Thank God for the boys

July will always be special for me. After all, July is the month the two boys were born. And even though they were born in the same month, they did not share the same zodiac sign; as such they have very different personalities and traits too. But luckily, they got a long just fine. Complementary traits, I guess.

I could not ask for better kids. I am not saying it for the sake of saying it. I am really glad they have not been too challenging for me. They have their strength, and shortcomings, definitely.

No doubt they were not straight A's materials academically - neither was I during my days. Perhaps they will not accumulate enough A's at SPM level, even if their lives were to depend on it. But I'd like to believe that life does not depend on the no of A's you have on your certificates.

I should know. I have seen enough straight A's students 20-30 years later. They became normal. In fact many a times, I don't have to wait that long. They became normal again at the university level.

University of life is a great leveler, so to speak.

Work hard by all means, try your best - be it in school or at work. But in the end, in the end, you must enjoy what one does, and you will prosper with His grace. Getting a string of A's would look great on paper, but if you did it by memorizing, and not understanding your subjects, it will be useless.

I don't believe in straight A's anymore, so my excuse would be that I did not push them hard enough for them to get straight A's. On purpose. Hahaha, whatever, you would say.

I digress again. Both of them have one trait that I like - diligent and hardworking. It will take you to anywhere.

Oh is that two traits? Whatever lah!

Arif was born on July 16, twenty two years ago.

I had to wait for sometimes for Arif's arrival. Obviously, we weren't expecting one too early or during the first year, but after te subsequent two year, we were kind of anxiously waiting, so we were relieved when he eventually arrived. Born in Kuantan Pahang, since it was the nearest biggest town to Kerteh/Dungun. We could have made him a 'wang ihsan' child if we were to choose a hospital in K Terengganu, but I guess back then facilities were a tad better in Kuantan than in Kuala Terengganu.

So I guess he shared the same birth state as his mother, despite the two town being the furthest apart in the state of Pahang (Kuantan and Cameron Highland).

He did spent sometimes in Dungun before moving to KL, so I guess he must have gotten his liking for leko by virtue in the land of keropoks.

Akmal on the other hand was born on July 25, nineteen years ago

Akmal, on the other hand, was born 3 years after his brother, this time in Melaka. I was then working at an oil installation in Melaka, but he did not live there long as soon after he was born, we moved to Johor Bahru as I got myself a job in Singapore.

So the two of them spent some time in Johor Bahru, growing up at Jalan Petri.

I would always associate their arrival with the expansion of my career. Immediately after Arif's arrival, I moved to KL, and started my jet-setting days to Tokyo, and London. Glamourest, right? London Ontario lah!

Immediately after Akmal's arrival, I moved to Singapore, a place many of us Malays would dread going to.

Rezeki anak-anak, I guess. Alhamdulillah.

After about two years in Singapore, we moved back to KL, bringing the office with us to set up the KL office, and a few years later, we moved to Houston. Which was something I'd been looking forward to, just to give the boys a taste of life overseas like what I had experienced when I was 18.

Life was moving too fast then for me. And them.

The boys in front of our apartment in League City, 10 mins from NASA Space Center Houston. They were about 7 and 4 by this time respectively.

Obviously, they cherished their lives in Houston. Great apartment, great food, and great schools. The apartment we had was only 10 mins from NASA Space Center, as my office then was at 1110 NASA Road 1.

I chose the apartment facing a canal, so it was a tranquil setting. I then had a high taste of living. Why not? The office was paying for my rent and it did not cost them a bomb anyway. Properties was reasonably cheap then (gasoline was priced at US$0.75 a gallon during that time). Occasionally you will get the boat docked at the jetty, and we can go fishing with the kids, though a permit would be required. We managed to catch a crab which was released back.

Waiting for their yellow buses. They had to go two different schools.

School was something they have enjoyed, while living in Texas. Everything about school there was free. Free bus ride to and from school, free meals and free books. Well everything is about play learning I guess, so books was not really needed. Akmal attended pre-K (pre-Kindergarten) as he was only four years old, and while Arif could have attended Year 2, we decided to put him in Year 1.

Here we are talking about a non-Muslim country if I may term USA in that manner, but they treated their children, including mine, much better than we would treat our own chlildren in Malaysia, and yet we pride ourselves as being an Islamic country, whatever that means.

Akmal with his teacher Mrs Whitworth in their classroom

Obviously, none of them knew much English since their mom would only speak BM to them. But I have checked with Arif's teachers. She told me that he has friends at school and that he has no problem communicating with his friends. I am sure he has had a good time.

I think schools in the States are fun. They do a lot of creative work, something I would not be able to think of myself, and they brought home all kind of handy works from school. They would bring all kind of things that they made at school.

Arif with his teacher at Ferguson Elementary, League City

Akmal with his fellow Pre-K colleagues in 1999; he is on the left

They weren't too keen to return and found school a chore here in Malaysia. School was airconditioned in Houston, while here it was the fan blowing hot air around. The teachers were so supportive, and loving there, while here teachers had their hands full and would not hesitate to shout or use the cane. Too readily.

Arif upon our returning to KL, at home after a few months struggling to find his footing, asked, "Abah, why schools in Houston are so nice, but in Malaysia, they are terrible while KLIA is so nice but the Houston Airport is terrible?"

I guess we got the priority wrong.

 

And one day Akmal, out of the blue, asked me if he could learn the piano. I had no clue as to why he would asked me that. I did not pester him. And his brother Arif wanted to learn the violin.

So I told the two of them to learn the piano first.

That's how I got two pianists at home. For years, they would pound on the cheap keyboard and then an old piano; and for years, they did not complain.

Arif took piano like duck to water, and at the age of 14, he was already performing on stage of the Sedaya University in Cheras, and for FELDA HQ in KL. He was later on selected as Best (Music) Student in 2005 for his school.

Akmal was the slower of the two, which I believe lessen the pressure on him. Since Arif was the more proficient of the two, I seldom if ever would ask him to play a song for me. He would play the keyboard in his room or play the piano only when I was not around.

I guess with less pressure, he absorbed everything before him and eventually became better than his own brother at piano. He writes songs, composed, arranging and do all kind of wonderful stuff with them. I am really amazed with his talent, to be honest.

Something I had wanted to learn when I was a teen myself. But as I had written before, we had too many Simon Cowell in our midst in the 70s. You can read about him here.

Arif with Azie playing Careless Whisper. He was 14 at this time.

Music was not the only thing in their lives. They did enjoy the outdoor in the early years in their lives. Cycling was our favourite thing that we did together. I believe the pictures above and below were taken in 2002 when both of them were bothin primary school.

Otherwise it was the badminton in the small space we have on the side of our home. Enough for child play, I guess. And of course, ping pong in the porch.

Otherwise, indoor, they would be playing the monopoly together. We are a small family, I must admit. They have no one else but each other.

They do have cousins of course. Lots of them I guess. But not the yellow slimy and slithery thing, it is not! Hahaha.

The piano player playing the guitar?

Of course it would be blasphemous for him to play the guitar when he was so good with the piano, but well, his brother Arif plays two instruments, so he took up guitar. I guess, they can be competitive too, but in a good way.

 

Last day of practicing before his big day at ABRSM

He excelled while taking up classical guitar, so much so he was invited to play at the ABRSM High Scorers Concert in PJ hosted by ABRSM, as the only Malay student there. Never mind that I did get not straight A's SPM sons, but in them I got musically acclaimed ones.

The two brothers composing on their digital piano.

They certainly work well together. Akmal has a bit of an edge as he is not only a piano player, he writes his own songs too, including arranging the orchestra. Arif, on the other hand, is purely a player. Give him notes and he will perform for you.

But both are adamant not to make a career out of music. You can only plan so far. I did try to push them; even promising Akmal that I will send him to Berkley, provided that he qualifies, of course. I guess he knew better that their dad has no monies to let him schooled in the States. Obviously they would love to be back in the States.

So Akmal declined.

Akmal at Gua Hira

But they do know about their religious obligation. Akmal has competed his Quranic reading when he was at secondary school. He has done his umrah, and is due for another one soon. Perhaps haj when he completed his uni studies.

Arif went for his umrah on his own immediately after he graduated

The two brothers at our jungle in Ulu Langat

Why only two of them? Then I was hoping I would get a daughter obviously. Which father would not want one? But I guess since I have been awarded the two boys, I decided that they should be enough for me. I can't asked for another. I believe they complement each other and work well with one another. Three would be a crowd, I guess.

Since they are blessed with some musical talent, I have been asked numerous times if I have more at home. Many would try to make me feel guilty for not having more. They were asking if I could have an orchestra at home, I guess (compared to the olden days of wanting to have a football team at home!). Hahaha.

If I was any younger, may be.

Akmal being interviewed by RTM after his performance at Bakat TV in 2011.

The boys at Masjid Ihsaniah at Padang Asam in Kuala Kangsar

Arif at Tasik Bera

Akmal getting ready for his slot

Currently the highlight of Akmal's young life would be his performance at Nasik Lemak Kopi O at TV 9 in November of 2012. He performed four instrumental songs including his own composition which had been well received.

To my untrained mind, I think he can go far, if he wanted to. But only if he wanted to. That will be up to him. He has his own FB Page with over 3,000 fans, and his own Youtube channel, and some of his performances have garnered over 50,000 likes. For an instrumentalist, it is an achievement by itself, and that was recognized by TV9 when they invited him to perform live.

I love his composition, I really do. This comes not from a father's perspective but as someone who love music. You give him any song, and he will beautifully arrange it on the piano. His key selections are amazing and I would say much different from any other pianist.

It is soothing music from him, at times haunting.

The pianist waiting for his turn at TV9 studio

Arif on the other hand, while he is an accomplished pianist in his own way, has his own career in aviation. He now flies the US$70 million flying machine with 180 passengers each time, something his dad had been dreaming of when he was a kid himself.

Before that, he was flying the RM2,000.00 RC at Kota Damansara. He was a natural with the RC.

Arif in an Airbus A-320 simulator

I am happy to see their achievement in their young life. Bapak was not able to see the fruits of his labour, so to speak. He did not live to see any of his children graduating from university and work. So far, I have seen Arif starting his career and earning a living on his own, so I am grateful to Him.

A self portrait in his cockpit

Arif and the crew on his birthday last week.

The both of them are living my dreams, to be honest. I had wanted to learn an instrument, so I pounced on recorder and Yamaha organ (or the guitar when I was in MRSM) when I was younger, but to no avail, and I had wanted to be a pilot when I was a kid. Again, that did not materialize. They are what I had wanted myself to be, though I certainly would like to believe that I had done nothing to push (or pester) them to fulfill my dreams, other than fulfilling their own. I'd like to believe that I had only facilitated them, but not dictated to them on how they should lead their lives. I can't be sure of course that they are doing it for no one but for themselves, but I am pretty sure that that was the case.

Having said that, I think they have to look after each other. They are only the two of them, after all. Akmal is still in college and he needs to complete his degree, so in the event I am no longer around, then Arif would have to take charge, and make sure Akmal is successful in his academic pursuit. Then again, Akmal is a very independent and responsible person, so I would not bet against him taking charge of the family instead.

They still have a long way to go. I know that. But I do hope they will be able to reflect on their lives in the last 20 odd years, and use what they have experienced to their advantage. I may not be around to live or see them through, but I do hope that they will be more successful in life and have a more round life, so to speak.

Not just monetarily, but also spiritually.

Happy birthdays, Arif and Akmal.

Afriani Susanti, sang algojo Tugu Tani

(Nearly) Twenty years ago, when I started frequenting Indonesia (as part of my job), I though we were both at least decades apart.

Both physical and mental progress.

My Indonesian clients (and later on friends) would lament on how we had progressed so far, when in the 60s and 70s,  it was Indonesia who were helping Malaysia by sending their teachers in order to upgrade  our education systems. It didn't take us that long to surpass them, and in the 90s, so many of our consultants were providing services to our counterparts in the oil and gas industries in various capacities.

When my Canadian counterpart Vince and I visited Dumai for training in 1994, we had problem returning home since we didn't register our departure at the transport office - instead we headed to the port, and hence we were prevented from leaving.

But then, there is nothing that some hard, cold cash cannot grease the palms, and hence instead of having to stay there for another day, we were accorded VIP status and hence were able to leave.

We had no choice as otherwise we would incur another night's at the hotel and wasted our time instead of being back in the office (in Singapore). I was telling Vince of the history between the two nations, and how close we were to become one nation. His response?

"You are so lucky that you didn't. They would have drained you dry," I remember very well Vince's statements then. That's Vince; he is not someone who would mince his words.

Since the last decade or so, since the age of "reformasi", they had made tremendous progress, far beyond our shores to be honest. Things are very transparent there; they would dare calling a spade a spade. Things would be debated over on the telly, irrespective of the deeds or wrongdoings were done by the government or the 'oppositions'.

Very unlike us.

In the report in Jakarta Globe on Monday, it was reported that last year alone, Indonesia lost USD283 million due to graft. Mind you, we are talking about 2011 alone; it is nearly a billion ringgit, mind you. This was reported by Indonesia Corruption Watch, and they break it down to the following:

1. Embezzlement Rp123 trillion

2. Bogus project Rp 446 billion

3. Misappropriation Rp Rp181 billion

4. Mark-ups Rp 171 billion

5. Mark-downs Rp Rp66 billion

6. Illegal levies, abuse of power, bribery, gratification etc

I am not sure what's the markdowns are for, and how one profited from such venture.

I know things are still bad, but Indonesia are improving and they are improving fast. Years ago, I would have to frequent the small room at many port of entry in Indonesia; now I would not have too.

On the other hands, I would like to know the figures for Malaysia. Kapal selam, shopping, cincin, lembu - you name it, we got it all. But unlike the Indonesians, everything was hush-hushed up in Malaysia. After 50 years of ruling the country, all the Malays are good at is how to mess up everything that was given to us.

You name it - MAS, NFC, the navy ships, Proton, Bank Bumi, Perwaja; too many and too numerous to mention here. A former primary schoolteacher of mine told me recently why could not the Malays manage the country well enough, so much so the others like the Chinese, and Indians would not have anything bad to say about us. She has a point, and she quoted MAS as an example.

Even though she was not an accountant, and taught primary school children in the 60s-80s, she knew very well that by selling the MAS building, it did not constitute profit by MAS. She definitely has a point and I could not answer her to be honest.

We call ourselves Muslims with a strict Halal code and yet...[sigh]

But the biggest news in Jakarta happened on Sunday. Nine people died when Afriani Susanti rammed her car on kids and people waiting at a bus halt right in the middle of Jakarta.

Apparently she was on ecstasy!

She was calmed when she came out of her car, and I am not sure how did she do it. Many in Indonesia are clamouring for very heavy sentence for her.

Here is the scene at Tugu Tani in Jakarta. I asked my cab driver if she was bashed up by the crowd; apparently she was not and he said may be because it was a she and hence she was spared. I don't know; I probably would have bashed her up to be honest.

The Mee Rebus Tulang Sum Sum Town

To me, Taiping would always be the mee rebus capital of Malaysia.

For this is where one would find the best mee rebus in Malaysia and I have blogged it a couple of times (Mee rebus, anyone? and A Blast from the Past - Taiping Station). When I was first posted to Terengganu, I had a craving for mee rebus and all I got in the land of kepok leko was a watery mee sup.

Until I found Mee Rebus Mail Penang at Melawati, that is. This is one mee rebus my late uncle Pak Long and I would drive to from our homes in Ampang on a Saturday afternoon for our meals. As a rule of thumb, I am not a food lover and I would never not drive more than 1 km to fill in my stomach, except Mail Mee Rebus.

But I was introduced to mee rebus tulang sum sum when I was living in Johor Bahru in 1994, and I thought highly of it too. Though I have forgotten about it as I seldom would be in JB as I have no reason to do so.

But early this month, I was back in town and I would not want to miss this opportunity and sample my favourite dish again.

Here is a sample of the grand mee rebus tulang sum sum that we had last month when we were in JB for an engagement party for my cousin.

It would rival mail mee rebus for sure; I would give it a slight edge as it comes with the tulang sum sum, complete with a straw for you to suck the succulent sum sum. Can you see the straw sticking straight up in the middle of the noodles?

Whoa hoa! Beware, all those with high blood pressure. Make sure you have taken your medicine if want to live long enough to tell your family of how delicious these mee rebus was.

But where would you find similar offering in the Klang Valley?

But life isn't always about food. Men, they said, don't live on food alone. So I went back to my normal self driving down memory lane in JB, not just for me, but for Akmal and Mak.

We went roaming JB that Sunday, and while showing Akmal where they used to live when they were little, we came across this unique school building. It looks odd and at first sight I thought it was an army barrack, but it is a school. A beautiful one at that.

SK(P) Bandar Tinggi.

Let's pray that someone would not read this blog and suddenly had a thought of demolishing it and then commercializing this area too.

God forbids!

This is Mak's school in Johor Bahru - the famous SIGS; Sultan Ibrahim Girls' School. It is not far from my Jalan Petri apartment where I used to call home. I like the architecture too of this old building.

I think this could be late 40s and early 50s for her.

This is where I used to wait for my bus to JB Bus Station for my daily commute to Singapore.

And of course the apartment itself. From this apartment, we could see Dataran Bandaraya, the first picture in this entry above. It is beautiful at night.

I always love this Jalan Petri and the nearby Jalan Mahmoodiah. It is always green, and shady. What I love the most is the old colonial bungalow dotting these streets. So peaceful and tranquil.

LIke this old cemetery - Jalan Mahmoodiah Cemetery.

One of the better kept muslim cemetery in Malaysia, I would think.

I did enjoy my stay in JB. I may dislike going to town on a Saturday when the town is filled with Singaporeans as it would be congested. But beyond that I like the greenery of JB, and the old colonial buildings.

There is nothing to shout about in downtown but the surrounding is better than whatever I can enjoy in KL.

What did Bukit Pasoh, Tanjong Pagar dan Tanjung Katong have in common?

Me!

In 1971, when I was in Std 2, Di Tanjung Katong was a favourite and compulsory song for us (the other song Trek Tek Tek) in Cikgu Lily's class (pronounced Laili) at SRJK(I) Lenggong.

Back then I guess it never crossed my mind, that Tanjung Katong is actually in a foreign country. That song is part of our culture then and I guess it will remain that way for a long long time. Especially with the continued showing of PRamlee's movies, it will always be seen in that context.

When I got an offer to work at a Canadian software company with an office in Singapore, I was both ecstatic and apprehensive. While there are many Malaysians working in Singapore, there weren't that many Malay professionals working there. After working for 10 years with a local oil company, would I fit in into a multinational corporation - in a foreign country of all places, away from my comfort zone?

There would be no buddies to gossip with, and no friends to have lunch with - at least not from the previous 10 years. I would have to start all over again in a foreign country, where I would have no special privilege.

My boss would be an American Chinese, Wemin Chen; my colleague a stateless person, Rebecca Chin - she's a Chinese born in Brunei but not recognized as a citizen; and the administrator a Singaporean Chinese, Maureen Song. And here I was, a Malaysian Malay, if I may categorize myself as that. The office in Bukit Pasoh was a small office - as there were only the four of us; most of the time there would be only three. The boss would be coming from LA every other month.

With no bumi status for me in Singapore, I would have to compete with all and sundry - it will only be based on competency, skill, knowledge and hardwork. I cannot invoke any privilege whatsoever.

In fact the pressure was on, ironically from my own community. A friend, the late Hamdi - he was the other engineer at the oil company heavily involved in this niche area, called me when he found out that I was working with the favourite software company of ours, "Rahman, work hard, and jangan bagi malu kaum!" (please don't embarrassed your own race!)

That was his exact words. He did not mince them. I was stunned by his choice of words, but I knew he meant well, so I took it in stride and as a challenge and reminder. May Allah bless his soul.

My sis asked me about the pressure of working in Singapore after 3 months.

Working life in Singapore in the beginning was tough. By then I had decided that I was not going to live in Singapore and would commute from Johor Bahru daily instead, as I did not wish to lose my four-wheel privilege. No Malaysian worthy of their citizenship would anyway. I chose an apartment near enough the JB bus station (before it was moved to Larkin), so that I could easily do my commute daily.

Immediately after dawn prayer everyday, I would wait for the bus at the back of Sultanah Aminah hospital and then at the bus station would queue for the JB-Singapore Express bus that would take me to Bugis Station terminal. You would have to queue at both end, but it was all civilised and proper.

The tougher part would be at the immigration. I would have to bring my limited border passport everyday and both sides - Malaysia and Singapore - would have to stamp on it. The queue can be long and normally I would miss the bus that I have taken as it would not wait for you and would have to queue for the next bus.

This went on daily for a nearly month. I would leave home before 6 am and would reach the office by 7.30 am; the reverse travel would take me about the same time as I have the privilege to leave before the rush hour.

Caption: This is Bukit Pasoh Road in Singapore. I walk down this road daily in the mid-90s.

But the queue at the immigration was a tad too long for my liking and in order to cut the queue, and hence time, I need to be able to go to the permanent resident line. There was no queue there as those with a Singapore permanent residency would only need to 'wave' the passport to the the Singapore Immigration officer and they would let you through.

The beauty with this was that you would be able to maintain the same bus that you came with earlier and hence you would cut your time by between 15-30 mins.

But to be on that line, one need to be a permanent resident of Singapore. Obviously.

The application for a permanent residency only took 24 hours and much to my surprise, I got my passport back the next day complete with a permanent residency status. And even more Surprising for a Malaysian Malay, no question was asked whatsoever; I took it that, as a professional with certain skills, I am a wanted person in Singapore.

I presented my credentials, and I was given a PR status. Full stop.

Again, I presumed earlier that I would have a hard time getting my residency in Singapore since I am a Malay. But I presumed wrongly. Very wrongly.

Caption: Bukit Pasoh office. This was my office from 1994-1995. It was far cry from Dayabumi, but I love my sojourn in Singapore.There was a traditional Chinese music shop at the ground level, and at times I would be able to enjoy the music from my attic office.

With the newly given status, my commute would become easier. A lot easier.

From Bugis bus terminal (or Jalan Sultan Bus Terminal, I think) I would walk to Bugis station for the MRT to the Tanjong Pagar or Outram Park station, and then walk my way to my Bukit Pasoh Office. The office itself is nothing to shout about. It is at the attic of the 3 storey shophouse. But the walk from Tanjung Pagar Station to Bukit Pasoh was such a pleasant walk. Giant raintrees shaded the walkway and it was cooling. Tanjong Pagar is also the last station for KTMB trains. While the two stations are not the same, but to me Tanjong Pagar would always mean just that - train station for KTM which we as a young family had taken in 1992.

I could have exited at Outram Park which is a shorter walk to my office, but I felt affinity to the Tanjong Pagar station and area. It was my area, and I felt it very Malaysian, albeit a very cleaned one.

I am proud to have worked in Singapore - it was tough, and demanding and I have survived it. Beyond the competitive environment, it took me two busses, an MRT ride and a 20 mins leisure walk daily to my office, compared to say a 30-min car ride before. Who said that the Malays would never leave their comfort zone and compete in the real world? Who said that the Malays would prefer to be in their own country even it it was raining stone? Who said that the Malays would prefer to watch should it be raining gold in Singapore or anywhere else, and not take the opportunity to prosper there?

Mind you this was mid 90s; and at that time there was no Middle East market for our professionals. Vietnam has barely opened her door, and China was not on anybody's lip. No one leaves Malaysia then looking for greener pasture then; definitely not the Malays.

For us, there was no greener pasture. The grass is always greener on our side anyway.

Now of course it is a different stories. The Malays and of course Malaysians are everywhere; in the Middle East, Europe and North America.

The KTM station in Tanjung Pagar is a national treasure for both Malaysia and Singapore. I don't see the need of it to move to Woodland - would there be more contract to be given away to build another non-descript station like Sentral KL? I wonder what goes into the decision to move it. Not many would see Singapore, like I did, since they have never lived and worked in Singapore.

As with everyone else who has worked in Singapore, I have money in the Central Provident Fund of Singapore, so I do have an interest in the wellbeing of Singapore as a country. We compulsorily saved at least 40% of our monthly salary in Singapore, unlike only about 20% here in Malaysia. I would like to have my money back by the time I am 50; that's for sure. They have treated me well too, so I have nothing bad to say about Singapore.

But to me, Tanjong Katong and Tanjong Pagar are as Malaysian as Tanjung Rhu and KL Station and should have never been 'given' away. Tanjong Pagar Station and the KTM land in Singapore should have never been sold for any amount of money. How much money we are going to make and it will not last anyway. It will always go to the government coffer before ending up in some contractors' bank accounts.

Never mind about the water treatment plant. It is not worth as much as the Tanjong Pagar land. Heck, it is only fraction, if not a miniscule amount. Our forefathers were just too stupid to have that one sided water agreement, as always and an agreement is an agreement. There is nothing much we should get all hyped about. It's nothing new anyway - the PLUS agreement is another.

Have we been sold again?

I am seething and I am boiling. And this came on the heels on the Brunei debacle.

Now I am wondering which part of the country is going to be sold next.

EPILOGUE

On a bad traffic day, the whole length of the causeway would be one long parking lot. It would be much quicker to traverse it by foot, all 3/4 of a mile. That I have done many times. The worst was on one sunny day, I decided to walk to save me hours of traveling by bus. By the time I reached JB, I was all drenched in my own sweat.

As I stood at a mamak news vendor looking at the day's headlines (which I would normally read at the end of the day), he looked at me in amazement, and then looked up the sky and remarked, "Had it rained already? I didn't notice."

Been there and done that.