The Reader

Textamerica-Photoblog

Since I bought my new digital camera,I have been taking photographs here and there.I won't say it as a hobby yet, but I began to enjoy the fruits of my labour especially taking photos of flowers from my wife's garden. Lately, I bought a better mobile phone with a camera. It really bugs me to snap at anything that seems unique and worth having a digital photo record where ever I am.

This new interest in mobile phone photography led me to take a few photos and uploaded them to my personal moblog called The Reader@Large. You are welcome to browse and leave a few comments. By the way, I am still learning to take better photos.Any tips and guidance are most welcome.

The Strength of Water

The heavy rain started to fall since Thursday.It continues every afternoon with high intensity until to-day. Now, it is raining and the sound is deafening.I can't hear a word when my wife was talking to me..It is so powerful that a city like Kuala Lumpur can be grounded to a standstill...(see the photo)

Now, let me the share with you the Wisdom of The Warrior of Light,written by Paulo Coelho on Water:

The Warrior of Light sometimes behaves like water,flowing around the obstacles he encounters.

Occasionally, resistance might mean destruction, and so he adapts to the circumtances. He accepts, without complaint, that the stones in his path hinder his way through the mountains.

Therein lies the strength of water:It cannot be touched by a hammer,or ripped to shreds by a knife.The strongest sword in the world cannot scar its surface.

The river adapts itself to whatever route proves possible, but the river never forgets its one objective: the sea. so fragile at its source,it gradually gathers the strength of the other rivers it encounters.

And, after a certain point, its power is absolute.

My comments:

We cannot be water,even though we are made of at least 70% of it.But all of us can behave like water. Water exists in three states-liquid,solid and gas.It all depends on its temperature. When it gets too hot, it vapourises into the clouds. No one can see it, but it remains H2O.It comes down to earth as rainfalls.Most of the the time,it nourishes the planet earth, but sometimes when it turns into floods,many people will die and millions worth of properties get destroyed.It remains H2O at different speeds and volumes. When it gets too cold,it just freezes. It remains where it is and it is called ice.With the global warming effect, the huge icebergs may melt and flood many cities. When water is at normal temperature, it gravitates humbly to the lowest point in space and doesnot even form its own shape. Rather,it just fills the available space ...Well, that is water-the most expensive commodity when you don't have it.

Alzzina

Lately, we Malaysians have read in the newpapers a lot of news of sexual sins. As muslims/muslimahs,all of us know that it is one of the BIG SINS that we must NOT commit,not even getting near it. And yet, it is happening around us...

Here is the reminder from Allah swt in the Holy Qur'an:

Al-Isra [17:32]
Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils).

Let me share with you that one of the qualities/attributes of good muslims/muslimahs is to NOT to commit adultery or unlawful sex. It is mentioned in the the two groups(that I know,may be more) of ayats from the Qur'an .Please read Surah al-Mukminun (Ayats 1 to 11) and Surah al-Furqan (Ayats 63 to 77). These two groups of ayats explained in details the qualities of good muslims/muslimahs and ALZZINA is one of those to be avoided.

Zina is not only happening in towns and cities but also in the kampung(villages).There are many reasons/explainations given by authorities and individuals. As a muslim and a father, I must remind myself and my family members of this shameful act;and one of the ways is to continuously improve our level of knowledge and iman so that we will shun this evil deed.

A few months ago, I asked my 90+ years old grandma to 'dua' for my safety. Her wise reply:" InsyaAllah, I will dua for you, BUT you must NOT go near UNSAFE place!".

International Weblogger's Day

I read about International Weblogger's Day(9th June,2004) at Razin's blog two days ago.So, I created a new weblog called iBlog Malaysia so that all of us fellow Malaysians can celebrate the day virtually by writing our views about blog and blogging.

You are most welcome to post your thoughts/views about blog and blogging by sending it via email to:
[email protected]. Btw, all postings will be moderated to ensure only relevant contents will only be published.

Thank you for your participation and co-operation.

The Reader

The Prisoner of Azkaban

To-day I began reading The Prisoner of Azkaban.My son told me that the movie is coming soon to town.So, I decided to read and finish it before 3rd June,2004. Talking about Harry Potter's books, you can read my older blog I wrote in June, 2003 when Kinokuniya launched The Order of The Phoenix.

Do I read children books? Yes, I do.Some are quite interesting and they brought back memories of my own childhood. At the same time, reading Harry Potter's books makes me wonder and wander into the worlds of magic and forget the gory stories of tortured prisoners in Iraq and tortured maids in Malaysia. It is one form of emotional escapism that I love to indulge myself in....

Talking about prisoners, may be there are more 'prisoners' outside the prisons than inside. Some built their own 'walls' around themselves and some allowed others to do for them. Then, they complained to others...or just surrender to their own 'fate'.

When I was in secondary school in the 60's, I remember reading a book called The Prisoner of Zenda, but I could not recall the story. Can someone help me to recall?

Malaysian Water Forum

I am pleased to informed that MWF will be held at Renaisance Hotel,KL from 10th to 12th of June, 2004.Those who are interested can contact Encik Hazri,DID,HQ. Here is some info. By the way, I am one of the facilitators during the workshop session.

Our national water resources will be one of the important issues in this decade!

My breakfast

This morning I am having brekafast with a piece of bread called campagnue with garlic cheese spread on it.The drink is just "teh-O" and a spoon of cod liver oil and one capsule of garlic pearls.This is one way I am doing to maintain my cholestrol level within safe limits.

Now, I am reading a book on loan by my cousin on how to eat right.The book title is EAT RIGHT FOR YOUR TYPE by Dr Peter J.D'Adamo. The main feature is here eating foods that suit your blood type. I hope it works.
At my age ,I must know what I am eating....

To young people out there, you also have to watch what you are eating.When you reach 40 or may be earlier, your body will show you what you have been eating.Learn from the mistakes of other older people. Many of my peers are falling sick due to our indisciple in our eating habits:-(

Note:I bought compagnue bread from Sun Moulin at KLCC.One loaf costs me RM3.80 and it lasts four days.You can see the pictures here.

Harun Yahya

I am prompted to write this posting after reading the lastest posting at Mr Haxa's blog.Time was mentioned in the discourse;and also Harun Yahya. Here is the link to his website.

I must admit that I am a fan of Harun Yahya's books. So far, I have bought three books as follows:

1.Kaum Kaum Yang Pupus
2.Jangan Beralasan Anda Jahil
3.Matter-The Other Name for Illusion( which discussed about time)

What have I learned from his website and his books? A lot to mention here,and I strongly recommed to anyone who wishes to undertand our universe and ourselves to read his books. As mentioned by Haxa, it will change your perception of the universe and yourself.To me personally, it reaffirmed my belief in the Qur'an as the last authentic revealed holy scripture from Allah Rabul 'Alamin-The Lord of All the Worlds,seen and unseen,known and unknown.

Book allowance for ADUN

Syabas to YAB Menteri Besar Terengganu for giving some incentives to ADUN(state assembley men) to buy books.However, I think RM 250 per month is too much.With that money, I can buy at least five books,and I don't think each ADUN will have the time to read five books a month.I would be happy if ADUN can read one book a month. Since the allocation is already approved, may I suggest the ADUN buys himself/herself a book a month and buy another ten books to distribute to all the poor kids in Terengganu.

Giving books away is not enough. We have to inculcate the culture of reading to everyone.The BIG question how do we go about doing that? I have done that to a friend( to get him to read books)-you can read it at my reading blog dated 6/7/03.

Personally, I am still struggling to get my ALL my family members to read books.I am happy to note that my wife and one of my three children are reading books on regular basis.The other two only read for the exams:-( As a father , I showed them a good example by reading at least one or two books in a month. My friend once complained that her children donot like to read books. Then I asked her whether she reads books at least one in a month;and she replied not one in a year! How could we lead the change if we as parents donot show our kids good examples?

By the way, how much do we spend on books every month? I bet the money we spent eating-out is much more than we spend on books.

GLC's

Recently I read that a few of our big GLC(government linked companies) will have new CEO's in the next few weeks. A few top Malaysian brains will be given the heavy task of managing these giants.Can the giants be made to dance? May be, we can learn something from the former CEO of IBM who wrote a book about it. Personally, I welcome the change for the better and NOT for the worse. I have seen a few corporate change that failed. The CEO is one of the top key players for change.However ,he cannot do it alone.He needs to create more leaders below him to initiate the change and later maintain the change. In short,the CEO MUST LEAD THE CHANGE.Jack Welch has created 1500 leaders under his leadership to transform GE to what it is to-day.

Similarly, I hope the chief ministers in all the states of Malaysia will take this cue from our Prime Minister to initiate similar moves for state government GLC's.Many are losing money badly...not to mention the services to the people.

In the last few years, we have converted our major utilities govenment departments into body corporate and many are listed on KLSE. Have they met their goals and objectives? You as a customer be the judge for the services rendered by these GLC's. To understand the purpose of the organisations, I recommend you to read books by Charles Handy-a well known management thinker and guru.

Is it just about making money and serving the customers? Or is it more than that? What about national strategic interests? I believe we can learn form others like Temasik Holding in Singapore.Financial performance is NOT the only criteria of success.If it is a GLC, the government and the people interests must be the top priority.It is of no use if the people still get unsatisfactory services and yet the company is making billions of profits. In the case of privatised companies that were given concession to provide services to the people, three parties must win-the people,the government and the companies.The people will get the value for their money, the government could save millions of capital expenditures and the private companies must make profits for their shareholders.

Change at the top is a good start. He/she must be a good leader to create the right values and culture in his/her oragnisations.The CEO can only lead the change but the values and the culture will drive the change to meet the goals and objectives of the organisations and corporations.

My best wishes to the new CEO's.