Ramadhan is over, Hari Raya is over and now it's time for Devali celebration for those who celebrate it. Year-end is always about festivals. I've not had any postings here since August. Sometimes, I just don't feel like posting anything. Sometimes, I have no mood for anything at all. Has life become that dull and meaningless??
I supposed I was happier during ramadhan, due to happier, calmer and 'insaf' mood among people around me. Sometimes, one could be really sensitive to their surrounding. Like myself, a liitle change in my partner's mood can sometimes spoil mine for the whole day. And Partner's mood changes all the time. So, go figure...!
Father and Mother were over at my place for a couple of days in late August before Ramadhan. We went to visit my cousin in Sekinchan...I liked the trip. It sort of took us out of our little cocoon.
Am's started a new job, back in the industry he had been in before his last job. Working long hours on week days, weekends and public holidays, including Hari Raya and whatever raya that comes after it. He started after we came back from a one-week leave during fasting month in Terengganu. Due to that, we didn't have the chance to be with our parents in Malacca during ramadhan, the first time, since we tied the knot in 2002. I still feel bad about this. To make it worse, until now, we still don't have the opportunity (or don't make time) to visit them.
We celebrated Hari Raya in Port Dickson, a choice made by my in-laws, due to certain 'hurtful' reasons. Also because of Am's new job, we didn't spend much time together with our family. I was really angry with him, for not negotiating hard enough on this. I felt there was always room for discussions and negotiations on when one wants to start a new job. Definitely, not in the middle of the month!
We were back in KL on the second raya. The children and I flew back to Terengganu on the fourth of Hari Raya, also the first time for Am not to celebrate raya with my parents. We were there for four or five days and returned to KL onboard an extra bus. The kids were behaving at first ... maybe due to the cough syrup that I gave them the fell asleep right away after we boarded the bus. It was peace and quiet until we left Kuantan. Then it was 'chaos' as usual. My children ... as usual..!
The moment we reached Putra station and saw Am, I felt so relief. Maybe that would be my last trip by bus, not until they know how to behave!
Now life is back as usual. Not much happening... it's like you are driving on a long straight road that has no end. You don't know your destination. errr... maybe you know where you want to stop, but somehow, you never get there. So, you keep driving the long, straight and endless road.....
Sometimes, when I wake up in the morning, I feel really excited, like something exciting is going to happen. But when I really think about it, nothing interesting is due that day. Then I tell myself, still being alive and well - the children, my partner and I - is a good reason enough to celebrate life and be happy. I keep telling myself to keep learning to appreciate, to be thankful, to love, to forgive, sometimes to forget, to accept, to ... bla...bla...bla...
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
For The Record
I have been very lazy these days. Also, I'm so into Mafia Wars in the Internet that I hardly surf anything else whenever I'm online. That game could get really addictive!
Still, I have to update a few things. Here not only the place to vent anger and frustration or untuk 'syok sendiri', but also to place 'important' events which I may forget later as I become ancient and forgetful. It's also like a log book or a diary. I even refer to my older posts when deciding whose kampung we should go back to for raya celebration.
So, what have we up to for the past month?
July 31-Aug 1 - We were back in Malacca. Mother- and Father-in-law had a solat hajat and small kenduri. The guess was Ustaz Badrulamin. Quite many people turned up, also to give their support to our 'cause' - Stop the 70- over-hectare commercial memorial project being built in the kampung. We realise we are losing the 'battle'. But we believe we have done our best. When we look back later, we know, at least we have fought against it. Anyway, It's not the end yet. Who knows Allah has some good news for us... we're still hopeful...
July 18-19: We had a family gathering in Port Dickson, the nearest place where most of us could go. The cousins spent most of the time in the pool (the only attraction in the place, pity..!) and the beach, while the grown-ups were either busy looking after the children or talking and updating on what we had missed. I was not feeling well, down with cough and cold. But A and Sy were happy as usual.
June 4-June 14: School holidays and I was given a leave from work. We were in Terengganu for about 8 days. Sy was 'gifted' with chicken pox. Or was it just measles? But being a happy-go-lucky and active child, he was lasak as usual. A was at her Mak Su's house all the time. I notice, every time we go home, Malacca or Terengganu, we always have trouble disciplining them ... hopeless!.
Nephew Fakh had 'grown up tremendously', he spoke and played better. Fakh reminds me of Bro Z, his father, in his baby days. Fair, chubby, manja and ganas at the same time. Didn't get to meet Bro M and his family though, because he was buzy completing his site project. Insyaallah, I hope we catch each other during the next school holiday.
Now, A is back to school as usual. After school, she and Sy spend the rest of their day at home fighting, crying and playing at the same time and messing up the house. Sometimes, they can get really noisy, like there are more than 10 children in the house. Oh, I have learnt to ignore the noises and the mess so well, like I don't care much anymore if the house is like 'tongkang pecah'. I tidy up when I have the time and energy. I realise I can't be that 'proper', else, there is no more fun in life. As it is, our life has not been that 'smooth and easy'. So I better be 'easy' with how life turns out for us.
If it's up to me, there are so many things I want to complain about. The list is endless. But I realise my complaints have not changed much of things, so I guess I better try to shut up more often and...
ENJOY LIFE while it unfolds its mysteries!
p/s: Yay ... Parents are coming down this Sunday.
Still, I have to update a few things. Here not only the place to vent anger and frustration or untuk 'syok sendiri', but also to place 'important' events which I may forget later as I become ancient and forgetful. It's also like a log book or a diary. I even refer to my older posts when deciding whose kampung we should go back to for raya celebration.
So, what have we up to for the past month?
July 31-Aug 1 - We were back in Malacca. Mother- and Father-in-law had a solat hajat and small kenduri. The guess was Ustaz Badrulamin. Quite many people turned up, also to give their support to our 'cause' - Stop the 70- over-hectare commercial memorial project being built in the kampung. We realise we are losing the 'battle'. But we believe we have done our best. When we look back later, we know, at least we have fought against it. Anyway, It's not the end yet. Who knows Allah has some good news for us... we're still hopeful...
July 18-19: We had a family gathering in Port Dickson, the nearest place where most of us could go. The cousins spent most of the time in the pool (the only attraction in the place, pity..!) and the beach, while the grown-ups were either busy looking after the children or talking and updating on what we had missed. I was not feeling well, down with cough and cold. But A and Sy were happy as usual.
June 4-June 14: School holidays and I was given a leave from work. We were in Terengganu for about 8 days. Sy was 'gifted' with chicken pox. Or was it just measles? But being a happy-go-lucky and active child, he was lasak as usual. A was at her Mak Su's house all the time. I notice, every time we go home, Malacca or Terengganu, we always have trouble disciplining them ... hopeless!.
Nephew Fakh had 'grown up tremendously', he spoke and played better. Fakh reminds me of Bro Z, his father, in his baby days. Fair, chubby, manja and ganas at the same time. Didn't get to meet Bro M and his family though, because he was buzy completing his site project. Insyaallah, I hope we catch each other during the next school holiday.
Now, A is back to school as usual. After school, she and Sy spend the rest of their day at home fighting, crying and playing at the same time and messing up the house. Sometimes, they can get really noisy, like there are more than 10 children in the house. Oh, I have learnt to ignore the noises and the mess so well, like I don't care much anymore if the house is like 'tongkang pecah'. I tidy up when I have the time and energy. I realise I can't be that 'proper', else, there is no more fun in life. As it is, our life has not been that 'smooth and easy'. So I better be 'easy' with how life turns out for us.
If it's up to me, there are so many things I want to complain about. The list is endless. But I realise my complaints have not changed much of things, so I guess I better try to shut up more often and...
ENJOY LIFE while it unfolds its mysteries!
p/s: Yay ... Parents are coming down this Sunday.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Finally They've Come To Their Sense
Yay... finally the government decided to do away with PPSMI! Our policymakers finally came to their sense. After the first batch of the PPSMI project completes 'the trial and error' next year, the teaching of mathematics and science will be reverted back to Bahasa Malaysia and other mother tongues in 2012.
So much debates, pros and contras. The reality is English proficiency can't be acquired through mathematics and science, and mathematics and science are so very important subjects to be 'sacrificed' for English.
What the supporters of the PPSMI refuse to understand is that people ARE NOT AGAINST English. They are against the teaching of mathematics and science in English. English remains an important language. But it should be learned in English language classes so that our children would learn proper and correct English. The government just has to make sure that these classes are taught efficiently by qualified and best-trained English teachers.
But Bahasa Malaysia or Bahasa Melayu is what makes us Malaysians.
The story is below;
Science and Math in Bahasa and Mother tongue in 2012
PUTRAJAYA, July 8 (Bernama) -- The teaching and learning of science and mathematics in national schools will revert to the Malay language effective 2012.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the teaching and learning of the two subjects in Chinese and Tamil national-type schools would be carried out in their respective mother tongue.
Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, said the cabinet today approved the suggestion by the ministry to empower the Malay language and strengthen the teaching and learning of the English language at all levels of schooling.
"This strategy was drawn up based on the study and monitoring carried out by the Education Ministry on the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English since the policy was implemented in 2003," he said when making the announcement at the Education Ministry, here on Wednesday. The first group of students who studied science and mathematics in the English language since Year One sat for their Ujian Penilian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) last year.
Muhyiddin said the implementation of the policy of using the Malay language in the teaching of the two subjects would be carried out in stages in Year One and Year Four in the primary school and Form One and Form Four in the secondary school beginning in 2012. However, he said, the change would not involve students in Form Six and matriculation class.
He said in order to ensure that the implementation of the new strategy did not affect the achievement of students who were taught the two subjects in English, the teaching of and examination for the two subjects would be conducted in both languages until the last batch of students who were taught in English completed in 2014.
He said the government made the decision after scrutinising the outcome of studies and surveys carried out on the teaching and learning of the two subjects in English which showed that it could not be implemented as desired."What is implemented is the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English/Malay languages," he said.
Muhyiddin said monitoring by the ministry last year found that only a small group of teachers were using English language fully in the teaching of science and mathematics."On the average, the percentage of English usage is between 53 and 58 per cent out of the total time allotted for science and mathematics," he said.
In addition, he said, only a small group of mathematics and science teachers in secondary and primary schools who took the English language Proficiency Level Evaluation test last year achieved the proficiency level. He said the precentage of students who scored grades A, B, and C for the science subject in the UPSR last year had dropped from 85.1 per cent to 82.5 per cent for the urban schools and from 83.2 per cent to 79.7 per cent for rural schools.
"For mathematics, the achievement of urban schools dropped from 84.8 per cent to 80.9 per cent while the achievement of rural students dropped from 80.9 per cent to 77 per cent," he said.
He said the gap in achievement between urban and rural schools in science and mathematics was becoming wider when the PPSMI (teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English) was implemented.
Muhyiddin said the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study 2007 also stated that the position of Malaysian students in the science subject had deteriorated from the 20th spot in 2003 to the 21st spot in 2007. "For mathematics, the position of our students deteriorated from the 10th spot in 2003 to 20th spot in 2007," he said.
He said studies by local universities revealed that the level of improvement in the command of the English language by students was nominal, that is, not more than 3 per cent throughout the implementation of the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English. "The command of the English language among students, particularly in the rural areas, was still low making it difficult for them to understand the teaching of mathematics and science in English," Muhyiddin said.
Based on this observation, he said, the government was convinced that science and mathematics must be taught in the language that could be easily understood by the students, namely Bahasa Malaysia in the national schools, Chinese in the national-type Chinese schools and Tamil in the national-type Tamil schools. - Bernama
So much debates, pros and contras. The reality is English proficiency can't be acquired through mathematics and science, and mathematics and science are so very important subjects to be 'sacrificed' for English.
What the supporters of the PPSMI refuse to understand is that people ARE NOT AGAINST English. They are against the teaching of mathematics and science in English. English remains an important language. But it should be learned in English language classes so that our children would learn proper and correct English. The government just has to make sure that these classes are taught efficiently by qualified and best-trained English teachers.
But Bahasa Malaysia or Bahasa Melayu is what makes us Malaysians.
The story is below;
Science and Math in Bahasa and Mother tongue in 2012
PUTRAJAYA, July 8 (Bernama) -- The teaching and learning of science and mathematics in national schools will revert to the Malay language effective 2012.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the teaching and learning of the two subjects in Chinese and Tamil national-type schools would be carried out in their respective mother tongue.
Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, said the cabinet today approved the suggestion by the ministry to empower the Malay language and strengthen the teaching and learning of the English language at all levels of schooling.
"This strategy was drawn up based on the study and monitoring carried out by the Education Ministry on the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English since the policy was implemented in 2003," he said when making the announcement at the Education Ministry, here on Wednesday. The first group of students who studied science and mathematics in the English language since Year One sat for their Ujian Penilian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) last year.
Muhyiddin said the implementation of the policy of using the Malay language in the teaching of the two subjects would be carried out in stages in Year One and Year Four in the primary school and Form One and Form Four in the secondary school beginning in 2012. However, he said, the change would not involve students in Form Six and matriculation class.
He said in order to ensure that the implementation of the new strategy did not affect the achievement of students who were taught the two subjects in English, the teaching of and examination for the two subjects would be conducted in both languages until the last batch of students who were taught in English completed in 2014.
He said the government made the decision after scrutinising the outcome of studies and surveys carried out on the teaching and learning of the two subjects in English which showed that it could not be implemented as desired."What is implemented is the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English/Malay languages," he said.
Muhyiddin said monitoring by the ministry last year found that only a small group of teachers were using English language fully in the teaching of science and mathematics."On the average, the percentage of English usage is between 53 and 58 per cent out of the total time allotted for science and mathematics," he said.
In addition, he said, only a small group of mathematics and science teachers in secondary and primary schools who took the English language Proficiency Level Evaluation test last year achieved the proficiency level. He said the precentage of students who scored grades A, B, and C for the science subject in the UPSR last year had dropped from 85.1 per cent to 82.5 per cent for the urban schools and from 83.2 per cent to 79.7 per cent for rural schools.
"For mathematics, the achievement of urban schools dropped from 84.8 per cent to 80.9 per cent while the achievement of rural students dropped from 80.9 per cent to 77 per cent," he said.
He said the gap in achievement between urban and rural schools in science and mathematics was becoming wider when the PPSMI (teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English) was implemented.
Muhyiddin said the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study 2007 also stated that the position of Malaysian students in the science subject had deteriorated from the 20th spot in 2003 to the 21st spot in 2007. "For mathematics, the position of our students deteriorated from the 10th spot in 2003 to 20th spot in 2007," he said.
He said studies by local universities revealed that the level of improvement in the command of the English language by students was nominal, that is, not more than 3 per cent throughout the implementation of the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English. "The command of the English language among students, particularly in the rural areas, was still low making it difficult for them to understand the teaching of mathematics and science in English," Muhyiddin said.
Based on this observation, he said, the government was convinced that science and mathematics must be taught in the language that could be easily understood by the students, namely Bahasa Malaysia in the national schools, Chinese in the national-type Chinese schools and Tamil in the national-type Tamil schools. - Bernama
Monday, July 06, 2009
What's Moved The Cheese
Things that have moved 'some cheese' in the past few days/weeks.
- A movie titled 'Changeling'. About a mother who lost his son; the Los Angeles police force who was arrogant, stupid, very inefficient and mistreated civilians; a cool-blooded psycho who killed children, justice which had finally prevailed; kind-hearted people who went extra miles to help out; and HOPE ... hope that keeps people alive.
- A couple of hundred ringgits pay rise. Alhamdulillah.
- Meeting back old friends. It's like bringing more cheers to one's life. Everybody needs friends.
- Registering Sy at a Kemas kindergarten. He'll be 5 next year. The plan will be similar to that of her sister. One year at Kemas and another year at a private kindy. He's really looking forward to going to school. Attaboy!
- I gave in to my urge (rights) to being 'vocal' again. Bad, bad, bad .... :( . Why can't I just keep it all to myself and just endure, like anybody else? (do they have to endure???) Our life is not all that rosy, but it's not totally lousy. Should have learnt to be more grateful. Slap myself silly!
- Mother bought a new washing machine. How would that affect me much? Well ..it would make my life easier when I go back home. FaMa had been a huge fan of manual washing machines for as long as I've known them. One manual washing machine down, they bought another manual, and then another manual. Now that they have embraced 'technology', I'm happy... ngeh...ngeh...ngeh.
- A few of my seniors have been promoted big time. They are now called "big bosses". They have been working very hard, so they deserve the promotion. Perhaps, till I move to other places, I shall probably remain as the Queen of Deadwood... isk, isk, isk.
- A sister-in-law is expecting a 'small fresh living thingy' in her family by February or March. Oh, I can hear my biological is ticking... tick, tock, tick, tock... like A's green alarm clock, and it could get really nerve-breaking. I'm missing the boat! But then, I realise very well, this's not a race.
- Parent-in-laws plan to move out of their current 'very nice' place. I'm sure children, grandchildren, daughter/son-in-laws will miss the house so very much. And the ample play area. Pity them for having to make the choice. That stupid 'memorial park project' .. what a sore sight!!!!
- Tiramisu cake. T.I.R.A.M.I.S.U... sedapnye...
- A movie titled 'Changeling'. About a mother who lost his son; the Los Angeles police force who was arrogant, stupid, very inefficient and mistreated civilians; a cool-blooded psycho who killed children, justice which had finally prevailed; kind-hearted people who went extra miles to help out; and HOPE ... hope that keeps people alive.
- A couple of hundred ringgits pay rise. Alhamdulillah.
- Meeting back old friends. It's like bringing more cheers to one's life. Everybody needs friends.
- Registering Sy at a Kemas kindergarten. He'll be 5 next year. The plan will be similar to that of her sister. One year at Kemas and another year at a private kindy. He's really looking forward to going to school. Attaboy!
- I gave in to my urge (rights) to being 'vocal' again. Bad, bad, bad .... :( . Why can't I just keep it all to myself and just endure, like anybody else? (do they have to endure???) Our life is not all that rosy, but it's not totally lousy. Should have learnt to be more grateful. Slap myself silly!
- Mother bought a new washing machine. How would that affect me much? Well ..it would make my life easier when I go back home. FaMa had been a huge fan of manual washing machines for as long as I've known them. One manual washing machine down, they bought another manual, and then another manual. Now that they have embraced 'technology', I'm happy... ngeh...ngeh...ngeh.
- A few of my seniors have been promoted big time. They are now called "big bosses". They have been working very hard, so they deserve the promotion. Perhaps, till I move to other places, I shall probably remain as the Queen of Deadwood... isk, isk, isk.
- A sister-in-law is expecting a 'small fresh living thingy' in her family by February or March. Oh, I can hear my biological is ticking... tick, tock, tick, tock... like A's green alarm clock, and it could get really nerve-breaking. I'm missing the boat! But then, I realise very well, this's not a race.
- Parent-in-laws plan to move out of their current 'very nice' place. I'm sure children, grandchildren, daughter/son-in-laws will miss the house so very much. And the ample play area. Pity them for having to make the choice. That stupid 'memorial park project' .. what a sore sight!!!!
- Tiramisu cake. T.I.R.A.M.I.S.U... sedapnye...
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Alhamdulillah
Kembali Pada Tuhan
Jika engkau belum mempunyai ilmu, hanya prasangka,
maka milikilah prasangka yang baik tentang Tuhan.
Begitulah caranya!
Jika engkau hanya mampu merangkak,
maka merangkaklah kepadaNya!
Jika engkau belum mampu berdoa dengan khusyuk,
maka tetaplah persembahkan doamu
yang kering, munafik dan tanpa keyakinan,
kerana Tuhan, dengan rahmatNya
akan tetap menerima matawang palsumu!
Jika engkau masih mempunyai
seratus keraguan mengenai Tuhan,
maka kurangilah menjadi sembilan puluh sembilan saja.
Begitulah caranya!
Wahai pejalan,
Biarpun telah seratus kali engkau mungkir janji,
ayuhlah datang, dan datanglah lagi!
Kerana Tuhan berfirman;
"Ketika engkau melambung ke angkasa
ataupun terperuk di dalam jurang,
ingatlah kepadaKu, kerana Akulah jalan itu."
- Jalaluddin Rumi
How beautiful!
Yes, we always have Him. Alhamdulillah for we are Muslims.
Jika engkau belum mempunyai ilmu, hanya prasangka,
maka milikilah prasangka yang baik tentang Tuhan.
Begitulah caranya!
Jika engkau hanya mampu merangkak,
maka merangkaklah kepadaNya!
Jika engkau belum mampu berdoa dengan khusyuk,
maka tetaplah persembahkan doamu
yang kering, munafik dan tanpa keyakinan,
kerana Tuhan, dengan rahmatNya
akan tetap menerima matawang palsumu!
Jika engkau masih mempunyai
seratus keraguan mengenai Tuhan,
maka kurangilah menjadi sembilan puluh sembilan saja.
Begitulah caranya!
Wahai pejalan,
Biarpun telah seratus kali engkau mungkir janji,
ayuhlah datang, dan datanglah lagi!
Kerana Tuhan berfirman;
"Ketika engkau melambung ke angkasa
ataupun terperuk di dalam jurang,
ingatlah kepadaKu, kerana Akulah jalan itu."
- Jalaluddin Rumi
How beautiful!
Yes, we always have Him. Alhamdulillah for we are Muslims.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Where are the recycle collectors
My place is getting smaller by days. The space in the living room has shrunk quite considerably due to the three 'buildings' of old newspapers that almost reach the ceiling. They have become a nice place for my children to play Hide-and-Seek, but a sore sight to my eyes. The third room is full with toys, boxes and many other things that I consider recycleable and also have 'sentimental' value, including our old TV. The kitchen balcony has been the place for bottle, tin, old washing machine 'collectibles'.
I'm into recycling, although not yet close to being a recyle freak. I like the idea of recycling. It reminds me of Grandma who had recycled almost everything... bottles, plastic bags, old towels, old clothes, buttons, you name it. It gives me satisfaction when certain things are used and reused to their maximun until they can't be used anymore. At least I feel I'm helping Kuala Lumpur from being a Garbage Metropolitant, although in a very small way. And it also thrills me to receive that few ringgits from the recycle collectors (thehehehe ... ). It's like the old days in the kampung when we (my siblings and I) sold kicap bottles for 30 sen. Thirty sen was a lot during that time.
Back to the cramped apartment, I feel quite angry with the management office for not allowing the recycle collectors to enter our premises. All these while, these people had helped us get rid of old and unused stuff, thus helping clear our houses. Now they are banned from our place.
In this recycling era, the ban is like 50 steps backward... no thanks to you, morons.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Michael Jackson - August 29 1958-June 25 2009
Hard not to feel anything about his death when you are one of those people who has grown up listening and humming to his songs, and admiring/hating his antics. Bad, Beat It, Thriller, Billie Jean, those energetic 'moonwalk' dances, one-glove-white-socks-glittered-jacket style, afro hair (when he was much younger), light-up shoes, the uniform ... bla bla bla, though I admitted these days, I have forgotten most of his songs' lyrics just like I have forgotten most of the lyrics of other singers' songs. But the melody of MJ songs remain intact in my mind. I could tell in seconds if a song is his or others'.
So, I would be lying if said I had not felt at least a tinge (really??) of sadness when I heard the news of his death this morning. MJ died supposedly of a cardiac arrest on Thursday at UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, at 2:26pm Los Angeles time (2126 GMT) (Friday morning in Malaysia), just weeks before his planned series of comeback concerts. He was 51. The news stunned his fans around the world and perhap almost anyone who 'knows' him. Why, MJ was the world's King of Pop, one of the most successful singers of all time with more than 700 million records sold and 13 Grammy Awards. MJ leaves behind three children and ironically, despite his once-big success, a mountain of debts.
Can't find a proper word to say about MJ and his life. But what British Foreign Secretary David Miliband posted on Twitter perhaps sums it all. "Never has one soared so high and yet dived so low." But I must add, despite all the bizzareness and eccentricities, he remains the most loved and intriguing icon in the music world, like it or not.
Browsing news and pictures about him in the wires with his Thriller song being played times and again on the office TV, my mind went back to my school days when MJ had been 'part' of our (my friends Ha, Ita and I ) 'hanging out' times, be it on trees, near the river, near the school's field, under the rambutan trees or on the small performance stage in the canteen. We would sing his songs and dance his moonwalk, trying our best to sound and look like him. Of course, no one got it right. But it didn't matter to us, we were just having fun and MJ was so 'in' at that time that we thought we looked 'cool' when we sang his songs.
And the most important thing about MJ in my life is, that I started liking English as a 'language' through his lyrics. His songs made me search for English words in Dictionary and thus started my interest.
Don't know if it's truth or simply rumours, but reports said he had converted to Islam. If he was, May Allah bless his soul. And if he's not, I still hope he will rest in peace.
Death is True. Famous or not, death comes to everyone...when it's time, it's the time!.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Life Is So Fragile
Life is so fragile. Just a few minutes ago you were laughing joyfully with your beloved one, the next thing you know, she's gone to see her Creator.
On Thursday, 3-year-old Isabel Cheong died on the spot, of head injuries, after her mother accidentally knocked into her while parking her car in Desa Seri Hartamas. It must have been vey painfully heartbreaking for Isabel parents' to see their beautiful toddler lying dead on the pavement in a pool of thick warm blood, when just a few moments before she had been so much alive and well. And it was also heartbreaking to see the grief-stricken mother craddle her lifeless toddler so dearly in her arm, probably hoping that she would come back from her deep slumber. But of course, that was not to be.
Life is indeed so fragile. Just one knock and she's gone. How would Isabel's parents find peace in their heart to go on living like they used to? The guilt would remain, like a ghost that would haunt their life forever.
The thought of such accident has always been in my mind when I think of driving. It has played a very big role in my being so reluctant in getting a licence. I am forever afraid that I would knock into someone. I sometimes dream about it. It has been one of my greatest fears. What if I hit my own children or someone's else children? A cat, a cow? An elderly? Nauzubillah. Thinking about it already makes me shiver.
To make it worse, I see horrible and gruesome accident pictures everyday. Sometimes, there are four or five cases per day, and many involves children. And I have also seen that of Isabel. And it's one of those pictures that would painfully linger in mind. You can't help but think how could God let a beautiful and innocent toddler like her to die that way?
Unless one has gone through such unfortunate event oneself, I believe no one could really share the grief Isabel's parents are feeling right now.
However, let's pray that one day, they will find peace in their heart and be able to forgive themselves and move on. May they have the support from those around them. May God give them strength to live on.
Children are like a piece of plain white cloth. So pure and sinless. When they die, God will send them to Heaven. I believe, Isabel is one of them.
Monday, May 25, 2009
May Allah Bless All Teachers
Teacher's Day was last week. During last week and the week before it, Daughter A had been busy reminding me about it. Finally, we got her cards, chocolates and a vase for her to give to her teachers. She was happy, of course. She said few teachers had actually hugged her when she gave them the cards. She did look a little bit embarassed though, but still she was happy.
When I was in school, primary and secondary, Hari Guru was usually welcomed with Pot-Luck parties. We would bring food from home and have makan-makan with the teachers. This was especially when I was in primary school. I don't remember giving any gifts or cards. That was because I didn't have money. But I remember singing and dancing for them.
Looking back, I sort of miss those times. Happy times indeed. School was so fun. The teachers were great. The one I remember the most even until now is Cikgu Wan Yusoff. He was my first grade teacher. Firm but friendly and jovial, and very dedicated. My first impression on school was very much influenced by him, I must say.
My first 'public-speaking session' was in his class, when he made me read AEIOU loudly and clearly. You see, I had not attended kindergarten, and thus that first class was my first formal ABC lesson. But weird, I don't remember feeling shy or afraid. In fact, I remember reading the AEIOU clearly and confidently. For some times, some parents who had sent their children and been present during the 'first public-speaking', would sing AEIOU whenever they saw me in the kampung. It gave me a nice feeling and sort of encouraged me to do well in school. The credit should go to Cikgu Wan Yusoff. He had helped me enjoy school days.
I don't know where is he now and wonder if he's still 'around'. The last time I saw him when he came visit us on the day M left us to see God in 1989. He gave Mother money in an envelope donated by school teachers. He had been close to M too like he had been to me other brothers. In fact, I saw tears in his eyes and remember him muttering that it was a pity someone as brilliant as M had to go that way. Such a dedication, a mark of a good and committed teacher, whose profession went beyond classroom.
He was 40 something when I first entered school. Maybe Cikgu Wan is about 70 something now. If he is still around, I hope he is well and happy. I hope Allah bless him with good life in this and after world. I also hope to see him one of these days.
Other teachers that have left me (or I left them) with interesting memories (good and bad) are Cikgu Sulaiman, who taught English, Cikgu Jabedah (Bahasa), Cikgu Mohd Nor (Mathematic), Cikgu Norwawi (English), Cikgu Norizan (English), Gurubesar, also by the name Cikgu Mohd Nor (Moral), Cikgu Wan Hassan Wan Dagang (Bahasa), Ustaz takingatnamabutingat wajah (agama) and others.
In secondary school, there were Cikgu Maimunah, whom I remember most due to her dedication in teaching us English, Cikgu Halim (was so dissapointed I didn't well in Geography), Cikgu Mohd Ali (smoked like a dragon although he was a disciplinary teacher), Cikgu Latifah (so garang in teaching us Math skills), Cikgu Rohaiza (Bahasa), Cikgu Johari (so 'liberal' in his 'science' approach), Cikgu Juwariah (who became blind and given clerical job), Cikgu Saripah (also hostel warden), Ustaz Man and Cikgu Bob or Iskandar (who coached me Ping Pong and Badminton). Others I still remember their faces though not all their names.
Also, I will not forget Ustaz Daud or Tok Su Ud, who taught me Agama for the afternoon class. And Tok Cik Hajar, who helped refine my Quranic reading although I didn't Khatam with her. They are also Grandma's friends and neighbours.
These are all people who have helped shaped me to be who I am today. May Allah bless them all.
Teachers used to be very respected those days. They still are although, to a certain extent, the respect has diminished a bit. I'm glad that my daughter holds her teachers so dear in her heart.
To all teachers, Happy Teacher's Day. Thank you very very much for your good service. May the dedication and committment ... and the PATIENCE continue.
When I was in school, primary and secondary, Hari Guru was usually welcomed with Pot-Luck parties. We would bring food from home and have makan-makan with the teachers. This was especially when I was in primary school. I don't remember giving any gifts or cards. That was because I didn't have money. But I remember singing and dancing for them.
Looking back, I sort of miss those times. Happy times indeed. School was so fun. The teachers were great. The one I remember the most even until now is Cikgu Wan Yusoff. He was my first grade teacher. Firm but friendly and jovial, and very dedicated. My first impression on school was very much influenced by him, I must say.
My first 'public-speaking session' was in his class, when he made me read AEIOU loudly and clearly. You see, I had not attended kindergarten, and thus that first class was my first formal ABC lesson. But weird, I don't remember feeling shy or afraid. In fact, I remember reading the AEIOU clearly and confidently. For some times, some parents who had sent their children and been present during the 'first public-speaking', would sing AEIOU whenever they saw me in the kampung. It gave me a nice feeling and sort of encouraged me to do well in school. The credit should go to Cikgu Wan Yusoff. He had helped me enjoy school days.
I don't know where is he now and wonder if he's still 'around'. The last time I saw him when he came visit us on the day M left us to see God in 1989. He gave Mother money in an envelope donated by school teachers. He had been close to M too like he had been to me other brothers. In fact, I saw tears in his eyes and remember him muttering that it was a pity someone as brilliant as M had to go that way. Such a dedication, a mark of a good and committed teacher, whose profession went beyond classroom.
He was 40 something when I first entered school. Maybe Cikgu Wan is about 70 something now. If he is still around, I hope he is well and happy. I hope Allah bless him with good life in this and after world. I also hope to see him one of these days.
Other teachers that have left me (or I left them) with interesting memories (good and bad) are Cikgu Sulaiman, who taught English, Cikgu Jabedah (Bahasa), Cikgu Mohd Nor (Mathematic), Cikgu Norwawi (English), Cikgu Norizan (English), Gurubesar, also by the name Cikgu Mohd Nor (Moral), Cikgu Wan Hassan Wan Dagang (Bahasa), Ustaz takingatnamabutingat wajah (agama) and others.
In secondary school, there were Cikgu Maimunah, whom I remember most due to her dedication in teaching us English, Cikgu Halim (was so dissapointed I didn't well in Geography), Cikgu Mohd Ali (smoked like a dragon although he was a disciplinary teacher), Cikgu Latifah (so garang in teaching us Math skills), Cikgu Rohaiza (Bahasa), Cikgu Johari (so 'liberal' in his 'science' approach), Cikgu Juwariah (who became blind and given clerical job), Cikgu Saripah (also hostel warden), Ustaz Man and Cikgu Bob or Iskandar (who coached me Ping Pong and Badminton). Others I still remember their faces though not all their names.
Also, I will not forget Ustaz Daud or Tok Su Ud, who taught me Agama for the afternoon class. And Tok Cik Hajar, who helped refine my Quranic reading although I didn't Khatam with her. They are also Grandma's friends and neighbours.
These are all people who have helped shaped me to be who I am today. May Allah bless them all.
Teachers used to be very respected those days. They still are although, to a certain extent, the respect has diminished a bit. I'm glad that my daughter holds her teachers so dear in her heart.
To all teachers, Happy Teacher's Day. Thank you very very much for your good service. May the dedication and committment ... and the PATIENCE continue.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Five Years Have Passed By
Tok passed away around 9pm on March 31 2004. She collapsed in the village's mosque after Isyak prayer. It was a Thursday night. Doctor said it was due to heart attack. But nothing was confirmed as we didn't do a post-mortem.
A was just three months old then. Alhamdullillah Tok got a chance to hold and take care of her for two weeks during my maternity leave. She had also managed to hold 'aqiqah' for A back in Trg despite being quite sick.
It has been five years since she left us. I don't always cry anymore every time I think of her. Time heals, they say. But honestly, sometimes I miss her love and attention. She was very vital to my growing up. She was instrumental in making what I am today. She was a disciplinarian who always pushed me to acquire knowledge. She was my 'mengaji' teacher who made me khatam the Quran when I was 8 years old. She was of so many roles to me and so dominant in my upbringing that she continues to be alive in my heart and mind although she was no more here.
I still regret many things that I did or didn't do for hers. But these days, I have also learnt to accept that everything that happened had been fated that way.
Of the many things she taught me, I really hope, at least, I could hold to one thing. Islam and its teaching.
But I don't remember when was the las time I read the Quran ...
A was just three months old then. Alhamdullillah Tok got a chance to hold and take care of her for two weeks during my maternity leave. She had also managed to hold 'aqiqah' for A back in Trg despite being quite sick.
It has been five years since she left us. I don't always cry anymore every time I think of her. Time heals, they say. But honestly, sometimes I miss her love and attention. She was very vital to my growing up. She was instrumental in making what I am today. She was a disciplinarian who always pushed me to acquire knowledge. She was my 'mengaji' teacher who made me khatam the Quran when I was 8 years old. She was of so many roles to me and so dominant in my upbringing that she continues to be alive in my heart and mind although she was no more here.
I still regret many things that I did or didn't do for hers. But these days, I have also learnt to accept that everything that happened had been fated that way.
Of the many things she taught me, I really hope, at least, I could hold to one thing. Islam and its teaching.
But I don't remember when was the las time I read the Quran ...
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
What's Inside The TV
Do you know what is inside your TV? Yes, I mean INSIDE. Not what you can watch on TV, but rather what you can find inside your TV when you pry it open.
In our case, 40 color pencils of different sizes, one hair band, one chopstick, one comb, two toy knives and few other unidentified things. Wow, it's like magic. A 21" TV could actually keep so many things. If only a TV could be used as a drawer or storage area, I would have been more than happy to throw small things in it. At least, it had other functions than just an 'idiot box'.
Our children seemed to be very good at 'storing up' things. No wonder, color pencils kept disappearing and couldn't be rediscovered no matter how hard I had combed our small apartment.
It started with A. Once she had the ability to touch and hold things, she started using her fingers to full use. Among her success was digging out the channel buttons from our Philips TV, leaving two holes and making it impossible to change channels without a remote control or a chopstick. I know 'very good mothers' would have scolded me for letting the child touch the TV. But if you were a normal mother like me, you would understand how, despite my 'round-the-clock' effort to keep A from a TV, she would still manage to lay her tiny hands on it. So, finally, having a TV with a horizontal white line on its screen that refused to go away and two empty holes for its channel buttons was like a milestone to us, as that was when A reached 2 years of living.
When Sy started to be mobile with his hands and feet, he added more effect to what the sister had done. Making the holes deeper and stuffing the TV with whatever item that could go in. The final straw was when he inserted a coin. And that night, now that Sy is four and A is six, the TV finally blew for good. No matter how many times we tried, it didn't turn on. So I resigned to the fact that my Philips TV that was among the first electrical items that I bought, in 1999, with my own money, had gone forever. It was quite sentimental ... Well, I always found it hard to part with old stuffs.
So we got a chance to live without TV for two or three days. It was so quiet and I admitted I found it easier to communicate and get the children do what I wanted without a TV. They also didn't ask for TV. I think they also felt guilty and dare not mention about it because if they did, then they had to taste their own medicine (huhuhu ... a mother can be so bitter, sometimes). But, ironically, Am and myself coudn't really stand the silence. So one Saturday, we headed to our favorite shopping centre in Subang Jaya (in Subang Jaya saje ye) with one mission, only to 'look-look' for a TV, without wanting to buy it. It didn't take long for us to set our eyes on one, and within an hour, errr ... we bought a new Philips. Another Philips ... only this time it was a LCD 32". Well, I was soooo like me, a brand loyalist who always sticks to one brand. And it was sooooo like Am to just agree to whatever I want.
So, now our home and life have returned to normal.
When bathing Sy, Am was having a few words with him. The conversation went like this.
Am: Sy a good boy kan?
Sy: Ye
Am: Kalau ada TV tak boleh ....
Sy: (continued) rosakkan.
Am: Kalau dah rosak ......
Sy: Ibu dan ayah akan beli yg lain.
??????
I am not sure what kind of life-lesson we're actually teaching our children ...
In our case, 40 color pencils of different sizes, one hair band, one chopstick, one comb, two toy knives and few other unidentified things. Wow, it's like magic. A 21" TV could actually keep so many things. If only a TV could be used as a drawer or storage area, I would have been more than happy to throw small things in it. At least, it had other functions than just an 'idiot box'.
Our children seemed to be very good at 'storing up' things. No wonder, color pencils kept disappearing and couldn't be rediscovered no matter how hard I had combed our small apartment.
It started with A. Once she had the ability to touch and hold things, she started using her fingers to full use. Among her success was digging out the channel buttons from our Philips TV, leaving two holes and making it impossible to change channels without a remote control or a chopstick. I know 'very good mothers' would have scolded me for letting the child touch the TV. But if you were a normal mother like me, you would understand how, despite my 'round-the-clock' effort to keep A from a TV, she would still manage to lay her tiny hands on it. So, finally, having a TV with a horizontal white line on its screen that refused to go away and two empty holes for its channel buttons was like a milestone to us, as that was when A reached 2 years of living.
When Sy started to be mobile with his hands and feet, he added more effect to what the sister had done. Making the holes deeper and stuffing the TV with whatever item that could go in. The final straw was when he inserted a coin. And that night, now that Sy is four and A is six, the TV finally blew for good. No matter how many times we tried, it didn't turn on. So I resigned to the fact that my Philips TV that was among the first electrical items that I bought, in 1999, with my own money, had gone forever. It was quite sentimental ... Well, I always found it hard to part with old stuffs.
So we got a chance to live without TV for two or three days. It was so quiet and I admitted I found it easier to communicate and get the children do what I wanted without a TV. They also didn't ask for TV. I think they also felt guilty and dare not mention about it because if they did, then they had to taste their own medicine (huhuhu ... a mother can be so bitter, sometimes). But, ironically, Am and myself coudn't really stand the silence. So one Saturday, we headed to our favorite shopping centre in Subang Jaya (in Subang Jaya saje ye) with one mission, only to 'look-look' for a TV, without wanting to buy it. It didn't take long for us to set our eyes on one, and within an hour, errr ... we bought a new Philips. Another Philips ... only this time it was a LCD 32". Well, I was soooo like me, a brand loyalist who always sticks to one brand. And it was sooooo like Am to just agree to whatever I want.
So, now our home and life have returned to normal.
When bathing Sy, Am was having a few words with him. The conversation went like this.
Am: Sy a good boy kan?
Sy: Ye
Am: Kalau ada TV tak boleh ....
Sy: (continued) rosakkan.
Am: Kalau dah rosak ......
Sy: Ibu dan ayah akan beli yg lain.
??????
I am not sure what kind of life-lesson we're actually teaching our children ...
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Some Company Still Makes Profit
The current global economic slowdown has seen many Malaysian companies posting smaller gains, some even slipping into the red. It's tough time, and the October-December results would reflect more accurately how businesses in Malaysia are affected by the crisis.
But something is so mind-boggling, that a tobacco company still posts growth in earnings despite the difficult time. That shows that Malaysians don't stop smoking even in the time like now. They may not have the money to eat, buy books, school the children, bla, bla, bla, but the smoking habit must go on. Isn't that scary? And cigarettes are not cheap these days. A box of 20s is priced at about RM9, that makes a stick at about 45 sen. Quite a luxury, no?
My partner is not a heavy smoker. Even, in good times, he hardly finished a box per day. These days, he replaces his normal box of cigarettes with loose tobacco which he buys for RM15 per pack. He rolls his own cigarettes with special cigarette papers. I don't know what they are called. But they are plain white paper cut in small rectangular pieces. If you feel like puffing, you just roll tobacco in them, and there you have, home-made rolled cigarettes! A pack of that loose tobacco may last my partner about two weeks, if I'm not mistaken.
The concern is, I'm not sure if those home-made cigarettes are 'any worse' than the commercial ones. I'm afraid they would cause much more harm. Well, the commercial ones have filters, for example. The self-rolled ones have none of those. I tried arguing with him about this once. But since I didn't have much 'evidence' to pursue my case further, I just stopped half way. Furthermore, If you are almost, errr more of less, a little bit a smoker yourself (means you smoke like two or three sticks a day, the most), it's a bit difficult to argue, isnt' it?
But something is so mind-boggling, that a tobacco company still posts growth in earnings despite the difficult time. That shows that Malaysians don't stop smoking even in the time like now. They may not have the money to eat, buy books, school the children, bla, bla, bla, but the smoking habit must go on. Isn't that scary? And cigarettes are not cheap these days. A box of 20s is priced at about RM9, that makes a stick at about 45 sen. Quite a luxury, no?
My partner is not a heavy smoker. Even, in good times, he hardly finished a box per day. These days, he replaces his normal box of cigarettes with loose tobacco which he buys for RM15 per pack. He rolls his own cigarettes with special cigarette papers. I don't know what they are called. But they are plain white paper cut in small rectangular pieces. If you feel like puffing, you just roll tobacco in them, and there you have, home-made rolled cigarettes! A pack of that loose tobacco may last my partner about two weeks, if I'm not mistaken.
The concern is, I'm not sure if those home-made cigarettes are 'any worse' than the commercial ones. I'm afraid they would cause much more harm. Well, the commercial ones have filters, for example. The self-rolled ones have none of those. I tried arguing with him about this once. But since I didn't have much 'evidence' to pursue my case further, I just stopped half way. Furthermore, If you are almost, errr more of less, a little bit a smoker yourself (means you smoke like two or three sticks a day, the most), it's a bit difficult to argue, isnt' it?
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Enal Is Gone Too
Cousin H's son, Enal, passed away last Thursday of heart complication. He was 18 or 19. The last time I saw him was during Hari Raya about five years ago when H and her family visited us in Terengganu. Even on the day he died, I missed the chance to see 'him' because when I arrived the funeral was already over.
Enal had always been sicked since he was a baby, having inherited a 'legacy' from parents and three uncles (my cousins), called 3 As, who all died very young at 16, 19 and 17. Specky and a little bit plump, he was a jovial kid, although a little bit quiet and reserved. His passing away very young reminded me of his uncles and brought back what was once talk in the kampung that H's family was doomed with sumpah 7 keturunan. Maybe it's true, not about the sumpahan, but that it takes seven generation for an inherited sickness to dissapear.
Looking calm and more matured, H has always been an epitome of strength to me. The one who has gone through countless hardship, having losing her parents and four brothers, including a baby brother, when she was in her teens. Married at a young age, she and her husband are blessed with six children, including Enal, the eldest.
Despite having gone through many losses, I believe, nothing ever prepares a person for the loss of own child. Enal was the first child and the first one always leaves the most of memories. It's sad to see how much H tried to maintain that strong facade. But sometimes, it crumbled as the grief was too heavy for her thin and tired frame to bear.
But it's a blessing that she has many children that make her days busy. At least, she would not have time to really ponder over the loss. But I also know at night, she would be staring through the darkness thinking about Enal and probably crying, alone. Because I also know, her husband is the type who's always Not There for her.
Sometimes, hardship is inherited, just like sickness is. I wonder what it takes for her to come out of the hardship. Most probably she would stick to it and it to her like second skin. Like I said she's one tough lady. And when the children grow up, they would make up for what their mother has missed. I hope they will and think they will, insyaallah.
Al-Fatihah for Enal. May he rest in peace.
Enal had always been sicked since he was a baby, having inherited a 'legacy' from parents and three uncles (my cousins), called 3 As, who all died very young at 16, 19 and 17. Specky and a little bit plump, he was a jovial kid, although a little bit quiet and reserved. His passing away very young reminded me of his uncles and brought back what was once talk in the kampung that H's family was doomed with sumpah 7 keturunan. Maybe it's true, not about the sumpahan, but that it takes seven generation for an inherited sickness to dissapear.
Looking calm and more matured, H has always been an epitome of strength to me. The one who has gone through countless hardship, having losing her parents and four brothers, including a baby brother, when she was in her teens. Married at a young age, she and her husband are blessed with six children, including Enal, the eldest.
Despite having gone through many losses, I believe, nothing ever prepares a person for the loss of own child. Enal was the first child and the first one always leaves the most of memories. It's sad to see how much H tried to maintain that strong facade. But sometimes, it crumbled as the grief was too heavy for her thin and tired frame to bear.
But it's a blessing that she has many children that make her days busy. At least, she would not have time to really ponder over the loss. But I also know at night, she would be staring through the darkness thinking about Enal and probably crying, alone. Because I also know, her husband is the type who's always Not There for her.
Sometimes, hardship is inherited, just like sickness is. I wonder what it takes for her to come out of the hardship. Most probably she would stick to it and it to her like second skin. Like I said she's one tough lady. And when the children grow up, they would make up for what their mother has missed. I hope they will and think they will, insyaallah.
Al-Fatihah for Enal. May he rest in peace.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
When changes are not welcome
What makes a partner change? Is it because he's bored with his other half or, is it because the other half has changed him?
I think my partner has changed a lot. Sometimes, I feel I don't know him anymore. Like a stranger. Like someone whom I've not been living with for almost 7 years.
Or is it me who has changed or have too high an expectation???
I sometimes wish we were like we were six or seven years ago, plus A and Sy, of course.
I think my partner has changed a lot. Sometimes, I feel I don't know him anymore. Like a stranger. Like someone whom I've not been living with for almost 7 years.
Or is it me who has changed or have too high an expectation???
I sometimes wish we were like we were six or seven years ago, plus A and Sy, of course.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Watch out the kids and the lift!
Sy has become so fascinated by lifts, escalators or any moving staircases since he was 2. I think it's normal for toddlers, especially a boy, to be so interested in them. I was just like him when I was a kid. Only, during my time, the only opportunity to be in a lift was when I visited sick relatives at the then-known KT General Hospital or when I myself had to be forced to visit a doctor at the hospital. That was the closest I could get near or in a lift!
But my son Sy has to live with lifts everyday and everytime we want to move up and down to and from our house. Still, the fascination has not stopped. Until today, he and sister A still fight over who should press the button outside and who should go in first and press the button inside the lift. My son always ends up being the 'loser' as he is smaller and weaker than the sister. He usually 'proves' his dissatisfaction by crying her heart out, loud and clear. But there are also many days he gets his hand on the buttons easily, just because A happens to have no mood for anything. Six-years-old A can get very moody for no reason sometimes!!
Sound cute eh ... two kids fighting over who could 'control' a lift. But, beware! the fascination can endanger children like them. Not from the lift itself sometimes, but from the situation that could arise from such fascination.
According to news paper reports, two days ago a 3-years-old child had fallen to his death from the seventh floor of a condominium. This case seems to have not much to do with a kid's fascination with a lift. Rather, it was probably due to his or his mother's fear or moment of carelessness. But still, it involved a lift. Reports said the poor child, his mother and her friend were about to take a lift down after visiting the child's grandmother who lives in one of the units at the condo. When the lift doors opened, the poor child rushed in. But the doors just snapped back very fast leaving the mother and her friend outside and the child alone in the lift.
The mother panicked and quickly took the stairs down, hoping to catch the lift on time while screaming his name hysterically. The lift stopped somewhere between second and seventh floor. But the mother couldn't figure that as she was probably stopping at each floor to get the son.
Only Allah knows what had really happened, but from the reports, I figure the poor baby came out from the lift, looking frantically for the mother. He heard his mother's scream and started searching for her. But in tall buildings, locating where a voice came from was already difficult for adults, let alone for a 3-years-old boy.
Around him was all concrete wall and the only opening is the one-metre safety railing. He then climbed the railing, hoping to see the mother, as he had probably heard the mother from a lower floor. But, still only God knows how it had actually happened, he had fallen to his death. Poor baby... poor, poor boy.
Some said it was impossible for the boy to have climbed the railing as he was not even one-metre tall. But I've seen the railing and I think it's possible because there are few gaps that could fit a boy of a 3-years-old size. Furthermore, the few horizontal bars fitted on the railing would have allowed to the boy to climb higher.
Whatever had happened, it was such a tragic death. My deepest sympathy to Mrs Pua, the mother, and his father and all who have loved him.
This incident is almost similar to what has happened to Sy. Only, there was an angel in the form of a lady who had bumped into Sy and wouldn't have allowed him to climb the corridor wall, had he ever thought of doing that.
Sy went into the ascending lift on his own from our 10th floor and the lift stopped at 13th floor. In panic, I started taking the stairs up and stopped at every floor. Although I heard him crying, I could not really locate where he was. At the same time, I was also screaming his name almost hysterically. But somehow, while running up the stairs I realised that I should not be screaming as that would make my son panic even more and prompt him to do something unthinkable. So I lowered my voice and tried calling his name just a little bit louder than normal so that he could hear me.
Thanks Allah, he was safe, and was being consoled by the kind-hearted lady when I found him. I thanked the lady profusely and swore at myself big time for being so careless. But, scold me, yes scold me, there was actually the second incident. I figure because Sy likes the lift such much he just couldn't stop from stepping in, even without 'the very slow' me with him. This time the lift went straight downstairs. Luckily, the other lift came just right on time. And I took it straight to the ground floor because I was confident that at that time, there was no other people taking the lift. I found him wailing and pacing up and down in front the lift, looking so hopeless, small and vulnerable.
That was the last 'lifty' incident happened to Sy. Although his interest in anything 'lifty' remains huge, he is now 4 years old and knows very well that he must wait for me before stepping into any lift. Besides, the 'fierce' and stronger sister is always with him.
But I've learned something from that.
When your child adventures alone in a lift, don't panic. Look at the digital indicator of the lift to check if it is going up or down. Find the stairs and run as fast as you could up or down the stairs. Yes, stop at every level to check where the the lift stops. Don't scream. Because if you do, your child will panic even more. If you need to call his name, just call a little bit louder but calmly. If he can hear you, tell him to just stay where he is and you would get him very soon. If you find other people you can trust, ask them to help you too and inform the authority. And don't forget to PRAY. Yes, PRAY in your heart that he/she is safe.
The most important thing is, BE CALM, and RUN and ACT FAST!!.
But my son Sy has to live with lifts everyday and everytime we want to move up and down to and from our house. Still, the fascination has not stopped. Until today, he and sister A still fight over who should press the button outside and who should go in first and press the button inside the lift. My son always ends up being the 'loser' as he is smaller and weaker than the sister. He usually 'proves' his dissatisfaction by crying her heart out, loud and clear. But there are also many days he gets his hand on the buttons easily, just because A happens to have no mood for anything. Six-years-old A can get very moody for no reason sometimes!!
Sound cute eh ... two kids fighting over who could 'control' a lift. But, beware! the fascination can endanger children like them. Not from the lift itself sometimes, but from the situation that could arise from such fascination.
According to news paper reports, two days ago a 3-years-old child had fallen to his death from the seventh floor of a condominium. This case seems to have not much to do with a kid's fascination with a lift. Rather, it was probably due to his or his mother's fear or moment of carelessness. But still, it involved a lift. Reports said the poor child, his mother and her friend were about to take a lift down after visiting the child's grandmother who lives in one of the units at the condo. When the lift doors opened, the poor child rushed in. But the doors just snapped back very fast leaving the mother and her friend outside and the child alone in the lift.
The mother panicked and quickly took the stairs down, hoping to catch the lift on time while screaming his name hysterically. The lift stopped somewhere between second and seventh floor. But the mother couldn't figure that as she was probably stopping at each floor to get the son.
Only Allah knows what had really happened, but from the reports, I figure the poor baby came out from the lift, looking frantically for the mother. He heard his mother's scream and started searching for her. But in tall buildings, locating where a voice came from was already difficult for adults, let alone for a 3-years-old boy.
Around him was all concrete wall and the only opening is the one-metre safety railing. He then climbed the railing, hoping to see the mother, as he had probably heard the mother from a lower floor. But, still only God knows how it had actually happened, he had fallen to his death. Poor baby... poor, poor boy.
Some said it was impossible for the boy to have climbed the railing as he was not even one-metre tall. But I've seen the railing and I think it's possible because there are few gaps that could fit a boy of a 3-years-old size. Furthermore, the few horizontal bars fitted on the railing would have allowed to the boy to climb higher.
Whatever had happened, it was such a tragic death. My deepest sympathy to Mrs Pua, the mother, and his father and all who have loved him.
This incident is almost similar to what has happened to Sy. Only, there was an angel in the form of a lady who had bumped into Sy and wouldn't have allowed him to climb the corridor wall, had he ever thought of doing that.
Sy went into the ascending lift on his own from our 10th floor and the lift stopped at 13th floor. In panic, I started taking the stairs up and stopped at every floor. Although I heard him crying, I could not really locate where he was. At the same time, I was also screaming his name almost hysterically. But somehow, while running up the stairs I realised that I should not be screaming as that would make my son panic even more and prompt him to do something unthinkable. So I lowered my voice and tried calling his name just a little bit louder than normal so that he could hear me.
Thanks Allah, he was safe, and was being consoled by the kind-hearted lady when I found him. I thanked the lady profusely and swore at myself big time for being so careless. But, scold me, yes scold me, there was actually the second incident. I figure because Sy likes the lift such much he just couldn't stop from stepping in, even without 'the very slow' me with him. This time the lift went straight downstairs. Luckily, the other lift came just right on time. And I took it straight to the ground floor because I was confident that at that time, there was no other people taking the lift. I found him wailing and pacing up and down in front the lift, looking so hopeless, small and vulnerable.
That was the last 'lifty' incident happened to Sy. Although his interest in anything 'lifty' remains huge, he is now 4 years old and knows very well that he must wait for me before stepping into any lift. Besides, the 'fierce' and stronger sister is always with him.
But I've learned something from that.
When your child adventures alone in a lift, don't panic. Look at the digital indicator of the lift to check if it is going up or down. Find the stairs and run as fast as you could up or down the stairs. Yes, stop at every level to check where the the lift stops. Don't scream. Because if you do, your child will panic even more. If you need to call his name, just call a little bit louder but calmly. If he can hear you, tell him to just stay where he is and you would get him very soon. If you find other people you can trust, ask them to help you too and inform the authority. And don't forget to PRAY. Yes, PRAY in your heart that he/she is safe.
The most important thing is, BE CALM, and RUN and ACT FAST!!.
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