I wanted to ask a supplementary question to the first question on the order paper of the day which was:-

Datuk Ir. Edmund Chong Ket Wah [ Batu Sapi ] to ask the PRIME MINISTER to state the action taken to destroy the bags containing postal votes that were found in Sungai Menggatal, Sabah. The way
that incident can affect the image of the country in holding a fair andclean election.

The reply of Dato Seri Mohamed Nazri is reported in Malaysiakini.

Although I stood up twice, trying to get a chance to ask a supplementary question, the Speaker did not notice me. Perhaps, he decided to call other MPs to speak.

I wanted to ask about the 72, 058 unreturned postal votes in the last general election. I did ask about the said votes in the June session and posted it here

( In brief, the translation to the reply : Election Commission is only responsible to postal votes returned before 5 pm. Postal votes unreturned after 5 pm is not within the jurisdiction of Election Commission and the Commission does not need to investigate the causes of the unreturned votes or locate the said votes. According to the law, after the votes have been sent out, it is up to the voters to decide the next course of action. It is democracry practiced in Malaysia, the right of individual voters to decide to cast the vote or not)

Today, the Minister in replying to the question raised by MP for Batu Sapi said that it was only unused election materials (1999) and bags with plastice wrappers. Further, the police is now conducting forensic investigations to detect the age of the bags!

Oh! Police is directed to spend time to conduct forensic investigation to find out the age of the bags, but the government is not interested to find out the missing unreturned postal votes!

Why is the government always get the priorities wrong? Why is common sense and logic do not prevail in the leadership? Or are they trying to hide something?

The above is the supplementary question which I wanted to ask but was not given a chance. Will try again next time.

Marina,

“Thank you for being with me all the time. I am not good at expressing in words but I wish you to know that you have a special place in my heart always.”

Dated: 22 January, 2008

I have never felt so fulfilling before. Not so much because of my wedding. But, the opportunity to be with the loved ones and great friends. Also, to see the good luck spread to some friends and villagers.

Last Saturday, we held our traditional wedding in Bukit Gambir, Muar. If you want to know what was my feelings during the day, it was only one word to describe, HAPPY. However, later in the evening, I felt fulfilling and blessed.

I would not call it coincident. It was “arranged”.

It was drizzling when the bridal car reached the groom’s house. In fact, a day before, when I was driving from Ipoh to his place, the weather was good, meaning, no hot sun. It was windy throughout the day, though it rain lightly when we reached his house. However, I was so worried when was told that it was raining heavily on Thursday night.

I was so glad she took the precious time to be with me. She has a great family who is always there to support her. And, the best thing is, I am glad to be part of them. She has always been there for me.

Please let me know how do you describe this special connection we have. Whenever, I am down or crying in the room, I will suddenly receive a call from her. After spoken her, I would feel so relieved.

It was back in late 1997 or early 1998, I could not recall the exact date, I was introduced to her to handle some students disciplinary case. Initially, I could not understand her. Why is she so passionate about the welfare of the students, plants and flowers, I asked. I did not realise that it was in her. She is basically passionate and committed to everything she handles. Most who approaches her or when she knows of anyone who needed assistance, she would be there.

She has touches many people lives. Certainly, at the same time, some dislikes her because of her courage and outspoken character. My dad once concluded that those who dislikes her was because they would not want to do the “dirty work” and she was doing it. It simply means that when one refuses to do it but he or she sees others doing it, despite it is for good cause, they feel “threaten” and would starts to question their motives.

If you see her once, you will remember her for some time. She has a unique way of dressing up and stylish hair cut. In fact, she has always reminded me to dress up neatly and also ensure some lipsticks is applied all the time. “Even if you are tired, you should not show it,” she stressed to me.

I was so happy when she told me that her family will be attending my traditional ceremony in Bukit Gambir, Muar.

On Friday night, she arrived with boxes of oranges and pomelo.

When the bridal car arrived at our rented house, which was just across the main road to groom’s house ( it takes less than 5 minutes ride), she was still busy doing the final touching up on my face and gown. Certainly, when the groom was trying to gain entry to the room, my sisters had so much fun and she had more time to ensure that I look “perfect” before I the groom took me away.

After I went through the traditonal tea ceremony and etc ( prayers, crossing the claypot with some fire and putting my right foot on a rottan made basket), we then went to the nearby temple for prayers. Later, I managed to grab a short rest while my relatives left for Muar to get some local products at Yong Sheng Confectionary.

I know, I will not find another her. She is so special to me (besides my mum). It was her that I have decided to have my wedding so soon. I took her advice. Having her and the family members to witness my wedding, doing the final touching up of my face before the bride leaves for the groom’s house, the daughter to assist me with the last minute preparation, especially in decorating the room, it was so wonderful.I have never felt so blessed, fulfilling and I asked myself, what more can I ask?

Earlier, I learnt to cook some dishes in theory and little practical, from my mother, in Ipoh. I have decided to apply the theory at my husband’s home. Further, there were only four of us in the house. A good place for trial and error. I must confess that I have yet to be able cook a “perfect” rice in the cooker. I always have difficulties in estimating the amount of water to be put into the cooker. Further, staying along with my mother since young, until now, though married, in Ipoh, I have always been “pampered” with good home cooked food. My mother is a good cook.

In this process of learning to cook a few dishes, I realised it is such a difficult task to be a houswife. It is full of challenges just to cook a dish. One needs to estimate the amount of ingredients, the temperature of the cooker and the hardest is to know when to remove it from the pan. Even to fry a “simple” vegetable with garlic, one needs to ensure it does not “over cooked” and turn yellowish. There was once, I boiled fishball vegetable soup and I covered it, thinking it could keep the soup warm and avoid dust setting on it. I was shocked when I opened the cover and found the vegetable had turned ” yellowish.” While, to cook a steam egg, it is not easy either. There is a method to beat the eggs, measurement of water to be added into and the temperature and time to be set. Occasionally, I need to throw away the “failed” steam egg. The temperature set was too high.

After cooking, comes the cleaning task. The floor of the kitchen would be oily. Cleaning of the plates and pots too. The shirt and face would smell of garlic or onion too.

I realised that it has been such a tough job that housewives have been doing. I am just mentioning about cooking! I can still “escape” the task of cleaning the house for some time.

I salute all full time housewives especially my mother!

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I had attended the Raya’s open house of the Prime Minister for a few times. There was once, I was a little embarrassed for wearing the same set of baju for the consecutive two years. Once, I took my mum dan sisters along too.

The recent arrest of Teresa Kok and others under ISA, has dampened my celebration mood with the Prime Minister. How could he allow such an arrest and detention to have taken place?

He was known as “Mr Nice Guy” and he won over 90% of the votes in 2004 General Election. I did write about him giving me some hope for a better Malaysia for all Malaysian, when he delivered his first speech as the successor of Tun Mahathir in Parliament. It was in year 2003.

Although his days now, as the Prime Minister is numbered, I would not sympathized with him. I would only question myself for being so wrong in judging a person. Pak Lah has disappointed Malaysians and this was proven in the March, 2008 General Election.

Pak Lah, I would only wish you “Selamat Hari Raya Adil Fitri” in this posting and posted in my blog. I could only find reasons for not attending the open house at PWTC.

Also Pak Lah, in this bulan Syawal, and your remaining days as Prime Minister, you can eradicate evils and do good deeds by thinking Marina Lee, the wife of Raja Petra and his children, celebrating Hari Raya without the husband and father by their side. Then, come Deepavali, the family members of the 5 Hindraf leaders will be going through the same situation. And, many more in the detention camps, detained under ISA for years now. Please do not delay further in releasing them.

When you read this posting, please do not make remarks that I am being personal. It is just part of my emotional being , being a human being.

To All Malaysians too, “Selamat Hari Raya Adil Fitri.”

When I received the sms about the arrest of Teresa Kok under ISA, I did not dare to let my mum know about it. I was with some members after attending three lantern festival gathering and a funeral ceremony. We started asking, why Teresa? What wrong has she done? These questions were asked too when we heard about the news of the arrest of Sin Chew reporter, Tan Hoo Cheng.

Let us be united to give support and solidarity to Teresa and her family members. The energies will certainly be powerful to send a strong message to Abdullah Badawi and his Cabinet that there is no place for ISA in this era and it was a gross abuse of power by the authorities. Please Free Teresa Kok and Our Malaysians of ISA!