IT SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS : THERE IS A STORY TO TELL

1. These group of student leaders representing MSA ( Malaysian Students Association of Malaysia in Australia) together with  Dato  Mohd Fuad Stephen the Malaysian High Commissioner of Malaysian and senior staff of the Embassy at Australian National University after an annual Conference of the Association. dated 1972 

IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT. The camera shoots, records the scene and acknowledges it for posterity. Imagine the multitude of moments captured of yourself or your family plus activities that have become second nature to you. A camera buff yourself, you would have treasured those moments, not sharing but kept immobilized either in negatives or disks away from other eyes; halting those moments of significance from getting a broader circle of admirers. 

Print them. Download them. They will add patches or missing links to certain slots in time and history. Geared by this concept and understanding, I am tracking back and revealing  some of the photos recorded in the past, unaware that they too have significances of their own, helping to reveal characters, events in the circle of time when you yourself have been an actor albeit of some distinctions too. Truly so when you have achieved so much, traveled widely and seen more in all these calculated years.

Let's dig into our treasure trove, discover the old photos or negatives that somehow have been kept hidden from curious eyes. You will undoubtedly help bring back memories, discover faces, facades, families, beauties or familiarities that  unintentionally have escaped curious yet worthy eyes.Surprisingly there are some worthy of a heritage nature.

2. Always wonder if ever I get back to this part of Spain especially near Zaragozza would I be able to meet these six young boys again. Surely they would have grown and reach senior status too being 53 years ago when we stopped at this corner of the town while on a Vespa ride through Europe in 1957. Zaraggoza being a football centered city could even enlisted any one of them as a player. A return visit would be a great surprise to see the development here and around. Notice the boy with some grapes in hand. Not compulsory for a crash helmet too then . Date August 1957

3. Photographers and news persons around Tun Mahathir and wife as all wished him 'Happy Birthday" 2010 A closer look would show others in the gathering.

     4. Fifteen youth hardly topping their 21th birthday yet, warga negara Persekutuan Tanah Melayu (Malaya)  clad in their Baju Melayu  with songkok on their heads and braving the English weather somewhere on the outskirt of Liverpool in their first year at a college set up for training of Malayan teachers oversea. Simply unheard of and possibly never attempted by any other governments of the world to set up a college for their youths in a foreign land. To date only ten from  the fifteen till remain. P.S looking for detail you may rightly recognize students from Johor i.e from their local Malay dress. The black pipes in the background then provided the heating system for the college. Certainly things have changed now for the system. (The College existed 1952- 1962) Dated August 1956

Discover what these photos have within them and how like others they have stories untold. No doubt they may not reach the pages of 'National Geographic' or  'Life' yet they are gems or merits of their own. They helped to open the pages of the past and the footprints you have left behind.  

Other pix will follow .......

THE CASE FOR HISTORY TO CONTINUE IN SCHOOLS

Every Aidilfitri in the last few years these former students of Sekolah Menengah Darulaman Alor Star

never failed to invite their former teachers to the Hari Raya gathering. We are pround to attend and many of them proud parents themselves, busy with family obligations of their own never missed  the do. Happily history was taught and part of the curriculum then 1973 - 1980. Thankful that they remember their growing days at the school. 

THERE IS NOW A DEMAND INDEED A DIRECTIVE FOR HISTORY TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SPM EXAMINATION ( THE SCHOOL CERTIFICATE). THAT IT WILL BE A COMPULSORY SUBJECT FOR PASSING HAS NOW BECOME A DEBATE.

YET IT IS NOT THE STUDENTS WHO WORRY ABOUT PASSING OR OTHERWISE BUT OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY: SO CALLED CHAMPIONS WHO HAVE AXES TO GRIND. NOW QUESTIONS OF TEACHING APPROACH, SUBJECT MATTER COME TO THE FORE.

ARE WE WORRYING THAT HISTORY WITH ALL ITS IMPLICATIONS OF NATIONHOOD, CITIZENSHIP, EMERGENCY, POLITICAL GROWTH, ARRIVAL OF IMMIGRANTS, COLONIZATION, SULTANATE, BRITISH COLONY, FEDERATED OR UNFEDERATED MALAY STATES ETC ETC, WOULD CAUSE UPHEAVAL OR A NEW PERSPECTIVE? RIGHTLY MANY HAVE FORGOTTEN THEIR REAL IMPLICATIONS, CAUSE AND EFFECTS. THEREFORE WHY NOT LOOK BACK .

BUT THAT ISN'T THE PURPOSE OF IT ALL. THOSE OF US WHO LEARN HISTORY EITHER AT SCHOOLS OR IN THE UNIVERSITIES WILL REALISE IT HAS BENEFITS BEYOND THE DOORS OF THE INSTITUTIONS. HISTORY ENCIRCLES OUR OWN EXISTENCE TOO.

BEING HERE AT MAKKAH WHAT WOULD I KNOW OF ITS HISTORY, ITS GREATNESS IF I HAVE NOT A WHIM OF ITS STORY? WOULD I BE CURIOUS TO KNOW MORE? WOULD I BOTHER TO READ AND SEARCH FOR STORIES OF NOW AND BEFORE? WOULD I UNDERSTAND THE HAJ AND ALL ITS ASPECTS IF I NEVER CARE WHAT HAS PASSED BEFORE NOW?

BE WHEREVER YOU ARE YOU ARE A STRANGER MORE SO AT A LOSS AND BLIND TO ALL AROUND YOU IF YOU KNOW NOTHING OF THE PLACE. FOR THAT SIMPLE REASON BOOKS, BROCHURES, MAPS AND PAMPHLETS ARE PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED FOR INFORMATION   TOURISTS AND VISITORS TO NEW PLACES GET A QUICK BACKGROUND OF THE AREA AND THEREFORE FREER TO PLAN THEIR ITINERARY . CURIOSITY KILLS THE CAT! ALAS HOW CURIOUS CAN WE GET ABOUT PLACES, FACES, PALACES, CASES, BATTLES ETC WHEN WE DON'T HECK OF A MOMENT BOTHER TO KNOW OUR PAST GLORIES, ACHIEVEMENTS. WHOSE FAILURE IS IT?

THAT MALAYSIAN YOUTH TRAVEL UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY IN INTER-STATE BUSES, TRAINS OR OTHER VEHICLES WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THE TOWNS AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SUCH PLACES PASSED ALONG THE WAY ONLY BETOLD THEIR IGNORANCE AND POOR GRASP OF HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY OF THEIR OWN COUNTRY. YES HOW MANY RECOGNIZE 'TAIPING', 'SLIM RIVER', 'MENTAKAB', 'RAUB', KUALA NERANG', 'KUALA PILAH', ' PORT WELD', 'JESSELTON' , 'PORT DICKSON'  ETC FOR THEIR SIGNIFICANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS? MUCH LESS ABOUT NATIONAL LEADERS OF MALAYSIA. PRIDE FAILS TO SURFACE. ONLY PREJUDICE APPEARS ITS UGLY HEAD. 

LET'S THIS EXERTION, REALIZATION AND PLEA TO INCLUDE HISTORY GETS FULL SUPPORT. NO QUALMS  ABOUT ITS OBJECTIVES.

( A thought that passed by months ago but never saw the light of day or simply got posted lni Kotastar. till now)

PALLIATIVE CARE AND HOSPICE

A gazebo or a resting corner by the lake where patients can rest and enjoy the quiet  surrounding and attended by volunteers who have come forward to give their services

FAMILIAR OR DO THEY RING THE BELL?

The two words weren't to me until I started writing this story and discovering some interesting and compounding background to it all. Surprisingly I never realized that 'hospice' is available in Malaysia. Of course not in the smaller cities but the services are afforded  at Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu etc. with reference to the web.

Now! What is 'palliative care'? Admittedly it's new at least here. It has taken us on a short trip to Australia and especially to Canberra ACT to know about it. That too since we were visiting a close friend who is being attended for 'cancer' by her physician thus helping us to realize the services given by  'hospice' and 'palliative care'. Both words refer specifically to cancer and cancer care. Be that as it may, it has enriched us and made us aware of such services and their availability in all countries including Malaysia.

Playground for the youngsters who come to see their elders. There are also jogging tracks by the lakes for those who care to  exercise.

It is paramount that we learn about them less we may not be able to help the needy or sick when such important or crucial service is required. Likewise surely without visiting hospitals, we too may not know the full extensions of its services and being updated with facilities available. 

Cancer cries out in newspapers, magazines, electronic media etc.People suffer in silence, arrested by its calamity and only to be told of its implications by specialists and physicians. Its seriousness depended in degrees and stages. I am not about to focus on this but more on the two terminologies above and of what we saw during our visit to Clare Holland Home, a palliative care centre at Calvary in Canberra. Opportunities come to us in many forms, yet this one has to take us out of the country.

            Facilities for bbq and enjoying valuable time with the patient or resident at the home  

Palliative care is defined as a concept for patients living with advanced incurable cancer. The word is derived from Latin 'pallium' meaning 'cloak' or 'mask' and the aim would be to cover or mask the distressing pain symptoms associated  with advanced cancer and improving the quality of life for the patients and the family. Easier said than done for caring for the sick as anyone knows is no easy task. Any patient or family that gets to be cared at a hospice like the one we visited can be grateful. Its facilities and services promised the full task as offered. What more it is free of charge.

Built on a location next to a lake providing a serene and peaceful calm with facilities you would expect of a hotel or an exclusive home, any patient would be happy to be cared there more so when family members can be around to assist and help. The two reference below will assist:

http://www.normah,com.my/aboutus.location

http://www.hospismalaysia.org/

The hospice by the lake at Calvary Canberra

            An interior view of one of the room for the resident equipped with the necessary facilities

A parting look at Clare Holland Home for palliative care will help to show directions where hospice has progressed and heading. As much as our hospitalization benefits and services have progressed, continuing programs  in health care and medical services will move forward. Improved facilities and changes in other parts of the world help to provide us better medical and health care. In one instance recently Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad commented in his blog of the hospital service at home when he was discharged from the hospital in Melbourne. He alluded to such a service that comes with a developed status of a country. Malaysia too is on its way to reach for that status. Then we will be glad to enjoy the facilities.

At Clare Holland Home Calvary Canberra ACT down under two days before the count down for 2011 while visiting a friend and his family

STREET ENTERTAINERS AT YOUR SERVICE

What do you call them?  Entertainers? Guest Artists? or pure hard working people surviving for their upkeep and daily chores?

Go to any country in the world you will see them in the streets, in the tunnels and subways where people moved about in their daily works. They help in an unexpected way to make our stressed and tired feet lighter with their music and sound. You may not stop to listen or care about their presence there. Yet at times you are pulled by the crowd that gathered, halted in their tracks to find the antics of these entertainers who helped to make the street scenes peculiar yet surprisingly lively and entertaining.

A few days back we were entertained gratis of course by this Japanese lad who professionally played the guitar and the harmonica with gusture and skill. Certainly the crowd along one of Melbourne's famous street had a good break while out doing their shopping or just enjoying the warm summer weather. It was particularly a busy day, the fourth day of the New Year with shops in the city offering summer sales and discounts . Tired feet earned a good break as we stood a while enjoying sound and music from a roaming musician. Yet he has recorded disks for sale as well while of course pleased with the contributions from donors as they throw their coins and notes into his guitar casing. He will be there the next day or he may moved on to other cities continuing to bring good music and sound.        

The next time you are in the city gaze around or feel free to hear sweet sound floating by and you will surely meet the street entertainers. Kuala Lumpur itself is not short of supply of our street entertainers.

IT'S THE YEAR END AND WELCOME 2011

WE HAVE OF COURSE gone through 2010 leaving only the next three days for its completion. Three days or 72 hours to go before the world vibrates with the merry shout of "HAPPY NEW YEAR". Will it be so? Or will it reserve happenings that shutters the world as in the past? One immediate clamour will be only tomorrow evening when the Suzuki Cup sees its final in Jakarta. If Malaysia wins, then 2011 will help to usher in a new spirit in Malaysia's football comeback as Asia's power house when once we were there. What of Sepaktakraw? Badminton sees a strong promise but younger shutters have to come forth.

On the political background another bi-election is on the way and maybe the national one is close on its track too. Won't that make 2011 a decisive one which ever way you look at it.

Right now we are on track to the capital city of Australia. No not for holidaying but to visit a family friend whose wife is not in the pink of health. Linkages and friendship are hard to find and once found they have to be kept and uphold. In this respect it is circumspect that we heed the advice of none other but prophet Muhammad saw himself " the rights of one Muslim over another are SIX .... when you meet him, you greet him with the salam ( i.e to say "Assalammualikum...; when he invites you, you accept his invitation, when he consults you in a matter, you give hm advice; when he sneezes and praises God, you ask God to have mercy on him, when he is sick, you visit him and when he passes away you accompany him (through the funeral).

In this Prophet narration we find true Muslim is encouraged with concern for his brother in Islam during the three phases of his worldly existence: his health, sickness and death.

Let this be a parting aside as we say farewell to 2010 and welcome the new year (1432 H) and (2011 M) with concord and lustre.

( better late than never  for reason of computer glitches when away from home 5/1/2011)