An exchange …

Ian Teh

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Forget about it – Malaysia I mean

Political fiascos, breakdown of law enforcement agencies, widespread mistrust of police, the attorney general and public prosecution and the judiciary are all par for the course in Malaysia now. The gravity of these ills has accelerated in recent years. When I left almost 5 years ago, I already had enough. I can only imagine the frustrations of Malaysians who remain there. I gave up on Malaysia 5 years ago because I saw no one – either from an individual perspective or from a collective/political party perspective – who can provide the sort of leadership needed to drag Malaysia out of this quagmire.

There are a handful of politicians from the Pakatan fold waiting to gazump the people and walk into the throes of an alliance with BN, no doubt ensuring their retirement funds (and those of their children) are amply endowed. If money continues to call the day in Malaysia, Kedah and Selangor will return to BN. I’m not sure that is necessarily a bad thing, in the sense that Pakatan is looking like they are no better. How can they be anyway, being led by someone so steeped in UMNO’s ways. Sure, Anwar Ibrahim is presently distracted by his sodomy trial. That in itself speaks volumes of UMNO’s hold to power. It will be extremely difficult to disentangle the web of unholy alliances that are now sucking the country dry. Anwar however, is not the embodiment of change needed for Malaysia. He was the architect of many of what’s wrong in Malaysia today.

Mei and Goh

My sister Mei gave birth to her second son over the weekend. I woke up on Sat morning and was surprised to read a text message from my brother. YY’s brother wasn’t scheduled to arrive till the end of the month. I waited a couple of hours, and then telephoned Xuzhou and spoke to YY and my mum, who has gone to Xuzhou to provide support and help to the family. Mum said Mei and the baby were both well. I’m sure Goh was too. YY sounded the same. I never identified myself when I called them. YY seems to always know instantly it was me calling.

ICC Cell

My church cell leader recently decided to take a break. Unfortunately, “taking a break” in this context often means there is a problem. We were assured whatever problem there was, was personal to her.

The coordinator was supposed to speak to one of the elders on Sat to work out a solution. However, when I caught up with one of the members (of the cell) after church yesterday, I was told the coordinator asked this member and her husband to join another group instead. I can’t get my head around this. This coordinator took over the task of cell oversight about 1.5 years ago with a pledge to make it “more organised”, “get it right” and that she was serious about it, we got to be serious when it comes to God’s work, blah, blah, and blah. 18 months later we have groups disintegrating and now, when my group appears to need a replacement leader more resources are ripped out instead. I’m sure there’s an explanation. Communications however, is a rarity. So this morning, I sent the coordinator an email instead. I’m not sure I’ll hear back anytime soon. I think I’ll just slowly convert my group to a Friday night drinks session if nothing happens.

Home Deck

We have just got a deck built over the front part of the side lawn. It was finished a few weeks ago, and for the past 2 weekends, I have been painting the pergola roof structure. The deck was built with merbau hardwood but the structure was constructed using pine and polycarbon sheets. The pine needed painting and I spent a weekend at Bunnings going through the material I needed (including trying to identify the colour of the existing paintwork) before commencing the painting 2 weekends ago. It was finished on Saturday. Yesterday, I started washing down the merbau floor to prep it for oiling. I’d have to return to Bunnings again to pick up the decking oil and applicator, as well as some staining material for the pine posts. I guess it will be maybe another (at least) 2 weekends before the deck is ready for use. It will still be well in time for summer so that’s alright.

Et Al

Kiddo did another year of World Vision’s 40 hour famine. She finished the fast at 12pm yesterday. She wanted to go to this place in the DandenongMountains called “Pie in the Sky”. So after church, we drove up. It’s only a 30 minute drive and the place is quite nice so I didn’t mind it at all. When we came home Tress went to a house warming for a colleague’s new house. Kiddo and I stayed at home and after washing down the deck floor, I went out to get some bread for this week’s lunch. I then did some ironing and then Tress came back. We were just too bushed to cook so we went out and tried out the clay pot king place in GW.

The World Vision thing has at least anchored us in a week that didn’t provide much to be excited about gave us much to be busy with. At least it provided us with an assurance that we did (or Kiddo did) a good thing last week and didn’t just grind out through our daily tasks. Ah well, I should complain really, because I am vert grateful to be grinding out a living Down Under instead of mucking around in “boleh” land.

Just picking up from the previous entry… when I asked the doctor what his thoughts were on the recent most developments in Malaysia, he instantly knew what I was referring to, without my having to provide further details. He just looked at me and shook hid head slightly and said, “what can I say la”. The sense of frustration was so strong. We both knew even for 2 strangers meeting for the first time, what our thoughts and likely comments would be without saying too much. Those thoughts and any other sentiments have been thoroughly articulated and are widely shared. The doctor was a highly switched on person. He knew all about the AIG issues when I mentioned where I was working. He was across the fact that being a separately incorporated and regulated entity in a different jurisdiction, the contagion effect was minimal if any. He appreciated the insulation afforded under the circumstances. Like I said, he was a highly switched on guy. There was a doctor in the house who could contribute and do a whole lot more for his community. He and his family have just walked out of Malaysia. What a shame for Malaysia. If the present race is about attracting all the best talent, Malaysia has done and is doing everything it can to lose the race, if it hasn’t already lost it.

It was bucketing down on Tuesday night when I was on the train home. I had left early, after finishing a seminar in the city (Spring St). It was a quick hop onto Parliament Station and I was in Blackburn before 5.30!

Which was great as I did a bit of cooking and had a great home cooked meal when Tress came back and did her usual steamed fish. We got a text from Jason saying he and Mel were catching up with TT Quah and Maudrene and asked if we could join them. We didn’t really want to, with the wet and cold night on, but we went anyway as I had wanted to pass TT Quah something before he left for Asia again.

We caught up at Shine in Glen Waverley. While chatting over coffee and wine, Mel brought out some cookies Sam had made at home. We were rudely told this wasn’t allowed, so we put it away. That manager/owner could have easily been more graceful. I think I’d stop going to Shine for a while.

We got home just before 11pm.

On Wednesday night there was another thing on – a fund raising by a mission organisation which focus on North India. It was a great night but it is way out of my league. I am certainly not the sort of partner Empart was seeking. Again I got home late – just after 10.30 and I was just washed up.

A 4.30am start does not work well with an 11pm finish. Especially if it is an 11pm finish which creates a lot of thoughts. I ended up going to bed close to 12 and the sub-5 hour sleeps don’t work well for me. Although 7 would be better I can heck 6. Sub 5 is a real no- no as I get a bit flighty…not good…

But, I am enjoying the different focus, to be doing something with more lasting values. If only I get to do it on a more committed/full time basis…