Second birthday

Our little Ainaa has reached 2 last August. We had a small celebration at her grandma's house together with her cousins, just the night before Eid. So this is an outdated post.. huh.

How fast time flies. Only a little baby before and now is a toddler - an insisting and persistent 2 years old. Just like her brothers at this age 2-4 year, you'll have to be very patient to wait the phase passed - they want people to follow her and not otherwise. 

She could walk before her first birthday. She could talk clearly at early second year of her life. Many would ask how old is she when listening to her talking.

With 2 brothers, she would choose cars and lorries for toys rather than a doll. She understands simple disciplne - like throwing rubbish in the bin and not anywhere. She could be depended on to put away her toys. But that depends on her mood too.

She, I notice, know how to make people adoring her. You will laugh just hearing her laughing. If the daddy ask, whose daughter is she, she would say, "anak bapak!" (daddy's daughter) with childish high tone, and change the answer if I asked the question. She said: "anak emak!" (mommy's daugther).  

The aim: Less meat

I know that there are regular readers of this blog, but I couldn't really catch up with time for this at present ..

Just one thing to jot down - I like to pen down the first-time-for-me things! Not extraordinary for some or many, but just new way of thing.

This just related to our diet. The aim for both of us is to lessen meat intake. We plan to have no meat for a day in a week - as a start. Maybe more days later - see how  it goes. So for beginning, we chose  Friday as our no-meat day.

We  have started last week - the menu was sweet corn rice and lentil curry. We've never taken lentil before. We found that it is good. The kids however do not really appreciate the taste.  But sweet corn rice is good enough. I need to find more recipes for this - which must be simple and easy for both of us to prepare.

The reason? One is for a good diet  - thanx Dr Lim Hin Fui for making us realize about how important it is to take care about our food. I feel that we take too much meat in our diet that may be harmful. Two, I feel that we should also  play a role to lessen demand from commercial poultry. It must be Mr Daddy's thing - being an advocate for animal welfare, I feel. When he showed me videos about factory farming, I do feel that we have to do something too.  

The budget 2012 and children education

The only thing that I would like to highlight from the home country budget for this year, is education - for obvious reasons; first: we are parents, second: we do feel that more should be done for the education system in the country, and third: it is an undeniable fact that present generations are the future of the country.

The following is the excerpt from the budget:

"Education:

Total allocation: RM50.2 billion- First time in history, all primary and secondaryschool fees to be abolished, beginning 2012 school term. Cost to government: RM150 million.

- RM1.9 billion for all schools, including mission and vernacular schools.

- RM1 billion for betterment of schools premises (RM500 million for SRK, RM100 million for SRJK (Chinese), RM100 mil SRJK (Tamil), RM10 million for mission schools, RM100 million for Sekolah Agama Bantuan, RM100 million to MRSM - Mara secondary schools)."

We hope from part of the 50 billions, more schools would be built. At present, many classes in schools consist more than 30 pupils and some could be up to more than 40. How could the teachers focus to improve the skills of the children with the numbers. It is not necessary for the school buildings to be too beautiful  - at present with the finite resources, we need quantity more than beauty.  

We also hope that the current ongoing process of reviewing the school curriculum will fit the need of the students. Too much subjects as we have at present may not achieve the objectives expected. Focus for basic, creativity and learning enthusiasm - it will lead to other knowledge enhancement.

Minimum wage soon

Minimum wage soon

This is a long awaited move which is in dire need in the country especially for those working at low level of the rung at remote areas.

I do not have any clue about how much are the salaries generally paid now.

But in 2001, the clerks working for a law firm in a small town in the east Peninsula were only paid not more than RM500.00. One who at that time had worked for more than 3 years only received RM300. When I worked while waiting for my SPM result in 1997, I met with a single woman with 8 children working in a sawmill was only paid RM8.00 per day. I wonder how could she gave her children enough food whereas a meal for lunch needs about RM3.50 for a person. I myself was paid RM300. I have also experience being paid for RM200 and RM300 respectively for one month work at different factories of 8 hours per day including Saturday respectively in 1994 and 1999. I started my career as a litigation lawyer with only RM1700 in the city center of Kuala Lumpur in 2002.

This might be outdated at present, but it seems things do not really change for the people at present.

With the prices in almost all basic as well as luxury items are on the steep rise, the passing of the law which addresses the interests of everyone is highly necessary.

Greater protection for animals

Just to share the thought and the cause:

Greater protection for animals

Wednesday September 28, 2011

THE announcement by Veterinary Services director-general Datuk Dr Abdul Aziz Jamaluddin of the new Animal Welfare Act will mark the next phase of the law relating to animals in Malaysia.

Now is the right time to replace the old Animals Act 1953 that animal welfare groups regard as having no bite to curb animal abuse. The new Act hopefully will accord greater protection to animals in Malaysia.

There is a need for stronger laws to assure the well-being of animals and reduce their suffering.

The obligation of humans and owners in ensuring the welfare of animals is not merely providing food and water. It needs to be extended to providing adequate shelter, protection from – and treatment of – injury and disease, and proper handling.

In the coming Act, I would suggest the Department of Veterinary Services consider three important keys with regard to animal welfare issues: obligation of people towards animals, codes of welfare to establish the minimum standard, and regulations to monitor the use of animals in many aspects of life like food, entertainment and research.

I would also suggest the department consider a moderate model in preparing the provisions for the new Animal Welfare Act.

The Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare, Universal Declaration on Animal Rights, the UK Animal Welfare Act 2006 and New Zealand Animal Welfare Act 1999 can be possible references.

The most important consideration is for the new Act to have the best interest of animals at heart, and at the same time suit the local circumstances.

There should be no further delay in tabling this new Act in Parliament.

Delays will affect access to justice, and justice delayed is justice delayed. Animals also have the right to be treated and respected accordingly in the Malaysian legal system.

ARIF FAHMI MD YUSOF,

Melbourne, Australia.

Back to Melbourne

We were back in Melbourne in the past few days. We were grateful that my mom was very helpful in assisting us to clean the house that we left. Thank you to all the families accompanying us to the airport. Our parents came all the way from Kedah. It is indeed a show of support for us and prayer from them for us to complete this mission.

Busy with packing and unpacking businesses these weeks whilst struggling with the jet-lags and change of time, minds somehow were always grumbling with the unfinished business - our research! We took longer than expected in our timeline, but taking the positive side - another step has finished. We attempted to finish our transcribing works before departing, but still they were half way done at present. 

A respected Professor in the National University Malaysia, the last interviewee that we both met just a few days before our departure - gave us an inspiring words that are worth sharing: "Enjoy writing and finish your theses. They are not going to be the last words you are going to say, but the most important thing is to complete your theses first." 

The kids are coping very well. Only me caught cold since in the flight and now, Alhamdulillah, got rid of it.

The house is very good - except the bushes in the backyard blossom. Some 'things' inside the house grow especially the kitchen utensils left by those in transit in the house before going back to the home country for good. Any newcomers in need of these things may come in contact with me.

Spring is in the beginning. Flowers come into bloom. Lavender in front of the house is in full blossom. We find a white tulip or a kind of it in the backyard among the bushes that we have never seen before. The weather is fine. The sky is blue. Spring is the most beautiful time of the year.

This afternoon, we had the opportunity to join Eid gathering in Jack Roper Reserve for Malaysian students around the northern part of the city and those from Bundoora too. We also had an Eid visit to Idah's house. Catching up with friends once in a while, what more in a celebration like this, is a refreshing and recharging occasion.

The next important things to do are to do report for the earlier phase, to finish transcribing, and to write.

The Beautiful 'Eid

We celebrated Eid ul Fitri on 30 August 2011. Eid ul Fitri is a festival for all Muslims celebrated on the 1st Syawal ie which marks the end of Ramadhan - the month in which all Muslims are required to fast. This is also regarded as the day of victory for the ability to fulfill the obligation of fasting, the health and strength  to face challenges and other good deeds recommended to be done during the holy month of Ramadhan. In short it is a big day for all Muslims. It has been a tradition to gather with families and to visit relatives and friends during the day and for the whole month too.   

Indeed it was beautiful eid for us. There are so many reasons for this. First, we went back to our hometown to celebrate the eid with our family of my side after two eid without the company of them. We will be going back to visit our family in Kedah a week after which is also to attend the wedding of my sister-in-law. 

Second, all of my siblings gathered in my mom's house during the eid which I think the first time that we were able to get together after many years. The great children of my parents now reach the number of 10 making the small house was just like a shipwreck..

And last which is the landmark for the memory of this year's eid is the gathering of all members of a big family of our great great grandfather, Hj Mat Said Hj Dollah - the first time occasion in the history of our family. The move towards the organisation of the gathering started with a conversation in a page in the Facebook which led then to this joyful event. We were blessed with the crowd that turned out in the house of Ecik Atan and Makcik Kama, a relative, in Kampung Luit, from the oldest that live at present, Tokki Mat Arif to the youngest great great grandchildren. Almost all members in family were present except  a few in this wonderful occasion. Many hope that this gathering could be held again in future and become bi- or annual event for the family.

Eid Mubarak to all.