A broken fibula and a porch full of rice

Today my porch was full of food items for the flood victims. Chew had kindly put up 2 canopies in my driveway in case it rains. We received RM27,000.00 worth of food contributions from the Rotary Clubs in Kuala Lumpur today, that helped us feed 626 families today. I am so elated by that, actually. My left foot became so swollen today, maybe I've been moving around too much in my crutches today, trying to ensure the packing of food bags were done according to plan. There were at least 20 -25 people in my driveway packing the goods so disorganisation was best avoided at the rate we were going. These food items must go out today, there was no way we could just store them in my driveway overnight.

It went well, the finale being Ravi, Chew, Chan and Richard going to Mentakab Indah to distribute food bags to 250 families and came home buzzing with what they described to be a moment not to be missed. There were hungry people in line, in all races (Malay,Indian and Chinese) queueing up to receive the bags and thanking profusely as they have not eaten in days. It was a heartfelt situation and I'm glad we all did our part..

Water,water everywhere...

It is the rainy season in East Coast Malaysia again. Temerloh is now flooded to the brim. Mentakab town has never been more like Venice than ever before. I broke my leg 2 weeks ago. It's not right to say that it is such a bad time to have a broken leg but if it had not been so, I would be able to go and see the places affected by the floods by myself without having to rely on others to take me around in their vehicles. Managed to group up with my other Rotary friends and went sending rice, biscuits, instant noodles and mineral water to the victims at the relief centre in the Tamil Primary School and Abu Bakar Primary School in Mentakab. The victims in the Tamil Primary School seemed highly strung and it was not surprising - the government social department forgot about them and we were told that most of the food supplies donated were either from NGOs or individuals. The local member of parliament had not been seen visiting them and that got them really mad.

I heard the next day that the group from the National Front (ruling party) were sent packing when they showed their faces at the relief centre. Lesson learnt: When natural disaster hits, get organised quickly.

Pak Sako

I decided to grab a book from the uppermost shelf of the cabinet in my bedroom last night. I bought it at least a year ago at a very cheap price. The bookshop was getting rid of its old stock, if I remember correctly. I bought it really for the name printed on it - Pak Sako. It was not a book written by him but more of a collection of his writings by a young editor. As I read the foreword by Professor Ungku Aziz, I realised that the earlier generation had a way of not overly commending someone, yet, as you read through their words, it would then be very apparent that they actually thought very highly of the person referred to. Simple and subtle.
It was a book of compilations. I've barely read half of the book as I write this but I thought that before it escapes me, I really must jot down my very few experiences meeting Pak Sako when I was still a child.
I don't remember whether I was already living in this little town called Temerloh or if I was there for a weekend visit with my father, before we actually moved to the town from Kuala Lumpur. All I remember, I was brought by my father to a small park in the middle of town, which is now next to the Syariah Court in Temerloh, and that was where poetry reading took place that day. I was curious, as I had never been to a poetry reading event and even more so, one which was held in the Malay Language.
We were gathered in the park, all tucked in a corner, seated on the grass and Pak Sako started reciting some poetic verses. I doubt I understood much of it then.. I don't really remember. But I remember being introduced to him. He seemed to know my father well and when he was told that I only had my first encounter of the Malay Language after the age of 5 (unlike other Malay girls during that time), he then started asking me a lot of questions about my likes and dislikes. He even asked me whether I could write short stories. I think I told him it wasn't a problem, then I fled, before he could ask me to write one!
A short encounter, but it certainly got me, 30 years later, to buy the book and read again what Pak Sako once penned down to make history..

On Justice

"Not only must justice be done - it must be paid to be done."

This sign is stuck on the wall next to my desk at work. A friendly reminder to all my clients who think that they can get away with making me work for them for peanuts or none at all. If there is some service to be done for the public, let me have the choice. No one should get a freebie these days unless they are eligible for it, or if I wish to give the freebie to them. Otherwise, vamooze.