The Special Children....

The happening last Sunday, the 26th of March ... Our Club [Kelab Volvo Klasik] was invited by the Community Service Network Selangor [CNS] to take part in a charity do..Taking part in a Special Children weekend program for lunch at Port Klang, the port city of Malaysia... There are many restaurants that served Sea Foods along the bank of the Klang river and one of these many restaurant was selected to be the venue for this special lunch do for these special kids... About hundreds of these special kids made up of the Down Syndrome, Autistic, the deft and dump and other handicap children from various school around Kuala Lumpur was selected to attend this lunch... We were to provide our classic cars and give them all that special ride to today's lunch...We were not the only club that was invited to this do, there were others from other classic and vintage car clubs were invited as well.. We were told to gather at the Gazebo, at Subang Jaya, a suburban outside Kuala Lumpur, in the state of Selangor.. We left home as just eight in the morning and drove in the drizzle and as there were not that many cars on this Sunday morning, we got to our destination just in time...Already there were many classic Volvo and cars of other made in all the color of the rainbow.. After parking the car, together with my spouse we went to meet the others and then sat to have the usual Teh Tarik and Roti Canai, my favorite and chat along while waiting for the program to start....

We registered ourselves and then proceed with the beginning of this wonderful Sunday tour...Soon these special kids were allotted into the various cars and I took three of them and one of their teacher..A young lady by the name of Jessy..A graduate of UPM and in that young age were already happy doing here jobs of helping these wonderful special kids...The convoy started to move and as we go along I chat with this teacher, intercept with that of my spouse..We talk of the many problem faces by these teachers and that according to her the parents of these children must play a greater role in the education of these children...I really admire the determinations of this young teacher, who happen to be a mother of two regular children herself... She talk like it was just normal in taking care of these children, whereas we knew that it was not an easy job...She look happy to do her part.. As we are both of her parent's age, we talk of the need for the younger generation to contribute effectively to the society and then when they are of our age, would then be able to reflect of the beautiful days we have had when we were at her age...She told us that in their spare time, She with her spouse and the two kids, a boy and a girl would go on a tour of the country and enjoy the holiday together...She say working with these handicap children make her realized how fortunate were they of have their own kids in perfect condition...She say that she enjoy doing her parts in helping these special children...I believed that only those people that have the kind of heart could handle this difficult job of giving education to these special children...She ask us how come we are in this program.. I told her that at this period of our life, we love to give and taking part in today's program is a way to give back to the society...For my spouse and me giving is the Order of the day...So we would continue to give and this time we are giving our time and the space of opportunity to these children in providing the transport to these special children to this lunch do today...We did just enjoy doing just that...In a way it is a pay back to the society for all that we got in all those years of our life...As I had often said our journey of live continue to be interesting, thus adding more color to our life.. We are really enjoying the journey....

We drove on and eventually arrived at the venue of the lunch, the children got out of the cars and move on into the restaurant and take their places...A well organized lots..Each group in their own color T-shirts...The were live music and singing going on adding a sorts of a carnival atmosphere to the scene..Then there the KaraOke set, where the unknown singer would try their best to ape the singing as though they are the pro. As usual it started with the speeches and then they all were invited to lunch... These children patiently took their lunch, a buffet style and then went to sit at their respect tables..Then follow with us the adults. And soon the children were invited to participate on stage with the band in attendance playing the music..They most probably had planned this events and present it at its best..It was indeed a colorful scene on stage, with the kids and a few adults dancing to the tune of the music...Indeed a hilarious scene. We all watch the show and laugh our way with the performance of these special children...It went on and on and eventually it end with a speech of thanks from the organizing committee.. Well we did enjoy being part of the carnival of a sorts for these Special Children...And with that we drove back with the children and dispersed at the place where we started this morning... Indeed my spouse and me did enjoy the day and happy that we joins in the project...A colorful Sunday indeed.[Images above are the happening on that day].[the images below shows members of the KVK at the Gazebo before leaving for Klang]

Roti Canai and Teh Tarik....

I was at the KLCC the other day and been alone I browse along and eventually found this set of Malaysian favorite breakfast at one of the stall at the Food Court on the upper level, the Ampang side of the Mall... The Roti Canai and Teh Tarik [Malaysian pan cake or pizza and Tea with condensed milk] is a favorite small meal for breakfast or at tea/coffee break of Malaysian, especially in the morning....Hungry I sat to sample this favorite of mine... It cost just RM2.20, less then a dollar [RM.3.80 = US$1.00]. This wonderful food combination was introduced to this country by the Indian Moslem who migrated to this country in the early twentieth century or the late nineteen century.. Now the other Malaysian have inherited this and now could be found at most stalls all over the country...Well the next time you are around in this part of the world do try this nutritious complete Malaysian breakfast... Have a nice day.

Ken Orrill...Goodbye my dear friend....

As usual in a case like this it is just too difficult to write..And because I felt that it is important I put these thoughts in writing for all to read,I am forcing myself to write this... Well it all start like this... I was surfing the net late at night last Monday and as usual got lost of times in cyberspace.. As I was in the midst of reading an interesting site..I notice an incoming email from my Gmail Messenger..I glimpsed at it and saw a message from the address of my dear friend from the UK...I quickly open the Gmail window and look for the mail and this time the mail is not from the person himself but from his daughter...I read this mail..And suddenly felt the pang of sadness and sank on my seat feeling so sad..That follow with been depressed...I felt really bad and sick with the news of the passing of my dear friend Ken Orill or I normally call him as Paken...I froze in front of my monitor and just do not know what to do...My spouse was already sound asleep...So I thought that I shall wait when she is awake and inform her of this news. I then continue to sit there reflecting of the great moments We have had together during all the years of our friendship, whenever He is here in Malaysia or at the time when We spend our holiday in the UK..With him traveling in south England...So many memories came to my mind and it makes me cry the passing of this friend of mine..I took a pause and took a book to read and left the computer idle.. I sat in front of my TV...It is past midnight and watch the news on BBC, CNN and the other channels, flicking the channels, just watch with my mind somewhere else...I continue to feel the pang of sadness that I had never felt before whenever some friends of my generation pass away...But this time it is different..This friend is special...He die in a land far away in the UK and here I am in the east in my country Malaysia mourning the death of a friend, once a complete stranger..Well at this age loosing friend in death is expected but then with this news of his depart I simply felt different...

I just sat there in front of the TV with a book in my hand and whilst away the time, and replay the scene of the good times that we have had in all those years the we had known each other...I have written before of how we met in 1989 on a ferry ship [Ferry Malaysia] that ply the states of Sarawak, Sabah and the Peninsular Malaysia....Me and the Family was on the ship and He was there alone...Two strangers met on the China sea and became friend and from there on we continue to keep in touch first by letters and then by emails...He would come to Malaysia regularly and stayed for months at time. Most of his time here he would stayed at his foster son's home in PJ.. And He would call and we would meet, have lunch, tour the city and spend the time at my home sometime the whole day,with my spouse preparing lunch, tea or coffee...My home was like his and he love it and in every email he would mentioned my spouse and send greeting to her...The visits and the email kept us close, we joke, exchange serious thoughts. He read a lot and at time I am amazed with the knowledge that he had accumulated all these years... And since I start to write blog, he would read it regularly, sometime I write about him, when I notice the email slow in coming...I knew he was sick, so maybe he was is hospital or just resting and had not the time to write...Anyway when my thought is with him, I would get an email, a long one at time..So it was like that all the time...Last year He said he was rather sick and once well would try to make a visit to Malaysia, a country he love, for he was here OHM Service as a soldier when the country Malaya was a British colony.. He did service fighting the communist insurgent in Malaya and for that I told him time and again how grateful we were to those young British who were here, in a country infested with mosquito fighting a common enemy, the communist...Well that is history but he kept coming here year after year and at one time was contemplating of settling here for good and I offered to provided him the roof if ever he did that...Well whenever He is here we met...So our meeting each other actually never end...In the real world and in cyberspace...

And last year he wrote that He could not make it this year. I knew He was real sick and once that confirmed that he could not come to Malaysia last year...I pack a parcel of things He like and posted it...And then an email arrived saying that in his word.."The Santa Claus arrived late this year"..He was happy and delighted to received the parcel of gift and of course I was delighted too....Happy that He got the parcel a week after I posted it from Kuala Lumpur...As usual we kept emailing and then I notice that the email began to be delay in arriving... But I was not that concern for I knew he was sick and once He is OK, he would write again..And than this email came. Suddenly I lost a great friend..Call to the Lord...A person that I shall remember the rest of my life...A really Good friend for I always treasure my friendship...Once He told me that our chance meeting on that Ferry Ship was a sort of a destiny...He say it in Malay " adakah pertemuan kita itu satu takdir"..He knew how to read and write in Malay and I laugh at time the Malay he wrote but then it is like that with us old folks, some things that we say could just make us laugh..And in that it colored our life as well...So it was a destiny that we met on that Ferry Ship [Ferry Malaysia] on the China Sea and now He is no more with us...Call to the Lord...So Paken, Goodbye my dear friend, I know you had a great life..I pray that your soul Rest in Peace and that you would find a place in Heaven...Amen.

In Her email to me His daughter Maxine, among other this wrote this:-

Dear friend,

I am sorry to have to tell you that my father Ken Orrill, died last Friday.... He died peacefully in his sleep.......
His Funeral will take place on Tuesday 21st March at Gilrose Crematorium, Groby Road Leicester at 1.00 p m and a reception at The Ale Wagon Charles street Leicester after the Funeral.
Any floral tributes to Mildred's Undertakers, Leicester Road Wigston.

My condolence to Her and the Family....

Of professor and University....

Well of late there are many new developments in the process of democracy in this country and here is another interesting recent development....

Of Marina Mahathir musing...

Here is a great article by her, as usual full of great thoughts...I commend her for this well articulate thoughts... Have a nice day.

A brand new kind of patriot...

Friends.. Since blogging came our way a few years ago, the number of Malaysian Blogs have increased beyond expectation..As I had said time and again for Malaysian, blogging is a godsend tools for them to share their thoughts with other Malaysian and the world as well..Before Blogging, an evolution of the internet there are no other ways for Malaysian to share their thoughts that wide..Of course there are other venues like the local newspapers but than the space are limited and are subjected of been edited before publishing..With blogging anyone could post their thoughts in any subjects they choose and it is only up to them to be wise in using the freedom of expression, so as not to get into trouble with the authority...Freedom of expression in Malaysia is not the same as in the west for we have a history that we have to take into account, lest we would be caught in areas that we are not allowed to touch or as yet be allowed to dwell with for now...We are a multi racial, multi religious and multicultural country...A situation we inherit from the colonial master.. It is a reality and we should not lament on it..We all should accept it as our assets rather then liabilities..For varieties are the essence of life...Making it more colorful as ever...We are a very young country, just forty nine years old, and in history forty nine years is a very short time indeed...Given the time and the kind of pace that we are developing, we would all surely get what we want especially in that so called freedom of speech...In the word of an advertiser Malaysia truly Asia, let us be proud of what we are... Time would tell...

Our founding father choose to create a secular multi racial country of what Malaysia is today. And no one could change that...There are elements in the society like all societies are, who are trying to create their own type of culture in the country but as we know too well that culture is something that evolve and not created... Blogging is part of the tool that would help to contribute toward that process of cultural development. With blogging and the borderless world of the internet dissemination of information have never been that easy..In a way Blogging get more exposures than even the mainstream Malaysian Newspapers...I try not to write on politic or religion but because these two factors are part and parcel of our daily life,I have from time to time do write on these subjects..Otherwise my posting are just my journal of the happening in my life as I journey on in my golden age...Today young Malaysian of my children's generation have taken to blogging like duck to the water and a few have gone beyond the imagination of my generation, gone to places that no Malaysian have gone before in pursue of the freedom of speech...Blogging have given us that freedom to share our thoughts as we like it and in the way we like it done..

For visitors to my blog, here are some blogs that have makes waves in not only in the Malaysian scene but the world as well..From the little that I know of the writers of these blogs, are Young Malaysian with grade education, intelligent, well articulate and care much about this beloved country Malaysia...In a way they are a sort of patriots.. Remember the pen is still mightier then the sword...Here are a few of the blogs that I visit from time to time: Brand new Malaysian, Screenshots.., Aisehman, Politics 101 Malaysia, Volume of Interactions There are others of course and I shall introduce it all in due course...In the meantime do visit this blogs if you want to understand how these new generation of Malaysian think of their country Malaysia... Remember these Malaysian Bloggers are children born after independence in 1957 and because of the country political and economic stability they have managed to get a better education than that of my generation. I am indeed proud that my generation have directly or indirectly produce these generation of Malaysian, the generation of my children...

All throughout out my career with the government I have directly or indirectly involved in social engineering programs of the country and know very well that in social engineering that are no given formula to follow...We create programs for social changes and today in a way that programs have produce result..In that Malaysian like these bloggers are part of the continuing process of the social change that are happening in this country...My generations who pioneered the road toward a better Malaysia have done our job and now it is the time of these generation of Malaysian to do their...Some might like what they are doing and some might not but that is normal in a country...This country have develop faster than any other countries in this region to become today a country that have provide for its people more than what our founder promised some fifty years ago...The first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman promise us...This is what He say in one of his famous speech in the early days of our independence..." We would provide housing not barrack, food instead of rations and clothing instead of uniform ".. In less then fifty years we all got more then we were promised..Of course we want more..That is the human in us. Being human is nothing wrong...

The Ministry of Information Malaysia who now have a new Leadership in the form of a veteran journalist with vast experiences in politic, surely would want to know and get feedback from the ordinary Malaysian as to what are the thinking of the Malaysian at large and what better ways are there then these blogs, written by Malaysian with Malaysian centric in their approach...These bloggers are sons and daughters of this beloved country...We call Malaysia...Nation building have never been easy, surely inputs from these bloggers would do more good than harm..Let do it in the spirit of Malaysia Boleh!...

Have a nice day...

The year 1896

Last Sunday while waiting for the others to arrived at the Dataran Merdeka I took these images of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building A historical building adjacent the Independence Square...It was built in 1893 and completed in 1896....Now a historical landmark of Kuala Lumpur.