Category Archives: Current Events

.. of ikon belia

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If someone is nominated as Ikon Belia – you would expect that person to be kind of famous and is contributing something extraordinary to the Belia nation.

Recently I had to not only Google Ikon Belia – I also had to Google “Who is Dato N ? and her contibutions”

I am already struggling to find a proper website or page that lists down the names of Ikon Belia each year. Now I’m not quite sure if this is a formal recognition or just a title you give somebody when you introduce them on TV. I even went to the extent of putting ‘define: belia’ in the search box. Even then regardless of popularity, since mainstream media nowadays somehow love celebrities more than real news, an icon should be someone who when we read about them, makes you say ‘wow’ and want to find out more of what they do.

And they may not need be someone who is a doc like Dr Amalina the genius child who studied medicine in Edinburgh , or prominent names in sports like Dato Nicol David or Pandalela Rinong or Farah Ann although that is like glaring icon material to the face – It can be those 3 young gentleman who tours around the country cleaning madrasahs and suraus. They could be someone like Syed Azmi who advocates kindness and charity. Sometimes a simple person like the lead singer of Caliph Buskers can be an icon as well. And let’s not forget the husband and wife team of Bella Ammara or Fashion Valet. Did you think it was easy to build an empire and franchise yourself? Thou shalt not also discard Khairy Jamaludin who is not a Dato by the way but at his ‘belia’ age is already a minister front page model and a good one (so far) at it too.

These are people who manage to achieve extraordinary success despite their ordeals and limitations. Most importantly their success gives a positive ripple effect to other people. If you succeed on your terms but only benefit yourself – that is not an icon. You should be able to inspire at least a small community let alone the whole country. You should be able to give back to the rakyat in your own way. Be it through glory, dignity or visible aid.

So here I am trying to understand this twisted world.

While she said the recognition was a gift – shouldn’t you give it back if you think you don’t deserve it. Or if giving back is not an option, shouldn’t you validate that gift and vow to do more so it is deemed worthwhile and meaningful?

Instead, you chose the road not taken which is heading towards a ditch.

I strongly acknowledge and believe that as human beings we are susceptible to mistakes and wrongdoings. But to strip it bare and parade it to the public? Surely ikon belia resonates positivity and greater good. Why would you want to play the ‘its personal’ card when already your life and your family’s is already an open book? lets hope the next chapter becomes more promising instead of cheap entertainment. I’d rather buy Eh! magazine if that’s the case. A second chance maybe for Dato N?

October – Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Posted in Current Events, Ponderings & Personal Development by

credits to fotolia

My pledge for October

  1. To read up on the national CPG regarding Management of Breast Cancer. It may not be the bread and butter in my particular line of work but it is good to be aware.
  2. To educate as many women be them staff or patients I could within the settings of my unit and scope of work regarding Breast Self Examination (BSE)
  3. To introduce services offered within the state to women when it comes to screening for breast cancer – in fact I have a list of centres within Malacca that offers such services at an affordable price.
  4. Getting involved actively or behind the scenes of fundraising activities tied to breast cancer
  5. Wear or display one pink item a day at work  – just so people are aware of this month.

What is your pledge?

Of K-pop and Assertive NO

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Would netizens and relevant authorities react differently if the K-Pop guys hugged a young ah moi. Instead of an anak dara donning a hijab. The Running Man cast were in Malaysia last year, I wonder how many hijabster’s were allegedly ‘molested’ by them as they queue in a meet and greet autograph session. Either way, I just don’t think any young girl of whatever creed should be put in an organized compromising situation. One that could lead to being judged by others. Any parent surely, wouldn’t want just ‘any guy’ to touch and hug their daughters, no? If as a parent we are vigilant towards the guy our girls go out with, why doesn’t the same rule apply to these K-Pop guys.

Some argued that these guys ‘asked for permission’ before proceeding with the gimmick. IMHO, they shouldn’t ask in the first place – a strange boy should not freely touch any girl who are not theirs to keep. But hey, this is an entertainment industry – I don’t work in one – I don’t know how the dynamics work. So lets leave it at that.

I feel sorry for the girls who got caught up in the hysterical moment. I mean, if Angelina Jolie or Beto Kusyairy himself were to walk into my casualty department for a fracture, I wouldn’t hesitate to be the first to attend to their ailments. It’s called being human, being in awe – only Insya-Allah, I would know to restrain myself and not take a selfie with Angie if she was still recovering from her anaethesia for instance. Or touching Beto unnecessarily on the cheeks when he has a broken leg.

A Dr Harlina brought up an interesting point regarding this problem. About how we should start educating girls/ women in the art of expressing an Assertive NO. Of knowing how to refuse or deny one of something in a manner deemed proper, with diplomacy, not aggressive but getting the point across. If the girls managed to exercise an Assertive NO on stage- this probably wouldn’t happen. The gimmick of hugging would probably be replaced with a serenade or a dance.

I wished I read her piece on this many years ago. Even now I still struggle with the ability to say an Assertive NO. Especially when a non Muslim man wants to shake your hand for a wonderful job well done et cetera..

Recently, my Facebook feed was flooded with varied responses to the K-pop incident. I couldn’t agree more as I witnessed how it has been blown out of proportion. I don’t see how arresting the girls for indecency could help. Nor does holding the organizing committee wholly accountable a good move. Why not resort to counselling or community service. Or establishing guidelines to international performing artistes regarding local customs. And please, we are not talking solely about pantang larang dalam Islam, but budaya sopan santun, budi bahasa as an asian community (dayak, cina, india etc). The vision of wanting our girls to have fun yet abide to certain rules so they remain protected.

Already, they feel embarassed with their photos gone viral and circulated around the web. Not to mention the ‘punishment’ they’re getting at home from the parents. And now this? What about the mass molestation we see in our Malay dramas reality TV shows? Do they get to walk away unharmed because they are not wearing a hijab? Or that they have to hug each other because it’s part of the job? Which is ironically written by a muslim as well. Tak payah tgk jauh – Arianna Rose was written by a lady in a hijab , directed by a woman in hijab and yet we see Keith Foo and Nur Fathia acting very chummy towards each other. Oh lupa.. tuntutan skrip. Seems like a lot have to be done to get the Assertive NO message across. Cause apart from our youngsters, adults and warga emas are struggling too.

Pray For Gaza

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Some time ago, I used to tell myself,

“All these actions to boycott Israel products will probably not change anything. There are millions many more Malaysians who would still buy them”

After all, the number one brand which dominates my household is Nestle. I was never a pious person, even now. But as they say,

Until I read a profound article an ustaz posted on the worlds new media : FaceBook.

What struck me most was not the theory behind boycotting and such. In fact, it was something more simple and individual. It read,

“If Allah asks, what have you done to help your brother and sisters in Palestine?” what would I answer…

In a way I was enlightened. Often, we feel persuaded to do things because we want to see the effect immediately. Rarely, it is because we want to please Allah and gain pahala for all its worth. Hence, I feel compelled to take on further steps in Freeing Palestine. Things that I would do the same during the times of the horrible Holocaust under mean Hitlers regime.

There are a few ways to help. Most are inspired by our very own Dr Halina.

  1. Make dua for the people of Gaza : I also learnt that there’s a dua called Qunut Nazilah. Something new to me that I have never known before. 
  2. Send donations through the many available NGOs in Malaysia who contributes to Gaza. 
  3. Boycott products : I suppose after I finish my current pack of Milo and Maggi, I have to find a substitute. As for the Golden Arches.. well, well, its time to limit the visits and stop all together. InsyaAllah. nestle-marque2

Hanez Suraya : Been there.. nearly done that.

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A mistress should be like a little country retreat near the town, not to dwell in constantly, but only for a night and away.

William Wycherley

Lets face it. Hanez Suraya is a girl who is currently in a ‘bounce back’ position. And I myself have been in that position twice. And in both circumstances I was tricked or perhaps was naive enough to think that the problem was not with him,  but always the girl. While no Wife or Children were involved, there was still her woman. The girlfriend. Or fiance.

I was mistaken into perceiving that I was the best thing that happened in this guy’s life. That I was The One for them both. Sadly, no.

I was not good enough to be the best girl in their lives. I was merely a refreshing change to their monotonous relationship. While it was true that I was a different sort of girl, one that they had never considered dating, and by that I mean the ‘girl-next-door’ sort of thing.. them being them still goes back to the type they were looking for. The girls they were more familiar with and happier with.

I was just a bounce-back girl. And once they had their souls mended they would suddenly come to a realization that things between us were just not meant to work out.

Come to think of it, I am grateful for these experiences. Apart from recognising these species of men as douchebags, I too get to discover powerful traits of myself. But lets not discuss about me. Lets just trash these men.

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Despite my lack in so called stable relationships and countless mini-dates, I have learnt important things regarding men. I have learnt not to trust men who;

  1. Says they want to marry you instantly despite having only dated for a month.While Love at first Sight exists. it doesnt mean you have to start looking for a wedding planner STAT.
  2. Will change their habits in a jiffy as soon as you say you will marry them. or do something for them. For instance ” I will stop smoking once we get hitched’. honestly, he doesnt need you to be an excuse to change for the better. He should ‘bettered up’ prior to having your hand in marriage.
  3. Says hes in the middle of a divorce or in the midst of a separation phase prior to breaking up. This means he’s just testing the waters with you and will only break off relationship with A once he is secured with Relationship B. If he is damn serious, he should be fearless enough to be standing on his own two feet, clean out the closet and sock drawers to make room for your things in his home.
  4. Never talks about his own family. or talks too much about his ex-wife, ex-gf, ex-relationship. and pinning the faults too much on them. come on, there must be one thing that he did wrong. listen to his story but take it with a pinch of salt.
  5. At the end of the short lived romance decides to end it all by saying, ‘The problem is me… not you”. They think it will make you feel better about yourself. Unfortunately, that is not how things work.

I cant say for sure what is going on inside Hanez Suraya’s head at the moment. However if it was me, I would want to dig deeper as to why this man who is asking your hand in marriage despite his divorce has yet to be finalized is willing to divorce the mothers of his two children that quick. Surely there is more than what meets the eye.

It’ll be a pity if this beautiful face Hanez Suraya falls in the hands of a shark. It’ll be a pity if say, she is the pure soul  that she claims she is, to be used and disappointed by this Romie. Who in turn has disappointed his to-be-former wife. My prayers are with Hanez, hoping that she will reconsider her decisions and statements in the near future. This is an actress with a potential to contribute more to the film industry. Lets not tarnish that image for lust shall we?