Happy New Year 2006

We say farewell to 2005 as we usher in the new year 2006.

I am very happy as we celebrate the new year, I have already created 52 new postings for 2005.

This is a new avenue for me, using alang bidara pseudonym, as the alang bidar web page somehow proved too cumbersome to update.

I may not be a well-known witer, but I am satisfied with the things as they are now. I still have global exposure as the internet technology has proven the inevitable: sooner or later I will be well-known globally.

Hapy New Year 2006. (alang bidara - 31/12/2006)

Polis Mesir Pukul Pelarian Sudan Hingga Ada Yang Mati

Telah diberitakan polis Mesir memukul pelarian Sudan sehingga ada yang mati, dan di antara yang mati itu ada juga kanak-kanak.

Pelarian ini memprotes tidak mahu dihantar pulang sebaliknya mahu ditempatkan di negara ketiga.

Polis pula mengatakan mereka mati akibat dipijak di dalam kelam-kabut bila polis menyuraikan pelarian yang memprotes itu.

Kita merasa dukacita perkara ini berlaku. Sudan dan Mesir merupakan jiran yang bersempadan. Mengapa tidak tolak ansur sesama jiran?

Kita tidak terperanjat bila pihak UN (PBB)tidak mengutuk kerajaan Mesir di atas perkara yang berlaku. Sekiranya yang mati itu rakyat Eropah atau Amerika, sudah tentu Mesir akan dikutuk dan mungkin diserang dengan bom, malah mungkin UN akan bersidang segera dan Majlis Keselamatan PBB meluluskan serangan itu. Tetapi oleh kerana yang mati itu rakyat Sudan dan yang menyuraikan protes pelarian itu kerajaan yang 'direstui' Barat, maka sekadar "kesal dan sedih" sajalah reaksi UN..!!

Kita tunggu dan lihat apa reaksi pihak Sudan, Liga Arab, NAM dan OIC. Tiada hadiah sekiranya anda dapat menjawab soalan ini dengan tepat! (alang bidara - 30/12/2005)

Menghabiskan Cuti di Rumah

Di hari-hari terakhir tahun 2005 saya menghabiskan cuti di rumah.

Pagi-pagi lagi dah hantar hantar anak saya di tempat latihan practical dia di Kuala Lumpur. Lepas itu saya dan isteri saya ke pusat servis kereta Toyota di Puchong.

Lama juga menunggu kereta diservis. Seluruh kawasan pusat servis itu dipenuhi kereta, hampir tak ada ruang untuk kereta melalui ruang itu.

Ramai betul orang yang hantar kereta untuk diservis. Mungkin mereka juga seperti saya yang menghabiskan cuti tahunan sambil menghantar kereta ke pusat servis.

Terasa lega sedikit kepala tanpa memikirkan hal-hal kerja di pejabat yang penuh dengan KPI, deadline dan target.

Besuk saya cuti lagi. Duduk relax di rumah lagi agaknya. (alang bidara - 29/12/2005)

Bekerja Sehingga Lewat Malam

Sekali sekala saya perlu stay back dan pulang lewat sedikit dari pejabat untuk menyiapkan kerja-kerja yang berbentuk 'urgent', maka perlu disegerakan siap.

Ketika balik lambat, baru terasa sunyi di stesyen KTM Komuter Kuala Lumpur.

Baru dapat merasakan nikmat kalau selalu dapat balik tepat pukul 5.00 petang.

(alang bidara - 28/12/2005)

End of Year Concerts (or are they New Year Concerts?)

If we see the advertisements and trailers of what are being planned in many locations, for the night of 31 December 2005, we would be forgiven to conclude that the media has nothing else to highlight but concerts.

Yes. Concerts, concerts and more comcerts. From the Gurney Drive in Penang to the KLCC in Kuala Lumpur, we have nothing else to see or hear but concerts and more concerts.

Is it any wonder that our youth are good at nothing but attending the concerts?

We are talking baout a very concerted effort by many parties to have nothing on that night, but songs and more songs. The public trasportation system even have the "Tiket Integration" scheme, in which you buy one ticket for RM18.00 and you can travel on the rails system and the buses for a certain duration during the eve of the new year.

If only we have this degree of "integrasi" and concerted effort for something more educational and more beneficial for our youth and our beloved country....!! (alang bidara - 27/12/2005)

Tsunami, A Year After

The date 26 December 2004 has a very significant historic moment for us all.

It was the day many parts of Asia were hit by the tsunami. Hundreds of thousands people perished. Indonesia's Acheh, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India are the most affected. In countries as far as East Africa, many lives were lost.

Time has passed. But even a year after the catastrophy, many peolpe are still struggling to pick up the pieces after been hit by the tsunami.

We can question as to how little aid reach the affected people. Why so very little aid came from Western countries?

Human proposes, but Allah disposes.

We, as human beings, have to learn some valuable lessons from the events of 26 December, 2004.

Even a year after the tragedy, we are still learning from it. (alang bidara - 27/12/2005).

A Holiday to Remember

Shool holidays of the year 2005 must have been a holiday to remember for my wife and children.

In mid-December, we went to Lumut to attend the OP Lumut Escapade held at the naval base in Lumut. The BBQ and the lunch onboard MV Fajar Samudra were the highlights of the Lumut Escapade.

Though we did not stay in the Orient Star hotel (the official Escapade hotel), but Hotel Putra certainly at at the convenient location for the access to Lumut town and the Lumut Jetty, the jumping off platform to Pangkor.

We took time off to make a brief lunch tour to Teluk Nipah in Pangkor. After a quick brunch we did some shopping of souvenirs and Pangkor t-shirts and stuffs, we headed back to Lumut, reaching Hotel Putra before Zohor prayer time.

After the BBQ that night we gathered in one nasi kandar restaurant in Lumut for our teh tarik session (tts). Most of the attendees were OP75 members. It was certainly a noisy reunion, but I guessed the mamak owner were happy for our patronage.

The holidays also brought happy moments for my kids because Adham passed his traffic rules test, thus obtaining his L-licence. His mother bought him an RXZ motobike.

Hanisah passed her PMR exams with 6 A's and 2 B's, quite a good one.

Of course the happiest of them all is Noraini (along) who cleared all her exam papers for the final semester in her UiTM Business Studies (Hons) degree quest. Quite a good pointer she managed to scape through.

Last night I treated my wife and kids to a sumptious ikan bakar dinner at the bayu malam at Bagan Lalang.

This event capped the 2005 holidays for my kids. I suppose it must have been a memorable one. (alang bidara - 26/12/2005)

Makan Ikan Bakar di Bagan Lalang

Malam ni kami ke Bagan Lalang. Lalu highway PLUS, tetapi berlaku traffic jam berhampiran hentian sebelah Nilai Selatan. Saya masuk ke highway arh ke KLIA.

Sampai di Bagan Lalang hampir pukul 9.00 malam.

Gerai Bayu Malam menawarkan masakan makanan laut ikan bakar serta udang, sotong, ketam, pepahat dan kepah.

"Kepah tsunami kot..."

Lama juga kami menunggu.

Makan alam ini boleh dikira sebagai sempena beberapa celebrations la ni: along lulus clear semua paper semester akhir UiTM dia, Adham lulus peperiksaan lalulintas untuk lesen L, serta Hanisah lulus PMR yang agak cemerlang- 6A & 2 B.

Bila sampai makanan, jam sudah lebih 10.30 malam.

Bila sampai di rumah jam sudah hampir 12.00 malam. (alang bidara - 26/12/2005)

Ikan Jenahak Besar dimakan 3 orang

Selepas melawat pusat ternakan kepunyaan Alias kami ke Gerai Makan Ikan Bakat Persatuan Nelayan Melaka Barat, yang terletak di Kuala Sungai Baru, Melaka.

Kerja ubahsuai bangunan belum selesai, jadi pengunjung terpaksa bersesak-sesak di bawah khemah style 'kenduri kahwin' di sebelah bangunan. Hampir semua meja dipenuhi pelanggan. Kami berdiri dekat sebuah meja, tak lama 3 buah kerusi dibawa untuk kami.

Kami memilih seekor ikan jenahak yang agak besar dan sedikit udang untuk dimasak goreng tepung.

"Jenakah masak masam manis."

"Abang, yang ni sesuai untuk 5 orang makan, mungkin tak habis kalau 3 orang makan."

"Tak apa. Kami nak juga."

Lama juga kami menunggu. Lebih setngah jam...!

Tetapi penantian itu berbaloi sekali. Ikan jenahak 'fresh' seberat 1.4 kg itu habis kami kerjakan.

Isteri saya puas hati. Begitu juga Halim. Dia yang belanja kami makan. Dia pun kata puas hati tunggu lama.

Tentunya kami akan datang lagi ke sini. Harap kerja ubahsuai bangunan akan siap bila kami datang lain kali. (alang bidara - 25/12/2005)

The Chicken or the Egg?

This afternoon will be an exciting for me and my friend, Halim.

We plan to visit a chicken farm project of another friend. Well, this is quite out of the usual industry that we indulge in.

But it does not matter, a business is a business whan it comes to making money. Anything lawful and morally sound should be an acceptable way to laugh our way to the bank.

It may be the start of a new and exciting project, or it may end up being one of the entries in my journal, to be in my live archive for my future writing assignments.

This afternoon will be a turning point of sort in my life. (alang bidara - 24/12/2005)

Penutup Tahun 2005 Satu Kegembiraan

Tahun 2005 cuma tinggal 8 hari lagi.

Bagi saya beberapa peristiwa gembira menjadi penutup tahun 2005.

Pertama, Along anak perempuan saya lulus semua paper exam akhir semester dengan pointer yang agak bagus. Bagi Along, dia hanya perlu menyiapkan thesis tahun akhirnya bagi melayakkan diri ke konvo yang dijadualakn bulan Ogos 2006.

Kedua, anak ketiga saya, A'am, lulus peperiksaan undang-undang lalu-lintas nya setelah mengambilnya pada kali kedua.
Ketiga, anak ke emapat saya, Icah, lulus PMR nya dengan kutipan 6 A dan 2 B. Ini di kira cukup memuaskan.

Nampaknya saya kena belanja mereka semua makan di buffet dinner di hotel Cyberjaya.

Semoga kegembiraan ini berkekalan sehingga tersingkap tirai 2006.

(alang bidara - 23/12/2005)

End of Year 2005

We can still remember January 2005 was ushered in with optimism and positive thinking. New resolutions were abound and bad habits were being kicked out.

Now we stood at 9 more days of 2005. Yes, 2006 will be with us in 10 days.

Have you drawn up another list of new year resolutions, just so that they can be broken before the end of January 2006?

Will the world be a better to live in. Will the war on terror be just another war directed at Muslims and Muslim countries, under a different pretext or acronym?

Will the Palestinians ever see the elusive thing called peace? Will the situation in Iraq improve for the better? Will more 'coalitions' withdraw from Iraq, when each by goes by, the Vietnam syndrome seems more pronounced in Iraq?

What ever the future holds, we have to say goodbye to 2005 and hello to 2006.

Happy new year. (alang bidara - 22/12/2005)

Democracy in Palestine

When one reads the news about EU and the US of A threatening to cut off aid to Palestine if Hamas were voted into power in the Janury 2006 elections, one cannot help but feels a sense of skewed logic in this democracy thing that the West has so much stand for.

On the one hand they talk about democracy and the so-called "people's choice government"; but on the other they want force Party A to win the elections, and not Party B.

So in a way this whole Palestine Election episode exposes the real face of the West, vis-a-vis the democracy in non-Western countries.

Is that any wonder therefore, these western countries were former colonial masters, and they want to continue to remain so, even though all of the colonised are given the so-called independence?

One does not have to think too hard to reach a conclusive answer. (alang bidara - 21/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade Fond Memories

Thank you to the OPA, the Lumut-resident OP75 members, and all OPs who have made the OP Lumut Escapade 2005 a memorable and successful event.

The BBQ was splendid, despite what-ever short-coming that may have occurred.

The lunch and cruise on-board MV Fajar Samudra capped the Lumut Escapade, provided ample opportunity for OPs and anak OPs, to have a taste of the navy life. I know navy-related OPs took considerable risk in giving the OP families the chance to sail and cruise plus lunch as the climax of the event.

Thank you all. Hope OPA or even OP75 will organise a similar, if not better event.

"SERVE TO LEAD" (alang bidara - 20/12/2005).

Banjir Melanda Lagi

Sejak minggu lepas, hujan turun dengan lebatnya di pantai timur dan di utara semenanjung, mengakibatkan banjir sehingga lebih 2,000 orang di pantai timur dan lebih 1,000 orang di utara yang terpaksa dipindahkan apabila rumah-ruamh mereka dinaiki air.

Saya masih ingat lagi ketika saya berumur 7 tahun hingga 12 tahun, di kampung saya yang terletak 30 batu dari Kota Bharu, Kelantan sentiasa di landa banjir bila tiba musim tengkujuh. Ketika itu sekolah pun cuti, maka apabila berlaku banjir dan jalan raya Kuala Krai-Kota Bharu dinaiki air, ianya merupakan satu keseronokan bagi kami.

Saya dan beberapa orang kawan sekampung akan berpayung dan berkumpul di tepi jalan yang dinaiki air itu. Bila kereta datang 'mengharungi' air banjir itu, kami seronok sekali melihatnya. Selalunya kereta-kereta itu akan berjaya melepasi air itu.

Namun ada juga yang terkandas, enjin mati di tengah jalan. Maka kami budak-budak kampung akan menolong menolak kereta-kereta yang terkandas itu. Ada pemandu yang memberi upah sedikit wang kepada kami, dan ada yang mengangkat tangan mengucapkan terima kasih. Kami terima saja sama ada wang sedikit atau lumayan, atau tak diberi pun kami tak kisah. Asalkan dapat "berpesta bermain air banjir" di situ.

Ini boleh dikira sebagai suatu pesta atau suatu keseronokan dan kepuasan hidup di kampung ketika itu. Rumah kami pun tak ada tv ketika itu. Yang ada tv pun cuma di kedai kopi kira-kira 2 km dari kampung kami. Kami pergi ke kedai kopi itu pun pada malam Jumaat bila ditayangkan filem cerita Melayu.

Tetapi apabila lama sangat kami di "tapak pesta air" itu, ibu bapa kami akan datang ke sana untuk menyuruh kami pulang. Mungkin ibubapa kami bimbangkan keselamatan kami, mungkin mati lemas di dalam air banjir. Mungkin juga kami akan demam kerana terdedah kepada cuaca sejuk musim hujan begitu. Atau mungkin juga kerana risau kami terlupa nak balik makan kerana terlalu seronok dan asyik berpesta air banjir itu.

Saya rasa hingga kini pun, budak-budak memang suka menyertai 'pesta air banjir' apabila jalan raya dinaiki air. (alang bidara - 19/12/2005).

LUMUT ESCAPADE Moments to Share

(1) OP Mokhtar Ahmad (OP65)
We were colleaugues working in the same company, unti he retire from service in 2003. I have not seen or met him for quite sometime.

Lumut Escapade BBQ on 17/12/2005 provided me the chance to meet him again. We talked a lot about the past and of course, the future.

But, of course, we can only talk, no decision can be reached. Only enrinching our acquintance and friendship.

“Mokhtar, your hand phone number still the same?”
“Yes, same.”

We parted company, but the sms are sure to follow...!


(2) OP Dr Tengku Mohamed (OP72)
He is our family doctor in Taman Sri Serdang for the past 10 years. My family members regularly visits his clinic.

But never for a moment did I recall that he was our fourth year when we were New Boys in 1975 !!

BBQ night was a historic moment for me and my wife. When I shook hands with Dr Tengku Mohamed, my wife was nearby, so I called her and pointed her to the doctor.

“Kenal tak siapa ni?” I asked her.

“Em..doctor, saya tak makan daging ye doktor. Saya makan ayam panggang aje..” she was talking about his medical advice, instead of what year he was in the Boys Wing.

So, it was a moment of truth for us, my wife and I found out that our family doctor for the past 10 years was actually an OP (our 4th year when we were New Boys in 1975)


(3) OP Syed Zahiruddin (OP75)
Syed did not recognise me.

“I’m sorry I cannot recall who you are.”

I told Shaharuddin (Hj Shah) that Syed was in the same room, same class (Delta) and same company (B Coy) and he did not even recognise me!

Shaharudin was very loud in pronouncing this moment.

“Syed, you tak kenal Mrae? He was in the same class, same bloody B Company and same bloody Delta class some more..???!!”

Syed apologised to me for not recognising me. Well, I guess either we have grown old or that I have changed so much since 1975!!


(4) OP Azizan (isteri 2)
Azizan did not recognise me, too.

And Ajit’s wife passed the remark as to why he did not bring along any of his wives to the BBQ.

“Hang ni, dah lah ada isteri dua. Seorang pun hang tak nak bawa?”

“Nanti takut gaduh.” His reply was concise, precise and so spontaneous.

Then he said to me: “Sorry Mrae. Sejak ada banyak bini, aku tak berapa ingat la....ehehehehe..”


(5) Ambil Kambing/Ayam Panggang di “dapur”
Bila selesai speech from the host and the senior naval officer and the OP Organizing Committee, maka tibalah waktu makan.

There was a rush towards the table. No more room for us to squeeze in between.

OP75 members just coolly walk to the ‘kitchen’ where the naval cook boys were doing the grilling for chicken and mutton.

So while the crowd was elboying for their BBQ share, we were already eating our BBQ.

Initiative of OP75 is surely a recognizable phenomena.

Mood & Malik in Sudang must be smiling while reading this piece.


(6) Not Enough Tables & Chairs
After the pre-drinks we were invited to the dining hall. It was raining almost the whole day of the 17th that the table were hastily set up in the hall instead of the verandah.

Some families were without seats. All the table were occupied except the VIP tables.

Later, chairs were brought into the hall and we were all finaaly seated when we were having the meal. But, of course many of us were standing outside, to chit-chat while eating.


(7) Anak OP Mohd Dan Sudin the Singer
Our OP75 friend, Moh Dan was quite a celebrity that night. But not because he was the singer. His daughter was on stage giving the the traditional Malay numbers before the “Alleycat” copy cat guy went on stage for some Alleycat oldies.

May be I will get a CD or two of her albums....

(8) TTS OP75 at Lumut Nasi Kandar & SMS from Sudan
After the BBQ at the Lumut Base, many of OP75 adjourned to our good old “must have” teh tarik session (TTS) in one of the Nasi Kandar restaurant in Lumut town.

Quite a few of us were there: Admiral Jamilos, Ahmad Thani, Prof Hishamuddin, Husae, Razak Bahaq, Hamdan Taraguna. Aziz Ishak, Ajit Siam, Mahmud Sayuti, Harun (our junior), Hj Shah, Ismail Desa, .. Alamak,, baru semalam..dah mula lupa kawan-kawan yang lain yang hadir... A number of seniors were also there.

While we were noisily (very, very noisy indeed) talking...an sms were received via Harun’s handphone: “SMS from Malik Kang, all the way from Sudang...”

That’s OP75 esprit de corps..... indeed, Malik dan Mood are in Sudang and cannot be with us physically, but are here in spirit....

(9) Ahmad Thani, Prof Hishamuddin, Aziz Ishak & Mrae at Hotel Putra
Ex-Putra at Hotel Putra, get it..???!!
Many hotels were fully booked for the weekend of the OP Lumut Escapade. But imagine at least four of us (OP75) are booked in at Hotel Putra: Aziz Ishak, Ahmad Thani, Prof Hishamuddin and Mrae.

It may be just a co-incidence but think about it: OP75 (ex-Putera) booked in to a hotel named after our alma mater. X-Putera staying in hotel Putra.

Orient Star may be the official OP Lumut Escapade hotel, but Hotel Putra is indeed a hotel with the appropriate name for OP.....!

(10) The Ship Cruise on Board MV Fajar Samudra (Ship for Camp Anak OP)
Admiral Jamil Osman has arranged a wonderful trip round the Pangkor Island onboard MV Fajar Samudra, the naval training vessel/ Lunch was served onboard.

The event capped the 2005 OP Lumut Escapade. I headed hone with my family on out wonderful Innova MPV, stopping by at the restaurant in front of the Tapah mosque. We had dinner of ikan ketutu (hantu), chicken soup and gear box soup, and of course, some rice.

After maghrib jama and qasar prayer together with isyak, we took off for KL and was back home by 11.30 PM.

A tiring weekend holiday at the Lumut Escapade, but a holiday well worth all the effort and time.

Thank you OPA & OP75 friends in Lumut, and not to forget thank you Admiral Jamil Osman for making the cruise and lunch onboard naval training vessel MV Fajar Samudra, a memorable and pleasant experience. (alang bidara - 18/12/2005).

The Raining Season and School Holidays Ending Soon?

Most schools will re-open on 3 January, 2006.

Now most of us are doing the shopping for the school-going kids. You know, the school uniform, the scholl bags, the text books and not to forget the school fees.
Most parents this is the time of anxiety and hectic days.

Many parents are taking the leave to complete their annual leave entitlement. And those with some projects to handle are not able to do so.

And the end of the year may spell the end of rainy season, as the monsoon months are coming to a close.

As for me, the Lumut Escapade will cap the long school holidays, and the ending of time of the noisy kids at home.

Lumut holidays will also spell some financial extra spending, but I suppose, the investment is a worthwhile effort to 'buy out' some quality time which I may have missed during the course of working for the year 2005. (alang bidara - 16/12/2005)

MOVE Project for MILS Good Luck

Dear Team,

We are now at a point when many things happen in parellel. So many things to be done at the same time in so little time!

Never fear. Don't panic. This is a normal phenomena in any project which is about to go 'live'. The anxiety and the pressure is the hallmark of any new project and the challenges will only be overcome by the strong and the ones with the physical, mental and emotional stamina. This criteria is, what our team possess.

Monday will the 'live' date and so luckily, our project captain has shrewdly focus only on a limited 'hard target scenario', instead of the 'big bang' technic, thus limiting the possible damage, and effectively give us the control over the unknown possibility, or any collateral damage that might entail.

God willing, we will prevail over the challenges and any objection or whatever negative criticisms which may be hurled upon us.

MOVE is the system that will MOVE our company into the new era of integrated logistics. (alang bidara - 16/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade Tomorrow

Yes, one more day to go...

I may take either one of these routes to Lumut: PLUS highway and exit at Bidor Interchange, by passing Teluk Intan and then to Sitiawan; OR I may take the Sungei Buloh route, passing Kuala Selangor, Tanjong Karang, Sungai Besar, Sabak Bernam, Hutan Melintang, by-passing Teluk Intan, northward all the way to Lumut.

Hopefully, either way will take me to Lumut, reaching there before mid-night.

All in my family will be tagging along, but no more using two cars. Thanks to the new Toyota Innove, delivered to me just before puasa this year. Dah rasa naik MPV ni masa beraya di Melaka dan balik ke Kelantan tempuh hari...selesa bagi penumpang dan selesa bagi pemandu. You can feel the comfort of driving. (ok la, mungkin iklan untuk Toyota sikit, tak apa la, member saya, Mazlan Abdul Samad pun kerja dengan Toyota..)

Lumut, here we come. (alang bidara - 16/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade in 2 Days Time

Almost there my friends.

I plan to leave Kuala Lumpur at about 1700 hours on Friday, 16/12/2005. Most probably via the PLUS highway and exit at Bidor Interchange and take the old road to Lumut, passing Simpang Changkat Jong, Teluk Intan, Batak Rabit, Kampong Kayan, passing Sitiawan.

Hopefully I can reach the Lumut Town before midnight.

After breakfast on Saturday morning I will get on the ferry to Pangkor Islang for a quick tour and return to Lumut for lunch.

After that it will preparation for the BBQ nite at the base.

It will be a night to remember.

Then on Sunday it will be the lunch onboard the ship.

See you there, mu friends. (alang bidara - 15/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade 3 Days to Go

Despite the absence of Mood Kemamang, Malik Kang, Azmil Khalili, MG Zul, Wahiruddin, et al the Lumut Escapade 2005 will promise to be an exciting and memorable one.

So much has been done, but so much may still need to be done for the preparation, but still the time will come.

And we will be there to enjoy and to participate in the events.

Finding the Lumut accomodation may be a challenge to some of us, but surely, insya Allah, we will be able to overcome it.

See you at the Lumut Escapade...(alang bidara - 14/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade 4 Days to Go

With the day getting closer, the more excitement it creates.

Lumut Escapade for OP. Too bad Mood Kemamang and Malik Kang are in Sudan, will not be able to make it. Wahruddin is having a palnned holiday in USA. MG Zul has another appointment.

But the program has been finalised.

The highlights will be the BBQ on the night of 17 December and the lunch aboard the navy cruiser on Sunday.

Ahmad Thani will be staying in a Lumut hotel some 3 km from the base.

Well, dear friends, see you in Lumut Escapade. (alang bidara - 13/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade 2005 Friendship Symbol

It was 1975 when more than 130 of us, selected from various schools in Malaysia, to enter Form 4, Boys Wing of the Royal Military College.

From that moment on, we are together.

The hardship we went through: those ragging, road-runs, extra drills, change parades and gatings.

The moments of new experience of the military regimented life: drills on the parade square, the saturday military trainings, the inspections.

Not to forget the weekend camping down at the Air Hitam jungle in Puchong. And the annual camping in Kuantan.

The sand dunes of Sungei Besi Mines, the 'harvesting' of belimbings. The boxing trainings, the drill competitions.

Remember the Toong Foong bus number 109? The Pudu Raya bus station, the Guard Room?
All these are etched in our memories, memories of another day.

But these memories that are keeping us together. That was 30 years ago. Many things have changed since then. Sg Besi mine is no more there. Air Hitam training site is no more there. Toong Foong buses number 109 are no more.

But Lumut Escapade 2005 is sure going to bring out those moments again. We are gonna talk about it again and again. The more we talk about it, the closer we become.

Dear OP75 friends, see you in Lumut on the weekend of 16-18 December 2005. It will be a moment to treasure for the rest of our lives. (alang bidara - 13/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade

With 5 more days to go for the historic Lumut Escapade, more excitement are expected.

Many of us may have been involved in the Lima 2005 in the legendary Langkawi. But that should not be an excuse not to attend.

But there are a few exceptions. Malik of Chukai and Mahmood of Kemamang will be in Sudan to fulfill job commitments. Our Colonel Razif, will not be able to be there as he is our Defence Attache in London.

Bakaruddin of Melaka may not be there due to Haj Trip to Mecca to fulfill his fifth Rukun Islam.

But the rest of us, should be there. No new boy excuses will be accepted.

My dear OP75 friends, hope to see all of you there.(alang bidara - 12/12/2005)

Rasuah, Rasuah dan Rasuah Lagi...

Bila kita baca berita bagaimana syarikat-syarikat dari barat (Amerika Syarikat dan Eropah) membayar wang kickback untuk mendapatkan kontrak-kontrak di negara-negara Asia dan Timur Tengah, kita akan bertanya: "Tak ada kah kontrak yang tidak melibatkan rasuah...?"

Sama ada kontrak di Iraq semasa pemerintahan Saddam Hussein, atau pun kontrak di Republik Rakayat China, semuanya ada usndur-unsur rasuah.

Begitu juga rasuah dalam bentuk insentif perniagaan atau bantuan subsidi dari Amerika bila Amerika memerlukan undi dari negara penerima 'faedah' apabila sesuatu pengundian di dalam Majlis Keselamatan Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu. Atau pun kontak untuk membangunkan Iraq selepas pencerobohan Amerika, semua ada elemen rasuah.

Sesungguhnya rasuah merupakan seolah-olah suatu penyakit barah yang menular di peringkat tempatan, national mahu pun global.

Kita akan tertanya-tanya: "Bagaimanakah keadaan ini dapat dihapuskan atau pun dikurangkan.
Inilah suatu persoalan yang bermain di kepala orang-orang yang rasional dan cintakan keikhlasan di dalam hidup....(alang bidara - 11/12/2005)

Tidur Petang Hingga Ke Maghrib

Petang Sabtu saya tidur pukul 5.00 petang kerana keletihan.

Saya tidur nyenyak sekali sehingga bangun cuma bila dikejutkan oleh anak lelaki saya.

"Ayah, bangunlah, waktu Maghrib dah masuk.."

Kepala rasa sakit sedikit. Badan rasa lemah. Modd rasa tak baik. Rasa tak selesa.

Agaknya sebab itu lah orang tua-tua melarang kita tidur waktu petang selepas Asar. Mungkin tabiat tidur di waktu hampir senja tidak baik dari segi kesihatan.

Semoga ianya tidak menjadi amalan saya.

Saya bergegas ke bilik air untuk mandi dan selepas itu mengerjakan solat Maghrib berjemaah bersama isteri dan anak-anak. (alang bidara - 10/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade 2005 Nostalgic Moments

It was 1975 that we got together into Form 4 of Boys Wing (Cawangan Putera) of the Royal Military College.

Then we had to undergo strict military regimented life between 1976-77. Every day Monday to Friday after 5.00 PM was games and sports on the field or road run, or running up and down the sand dunes.

Every Saturday we have military training. On the parade square, the rifle range or the training area.

The punishments we faced... change parades (Azmil, tabik champion), gatings (Malik, kau handal bab ni ..), extra drills, and many more.

Now all those are only memories of another day. But we shall re-live and re-live it again. This way, we shall strengthen our esprit de corps. All those hardships become fond memories for us all.

On 16 and 17 December 2005 we will gather in Lumut. It will be our 30th year anniversary of sorts.

Lumut Escapade 2005 will be a milestone in our lives.

So, remember it well, my dear friends...(alang bidara - 10/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade - OP75 How Time Flies

It was 1975 that over 130 boys from all over Malaysia, chosen from many schools after their LCE results were selected to join the Boys Wing, Royal Military College.They came from various background - their parents are farmers, padi planters, rubber tappers, civil servants; but they were joined together for a common purpose.

With their motto "Serve To Lead", they would be joined together to be welded with an esprit de corps, unknown of before, even among their senior or the later seniors.

They would later be known as OP75 group.

The year now is 2005. OP75 will gather in Lumut after 30 years.

How we gonna re-live old times... what exciting things we gonna discuss....

All will be known by 17 December, in "Lumut Escapade".(alang bidara - 9/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade in 9 more days

Eight families have, so far, confirmed their attendance.

This is below the expected number (more than 20), but with 9 more days to we expect at least a few more confirmation.

I have mixed feelings about this situation. While this type of response is expected, but I am also quite disappointed with the response.

Is the esprit de corps among the OP75 dead and gone? Well, we will have a better picture in the next few days.... (alang bidara - 8/12/2005)

Pas Kalah!!? Depressed? Nah Ini Jawapan - petikan web Tranungkite.net

PAS Kalah …. Aku Depressed….. Inilah Ubatnya
Dilulus terbit pada Wednesday, December 07 @ 13:00:07 MYT oleh LinuxPro

Email Pelawat Kiriman M.S.Y.

6/12/2005 9.00 mlm. Aku rase malam tu mlm yg paling depressed bagi ku. Keputusan pilihanraya keluar lagi. Perasaan aku rase same macam masa mlm pilihanraya lepas. Geram ada, sedih ada, kekadang rase nak nangis pun ade.

Masa tengah tengok t.v. aku tak boleh “concentrate”, lagi aku bengang keluar plak tajuk berita bergolek kat bawah tuh….. “BN Menang”. TV3 punya tajuk control sikit, “BN mendahului… kiraan undi esok…” , tapi NTV7 terus declare “BN Menang”. Cam hampeh.

Bila keluar jer tajuk berita tu, aku tukar channel, sampai anak aku tegur “baba nie,… orang nak tengok citer tasha” ….katanya merengek, ntah citer ape ntah dia jer yg paham. Terbayang aku muka barua2 and juak UMNO yg tengah heppi kononnya dah menang. Biasaklah muka2 si gemuk pipi merah, si kecut cam kena sedut kuman resdung, si taik lalat berbulu, si muda berlagak alim dan mcm2 lagi. Terbayang plak tajuk berita esok “Rakyat beri kepercayaan pada BN, …. BN masih kukuh, …… PAS mula dibenci,…. Mandat baru ……”

Bini aku tengah sebok kemas setor ngan maid aku. Last2 aku naik atas tutup pintu aku pun doa. “Ya.. Allah kiraan undi esok Kau tukarlah keputusan tu, menangkanlah PAS sebab Kau yang Maha Berkuasa bagi Kau Kun Faya Kun …. kalau Kau nak jadi, apa pun boleh jadi…” …. Bagi aku apa pun situasi kita kena berdoa, walaupun nampak miracle.

Malam tu aku pun tidurlah, depressed tapi penuh pengharapan, harapan moga Allah tukar keputusan esok, biar padan muka geng2 bongkak tuh….

7/12/2005 6.00 pagi: Aku pun bangun tak rase bengang lagi. Lepas mandi , aku pun kejut kan bini aku. Dia cam letih skit, .. mungkin penat mengemas stor semalam. Lepas solat subuh, pun amek ler Quran tafsir aku, sambung bacaan semalam. Memang jadi rutin aku, dalam satu hari mesti tengok quran tafsir, bukan nak menunjuk tapi kena buat, kalau tak buat rase serabai. Rase iman makin lama makin tipis. Kita boleh rase sendiri. Tak kisah ler, subuh ker, zohor ker, yang pasti aku aku takmo miss nengok quran. Kalau malas sangat aku tengok satu ayat jer.

Cam biasalah .....baca satu ayat ... tengok tafsir, .....baca satu ayat tengok tafsir. Masuk ayat ketiga aku rase menarik sangat... yang nie la aku nak share dengan korang,.... bagi aku inilah pengubat duka lara, untuk kita yg berjuang (tapi asyik kecundang), ubat untuk mengubat duka aku semalam ....

Surah Al-An’am (6)

[123] Dan demikianlah Kami adakan dalam tiap-tiap negeri orang-orang besar yang jahat supaya mereka melakukan tipu daya di negeri itu, padahal tiadalah mereka memperdayakan selain dari dirinya sendiri (kerana merekalah yang akan menerima akibatnya yang buruk), sedang mereka tidak menyedarinya.

[125] Maka sesiapa yang Allah kehendaki untuk memberi hidayat petunjuk kepadanya nescaya Dia melapangkan dadanya (membuka hatinya) untuk menerima Islam dan sesiapa yang Allah kehendaki untuk menyesatkannya, nescaya Dia menjadikan dadanya sesak sempit sesempit-sempitnya, seolah-olah dia sedang mendaki naik ke langit (dengan susah payahnya). Demikianlah Allah menimpakan azab kepada orang-orang yang tidak beriman

[126] Dan inilah jalan Tuhanmu (agama Islam) yang betul lurus. Sesungguhnya Kami telah menjelaskan ayat-ayat keterangan (Kami) satu persatu, bagi kaum yang mahu beringat - insaf.

Insyallah .... janji Allah itu benar, Al-Quran ada jawapannya... juak2 UMNO akan kena juga akhirnya ..... pada aku inilah thrill perjuangan .....

Wassalam


Catatan : Kita tidak ditanya dan dipertanggungjawab soal menang atau kalah, tetapi kita akan dipersoalkan sejauh mana harta dan jiwa kita digunakan dalam perjuangan ini - LP

A Fisherman's Tale

Fishing is my most interesting hobby.

It started sometime in 1990 and started to 'fade' from my list of hobbies about four years ago.

For the love fishing I have traveled up and down the country. I was fishing in Sg Besar, Mersing, Grik, Kuala Pahang and Bagan Lalang, Sepang.

Be it saltwater- or freshwater-fishing, I have tried it all.

On boats or on kelongs, I have experienced them too.

Talib, Nik Dir, Rahman Saleh and many more of my fishing friends are still at it, but so long I have not seen them.

May be one of these days I may join them again.

Fishing, my most interesting hobby. (alang bidara - 7/12/2005)

Lumut Escapade, Prelude

I was studying in the Royal Military College (RMC) in Sg Besi in 1975 to 1977.

Our batch of RMC intake in 1975 have strong esprit de corps. We call ourselves OP75 group (OP = Old Putra/Old Boys). Even though we were together for only 2 to 4 years during 1975 to 1978, we still keep in touch with each other.

We meet regularly in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Lumut, Kemaman, Kuantan, or wherever the opportunity presents when a number of us are at any one location simultaneously. We call our meeting TTS, an acronym for "Teh Tarik Session", even though we do not necessarily have teh tarik during the meeting.

Our regular TTS spots vary from a mamak stall in Jalan Doraisamy in Kuala Lumpur to the NZ Curry House in Wangsa Melawati. Some time we have it nearby the Sungei Besi Air Force Base or even any stall where many of us happen to be at one town at a time.

OP75 have a yahoo group discussion forum (mailing list) and it is a very active discussion group with an average of 10 emails a day. Many of us joined Malaysia Armed Forces, be it the Army (TDDM or RAMD), Navy (TLDM) or the Air Force (TUDM).

The most senior rank from our OP75 is Major General Zulkifli who previously heads the Kuantan Armed Force Base, but now after recent promotion, posted to Mindef in Kuala Lumpur.

The most senior in the civilian sector is most probably Dato Azmil Khalili who is the CEO of MTD Group. You know, his company is the one awarded the contract for the construction of the KL-Karak Highway and the East Coast Highway (LPT).

The most flying colour of them all is probably OP Abu Samah, who hails from Gelang Patah. He left the Air Force and now the personal pilot for Sultan of Johor. The furthest posting is probably Colonel Razif, who our Defence Attache (DA) in London.

The most active in the yahoo mailing list is probably Mahmood Embong of Kemamang.

The most active in getting the OP75 together are probably jointly help by Colonel Aziz and Malik of Kemamang.

Many of our OP75 group members are in Lumut. But the most glamorous of them all is probably Capt Azhari Rashid (the Kajang Boy) who is the ADC to our King, The Yang Di Pertuan Agong.

There are 151 (9 has passed away so far)of us in the OP75 group and their names are in the yahoo group mailing list archive.

We are having our gathering, which we call "Lumut Escapade" in Lumut, Perak soon. It would be an interesting and exciting get-together. I mean after 30 years (since 1975) we would be seeing each other.

More about it later. Watch this space. (alang bidara - 7/12/2005)

Comment on Mood's comment:

Mood,

OK, corrections made. Kepada MG Zul, sorry for the error Sir, I will take 10 (knuckle clap - B Coy Standard) under the table now...1, 2, 3, adoh! 4..5

Mrae (x-Bravo Coy)

Anonymous wrote:

Mrae, BG Zul promoted to MG Zul, ie Major General lah, kalu Lt Gen dah 3 bintang, get your military facts straight, sebab tu mu dok leh masuk askar, wake up....

mood E Coy

The Referee Must not Kick the Ball into the Goal

In any football match, what would happen if the referee shoots the ball into the goal of one of the teams? Of course, the losing team will not accept the defeat. The point is, the referee must be neutral and not bias to a side of the two opposing teams. If the referee is biased, then surely the results of the football match will be highly questionable.

Similarly, in elections in a truly democratic process the elections commissions must be neutral, and not take sides. But this criteria is sadly missing in our beloved country.

Sure, if the elections process takes place with the elections commission seems to be acting just like another component of the ruling party, then the losing side will question the process and may not accept the result.

If the ruling party govenrment think their government is a strong and popular one, they would not be afraid to be fair and practise clean politics. They would readily accept any independent party or any elections watch-dog, be it from the EU, OIC or even the US of A to monitor the elections process.

It is quite amusing to think of them as pro-democracy, when on the one hand they would like to hold the elections, but on the other, they taint the process, just so that they win, even if the act would render the results questionable.

It is somewhat unthinkable this sort of thing is still rampant in this third millennium. (alang bidara - 6/12/2005)

Buying Memory

What?! One might ask:"Can memory be bought?" To the layman, perhaps the idea sound somewhat preposterous. But not to an IT-savvy person.

Yes, I made my way to the Low Yat Plaza on Monday evening to purchase some RAM for the PCs in the office. A few months earlier I was there with my kids, but on Monday I went alone. The feeling and the environment is definitely different, even though the place is the same Low Yat Plaza.

But I wish to write about some interesting development that has taken place at the Imbi Monorail station. It was after 6.30 PM when I walked back to the station from Low Yat Plaza to take a train to KL Sentral before changing to KTM Komuter.

KL Monorail has apparently hired a foreigner to be their PR runner at the platform. I was not certain of his nationality. But from the look I guessed he could either be from Bangladesh or Myanmar.

He was shouting through a loud hailer at the platform.

"The next train will be coming in 5 minutes time...for your own safety, please stand behind the yellow line..!!"

When the train arrives: "Please give way to disembarking passengers."

When passengers embark: "Please go in, please go right in. Malaysia boleh." "Thank you for using KL Monorail."

At some point I thought he was overdoing it. I wish someone would tell him to relax a bit and not be so tense about it. But then it crossed my mind that he is only doing his job. He is paid to do it and he has to do it.

When I finally got myself into the train (or rather, I pushes myself into the carriage!) I was somehow sandwiched between a thin Malay lady at the back and a big sized European woman in front. I could not help but felt embarassed being in that position, but I had no choice.

The train moved on with me in that somewhat 'compromising' position until the next station.
(alang bidara - 5/12/2005)

How to finish my leave?

The last month of the year is here. In less than 30 days, we will bid goodbye to 2005 to usher in the brand-new year 2006.

Usually this time of the year that work will somehow reduce to a minimum, and the staff will take time off to be with their family. School holidays will be a fitting time to take the wife and kids to a few days getaway holiday, local or overseas.

For those who can afford it, Sydney or Brisbane, Beijing, Kashmir, London, the USA, Canada or even the day-return Dumai would be the favorites. Even Sipadan, Perhentian, Tioman, Pangkor will be the favorite local destinations. Not to mention PD, Penang or even perhaps Cherating.

I have 5 days of my annual leave left. But how to spend it is the question. We have a project to complete. The "live" date for the project is mid-December. I am now in a dilemma. I have to finish my leave and yet we have a project 'deadline' to fulfill. So how will I solve this problem of mine? (alang bidara - 5/12/2005)

Perjalanan Pulang dan Membeli Kain di Nilai

Di dalam perjalanan pulang dari kampong Kuala Sg Baru Melaka untuk kembali ke Lembah Kelang, kami singgah makan di gerai Mak Mah (24 jam) di Port Dickson. Saya makan nasi tetapi isteri dan anak-anak saya makan chicken chop, fish & chips dan roti canai. Selesai makan, waktu Maghrib pun telah masuk.

Kami singgah untuk solat di Masjid Port Dickson. Dari PD kami melalui Sendayan, Labu dan Nilai. Di Nilai kami singgah kerana isteri saya hendak membeli kain ela.

Semasa menunggu isteri dan anak-anak perempuan saya membeli-belah di dalam kereta bersama 3 dari anak-anak lelaki saya. Dari tempat itu saya dapat memerhati kenderaan yang lalu lalang di lebuhraya yang menuju ke tol Nilai pintu masuk ke lebuhraya PLUS. Terasa agak relax waktu itu, kerana kami tak perlu rush untuk pulang. Keadaan di kedai-kedai juga agak lengang.

"Lain kali kalau nak nak shopping kain di sini kita datang waktu seperti ni la ye..?" Saya mencadangkan kepada isteri saya. Dia bersetuju. Anak-anak saya pun bersetuju.

Begitulah agaknya suasana di petang Ahad (Malam Isnin) di Nilai 1. Lengang, tenang dan relax. Tak payah bersesak-sesak, tak perlu berasak-asak untuk memilih kain yang nak dibeli.

(alang bidara - 4/11/2005)

Komitmen dan Tanggungjawab Sosial

Seorang teman di pejabat memberikan sekeping kad jemputan kahwin.

"Bila ye?" tanya saya.

"Dua minggu lagi," jawabnya.

Sudah tentu bukan kenduri untuk dia, tetapi anak pertamanya. Teman ini agak rapat dengan saya. Jadi saya telah mengambil keputusan untuk hadir ke majlis dia di Sungai Buloh itu, walau apa pun halangan yang bakal mendatang. Tanpa meneliti tarikh nya, saya beranggapan harinya tentulah hari Ahad.

Adik ipar pula hendak mengadakan kenduri kesyukuran pada hari Sabtu pukul 8.00 malam di kampongnya di Melaka. Saya telah berjanji dengan isteri saya untuk pulang ke kampong awal pagi Sabtu, supaya sempat membuat persediaan kenduri kesyukuran. Dan balik ke Kuala Lumpur awal pagi Ahad supaya bersempatan pula untuk ke Sungai Buloh bagi hadir ke majlis kenduri anak teman sepejabat itu.

Lewat petang Jumaat di pejabat, seorang teman lain bercakap tentang jalan ke rumah teman yang mangadakan kenduri anaknya di Sungai Buloh itu.

"Hari Ahad, kan?" Secara tak semena-mena saya bertanya. "Sabtu lah...".

Saya membuka beg dan menyemak kad jemputan itu.

"Masya Allah.... ye la besok laa..."

Lewat malam Sabtu, selepas belanja keluarga saya makan steak di Kg Baru, Kuala Lumpur, saya terpaksa berunding dengan isteri saya cara menyelesaikan "pertembungan jadual" kami itu.

Persetujuan dicapai setelah sejam berbincang.....

Isteri saya akan balik ke kampung menumpang kereta adiknya dan adik iparnya di pagi Sabtu, kerana isteri saya telah menerima permintaan adiknya untuk memasak dan menguruskan kenduri kesyukuran adiknya di kampungnya di Melaka.

Saya pula bersama-sama anak-anak akan ke majlis kenduri kahwin anak teman pejabat saya di Sungai Buloh tengah hari Sabtu dan akan balik ke Melaka selepas kenduri itu. Maka akan sempat juga untuk berada di kampong untuk majlis kesyukuran itu.

Dengan 'penjadulan semula' tersebut maka dapatlah kami sekeluarga memenuhi komitmen serta janji kami kepada saudara terdekat, dan di masa yang sama memenuhi tanggung-jawab sosial terhadap sahabat handai. Alhamdulillah... (alang bidara - 3/12/2005)

The December 6, 2005 Poser

The RM1 coins will cease to be legal tender after midnight of December 6, 2005. So, those of you who have been thrifty and saving for the Christmas & New Year sales, watch out. Change your coins at your nearest bank before that.

But if you plan to be Kelantan on that date to watch the Pengkalan Pasir state constituency cast their votes to choose their new state assemblyman, be very careful. Change your coins much, much earlier.

Unless, of course, you plan to 'make-a-wish' throws in your local stream or unused wells...!!!

Yes, the last day of the RM1 coins acceptance and the polling day for the Pengkalan Pasir, Kelantan by-election is one and the same 6 December 2005.

One may ask: "Is this a co-incidence?" Or may be:"Is there a connection between the two events?"

Well, dear readers, don't ask me. You figure it out... (alang bidara - 2/12/2006 -> 4 more days to the 6th...!!)

Can Citizens Control a Democratically Elected Government?

Many of us are exasperated at times whan the government policy create problem and causes great inconvenience for us.

We wonder why such things happen and more importantly wonder how we can prevent or remedy the situation.

A friend of mine who is a student in political science told me the other day: "Kelantanese are politically wise..". "How so?" I asked.

"Well, you see they control the state government and not the other way round."

"So?"

"But at the national level the government is controlling the citizen. Bacause Kelantanese dare to change their government. For certain period they vote for Pas. Then they chose BN. Then again Pas. By doing this, they are actually the state assembly. Their assemblimen and MPs better watch their steps, and the ruling party better watch their policy. Or else the voters will say goodbye to them come the next elections."

"You mean even at the national level, we should vote Pas/BA into the government as well?"

"Yes, I do."

"But how will that affecy our lives? What about the development?"

"Why should we worry? The ruling government will carry on the development. And they will definite improve the conditions of the rakyat. If not, next elections the other party will be voted in."

"But we have never experienced Pas/BA in the government before. How would we know they would be better than the ruling one?"

"All the more reasons why we should try. We'll never know unless we try.."

This discussion crept in my mind again, following the Pengkalan Pasir byelection, soon to be held in Kelantan. Well, we would know if my student friend is right yet again. (alang bidara - 2/12/2005)