I started this blog over 3.5 years ago (back in July 2003), initially to record my frustration with the Malaysian malaise of doing the convenient thing as opposed to the right thing. That has always been my complaint against Malaysia.

Raja Petra Kamarudin in a recent piece, accused the Malaysian government, in particular the Prime Minister Badawi, of lying to the people and effectively, misappropriating money. That is an extremely serious allegation. Yet there appears to be little or no reaction. It appears as though Malaysians are so used to the idea of the government lying to them and stealing from them, that a direct allegation like that doesnt bother them one bit. Malaysians are not stupid and neither are they naive.

I guess Malaysians themselves prefer doing the convenient thing to the right thing, so they cant find have a morally convincing voice against someone else who does something other than the right thing.

Theresa has just left for work, so one third of this family has returned to life outside the Christmas period. I asked her last night, if she was up to it, to go back to work today. She said she was actually happy to return to work as it would be a quiet period in the office. What a contrast between what I imagine would be frenetically paced trade on the shop floor, and relatively serene corporate office. David Jones and Myer (Theresa would protest that I have mentioned Myer after David Jones) is always the target of shoppers whose minds have gone on extended holidays. The frenzy culminates on Boxing Day and doesnt die down till the New Year. I guess Jesus remains on the fringe for many during the Christmas period…

Kiddo is still in bed, and would sleep in for at least another 2 hours, I think. She enjoyed the Christmas Day lunch at Lynda’s better than the Christmas Eve dinner at Uncle Seng’s, I think. The Youth Group at our church has become the center of her social life. A bunch of them was at Lynda’s and they enjoyed themselves there. Kiddo too, from her expressions. Tomorrow, she has a birthday party at a school friend’s. We talked about getting a present for Dil, but she was quite happy to recycle one of the Christmas prezzies she got. Looks like some of our traits (Theresa and mine) have rubbed off on her…

We promised to get kiddo a new web cam and would probably get it today.

All through the Christmas period, I thought about my parents. Almost every incident triggers a memory of my father. When I telephoned my mother on Christmas eve, she still sounded a little tired. I hope she copes better. Yesterday, Sim, Daniel and the kids (Nicole and Isaac) returned to Penang and mom was supposed to have gone with them. David and Jean are going up there for a short holiday and hopefully, mom goes with them and stay a little longer. May only returns from Xuzhou, China for the Chinese New Year holiday in February so it’s a little bit of a wait for my mom, and quite a while to be all by herself. I hope she continues to find God’s peace at this time.