USM Roundtable on MFP

The USM Roundtable on Malaysian Foreign Policy (MFP) was held at IDFR Jalan Wisma putra today 27 Feb 2009. Since the venue is at IDFR I decided to leave early just like what I used to do on my lesture day at IDFR.

3 Gen Outing

A weekend soujron at Ayu's place at Bukit Jelutong. Ayu doing the annual spring cleaning. Syam applying his expertise ti sercice the a/c . Wehad dinner at Sunway Pyramid at the Roma American cuisine. Had the ribs was ggod but the helping is too much tapau one final piece togather with the fries and chicken delicies. Catch up with my reading. I picked up one novel and started reading. After a couple of pages realised that I've read the book before. The 1st generation was slumped in the confort of the ground floot reading room while the 3rd generation got stuck in their vedio games upstairs being watched by the 2nd generation.
This morning we settled for my long awaited visit to the resturant in TTDI Jaya that offered really aunthetic nasi dishes especially the nasi dagang. Bought the normal 4 newspaper for Sunday reading. Balik ke rumah aqnd waited for the pool guy to come to discuss tte repair of Ayu's dirty and damaged pool. Slept a few winks and continue reading the novel. Performed my solat Zohor then warmed up the taupau food and snack onit with 3rd generation Sophia. Left for Ampang at 1515 hrs and arrived atAmpang abode in atorent of downpour.

A Day Out Gallivanting

We decided to accompany Onie doing her last minute shopping before going back to Phnom Penh tomorrow. I hitched on because I wanted to see what the clearance sale next to the Wisma Sime Darby had to offer.

The Singapore Saga

Left for Singapore today. A quick whirlwind trip after Hani's birthday bash at home. Six of us: Ani; Maznah; Ayu; Onie; Mika and me, we left Ampang around 1500 hrs with Ayu driving and M reminding her not to speed. We made good time and were on the second link by about 1820hrs. We stopped for prayer and petrol. The Singapore cars had a field day filling up their tank and I just took some pictures. To add to this saga one dishonest Singapore driver just scoot off without paying after filling up his car. What a jerk!!
We made our crossing my first on this expressway. We made it without a hitch not that we expected any. With Ayu driving and at odd with the GPS directing we went from on place to another with ease. Stop at Kinokunyia and I purchased 4 books one of which is authored by Dr. Karminder Singh ( a colleague from IDFR days). We had our dinner at the food court at Newton Circus and we ordered two Sup tulang takeaway.
After dinner we checked in at the Holiday Inn Atrium. We were at the 23rd floor and looking through the windows we can admire a spectacular views from this atrium style hotel which is strategically located at the crossroad of Outram and Havelock Roads. It is just a short drive from Shenton Way financial centre, fascinating Chinatown and the fashionable Orchard Road shopping belt. Across from the hotel is the island's renowned Singapore River where entertainment spots bring vibrancy to the nightlife at Clarke Quay and Boat Quay. All guest rooms and suites provide stunning views of the city or Singapore River and are equipped with facilities such as broadband Internet connectivity, individually-controlled air-conditioning and electronic locks to meet the needs of the business and leisure traveler.
After breakfast on Monday we packed and checked out and that's when the "Singapore Saga" began. After about 10 minutes M realised that we've forgotten our sup tulang. Afew frantic call to the hotel was made before we make our way back to the hotel. M went first but no sup tulang in the fridge in the room that we occupy. We lamented and passed it as 'tak ada rezki'. But then we make another try because we realised that we could make a mistake by not checking the lost ang found section as had transpired during Onie's pone conversatiion with the hotel staff. Another round to the hotel and Onie went in after alot of haggling. Surprise!!surprise!! she came out swinging the bag of sup tulang. Thus the saga ends with a seigh of relief and on a happy note. We then went for several missions including a little shopping at Carefore and our final flings was having lunch at suntec before making our way back home.

Hani's Birthday

Celebrated Hani Shafera's birthday today. A week late so that her aunt from Phnom Penh can joined the bash. The little twitty was so happy getting all the attentions from the uncles and aunties as well as the grandies. Mika recite the doa before his sister cut the birthday cake. Happy birthday Hani Bunny!!!

Surprise Visit to Kuantan and Kemaman

Today 31, January 2009, we made what was supposedly to be a surprise visit to see Maheran at the Kuantan Specialist Center, admitted for typhoid the last three days. The idea took shape in KL after a number of phone calls among the sisters and nieces. So a surprise visit was decided to uplift the bed ridden “aunty tok Yan’s” spirit. The need for the group to make the day trip in one transport, for obvious reason, singled out the service of uncle Azma to ferry the group to Kuantan and a side trip to Kemaman.
Seven of us, Azma, Munira and Atira; Mahani and Abang and Maznah and me push off at about 0700 hrs. Not too much traffics along the MRR2 at this hour. It was a little foggy as we passes along the Karak highway. Stop over at the “‘d Paya Serai” food court at the Petronas station. It was a second stopover for Maznah and I in the last three weeks. We know how to maximize our order now after our experience on 9 January on the way to Ita’s wedding reception then.
We bumped into Dato’ Hussainy and wife who were exceptionally forthcoming in their greetings and exchanging small talks. We finish our breakfast and say goodbye to the Datos and continue our journey East. With the highway it was a pleasant drive despite some driver displaying their speeding stunts. Oh! these Malaysian drivers.....they should abide by the truism " the speed that thrills is also the speed that KILLS".

We exited at Gambang. I visited the rest room and found it to be in a very clean situation. I was very impressed and took a few snaps for this posting.
After a few phone consultations we got back on to the highway and proceed to exit at the Kuantan Toll. Abang sort of guide us to take the right route. We finally arrived at the specialist center and parked at the staff parking area and after short searching landed ourselves in room 115 and surprise surprise Maheran was expecting us and no surprise at all. She told us Mohd revealed that “your sisters are arriving shortly to see you”. Anyway Maheran was obviously happy for the visit. We spent about an hour and then left for our lunch date with Mohammad in Kemaman.
After the sumptous lunch we then lepak and performed our solat at Mohammad's place. We also enjoyed some of Nadia's homemade cookies and took advantage of their hospitality by packing some takeaway too. After saying bood byes we proceed to the newly opened Mesra Mall in Kemasek. The mall complex remind me of those shopping malls that we patronised during our holiday in Australia three years ago. The sad part as we were told is the MB's order for the hypermarket the Giant not to operate its buismess there despite it being ready to open for buisness. Be dammed with the MB and their politics.

Obama's Inauguration

Despite my flu and aching joints I stayed up in the early hours to watch the inauguration telecast lives on CNN. It gave me the de javu feeling watching the crowds that swell the Washington malls and those who were also packed along Penn Ave for the motorcade that follows the ceremony. 20 years ago on 20th January 1989, I was one among the thousands braving the cold winds to witness the inauguration of the 41st American President, Bush S,. I was accompanied by Col Douglas my sponsor while I was attending the 31/2 months course at the then Defense Intelligence College, Bolling AFB. Washington DC. I remember packing some canned drinks and those huge American hotdogs from the outlet operated by an Eygptian (2 pieces to be exact). Well that was good foresight on Col Douglas for you tends to get hungry pretty quick in that kind of weather. Watching the crowds munching away on the CNN live telecast brought back the beautiful memory.
Now on the subject in the centre of the inauguration that is Barak Hussin Obama. No doubt, that the personality concerned display a very articulate demeanour followed by eloquent delivery of the speech and display of overall finesse that the world euphoric responses clearly indicated. But whether or not Obama is a deliverance to lead the U.S. away from past foreign policies misadventures is something that I questioned. His meteoric raise is something that cannot be achieved without what I would called “strong hidden scaffolding”. I suspected that the hidden hands of Mossad was and is pulling the strings. My suspicions is further strengthen by the article that appears on this URL forwarded to me: http://www.truthquestonline.info/NEWS_VIEWS.html page of the Truth Quest website.
This is very interesting for two reasons. First it added more ‘pointers’ to my belief about 9/11 being a Bush deception. Second and perhaps more importantly in terms of the scheme of my current thinking on Barak Obama, is the odds on that Obama is a Mossad plant! I made a passing remark on this possibility after my presentation on “The Obama Presidency and its Impact on Asian Security” at the MKN Geo-Strategic Roundtable Session at Pulai Spring Resort in JB on 17 November last year. I may be wrong but I am keeping a close tab on this issue. This article you forwarded certainly gave me more reason to keep on course in my research.