Tomorrow is the day – GE13

Tomorrow is the day – GE13

I can choose to be quiet but there are things that I fear if I don’t say it, I will live in regret for the rest of my life.

It hurts me so much knowing that so many dirty tactics happening in Penang, my beloved state. This could be the dirtiest elections ever with so many cash handouts, lucky draws, free food, free-flow beer and outdoor entertainment.

Dear relatives, unimates, classmates, coursemates, enemies, childhood friends, friends from near and far, tomorrow is the day where the rakyat will go out to cast their votes in this 13^th General Election.

Those of you who can vote, do it. Come out early.

Some people are too young to vote, but you can. You’ve lived at least 21 years in Malaysia’s soil. You know what have been happening. You know who’s doing well and who’s not. You know if media is censored. You know many things from the internet, although some are just plain rumours and fake. But you know that there’s really something shitty happeining to your country. You’ve seen, heard and experienced all of it yourselves from education, human rights, police treatment and so on. Are you going to be a bystander and take a so-called neutral stand? Stop this bullshit!

Feel helpless no more!! You can make a change! The power is in your hand now. You can change all these nonsense!

I don’t give a damn shit who you are voting tomorrow. But come out and vote! Each vote counts. Vote for the candidate and party which you think can bring harmony, peace and wealth to the rakyat and country.

If you are happy with the present system, vote them. If you feel there must be a change, so that life would be better, vote them! Nothing’s wrong to vote for new persons and parties in while you kick the badass out.

Voting is a privilege. And to vote for anyone or any party you prefer is your rights. No one can stop you from doing so.

The most awaited moment is just hours away. So do your part, will yea? Let’s make a difference. This is the time for you, Malaysians, do something for Malaysia, your country.

Let’s make tomorrow a day to be remembered.

No matter who wins, let it be peace and harmony. Don’t create troubles. Handle it with rationality and maturity. The elections results will determine our future.

As a first time voter, I am so excited and nervous. I wonder how it’s like to step into the polling station, getting the ballot papers and put an ‘X’ on it. Hahahahaaa. 

Malaysia milik kita. Milik kita semua, bukan puak puak yg kaya, extreme atau racist. 

Interesting night in Kepala Batas

Today is Thursday, 25 april 2013.

Which means it’s the sixth day of campaigning for this 13^th General Election.

It has been six days I’m staying in Kepala Batas, covering this whole parliament and the three state seats under it: Penaga, Bertam and Pinang Tunggal.

In this six days, my moustache has grown longer. My finger nails also long long already.

Kepala Batas is a slow place. Really. Nothing much at night. No entertainment, no traffic jam, not much of police presence. Paddy fields every where. Chinese and Indian eatery place are so less that you can count by hand. A lot of mamak restaurants and Thai style makan place. Original and authentic Malay food also none, as far as I know.

It’s damn hot here. But for three consecutive nights since Tuesday, it has been raining cats and dogs.

Anyway, tonight is an interesting night.

I just finished work at 1.30am.

Staying in a small town is not a bad thing. People here are really friendly and they watch each other’s back. You can feel the real human touch.

Went to interview some local political figure and he treated us aromatic Chinese tea.

For the first time, I visited a wake of a Chinese funeral in the midnight, plus, joined by an election candidate, plus, with a group of Muslims.

Fuyooo.

Funny thing is, before I enter my motel, my pixman and I washed our face and hands. For Chinese, it’s a must-do tradition after we attended a wake. But I didn’t know it’s the same for a Malay (or maybe Muslim?).

Then the air-con in our room is missing, under repair. Now we have to use a stand fan, a fan with no angin.

Both are half-naked and yet sweating.

I feel hot tonight. 

I can’t wait to go back to Penang (island). I miss my parents, my siblings and my girlfriend. =p

*it’s actually Friday already because it has passed 12am.*

Muay Thai tournament

The first Muay Thai tournament held in Penang, took place at Han Chiang Stadium on Sunday Jan 20, 2013.

Full Marathon? I MADE IT!

I am not showing off. But I want the world and those who feel like giving up to know that hey, I never train before and hey it’s my first time running Full Marathon. But hey although knowing and expecting that I might faint on the bridge, I did not quit even before the race day. I ran, I jogged, I walked, I sat, I squat, I laid on the bridge, I was barefooted, I kneeled down in pain and I did whatever shit I can to complete the race. Not for a second I stop and give up on myself. Until the very last second of qualifying time of 7-hour, I was still waking until the sweeper bus asked us to get in. And I stopped the bus at the last 1km. Then slowly in great pain, I walked to the the finishing line. I made it. I failed to complete 42.195km but I did 34km++. If you don’t believe in yourselves, no one else would. It’s all about your mind and heart. For those who give up even before you give anything a try, you are going no where. MARK MY WORDS!

*Allianz Penang Bridge International Marathon 2012*

when i die

When I die, I want to die with a lots of good memories and rich life experiences.

I don't need a lot of money, materials or luxuries. I can't bring it down to hell or up to heaven. It's all useless. I don't need all that. So mahuan to be rich. Later you don't know who should inherit it. Donate it to the needy? Of course I will. But I have been doing it every now and then. I do charity when it's possible. I don't have to be rich by the time I'm old and donate it when I die. 

My principle is simple. Live simple live happy. Simplicity is happiness.

I enjoy my life and it's never dull. Everyday something new is happening. I learn new things everyday. 

My life is a beautiful journey because I know where to go, what route to take and what I want. 

It's not how long I live, but how rich my life is. 

the gone landmark of Kampar

Photo taken on 21/10/2012 at 5.33pm.

This is the 'after' photo of the fire in Kampar. You can see the difference in the 'before' photo at the post below or here http://oh-chineng.blogspot.com/2012/10/heritage-row-in-kampar-burnt-down.html

Glad to be back to Kampar and capture this. 

Heritage row in Kampar burnt down

This photo was taken on 18/1/2011

To those Kamparians and UTARians, I’m sure you know where this place is. I just want to let you all know that this row of shops/houses in Old Town, Kampar has destroyed due to the fire that broke out on Monday morning/Sunday midnight.

My heart crashed into pieces when I heard the news. I have fond memories of that place. This is the oldest row of wooden shops/houses that is still around in Kampar. It’s older than the pre-war houses at the surroundings. It’s a historical place. The tin miners used to stay here too.

Do you know that the film “Kinta”, if you jeard of it, was filmed here?

I’m still sad with the loss. I just love that place because of the feel. I have lots of good memories in Kampar and that row of shops/houses. I remember there were bicycle shops, kopitiams, grocery shops, a fresh vegetarian shop and some residences.

The structures are testament of older generation that still living in the developing Kampar. Every morning you’ll see market goers and senior citizens dropping by this place, have a sip of coffee, hang out and chit chats with their friends.  

I haven’t captured and documented the shops in details. I guess I don’t have the chance anymore now.

But at least I had conversations with the people living or making business in the units. And I have the senior citizens’ photos are in my Ah Kong Ah Ma album too. =p

If my memory does not disappoint me, there was a talk in year 2010 that the row of shops/houses and other rows of houses at the back will be taken back by the land owner for development puposes. The other rows have been demolished in 2011. But I’m not sure why this particular row remained until today.

I’m humbly glad that I’ve captured this place in panorama. At least we know how it used to looks like before.

The structures may be gone, but the stories, souls and spirits live on.

When I’m back to Kampar this Saturday, I’ll go there and have my last documentation of it. 

*You can read the news of the fire here http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/15/nation/20121015112007&sec=nation *

This is one of the photo I took at that place.

Ah Kong and Ah Heng

*same kind of smile but different in number of teeth* 

Have you ever heard that we are just a temporary resident of the earth? Wait is there such saying or it's from my own?

What I'm trying to say is people will eventually get old, get sick and they sick. Some they died due to accident, disaster or poverty. 

This is my paternal grandfather. Paternal grandmother has just passes away few weeks ago. I wonder how many more years my Ah Kong will be around.

I've always wanted to follow both of them back to our root, our home village in China but I didn't. No it wasn't my fault. I wasn't procrastinate.

But I'm still sad that I didn't fight for the chance to join their trip. I missed it twice. Now Ah Kong is alone. I don't think he wants to visit the place he came from anymore, since Ah Ma is not around. 

Malaysia has already became her country so many decades ago. 

I hope and always pray that my grandparents, both from my mother and father side will always be healthy and live long, as long as I'm alive..

toothless smile

You see, a smile is priceless but it’s cheap. It may be just a small action, but it has a great impact.

She was so shy when I took his photograph. Why not when she has lost all her teeths? But hahah, eventually she laughed at me. And the moment she carved her smile, it melted my heart.

*18/8/2012 3.33pm Macalister Road, Penang*

Night scene in Penang

Night scene in Penang: Not satisfied with your house? There are people out there sleeping without a roof, a bed, a pillow, a blanket and a proper shelter. Everyone wishes to have something better than what they already have but we must also appreciate what we have in present and lend our hands to those who need it. 

*photo taken at 1.48am 15/8/2012 at Gurney Drive*

CONFIRMED! free Baskin Robbins!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150932450896184&set=a.102898911183.100922.9286241183&type=1&theater

An official announcement was released just a while ago after our Pocket Rocket Man, Azizulhasni Awang lost in the Final of Men’s Keirin Olympic London 2012 and got number 6^th in the race.

The announcement was posted in Media Prima’s TV stations NTV7 and 8TV facebook accounts.

SO PEOPLE YOU’LL HAVE FREE BASKIN ROBBINS TOMORROW. TAKE YOUR OWN SWEET TIME TO QUEUE UP YA. GO FEW HOURS EARLIER. HAPPY WORKING TO THE MEDIA PEOPLE TOO. AND LET’S ENJOY TRAFFIC CONGESTION NEAR THE OUTLETS.

It must be an expensive investment by Media Prima and Baskin Robbins. But nvmla it can boost your image. And you awarding our athletes efforts and determination in your own way.

People are happy with it.

Anyway Azizul, you still made us proud and happy for your achievement. You are still a finalist, an Olympian, the 6^th fastest in the world, the best in Asia, and definitely Number One in Malaysia.  

People @ Vietnam

This is an usual sight in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam where people carrying this to earn a living. 

Photo taken at 2.14pm 21/9/2011 during my backpack trip to Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam.

brunch with sis

I was away for 3 years in university. Didn’t have the time to spend with my sister. After graduation, it’s time to work. Less time to spend with her again. Journalists work on weekends. Since today I’m on MC, I brought her out and we had a good makan at ‘Chit Tiao Lor’. Eheheh.

*Siblings are growing up. Once you missed the time to spend with them, you’ll never have the chance again.”

Before

Jawa Mee

Hokkien Mee

Chee Cheong Fun

Pasembur

After

bila putus sudah cinta

Sejak dari kecil, saya selalu berfikir dan percaya.

Apa yang penting dalam keluarga bukanlah wang semata-mata tapi kasih dan sayang.

Wang itu besar, dengan wang, segala benda boleh dibeli, segala kekurangan boleh ditempuhi.

Tapi gembirakah anda  jika wang yang ada tak membawa kebahagiaan

Tanpa kasih, tanpa sayang, tanpa cinta, tanpa percaya, tiadalah keluarga.

Rumah akan jadi hotel. Balik untuk makan, mandi, tidur dan keluar.

Apakah itu rumah jika tiada perpaduan, tiada penghormatan, tiada percakapan?

Paksaan tak membawa kegembiraan.

Bila anak dipaksa melakukan apa yang diimpikan oleh mak bapa, hasilnya adalah kesedihan.

Bila anak mengikut jalan sendiri, dia diebnci sebenci-bencinya oleh si bapa.

DI mana silapnya?

Pilih kasih semakin menebal. Apa saja yang dibuat ada yang tak kena. Kerja anak dipandang hina. Gaji sikit tapi dipaksa bagi dja lebih.

Dituduhnya anak berjudi bola. Dituduhnya itu dan ini, bulan dan bintang,

Dalam hati, dalam minda, anak itu kotor, tak guna.

Sejak kecil, ayat ayat ‘you tak berguna, you pergi mati lebih baik, mati cepat aman cepat’ berkumandang di angkasa.

Sekarang dituduhnya anak itu mencuri wang dari poket seluarnya.

Segala plot cerita dia yang reka.

Tiada siapa tahu yang benar mahupun yang dusta.

Bukankah dia anak mu juga.

Hati sungguh sayu dan pedih melihat apa yang di depan mata.

Apa yang boleh dibuat melainkan berdoa.

Diri ini tersepit di tengah-tengah dilemma.

Bila sudah tiada cinta, maka kosonglah jadinya.

Bila yang longgar makin longgar, yang jauh makin jauh, maka yang akhirnya..

Putus.

Putus.

Tak mengapa.

Kerana cinta sudah tiada..

TAMAT

“You don’t tell him you know. Nevermind if he wants to take. It’s ok to give money to son. You keep an eye on him. Do you see him bet on football or use a lot of money? You don’t tell mum you know.”


*akan ku rahsiakan perkara dari dia dan dia yang ada di rumah, supaya hati siapa-siapa tidak akan parah*

Malaysia in Olympic London 2012 Opening Ceremony

Fuh!

I'm a proud Malaysian weih! Look at that, my country's flag! =p

Bon Odori fireworks

cikabomb!

sampat! This photo is blur la, but nvm it shows the fireworks during Bon Odori in Penang last weekend. 

Nice photos post next month. lalalala!

ahhh July 20 in Penang

"Sbaek Thom" Khmer Puppet Theatre

Photo 1

Photo was taken on July 7 at Khoo Kongsi during Live Heritage event to celebrate the 4th anniversary of George Town's inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage listing on July 7, 2008.

kuala lumpur

Photo taken at 10.36am 4/7/2012

man in black

This is actually me laaaaaa...