LEE KUAN YEW

One of the great leader that I admire most is Mr. Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore. Even my late father was his fan. I still remember my father requested my relatives to video-tape Mr. Lee's national day speeches for him. Though I may not agree fully with Mr. Lee's ideas, opinions, thoughts or whatsoever, I realized there are many truths in them.

I shall collect his ideas, opinions, thoughts or whatsoever in my blog from time to time, for the benefit of mankind. Lets start with the below :-

" We knew that if we were just like our neighbors, we would die. Because we've got nothing to offer against what they have to offer. So we had to produce something which is different and better than what they have. It's incorrupt. It's efficient. It's meritocratic. It works.

The system works regardless of your race, language or religion because otherwise we'd have divisions. We are pragmatists. We don't stick to any ideology. Does it work? Let's try it and if it does work, fine, let's continue it. If it doesn't work, toss it out, try another one. We are not enamored with any ideology."

PENANG TRIP - 17 to 20 August 2007

Hehe, time flies. Another trip to Penang this year, sort of pilgrimage during school holidays and after busy period of mine. The different this time is that this trip is partly subsidized, in conjunction with my niece's convocation at University Sains Malaysia.

My dad aspired to attend this convocation during his lifetime. How nice if he is still alive to join us with this memorable celebration. We believe though he is unable to be with us physically, spiritually, he is still around us during the convocation.

Also, sharing with you a slide show of my trip there, enjoy.

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包括妻子在內,納吉坦言不瞭解女人

Interesting news. You agree with him? How about you? Can you understand women?

难怪有这么多有名无实的夫妻呢! 嘻嘻哈哈!

QUOTATIONS 引文

Below are quotations that I come across when browsing internet. I shall update these quotations in this blog from time to time. You can read them with ease by clicking on the link 'QUOTATIONS 引文' on your right. Lets start with :-


Who knows perhaps we will all make history…..ONLY IF WE DARE TO DREAM

我愛我的國家．有國才有家．有家才有我

A man has to do what a man has to do

Religion is one path towards personal peace and spiritual fulfilment. It is also something which depends entirely on faith. Even if the religion is a ‘way of life’, a term commonly used to describe xxxxx; it still needs belief and faith. How can one be forced to follow a ‘way of life’ if one simply does not believe in it? Once the element of force comes into the picture, be it in the form of fines, imprisonment or ‘rehabilitation’, then religion ceases to be about the spiritual and becomes instead a matter of power.

"Berani kerana benar"

i was born in Malaysia... sure i love this place, this country. But i don't need anyone else to TEACH ME HOW to love this country.

I am beginning to see a glimmer of hope at the end of what once seemed a hopeless tunnel.

It has indeed been a long and winding road, but alas, I can see that the Ray of Hope is bursting thru’ the clouds. Though I may be in my sixties, living each day as a bonus, but i know the future “children of Negara Ku” will be able to experience and love the “fruits of sacrifice” from all our sincere and truthful “Anak Malaysia”

A joke was just a joke. An opinion was just an opinion. A viewpoint was just a viewpoint. Differences were respected and accepted.

" You reap what you sow"

Jesus once said "do unto others what you want others do unto you"


I know Malaysia has its faults and bad feeling
It is the leaders whom we made them to the office
We can make a change in the box
It is our rights to initiate change


I am trying hard not to be a racist, because racism is simply wrong, once in grave, God only sees ones deeds, not race

I support causes, not personalities. If that personality carries a cause I can relate to then I rally behind him. If I do not like his cause or feel that he has abandoned the cause then I move on. Life is too short to bitch and whine. If we meet eye-to-eye, we talk. If not, we walk.......RPK of malaysia-today.net

I have been lucky to have always had a shoulder to lean on when needed. God bless all those who love me. The rest he may bless if he so desires!

If by definition a judiciary means an independent, incorruptible and neutral judiciary, then we don't have one" - former Lord President Salleh Abas in Malaysiakini.

CHICKEN SOUP FOR A TIRED SOUL

I came across a comment which I treasure, read it :-

“Don’t cling to things, because everything is impermanent”….a Buddhist saying.

It is alright to cling to negative emotions like fear, pain, failure, desperation, hopelessness, meaningless, worry and so forth. After you allow yourself to be fully penetrated by them, you got to detach from them and continue your journey. We don’t necessary taste the fruits from the good seeds we sowed in our mortal life span. If you hold back on your emotions…and don’t allow yourself to go all the way through them, you can never get to being detached. You become too busy being in all your emotions. After you have experienced and recognized all your emotions…tell yourself it is time to detach and carry on with the journey. There are more things and emotions awaiting you. ….hahaha learnt this entire talking cure from Morrie on the Tuesdays. Poem is chicken soup for a tired soul.

THE BITTER STICKGIRL

Introduce you to this blog. I am impressed with the originality of its drawings.

100TH DAY OF DAD'S PASSING

This coming 7/07/07, Saturday will be my dad's 100th day of passing. Co-incidentally, my wife had a dream of my dad waving goodbye to her and at the same time, reminding my wife to tell me to wear more clothing. Well, such gesture touched me so much that my dad still care for me even though he is gone. Perhaps he knows this coming Saturday is the last time he will remain with his family, after this, his soul will be elsewhere. For me, this coming Saturday will be sort of 'reunion' for my dad before we bid farewell to him.

I believe that although physically he is gone, spiritually he is still around, he is in my heart forever. My kids believe their 'Ah Kong' is still with them and my youngest daughter will call out loud 'Ah Kong' when I say 1,2,3.....3,2,1 and 1,2,3 to her. My family had the privilege to live with my dad all these while. Thanks dad for all your love.....bye.

DO NOT BELIEVE IN ANYTHING SIMPLY.....

I found this posting by one named 'surfwarrior' who was commenting on http://www.malaysia-today.net/Blog-s/2006/07/from-bad-to-worse.htm , read on, I agreed with surfwarrior :-

"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it." - Buddha

surfwarrior, I hope you won't mind I copied your posting in mine.....thanks

PANTAI CHENDOR, CHERATING

This is the place I and my family spent during the last weekend. This beach is rich with its sea shells, fine sand and relatively low waves. It is a place I recommend you to go with your family. My kids spent the whole day there without complaining of tiredness. It is a paradise to them.

TODAY, 49TH DAY OF MY DAD'S PASSING

This Mt Fuji photo was sent to me by a friend from China.

Today, Thursday 17th May 2007 is my dad 49th day of passing. Time passes really fast but it was not easy to pass by these 49 days. Many questions popped up my mind and I did some sort of soul searching during these 49 days. Questions like why we exist in this world, what is the purpose of we come to this world and where is one goes to after death. Is there any truth in Kamma. If someone up there so powerful, why there are still sufferings in this world. Why can't someone out there use his power to make the world no suffering at all and make the world a peaceful and happy place to live at.

I search the Web for answers to these questions but still not satisfied or convinced. Maybe we are so used to this 'material world' where we can touch and see with our own senses. Something must be tangible or scientifically proven in order to convince us to accept an answer. So, really, there is no definite answers to those questions that satisfied / convinced me.

The answer about Kamma is the one which I am more convinced at, though not fully. I need more time to find out more truth about it. From the look at it (see my posting 'What is Kamma' dated April 29, 2007), the nature Law of Kamma sound simple. Someone even opined that it is 'common sense', everyone knows about it. My question is, if the law is so simple and of common sense, why there are still so many crimes and wrong doing happening in our society?

Kamma is more acceptable to me simply because it put responsibility on ourselves. That is, whatever happened to us, it was due to our own action. You can simply explain it by a chinese proverb ' Goat's fur come from goat's skin' 羊毛出在羊身上. In a way, whatever we want to achieve in life, do it with a sincere manner with no evil motive behind. You agree with me in this?

Well, I believe I can't do much now for my father, since he is gone, but I believe good deed done in his name will help him to have a better next life. A prayer was held on this 49th day of his passing, sincerely hope that the prayer will benefit my father in whatever way. But, it is still depend on my dad's own Kamma, which I believe, should be a good one.

I REGRETTED NOT BEING WITH MY DAD.......

I regretted not being with my dad at time of his passing. I should have stayed longer with him that faithful midnight. I was optimistic then that dad able to get well again..... and can live with my family again, but....... I was wrong, I regretted not at his bed side then.

Before I left him that night, I massaged his legs which were swollen, then I stroke his hand gently and told him to sleep well. Again, I could have stayed with him longer.

Now that he has gone. This coming Thursday, 17 July, 2007 (sorry, should be 17 May, 2007) is his 49th day of passing. We Chinese, or rather Buddhists believe that the soul of the deceased will still be with its family within 49 days of one's passing before reincarnated / reborn elsewhere as another living being. Prayers have been offered to him to wish him well in his next life. So, let us all do our parts to offer him prayers this coming Thursday. I wish him a good and less sufferings future life elsewhere.

WHAT IS KAMMA?

I found this article and would like to share with all of you, please read with open mind, I am not supporting anyone........

Kamma means 'action'. The Law of Kamma means that there are inescapable results of our actions. There are deeds of body, speech or mind that lead to others' harm, one's own harm, or to the harm of both. Such deeds are called bad (or 'unwholesome') kamma. They are usually motivated by greed, hatred or delusion. Because they bring painful results, they should not be done.

There are also deeds of body, speech or mind that lead to others' well being, one's own well being, or to the well being of both. Such deeds are called good (or 'wholesome') kamma. They are usually motivated by generosity, compassion or wisdom. Because they bring happy results, they should be done as often as possible.

Thus much of what one experiences is the result of one's own previous kamma. When misfortune occurs, instead of blaming someone else, one can look for any fault in one's own past conduct. If a fault is found, the experience of its consequences will make one more careful in the future. When happiness occurs, instead of taking it for granted, one can look to see if it is the result of good kamma. If so, the experience of its pleasant results will encourage more good kamma in the future.

The Buddha pointed out that no being whatsoever, divine or otherwise, has any power to stop the consequences of good and bad kamma. The fact that one reaps just what one sows gives to the Buddhist a greater incentive to avoid all forms of bad kamma while doing as much good kamma as possible.

Though one cannot escape the results of bad kamma, one can lessen their effect. A spoon of salt mixed in a glass of pure water makes the whole very salty, whereas the same spoon of salt mixed in a freshwater lake hardly changes the taste of the water. Similarly, the result of a bad kamma in a person habitually doing only a small amount of good kamma is painful indeed, whereas the result of the same bad kamma in a person habitually doing a great deal of good kamma is only mildly felt.

This natural Law of Kamma becomes the force behind, and reason for, the practice of morality and compassion in our society.

麻坡人的骄傲, PROUD BEING A MUAREAN

Muarean are talented. It is proven in these video clips. I long to live in Muar again. It contains fond memories of myself and my family. John, do you consider yourself as a Muarean?

memories can onli be kept in the heart

Cherry Blossum Snow, scene of BB's Garden. The white stuffs on the floor are not snow, but Cherry Blossum Snow. How nice if can see a Cherry Blossum tree full of it's 'Snow'.


A very touching story of ..... a great ah kong ..... please read on

Click here

A LEGACY WE TREASURE

Dad left a legacy that all of us treasure. He implanted good family values in us and I am sure he is proud of us all.

One of the value he had was that he let us have freedom of religion, believes and faiths that all of us siblings deemed fit. He never never imposed on us that we must follow what he believed at.

To be honest, I still not able to do so, worry that my own children may adopt other faiths that I believe at. Human being human, we do have our 'selfish' side of us.

But, one thing I believe is that we should not have the perception that our own faith is of more superior than the others, we should not 'imposed' our values onto others.

A TRIBUTE TO MY FATHER

This is really my saddest episode in life. My dad passed away peacefully recently. Well, just feel that I had not really done enough for him while he was alive. Dad had stayed with my family for almost 10 years and these were the most valuable moments he gave to me. He was the best daddy one can get, and I believe, he is still the best. Without him, I won't be as I am today. From deep in my heart, I want him to know that I am thankful to him and he is in my heart for the rest of my life. Though this most sorrowful time left a scar in my heart, I shall treasure it forever.

I will repay your deeds by living my life to the fullest and be a good father to my own children. Bye dad, have a better life somewhere else.

给我父亲的致敬 

这是我最伤心的时刻,因为父亲刚刚安祥过世. 

我总觉得他老人家再世时没有给他最好的照顾. 
父亲和我一家人生活一转眼都有整十年了.
这是他给我最宝贵美好与怀念的时刻. 没有他
也将没有现在的我. 他是每个人都想有的爸爸, 
也是我最好的爸爸.

爸, 我深深的感激您.虽然我心里留下一条疤痕, 
我会永远的珍惜它.

我一定会好好的活下去, 做一位我孩子们的好
爸爸来报答您对我的恩惠. 
爸, 再见. 愿您有个更美满的来世.

SCOUT CAMP

These were the days I long for since many years ago. I passed by this camp when visiting a coastal town of Muar, Johor. Many years ago, I like to spend my school holidays in scout camps. I believe this is a good way to mould oneself into an independent, discipline and resourceful person.

I would like my children to have the same experience too.

A GREAT FATHER 献给伟大的父亲

We are really fortunate to have a great father. He had overcome many obstacles, and recently, able to overcome the biggest obstacle ever. Dad, we are very very proud of you and hope you get well soon, like the swiftlet above

我们很幸福有一位伟大的父亲. 父亲已经度过很多重重难关. 最近也很庆幸的度过很难的关. 我们希望父亲能很快好起来, 就象这燕子一样.

TOMORROW NOT ALWAYS THERE 明天不是每天都有

One thing I learned from my recent experience is that ' Tomorrow not always there'. We always take 'tomorrow' for granted. We often think there is always 'tomorrow' to give our best shot, to improve ourselves, or even to repent what we have done wrong. The recent event during last few weeks proved me wrong, to a very very great extent.

So, don't wait until tomorrow to say 'I love you' to someone dear to us, because tomorrow may not be there for us.

最近的几个星期让我领悟到'明天不是每天都有'. 我们经常给自己太多的藉口'还有明天' 来反省自己的过失, 或者'还有明天'来充实自己.

所以我们应该好好珍惜我们现在拥有的一切, 不要等到明天的到来. 因为明天可能不会到来呢! 是吗?

FLORA FEST OF GARY'S GARDEN

In conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2007, a flora festival float procession was held last week in Putrajaya, the new administrative capital of Malaysia. Not to lag behind, Gary's Garden flowers are blooming now just in time with the Flora Festival of Malaysia.