Happy Mother’s Day
My friend who is a journalist asked me to read this letter which was published in The Star on 7.5.2008 - Being mum is a life-time job
Most of the time I use the approach of “others first and family last.” I always think that parents will understand me and forgive all my wrongdoings.
Indeed, they do.
After yesterday, I rethink. Perhaps, I have applied wrongly or abused it.
There were many occasions that I promised my mum to get this and that done for her, but I delayed and gave other matters priority. I told her that I would shop with her at night but when I reached home, I said that I am not able to go because I am tired. My mum would just say, ok.
Yesterday, while in the car with mum, she told me that my aunt asked her to make the pizza dough. According to her, my aunt wanted to make a pizza for the daughter who would be coming home this weekend (yesterday). My aunt’s first attempt in making a pizza.
Then, she went on and told me that she recommended her friend to buy a cake from a particular cake dealer to celebrate Mother’s day . His friend also joked that he would give a slice to my mum since my mum likes the tiramisu cake a lot. I just listened to her.
After attending some matters in the post office, we went for lunch. Suddenly, something struck me. I told her why not we get a cake too! Indeed, I am “slow” and it is not wrong to use the word “insensitive.”
I made a call to check if there was any cake available.
We went over to the shop and bought 4 cakes ie theree -1/2kg and one - 1 kg. All were tiramisu cakes.
When we were in the car heading to our friends house to deliver the surprise, my mum said this, ” I thought I will not get to eat a cake.” She wanted to call her friend and told him that she would not need a slice of his cake anymore. I stopped her.
Later in the evening, I had dinner with my good friend and her daughter. My parents had to attend a dinner.
Then, they dropped me at my house. We decided to have the two mothers to cut the cake. 
They blow the candle, make a wish, snap some photographs, cut the cake and each shared a slice of the cake with the daughters.
I told my friend’s daughter, “Look, just a cake can make a mother so happy.”
After my mum had two slices, she went to the kitchen and took out two containers. She cut two slices and put them into the said containers. She said that she wants to give some to her friend and another to keep in the fridge for herself. I put the remaining big portion of the cake into the box. My mum wanted me to bring it to KL for my sisters. She said my sisters love tiramisu cake very much.
Mothers always have their children in their heart.
I seriously need to review my “application” of the -”others first, family last.” Also, I have always take my parents for granted, that they would understand and forgive me when I failed to perform my “family duties.” When I needed help from my parents, they never say no. In fact, they get it done for me immediately. At times, they get it done even before I ask for assistance.
To all the mothers out there, Happy Mother’s Day.
Yes, mothers sacrifice a lot. Maybe next time you can organise activities involving them & your mom too.
Keep up your good job.
Comment by peisheah — May 11, 2008 @ 10:26 am
What mothers want are more than a cake
Whether or not it is the one you bake
They really want to know what it will take
For their children to please her for her sake
“Happy Mothers’ Day!”
(C) Samuel Goh Kim Eng - 110508
http://MotivationInMotion.blogspot.com
Sun. 11th May 2008.
Comment by Samuel Goh Kim Eng — May 11, 2008 @ 1:18 pm
YB Fong,
You are absolutely right in your priority. Only a mother can accept us as we are. When we are helpless, we can only run to our mother.
People, in general, are self-centred and judgemental. You are valuable only if you are useful to them. Many, if not all, don’t appreciate kindness. They see it as a weakness to be taken advantage of. Never assume your kindness begets kindness. Some of them even appear to be godly but looks can be deceiving.
But once in awhile we meet sincere and altruistic people. Out of ten, probably only one reciprocate you for what you are.
Comment by cheang — May 11, 2008 @ 2:58 pm
it is time Malaysia do more for mothers:
1) longer maternity leave
- I once got an “out of office reply” from my English counterpart when I emailed some work request. “I am o maternity leave from August 2007 till February 2008″, for this matter refer to Johnny Depp and for that matter refer to Catherine Zeta Jones”. Ok, so I doctored some names for confidentiality but why Malaysians cannot offer more to our mothers. I don’t have the detail answers but I suppose it has to do with the structure of our value chains.
2) daily child care centres for working mothers
3) root out corruption so that prices for milk power, household items are manageable
4) Malaysia can afford free university education like Australia so less stress on family finances so some mothers can elect to stay home while only the father works
5) our health care system can be better and more affordable. Make sure only committed and qualified people are allowed to become doctors and nurses. Make sure enough funding and lack of corruption flows into health care so that our mothers can be taken care properly in hospitals
6) our school syllabus should revert to some old-fashion messages which include respecting your elders and love you mothers, those softly tender messages etc I have been out of school a long time while I do not know what’s going on inside, I have the impression that school leavers seem to have less upright characters a couple of generations ago
7) employers of the country should be creative in assisting mothers. A happy employee is a productive employee. Time for Human Resource Managers and managers to devote some time to help mothers in their companies to have work-life balance
8) income tax child relieft is a joke RM1,000 a year works out to be RM2.739726 a day. We ain’t helping our mothers. In Hong Kong the child relief in HKD25,000 while individual is (gasp!) HKD50,000 a year (HKD1 roughtly RM0.40)
Si sang chi you mama huo…lalalalalalala…
(translation, this world only mother is good….)
- note a bit cynical this song, no place for dad. Remember the puppet show “Dinosaur”? The baby called its mother, “mama”. When the dad comes over, “not the mama!”
I love you, mother. Take care of that eyes of yours.
Regards
Lee Wee Tak
Comment by lee wee tak — May 11, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
I think I made a mistake, HK tax relief is individual HKD100,000 for individuals and HKD50,000 for a child.
http://www.ird.gov.hk/eng/tax/ind_all.htm#10
http://www.ird.gov.hk/eng/tax/ind_all.htm#02
“From 2007/08 onwards, the child allowance will be increased from $40,000 to $50,000 for each child; and for each child born during the year, the child allowance will be increased by $50,000. If your child is born on or after 1 April 2008, you can complete Part 8.2 of your Tax Return - Individuals for 2007/08 by providing details of this new born child. The Department will grant child allowance of $100,000 for that child when computing your 2008/09 provisional tax. For child born after the completion of the tax return, you can apply for holding over of provisional tax after receipt of the notice of assessment.”
A monthly salary of a HK accounting supervisor is about HKD28,000 a month while his/her counterpart in Malaysia is very lucky if he or she can command RM5,000
Regards
Lee Wee Tak
Comment by lee wee tak — May 11, 2008 @ 4:27 pm
sorry, my mistake. HK relief is HKD100,000 for individuals and HKD50,000 for a child. Comparatively an accounting supervisor there might draw HKD28,000 a month while her/his counterpart in M’sia is lucky to draw RM5,000. Very very lucky,
Comment by lee wee tak — May 11, 2008 @ 4:28 pm
u mum realize u are rush every day due to u are MP so she will forgive u.
Comment by ting tong — May 11, 2008 @ 5:25 pm
If I am mother to an MP daughter and if my daughter ask me what would make me the happiest mother’s present, I would undoubtedly say, when every malaysian is treated fairly and lives harmoniously, can you give me that? ….a very tall order!
Comment by just-for-malaysia — May 11, 2008 @ 6:22 pm
I hail Lee Wee Tak’s suggestions on how to enhance family life thru policy-making.
We cannot just cari makan and close one eye on issues and politics.
Comment by cheang — May 11, 2008 @ 9:42 pm
mother ah, everything also OK, everything also no problem. So, Mother is always the best we can have on earth! TC!
Comment by jarod — May 12, 2008 @ 1:29 am
thanks Cheang. I wonder how much the powers to be at the moment think for the rakyat’s mothers.
Regards
Lee Wee Tak
Comment by lee wee tak — May 12, 2008 @ 7:59 am
YB Fong,
Am so glad you have been self enlightened. Spend more quality time with your mother, shower her with love and concern while she is still here to appreciate it. Time passes by too quickly. You do not want to live with regrets later in life about what you did not have time to do for your mother.
Comment by clearwater — May 12, 2008 @ 8:57 am
Your posting shows how humane you are in your thoughts and actions. Although you may be the cili padi I have grown to admire and respect, you have a good heart. My journey has begun. My wife and children were there too
Comment by Jeffrey Chew — May 12, 2008 @ 8:47 pm
your mum should be proud of you for serving the people.we all thank for your mum and you for your great effort.Wish you all the best and Happy Mothers Day.
Comment by ravvy tronoh — May 12, 2008 @ 9:44 pm
Awwww… don’t politicize mother’s day…
When is YB Fong going to be a mother?
Comment by Hoyohoyo — May 13, 2008 @ 5:36 pm
福慧双修, 自我造化.
一, (水) 政治
慧眼笑看风云, 智者志取天下.
天生我才必有用, 君不见黄河之水天上来, 匯集百川合成海.
二, (木) 经济
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皆胜兵法:
1. If on your left side is “green dragon” and on your right side is “white tiger”, then, the best thing to do is turn yourself into water. Water, in the nut shell, is made of two hydrogen and one oxygen.
2. 乾坤大挪移
3. 避免 虚火过盛, 水土不服.
三, (火) 教育
因才施教, 因时施教, 因势施教.
一局, 三不, 五法:
1. 掌控大局
洞悉先机, 破局而立, 重新布局.
2. 不知, 不懂, 不管
大局已定, 为了鼓励民主, 自由, 创意，需要无为而治.
3. 想法, 看法, 说法, 做法, 手法
凡事都需五法并重.
四, (土) 争, 争, 争, 更上一层楼
合纵连横, 虚则实之, 实则虚之, 争取实权, 以华治国.
1. Malay Dilemma Tri-visited
2. 妇女能顶半边天
3. MSC-Window-Buster-Southern-Belt
五, (金) 添点金, 增点福
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Comment by jason wong — May 16, 2008 @ 9:09 am
Poh Kuan, consider yourself lucky that your parents live close to you and your siblings. Due to the nature of my job and thousand of miles away from home, all we can do for my mother on this special day was a phone call and a card in the mail.
Take time off and spend it with your parents! Count your blessings that they are your parents who have always put their children first, and them second!
Best Regards, EYLH
Comment by EYL Overseas — May 19, 2008 @ 10:26 pm