Friday, February 27, 2009

THINK !!!

You know, a copy of the following letter came in my inbox and I fully emphatise with it. Bottom line, instead of playing cats and dogs, can't the powers that be focus on real issues facing Malaysia now. I wonder, what have the Malaysian public done to deserve the predicament that we have now. Some of you may say - ala ko mengundi pun tidak - yes, that's because frankly I lost trust because I see that all of them are in it for the money, not really for the people. Its the connection and the concessions and the contracts that matters. The people only play the role of supporting actors especially pre-election. The smiling babies, the visit to old folks, the repair of places of worship. Sickening once you see past the "making of" whichever side it may be. Why should there be sides ? Aren't we now working for one nation ? Anyway, by chance, if there's any politician reading this prove me wrong. Show me one that's really working for the people (bar Datuk Michael Chong) and I'll show you a dozen others that's in it to be rich. Errr, maybe not, I certainly do not want to get arrested.

Just read the letter...

Dear Malaysian Politicians,

Please stop the power chase, call for a truce and focus on the economy.

I do not claim to speak on behalf of all Malaysians, but I have strong convictions that many share my sentiments.


Our concern today is not who rules the country or heads the state governments but the looming bad economy.

Whether Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat leads, it is meaningless if Malaysians have no job to go to, no money to pay rent and no means to put food on the table.

I am a business owner, like other business owners and managers of corporations I have a responsibility to ensure people under my care and payroll continue to have jobs and a decent income to take home. We work hard and willing to go the extra mile to make sure our nation not only survive this crisis but come out stronger and wiser. We need your help.

Let me explain. I am in the business of Training, Development and Consultancy and have 20 people in my team.

Saedah is 42. She keeps the office clean and helps organise the training rooms. She has four children and her husband is unemployed. She was first hired on a part time basis, because she is very hard working and has a great attitude, we offered her a full time job to help provide a stable income for her family. Even then, when her third child started school this year, it was a struggle for her to buy new school uniforms and other necessities. Saedah lives on a ‘kais bulan, makan bulan’ basis, so, if she is jobless, her tap runs dry.

Samsuri is 27 years old. He lives with his sister and her family in a low cost government flat in Sunway. He does our despatch, helps with various clerical works and occasionally acts as a driver. During the first week at zubedy, we learned that he not only did not have money to buy new clothes and shoes for work, he had no money for lunch. Like Saedah, if he has no job, his tap runs dry too.

Alicia in Client Servicing turns 26 this year. She lives with her dad who is 71 years old and retired. Her mom passed away when she was little. Alicia is a hard-working team member, has a gentle caring outlook and fun to be with. (We like to poke fun at her as she blushes easily). Last May her dad went through a major operation, thank God he has recovered well. Alicia needs a job, both for herself and her dad.

Sudesh, 38, is one of our facilitators. When his father passed away last year, he moved back and lives with his mother in Seremban. He shuttles between Kuala Lumpur and Seremban daily, leaving home sometimes as early as 4 in the morning and returning late at night. He is no stranger to hard work and sacrifice, he knows what he needs to do to survive and to care for his mother, but he too needs a job.

Like fellow Malaysians, every one of us in zubedy needs employment, those that live from hand to mouth like Saedah and Samsuri and others like Alicia and Sudesh with family to care for. We Malaysians need the Malaysian economy to be strong. We need you, our leaders, to work hard and to work together to make our economy viable.

So this is my plea.

Pakatan Rakyat, please stop your attempts to take over the federal government and persuade BN’s lawmakers to join you. Stop all legal proceedings, no more 916 and let go, just let go. The nation can wait till the next general elections if they want change. By doing so, Malaysians will see your party as caring, unselfish and gracious and give you their support in the next elections.

Barisan Nasional, please stop any attempts to take over PR states and win over PR’s lawmakers. You have proven your point with Perak. The nation can wait for the next general elections if they want your party. Focus all your talent, energy and hard work in steering the country out of an economic downturn. By doing so, Malaysians will see your party as caring, unselfish and smart and give you their support in the next elections.

BN and PR! Call for a truce. Get together and compromise. Someone has to give in. Or has hate consumed your heart till it blinds you? You can do it. You have enough intelligent people between you. I am sure you can find solutions. Take the nation to heart. That is why you are in politics in the first place.

Focus on the people.

Focus on the economy.


Anas Zubedy
Managing Director
Zubedy (M) Sdn Bhd

Thursday, February 26, 2009

MyStream Photogs




Lighted by the PDA...

More night shots



I love the colours. Sometimes darkness shows those that light could never reveal.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Mask


Which mask shall I put on today ?
Sometimes none will be necessary for they can see what they wish to see.
Someday it is mandatory as they can see only what I want them to see.
For I have learned you see, that deep inside, beneath the skin its all for me.

Then there are times when a mask alone will not be enough.
As I trudge trough trying to survive.
Then, only then a crutch will ease the pain as I hobbled along the darkened plain.
The crutch will help me stand and I will beat the skein.
Till it goes cowering back to the hole and be blind.

Or, I may dress with baubles and blings to avert the eyes away from my grimace.
Gritting my teeth and jingling my blings so they don't see the real thing.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Putrajaya International Convention Center





NT [click on photo to see sharper image]

Moving on ?

It was late afternoon, I was at one of the rest areas that seems to be a prominent prop in my current routine. Half way to my destination on the other side of the country. My brother called, "Abah has been out from early this morning and has not been back, I've been looking for the past hour and not found him. What should I do ?"

The best I could offer was to wait and do another search along the route that he might have taken. Also to enquire at hospitals in the area and if all fails to go to the police. Abah is in his mid sixties, quite healthy and has been working all his life. He just quit a couple months ago. Goes everywhere on his bike and that is the worrying bit. Has a driving license but refused to drive a car. I felt a slight twinge of guilt as I recall giving him some money a few days ago. Perhaps it was that money that became the cause of this incident ? I prayed that all will be well and continued on my journey.

Later that evening I was informed that my sister is on her way to pick up Abah from Dengkil. Apparently, Abah got lost and was found by a native in one of the villages in the area. He was observed to have been circling the area a couple of times and when he fell off his bike, the native assisted and only then knew that he was lost. [MEN GENETICALLY DESIGNED NOT TO ASK FOR DIRECTIONS]. Luckily Abah has my sister's number in his wallet.

See, the thing is, Abah is from Cheras Baru, his intention was to go to Pudu to buy some stuff, yet he ended up in Dengkil which is way out either by direction or distance. According to him, he failed to remember the way. I suspect its his idleness that is causing his mind to behave as it did. Most importantly, I shudder at the thought that I might be looking at my future.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Night Shots



Some night scenes in Putrajaya. Had fun "poisoning myStream boys" on the D700's low light capability and using virtual horizon with available gate post in lieu of a proper tripod. Thanks for the invite guys. Lets do it again soon - err if I am available (hopefully)....

Two ladies dressed to the nines waiting for their transport after a wedding reception at the PICC. Handheld. Amazing, so it appears that technology has put equipment before talent. What do you think ? Is it the person or the equipment ?

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Passing on...

Woke up to a short and succinct "My MIL passed away 1.20am this morning". Another one from that generation is gone. Perhaps for the best as she had been enduring various medical conditions, regular dialysis and the latest which may well be the last straw on the proverbial camels back - amputation of her leg due to diabetes. Al-Fatihah, semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat keatas rohnya.

As that generation begin to tumble like dominoes, so is mine moving up to replace them. Time really is catching up.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Hanging on...

Had one of our regular MyStream old timers meet last night. Lasted till the wee hours of the morning. The theme seems to be hovering on the current economic doom and gloom. Everyone has a story to tell, factory cutting down operating hours, working days being drastically slashed, production being stopped, budgets being cut. There are even observation of desperate crimes being committed. Shoplifting of milk powder and snatch thieves working alone. Its bad.

The world is still in a downward spiral and have yet to reach bottom. Here we are entrenched in the system unable to survive on our own. With a sad fondness we looked at the lives back in the village where food is grown, hunted or gathered. Very slim chance of going hungry. Now, without the hypermarkets we'll be lost. What if our spending power is suddenly depleted ? What if our plastics is made worthless and the ATM's refused our patronage ? What then ? Pretty scary.

Then again even in times like these there are those who seemed unaffected. How affected could you be if you can manage to go test drive a Merc SL or two...