HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY

I did not forget. I relied too much on my PDA to alert me. It was there, glaring at me yesterday. Then I charged the PDA, the alert was not discharged, but it was momentarily out of my sight. Perhaps I need a new PDA (hint...hint), something that begins with a letter "i"

No matter how old you are now, and how old you will be, no matter who you will be, no matter what you will be, no matter what, you will REMAIN MY BABY.

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY

We always make a great pair!

IN THE SPIRIT OF SISTERHOOD

It's normal when one talks about friendship and bonding, one will say "brotherhood". Being a man myself, I beg to differ this time around. How else can you classify it if you have 6 sisters bullying one brother on our 1st SIBLING GET-TOGETHER trip. So, "sisterhood" it will be.

No thanks to one younger brother who could not make the trip, I was the only rose amongst the thorns who made the trip to Bandung for this memorable get-away. Get-away here literally mean just that --- get-away from husbands and in my case, from my wife. Huh?

These are my sisters, 2 elder ones and 4 younger ones. Donned in the red and blue uniform, people at the KLIA thought we were from a company going on a company-sponsored trip. Indeed we were, a company of a brother and sisters!

My immediate elder sister Kamariah @ Ibu G was the prime mover of this project. With her extensive contacts in Jakarta and Bandung, we had Ibu G's friends waiting for us on arrival at Jakarta airport, feast us for dinner and put us in a 8 seater van to Bandung. Terima kasih Bapak Freddy dan Ibu Irma

In Bandung, we were housed in a nice bungalow, courtesy of Bapak Joesril and Ibu Yulia. Every morning over breakfast, we reminisced the carefree childhood days of yesteryears. We drew hilarous laughters. We hope we did not wake up the residents of this peaceful neighborhood. We were one, the family of our late Hj Zakaria and Hajjah Halimah.

In Bandung, what will the ladies do? They left me to fend for myself while they put holes in their pockets. I prefered the independence or else I would be bullied again to carry the loads of spoils that they spent hours and hours buying.

With my trusty Nikon and Sony Videocam, I was capturing moments in the street. One that caught my attention was a young man, earning an honest living with his monkey.

When it was time to return home, we were many kgs heavier.

I was earlier worried that the 8-seater may not be able to take the load and we would have excess baggages. None of these were a cause for worry.

Back in KLIA, we were already for next year's trip. For now, it remains a secret!

Thank you sisters for such a memorable trip - one that money cannot buy. Thanks husbands and wife for letting us go. If you so desire, you husbands are most welcomed to organise your own in-law trips...heh...heh..

WHEN THE FINGER RECEIVES THE RING

Saturday 12th Jun 2010 marks another milestone in the family circle. Fresh from a "siblings only" outing in Indonesia, we came home for another family get-together. This time, Insyallah, will see the bind of 2 families together in December.

As parents, my wife and I have waited for this day. And I must add, so did the uncles, aunties, nephews and nieces. Not that it's long overdue. This day, our son RAFEQ will be engaged to our future daughter-in-law NURUL AFRAH.

Saturday 2:30 pm was the appointed time. And we were on the dot! Having 2 retired army officers as brothers-in-law and yours sincerely grilled from young in RMC to be on time, we did not disappoint our future "biras". Hope they do not think we were just too eager!

We got the young men to carry the "hantaran". Right in front is the potential candidate for next year's hantaran. That's our second son Raqim, not overdue but also due! True to correct management principle, we will focus on one thing at a time.

After the usual pleasantries, the merisek was over in less than 5 minutes. 

Ingin memetik bunga yang kembang

Untuk hiasan dalam jambangan
Apakah daya nasibku malang
Bungaku puja dipetik orang

Too bad la Datuk Ahmad Jais

Ingin memetik bunga yang kembang

Untuk hiasan dalam jambangan
Alhamudlillah nasibku tidak malang
Bunga Rafeq puja, belum dipetik orang

So our spokesman Lt Kol (R) Hj Hamzah (my brother-in-law) offered the symbolic rings, passed one circle to the future mother-in-law for acknowledgement and acceptance and back into the bekas hantaran for the symbolic "adat menyarung cincin" - a first for my wife. (Wahai isteri ku, one more chance next year)

Formalities over, time for some digitial memories

My Side

Future Biras side

BOTH SIDES

(Rafeq & Nurul Afrah)

SIBLINGS...AND ONLY SIBLINGS

How often do you get a group of siblings going on a holiday? Happens all the time.

Well, how often do you get a group of siblings, MINUS THEIR SPOUSES,  going on a holiday?

That's exactly what the Zakaria family will do today. 7 girls and 1 boy will do just that.

The one sitting, the eldest, can't make the trip. The boy sitting can't make the trip either. So that leaves all the 6 girls (behind the one sitting) making the trip. of course the boy relaxing in front will also make the trip.

Will the only boy going be bullied by all the girls? Hmmm.....maybe.

But we know that we will have a wonderful time together for this once in a lifetime activity.

To the unlucky spouses who have to be left behind, take heart. We will bring some "ole-ole" back for you all.

TERATAK MINANG

Having explored the original land of the Minangs not just once, but twice, the musical theatre "TERATAK MINANG" is a show not to be missed. Istana Budaya, designed for performing arts is just the place to showcase this latest musical.

Somehow, I do feel a little bit out of place as my wife and I queue up to enter the theatre. There are obviously a lot of the Minang descendants in the queue. Some  proudly branding their Minang lingo. Well, pure Kelantanese as I am, I consoled myself that my wife is of Bugis descendant. Kira orang dari seberang juga lah! I bump into a friend's wife who had an entourage of her Minang sisters with her. Everybody is proud of their origins.

The casts are a mix of veterans and up and coming artistes, all displaying great professionalism.

Who would not remember the evergreen Ely Kassim. Her rendition of "Ayam den Lopeh" at the beginning of the show is just crispy, as crispy as the chicken fried ala-Padang. Ah...nostalgia untuk seorang yang bakal menjangkau 60!

And there is also Eddy Silitonga rendering songs made popular by Tiar Ramon. Tiar Ramon is a pure Minang but he has passed away many years ago. I am sure if Tiar Ramon is alive, he would be here with Ely Kassim. But Edy is a great replacement.

There is another local guest artiste Aishah Wahid. I must admit I do not know the younger singers but she too had a very sweet voice.

Music director is none other than Datuk Suhaimi Mohd Zain, better known as Pak Ngah. An ensemble of gamelans and other classical musical instruments blend very well with the modern musical instruments. 

The story-line is simple. A kampong scene, two young men, one planning to merantau. Ujang, played by our very own Ebby Yus about to journey to seek a better life, to cross the straits to where the Minangs abound - Nogori Sombilan in Tanah Melayu.

Bidding farewell to Ujang is Buyung, the main cast. Buyung is played by Hengky Zubir, an original from Padang.

And there is Siti Nurba'yah played by a Minang lass Nadia Putri Rosadi. Siti Nurba'yah is Buyung's sweetheart. She too appears into the scene carrying some "bekalan" and to bid farewell to Ujang.

More kampong scenes and more renditions of Minang songs by both Elly Kassim and Eddy Silitonga, supported by dancers from Istana Budaya and Sofyani Dance Group from Padang.

The call to "merantau" is also strong in the blood of Buyung. He too must "merantau" to seek a better fortune for he later wants to ask for the hands of Siti Nurba'yah. So off he goes following the footstep of his friend Ujang. Siti Nurba'yah is very sad to let Buyung go, but go he must! Eddy Silitonga rendered "Bapisah bukan barcarai" as the goodbye scene is acted out.

The prop is great. An actual Ojek, the passenger van found in Padang is driven in to the stage to pick up Buyung. The famous Jam Gadang of Bukit Tinggi is also featured. Hats off to the prop crews!

So Buyung too landed in Nogori Sombilan, precisely in Seremban. A busy scene in a market place and Buyung was seeking directions to meet his uncle Pak Wahab, who had "merantaued" earlier and found his small fortune as a clothes merchant.

Pak Wahab is played by Ally Noor and his wife Mas is played by Mastura. Both of them Ally Noor (Pak Wahab) and Mastura (Mas) are famous for their songs "Apo Kono Eh Jang", "Alahai Anak Omak", "Apo Nak Buek Jang" and many others. If you think they both hailed from Negeri Sembilan, you are wrong! I too thought they are pure Minangs. They were both born in Pahang and Ally Noor is a cousin brother of Mastura.



So Buyung also met Ujang who is now married to Yong.  Buyung thinks Yong is also a Minang lass but the bubbly Yong says she is from Perak. And in her Perak slang, jests that she thought abang Ujang is a Bangla, emphasising his dark skin and is a little "disappointed" that he is a Minang. The audience had a great laugh with the bantering and Ujang was quick to act that "sobonar nyo, Yong ingat sayo ni Shah Rukh Khan". Again a good laugh.

Yong is played by Siti Rokhaida, better known as "Rock Terjah". And Rock Terjah certainly "rocks".

Another scene have Buyung reading a letter from Siti Nurba'yah who misses Buyung. But not long after, Buyung received a shocker. Siti Nurba'yah's father has matched-make her to another lad in the village. So there we see Buyung "frust menunggeng" as his sweetheart is taken away from him. Several sad Minang songs follow as Buyung wonders aimlessly in the kampong.

Overcoming his remorse, Buyung soon took over the business of Pak Wahab and concentrate on working hard. Another busy scene in the market. In come a new lass, Siti Nurhalisa with her mom on a shopping spree. A little commotion when she forbids her mum from buying cheap perfumes from a group of young men. One of them has a heart for Siti Nurhalisa and when Siti gets a free gift from Buyung, Buyung is challenged to a fight. Buyung, known as a gentleman shows his true color, true to his Minang blood!

The story obviously ends on a happy note. The musical ends with the merisek and Buyung finally marries Siti Nurhalisa

and they lived happily ever after

THE TRINKLET

He showed the peace sign as I captured him on my mobile phone. He was perhaps telling me that he was at peace with himself despite his challenges. His right hand hanged lifeless and he has limited use of his legs. He told me he can walk, albeit slowly, with the aid of a walking stick. I was at KL Sentral, waiting for the Komuter to return home. I missed the earlier train by a minute and had a 20mins wait. I looked for a bookstore and was browsing through the headlines of the days' newspapers. Then I noticed him, and he noticed me. He smiled. I returned his smile. With his left hand, he was making effort to open his zipped bag. I was observing him and he knew I was observing him. Inside his bag I could see little trinklets wrapped in plastic. He quickly offered me one, perhaps afraid that I would make a quick exit. "Berapa?". "5 ringgit encik". I did not hesitate. I took out a red note and he understood my gesture.

His next move was a surprise. He grabbed my hand and asked me to come close to him. His "only" left hand was strong. "Encik, tolong letak muka encik dekat dengan muka saya. Saya mahu cium encik". He kissed my cheek. I was sure the crowd was looking but I did not care. Here was a man, probably dying to give love to someone. Here was a man also dying to talk someone.

His next move suprised me even more. "Encik, tolong cium pipi saya". I did. The first time I ever kissed a man....on the cheek. Here is someone dying for some closeness with another human.

His name is Kim Wai. Born in Teluk Intan 40 years ago. At age 11, he was knocked down by a car, his right side now semi-paralysed. 4 in the family, parents still living in Teluk Intan.

Kim Wai lived alone in a rented place in Bandar Sg Long. His address 23A, Jalan 6/2.

BILA AL-QURAN MULA BERBICARA

Waktu engkau masih kanak-kanak. ......... ...

kau laksana kawan sejatiku

Dengan wudu', Aku kau sentuh

Dalam keadaan suci, Aku kau pegang

Aku kau junjung dan kau pelajari

Aku engkau baca dengan suara lirih atau pun keras setiap hari

Setelah selesai engkau menciumku mesra

Sekarang engkau telah dewasa...... ........

Nampaknya kau sudah tak berminat lagi padaku...

Apakah Aku bahan bacaan usang yang tinggal sejarah...?

Menurutmu, mungkin aku bahan bacaan yang tidak menambah pengetahuanmu

Atau, menurutmu aku hanya untuk anak kecil yang belajar mengaji..... 

Sekarang, Aku tersimpan rapi sekali

Kadang kala Aku dijadikan mas kawin agar engkau dianggap bertaqwa

Atau Aku kau buat penangkal untuk menakuti iblis dan syaitan

Kini Aku lebih banyak tersingkir, dibiarkan dalam kesendirian

Kesepian di dalam almari, di dalam laci, aku engkau pendamkan.

Dulu...pagi- pagi..
surah- surah yang ada padaku engkau baca beberapa halaman.

Di waktupetang, Aku kau baca beramai-ramai bersama temanmu di surau.....

Sekarang...seawal pagi sambil minum kopi...
Engkau baca surat khabar dahulu

Waktu lapang engkau membaca buku karangan manusia

Sedangkan Aku yang berisi ayat-ayat yang datang dari Allah Azzawajalla

 Engkau abaikan dan engkau lupakan...

Waktu berangkat kerja pun kadang2 engkau lupa baca pembuka

surah2ku (Bismillah) .

Di dalam perjalanan engkau lebih asyik menikmati musik duniawi

Tidak ada kaset yang berisi ayat Allah yang terdapat di dalam keretamu

Sepanjang perjalanan, radiomu selalu tertuju ke stesyen radio kesukaanmu

Mengasyikkan.

Di meja kerjamu tidak ada Aku untuk kau baca sebelum kau mulai kerja

Di Komputermu pun kau putar musik favoritmu

Jarang sekali engkau putar ayat-ayatku ........

E-mail temanmu yang ada ayat-ayatku pun kau abaikan

Engkau terlalu sibuk dengan urusan dunia mu

Benarlah dugaanku
Bahawa engkau kini sudah benar-benar hampir melupaiku

Bila malam tiba engkau tahan bersekang mata berjam-jam di depan TV

Di depan komputer berjam-jam engkau betah duduk

Hanya sekedar membaca berita murahan dan gambar sampah

Waktupun cepat berlalu..... ....

Aku semakin kusam dalam laci-laci mu

Mengumpul debu atau mungkin dimakan hama

Seingatku, hanya awal Ramadhan engkau membacaku kembali

Itupun hanya beberapa lembar dariku

Dengan suara dan lafadz yang tidak semerdu dulu

Engkaupun kini terangkak-rangkak ketika membacaku

Atau waktu kematian saudara atau taulan mu

Bila engkau di kubur sendirian menunggu sampai kiamat tiba

Engkau akan diperiksa oleh para malaikat suruhanNya

Apakah TV, radio, hiburan atau komputer dapat menolong kamu?

Yang pasti ayat-ayat Allah s.w.t yang ada padaku menolong mu

Itu janji Tuhanmu, Allah s.w.t

Sekarang engkau begitu enteng membuang waktumu...

Setiap saat berlalu...

Dan akhirnya.... .

kubur yang setia menunggu mu..........

Engkau pasti kembali, kembali kepada Tuhanmu

Jika Aku engkau baca selalu dan engkau hayati...

Di kuburmu nanti....

Aku akan datang sebagai pemuda gagah nan tampan

Yang akan membantu engkau membela diri

Dalam perjalanan ke alam akhirat

Dan Akulah "Al-Qur'an", kitab sucimu

Yang senantiasa setia menemani dan melindungimu.

Peganglah Aku kembali.. .. bacalah aku kembali aku setiap hari

Karena ayat-ayat yang ada padaku adalah ayat-ayat suci

Yang berasal dari Allah Azzawajalla

Tuhan Yang Maha Pengasih dan Maha Pemurah

Yang disampaikan oleh Jibril melalui Rasulmu

Keluarkanlah segera Aku dari almari, lacimu...... 

Letakkan aku selalu di depan meja kerjamu

Agar engkau senantiasa mengingat Tuhanmu

Sentuhilah Aku kembali...

Baca dan pelajari lagi Aku....

Setiap datangnya pagi, petang dan malam hari walau secebis ayat

Seperti dulu.... Waktu engkau masih kecil

Di surau kecil kampungmu yang damai

Jangan aku engkau biarkan aku sendiri...

Dalam bisu dan sepi....