick me up, then kiss me and I'll turn into the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. I'll make sure that all your friends are envious and jealous because I will be your bride!"
The man looked at the frog for a short time, reached over, picked it up carefully and placed it in his front breast pocket.
Then the frog said: "What, are you nuts? Didn't you hear what I said? I said kiss me and I will be your beautiful bride."
He opened his pocket, looked at the frog and said: "Nah, at my age I'd rather have a talking frog."
With age comes wisdom.

Of blogging and 1Malaysia ...

Information, Communications and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim has called on Malaysian bloggers to help inculcate the 1Malaysia concept and make it a success.
He said this genre of writing which had become increasingly popular via the Internet could spur members of society to work with sincerity and forge unity through responsible blogging.
Besides presenting critical views, he hoped that bloggers could also be positive of the right things being done by the government.
In his meeting with local bloggers in Kuala Lumpur last night, Dr Rais said that as the minister concerned, he wanted to extend friendship and not to cause difficulties to any group that could help develop a thinking society.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak propagated the 1Malaysia concept when he took office on April 3, calling on the people to embark on a "great journey together" to transform the country.
He had promised the country that his administration would place priority on performance and the people. "One Malaysia. People First. Performance Now".

Dr Rais said while he was still searching for suitable Malay words for blogs and bloggers, Malaysian culture had changed with the advent of the Internet which created a borderless cyber world.
The young generation were becoming less interested in the print media but turning more to the blogs and Facebook through the Internet, he noted.
He hoped that bloggers would use accurate facts in their postings and not use their blogs to make baseless accusations and defame others.
"Their reputation will be eroded if they present untruths because as bloggers, their credibility is important," he said.

Work begins...

When I visited his workshop this morning, Awang had removed my MM's engine. The front compartment of the old car was literally bare to the floor. The 36 year-old mechanic says he will have to do some welding work before fitting in the replacement engine.
The old, worn-out engine which he had taken out, was lying on the floor. Instead of discarding it for good, Awang said he intend to restore the engine so that he could showcase it.

Malaysia's World Heritage Sites...

Eight stamps depicting World Heritage Sites in Malaysia were issued today. The stamps, valued at 50 sen each, reflect the country's pride to have the four sites being declared as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Melaka and George Town were declared as historic cities of the Straits of Melaka while the natural sites of Kinabalu Park and Mulu Natural Park earned the title because of their exceptional universal conservation values.


A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
The goal of the programme is the conservation of sites considered to be of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of humankind.

New lease of life ...

Going by record, my Morris Minor is 56 years old today.
It was registered on April 8, 1953 in the then Malaya. Originally in green, the 800 cc, petrol-powered beauty was registered as “JE 1143”.
After seeing the car at a workshop in Batu Pahat, I eventually bought it for RM2,500 on New Year’s day in 2001. It cost me another RM2,000 to have it painted in dark blue and tailored seat cover in light yellow.
Having scouted around for the car, it was a dream come true when I finally got to own one. I don’t know why I was so passionate about the car. Maybe because of it’s unique shape or the fact that the MM was no longer in production.
If at all there was a nostalgic feeling about the car for me it was because my late father had learnt to drive in a Morris Minor back in the 1960’s in the small town of Kuala Krai in Kelantan.
So having the chance to be behind the big steering wheel of the MM myself, I treasure every minute of the experience.
It was sheer excitement when I drove the car from Batu Pahat to Kuala Lumpur along the North-South Highway. It did not give me any problem at all although I was apprehensive at the start of the journey whether it could take me home to KL.
Fast forward, I remember the time when a motorcyclist flagged me to stop after trailing my MM. As I got to the side of the road, he came to me and and asked if I wanted to sell the car.
Then there was the time when my son, who was then in Primary One, was so embarrass to ride in the car when I went to pick him up from school. I saw from a distance how he tried to hide behind his friends when he saw the car coming. After waiting for a while, I had to get down and persuade Adam to get into the car.
As my dear MM turns a year older, it’s about time to give it a new breath of life.
I’m looking forward to drive the car again with a replacement engine that comes with an automatic gear and air-condition installed.
Awang, my new-found mechanic friend, is just as excited to get the ‘old guy’ up and running again

Traditional wedding costumes...

Malaysians value the rich legacy of their traditional costumes worn during important occasions such as weddings. The colourful attire are highlighted in a set of five stamps issued by Pos Malaysia today.

The seed ...

My friend, Abdulaziz Alhendi, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) correspondent in London emailed me this thoughtful piece:

A successful businessman was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.
Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different.
He called all the young executives in his company together.
He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. "
The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued:
"I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed.
He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story.
She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed.
Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.
Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.
Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.
By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.
Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot.
He just knew he had killed his seed.
Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing.
Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however.
He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - he so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.
Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot.
But she asked him to be honest about what happened.
Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right.
He took his empty pot to the board room.
When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives.
They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes.
Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.
Jim just tried to hide in the back.
"My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said the CEO.
"Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front.
Jim was terrified.
He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed.
Jim told him the story.
The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim.
He looked at Jim and then announced to the young executives:
"Behold your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Jim!"
Jim couldn't believe it.
Jim couldn't even grow his seed.
"How could he be the new CEO?" the others said.
Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today.But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you.Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!"

* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
* If you plant hard work, you will reap success
* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
* If you plant faith in God , you will reap a harvest

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.
"Whatever You Give To Life, Life Gives You Back"

Being part of the 1st ASEAN Media Forum ...

Remember Maria Ressa? Formerly with CNN, she is now managing director ABS-CBN News Channel, Philippines, the station that produced hit television dramas like 'Pangako Sayo'. Maria and I sat in the panel to discuss "An ASEAN Voice In The Global Media" at the 1st ASEAN Media Forum organised by the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) in Bangkok today. Others in the panel were Kyaw Min Swe (Chief Editor, Living Colour Magazine, Myanmar), Yuli Ismartono (Editor, Asianviews, Indonesia) and Philip Bowring (International Herald Tribune correspondent, Hong Kong). The discussion was moderated by Dr Nattha Komolvadhin, senior and anchorwoman, TPBS, Thailand).
Held under the theme of "Harnessing The Media for ASEAN Integration", the one-day forum is being organised just prior to the ASEAN Summit taking place in Hua Hin, some 150kms from Bangkok. The media forum is expected to be the first of an annual event which would be organised in conjunction with the ASEAN Summit each year in collaboration with a local media partner such as the national television channel.
The panel discussion in this first media forum is conducted in the style of a television talk show. It is filmed by the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (TPBS or Thai PBS)for broadcast and packaging as an educational resource. The audience also get to ask panelists questions.