Tag Archives: Hari raya

Selamat Hari Raya!

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Long weekend ahead! So, folks have a leisurely balik kampung drive, rest before driving, take plenty of breaks and reach home safely! Enjoy yourselves!

Those travelling but not balik-ing kampung, you’ll miss out on the local food and connections, but a different scene is always a refreshing change.

If you are in Kelantan and Terengganu, and you can’t go shopping or treat yourself at your favourite supermarkets or restaurants because the state told them to close on the first day of the Raya hols, go elsewhere! Enjoy yourself, but if you are not happy with the inconvenience, express your displeasure at the ballot box in the next elections! Politicians must be taught a lesson at the polls when they do things the people don’t like!

So, folks, have a happy Raya hols. This year I’ll miss the lemang and beef rendang — which is standard fare for me during this season — because the stall from which I get it wasn’t there. Same with a couple of others. Either business is bad and they moved to a more profitable place or changed their business or just closed shop. I won’t know.

The government keeps praising itself on its efforts but it’s getting tougher and tougher for the people at the bottom! Don’t let that spoil your celebrations. Keep it in mind and use your vote to get leaders who have your interests at heart to represent you.

Meanwhile, Selamat Hari Raya!

Selamat Hari Raya!

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Have a wonderful time, folks! Ignore all the unpleasantness happening around us. Just know, basically, we Malaysians are good people who are nice to each other and enjoy each other’s celebrations!

Going shopping, I saw people breaking fast in Chinese, Indian, Malay, Thai and all other shops! No issue. Because we generally are sensitive to one another.

So, let’s just enjoy ourselves!

Selamat Hari Raya

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Drive safe, enjoy the long weekend, the good food and the good vibes from all the people you will be spending Hari Raya with. If you have a truly magnanimous spirit, pass some of the joy to those around you who don’t celebrate this feast.

It’s a good tradition that we Malaysians practise: Enjoying each other’s religious or cultural feasts with others. In recent times, however, fewer people practise it. It is one tradition that we should do our best not to let die a natural death at the home level by making an effort to include friends and neighbours and not just be content with national-level open houses, although that is good.

Not that we should do it all the time under compulsion. Sometimes we go on holiday, balik kampung or enjoy just family. At some other times, we should make it a practice to include others in our festivities, as well.

Such inclusiveness, of course, can not happen if we don’t build good relationships with colleagues and neighbours of other races.

So, folks, let this Raya be another good reason to become more Malaysian and others-inclusive!

Selamat Hari Raya, all!

Selamat Hari Raya!

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With a hectic weekend and the rush of Hari Raya, my greetings have come a little late! But here it is! Hope those celebrating Hari Raya Puasa are enjoying themselves and the rest of us enjoying the occasion in our own ways.

I had a happy day relaxing, and the pleasure of a delicious Hari Raya dinner! My neighbour went back to his hometown in Banting and brought back chicken in peanut sauce, ketupat (rice cake) and the tastiest serunding (spicy beef floss) I have ever had, all of which were homecooked by his mother! For the past two years since they moved in, I have had his mother’s chicken in peanut sauce — which I enjoyed — and discovered a bit of history in that it is a speciality dish of the Banting area.

Between neighbours, we have developed this little tradition of exchanging food over the attached low wall between our link homes. At Christmas, I share with them Christmas goodies and at Hari Raya I enjoy a delightful portion of Banting’s chicken in peanut sauce! During the fasting period I also get some interesting snacks. Last year I had Malay kuih; this year the best murtabak (chicken-stuffed pancake) one can get from the gerai gerai in SS19 in Subang Jaya.

Food is a sure-certain way of building bridges over the fence between neighbours!

So, folks, I had a pleasant Hari Raya and hope you are enjoying yours as well!

Selamat stay-at-home Hari Raya!

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Stay home, folks! Make yourselves comfortable, enjoy home-cooked food, those close around you and feasting at home!

The pandemic constrains our movements but not our relationships and that can be enjoyed together where ever we are. If caught by the movement order and you can’t go home, don’t fret. Stay where you, cook at home or have food delivered to you, watch a lot of TV and online movies or play indoor games and stay connected with family, friends and neighbours!

It can be fun! And it would only be for a short while if we stay home and beat the pandemic. It’s doubtful if we will ever be rid of the covid-19 virus, but if we can bring it to a manageable level, we can get back to normal. How soon we do that depends on how disciplined we are in following SOPs and getting vaccinated.

Much also depends on a capable national leadership to enforce the SOPs, accelerate the vaccination programme and initiate economic recovery. A fumbling flip-flppping leadership will be the major reason if we fail to bring the pandemic down to manageable levels now.

After Raya, it will become immediately urgent to assess the performance of the national leadership and the people should express themselves loudly and vehemently as to exactly what they want of the leadership.

For the moment, though, enjoy the festive occasion! Selamat Hari Raya!

It’s up to the MPs now, and Selamat Hari Raya!

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In the past three months, we witnessed how Malay politics brought down a rightfully elected government and installed a government by appointment without the stamp of legitimacy by the Dewan Rakyat. I don’t have any issue with Malay politics, but, my predominant concern is that leaders, no matter what their politics, must always operate within the ambit of the constitution.

I have stressed this point in my recent posts and that is the only point I want to make concerning the current state of politics. I have made this point so often that I think I may be sounding like a broken record. Should there be more flouting of the constitution in the future by the PN government, my point will be the same: Please uphold and follow the constitution.

So, not to bore my readers any further, I have decided that I will make no further comment on current politics. I think my readers are smart enough to understand the stand I have taken and I don’t think I need to belabour the point.

Besides, after the May 18 Dewan Rakyat meeting, I believe it is now apparent to the MPs that the PN government is on a trajectory that could threaten our parliamentary democratic system of government if it continues not to test its majority at the Dewan Rakyat through a vote of no confidence.

I also believe we can trust our elected officials to fight on our behalf. Anwar Ibrahim is now the Opposition Leader and former prime minister, Tun Mahathir Muhamad, is in his corner. I’m sure many MPs realise the significance of a no-confidence vote now and how important it is to respect the mandate of the people. I’m sure we will see them standing up for the constitution and we will be rooting for them. It’s up to you, now, MPs!

That doesn’ mean I won’t write on politics at all. If some new developments take place and they warrant comment in the public debate, I’ll write on it.

Meanwhile, I’ll move on to other things. Folks, Hari Raya is on Sunday. Enjoy the break and the occasion though muted it might be due to the Movement Control Order. Nevertheless, it is a reason to enjoy!

Selamat Hari Raya!