320. RUMAH TOK WAN BANJIR LAGI…

Petang Selasa bergegas pulang ke Alor Setar setelah mendapat panggilan telefon daripada Tok Wan pada waktu pagi. Kata Wan, jalan masuk di depan rumahnya sudah dinaiki air. Air sungai di belakang rumah juga sudah mula melimpah…

Saya maklumkan kepada Wan, insyaallah selesai satu dua tugas, saya pasti pulang untuk tinjau keadaan dan buat keputusan.

Wan cakap dia tunggu di rumah sambil berpesan supaya kala balik nanti pandu dengan cermat di jalanraya.

Kurang lebih jam 2.30 petang mula perjalanan dari Ipoh. Sampai di Alor Star hampir jam 5.00 petang. Semua kenderaan dialihkan melalui Plaza tol Alor Setar Utara. Lebuhraya PLUS dinaiki air dekat UUM.

Meluncur terus ke rumah Tok Wan. Sememangnya air telah mula membanjiri jalan di depan rumah. Kenderaan orang kampong berderetan di bahu-bahu jalan di taman perumahan yang berdekatan yang agak tinggi.

Anak-anak kecil riang bermain air limpah.

Nasib baik bawa Nissan Frontier, boleh redah masuk kawasan rumah Wan yang agak tinggi. Ada jiran tumpang letak kereta di garaj Wan. Kalau air naik lagi kereta-kereta tu pun pasti terjejas.

Sungai di belakang rumah Wan sudah senak. Air mengalir laju melimpahi kawasan rumah-rumah di tebing sungai.

Air sungai terus mengalir deras mencecah kekawasan reban ayam di belakang rumah Wan.

Jalan-jalan di depan dan kanan rumah Wan juga mula digenangi air.

Dari amatan, memang banjir besar akan tiba, harap-harap jangan sebesar banjir 2005. Letih membaiki perabut yang rosak dan mencuci lantai-lantai yang penuh dengan lumpur.

Saya bincang dengan Wan. Wan lebih suka tinggal di rumah. Tunggu dan lihat keadaan dan kemudian baru buat keputusan. Saya bimbang…

Saya lebih minat bawa Wan dan Tok pindah sebelum air bertambah besar. Perabut-perabut yang mampu diangkat ke tingkat atas rumah, dipindahkan segera. Wan kata, dia ikut saja keputusan saya.

Lepas solat Maghrib dan makan malam, Tok Wan dan Tok tawakkal tinggalkan rumah dan ikut saya pulang ke Ipoh kerana air naik dan terus naik…

Catatan: muzillmansor

Berita terkini: Khamis-jam 9.30 malam 4.11.2010

Dapat berita daripada Jiran di kampong. Air sudah membanjiri rumah-rumah kampung termasuk rumah Tok Wan. Berapa tinggi paras air yang masuk tidak dapat diketahui kerana jiran-jiran sudah mula pindah semalam.

319.OF BLINK, RADAR NUMBERS AND RAYMOND WEIL…

Nothing much has been written worthy of mention on currency and notes lately. Come to think of it, I don’t recalled writing anything on watches or clocks as well for quite a while. What more a book review.

This book ‘BLINK’ was a present received some time back but never managed to haul myself to complete reading until recently. For those who are looking for some material to loosen up the mind, this book suits you.

What I want to jot down is not the book review rather a preowned piece of RM100 Malaysian currency note tucked in between the pages of the book. I must have placed it there some time back during those initial glances at the book contents.

Turned out this currency note carries a radar number with a ZA series. Placing interesting currency notes in books surfaced from ATM, from a bank counter or a shopping change is supposed to be temporary but most of the time the transit period seemed permanent.

I remember clearly about this RM100 note bearing number ZA 1495941. 

The note was handed to Muzill to make a payment over a counter when he realized that it carries a radar number. Returning the note with a smile, he casually mentioned that I might want to keep the note and requested me to have a second glance.

Indeed it might not be an UNC, still it has a special value…and by the time I took another note, he has already settled the bill. 

I just returned the smile…

Oh yes, what has the book and the radar note got to do with the Raymond Weil? Well, I was wearing this watch when the radar number was rediscovered recently in the BLINK. This RW is a special gift from my better half many years ago and I’ll always treasure this priceless timepiece…

318. TERIMA KASIH JABATAN KESIHATAN…

Jadual biasa 'fogging' dijalankan pada petang hari. Berbeza pagi ini.

Seawal jam 6.40 pagi sekumpulan pekerja Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Perak telah bertungkus lumus membuat 'fogging' di sepanjang jalan di halaman rumah dan di belakang rumah. Jam 10.00 pagi pasukan kesihatan yang membuat pemeriksaan rumah ke rumah masih gigih bertugas.

Pegawai Kesihatan yang bertugas memaklumkan bahawa hari ini ada kes suspect denggi terbaru, katanya keluarga Hj Makmur di pangkal Persiaran Bukit Meru 10, Meru Heights, Ipoh. Wabak denggi yang menyerang kawasan perumahan kami lebih dua bulan lalu belum berjaya dibendung dan masih berleluasa.

Usaha Jabatan Kesihatan masih berjalan saban hari, penduduk-penduduk juga berusaha menjadikan kawasan rumah masing-masing bersih dan bebas nyamuk.

Masaalah yang belum selesai adalah lot-lot perumahan kosong terbiar dipenuhi lalang, rumah-rumah yang ditinggal kosong dipenuhi belukar.

Sampah-sampah kebun dari goyong royong anjuran Jabatan Kesihatan tempoh hari bersepah dibahu-bahu jalan belum dikutip lori-lori Majlis Tempatan.

Pokok-pokok hiasan di sepanjang beberapa  jalan berserabut tanpa urus dan daun-daun kering tidak disapu.

Jabatan Kesihatan tidak mampu selesaikan masaalah tersebut kerana bukan dalam bidang kuasa mereka. Maka wabak denggi tidak pasti boleh terus dihapuskan di kawasan kami.

Majlis Tempatan yang bertanggungjawab atas urusan pembersihan sampah dan menghantar notis kepada pemunya lot-lot kosong dan rumah kosong barangkali masih tidur dan pekerja-pekerja yang dihantar dilihat banyak rehat daripada bekerja…

Kepada majlis tempatan tersebut, teruskanlah gya cara kerja mu dan tidurmu seperti lagu ‘tidurlah wahai permaisuri’ dendangan P.Ramlee.

Nak tulis  surat aduan lagi kepada agensi tersebut barangkali dah tak lalu…

Nak harapkan Wakil Rakyat, alahai, kalau ada bau pilihanraya, mungkin timbullah bayangnya semula di kawasan ni...

Kepada kakitangan Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Perak, sekalong penghargaan dirakamkan dan tahniah atas kerja kuat.  We salute you for your vigorous efforts. Kalau kerajaan nak bagi bonus, inilah jenis pekerja-pekerja yang layak.

317. UPDATE ON 'KAMPONG BOY' THE MUSICAL

Met my friend, Dato' Lat at the Surau this evening for the Maghrib prayers. Caught up  with him on his latest projects after the prayers... was informed that 'Kampong Boy' might not be able to be stage this year.

The project could hit the stage in March next year.

I told him, irrespective of the performance date, please keep me informed. Our family enjoys theatrical performances once in a while whenever we can spare the time together. The whole family except Muzill was at Istana Budaya recently to watch 'CUCI-CUCI' the Musical. Unfortunately we missed the date on the 'MAHATHIR'.

What a fantastic show 'CUCI-CUCI' turnout to be. The spontaneous dialogues was just hilarious and satirical...

316. IT WAS SET 30 YEARS AGO…

Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia officially declared Malacca as a developed state yesterday, precisely on 20/10/2010.   

Congratulations to all the past and present leaders of that small yet thriving state for the achievements of pushing a sleepy hollow place into a world tourist destination.

A lot of credit has been showered to the charisma and the vision of the present chief minister which I guessed is quite justified.

But I liken the development of a state to the athletic event of a relay race.  All the runners play their part to win.

The process of the development of Malacca I reckoned began during the time of chief ministership of Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik back in early eighties with full support of Tun Mahathir, the then Prime Minister of Malaysia. 

What a visionary leader and hands on manager he was.

He was very meticulous with financial results of departments and state agencies assessing the real performances, analysing the variances and getting the departments to buck up. He was full of ideas on moving the state forward with well executed tourism projects.

I know… because I served under him then in Malacca as the State Treasurer, entrusted with managing of the state funds over 17 departments, during the days when Ali Rastam (Dato Seri), the present Chief Minister, too was a departmental head.

 Back then, we already dare to produce a surplus annual budget for the state!

Malacca folks should be proud of their success despite the limitation of state resources.  

To me, the real architect for Malacca's achievements today is undoubtedly Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik who laid the foundation.

He was succeeded by Dato' Seri Mohd Ali Rastam, a fine builder who completed the development of Malacca in grand design.

WELL DONE MALACCA! 

315.SATU IKATAN PADUAN KASIH...

314. SMOKING OUT THE VIRUS-CARRYING AEDES MOSQUITOES…

The Ipoh Health Department staffs have been making their evening rounds smoking out mosquitoes almost every day ever since the dengue fever becomes endemic in our area. This evening is no exception.

Residents of Meru Heights, Ipoh have been the subject of attacks virus carrying Aedes mosquitoes since early August.

More than 20 cases of Dengue fever victims have since been admitted and the list has yet to stop.

Pointing fingers does not stop the Aedes mosquitoes from breeding and spreading the disease. Concerted efforts from Ipoh City Hall, all government agencies and all parties concerned including the residents are the only way to curtail and control the mosquitoes.

Hence the initiatives by the Health Department for doing the evening rounds and spearheading the gotong royong last Saturday was most commendable. Thank you Sirs…

Though not many residents turned up at the Community Hall last Saturday morning for the gotong royong, I guessed most of the residents did participate judging by the piles of garden refuse along the roadsides. They chose to stay back and clean up their own compound.

I just wished the Ipoh City Hall had sent the lorries to collect those piles of garden refuse which could be potential mosquitoes breeding grounds.

Clearly, the efforts of the Health Department are producing results as there are fewer mosquitoes in the area.

To Ipoh City Hall, please be more proactive. There are so much more you guys can act.

I acknowledged once in a while you people did visit us to produce compound tickets, gave us free samples of Abate and then fogging. We really appreciate those gestures. I reckon it takes much more than that to rid of the virus-carrying Aedes mosquitoes.

A couple of months ago, I wrote a long letter to the Mayor appealing for assistance to tidy up our area prompting some positive actions.

Thank you Mr. Mayor. 

Once again, I appeal to the good Mayor of Ipoh, do pay us a visit and witness the uncollected rubbish, the overgrown empty housing lots, the unkempt empty houses, the untidy construction sites, the rubbish dumps, the uncut grass along the clogged main drains and along the hill slopes. 

I know that you do care...and seeing is believing.

A breakfast or evening tea dialogue with the residents, Mr. Mayor would certainly be most welcome. Do bring along your officers and cleaning contractors just to make the dialogue more lively and fascinating.

God willing, together we can make this world a better place to live...

P/s (updated 19 Oct 2010 at 12.30p.m)

I saw  some workers cutting grass on both sides of the road in front of my house , Are they from Ipoh City Hall? Thanks anyway...

 

 

 

313.NEED TO RECHARGE THE BATTERIES…

My mechanic called me on Saturday for an appointment to collect the cars for maintenance. My old Morris Minor has not hit the road for some time and the Nissan Frontier's battery is dead.

Come to think of it, my blog too has suffered a power failure. It's turning into a cobweb and thoroughly deserves its due maintenance.

There were many topics of interest of late that I could have written. Interesting topics ranging from peculiar Eid Mubarak's celebrations in Malaysia that lasted more than one whole month of Syawal, wedding receptions that followed practically every Saturdays and Sundays, the dengue fever that is still a cause of concern to our neighborhood, to the recent Malaysian budget that was announced by Dato' Seri Mohd Najib Razak, the Prime Minister last Friday. 

Still, the zeal to punch the keyboard for a decent and readable article was missing for one reason or another.

Try to select a novel or two from the pile purchased long ago to start reading but failed miserably after just a few pages.

No matter, I must snap out of this hibernation. Perhaps it is a good idea to revisit the currencies and stamps albums that are gathering dust.

Like the cars, I too need to recharge the battery fast and let the blog and I 'breathe' again…

312. KAMPONG BOY to hit theatre as musical in December

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 – Having been translated into various languages and adapted as animation, the well-loved local cartoon strip ‘Kampung Boy’ is set to scale greater heights.

It will hit the theatre as a musical for a world-class stage in December this year. 

Needless to say, its creator, iconic cartoonist  Dato' Mohd Nor Khalid, better known as Lat, is elated.

While he finds it difficult to believe that his work would be made into a musical, the man views it as an appreciation of his works.

“I am grateful that the Kampung Boy cartoon still continues... even the animation is still around and I have plans with Astro to have an animation series in the future,” added Lat.

He advised budding cartoonists interested in animation to be creative and find different ways to feature the Malaysian culture.

“Even on low budget, creative ideas would assure the work reaches the foreign market without the need to imitate Western ways.”

Meanwhile, the musical is a joint project between the Malaysian National Institute of Translation (ITNM) and Tall Order Theater Production.

It will not only bring the famous cartoon to the stage, but it will also feature the 1Malaysia concept.

INTM communication, marketing and sales department manager Zinitulniza Abdul Kadir said, Kampung Boy was chosen to be made into a musical, based on its storyline which depicted Malaysian communities and cultures.

“The Kampung Boy books have been translated into 15 languages and we feel it’s a good way to promote our culture.

“Upon request from Lat himself, the musical will also include the 1 Malaysia concept, not just in terms of its crew but also its actors who will consist of various races.

“This is why, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak agreed to be a patron,” she told reporters after launching the Malaysia Book Lovers Seminar 2010 here today.

To be staged in Bahasa Melayu, Zinitulniza said the musical would include the ups and downs of Lat’s life as cartoonist, scenes from his cartoon works and his new ideas, which would be presented in a way to captivate the audience. – Bernama

311. Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!

Hari Raya kali ini agak berbeza dengan tahun-tahun lepas. Selalunye pagi raya ayah, ibu, abang, angah & adik akan bersiap dengan baju raya untuk ke masjid sembahyang raya bersama tapi kali ini x cukup satu korum. Abang masih di hospital pagi raya ni. 

Ayah cakap x pe la. Kali ni kite raya ngan abang kat hospital je la. Jadinye lepas sembahyang raya, kami berlima dengan rendang daging rusa, lemang, kuih raya & x lupe jugak baju raya abang menuju ke Ipoh Speacilst Hospital nak beraya dengan abang. 

Sampai kat hospital, kuih raya sume dah dibalun oleh angah...hehe abang x selera sgt tapi tetap dengan senyuman. Seronok tengok telatah adik2nye yang x habis2 nak kacau abang. Raya kali ni simple je tapi cukup bermakna. 

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDIL FITRI, MAAF ZAHIR DAN BATIN

Posted by: Kakak

Update on 25 September 2010:

Kakak suffered high fever on Saturday, 18 September 2010 and was admitted to Sime Darby Medical Hospital, Subang Jaya on 22 September 2010 on dengue fever. She is still under treatment.