This old man...

To quote Sam Beckett of the now-defunct series "Quantum Leap": Ooooh, boy!

This bridge thing is getting more and more interesting. Tun Dr Mahathir has just issued a 16-point rebuttal to Tan Sri Fuzi's statement on this controversial issue. Many websites and blogs carry this reply by Tun, but you can read it here from Bernama's website.

I have great admiration for the Tun. I've met him on several occasions while I was with my former organisation (though I know he only saw me as a face in the crowd). I like the things he says, because he doesn't beat around the bush. I'm quite certain that his intentions in this issue are: (i) to clear the water [pun intended, of course] on what transpired during his tenure as PM vis-a-vis the bridge; and (ii) to ensure that Malaysia does not gamble away its sovereignty. As everyone will surely remember, defending Malaysia's sovereignty from currency rogue traders was what he did during the Asian economic crisis in the late 1990s. It seems that he's doing the same again here, only this time, against a different kind of enemy.

As for Tan Sri Fuzi, although not close, I do know him personally, again in my previous capacity. I have known him since he was Director of IDFR, before being promoted to Deputy Sec-Gen, then Sec-Gen of the Foreign Ministry. The last time I met him was during a wedding several months ago which was a few days before he retired. He is a soft-spoken man, ever-obliging and very committed to his job. Unfortunately, in this case, I'm pretty sure he has become the cannon fodder who has to face the fire from the old man who doesn't mince his words.

Truth be told, this public exchange between the former PM and the current administration - while informative and eye-opening - is giving me the jitters. People will surely be divided on this issue, and I'm quite sure that this is just one of many issues that will crop out of the wormhole. We've already got the Proton - AP saga. Now we have the bridge over Selat Tebrau saga. In both issues, many people I speak to, both within and outwith the political circle, are silently behind the Tun. Those who seem to agree with the current PM are those who seem to have something to lose if they do otherwise.

I hope this issue be resolved quickly. I cannot stand the suspense of this real-life drama. It's not healthy for my heart. Let's just pray that when two elephants collide, us mouse-deer don't get squashed in between.

Wet wet wet

Just finished some work and it's now lunch time. Thought this would be the time to put up a new post in the blog.

Yesterday, the rain was pretty heavy and lightning was striking like crazy. What surprised me was when I read today's paper that apparently the thunderstorm flooded several main roads in KL. The Star has a good photo on its front page of the flooded Jalan Sultan Ismail. To think that I used this road everyday when I was working at the old place. Read "Storm wreaks havoc" in The Star.

Strange to have these kind of things happening in KL. One would think that the authorities would already have some sort of planning to tackle the flash floods that occur after a heavy downpour. [This time I chose the right word, read Dubya Speak below]. There is a saying as we know, "once bitten, twice shy." Apparently, this is not the case when it comes to flash floods.

Maybe Jalan Sultan Ismail should be renamed Sungai Sultan Ismail everytime it gets flooded.

The things I do...

Reading the title of this post, reminds me of that Tom Hanks' movie.

Anyhow, just to share what I'm currently submerging myself into.

1. Editing a book on biodiversity for the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE).
2. Writing the profile for Yayasan Ilmuwan.
3. Working on the final draft of my 8-year old novel, now renamed "Stigma" (originally entitled "Ombak Senja").
4. Plotting for my first tv drama script, tentatively entitled "Zuriat".

It seems that the things I do requires a lot of sitting down in front of my trusted laptop. Just hope my eyesight doesn't suffer.

Dubya speak

Ooopppsss...

Made a blunder in my previous post. Wrong choice of word. Feels very much like Dubya...

When I used the word "downfall" in my previous post, what I really meant was "downpour." Silly me. This is what happens when you stopped writing for nearly half a year.

For those who are wondering who Dubya is, click here and the banner above should clearly give you a not-so-subtle hint. Have fun.

Working blues

Pretty unproductive week this has been - in relative terms. I've been quite lazy and not in the mood to do anything much this week. I suppose working people do go through this kind of working blues from time to time.

I'll be driving up north later and will return on Sunday. I hope the journey will be smooth and the weather will be kind. We've been having quite a downfall almost every afternoon. I hope today will be quite dry, otherwise the driving will be slow.

I'm looking forward to next week. I want to get a lot of things done. I'm even thinking of partaking in IKIM's script-writing competition. Never wrote a script before. I'm even contemplating to update and submit my novel which was completed in 1998. It has been 8 years - better get it published rather than leaving the manuscript to collect dust. Also, I want to publish a few academic books which have been long overdue.

Here's to a productive week ahead...

...I hope.

Earthquakes: Are we ready?

Just finished reading the latest National Geographic. Interesting articles on predicting the next big earthquakes. There's even a map detailing a global view of earthquake risk.

Remember when we were in school, when studying Geography, we were taught that Malaysia is fortunate to be outside the Pacific Rim, thus free and safe from earthquakes? Well, not according to the map in National Geographic.

The map divides the risk into two categories: high risk and low risk; and further divides each category into four sections depending on population density. Therefore, in a high risk area, the danger is greater when the population is bigger. Makes sense - common logic after all.

Now, the interesting part for me is when we scrutinise the map. I find it quite disturbing to note that from Penang up north down to Melaka (as such includes Kuala Lumpur), the map states that these parts (west coast of Peninsula Malaysia) as well as half of Sabah (on the eastern coast) are considered vulnerable to earthquakes devastation. In other words, very high risk areas.

Scary, huh? So with this new insight, we can scrap what we learn in school.

But more seriously though, are we prepared to face earthquake risks? Are our buildings strong enough? Are our elevated highways secure enough? (Think MRR2). More importantly, are we ready to face something like an earthquake?

Remember when we were hit by the Tsunami? (Again, we were taught in school that Tsunami only happens in Japan). We were clearly taken off guard. That time, we were fortunate because the devastation was not as big, simply because we were protected by Sumatera.

But just imagine the ramification if an earthquake were to hit at the heart of KLCC.

Nightmarish thought indeed.

Miss writing for the papers

My last article for the newspapers was in November last year. Up till then, I have written close to 100 articles for The Star, The New Straits Times, Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian. Sometimes when looking back at the articles I have written, I wonder how I managed to write what I wrote.

When I joined this new outfit, I longed for a break from writing in the papers. But now, after close to 5 months, I think I'm up for it again.

Oh, well... I suppose now is the right time to resharpen my blunt pencils...

Non-bridge over troubled waters

The big news of today (and yesterday evening) is of course about the cynic, errr... I mean, scenic, bridge project being called off by the Government. You can read all about it almost everywhere in the Malaysian papers.

Personally, I don't care much for the bridge or the jam-packed Tambak Johor. But, I have a funny feeling that the calling-off of the project goes beyond "legal implications" as well as "sand and air space trade-off."

Is there something we're missing here?

Back after a week of frustration

Internet can be a two-edged sword. On the one hand in can be very useful and handy. On the other hand however, it can be frustrating and testing.

I was not able to blog or check my e-mails because I was offline for most of last week. Connection both at the office and home was bad. Got disconnected almost immediately after logging in.

Anyhow, I'm back today and hopefully things get better.

Move along... there's nothing to see here

Just arrived in KL after nearly a 6-hour drive along the PLUS Highway. The drive is normally between 4.5 to 5 hours. But today, it's just like when it is during the festive holidays. Starting from Tapah all the way to Rawang... the volume of traffic was big. The traffic volume was not the real culprit though.

The problem was that along several stretches of the highway, traffic was crawling for no apparent reason. Somewhere after the Sungkai exit, there was no accident. Only a bus with a flat tyre on the other side of the highway. Somewhere after the Lembah Beringin exit, there was no roadblock. Only a car that stopped in the emergency lane, also with a flat tyre. And at several other places, there was nothing there to see anyway, and yet the traffic was painfully slow. And this coming from someone who doesn't exceed the speed limit.

Weird, isn't it? No valid reason for traffic to crawl on the highway. And yet, it crawls. And suddenly, I hear the sound of the X-Files tune ringing in my ears...

Telltale genes

Something from April's National Geographic magazine under the title "The Greatest Journey" by James Shreeve:

...mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), is passed down intact from mother to child. Similarly, most of the Y chromosome, which determines maleness, travels intact from father to son. [p.62]

So what is the significance of mtDNA and the Y chromosomes? The article went on to explain:

...by comparing the mtDNA and Y chromosomes of people from various populations, geneticists can get a rough idea of where and when those people parted ways in the great migrations around the planet... Scientists now calculate that all living humans are related to a single woman who lived roughly 150,000 years ago in Africa, a "mitochondrial Eve." She was not the only woman alive at the time, but if geneticists are right, all of humanity is linked to Eve through an unbroken chain of mothers. Mitochondrial Eve was soon joined by "Y chromosome Adam," an analogous father of us all, also from Africa. Increasingly refined DNA studies have confirmed this opening chapter of our story over and over: All the variously shaped and shaded people of Earth trace their ancestry to African hunter-gatherers. [p.62]

Surprised with this conclusion made by geneticists? Muslims shouldn't be. Here's one of the reasons why:

O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well-acquainted (with all things). [Al-Hujurat (49): 13]

Get the National Geographic magazine and read the article.

And while you're at it, get Maurice Bucaille's What is the Origin of Man? as well as Harun Yahya's Why Darwinism is Incompatible with the Qur'an.

Read, and be enlightened!

Eurycoma longiforia causes insomnia?

This post is perhaps not a current issue, but a matter of health interest, I suppose. Back when I was an undergraduate, I had this problem of not being able to sleep when my mind is active. My personal record of going awake without sleep was 62 hours - 10 hours short of 3 days running. When I returned home after graduating, insomnia was not much of a problem. From time to time, I'd have difficulties sleeping, but it was just temporary. But of course, this is all in the past.

For the past couple of months, I have been spending my weekends travelling up north and back to KL. I end up being exhausted when the new week begins. Someone suggested that I should try kopi tongkat ali, but I can't take coffee as it causes migraine. So, I tried teh tongkat ali instead. I bought the tea with tongkat ali extract last night, and drank a mug at about 10 p.m.

It's almost a quarter past 9 p.m. now (almost 24 hours) since I took the drink. Believe it or not, I have not slept yet since yesterday. I haven't felt sleepy nor tired nor groggy nor light-headed.

Yes, I wanted extra energy, but if drinking a mug of Eurycoma longiforia tea gives me the energy to stay up for more than 24 hours... and still counting, I personally think that this is not the least bit healthy.

Thoughts anyone?

Of hailstones and golden rain

Remember the Malay adage "hujan batu di negeri sendiri, hujan emas di negeri orang"?

Realise how we often complain about how things are terrible and horrible here in our country?

Well, this is so often the case until and unless we see the state of affairs in other countries. I had the privilege to visit several countries in the past 3 years. Not counting the UK where I lived for 5 years, and not counting the countries where I stopped for transit (India, Italy), I have been to 2 North African countries (Algeria, Egypt) as well as the biggest Muslim country (Indonesia).

What I can say is that when you have been to these countries, you'll realise that we're indeed very lucky. Sure, we are not perfect. But that doesn't mean that we're in the pits. Things could be better, but it won't get better if we just complain.

I think once in a while we should take time out to count our blessings. Oft-times we only remember these blessings when we no longer have them.

Indonesia may be the biggest Muslim country. Algeria may be a country with a rich and colourful history. Egypt may be the cradle of civilisation. But believe you me, from where I'm standing, we are indeed more blessed compared to them.

Hailstones indeed...

Tin Man's new lease of life

Organ donation has always been a tough issue to tackle. Since 1998, I've had my fair share of talks that I had to give to people across the country. All this while, my talks have been pretty academic, never one based on experience, that is until I met Fikri.

Fikri was going to sit for his PMR exam when I first met him last year at IJN. I was there to deliver my routine talk on organ donation. When I saw the boy, I was speechless. His determination to sit for the exam, his love of science, and his fight to live --- really humbled me.

It was then that I realised - truly realised - the importance of organ donation. I met Fikri again shortly after he sat for his PMR exam. That was many months ago, but I haven't seen him since, although his mother updates me on his progress. Alhamdulillah, Fikri got a new heart in December, and has recently been allowed to finally go home, after 7 months in IJN.

I hope to meet up with him soon. Fikri has been given a new lease of life. He, insya-Allah, will have a long future to look forward to. And I hope Fikri will continue to have that zest that kept him going all this while.

For us, let us consider the test that Fikri and his mother had to go through. If not for the heart donated to Fikri, he may still be dependent on IVAD (the so-called mechanical heart, giving Fikri the nickname "The Tin Man"). Let us put ourselves in Fikri's shoes. Would we be able to withstand the years of agony, of pain, of waiting, of knowing that today might be your last?

I have talked and written a lot on this issue. And I will keep on talking and writing about it. But at the same time, I want to translate my words (spoken or written) into action. I am an organ pledger. When the time comes and if it is fated, I would like to be a donor.

As stated by Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, on the issue of organ donation, it's better to donate your organs to a person who is in need, rather than let the organ be eaten by worms.

Wallahu'alam.

Third time's the charm?

This is my third attempt at blogging. The first one just didn't pick up. The second one went quiet after I was 'disconnected' from the 'Net for nearly 3 months. I hope this third attempt will pick up some steam and be able to be sustained.

So, let's hear from you out there. Give your comments and views, but NO VULGARITIES please. Differences in views and opinions are welcomed, but please, please be courteous and observe the ethics of differing views (adab al-khilaf).