MALAYSIA may not be perfect, but it is OUR country and WE are responsible for the betterment of OUR country!

Malaysia is 53 years young today. It’s not perfect, but below are 10 reasons why I love this country:

1. Malaysia is HOME SWEET HOME
2. A melting pot of various CULTURES
3. NASI LEMAK for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And late supper
4. Blackberry Internet Service is NOT BLOCKED
5. We have an active Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Blogs) community. Kudos to CITIZEN JOURNALISM
6. DREAMS do come true if we’re willing to work hard
7. Proud of fellow Malaysians making it big OVERSEAS
8. We embrace the spirit of TOGETHERNESS despite practising Malaysian Timing! Better late than never
9. MANGLISH! No need to explain lah kan?
10. We COMPLAIN a lot because we want only the best

So that’s my list! What about yours? What do you love about Malaysia?

Photo courtesy of @razmanrahim

Dear Easa,

This is Uncle Syafique. (Say: UNNN…CCCLE….SHHHAAA….FFFIIIKKK). Ok, perhaps I am expecting too much at this stage. Yes, yes… you’re only a few days old. 

This is syafiqueshuib.com, your Uncle’s blog. You see, there’s this thing called Social Media, and I’m addicted to blogging and Tweeting. One day, your Daddy will explain to you about my addiction and he will reveal to you that a day before the Merdeka celebration, you are featured on this humble blog of mine. 

I visited you yesterday and there you were on the bed, looking all cute and adorable. It took me a few seconds to realize that you’re finally here in this world. Can I say that you have a very sharp nose, just like your Uncle? (Ok, I think you got it from your Daddy!) 

Your Mummy asked me to carry you but I was a little scared (it was more like I didn’t know how!) but since your Mummy insisted, how could I resist from carrying my own nephew right? Your Daddy took a picture of me carrying you. Here’s the proof: 

Photo courtesy of @razmanrahim

Perhaps I didn’t carry you the right way. I’m sorry, my dear nephew. I’m not good with newborn babies, but I did try my best last night. I really did. 

Anyways, my whole point of writing this letter is to welcome you to this world. I know your Daddy and Mummy have been waiting for this moment, they’re very excited for your arrival. I am excited, too!  

As an Uncle, I’m very happy to have a new addition to the family! We will go to Toys ‘R Us together, ok? After that we will eat ice-cream and junk food but don’t tell your parents, promise? It will be OUR secret! 

Anyways, do remember there will always be a place for you in my heart and life. Stay safe, be good and may Allah bless you always, Easa! 

xoxo

Uncle Syaf

“An apology is the superglue of life. It can repair just about anything.” – Lynn Johnston

“Mengenal keaiban diri boleh mengubah diri kearah kejayaan.” – Via Suz

“If you don’t get everything you want, think of the things you don’t get that you don’t want.” – Oscar Wilde

“When you keep your mind to something, something is going to take you somewhere, somewhere you’d thought you’d never get, but you’re already there!” – Razman

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

My paternal uncle passed away on the 17th Day of Ramadan. For most, that’s Friday, August 27th, 2010. As mentioned in my earlier blog post, I knew about the news in the afternoon after returning back from ISIS.

I have to admit something here: after the death of my father, I’ve never been close to the majority of the family from my dad’s side. Don’t get me wrong, I do see them once in a while (especially during Hari Raya) but if you ask me to name my cousins from my dad’s side, I’ll fail.

However, this uncle of mine holds dear to me.

I call him “Mamak”. My dad died in late 1990 and we returned to Malaysia for a short while before going back to our nomadic lifestyle of living overseas. But during the short period when we were back, this Uncle of mine constantly kept in touch with my mum to ask about my brother and my self and how we’re doing and sometimes we would hangout at Jusco / Alpha Angle. KLCC was not around yet at that time, Alpha Angle was one of the must-go mall during the early nineties. I even bought my first pair of roller-blades with him.

Obviously, when we moved away from Malaysia, we didn’t get to see each other again but every time we returned back to Malaysia for holiday, Mum made sure to pay him a visit. It was only then he could see the growth of us from a kid to a teenager.

I went back to Malaysian in 2003 but as I was busy with classes and later, work. I never had the opportunity to visit him on a regular visit. Two years ago, he had a stroke which left him paralyzed. I visited him sometime last year. Even though he couldn’t move, he could still recognize people.

He passed away peacefully on Friday morning. For years, I’ve been close to Mamak and his family. Without him now, I wonder how can I ever be close to my father’s side.

I’m no longer young. I just realize that I can’t afford to skip Sahur based on a recent incident.

On Friday morning, I was too sleepy to eat anything for Sahur, except to drink one glass of mineral water. That’s it. I thought I was going to make through the day easily.

On Friday morning, I went to Sri Pentas as the foundation’s Trustee was to be interviewed on ntv7′s The Breakfast Show (yes, my old place). I felt alright. I then went to the office in Petaling Jaya to pickup something before making my way to ISIS. Since it’s a public holiday in Selangor, I went straight home.

I felt hungry but I thought it was normal. Took a nap and Mum woke me up and told me that my Uncle from my father side has passed away. (More on that in a separate post)

Hours later, I went to the Setiawangsa Bazaar even though it was drizzling. I already felt a minor headache and asked my mum if we could go home. Luck wasn’t on my side as there was a massive traffic jam. I arrived home around 6.30pm and I went straight to bed. I woke up by 7.45pm which was way pass the Buka Puasa time. Even my mum scolded me, since she couldn’t wake me up. I ate a plate of rice and ayam percik but I still felt a massive headache.

I took a shower and went bed at 11pm to get some rest. I couldn’t stand the headache. I was very sure I was going to wake up with a fever.

This incident taught me a valuable lesson: Sahur is important to begin our fasting routine. When I was younger, I could afford to skip Sahur but that’s no longer possible. My body doesn’t work the same as when I was in my teens. I am close to my mid-twenties now and it’s different. I need to be more conscious of my health. Without Sahur is the same as skipping breakfast. We all know that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because when we sleep, our body is already ‘fasting’ and we need breakfast to re-energize our body for the day.

For now, no matter how sleepy I am, I will make it a point to wake up during sahur and eat something just to fill the stomach.