Not yet!

Dare to try or die trying? I’m stuck with my work and usually it means we’re at the end of year. Time flies, I was just remembering back on the struggle and sacrifices we had made for the soft opening of 1borneo. True time flies, as casualties are not to be forgotten in making it possible. I suffered myself but I managed by the skin of my teeth yet we all did. Now with just few more dead lines to go the battle seems far from ending. I must not burn out, not yet!

Designing, drafting, monitoring, supervising, managing I have done till now still I’m not sure of position I’m in (I don’t want to take myself as liability to the design hahaha budu!). I must admit I have the tendencies of not completing things I ventured but I hope I’ll get things done (I must). Come to think about it I just remembered that I haven’t check on the as built design. Closing this project could be the hardest thing in the overall tasks that I have been given not to mention liaison between giant companies. Have strength I should remind myself and often! Honestly I’ve burned out long time ago but there’s no running away, there’s no turning back, I just have to do it (cause there’s no one wanted to do it) this could be my stepping stone regardless of my lack of discipline in all things (all things!) I’m not giving up, not yet!

Remembering the opportunity or the courage to take this task is something similar to a dare devil’s move but I hope I will not die trying. There is something fishy but I’m up to it. Plus something funny happen and I just can’t wait for the outcome it shivers me timber.

Sunday dementia

Evening rose in a blink as I sat quietly pampered in my lovely couch going through every channel in subscription. Sunday has its way to leap me to dementia; I thought of philosophy and should cry into ‘eureka’ as food was always on my mind ‘these’ days. I surf the net looking for traditional ‘Kimarangang’ clothes and just to be frustrated as I not know the looks of it. I’m lost in world of modernity still my heart is more harmonious thinking of the old days of Tandek. Realizing changes, I found out Tandek is not the one I know back then. People change some of them left Tandek in search of new opportunities and some people changed to vile as news of murder saddens the community there. Tandek! What have we forsaken thee? And I’ll give my moment of silent in respect of the victim’s family God bless.
Still I’m looking for kimaragang traditional costume. The original looks & design as it was told from my grandmother to my mom. I wanted to see the crafts back in the pre-british era. What the kimaragang have offered to the world of fashion. I have few photos I got from the internet

Above: I don’t know if this is the real kimaragang costume but the photogrpher (mewot) claimed this picture is a choir group from kota marudu.

Left: If I’m not mistaken this are dancers from Kg. Tingkalalon, Dancing on pinakang music. I was there but didn’t take any picture. (thanks my sabah.com)

Below: This is the same dancers from Tandek with different Kimaragang costume, dancing the momiluk (warior dance kalau nda silap la)

Bottom: Kimaragang from Pitas district.

Race Relation Act

This is the latest bill form the home affair ministry, as far I know it is yet to discuss in the parliament. Though the Sarawak government thinks that they don’t need them (the bill), as they claimed that sarawakians are living harmoniously between races. How far the need of such act is still remains doubtful. I know the British has established their ‘race relation act’ to prevent discrimination of ground race. Malaysia now is in the middle of political swing and few of the political figurines had made comments that burst racial tension. How bad is it? With all the detentions & released of people under ISA , racial comments, I believed the federal government is trying to stabilized situations. They have to put a stop to it, asking people (these politicians) to stop ‘politicking’ and carry on with policies to the needs of people. Somehow I do feel bit frustrated with politician, at some point they have to stop talking about election (esp. the recent march 08). Moving on regardless of the terrible outcome of the ruling party would be better that to start quarreling (against each other lagi tu, but I think it’s the up coming UMNO election ba ni).

Our trouble is yet to come. The economy is gloomy, we’ve seen the likes of Europe and U.S. are struggling to keep its economy from falling too deep and the effects to us are just around the corner. Currently we are living by the skin of our teeth, coping with inflation and raised cost of living, yet these politicians have time to talk about racial stuff, power transition, ISA etc. It is either they don’t know how to deal with the economic situation and trying to divert our attention to lesser important issue yet sensation or they just didn’t see the storm is coming. Maybe it is all there in the budget 2009, fiscal policies should be enough to absorb much of the economic depression and monetary policy of overnight policy rates at 3.5%, BLR at 6.75% and etc. I do know that any form of savings would end up in a paradox of thrift which brings down the aggregate demand, believe me you are not going to enjoy the amount of money you have last year compared to the latest inflation (today). We are getting poorer by the day and putting your money in a form of high liquid would be just liquefying as its value depreciates (sad but true) yet what can we do with little amount of cash? I know I can’t even afford a ‘sulap’ maybe I should buy lots of steel with all my cash and hope the commodity would raise in few years time, just enough to get through the economic down fall. Stock markets are pretty crazy it is so mad that clowns are filling up job application to become traders.

Anyway the home ministry is doing his job (the minister was recently condemned by his comments) and if I’m not mistaken the drafts will be send to the unity, culture, art and heritage ministry. The two ministries are working together in this matter and the unity, culture, arts and heritage ministry would be playing an important role in the area of race relations as provided for under the act.

"The Home Ministry will provide the input in enforcement efforts to ensure safety and national security,"

"We need to get feedback from the public as ultimately, they will be the practitioners. This piece of law is for the people."

"Under this act, action can be taken against those who disrupt harmony by causing racial tension and conflicts that can also destabilise the country,"

These are all syed hamid speech cuts I pasted, he sounded like a police in my opinion hehehe but I must say he impressed me (courtesy of Daily Express)

For god and our country we raise our heads pt.2

The Sabah Progressive Party two lawmakers in Parliament decided to exit BN and will slightly reduce the National Front coalition's majority at a time when opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is trying to seize power.
(I was wondering the rest of the MP whom Anwar claimed will shift to PR will play hide & seek for awhile?)

Kota Marudu: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Kota Marudu will be forming People's Service Headquarters (MPR) in each voting district in Matunggong to enable smooth registration of the poor and disabled who need assistance.
(Good start but matunggong is only small part of kota marudu, will they continue on tandek, bandau etc. or is it just because matunggong is the poorest among all mukim listed in kota marudu? then again matunggong parlimentry expand to kudat district, since pitas is among poorest listed in the state of sabah shouldn't they have a look at it.)

Kota Kinabalu: Umno Malaysia Secretary Datuk Rahman Dahlan said the detention of the journalist, Tan Hoon Cheng, under the Internal Security Act (ISA) was not right and can affect the image of the Government. He said the excuse by Home Minister Datuk Syed Hamid Albar that the detention was for the safety of Tan only invited confusion.
(Home minister famous clause "everybody is subjected to the law")

This is a few cuts from our local newspaper. Interesting as I found myself intriguing over few headlines and yet politics is something to keep me laughing. BN vs. PR they will never stop. Though it’s a good thing for both since BN lost 2/3 majority. The government has no other choice than to implement policies (esp. the latest budget) accordingly and safeguard its promise. For the opposition, they have the advantage of voicing out fiercely for every governmental flaw. I hope we’ll get the most benefits out of this, if the people aren’t satisfied then the situation will be chaotic again and it will never stop. It is just like the cobweb model in the demand and supply equilibrium theory, in time the fluctuation of price against quantity will meet at a point where it will be stable (a plateau) providing the elasticity of both demand & supply meets certain requirements or otherwise the fluctuation will be massive and leads to its own destruction. So we’re going to a process of oscillation in political arena that affected the government, but putting it in a bright side, our voice will be the best remedy for both worlds if they refuse to hear it then the collective bargaining fails whereas it leads to government failure. So come on lads and voice out what’s no your head.

Then again in collective bargaining it must be on the best interest of the society (collectively la gaman, amu obuli maki onu yg gila-gila)

Malaysia Day

Happy Malaysia Day everyone today in 1963 North Borneo join the federation of malaysia, so enjoy the freedom but remember we are subjected to the law. hahaha

I'm still waiting for the new government to form, is it true or not? history in the making maybe who knows. Anyhow there's still less flag flying around (nobody seem to care anymore as different view in celebrating the independence day) almost non.

I almost forgot that, tonight (on the 15th to be precise) I was on my way back to my house when I was stopped by 2 teenagers. As it was raining heavily they asked me if I could sent them to their house. So being a friendly neighbour I offered my assistance. Few blocks away, 2nd junction and there we go home sweet home. They thank me as i smiled and drove back to my sweet home. Good neighbour is hard to find or come in handy nowadays but setting good example to future generation is something you called priceless. Just trying to make a better living for us all yet good things just don't happen over night but tonight it happened. Hahahaha

p/s - the girl looks cute though...might get the chance to meet her again?

Hope

Everybody is familiar with the word. We live we hope at the same time. I was in a meeting somewhere in May and one participant voices out of the question he was asked “I hope” he said and the chairman replied “this is not a church, this is a business meeting, we do not hope but we deliver”. Crazy as it sound but it’s true. In modern speeding up city like here we are expected to deliver not to hope. Suddenly I found out I’m in a similar situation where I hope too much. I have made calculative hypothesis to the problem and yet I hope. Even though I would know exactly the outcome there is still bits of me hoping, I’m guessing that I’m not as I’m sure it is or the deviation could be around the corner or I could be running out of luck. So with all the hypothesis, the collective approach we are still govern by luck? Or am I just seeking for comfort to the entire situation? The data that collected showing sign of failure it’s time to bail it out but I’m still hoping to squeeze me into the right result. I hoped at the end.

Stupidity is among great characters of men, I know now why hope even when there’s nothing to hope for. I’ve run few statistical tests for luck and I believed that luck does not run out as the frequent you used it, some people are just born lucky. Getting lucky is not a matter of chances, although the more trial result the best chances. Writing up till today makes me think the assumption that I’ve sets may lack of some important ingredient i.e. karma, culture and luck. I need to run a graphical presentation to make it more understandable, to show the significance between these variables.

As questions aroused in life, some judgment left uncalculated but we might just hope to make it possible. For calculated action it’s just a matter of luck to differ its result but we hope it would turn our way. Then again there’s nothing wrong in doing it (hoping) just a view that should we not make a better decision for us when we knew there is no more hope than to hope for miracle. I guess it shows that there is something in life that we don’t want to accept but in time we’re forced too. Beauty in the word yet delusion it prevails I found myself amused for doing so. And as nocturnal creature set out hunting this late dusk with full moon slightly appear beneath the misty cloud. I’m getting out for food myself.


Addition: The lost and found of love in September will remains in the thought of love ones.

Busy Bee

It’s back to the normal routine of life. Work! For most of us this is what we have been trained for, both intuition and education. We are born to work as modern world require money to every necessities in life, yet at the same time we are lazy to do things repeatedly (I know I do). Some might prefer the 9 to 5 routine, some might work different hour and some might work overtime. That’s why the paradigm of ‘government servant’ is most preferable in society (not to mention some of the agencies have law protection for employee, the 186 KK). Working for a long secure government company where after employment benefits i.e. pension and gratuity plus retirement funds are waiting for them. What more could you ask for? Well some of us may choose to differ from this, working for themselves their own boss or working temporally. To be your own boss is hard yet the return is extravagant (considering your business is a bomb, profits by profits) but when things are not right it can be disastrous. We see lots of fails and comebacks in the business world and the less fortunate are buried down for good. Cruelty and the beauty of business only known to businessmen, I know I’m neither a businessman nor an entrepreneur but I know earning a lofty some of money is amazing. I don’t shift company as I shifted in jobs that I do most of the time, I don’t hold honorary scroll till I’m sought after (by another firm, rival least) but I do hold some scrolls enough to earn me a living. I’m not belonging to a government agency so I have to works crazy hours to have a retirement plan and frankly speaking I’m not protected by law clause 186 KK and found myself charged by it. Yes, I don’t like repetition yet I keep on doing it. Like it or not we’re a part of economic system, we’re subjected to not only laws but culture, norms, rules and economy. It is just a matter of our will to turn the table around to make us better than others (ofcourse in a good way) to be one step above in the plateau to be smiling at the end of the month (at the end of the day).

I know it's not all sunshine to wealth but knowing that wealth is there yet to be discovered is something that took your sleeping hours away. I can't recall but I think Einstein said that things started from wondering or day dreaming (I don't recall heheheh) but I know a friend who said that "berangan ja puas-puas bukan juga kena bayar kalau berangan-angan".

Culture

We are either born or living our lives through it. It could be what we are and norm base of ones society.

I looked up in the internet and found that culture means; ‘the totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought’ (now this is C&P technique). Now by this definition I’m questioning myself, does culture represent the society as whole or it’s just a sub topic of society. It’s more like the chicken and egg question which comes first, nevertheless I wanted to know if society develops culture as it was accepted normative behavior or the society is influenced by culture which they might have adapt for nature observations. But either way still culture remains as (as mentioned) transmitted behavior etc.

This is ‘Chincai’ observation, it’s too chincai I don’t have to leave my home for this. I figured out that culture must be introduced by a greater or important figure in society; it might be the ruler or highly respected members of it. At the same time any kinds of suggestions of beliefs interact kindly towards the community. Culture will consist of all system of beliefs and institution which eventually grow as political beliefs (now this is macro view). In order to maintain culture, it must be able to maintain the community both in economic and spiritual needs (iti nopo Marxism suggest opium of society). The evolution of culture now advocated on the outside influences of another culture. Expansion leads to interaction between other groups of communities. And non-the-less events happened that might have change or altered the core culture itself. Thus mixed culture would be proposed combination of core culture with the outside influences. In general this is the evolution of culture yet the transformation is rather slow as interactions between different groups are seldom occurred. The challenge is the mass media of world culture (westernization), we are slowly turning our lifestyle towards it (including this blog). World culture may be results of interaction of various groups around the world and sharing things in common. It’s widely accepted among many yet still western will always be different from Asia. The other side of the globe, sure it is. But its globalization, the new era and we will belong into a single culture called the earth culture.

Individually culture is felt very pleasant to such community belongs to it. So preservation of ones culture is essential for the survival of individual self need. Although we’re going through speed changes in our lives, we shouldn’t take our culture as simple as it is. The survival one culture still depends on the needs of its community, significant or relevant to the new world breed. Our forefathers lived their lives and subjected to their culture is what made us today.

Rungus people have maintained lots of its tradition for ages I’m proud of them, so lets preserve ours as well or any of us cause we ceased to be forgoten of what we are.

For God and our country we raised our heads

Living in Borneo is something to be proud off, the lives here are great but do we feel secure with overall political scenario especially in west side of Malaysia. I don’t envy them, even if they have the best shopping malls or the best architecture. I wanted to share the thoughts and minds of the Borneon people, instability would be the next big thing here in Malaysia. I have friends in Malaya, some of them live and married here (in borneo) both Chinese and Malays and they are as wonderful as Sabahans. Politics will divide all races and we will eventually leads to its’ destruction. Human gather people into group have motive of survival and it will be defensive when threaten. We are as animals are, we live to survive and Darwin suggested living things that survive up till now is because they cease to be destroy. Survival of the fittest! Now we're dividing ourselves we put ourselves in groups’ base on race, locality, or religion and the worst is dividing us into political beliefs.

Politics are just as sick as there is now. This so called leader gathers you around convincing you about some political ideology that actually didn’t have any difference between their rival. Since we have race base political parties, we’re automatically divided into race. Now if we’re to divided into races wouldn’t we go into each other with hatred? I saw lots of racial issue nowadays but believe me they are just as equal as one another (one good example is they hate each other). Malaysia comprised of three major ethnic; the Malays, Chinese and Indians. Ironically in North Borneo we have it all (hahaha! The truth), yet of course consist of the Dusuns, Muruts, Bajaus and Chinese as main locals or bumis. If its’ to be assumed that one race must belong to once race party then it would be easier for the Chinese in North Borneo but not for the other locals (Bajaus, Dusuns and Muruts). Let’s assumed religion is the base of all parties. We are not trying to make another crusade so let’s not go into that since history has proven that. Now assuming party base on locality, we won’t be against racial and religious discrimination but we’ll be against the states of others.

No matter how you tried to fix it the flaw is there but the core of all is how the people wanted to live their lives. They interact with each other every day despite what race or religion or which ever part of the planet they came from and they should have known how to live their lives. So don’t give in to any political ideas but what you think is right for you and your surrounding. Remeber it's "for God and our country we raise our heads and for heroes that died the glorious death"

For the love of God

I think every guitar player must have heard this song (for the love of god) it's one of Steve Vai’s most famous songs of all time. So take a moment listening and show how you feel about god.

People nowadays have all kind of perception about god although it's not very far from what our religion thought us (despite being jewish or christian or muslim or other kinds of it) god is great. Living in such modern world caught us with a lot of question about god. Some of them might be annoying and some are quite funny. Sometimes it's funny when we believed but we didn't do as it was told, in my eye if a person believed in God but not following most of the teaching he/she must be a god believer but not religious. The question of 'do you believe in god' doesn't tell what your religion is. Being faithful may be subject to what religion you are, it shows character. Yet all kind of religion asks us to be good and good is actually determine base on the norms of the society. Lets say that you are talking to a religious preacher and the preacher told you that although you believed in God but you didn’t do as what told because you are not scared enough to do it, you are not terrified by the consequences of Gods punishment. Now the idea of the preacher is that you have to do Gods teaching so you wouldn’t end up in hell. Hell is where human get punish for wrong doing and the mind would interpreted it as something horrifying. Now if you believed in god but not religious it shows that you are not afraid of god. If I were to put this in a much nicer way I would say that ‘you think of god as great and as wonderful as anything in imagine, thus there’re nothing harmful of Him (God) and since god is the light, the savior how on earth would you think god could be terrifying.’ The only thing is we believed but we didn’t love Him. Love is something that you do even though the person whom to be loved irritated by things that you do but because of love the person let pass stupidity. So I believe that if we love God, we do anything to earn Gods love in return.

For some this is quite an explicit text especially came for an eyed view but I’m just challenging my mind out of something and out of something I came with this. To a few it’s a matter of belief, to the many it’s a matter of faith. We might be secretive about this matter but atleast we chose what to believe.

Frankly I was actually interpreting about a song called “for the love of god” by Steve Vai. Cheers! Teda ancakan paradigma hehehe.

Ranau

"Aaarrrrggggghhhh!!!*&$%$*&*$KO!" the sound of my cellphone. "Mana ko?" questioned the caller, "Sini Ranau" I then replied. Hah! I'm in Ranau escaping from the busy city life. This is just what I need a breath of fresh air.
"....her ghost in the fog, and I embrace where lovers rot.."

Personally I think Ranau needs some lift off so it won’t look that simple. We start our journey driving in the rain and it was a heavy one. Then up on the hills of Tamparuli and Kundasang is the fog fiesta but I was expecting it and lucky I brought my vision enhancer (huh! Power ranger la bah ni) but still with caution. The road was better than what we have in Kota Marudu (ulu kukut – simpang tiga) but driving in ‘land below the wind’ is not to be said as smooth journey (Oruol dot pingang!).

Yet worst to come as we struggle thru the white fog. Paning! Car sickness (hope that what you call ‘mabuk kereta’) I think they don’t have much to look at since it was foggy and turn by turn makes you feel discomfort.

I met few of my friends in Ranau and they were vacating the city as well, traveling in group of four cars. I was actually surprised running into them, didn’t expect them to be there but we have good places to go here so people would just step on it and go places for fun.

Back on the road in mid day the next morning, we had good short time in Ranau and it's worth a laugh. I really enjoyed myself with ‘these group of company’ laughter fills the cockpit (we didn’t turn the radio). Then we stop at Kundasang market, getting something for love ones back in KK and I’m no exception too (hehehe, makimaap ti amai nga momboli oku strawberry motok mama om paiz. Jadi haro juga la love ones.). At the market I saw beautiful faces of people of Borneo and one kid captured this ‘one eyed view’ he really have this ‘Borneo feature’ too bad I didn’t took his picture (still the regret) with his happy face smiling. I’m impressed that government giving opportunity to entrepreneurs but there’s still room for improvements for both parties (a lot of improvements). Then back on the road again. Ups and downs, turns by turns we stopped at Nabalu. Here they sell lots of souvenirs, so with beautiful girls selling it the chances that you leaving the shop empty handed is impossible especially with extra cash to spend (pok silap ba). Had lunch at Tokou’s, few more laughs then we’re on our way home.

"....weather wise it's such a lovey day, you just say those word and we'll beat those birds down to accupuco bay. It's so perfect for a flying honeymoon they said, so come fly with me let's fly away." song that fills my mind on the trip.

Panat! but worth it. Today starts of Ramadhan so happy fasting it's tough but endurance to thy self and break is just around the corner.