Since Merdeka is just around the corner, I am reminded of Nelson Mandela's autobiography. When he wrote this, South Africa had just become "merdeka" from the clutches of apartheid. While Malaysia was never subjected to the cruelties of apartheid, I can't help but realise that the following excerpt from his book seems to tell the story of what we went through, and what we are going through now.
I hope this excerpt will give us some food for thought this Merdeka. Emphasis in the text is all mine.
Thoughts from "Long Walk To Freedom"
"My country is rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil, but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people, finer and truer than the purest diamonds.
It is from these comrades in struggle that I learned the meaning of courage. Time and time again, I have seen men and women risk and give their lives for an idea. I have seen men stand up to attacks and torture without breaking, showing a courage and resilience that defies the imagination. I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. I can remember, but I hid it behind a mask of boldness. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
I never lost hope that this great transformation would occur. Not only because of the great heroes I have already cited, but because of the courage of the ordinary men and women of my country. I always knew that deep down in every human heart, there was mercy and generosity. No one is born hating another person because the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than the opposite. Even in the grimmest time in prison, when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits, I would see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, perhaps for just a second, but it was enough to reassure me and keep me going. Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.
…Freedom is indivisible; the chains on any one of my people were the chains on all of them, the chains on all of my people were the chains on me.
It was during those long and lonely years that my hunger for the freedom of my own people became a hunger for the freedom of all people, white and black. I knew as well as I knew anything that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed. A man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred, he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else’s freedom, just as surely I am not free when my freedom is taken from me. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.
When I walked out of prison, that was my mission, to liberate the oppressed and the oppressor both. Some say that has now been achieved. But I know that this is not the case. The truth is we are not yet free; we have merely achieved the freedom to be free. We have not taken the final step of our journey, but the first step on a longer and even more difficult road. For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. The true test of our devotion to freedom is just beginning."
Selamat Merdeka.
If you read this in Facebook, the original formatting might have been lost. See the original posting at http://cosmicdinesh.blogspot.com/
Friday, August 28, 2009
A Little Girl, by Usman Awang
A great poem about being strong in the face of tumultuous adversity
The Little Girl
Her body reminded me of
areca palm in quiet country
tall and thin
in heavy storms
broken branches fall around
but the palm stands erect
awaiting the morning sun.
So it was with this little girl
thin as areca palm
year after year meeting her father
across the barbed wire of prison
imprisoned these many years
courageously fighting oppression
steady and faithful.
This little girl surprised me
calm and smiling broadly
politely turning down my help
‘I don’t need money, uncle,
just paper and books.’
Young in age
her soul matured by experience
not everyone grows strong this way
a unique steadiness that charms.
When I expressed sympathy and sadness,
feeling sorry for her,
once again she smiled and said:
‘Don’t be sad, uncle, steady your heart,
There are many children like me in the world.’
I became quite still
She calmed me, this little girl
Pacifying waves of emotion
Forbidding pity for her bitter experiences.
Is it not shameful for a grown man,
wanting to help suffering prisoners
to receive counsel from the child of one in prison
to be brave and steady?
Ten children like this
Will destroy a purpose of a thousand prisons.
Usman Awang
Translated by Adibah Amin
(from In-Sights: Malaysian Poems, published by Maya Press, 2003)
If you read this in Facebook, the original formatting might have been lost. Do see the original posting at http://cosmicdinesh.blogspot.com/
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Malaysia's performance in Mathematics and Science - from Prof. Cheong Kee Cheok's lecture
Last week, in Professor Cheong Kee-Cheok's talk on The Global Economic Crisis and Where are We Going, he expressed his worries about Malaysia's inability to produce capable people to bring the country forward. As Malaysia is no longer the choice destination to produce good cheaply, in order to keep our edge, we need to migrate to high-tech ventures.
He quoted another economist who mentioned that Malaysia has AIDS - Acquired Industrial Deficiency Syndrome. Our manufacturing sector has failed to become a value-added one. I also heard before that the ubiquitous pendrive, which was pioneered in Taiwan, was actually invented by a Malaysian. Sigh...
He noted that the Malaysian government has spent billions of riggit in education; yet our university rankings seem to be sliding. It also appears that the overall standards in schools are falling. He also said that it's difficult for the universities to train quality graduates when what they are getting from the schools system is somewhat lacking. Prof. Cheong commented that most of our scholarships went to the humanities, instead of the physical sciences.
So where do we stand?
Malaysia participates in the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), an international study that tracks the achievement of 4th-grade (Standard 4 in Malaysia) and 8th-grade (Form 2 in Malaysia) equivalent students around the world. Here is the link to the TIMMS website : http://nces.ed.gov/timss/ TIMMS is conducted every four years beginning 1995.
What is worrying is that since Malaysia participated in 1999, our results have been dropping. In 1999, we were ranked 22nd in Science and 16th in Maths. In 2007, we were 21st in Science and 20th in Maths. The drop in ranking seems not much, but it is the drop in scoring that's worrying.
In 1999, we scored 492 for Science and 519 for Maths. In 2007, we dropped to 471 for Science and for Maths, we dropped massively to only 474. Now, for both subjects, the world average is 500 points. Which means that our scoring is below the world average. We are ranked lower than Slovenia, Armenia and Lithuania in some cases. Considering the relative youth of these countries and their lack of economic prowess, it is surprising we are ranked so low.
Singapore, on the other hand, scored 567 in Science and 593 in Maths, which makes them no. 1 and no. 3 in the world respectively. Their universities are ranked much higher than us. In the 1960s, University of Malaya (UM) was on par with the National University of Singapore (NUS). Today, NUS is in the top 30 of university rankings and UM is nowhere near.
You can see the tables at these links:
http://nces.ed.gov/timss/table07_3.asp
http://nces.ed.gov/timss/table07_1.asp
Of course, we have to bear in mind, scoring well isn't everything in education. Character building and fostering humanistic values are also of paramount importance. It is education that makes us human.
Nevertheless, Malaysia's performance (or lack of) in key subject areas is something we should be concerned about.
He quoted another economist who mentioned that Malaysia has AIDS - Acquired Industrial Deficiency Syndrome. Our manufacturing sector has failed to become a value-added one. I also heard before that the ubiquitous pendrive, which was pioneered in Taiwan, was actually invented by a Malaysian. Sigh...
He noted that the Malaysian government has spent billions of riggit in education; yet our university rankings seem to be sliding. It also appears that the overall standards in schools are falling. He also said that it's difficult for the universities to train quality graduates when what they are getting from the schools system is somewhat lacking. Prof. Cheong commented that most of our scholarships went to the humanities, instead of the physical sciences.
So where do we stand?
Malaysia participates in the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), an international study that tracks the achievement of 4th-grade (Standard 4 in Malaysia) and 8th-grade (Form 2 in Malaysia) equivalent students around the world. Here is the link to the TIMMS website : http://nces.ed.gov/timss/ TIMMS is conducted every four years beginning 1995.
What is worrying is that since Malaysia participated in 1999, our results have been dropping. In 1999, we were ranked 22nd in Science and 16th in Maths. In 2007, we were 21st in Science and 20th in Maths. The drop in ranking seems not much, but it is the drop in scoring that's worrying.
In 1999, we scored 492 for Science and 519 for Maths. In 2007, we dropped to 471 for Science and for Maths, we dropped massively to only 474. Now, for both subjects, the world average is 500 points. Which means that our scoring is below the world average. We are ranked lower than Slovenia, Armenia and Lithuania in some cases. Considering the relative youth of these countries and their lack of economic prowess, it is surprising we are ranked so low.
Singapore, on the other hand, scored 567 in Science and 593 in Maths, which makes them no. 1 and no. 3 in the world respectively. Their universities are ranked much higher than us. In the 1960s, University of Malaya (UM) was on par with the National University of Singapore (NUS). Today, NUS is in the top 30 of university rankings and UM is nowhere near.
You can see the tables at these links:
http://nces.ed.gov/timss/table07_3.asp
http://nces.ed.gov/timss/table07_1.asp
Of course, we have to bear in mind, scoring well isn't everything in education. Character building and fostering humanistic values are also of paramount importance. It is education that makes us human.
Nevertheless, Malaysia's performance (or lack of) in key subject areas is something we should be concerned about.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The Leadership Challenge excerpt - Leaders Inspire A Shared Vision
The following is an excerpt from The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner. Following this excerpt, I have posted some points for us to ponder.
Envision The Future
“Be an enzyme” is a refrain that Pam Omidyar, founder of HopeLab, often repeats. The idea of “be an enzyme” evolved out of her love for science-her graduate training is in plant molecular genetics-and it conveys her strong belief in the power of people to make a difference. “I love the concept of catalysts, in science and life,” she says. “Enzymes are the catalysts that make possible biochemical reactions. Enzymes increase the rate of a reaction, but are not themselves consumed by the reaction. ..In short, enzymes are nature’s activists.”
…Exemplary leaders are forward-looking. They are able to envision the future, to gaze across the horizon of time and imagine the greater opportunities to come. They see something out ahead, vague as it might appear from a distance, and they imagine that extraordinary feats are possible and that the ordinary could be transformed into something noble. They are able to develop an ideal and unique image of the future for the common good.
But it’s not just the leader’s vision. It’s a shared vision. We all have dreams and aspirations. We all think about the future; we all want tomorrow to be better than today. Leaders have to make sure what they see is also something others can see. When visions are shared, they attract more people, sustain higher levels of motivation, and withstand more challenges than those that are singular. Leaders develop the capacity to Envision the Future for themselves and others by mastering two essentials:
• Imagine the possibilities
• Find a common purpose
…Leaders are dreamers. Leaders are idealists. Leaders are possibility thinkers. All enterprises, big or small, begin with imagination and with the belief that what’s merely an image today can one day be made real in the future. It’s this belief that sustains leaders through the difficult times. Turning possibility thinking into an inspiring vision-and an inspiring vision that is shared-is the leader’s challenge.
When we ask people to tell us where their visions come from they often have great difficulty in describing the process. And when they do provide an answer, typically it’s more about a feeling, a sense, a gut reaction. Clarifying your vision, like clarifying your values, is a process of self-exploration and self-creation. It’s an intuitive, emotional process. There’s often no logic to it. You just feel strongly about something, and that sense, that intuition, has to be fully explored. Visions are reflections of one’s fundamental beliefs and assumptions about human nature, technology, economics, science, politics, art and ethics.
A vision of the future is much like a literary or musical theme. It’s the broad message that you want to convey, it’s the primary melody that you want people to remember, and whenever it’s repeated it reminds the audience of the entire work. Every leader needs a theme, something on which they can structure the rest of his or her performance. What’s your central message? What’s your theme?
Food for thought:
1. Are you surrounded by inspiring leaders, especially those that you work closely with, whether within or outside of work?
2. Why do leaders often have problems articulating a vision? Do they even possess one in the first place?
Envision The Future
“Be an enzyme” is a refrain that Pam Omidyar, founder of HopeLab, often repeats. The idea of “be an enzyme” evolved out of her love for science-her graduate training is in plant molecular genetics-and it conveys her strong belief in the power of people to make a difference. “I love the concept of catalysts, in science and life,” she says. “Enzymes are the catalysts that make possible biochemical reactions. Enzymes increase the rate of a reaction, but are not themselves consumed by the reaction. ..In short, enzymes are nature’s activists.”
…Exemplary leaders are forward-looking. They are able to envision the future, to gaze across the horizon of time and imagine the greater opportunities to come. They see something out ahead, vague as it might appear from a distance, and they imagine that extraordinary feats are possible and that the ordinary could be transformed into something noble. They are able to develop an ideal and unique image of the future for the common good.
But it’s not just the leader’s vision. It’s a shared vision. We all have dreams and aspirations. We all think about the future; we all want tomorrow to be better than today. Leaders have to make sure what they see is also something others can see. When visions are shared, they attract more people, sustain higher levels of motivation, and withstand more challenges than those that are singular. Leaders develop the capacity to Envision the Future for themselves and others by mastering two essentials:
• Imagine the possibilities
• Find a common purpose
…Leaders are dreamers. Leaders are idealists. Leaders are possibility thinkers. All enterprises, big or small, begin with imagination and with the belief that what’s merely an image today can one day be made real in the future. It’s this belief that sustains leaders through the difficult times. Turning possibility thinking into an inspiring vision-and an inspiring vision that is shared-is the leader’s challenge.
When we ask people to tell us where their visions come from they often have great difficulty in describing the process. And when they do provide an answer, typically it’s more about a feeling, a sense, a gut reaction. Clarifying your vision, like clarifying your values, is a process of self-exploration and self-creation. It’s an intuitive, emotional process. There’s often no logic to it. You just feel strongly about something, and that sense, that intuition, has to be fully explored. Visions are reflections of one’s fundamental beliefs and assumptions about human nature, technology, economics, science, politics, art and ethics.
A vision of the future is much like a literary or musical theme. It’s the broad message that you want to convey, it’s the primary melody that you want people to remember, and whenever it’s repeated it reminds the audience of the entire work. Every leader needs a theme, something on which they can structure the rest of his or her performance. What’s your central message? What’s your theme?
Food for thought:
1. Are you surrounded by inspiring leaders, especially those that you work closely with, whether within or outside of work?
2. Why do leaders often have problems articulating a vision? Do they even possess one in the first place?
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Si Anak Kecil (A Little Child) by Usman Awang
A moving poem on the waste and senselessness of war. Yesterday, August 15, was the 64th anniversary of the end of World War 2.
Di atas runtuhan batu-batu bangunan itu
Si anak kecil sendiri berdiri
Dengan luka-luka di kepala dan kaki
Menatap keliling yang sepi.
Peperangan itu membunuh ibunya
Membunuh seluruh keluarganya
Ayahnya entah di mana.
Dengarkan suara si anak kecil bertanya
Mana ibuku mana kakakku?
Mana rotiku mana bajuku
Mana bukuku mana sekolahku;
Dan jawabannya adalah itu
Ledakan bom dan peluru
Angin luka dan hujan debu.
Berapa luaskah pusara
Berapa bukitkah tulang selangka
Berapa lautankah air mata
Berapa jutakah nyawa
Yang mesti disediakan
Sebelum peperangan dihentikan?
O pejuang kebenaran
Berapa banyakkah lagi para shuhada
Akan kau kapankan
Tanpa bunga tanpa pusara?
Si anak kecil mengusapi luka bertanya
Manakah embun pagi yang jernih itu,
Manakah kicau burung senja lembayung
Manakah lembut jari ibuku,
O manakah dunia yang hasanah itu?
Manakah dunia yang hasanah itu?
English translation:
Among the ruins
A little child stands alone
With wounds on his head and legs
Staring at the surrounding emptiness
This war had killed his mother
Killed his whole family
While his father is still missing
Let us hear the little voice asking
Where is my mother, where is my sister?
Where is my bread, where are my clothing?
Where are my books, where is my school?
And the answers are
Bullets and exploding bombs
The wind hurts and poisonous rains.
How vast is the graveyard
How high the piles of skeletons
How many oceans of tears
How many lives
Must be sacrificed
Before this war ends?
Oh fighters of truth
How many more martyrs
Must you bury
Without flowers without graves?
The little child, caressing his wounds, asks
Where has the clear morning dew gone to,
What has happened to the chirping of birds at dusk,
Where are mother’s gentle fingers
Oh, what is happening to this fine world
What is happening to this fine world?
The Global Crisis and Malaysia: Where Are We Heading?
Yesterday, I attended a talk by given by Professor Cheong Kee-Cheok, a former Dean at the Faculty of Economics and Administration in University Malaya (UM) and a former World Bank Senior Economist. The talk was really enlightening, but also contained some worrying stuff. I took down about 7 pages of notes. In short, his talk can be summarised in two points (at least for me):
1. Human capital development is the most crucial factor in the development and
advancement of a country
2. WE ARE SCREWED!!!
Will share some more in the days to come.
1. Human capital development is the most crucial factor in the development and
advancement of a country
2. WE ARE SCREWED!!!
Will share some more in the days to come.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Money, money, money
Recently, with the wildfire spread of H1N1, the share prices of some pharmaceutical and health-related companies have been climbing. Recently, on news of natural disasters and expected reconstruction efforts, the stocks of some contruction conglomerates have also risen.
The economic news are talking about "profit-taking", "outlook" and other jargons in dispassionate tones. They read the news as if this is something natural, and that they are just doing their job. They seemed to have failed to see that behind these money-making moves, are real, living, breathing people suffering because of the onslaught of disease and disaster.
I find it extremely, extremely perverse that we have no qualms about making money at the expense of our fellow human beings. That some humans are only concerned about share price movements amidst the cries of suffering of our brothers and sisters.
How would you feel if someone told you that because you have H1N1, or because your house was destroyed in an earthquake, that the prices of shares that he owns have risen?
The economic news are talking about "profit-taking", "outlook" and other jargons in dispassionate tones. They read the news as if this is something natural, and that they are just doing their job. They seemed to have failed to see that behind these money-making moves, are real, living, breathing people suffering because of the onslaught of disease and disaster.
I find it extremely, extremely perverse that we have no qualms about making money at the expense of our fellow human beings. That some humans are only concerned about share price movements amidst the cries of suffering of our brothers and sisters.
How would you feel if someone told you that because you have H1N1, or because your house was destroyed in an earthquake, that the prices of shares that he owns have risen?
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Unending Love by Rabindranath Tagore
I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times...
In life after life, in age after age, forever.
My spellbound heart has made and remade the necklace of songs,
That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms,
In life after life, in age after age, forever.
Whenever I hear old chronicles of love, it's age old pain,
It's ancient tale of being apart or together.
As I stare on and on into the past, in the end you emerge,
Clad in the light of a pole-star, piercing the darkness of time.
You become an image of what is remembered forever.
You and I have floated here on the stream that brings from the fount.
At the heart of time, love of one for another.
We have played along side millions of lovers,
Shared in the same shy sweetness of meeting,
the distressful tears of farewell,
Old love but in shapes that renew and renew forever.
Today it is heaped at your feet, it has found its end in you
The love of all man's days both past and forever:
Universal joy, universal sorrow, universal life.
The memories of all loves merging with this one love of ours -
And the songs of every poet past and forever.
(from Rabindranath Tagore: Selected Poems, translated by William Radice, Penguin Classics)
In life after life, in age after age, forever.
My spellbound heart has made and remade the necklace of songs,
That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms,
In life after life, in age after age, forever.
Whenever I hear old chronicles of love, it's age old pain,
It's ancient tale of being apart or together.
As I stare on and on into the past, in the end you emerge,
Clad in the light of a pole-star, piercing the darkness of time.
You become an image of what is remembered forever.
You and I have floated here on the stream that brings from the fount.
At the heart of time, love of one for another.
We have played along side millions of lovers,
Shared in the same shy sweetness of meeting,
the distressful tears of farewell,
Old love but in shapes that renew and renew forever.
Today it is heaped at your feet, it has found its end in you
The love of all man's days both past and forever:
Universal joy, universal sorrow, universal life.
The memories of all loves merging with this one love of ours -
And the songs of every poet past and forever.
(from Rabindranath Tagore: Selected Poems, translated by William Radice, Penguin Classics)
Appreciation from Roger Phuang
Today, I bumped into Roger Phuang after a meeting at SGM's Culture Centre in Cheras. A few days ago, he sent me a message on Facebook and ask to be added as my "friend".
Today, he gave some heartfelt words of appreciation for my articles in Cosmic. He even went to look for some of the books that I have reviewed in articles. I felt really honoured and humbled these words from him.
I am a writer of meagre capabilities. I took it up late in life, and often struggle with motivating myself to write. But life as a whole is like that. We often stuggle against devilish forces that slow down our advance. It is easy to stay within a certain comfort zone and then tell ourselves, "This is how life should be," and be content with what we have got.
I have gone through several periods in my life where I have not been motivated to do much. There have been times when I considered giving up these struggles and just leave it to other people. But at the end of it, I realized that I would be letting myself down, and all those who have placed high hopes on us.
SGI President Ikeda wrote: "Why is it that sometimes our prayers seem not to be answered? This is a manifestation of the Buddha's wisdom - so that we can deepen our prayers, become stronger people. live more profound lives and secure deeper, more lasting good fortune. If our slightest prayers where answered immediately, we'd become degenerate. And we couldn't hope to build a life of great dignity and substance."
In life, if we get all that we want easily, we would not be appreciative of what we have. Only by struggling with all our might can we gain everlasting victory. All in all, it was a great weekend. Roger's words have fired me up even more to stake my life in writing.
Thanks again, Roger.
Today, he gave some heartfelt words of appreciation for my articles in Cosmic. He even went to look for some of the books that I have reviewed in articles. I felt really honoured and humbled these words from him.
I am a writer of meagre capabilities. I took it up late in life, and often struggle with motivating myself to write. But life as a whole is like that. We often stuggle against devilish forces that slow down our advance. It is easy to stay within a certain comfort zone and then tell ourselves, "This is how life should be," and be content with what we have got.
I have gone through several periods in my life where I have not been motivated to do much. There have been times when I considered giving up these struggles and just leave it to other people. But at the end of it, I realized that I would be letting myself down, and all those who have placed high hopes on us.
SGI President Ikeda wrote: "Why is it that sometimes our prayers seem not to be answered? This is a manifestation of the Buddha's wisdom - so that we can deepen our prayers, become stronger people. live more profound lives and secure deeper, more lasting good fortune. If our slightest prayers where answered immediately, we'd become degenerate. And we couldn't hope to build a life of great dignity and substance."
In life, if we get all that we want easily, we would not be appreciative of what we have. Only by struggling with all our might can we gain everlasting victory. All in all, it was a great weekend. Roger's words have fired me up even more to stake my life in writing.
Thanks again, Roger.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
One Being Inside All by Rumi
Lovers, it is time
for the taste of fire.
Let sadneess and your fears of death
sit in the corner and sulk.
The sky itself reels with love.
There is one being inside
all of us, one peace.
Poet, let every word tremble its wind bell.
Saddle the horse with great anticipation.
Flute notes are calling us into friendship.
Begin away. Play the melody
all the way through this time.
Sun-presence floods over.
Quietness is an empty cup.
Accept that you
must hide your secret.
for the taste of fire.
Let sadneess and your fears of death
sit in the corner and sulk.
The sky itself reels with love.
There is one being inside
all of us, one peace.
Poet, let every word tremble its wind bell.
Saddle the horse with great anticipation.
Flute notes are calling us into friendship.
Begin away. Play the melody
all the way through this time.
Sun-presence floods over.
Quietness is an empty cup.
Accept that you
must hide your secret.
Monday, August 3, 2009
I met a Yasmin Ahmad film actor last weekend
I finally got to Skoob Books in Menara Mutiara Majestic at PJ Old Town last Friday (31 July) after work. I actually went there a week earlier, and although the shutter was open, the glass door was locked and there was nobody inside. I went back after a while.
This time, there was nobody there again. I was a little crestfallen. But I waited, and a couple of minutes later, the owner was in and he let me in. He apologised for the mess in the shop (books are strewn on the floor - that's how my room could look like) as there was a sale recently (damn it!).
So I wondered among the shelves, wondering what I would find. I was the only customer there at the time, so I felt quite comfortable. There were hardly any of those bestsellers about, although I did spot one hardcover copy of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It had a lot of books from decades earlier, that are probably out of print.
It's definitely not the typical Malaysian bookshop as we know it, filled with money-spinning bestsellers and novel cinta, and a treasure trove for the serious book lover.
The owner is Thor Kah Hoong, a literary critic who used lecture in University of Malaya (UM) and who had just finished writing a column for Malay Mail (http://www.mmail.com.my/source/thor-kah-hoong). Do read it, Quite interesting.
After browsing for a while, he came up to me and started chatting, first of all about the upcoming (now past) anti- and pro- ISA rally on August 1. Then we talked about so many things, and that's when I found out he too was from UM. He was really a treasure trove of memories and information, who peppered his conversation with "expressive" language. I felt right at home. Not that my family used a lot of expressive language at home.
For those who didn't know, Mr. Thor (not son of Odin) acted as the cranky Cantonese-speaking father in Sepet and Gubra. Loved that part when he said to his long-suffering wife in Sepet, "Meh peng kai lei ge?" (what sick chicken is this?), and his upset wife got up to whack him but was prevented from doing so by their elder son.
I walked away with four books, the first, a collection of plays by Anton Chekhov, and the second is The Story of Srebenica by Isnam Taljic, a novel about the war in Bosnia, translated from Bosnian and published by Silverfish Books, with a foreword by Tun Dr. Mahathir.
The last two are pure Malaysian treasures. The first one is Ways of Exile, an anthology of poetry by Wong Phui Nam, possibly Malaysia's best-known poet and described as the creme-de-la-creme of South-East Asian poets. The cover of this book was a painting by Latiff Mohidin.
The second one is Haunting The Tiger: Contemporary Stories from Malaysia, by K.S. Maniam. He is widely considered to be one of Malaysia’s best short story writer (he also writes plays).
Both of them graduated from Um and later went back to teach at UM in the department of English. These two are sterling examples of academics who practice what they preach. Both of them have produced great works that are widely acclaimed locally and abroad. Sadly, we can hardly find their works in most local bookshops (except probably for Maniam’s The Return, which is a literature component material for secondary school English). Such is the fate for many of our best writers, including authors like Usman Awang and Shahnon Ahmad.
These two books were published by Skoob Pacifica, an imprint of Skoob Books Publishing based in London. Skoob Books and Skoob Books Publishing are closely related. Thank goodness for Skoob Books, I can find works by these two acclaimed Malaysian authors. Malaysia is a land of many talented people, but for some reason, they tend to be sidelined...
Mr. Thor was really friendly and shared loads of stories about people he knew and things he went through. Some of these stories will leave you somewhat amazed and indignant.
I left Skoob Books after spending nearly two hours there, feeling really good.
Skoob Books is at Lot 122 & 123, Menara Mutiara Majestic, Jalan Othman, PJ Old Town.
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