Diamond Curse Or Just Another Inhumane Human Act

Diamond - Diamond is forever or forever living in curse.

This history chapter relates how the illicit trading of the precious stone in return of weapons has fueled the civil wars in West African country like Sierra Leone.
The country was disintegrated by civil wars in the 1990s.
The chaotic war which was funded by diamond money has killed and taken more than 75,000 innocent civilians lives and displaced at least 2,000,000 more citizens.

The trauma is still visible and draining - Physically and emotionally.

Ibrahim, who lives in a village in Sierra Leone, was brought to another village for not surrendering the diamond that he did not possess to a fully uniformed combat soldier.
There, he was placed in a house where everybody inside were bound. He was bound too, with 4 others.

When he refused to surrender his arms upon asked to do so, all over his body was badly beaten with gun. Then, both his hands were placed on a mortar, chopped off.
His crime? Meddling in politics - by casting his vote.

He was left to die on the street.

Defying all odds, he escaped the barbaric death.
Upon returning to his house, the house was deliberately set on fire with his wife and children inside, left to die.
They died in front of his very eyes.
Much as he wanted to help them, he was unable to do so. He had arms that cannot be used now.

At least 10,000 innocent civilians suffered the same fate as him.
Some had their hands and legs chopped off for meddling in politics - by casting their votes.

What good has the natural resource brought to the country of Sierra Leone?

Negative effects of greed, killings, chaos, trauma, misery, death...
The country with abundance of world's precious stone, tend to be the worst place for a decent living.

The Less Powerful Power Supply

I had just finished attending the laundry, having done ironing at around 11.30am when the power supply went off.

Yesterday was supposed to be a lucky day for me.
Unfortunately I wasn't all the time lucky whenever there's frequent abrupt interruptions.

Just a fortnight ago while rushing to finish a nearing dateline article, I had to redo all over again.
Only God knows and hears the tons of prayers said to overcome the frustrations in me for loosing many precious hours in the said article and had to recall what's written.

The experience of sure blackout whenever Hari Raya is round the corner will instill fear in you in not wanting to make biscuits or baking cakes.  

In May, in the midst of a wedding preparation at home, my fridge needed change due to great power surge after another unnoticed interruption. There's just too many foodstuff that needed cold-storaged.

The table computer had experienced changes too.

I wonder if the homes of these people working in the power supply company had never experience these unnoticed temporary cutoff or had never face any difficulties when new electrical or electronic products be needed.

The worst scenario seen was multiple accidents with a big crowd at  the T-junction just one kilometer away from my house.
The traffic light had stopped working. We did not stop to have a look as it was pitch dark, late at night. The dark sky did not help the situation any better.
The only thing for us to do at that moment was to pray that everything will turn out fine.

As we passed through the 1 kilometer road to my house, all houses were only 'brightened up' with candle lights.

This early morning, just after midnight as everybody had just gone to bed, another interruption set in.
I did not bother to find out the time.

But Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) resumed its 'powerful power' again at 3.00am.            

The Food Story - Mono-Sodium Glutamate And I

I had my first taste of  'bakso' way back in the year 1994.

It was many hours to go before the flight to Singapore take off.
We then decided to try Jakarta airport food that look and sound different.
Hence the bakso.
Since then, I was hooked with the simple yet very refreshing taste.

Naturally when I was in Tanjung Pinang, it's the same dish - Bakso that I ordered.

While observing at how the stall-operator prepare their varieties of food, the man who stood beside me wanted his 'lontong' to be more tasty.

I was taken aback when the stall operator sprinkled a generous amount of food enhancer - mono-sodium glutamate (msg) - on top of the already thick coconut milk rich gravy.
I felt the richness was full in my stomach up to my throat - I felt vomiting.

"Ibu mau lemak seperti itu?"
Twice the seller asked me before I could answer no.

I sat facing the man who enjoyed his food till the last drop.
I did not even touch my bakso.
The sight of heapful raw msg was nauseatic.
I lost my appetite.

The next day while strolling down the street looking for breakfast, the sight of 'mau lemak' and 'lemak lagi' were everywhere.
'Aji No Moto' (msg) looked cheap in Tanjung Pinang but looking closely, it's Made In Malaysia product - Imported goods cannot be cheap in Indonesia.

The whole morning I went without food.
The taste of msg richness was still in me, until the moment I boarded the ferry home that will take me to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.
In the ferry, in the open sea, in the strong ocean wave, I vomited out what's in my mind.
What's in my sight.

Upon reaching the main island of Singapore, I felt relieved for at last I can have the real taste of 'Tom Yam Soup'.

Singapore Malay Radio Stations And I

All Ria 89.7fm deejays are now in Pattaya, Bangkok, celebrating the radio station's 19th birthday.

Yes, it took me 19 years before I finally tuned in to Ria 89.7fm station. When it was initially announced that another Malay station will  be on air, I was skeptical - It will be just another spin the music station.

But Fiza O proved me wrong.
She, a 27 year old bachelor-girl talking about marriage, harmony and fidelity to married listeners who turned to her for advice - She's no bimbo but gila-gila. She read all emails that were written with full emotions. She can laughed her heart out one moment and immediately shed tears the next when sensitive issues are touched.

I did not listen to 'Firman and Sabda' for a very long. The lady deejay who delivered it totally Malayed the Arabic words or, Bahasa Bakued them.  I would rather have Muhammad Ashik be slotted in even though it's just like script-reading.

Then just by sheer luck, while setting the time to the bedside radio, I came across Deen Nur Rahim who was quoting and reciting a verse from the Qur'an. Who's this ustaz and why Warna 94.2fm suddenly had a change of heart - Getting the most appropriate person for the appropriate job.
Now I know - He's one hot favourite male deejay too.      

The landscape of Singapore Radio Stations has changed for the better tremendously.
The same will go to Malay tv station?

Time will tell. For the time being, contents in Okto and Vasantham Central surpass Suria anytime.

The Housing Story - One Moronic Action

Action Taken: Bukit Panjang Flat Sold.
Reason: Financing The Family Car.
Follow Up Action: Stay in Johor Bahru for the Whole 2010. - Will Be Back Staying In Singapore In 2011 After Another Flat Purchased.  

Action taken by: Greedy Moron.

Much as I'll look into each request and favour in accomodation search in Johor Bahru, this particular case really put me in a reluctant situation. The sole reason for the house being sold, make me brand both parents as such: Greedy Moron.

Their 2 boys, one will be called up for National Service and the other will be sitting his O Level next year, have no say in the decision made - When children's education is placed in a compromising state, action taken is one foolish action which the children will demand to know the reason behind putting their future at stake.
I've been travelling to and from Singapore and Johore Bahru with these students as early as 6a.m. for the past 20 years or so.
Some of them woke up as early as 4a.m. to reach their school before 7.30 - Usually they'll reach home after 3 - If there's remedial classes, often they'll reach at 7pm jostling in the public buses with those thousands of workers who work in Singapore and stay in JB.

Sacrificing students' time to be spend on the road is no sacred sacrifice made at all. In-fact, it's their at-least-brighter future that'll be put on uncertainties.
Last week, the last schooling day, while waiting for Singapore Bus Service 170, a boy was telling his friend that he will not be attending his football practice in December - Reason being staying in JB, distance and transportation.
While he can, reluctantly, to stay away from the game, he still harbour the wish that his parents had stay in Singapore. He cannot ignore the fact that his education had been terribly affected - He'll be too exhausted by the time he reach school and sleepy when class commence.

Some Singapore parents, to overcome commuting issues, will put their children in Malaysian schools - These students need adjustment to the schooling system and language used - Bahasa Malaysia. After so many years attending Singapore primary or secondary schools - English.

A person I know, who's son is 13, is staying home (not home-schooled), after a few months staying and attending school in JB after their Yishun flat is rented out at S$2,000 per month. Interestingly, the husband is staying away from work too.
Reason: Staying in JB, distance and transportation.

MASTERWORDSMITH@WRITERS.INC.: THE DEVIL'S TOOL

MASTERWORDSMITH@WRITERS.INC.: THE DEVIL'S TOOL

The Taxi Story - Wrong Catch

"RM80.00."
Fauzi did not utter a single word when he heard the figure. This 10-minute nap is far more important than having an argument with this crocodile driver.

Yesterday, Fauzi drove his taxi around town the whole day before leaving for Batam, caught the last ferry from Stulang Ferry Terminal - His relative from Padang, Sumatra, was there - Waiting for his passport and address changed to Batam's, and the green-light to enter Malaysia from the agent.
He met up with him, spending almost all night catching-up with news from his home-village and took the first ferry back to JB to continue driving again.

He gave RM10.00 to the driver for the 4km journey from Stulang to Larkin Market where his taxi was parked. He has been driving a taxi for the past 15 years after 3 years obtaining Malaysian Blue Identification Card.

"Hoi!!! 80 ringgitlah. Ini 10 ringgit aje." The taxi driver yelled as Fauzi walked towards the row of taxis queuing for passengers who has done their marketing at Larkin.
He ran after Fauzi who was now among the drivers of the taxis in waiting.

"Kenapa engkau?" One of the many taxi-driver asked Fauzi.

"Dia gila. Ada ke Stulang sampai Larkin 80. Aku ingat tadi nak kasi 8 je. Dah ada lebih tu 10 ringgit."

"Oklah Mamat. Engkau ketuk salah orang. Dia pun bawak teksi ..."
Before one of the driver could finish his sentence, this 'Mamat' has walked away and quickly sped off his taxi.
'Mamat' had hauled the wrong catch.

Fauzi looks Indonesian. Fauzi sounds Indonesian, but Fauzi is a Malaysian.

******

Later that night, Fauzi was queuing for passengers at City Square when he noticed the same taxi he took, the same 'Mamat' he gave his RM10.00 to, in the same queue just in front of him.
He thought of showing himself to 'Mamat', wanted to remind 'Mamat' not to do to others what 'Mamat' had done to him.

But as 'Mamat's' queue has reached the 1st, before Fauzi alighted, 'Mamat' sped off as quickly as he sped off at Larkin this morning without taking any passenger with him.