cakap cakap...you, me, this blog, KL and PMX....not necessarily in that order.

WIDURI

Selamat Pagi Malaysia. It is now 5.45 am in Melbourne. Thursday morning. 4th January 2024. We are well into the first week of the year. I am up at this hour because there is stuff in my head that I want to share with those who read what I read.....so that means YOU. I can say with certainty, that I have not met 99 % of you guys and yet we know each other well. Some by names, some by the comments you make on the stuff I write, and there are some in Oz, some in Malaysia, and a few others di sana dan di sini, with whom I have had the privilege of meeting, sharing a cup of coffee and even a meal, in the last year. In 2024 can we all try to get to know each other better? Much better?

Let us start with our shared loved, Malaysia. We might agree to disagree on how things should be done in Malaysia and how things should be, in Malaysia, but we all love Malaysia. Even me, who live Downunder. In 2024 can we make that extra effort to make Malaysia better? And to make Malaysians nicer and more gracious to each other. As self-centred as we all are, and as prevalent as the "ME, ME, ME' culture is in the times that we now live in, can we take a step back and try to put 'other Malaysians' ahead of ourselves? This is hard to do but we have to try..... and nobody is trying harder to do this than that guy in the PMO in Putrajaya.... Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

When he wakes up every morning, you can be certain that what he will be thinking over breakfast...if he has time for breakfast...is, what he has to do that day, to make Malaysia and Malaysians better. Every day in many ways, he works hard at making that happen - not alone, but he leads others in doing just that. His work ethic is impeccable. His focus and commitment to his job, cannot be questioned or equalled. Everybody has a hard time keeping up with him. He is a man in a hurry. Too many things to do and too little time. If there is anything I want to tell him it is simply this....work smarter. Delegate. Get good people around you, listen to those who know better than you on the one thousand and one things that you, as PMX, must be an expert at, and please listen to the heartbeat of the rakyat that wants to tell you so many things....and understand the passion they have for Malaysia and other Malaysians. All we will ask of PMX is simply this....we want you to do your best.

Now let us talk about you and me. I am trying to make this blog a reflection of OUR thoughts, OUR wants and OUR expectations, of all things Malaysian. You need to be open and able to accept that there are dissenting views out there and that people, over time, can change and get better. I, on the other hand, only get older....but we are not talking about me, so it does not matter that I get older by the day. 

Can I ask that you do not speak about stuff that is best left for others to speak about? Do not speak about the Malays if you are not a Malay. We Malays know exactly where we are. Do not speak about Islam unless you are a Muslim and a good one at that. And even if you have something good to talk about the Malays...diam sahaja lah....because when you say it, it will be construed to be something else by the Malays if you are not a Malay. So please no comments on the Malays or about the Malays so that peace and harmony can be maintained...at least here on this site. The same applies to the others. Chinese, Indians, the others, and also the people in Sabah and Sarawak....do not talk ill about the others unless you are one of them. If you want to talk about the others....talk about inclusivity, about unity about how best to get along and understand each other... talk about what we need to do to be good Malaysians. I am asking nicely here. I want this site to have good, positive vibes that allow us to begin our day in the best possible way......happy and positive. Everything else....coffee, tea, nasi lemak, roti canai, dim sum...is optional. Can?

I am heading back to KL next week. Insyallah. There are things I have to do, people to see, work to be done....you know all the stuff you guys also have to do, to earn a living. I too have to earn a living and.... I want to come home! We all have to earn a living. While earning that living, can you, who read what I write, and me who is doing the writing, be nice to each other? Enough said.

P.S. That boat, WIDURI...belongs to my father and was among his greatest joys. I and my family spent many happy hours on the boat, and always when I think of my Father, I think of WIDURI and the happy times we all had with him, on the boat. Alfatihah for my beloved parents. I miss them terribly.