Category: Daily Whatevers

For the past two days, rain water has inundated KL causing flash floods here and there, and even at one location close to the SMART tunnel. So much for “When the SMART tunnel is ready, flash floods in KL will be a thing ofthe past.”

Not so SMART remark, eh?

Both my Thai friends above will be sitting for their Board Exams from today through the 7th of this month. Both are medical practitioners (I prefer to term them as that).

I wish them both good luck and all the best.

Now…when should I dive again? This coming weekend perhaps? Hehehe.

For 6 years I had campaigned for veteran artistes Aziz Sattar and S Shamsuddin to be bestowed the title “Datuk” for their contribution as symbians to the late Tan Sri P Ramlee. Finally, Aziz Sattar has been made a “Datuk” by the Yang DiPertuan Agong.

Below is the letter I copied to Utusan Malaysia on the 7th June 2001.

Hargai jasa seniman veteran

Saudara Pengarang,

HARI Keputeraan Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong baru-baru ini membuat saya sama-sama menumpang gembira dengan dua orang rakan. Yang pertama, ASP Abdul Razak yang dianugerahkan pingat Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) dan keduanya penganugerahan pingat kepada Tan Sri S.M Salim.

Penganugerahan pingat Panglima Setia Mahkota kepada S.M Salim adalah bertepatan sekali kerana beliau dilihat sebagai penggiat seni yang diminati ramai dan telah banyak berjasa membela seni tanah air. Di samping beliau, sutradara terkenal, Yusuf Haslam juga kini bergelar Datuk.

Tahniah kita ucapkan kepada mereka. Bagaimanapun, masih terdapat penggiat seni yang masih belum mendapat sebarang pengiktirafan. Sebagai contoh, Rosiah Chik, yang hingga kini masih mempertahankan lagu-lagu Melayu asli. Tidak kurang juga Aziz Sattar dan S. Shamsuddin yang saya kira tanpa mereka pasti siri Bujang Lapok pasti kurang serinya. Apatah lagi setelah empat dekad Bujang Lapok dipertontonkan, ia masih diminati ramai terutamanya generasi muda sekarang.

Kita telah menyaksikan bagaimana golongan muda seperti Datuk Shake telah lama diberi penghormatan tersebut tetapi penggiat seni generasi lama masih kurang mendapat pengiktirafan. Mungkin penganugerahan gelaran Tan Sri kepada S.M Salim membuka ruang untuk golongan yang seangkatan dengannya.

Diharap pihak yang menggangap diri mereka wakil para penggiat seni berusaha supaya mereka ini diberi penghormatan sewajarnya. Secara tidak langsung langkah ini juga boleh menaikkan martabat penggiat seni Melayu.

Janganlah kita mengenang seseorang setelah dia tiada lagi bersama kita. – KAPT. (B) ABDUL RAHMAT OMAR TUN MOHD. HANIFF, Kuala Lumpur

Last Friday I’ve sent my name for vetting again. After not renewing my gun licence in 1999, I am now re-applying. I already have a gun…the Glock 34. Comes with railing and I hope to install a Surefire light there…or a green laser targeting device. It already has luminous targeting sight for night-time use, plus non-slip grip. Next I want to put in will be the “aqua attachment” so I’ll be able to shoot the gun underwater.

Upon clearance of my vetting, I shall submit my application form.

It was an insane drive up to Teluk Intan for my cousin’s wedding today. Left home at 1030hrs and arrived Teluk Intan at 1345hrs. Traffic was just heavy in Kuala Selangor and Hutan Melintang (I followed the coastal road). At least it’s not as bad as those people who were stuck on the PLUS highway northbound from Sungai Buloh through Bukit Beruntung, and southbound from the Kajang exit through Nilai…a jam of 18km in length.

Passing the Jenderata airfield, I remember how, 7 years ago I did several parachute jumps at that airfield, flew a paramotor, and flew a Cessna 172 from Ipoh to Jenderata and back. I also remember flying above this airfield as a waypoint while taking Route One to go back to Subang from Ipoh after taking the 9M-AZI back from servicing in Ipoh. It was over this airfield that I did a hard left at 1,000 feet AMSL. I took that aircraft and handed it over to late Faizul at Subang, a week before he fatally crashed the aircraft into the sea off Mersing.

Anyway, it was good to have met relatives I’ve not seen for a long time, and those I have never met as they have resided in Tawau. Maybe I should look them up when I go to Sipadan-Mabul-Kapalai.

The drive back was nice. It was a fast drive. I cannot help but think how peaceful I would feel everytime I am outside of KL. I looked at the crimson sky, the numerous jetties I pass by…knowing the sea wasn’t far away then.

That is how I get back my sanity.

I wonder how she is….

My good friend, Nadzarin, lost his father last night at 1942 hours. The latter suffered a stroke 7 years 9 months and 3 days before passing on at the age of 80.

Be strong, bro. He’s in a better place now.

The RMAF’s 49th anniversary is not until Saturday, 2nd June 2007, but I’m just writing this in advance in case I get busy (well, 2nd June is when I’m getting married my cousin’s getting married in Teluk Intan.

I hope, under General Dato’ Seri Azizan Ariffin TUDM, who was my Chief Instructor (one sickening guy as a Major then..19 years ago), the RMAF gets to carry out its wishes, and get aircraft suitable for their role.

So, here’s to all my brothers and sisters-in-arms who are, and were in the Air Force, and not forgetting my squadmates who are still patrolling the skies: Hamir Fizar, Thulasiram, Gabriel, and Jamel.

“SENTIASA DI ANGKASARAYA”

There was a news article inside yesterday’s The Star about how the memory of old flames, especially the first one, will forever be etched in the minds of people, no matter how old they are. The article relates how one 60-odd year old person, upon meeting his old flame for the first time, acted as if they had never been separated all the while, and were casually carrying on where they had left off.

Interesting, don’t you think?

I remember of one of my old flames whom I met two years ago at a conference. When we were in the same room with others, her voice became the loudest in the room out of the sudden. Of course, in front of the others, I asked her if she remembered some of our common friends, she acted as if she had forgotten all of them…but in the end, he next day or so asked me of them.

And of course, I, too, remember other old flames as well, and one flame actually rekindled.

So do you remember your old flames and ever wondered what happened to them?

Emma Sam, comments?

Yesterday, it has been 34 years since the passing of Tan Sri P Ramlee, the legendary icon of the Malay film industry. I can still remember that morning while on the way to school, the AM radio inside my father’s Ford Cortina was broadcasting the news of his passing. I was only 7 years old then.

His songs and movies still touch my heart….the casual dialogues and so on.

I don’t watch malay movies nowadays. I just don’t like having to puke all the time.

It’s on Tamil Nisan (I said Nisan…not Nesan). Someone has finally seen the light and resigned. I’m sure he now realises that you cannot make car run on petrol and tell people that the “run-on-water” version will be made available soon. Imagine the man-hours and dollars burnt…not to mention the physical and emotional stresses each individual and the respective family underwent during those times.

So it’s a good time to celebrate good times.

There will be a Gathering Of The Damned at TPM for lunch today.