Foto Friday

A girl wearing the Malaysian flag on her head 

while her brother wears a part of it on his. 

At Kluang this morning. 

Merdeka?

"Merdeka, merdeka, merdeka..." some people were shouting at the stroke of midnight.

Merdeka is a Malay word which means independence, or freedom. Indeed this land ceased being an English colony on this very day in the year 1957, therefore we were free ever since in that sense.

Are we truly independent today? Have we broken away from the barriers that were set among the races? Are we free from extortion by the people in power?

By the way, August 31 is not Malaysia's Independence Day. And each time we behave as if it were, we are insulting Sabah and Sarawak, ignoring them as part of Malaysia. So, as you celebrate Independence Day, ask yourselves "What am I celebrating exactly?" and "Is this nation truly free?"

I shall just enjoy the public holiday, and free parking if I can find any. I shall take time to appreciate as well as to forgive our forefathers for all that they had contributed to make Malaysia what it is today. However, nothing can make me celebrate this day as Malaysia's Independence Day.

Banning hawkers to curb obesity?

I DON'T ALWAYS read the mainstream newspapers, but I did so this morning. As I usually find, the first few pages were quite full of shit somehow dedicated to praising the Government for its good work apart from other important news.

After reading for some good fifteen minutes, I couldn't help but to reread this particular news report on a directive made in one of our states, banning unlicensed hawkers from doing business within a 40-metre radius from each school compound. And this is the fun part- to curb obesity among students! Hello, near or away from schools aside, why were illegal hawkers allowed to set up stalls in the first place?

Okay, let us thank the local authorities for being such merciful and easygoing law enforcers. How understanding of them! So, that grace is about to come to an end. From now on only licensed stall owners would be allowed to carry on with their businesses near schools. Illegal hawkers, do not cry yet. Since the authorities are known to be such nice people, I do not think it would be difficult to apply for a licence to sell snacks near schools. Anyway, just my humble opinion.

However, those who wish to sell food or continuing selling food near schools must "adopt strict hygiene practices and not sell junk food," as reported in The Star.

Among the items that cannot be sold by licensed hawkers are all types of sweets, chocolate, pickled tidbits, foodstuffs with artificial colouring, preservatives and alcohol, those resembling lipstick and rings, and products that come with free gifts like balloons and picture cards.
Also discouraged are burgers, sausages, nuggets, ice-cream and carbonated drinks.

Wah! They banned sweets, chocolates, foods with artificial colouring, etc. Oh, even any product that comes with free gifts like balloons and picture cards. What if a particular product happens to come with a free gift but is not junk food? Also, ice-cream and carbonated drinks are discouraged. I may not hold a bachelor's degree in Chemistry or Food Science, but I believe most ice-creams and carbonated drinks contain artificial colouring, must I look it up on Wikipedia to be sure of this? "Foodstuffs with artificial colouring" cannot be sold, but ice-cream and carbonated drinks are discouraged. That made sense, if I were really stupid. Next, If hawkers outside the school compound are not allowed to sell snacks that fall into the category of banned items as listed, I assume that the school canteen owners ought to adhere to similar if not stricter regulations; I might be curious enough to make a trip to one of the affected schools to see how this directive is implemented. Haha! No sweets ah? Maybe no more sausages and nuggets along with your nasi lemak? Maybe no more carbonated drinks?? Oh, I would most certainly like to see how all these can be done.

To be frank, if I were an illegal hawker operating near a school, upon reading the news today I would simply carry on with my business, just outside the prohibited 40-metre radius. At least that could keep the students happy and give them a little exercise of walking an extra few steps. By the way, I might even achieve more than their Physical Education(Pendidikan Jasmani) teachers.

Banning unlicensed hawkers from schools to manage obesity? That's cute; Why not stick to the less-creative but more effective methods like providing education and raising awareness among students on the importance of staying fit?

Babies

A family member passed away last week coincidentally during a long weekend on which a public holiday fell on Sunday. A simple memorial service was conducted during that Sunday night followed by a funeral the next morning. The deceased, my late aunt was considered quite senior in the family, and probably also due to the fact that it was a funeral during a long weekend, many relatives came back to pay their respects.

Now is a time in my extended family where there is an exciting number of babies blooming. ALL of my cousins are working adults. Many of them just got married within a decade and they are doing a good job multiplying. When everybody gets together, Grandpa's house becomes lively and filled with food; now we can add milk powder to the list. I spent the long weekend observing the little children and babies. Not forgetting the happy adults, by the way. It seems to be fun having babies around the house, as far as I could tell. Haha.

Now, the funeral is over, so is the holiday. People are moving on and getting back to their work and routines. I spent the rest of the week thinking about how is life like raising children. There must be a great deal of responsibilities that I could not possibly observe in just one weekend however long the weekend might be. I did not see any babies pooping in their pants, all had diapers on though; but I am quite certain that they do not wear diapers 24-7. Have you any idea how much those things cost? I, for one, would use washable napkins in the house. God save me if I do not learn from my mother how to wash them as I sometimes have trouble doing my own laundry now (it could be just laziness). I did not see any parents bathing their child(ren). This is an area that I have not really explored, during my 2-week paediatrics posting to a hospital in Singapore only one mother allowed my to bathe her newborn girl, under the guidance of my clinical instructor. Do I really look so dangerous? Hahaha! Hope I do not drown my own baby one day.

What about other responsibilities besides mundane matters such as cleaning and grooming? The thought of raising children to become good men and women seems frightening to me at this point of time. Anybody can make babies and feed them, but parenting is a whole different story. What if my children grow up and pick up all my bad traits and/or habits? What if they become a nuisance instead of a blessing to society? What if my Peter Parker decides to become Venom? What if my Skywalker succumbs to the Dark Side and never turns back to restore balance to The Force? I wonder why was I so skeptical or worried. Lack of faith or just being realistic(except for raising Parker and Skywalker), maybe a mixture of both. Looking at the way my life, money and time are organised, I most certainly do not view myself as a worthy candidate of being a father now. Haha!

Now I am child-free, however will a time come when I am eventually ready for fatherhood but cannot bear children with my wife? Whatever the reason may be. Why am I worrying about this when I am not even dating yet?

There are married couples out there who might desire children but cannot bear their own, I believe. Child-free or childless? Well, I am open to adoption, personally, although I wish I can have the privilege of not needing to turn to that option one day.

Foto Friday

Picture of my good friend, the first image processed on my new notebook.

I'm happy for the change. Cheers to better photos!

Registered

To the post office today, I went.

Although it bewilders me why the granting of voter statuses still cannot be automatic in Malaysia, why are we not eligible to cast our votes in elections upon turning twenty-one, I went to register myself as a voter this afternoon. While waiting for my turn, something that someone once said a few years ago just came to mind. I remembered a minister who made a comment stating that the lacking of non-Malays in civil defence is because they are less patriotic. I know I could let this go and not bring it up here in this blog. Well, this particular minister was being plain stupid or irresponsible for the least, by making such a remark. No need to mention names lah. I give him face.

Patriotism can be displayed in many forms. Entering the public service does not validate one's loyalty to his or her country.

What about voting? Does it display patriotism? I wish to make one point here as a kind reminder, hope this is not what you do not yet know. Nevertheless you should understand if you have not already do. Allegiance to the government does not equate allegiance to the country! It is a citizen's duty to choose a capable government to rule the land. Wittingly supporting a corrupt government is tantamount to betraying the country, in my humble opinion. And being indifferent is not any better.

In a democratic society, it is every man's responsibility to decide which people can be in voted into office. And doing so is not that daunting a task at all. It can be as simple as taking some time to look around, see what has the people in power been doing for the nation, and from there evaluate if they have the ability and integrity to continue serving the rakyat.It can be as simple as being a little more concerned about benefit of the country rather than believing that whatever happens at 'their' level does not affect the daily lives of average civilians.

I do not tell you which government you should be supporting. However I must say that being a responsible citizen can be as easy as registering yourself as a voter. Come elections, when you are called to vote; vote, with the future of Malaysia in mind.

Foto Friday

Joel Yap supports the movement for free and fair elections

because they are a fundamental characteristic 

of a democratic society. 

Clean elections must be upheld 

to ensure that the Government is indeed by the People!

Hidup Bersih! Hidup Rakyat!