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Currently transiting: Loch Lomond, Scotland | Previous destination: Kernavė Archaeological Site, Lithuania

Wednesday, 25 February 2009

Let Us Add Value : Dear Malaysian Politicians

The following message will be published as a full page ad in The Star tomorrow, reproduced from Anas Zubedy's blog.

Dear Malaysian Politicians,

Please stop the power chase, call for a truce and focus on the economy.

I do not claim to speak on behalf of all Malaysians, but I have strong convictions that many share my sentiments.

Our concern today is not who rules the country or heads the state governments but the looming bad economy.

Whether Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat leads, it is meaningless if Malaysians have no job to go to, no money to pay rent and no means to put food on the table.

I am a business owner, like other business owners and managers of corporations I have a responsibility to ensure people under my care and payroll continue to have jobs and a decent income to take home. We work hard and willing to go the extra mile to make sure our nation not only survive this crisis but come out stronger and wiser. We need your help.

Let me explain. I am in the business of Training, Development and Consultancy and have 20 people in my team.

Saedah is 42. She keeps the office clean and helps organise the training rooms. She has four children and her husband is unemployed. She was first hired on a part time basis, because she is very hard working and has a great attitude, we offered her a full time job to help provide a stable income for her family. Even then, when her third child started school this year, it was a struggle for her to buy new school uniforms and other necessities. Saedah lives on a ‘kais bulan, makan bulan’ basis, so, if she is jobless, her tap runs dry.

Samsuri is 27 years old. He lives with his sister and her family in a low cost government flat in Sunway. He does our despatch, helps with various clerical works and occasionally acts as a driver. During the first week at zubedy, we learned that he not only did not have money to buy new clothes and shoes for work, he had no money for lunch. Like Saedah, if he has no job, his tap runs dry too.

Alicia in Client Servicing turns 26 this year. She lives with her dad who is 71 years old and retired. Her mom passed away when she was little. Alicia is a hard-working team member, has a gentle caring outlook and fun to be with. (We like to poke fun at her as she blushes easily). Last May her dad went through a major operation, thank God he has recovered well. Alicia needs a job, both for herself and her dad.

Sudesh, 38, is one of our facilitators. When his father passed away last year, he moved back and lives with his mother in Seremban. He shuttles between Kuala Lumpur and Seremban daily, leaving home sometimes as early as 4 in the morning and returning late at night. He is no stranger to hard work and sacrifice, he knows what he needs to do to survive and to care for his mother, but he too needs a job.

Like fellow Malaysians, every one of us in zubedy needs employment, those that live from hand to mouth like Saedah and Samsuri and others like Alicia and Sudesh with family to care for. We Malaysians need the Malaysian economy to be strong. We need you, our leaders, to work hard and to work together to make our economy viable.

So this is my plea.

Pakatan Rakyat, please stop your attempts to take over the federal government and persuade BN’s lawmakers to join you. Stop all legal proceedings, no more 916 and let go, just let go. The nation can wait till the next general elections if they want change. By doing so, Malaysians will see your party as caring, unselfish and gracious and give you their support in the next elections.

Barisan Nasional, please stop any attempts to take over PR states and win over PR’s lawmakers. You have proven your point with Perak. The nation can wait for the next general elections if they want your party. Focus all your talent, energy and hard work in steering the country out of an economic downturn. By doing so, Malaysians will see your party as caring, unselfish and smart and give you their support in the next elections.

BN and PR! Call for a truce. Get together and compromise. Someone has to give in. Or has hate consumed your heart till it blinds you? You can do it. You have enough intelligent people between you. I am sure you can find solutions. Take the nation to heart. That is why you are in politics in the first place.

Focus on the people.

Focus on the economy.

Anas Zubedy
Managing Director
Zubedy (M) Sdn Bhd

Saturday, 21 February 2009

Life In Motion: Symphonic Resonance

Symphonic Resonance - the theme of the night at Dewan Sri Pinang. Never mind the picture of the Austrian Parliament in Vienna below; I was carried away. Back home, it was full house and the audience was feted to an excellent repertory of music pieces, both classical and contemporary. I wonder until the end why didn't they include the themes from the anime Blood+. Oh well...


The boys and girls of the Jit Sin Philharmonic Orchestra (the Chinese Orchestra is on its way) did very well and I will not compare them to the pros. All in unison, perfectly timed and synchronized. A joy to watch them. These guys (and gals) are a bunch of talented people and - I may add - bright.

Like I've mentioned earlier (here), those on stage tonight will one day travel down the road least taken; one which will lead to their desire and passion being made a reality. How many make music their profession? And I'm not talking about being a part-time music teacher; much less to make music a hobby.

My only complain of the night besides some unruly behaviour of some students (how I miss school life) are the seats in the hall. High time somebody do something about it. On the whole, it was a good experience. I best start out here before splashing on the MPO in KLCC. After all, I'm no musician but one learning to appreciate them.

My respect is ever that high for these fellas on the stage. Each with their instruments and however loud (or soft), each contributes to the piece being performed. The theme from Pirates of the Caribbean (oh, here's Hans Zimmer) was great and I love the energy of it. Gum-Suckers March and the Blue Danube were other wonderful ones.

To the JSPO and to them who dream and dare make music a goal, I say to you all, "Bravo!"

Danube so blue, so bright and blue,
through vale and field you flow so calm,
our Vienna greets you, you silver stream
through all the lands you merry the heart
with your beautiful shores...

Thursday, 19 February 2009

Jobs, Environment, and the Head Honcho

Disgruntled sacked worker shoots former boss is the headline in The Star Online. All over, everyone is feeling the effects of the global economic slowdown - layoffs, salary cut, and long holidays. I'm not in the position to comment on the victim since I don't know what he was like. We'll let the police handle that.

I wish to highlight the kind of treatment some bosses and heads of department give to their employees, particularly "fresh graduates" like myself. These freshies are deemed as an incompetent lot and suggestions are thrown out the moment they were voiced out. Contract terms may not be followed by their bosses and they're asked not to "calculate too much" with the company. They acquiesced.

Though not mentioned in the law, I'd go so far as to say that they're being exploited - sub-standard working environment and maltreatment. By maltreatment, I meant the berating and unfair job delegations. It includes unrealistic expectations on the employer's part and the carefree shift of responsibilities when things go awry.

Imagine what they'd do to foreign workers.

For goodness' sake, how can these employers expect the "dumb and incompetent" freshies to prove their worth when ideas and suggestions are shot down; their every step and thoughts dictated for them. It's ironic why they'd hire people to fill a position when the employee can't even be trusted. Why not consult university lecturers?

How'd I react to headlines like the above? Impassive and often, I'd think it has got to do with the employer's treatment, management and relationship with his/her employees. I'd never know since it's unreported. We're only seeking respect and trust. It doesn't matter if one's reprimanded for a mistake but it does matter when the blame is shifted to us dumb, incompetent black sheep. For such a person, I won't bat an eyelid when calamity befalls you or your family.
To those laid off, hang in there. Take time off and pick up the pieces. Enjoy the holiday and come back refresh. Fight another day.

Sunday, 15 February 2009

Life In Motion: A Deluge of Messages

There'll be sad songs to make you cry,
Love songs often do,
They can touch the heart of someone new
Saying I love you...

"They'd make me smile too. Some wordings are meaningful." I thought to myself. The clock displays 23:56 on the digital readout. Billy Ocean is wrapping up Valentine's Day.

I continued reading the latest issue of Time. Suddenly, the cellphone vibrated. A message from a friend. It reads:
... a ticket for Jit Sin Chinese Orchestra...
Sweet. I can hardly wait.


***

I never knew that the first message and the first call last night were the ones that opened the floodgates to a deluge of messages and phone calls up until now. Well, it sure is nice to know that they remembered me. All I could is to say thank you and to tell them how much I appreciate the thoughtfulness.

Even my aunt sent a message that reads:
...God unfolds each day like the petals of a rose. Each one is a beauty to behold. May each of your moments be touched by His tender loving hands...
It isn't the content nor the length of the calls and messages but rather the thoughts. Another one arrived a moment ago and like all the messages and calls, it begins with "Happy Birthday".

Aging gracefully? Hope so.

Saturday, 14 February 2009

Valentine: Living the Day

To the lovebirds,
May the nest be warm and every moment, sweet

To the dateless,
May the right one comes, otherwise, be happy since being alone is a blessing too

To the heartbroken ones,
May past experiences teach you to love, be loved, and be wary

As for me, I'm indulging in good music and good food in my bed
Alas, the stress and horror of work continues to haunt and buffet me.

Shoutouts to: Gan, Wei Wong, Yin Kuan, Sophie, [beloved supervisor] Normi, Mary Ann, and Mira [in Seoul]. Not forgetting [muted] visitors here.

Friday, 13 February 2009

Send-A-Mail-To-The-President Drive

Students send e-mails to Obama to -- what?! I'm out of words for the "ingenuity" of some people to stop the conflict in West Asia. How should I begin?

History showed us that talks and discussions often involved a third person, a mediator. Some were successful and some ultimately failed. So far so good. I wouldn't criticize people, in this case the students, opposed to war and it's fine with me if they show solidarity with the Palestinians. Some are passionate and sincere, and I respect that. But there's one thing they ought to understand (and made to understand): It takes two to tango. If I have people lobbing grenades into my residence, I wouldn't look at that person and flash the "peace" sign.

I'm opposed to war and violence but these aren't happening only in Palestine. Take five and think for a moment, we'd come up with many hotspots in the world. Now, don't people die in these places? Aren't there violence and injustice?

It's good to inculcate love and the desire for peace in each and every child. I would, in addition to war and violence, talk to them about showing sympathy (for people and for animals), respect, the evil of corruption as well as the importance to have non-vacillating principles.

Camp David Accords, Egyptian–Israeli Peace Treaty, Oslo Accords, Taba Summit, Arab Peace Initiative, and the list goes on. Like I said, these talks and meeting ended with varying outcomes running the gamut from success to inconclusivity to failure but each is a milestone to achieve a possible peace in that region. To those that didn't take part in such discourse could do more than just burn flags, call for boycott, and now we have "Send the President an E-mail". It's true that the US could do more (I remembered seeing the picture of Rabin, Clinton, and Arafat) but like everyone else in the current economic situation, people are busy stimulating the economy. For all the talks held in various parts of the world and engineered by both the US and EU, the outcome hinged on the willingness of both parties (Israel and Palestine) to accept terms. If both are hard-headed, what else could others do?

If we have the resources and manpower, why not aid the suffering Palestinians directly? We sure have enough doctors. I'd be begging to join Mercy if I were a doctor. Leave all the talks to the politicians, which incidentally, think more of politicking than governing. There are many more pressing issues affecting the nation and the world at large and it'd be an oversight to just dwell on a matter. By all means, help the Palestinians but I can't stand the hypocrisy behind the drive. Do more and talk less. By doing, I meant actions that aren't laughable.

Anyone care to join me in sending PM Abdullah e-mails?

Thursday, 12 February 2009

Calling Sadists and Gluttons...

This one goes out to despicable people mentioned in the title. Turn away from your dastardly deeds of torturing animals and sending them to the cooking pot just to satiate your disgusted appetite. Learn to appreciate nature and its creation. Learn to love not only your own kind. Wipe away that smirk on your face and open wide that eyes which gleam with malice.

Behold, the latest sensation on the net. Sam (above) and boyfriend (?) (below)

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