Dalam Kepalaku Ada Ini

A Good Book

2012-01-23T23:52:00.002+08:00

Ah, a good book.

Every page is a turn of wonderful anticipation. The glorious sound it makes from the crease of paper when you flip the page reminds me of life's little delight we often overlook. Each line is a revelation coupled with sheer epiphany of a five year old toddler after a good story been told. If the words can speak, you will listen it murmurs beautiful things into your ears as you look at them in monochromatic lines. The journey it takes as it goes through the plots transfixes the mind and nerve and you will wish it will never end.

But it will anyway,

and soon you will have to succumb to life's harshest reality that all good things will come to an end as you reach the back of the page. You will wish you have few more lines to read, but you are not the author, so what you think is of little note, because the end is the end. Then you will hear a subtle thud as you close the back page and walk your way to the shelf as you prepare to rest the book with the common herd of old books.

But not even an ending can take the feeling away - the feeling of knowing you have read a book of that class. It has changed your world in the simplest of way. Life's little delight.

A good friend is like a good book.

Once read, once enjoyed. Sometimes on the shelf, but always in my heart.

Always.

Tamadun Ini

2012-01-17T02:54:00.003+08:00

Kelab-kelab berstatus mega adalah antara yang pertama untuk hanyut. Hanyut ditelan oleh pergelutan wang di meja lembaga pengarah. Sejarah hanya tinggal sejarah. Sejarah hebat bertukar busuk, lenyap dek hujanan wang ringgit.

Kemudian ombak mengambil stesen-stesen TV bersama. Ketiadaan kelab berstatus mega melenyapkan minat penyokong-penyokong berjiwa lemah dan sederhana.

Tamadun bolasepak kini semakin hampir menjadi jelmaan Tamadun Rom, merudum dan bakal pupus.

Lembaga pengarah dipecat satu-satu. Pemilik berstatus jutawan mengira hari untuk diusir. Keduanya dipijak oleh tekanan wang dan kejayaan segera.

Stadium umpama sebuah struktur yang terselamat selepas suatu perang besar. Serinya hilang, cahayanya malap dan kerusi-kerusinya ibarat sepohon kaktus di padang pasir.

Tamadun ini hancur. Tamadun ini lenyap.

Suatu hari, muncul seorang lelaki tua, berseluar pendek, berselipar dan memakai jersi sebuah kelab mega yang telah pupus, berjalan ke arah stadium yang dipenuhi semak samun dan najis pelbagai binatang.

Di tangannya ada sebilah sabit. Di belakangnya digantung sebatang penyapu. Di hatinya ada semangat yang pupus di hati orang lain.

Samun ditebas, najis disapu dan stadium yang usang bertukar menjadi baru. Berita ini disambut sahabat-sahabat lelaki tua itu dan bersama lelaki-lelaki tua yang lain, kelab dibangunkan semula.

Sejarah diceritakan semula kepada pemuda-pemuda dan anak-anak kecil. Kehebatan kelab dicanangkan ke serata dunia.

Api yang sama kelihatan pada lelaki tua dari kelab mega lain apabila mengetahui musuh mereka sudah bangun dari tidur.

Pemain-pemain yang kini menganggur diberi peluang untuk bermain dalam liga-liga kecil dan daif. Kali ini tiada apa yang dijanjikan selepas tamat 90 minit. Tiada wang dan ganjaran, yang ada hanyalah rasa puas dan senang hati.

Setiap perlawanan dinanti dengan penuh debaran dan semangat. Pemain bermain untuk maruah dan cinta kepada tamadun ini. Penyokong menyokong demi maruah dan cinta kepada tamadun ini. Tiada sebab lain.

Stadium diisi oleh sorakan penyokong yang dahagakan aksi, gerakan pemain, hantaran dan jaringan gol. Semuanya demi maruah dan cinta kepada tamadun ini. Tiada sebab lain.

Pengarah dan pemilik kelab diundi oleh penyokong setia. Penyokong diangkat menjadi raja dan bukan lagi komoditi. Pengarah dan pemilik bekerja untuk kesenangan penyokong dan pemain, bukan diri sendiri. Semuanya demi maruah dan cinta kepada tamadun ini. Tiada sebab lain.

Tamadun ini kembali dihormati.

Beliau mengelap air matanya menggunakan jersi kelab kesayangannya.

Lelaki tua tersenyum puas.

HTMess

2012-01-12T06:26:00.006+08:00

Some of you may be wondering where is the 'Older Post' button in this blog. I've also got some feedback that the header is not clickable and won't direct the readers to the main page.

I use the traditional HTML to edit this blog because I don't like the new template builder. It makes things too easy. But one day I was tweaking the script and the next thing I knew I've lost the 'Older Post' button and the header is no longer clickable.

Too easy, eh?

Guess not. So if you nerds know how to get it back on, please write me a line. I might buy you a drink.

Cheers, in advance.

Captain Marvel

2012-01-12T06:09:00.004+08:00

The referee pointed to the spot. Gerrard did the rest. Penalty well taken. Hart had no chance. Wembley beckons. Silverware is all we need.

Stevie will take us there.

P.S. Manchester City 0 - 1 Liverpool (Steven Gerrard), Carling Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg.

The SAI

2012-01-09T15:50:00.003+08:00

Suddenly the Judiciary is praised to the skies. Some people need to say sorry and retract their accusation that the Judiciary is this and that so that they would not look like a hypocrite celebrating the judgment.

Congrats anyway to Anwar Ibrahim and his legal team. I'm happy for his innocent family members who have been vilified day-to-day.

Big day for the Judiciary. I can't wait to read the full judgment.

What's next? It's only High Court, mind you.

Buckle up for more dramas.

Slow

2012-01-08T15:58:00.003+08:00

Driving's lesson of life: Jangan jadi budak gemuk yang selalu buat orang lain jadi slow. In Chemistry these people are called rate determining step. Get rid of these people and move on to a better life.

Unlucky Number Seven

2012-01-04T16:21:00.002+08:00

Issues are aplenty, running wild and hovering in my head, but the hands are not keen to elaborate in paragraphs. Hence the pointers, for a change.

1. Liverpool decided not to appeal for Suarez's 8-match ban. I don't understand why, especially after Kenny Dalglish and the players came out wearing THE t-shirt the day the verdict was delivered. Knee-jerk reaction - somehow reminded me of the £35m signing of Andy Carroll, but of course not as expensive. Personally I rather see Liverpool buck up their legal team and appeal - intelligently without aggression - if they feel the verdict and 8-game ban unjust, just to put THE t-shirt in proper justification. If not, move on, step out from the cold, remedy it by saying sorry. Be a gentleman we are.

2. Few hours after deciding to put world to rights and accepting Suarez's punishment, Liverpool lost to Manchester rich boys, and the call for Kenny Dalglish to put Liverpool house in order intensified. I hope he realizes that the transfer window is open to strengthen the squad. A quality striker and winger would cost a penny compared to how lavish Kenny spent the money in his pocket last transfer window, buying expensive and overrated British players. It has been six years without a trophy. The cabinet is getting dusty. Does it have any extra room at all?

3. Rafizi Ramli will finally battle it out against Khairy Jamaluddin after months of enticement. But it will not be enjoyed by the eyes of hungry, impatient, overly-passionate Malaysians in Malaysia. The debate will be held in London. Yes, London. I fail to see this as a run-up to any actual, formal debate. Any result from this London debate will shy any of the party of any more possible debates in the future. That aside, I tweeted and likened this debate to El Clasico, but played in Stadium Hang Tuah. Great match it will be, but boring crowd.

4. The country is buzzing with the subject of student power and academic freedom. I don't really sure what they are fighting about. I am a student. I feel powerful, and I think I am free academically. End of story. But seriously, I like how passionate they are in championing what they believe in. The message is great, but they have to understand that no matter how powerful the message is, they have to be relevant to be influential. End of another story.

5. Afdlin Shauki is now an UMNO member, much to disapproval of his fans. Exactly the problem of Malaysians who think they understand arts enough to enjoy them. Afdlin has made Malaysians cry and laugh through his movies and shows, but they are all seemed to be imaginary after this one political inclination uncovers. We as Malaysians are flawed in so many ways. We haven't really learned to respect other people's belief, yet we think we deserve to be respected.

6. Mahali Jasuli is the new Harimau Muda A captain, and he will lead the team in their mission in the S-League, which starts next month. Ong Kim Swee targets top 5 finish, but I am sure Malaysians won't be happy with that and will only settle as champions. Good luck boys!

7. Yes 7th point already! I'm out of idea but who cares? I've wrote 7 points! I would like to propose a toast on this 7th point to Anfield's beloved number 7, Luis Suarez. I can't wait for your return.

That's all for now. Cheers.

2012

2012-01-01T20:17:00.004+08:00

Au Revoir 2011

2011-12-31T13:27:00.000+08:00

The year will end in few hours, which means it's resolution-listing time for most of us. No, it's not listing, because resolutions aren't supposed to be long. I've seen many people who can't get on with the idea of having new year resolutions and designate it as a yearly unavailing ritual rather than a strong spiritual statement of life we want to live in the following year.

Let's face it. With or without it, we want a better year every year.

My 2011 resolutions had ticks in few boxes, and the blanks are no indicator of foundering, but a message to me that I need to do better. But boy, the ticks are aplenty and the feel good factor and amazing recollection of the year are reminded even the word 'two thousand eleven' is uttered. Something about the word that usher my mind into a state of heartening good spirits.

The year reminds me of the enchantment, life's brilliant lesson, wonderful experience that comes with the support of the people I love.

2011 is the product of the grit I made myself available to, to do what I love.

Liverpool ended the year with the most tiring maneuver. The Reds drew 8 times and hit the woodwork 18 times. If the woodworks converted into goals and draws turned into wins, I could see us plying the fallen trade in Europe again.

The year does not reflect the magic 2011 had on me. 2011 for Liverpool is a test of character for the fans. The leap of faith is on trial every time Liverpool played. King Kenny, wearing the reputable managerial crown, now the chief of Anfield was on a mission to test the faith and renew the hope.

He sold Fernando Torres, brought in Luis Suarez and lines of expensive faces.

The dividends thus far: 8 draws, and a Europa League berth.

It will be a testing 2012 if the trend holds steady, because the rich boys in Manchester are not going to slow down and the Londoners are hungrier than ever to bounce back.

The test of character.

Malaysia is the official kings of South East Asia. After the sensational AFF Suzuki Cup win in 2010, Harimau Malaya did not put a cap yet on the pen that write phenomenal history of Malaysian football. In its younger form, styles as Harimau Muda, 2011 was a promise made by Malaysian football team that the future is bright and rosy.

The nation was united, yet again, behind the young team that won the gold medal in 2011 SEA Games. The nusantara rivalry stirred up once more, and Malaysia always came on top with due elegance and class.

The boy with Spanish brain Nazmi Faiz Mansor is introduced to Malaysian crowd in 2011, and hope is all in all restored.

2011 is the year football is officially back in Malaysia, and Malaysian football fans are yearning for more in 2012.

What a rewarding 2011 it has been. I can only pray that 2012 will be as great.

Happy New Year, and may the best of this year be the worst of next to you, you and you.

And you too.

Yes, you.

Shadow

2011-12-29T15:25:00.005+08:00

I tickled my narcissistic facade when I found myself browsing the archive of this blog. Half way through, I've lost track of what I was doing and I felt like I was reading someone else's blog, and ahem, I was enjoying it!

I wonder what the guy is doing now. Everyone misses him, so do I.

But he had to go.

Class

2011-12-28T12:46:00.002+08:00

Steven Gerrard is probably a name that best fits the character of someone who is revered when he's not around, and cheered when he is right in front of you. He is the type of guy who will cheekily hide behind the curtain when the show is badly staged, so that he can come forth, in all elegance, especially during the chorus, to steal the show and leave the stage a superstar.

He does that all the time.

But life is not always about getting on top when the show does not work for you. Some audiences are hard to please, and no matter how much panna and flip-flap you pull through, a certain lot from a certain bench will probably find it as a dull, bland routine. But you can't blame them, for the tickets they paid serve the best purpose when you win the game, banging goals after goals.

Then again, the fickle mind will be tricked into listening to certain voice from certain lot, which will hum to you that no matter how big your win is and how classy your celebrations are, nothing beats the elegance of a good, fluid and entertaining performance.

Steven Gerrard, like everyone else, tries to please every lot every time he steps his foot on the field. He never compromises his dream by giving all he can. He took whatever he has on the plate and savour it like the opportunity everyone can't afford to miss. He does it in the classiest way anyone could imagine. He takes it calmly, but with aggression. He downs it slowly, but with pace.

Master of elegance, he is, and the winner of many hearts. He thought me much, that boy Stevie.

So, how's your game?

Source

2011-12-25T14:34:00.003+08:00

Every morning before I go to school, I will look in my mom's face, kiss her cheek and say to myself,

"I will change this family."

InsyaAllah.

Aku Maafkan Kamu

2011-12-18T19:39:00.003+08:00

"Maafkan mereka, mereka tidak tahu,

Mereka tidak ramas buku, mereka segan ilmu,

Mereka tidak fasih malah fasik guna kata,

Kita kongsi nama bangsa tapi tidak kasta bahasa."

- Malique Ibrahim.

Liminal

2011-12-01T00:02:00.003+08:00

Happy Birthday Captain!

2011-05-30T17:46:00.005+08:00

Kenny is the King, Fowler is God, but Stevie is the best player in Liverpool's proud history.

Happy birthday, captain!

You'll Never Walk Alone.

Petua Pak Tua

2011-05-29T16:27:00.002+08:00

Tak reti berbahasa, jangan takut mencuba. Nanti anak jadi bertambah bodoh.

Tak reti berfikir, jangan malu bertanya. Nanti anak jadi bertambah bodoh.

Oh ya,

Tak tahu cerita, jangan buat cerita. Nanti anak jadi bertambah bodoh.

Cakap tanpa usul periksa, tunggu masa muka binasa.

Jangan lupa pesan Pak Tua, nanti menyesal di hari tua.

Courtesy

2011-05-20T19:39:00.003+08:00

Turn your back against me. Leave it for years. One day write me a letter with thousands of words of your regret and hope everything will turn back to normal.

You are so bloody cute - to think one letter can undone what had been done.

Well done.

Well fucking done.

WZ6

2011-03-31T00:34:00.005+08:00

"Apa macam, okay ka study, bola, gadis?"

He who really knows me asks the right thing in one question.

See you soon, bro!

Tsunami 2011

2011-03-13T19:53:00.002+08:00

My prayer to fellow brothers and sisters in Japan. May this be a reminder to all us who think we are bigger than Him.

Of Catching Up

2011-03-09T22:25:00.002+08:00

"Man, if you were still here, we could've won Notts. Take care bro, I'll see you soon."

I'm flattered, Ben. Thanks for the memories and see you guys soon!

Busy

2011-03-09T19:52:00.002+08:00

Deadlines and commitments are getting crazier than ever, but looking back at what I was doing a year ago, I can only thank Allah for the opportunity to get this busy in the life I chose to live.

I hope you guys are doing well with your work, study, and life.

Carpe diem!

Priceless

2011-03-07T21:32:00.002+08:00

I can always look back and remember this day, when the greatest match in football won by the greatest team in the world. All is well, and we are back!

You'll Never Walk Alone.

Faux Pas

2011-03-06T14:26:00.004+08:00

I swam in a sea of fire, flew in a sky of smoke and ran on a field of thorns. It took years to get to where I am. And today you called me a person who gives up easily.

Maybe you're right.

I need to try harder, because today, I'm going to climb a fucking mountain.

Maternal Maxim

2011-03-04T20:32:00.002+08:00

"Respect other people. The question whether they will or will not respect you in return is not your problem, sebab itu semua kerja Tuhan."

Thanks Mama.

Spice Boys

2011-02-21T02:52:00.005+08:00

The journey from Bangsar to my place is getting mundane. Other than questioning the trivial unexpected state of Jalan Mahameru, time spent was either listening to the radio or letting my mind to be lost in my own thought. Thick-headed motorists have their fair share of cameos in my journey, much to the pleasure of my tongue to work on its cursing vocabulary. It is a tricky little journey I take for granted, because honestly, I hate driving back home alone and spend 20 minutes doing nothing but talking to myself.

We had to come up with a name, and I suggested Spice Boys by reflex. It is quite easy to draw connection of the name with the British pop girl group, but little did they know that Spice Boys actually existed in the form of a group of Liverpool legends and I wanted the team to be as entertaining the pop girl and play wonderful football as the lads from Liverpool.

Jamie Redknapp, Robbie Fowler and Jason McAteer were not who they were in a matter of days, and I have always been telling myself that if I can do it with Gangdust FC, I can do it here with Spice Boys.

Spice Boys had to start somewhere, and the annual Dean’s Cup is the perfect opportunity to kick off the dream.

Dean’s Cup is the holy grail of sporting achievement in the little faculty, and to win the Cup is a bragging right you have all year and a message to everyone that you are untouchable on the court.

But the story unfolded few months before the Cup.

I was a clueless new boy in the faculty when one of them invited me to play in their weekly futsal session. I was quite excited to realize amidst the intimidating air the faculty has, it still values the sports I love, and I didn’t take long a time to say yes and show up.

I met most of them in the faculty's lecture hall and that’s when I learned their name and background – but on futsal court, I learned a great deal of their character, attitude and conviction. All of them are younger than me, but I am surprised to figure out how much I have learned from them – as a footballer, as a friend and as a person,

I can never imagine how my life would be without football and friends and I can never thank God enough for constantly blessing me with them.

The friendly ghost of Gangdust FC memory seems to have missed me and it knocks my door and say hello in the form of Spice Boys. We are the faculty’s underdogs, and we are not blessed with breathtaking trickery and wonderful skills to kill the opponents. Our strength is in the passion and love we have for the game and I was so confident Spice Boys could be a force to be reckoned with, despite our limited skills and preparations.

Napoli didn’t shake the world of football in its first 80 years and Barcelona didn’t gather the team with amazing esteem overnight. It takes time and perseverance to leave a legacy behind, so we joined this year’s Deans Cup with the hope to set alight the legacy and most importantly to have fun along the way.

Spice Boys is a balanced outfit, and for a young and fledgling team, we have all it takes to actually play sexy and entertaining football. But sexy and entertaining alone will not win a team a match, as tactical and set pieces have to be carefully meted out in complement.

Syazwan is the man between our goal post, and wears invisible iron glove everytime we play. He is a fitness freak and his efforts blessed him with quite a huge pair of arms. With a bit of practice, the decision to give him the glove was quite easy.

Adzraai, Syafiq and Tuan Arief, who all have the knack to cut down attacks with their great timing and strength, man the defensive department. We rely so much on the creativity of Rhastdan, Qayyum and Shahrul up front to provide us with goals, while Farid and Faris are always on the lookout for opportunities on the bench, obviously not just merely making up the number.

I love the team, and I have a huge feeling that the team will leave a huge mark in my heart, so looking at how well the team looks on paper, we were set to play in this year’s Dean’s Cup.

Maybe what we asked was a bit too much, as it proved to be not the best first tournament we had. We failed to win any medal and had to settle for fifth place. We played some excellent games, and had decent amount of possession, but like Liverpool, sometimes to convert possession and chances into goal is just so hard, not even Steven Gerrard can casually do. I am quite happy that despite the result, we actually played quite entertaining game and we had fun making love with the ball. Every one of us were smiling. We had fun.

We held our chin up high and left the court with burning desire to return and bounce back next year. I am proud to be part of team. It is certainly not the end of the story we plan to finish on high note one day.

The story has just begun.

Tonight’s drive along the mundane Jalan Mahameru was the first that I actually enjoyed. When I usually take about 20 minutes to get home, I purposely joined the more congested lane so that for once I could sit quietly, not to swear at ignorant motorists nor listening to crappy songs on the radio, but to go through the mental image of the smile each one of us had few hours before and the fun we had by playing as team we hope to be a legacy we know as the Spice Boys.

It took me one hour, and I enjoyed every fucking minute.

Renung

2011-02-14T00:12:00.004+08:00

Pembalasan Allah terhadap kebaikan begitu cepat sehinggakan terdetik sahaja di hati hendak berbuat kebaikan, sudah Allah akan memberi pembalasan yang tiada ternilai.

Kadang-kadang jauh benar kita menyimpang dan jauh benar hati kita dengan Dia. Mari kita ambil sedikit masa untuk kembali mengingati yang Maha Kuasa, tidak kira besar mana pun kita - dan pandai mana pun kita.

Selamat!

Adieu Nando

2011-02-01T23:56:00.003+08:00

Torres to Chelsea is not a news anymore.

I was a happy kid in 2007 when he signed for Liverpool and committed to be a Red for life. Writing about him was a natural act of adoration for the new idol I would eventually detest 4 years later.

Few days prior him leaving Melwood for Cobham, I stood by his pledge to remain a Red for life and announced to the world that money might buy your wife a Coach handbag, not Fernando Torres.

I was wrong, because few days and £50m later, Roman Abramovich broke the bank to get Torres together with a nice Coach handbag he might have already bought for his wife.

I am against the idea of vilifying a certain player just because he left a club, because that is what players naturally do - they come and go, stray like a hungry vulture craving for sustenance to live the next day.

The closest thing to a silverware Torres got with Liverpool was 2008/2009 season when Liverpool finished second, four points behind Manchester United. It is only natural when he backs his judgment in joining Chelsea to win silverware, and some hefty salary along the way. It was an offer he could not refuse.

But I can't help to be mad to see him leaving for a rival team. Xabi Alonso left for Real Madrid and Javier Mascherano for Barcelona and they both escaped the ridicule for the decency. Torres in an interview after being an official Blue said in much pleasure that he is so happy to 'finally' play for a big club. Right in the face of millions Liverpool fans - including me.

King Kenny threw his class by saying no one is bigger than the club and the most important people in Liverpool are the one who wants to stay in Liverpool. Well as for me, no single player is above the other in Liverpool and I am glad to see a sulky boy leaving than paying him money when he doesn't want to play for the club.

There was life after Keegan, there was life after Dalglish, and there was life after Rush. Surely, there will be life after Torres.

Because Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez and the rest of the team will give the life Liverpool fans deserve.

Life starts now.

P.S. My prayer to everyone in Egypt and all over the world.

Suarez

2011-01-29T02:32:00.002+08:00

Welcome to Anfield, Luis.

Dear YBs, We are Watching You

2011-01-07T14:53:00.004+08:00

When there's folly, there's him to put things back to the right place. Welcome back, Ku Ali.

This article is a friendly reminder to all those people who would like to think of themselves as our leaders and representatives in Parliament. We, the silent majority, are the ones holding true power in our country. Our lot do not associate ourselves with any political parties, and we jealously guard any indication of our political leanings. Thus, you will never see us at any of your campaigns or events. But we observe silently, and we are observing you very, very closely. We will not reprimand you now, but our judgments of you will be clear in the next general election. It is us who will determine whether you will retain your position or not. One thing is for certain, we will not permit persons of mediocre intelligence to represent us. That will be an insult to us, and we hate being insulted. So, if you, the so-called leaders, are smart, you will ponder deeply about the things mentioned here. Plan your next move and thread very, very carefully.

In this article, we will mention names of several individuals and organizations. We hope these persons and organizations will not view this as a personal attack. It is because you are very special, that we take the time to address you personally and give you some advice. In politics and in life, honest, sincere advice is worth more than gold. We hope you will respond maturely. Remember, we are silently watching.

The first issue that we would like to highlight is the attendance of non-Muslim Member of Parliaments (MPs) at mosque activities. To all those who are strongly opposed to the presence of non-Muslims in mosques, you should really widen your horizons and do a bit more travelling. All over the world mosques are open to everyone, regardless of belief. They are tourist attractions and resource centers, places where people can come to understand Islam a bit better.

However, there are etiquettes and proper conduct that is expected when one visits places of worship. The attire worn must be appropriate and respectful of the sanctity of the place. And what is deemed proper and appropriate at the place of worship must be based on the teaching of the associated faith. We would like to take this opportunity to enlighten YB Teo Nie Ching and other leaders about the Islamic dress code. In Islam, women are expected to cover their whole body, except their hands and faces, with loose-fitting garments. Men are expected to cover themselves between the knee and navel, but conventionally and practically more is covered by wearing proper long pants and shirts.

We had reviewed the photos of YB Teo Nie Ching participating in aerobics at the mosque compound. The fact is, YB, the white tee you were wearing was tight and it did not cover the lower part of your arm. And it would be more appropriate if you had worn a cap, with your hair securely tucked under it. In the pictures there was a woman who was more appropriately attired for the occasion. You should review the picture and observe this lady, so as not to repeat this mistake again.

Frankly, we are more disappointed at the management of the mosque, for not enlightening this to you. We are also disappointed with your peers in PAS and UMNO, for failing to give you proper guidance with regard to proper Islamic dress code. Shame on them, for failing to handle the matter maturely.

As for you, YB Teo Nie Ching, and others wishing to visit places of worship, we commend your efforts to be closer to the community. However, we advise you to be aware of what is expected from you. You want to be leaders, so we set higher standards for you. You claim the media is twisting the truth into a many-headed monster. So, do not give them any opportunity to slight you. Be smart and sensible. We expect more from you. Remember, we are silently watching.

Another issue that deserves highlighting is the strained relationship between certain state governments and the palace. Their Majesties the Sultans are the symbol of the people. By openly disrespecting them, you are, by extension, disregarding us. It is especially unwise to show open hostility to a Sultan who had continuously expressed sincere concern for the people and state.

The current crisis in Selangor is a case in point. YB Shuhaimi Hj. Shafiei had stated that His Majesty (HM) Tuanku Sultan of Selangor is not following unwritten convention by consenting to the appointment of the new Selangor State Secretary. It has to be stressed that the law is never obligated to be concerned about what is “unwritten.” If you do not agree with HM Tuanku, take a more diplomatic and tactful approach in handling the matter. We, the people, are not amused by the public fiasco this issue had caused. Put aside your differences and start working together for the rakyat. We do not have any immediate solution to the crisis, but we hope YB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and the elected representatives in the Selangor Government will impress us with a solution soon. Good luck. We are observing closely.

YB Shuhaimi Hj. Shafiei had written in his blog about certain instances that he deemed as representative of the double standard practiced by the Federal Government. Read his blog for details. Space and time is at a premium here for us to indulge in his personal thoughts. The point that we stress here is, the more you accuse the other side of not following the rules, the more vigorously you have to appear to be playing by the book. Playing by the book leaves no concessions for “unwritten” conventions. You have to take the moral high ground, not lower yourself to the same level. How can you convince us you are better, then?

The closing remarks of a particular blog entry by YB Shuhaimi Hj Shafiei have an alarmingly arrogant tone. In the entry, he said the people will go against anyone who does what he pleased, be it a “raja yang berjiwa rakyat atau rakyat yang berjiwa raja.” As the rakyat, we can see both a “raja yang berjiwa rakyat” and several “rakyat yang berjiwa raja” at the moment. And we know who can champion our interest better. We advise YB Shuhaimi Hj. Shafiei to adopt a more respectful tone when referring to the palace and curb his arrogance. We are silently watching.

We are also not amused at individuals and organizations that are egging this conflict on. Having differing opinions with the palace does not constitute treason or “derhaka.” We are all thinking individuals and should be allowed to think for ourselves. It is very disgusting to see you using the palace and this crisis to gain political mileage. Suggesting a death sentence to whoever disagrees with the palace, eh? Have some respect for human lives. Have a heart. Have a brain. Be mature and sensible. We are silently watching.

To PERKASA and such groups, we urge you to calm down and try to think before you act. Nobody listens of respects an emotional argument. You must learn to talk coherently, in a mature, respectable, calm manner. Dato’ Ibrahim Ali, please brush up your English, especially when you consent to be interviewed by the international media. Ridiculing yourself on an international level will not help your cause. An affective statement strikes at the heart of the matter without resorting to emotional outburst of profanities. We sincerely hope that you will improve yourself. The Malays are not emotional, unthinking thugs. So stop portraying their image as such.

On another note, as the government is suggesting an increased monitoring of the production of horror films due to their so-called “danger” to the people’s faith, we would like the government to extend this effort to curbing the production of ridiculously stupid local movies. Such movies are a “danger” to the mentality of the masses, and frankly speaking, an insult to our intelligence. We are much smarter than you think.

We hope our advice and observations will help those concerned plan their future strategy. We should not have to remind you of such things if you are real, intelligent leaders that put us first before your political careers. There are many other grievances that we did not mention here. We expect you to figure them out for yourselves. Be smart and thread very carefully. We are watching closely, and judging. Best of luck, YBs!

Ku Ali

Remember the name, it's Ku Ali. In case you have forgotten already.

P.S. Click here and here for his old ramblings.

Shh

2011-01-05T15:18:00.000+08:00

A new bird came to say hello, and asked me about things I do. I could do with some little chatter to ease up the toil.

The respond few minutes later: "Wow, how come you are so quiet about this on Facebook?"

Exactly.

And now back to the things I do.

2011

2011-01-01T03:16:00.002+08:00

Happy New Year. May God bless all of us.

2nd Leg

2010-12-30T00:15:00.003+08:00

We did it. We all did it. Thanks for having faith in the team, and the game. Great ending for a great year.

1st Leg

2010-12-26T22:37:00.005+08:00

Although nothing like Barcelona, we came close to perfecting the art that has long lost in Malaysian football: slick pass, fluid movement and sweet amalgamation of virtuoso and artistry on the field.

Three goals in the bag for the trip to Jakarta, and a feeling that it is cool to be a Malaysian - thanks for the gifts, boys.

Good luck in Gelora Bung Karno. Let's show the same class and bring back the silverware for the first time.

Tanah tumpah darahku.

P.S. 'Ayuh!' has got itself more than 1k views. Thanks for watching!

Ayuh!

2010-12-23T01:54:00.002+08:00

Good luck Harimau Malaya!

Placebo

2010-12-20T02:57:00.007+08:00

This is one of the nights I woke up not to a glorious morning, but to a confused premonition why I feel so rested after a mere two hours of sleep. I am quite sure that it must be placebo effect The Green Book has given me prior my departure to the snooze land. Speaking of which, I am fairly worried with the pace of my reading.

I could dribble between the words like Lionel Messi and now I can feel the Messi is aging. I realized I have been neglecting the need to nourish myself with literature and hard-covers because most of the time I have to juggle legal notes and lengthy decided cases for grades.

But yeah, I can tell myself that when this happens, I have to get on to the pitch more often - because Messi moments come with hard work.

So come on placebo effect, stay with me until the last chapter of this bloody book.

And to all of you, may your day is as illustrious as Barcelona's fluid performances.

Adieu.

Row Your Boat

2010-12-08T20:35:00.000+08:00

Greatness could stem out of disagreement.

Paul and John weren't on the same page when 'In My Life' and 'Eleanor Rigby' were written. Both songs then hit the right chords and went on to change the face of music and win the hearts of many.

Banksy was not made out of agreement either. An artist who battles his wits against despotism on walls and concrete, he is Scotland Yard's John Dillinger. He is now a star at Sotheby's, making money for himself and people he loves. My kind of Robin of Locksley.

So when people come to you and be at some variance, just smile and look out for inbound greatness.

You can disagree at so many differences you have with other people and escape victorious, but never disagree with yourself.

You are dead the moment you give up on yourself.

Love your life and have a nice day.

Smile, alright?

P.S. Picture of a graffiti taken by a kind of friend who still thinks of me when out travelling. It is a Banksy, of course, spotted in Bristol; Banksy's hometown.

Knock knock!

2010-12-04T17:20:00.001+08:00

Put on your best shirt, go out, talk to people you love and most importantly, love your life. Because hey, there's more to life than sitting in front of the laptop questioning why other people are having more fun.

Of Ini Vidiyo Saya and Aziz Hazmi

2010-10-29T01:05:00.003+08:00

People should not make public review on things they made, neither should I. Mind, this is not a review. Just some blabber I hope to end up being something clever - about a thing I made few months ago.

So 'Ini Vidiyo Saya' has gained more than ten thousand views in a week.

It is big for me. I mean big, big.

I can still remember when I made 'Kolaj' exactly a year ago, and how difficult it was to get people to view the video. It was a mere experiment, a trial and error. I had fun making fun of myself and of course, of people I love. So looking at how personal and with empirical style 'Kolaj' was created, I didn't really look at the number of views the video had over the time it has been published.

But I am happy to see some people get the honesty 'Kolaj' tried to offer and the sort of (fun) experience me and my good friends wanted to share with. That were what we've got anyway: some time to have fun, a camera and a lot of honesty.

A year later, 'Kolaj' gained over one thousand views. I am not really into the number of views a video gets, but I look at how deep it can go into people's hearts.

Writing 'Ini Vidiyo Saya' was as fun as writing 'Kolaj'. Only the different is that 'Ini Vidiyo Saya' was written for a girl, and I had to be off the camera and everything was artificial. But the substance - the fun, the twee (sort of) and above all, the honesty - were all similar.

I guess the idea of 'Ini Vidiyo Saya' was in thousands of people's mind for a long time, but it has gotten into mine exactly a month ago - and I had a camera and a talented friend to turn it into a video. Like 'Kolaj', the idea came about over a glass of tea, a plate of nasi goreng daging merah (nasi lebih) and a plate of telur dadar. I thought it would be fun to make a video about some random people who made big on the internet and I started talking about the idea with Aziz Hazmi, whom later starred in the video.

Aziz Hazmi was such a sport and his character was more than fitting to the one I had in mind. I introduced him to Hanis Zalikha's blog few months before that and he fell for the blog the first time he read it. He was having a laugh when he was talking about meeting Hanis Zalikha and I talked about the video and the prospect of actually getting Hanis Zalikha's attention.

Anyway who is Hanis Zalikha? I was not really asking a question, of course. She has been everywhere on the internet, and her blog has been and still doing well, thanks for her charming way of writing or for some people, for simply the way she looks. She has a huge fan base and I've been looking at how unconvincing and somewhat redundant people (especially boys, with facial hair or not) have been dropping comments on her page but never really got her attention.

That's when I told Aziz Hazmi about the idea. He was so excited and could not wait to get started. So the feeling was natural and it was easier for both of us to make the video.

Aziz Hazmi was having a slow drive in his acting career and I thought I could give him a huge leap, a big break to steer his career to another level.

I spent two days writing the script, two hours shooting and another week editing and (sigh) two days uploading the video on YouTube.

A week after, ten thousand views and the video was featured on Hanis Zalikha's blog.

Aziz Hazmi is now having fun trading comments with his fans on his fan page, and few hours ago, his prayers were answered when he was shortlisted to be admitted to ASWARA, the nation's premier performing arts academy.

He deserves all these, for all the misadventure he had, and for all the adversity he smoothly shrugged off. Good people deserve good things, and I am happy for him.

I wish him well - good luck and take care man.

And of course, have a fun ride.

And for you, if you've watched the video, and liked the video - many thanks from me.

And as for me, I feel grateful for the time people spend watching the video and for the time God spends looking after me.

I hope I can come up with more.

But first, I have to get the air conditioning fixed in my room. The room and myself are having a heat wave and my arms keep sticking to my desk.

P.S. I should get a Moleskine after that. I've been running out of printer papers to scribble on. I need a Moleskine, yes that seems like it.

P.P.S. My to-do-list is scary for some people, especially when it randomly involves Laetitia Casta.

P.P.P.S. 'Ini Vidiyo Saya' got itself a post in Hanis Zalikha's blog.

New Season

2010-08-14T18:16:00.003+08:00

It is a start of many season. We can come up with a long list of resolutions and whatnot and for whatever you wrote on that list, let's give our best shot and hope for the best, because hoping without doing is like Gerrard without Torres.

And of course, less talking makes things even better, like less Benayoun makes a Kop merrier.

For whatever it means to you, happy new season from me and may God bless!

Ini Vidiyo Saya

2010-07-31T01:18:00.002+08:00

Featuring some guy I met on futsal court.

13/5

2010-05-13T18:14:00.002+08:00

Most of my friends know each other because of me.

I like to introduce my friends to my friends so that they all can be friends. You know, so that they can talk to each other about what they missed about me if I go first.

Hopefully nice things lah. He he.

P.S. Happy 13th May, for whatever it means.

Mom-day

2010-05-09T00:28:00.003+08:00

Syurga di bawah tapak kaki ibu.

Thanks for everything.

I love you Mama.

Happy Mother's Day.

RT @izham17 #dilemma

2010-05-08T04:46:00.009+08:00

I have a dilemma.

I write more on Twitter than I do on this blog. The thing is, I was not the biggest fan of Twitter before and it's not even a year since I decided to join the 140-character mini-blogosphere that I've started to have second thoughts about giving this blog up for good.

I've been blogging since I was 14, back then when GeoCities was still around providing the easiest build-your-own website service. I can still remember few posts I wrote and my god if the posts were still around for your clickings, I think you might take some time to appreciate how long the way I took to get here.

Like writing on a piece of paper, or like playing a football match if I may, blogging requires quite a great deal of time spent on planning what to put forward. Everything has to be properly suggested in an organized system, just to ensure all those crazy things lingering in the head are told soberly. I may not hit the target everytime but I am still learning, of course, and I am enjoying every second of it.

Although sometimes writing is like singing, where sometimes people just wouldn't listen not because of the song, but your voice.

But that is not why I find the need and urgency to write a blog seem to fade away.

It is just that Twitter is annoyingly convenient!

It is so easy to tweet that it gives me the luxury to skip all verbosities that make my blog scrollable, and unreadable for the untrained and impatient eyes. I can tweet from almost everywhere because with 140 characters, you don't have to think much to share a tweet.

I even downloaded a Twitter application to my laptop and my phone, which I never did to easily update my blog.

What makes me feel bad is updating my Twitter gives me the same feeling as updating a long-winded blog post, only that it requires less effort.

But I guess Twitter and my blog should co-exist like DUKE and MRR2, whom always been great friends than enemies especially in providing alternatives to get me to Damansara. But if both of them were fighting, Federal Highway came to the rescue. That's right, thanks Facebook.

Ah Facebook tak payah cakap lah.

And of course, they remind me of two wives struggling to get a husband's attention and the next thing they know is the husband is going out with a younger, hotter college girl who is doing French Literature with hair and legs made in heaven.

I have a dilemma - whether to tweet or blog more often.

Oh shit, did I just tweet, again?

P.S. Do me a favor, be part of the dilemma, because a problem shared is a problem halved.

Over and Out, and In

2010-05-03T01:01:00.007+08:00

So many things happened this season, with stories I don't even know where to start.

So I started by looking at the picture for few minutes and recapped the season which should have been painted red.

Liverpool failed to deliver and cracked under pressure, thanks to brilliant run last season and Rafa's series of tactical mishaps.

This might well be Fernando Torres' worst season with Liverpool, and with injuries being the main contention, even Spanish national team could feel the heat. Steven Gerrard needed someone like the departed Xabi Alonso to fill the gap, but Rafa gave him Lucas Leiva, and injury-laden Alberto Aquilani was left on the sideline to recover.

The misfortune snowballed into great disappointment among Koppites when they had to throw the Champions League brethren white flag to give way to either Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa who looked to have wanted it more.

So domestic competitions were nowhere to be beautiful playgrounds for Liverpool to play around. FA Cup and League Cup were wasted and eyes were turned to Rafa's so-called specialty: Europe.

His prophecy was denied when Liverpool headed exit in Champions League group stage, but the man had the chance for consolation in the second-class Europa League, formerly known as UEFA Cup, which Rafa had won once with Valencia.

Liverpool were unconvincing throughout the run in Europa League, but managed to sneak further with some magic from some inconsistent players like Ryan Babel and David N'Gog. Well it was hardly magic, it was luck, and Atletico Madrid sent lucky Liverpool out of Europa League when former Arsenal and Manchester United's Jose Antonio Reyes and Diego Forlan combined to send a message to Rafa that Anfield is a trophy-less fortress yet again this season.

Rafa is a crazy scientist. He is looking to create something big from something small, we all know that. But fans are not paying patience to see their team to do well.

He gave Liverpool three things: Istanbul, Fernando Torres and that's all.

Sorry Rafa, I think it is about time for you to go.

The season's over for Liverpool, no matter what happened in Hull. I don't care who will leave and who will stay this season, but come next season, I want this season to be something that will not happen again.

So many things happened this season, with stories I don't even know where to start.

And as for me, the season has just begun, and I hope I will not have to end this.

P.S. Follow me on Twitter!

Faisol

2010-04-19T03:13:00.007+08:00

Meet Faisol, pemandu kereta manual terhandal di dunia, another special people I met at Kuala Kangsar and one of few people of my age I look up to.

I've learnt so much from him and I pray to God to send my kids someone like him to be their friends.

Happy Birthday Cot!

How I Met My Jerseys

2010-04-08T19:39:00.006+08:00

My first Liverpool jersey was a present from my uncle, and I wore it for the first time when I went to this kenduri doa selamat, where my brother scared me off by saying that the imams and the elders would chase me out of the kenduri because I was wearing the jersey with liquor brand logo on.

I was too afraid that I didn't bother to eat, and sought 'refuge' in my mother's arm. And of course, did whatever I could to cover the logo, like using my mother's tudung and handbag.

The Reds wore the jersey when Ian Rush was in his second spell at Anfield and the young Robbie Fowler was brimming with hope to make it to the England squad as England were hosting the Euro '96. Steve McManaman was a more mature figure, the character that deserved him the number 17. Steven Gerrard was still in the academy.

I was 7 years old.

My second Liverpool jersey came to the wardrobe like a fairy-tale. I bought a ticket to Liverpool and went to Anfield to get it. It all happened in a split second, and the thought of being actually there is surreal and sometimes I felt like it didn't happen. But the memory of having all the money in the wallet spent on a jersey is a clear one.

I went far as to name-number it so that I could tell my children that I once played for Liverpool. Of course after I told them I once played for Selangor.

And of course before they could understand and speak a word.

Steven Gerrard might well be at his peak when The Reds wore the jersey. He captained Liverpool to a near Premier League victory after 9 years, and dominated the scoresheet with 24 goals in all competitions. Liverpool finished second in the league, five points short from the silverware. Peter Crouch, John Arne Riise and Harry Kewell were offloaded at the start of the season and The Kop lost instrumental Spanish duo Xabi Alonso and the-then number 17 Alvaro Arbeloa at the end of the season to the extravagant Galacticos.

I was 20 years old.

The Liverbird has been in the closet for as long as I can remember, so are the Adidas-Carlsberg augmented jerseys. I hope the new Adidas-Standard Chartered will keep the Liverbird close to my chest and closer to my heart.

Come next season, there will be no more Carlsberg logo to splash on the traditional Liverpool red jersey, as their long sponsorship contract ends this season to Standard Chartered. I hope new sponsors will lure in more money for more good players in expense of some un-Liverpool-like players.

I suggest sell an N'Gog and buy a Villa.

Anyway, thanks Carlsberg, for the amazing 17 years. Welcome aboard, Standard Chartered.

Just look at that. Such beauty. Which could be my third Liverpool jersey, hopefully.

Please, anyone?

Layu

2010-04-07T20:21:00.006+08:00

Takkan Melayu hilang di dunia. Ya, tapi apa guna tak hilang di dunia kalau kewujudan tidak dirasa. Petah berbahasa kudrat tak berjasa. Orang berbudi kita hanya tahu merasa. Selalu lari bila dirapat, selalu malu bila soalan diaju. Selalu segan memberi pendapat, rela mengikut dari meneraju. Belum nyanyi sudah bersorak, suka berjanji dalam borak. Bukan kata tak ada otak, cuma tak berfikir di luar kotak.

Thanks Malique. I will always remember how I used to dig all your verbosities when I was growing up. But this one is just brilliant.

P.S. Malique married Melissa Maureen two years ago, which was less than a month before a general election that effectively divided my race into two, or three.

Din Beramboi: A Comedian, A Friend

2010-04-02T02:24:00.002+08:00

It's hard to make jokes in Malay, but he made it looked so easy. He brings Malay comedic acting to an entire new level. Spontaneous, an arching of the eyebrow, a half smile or sneer, a pause, anything he says or doesn't, convey the essence of what acting, distracting and entertaining should be.

He takes normality, every little thing we took for granted, like a simple white seasoned cloth, and improvised it for the world to laugh about it. Give him apple, he would make jokes out of it before juicing it for us all to drink.

It is just impossible not to like him. Honesty was all he had, and that was all he used to make us all laugh. If he hadn't touched the world, it's okay, he had touched me.

When a football player dies, the team cry. When a politician dies, the party cry. When a comedian dies, the whole world cry.

Rest in peace Din Beramboi, the best Malay comedian I knew. You will be sorely missed.

Thanks for everything.

Al-Fatihah.

Mati Hidup Kembali

2010-03-28T23:12:00.002+08:00

While driving on the quiet Bukit Tunku, a good friend sang a brilliant line from the song played on the radio.

Malam semalam gundah gulana
Hari ini hari mulia 
Tak pernah daku rasa begini 
Seperti mati hidup kembali

Bawaku hilang dari ingatan 
Hari ini sehingga esok 
Tak pernah daku rasa begini 
Seperti mati hidup kembali

Agar sepenuh dengan pendirian 
Ku capai sebelah tangan 
Sebalik awan ada cahaya 
Bercahayalah selamanya

Daku tertawa seorang diri 
Darah yang mengalir terhenti 
Fikiranku melayang-layang 
Tiada siapa yang perasan

Which reminded me to prioritize and get back on the track I paved myself with my bare hands. And of course, with a little help from my friends.

Let's drink to that.

Dear Dahari

2010-03-14T03:03:00.013+08:00

Dear Diary,

I played a football match and two futsal sessions today. Can you spare a page for this?

13th March 2010

1605 hours - Brother called, and asked me to take his boots to the field. He asked his friend to come pick me up. It's my debut today, and I've been looking forward to this game for a week, and all I wish was good weather and some positive distractions to the blister I had on my right heel.

1610 hours - Brother called again and told me his friend could not pick me up. He decided to pick me up himself. I could not say no to free ride, especially after a quick peek inside my ragged Timberland wallet. I had no idea where my money went, but I hope they'd come back to say hello sometime.

1615 hours - I thought it was going to rain. I slipped a plastic bag and a huge plastic cover plus an umbrella into my huge bag, just in case, you know to protect the ragged wallet. I've had enough with no money inside to afford having it ruined by h-two-o. He he it was actually for the new phone, the Ferrari of mobile phones, go figure.

1616 hours - I misplaced the key to the backyard to take the shorts I hanged out to dry in the morning. It's just one of my bad habits, taking my football stuff while it is still there, un'processed' (you know the usual pick them up after they properly dry and fold them according to whose). I had a glass of warm water to cool myself down. I did not need to panic.

1620 hours - Brother called and alerted me to be quick for he was about to arrive.

1621 hours - I think I need to be panic.

1625 hours - I improvised the knowledge of the house geography and entered the backyard from the front door. I took the shorts, smelt it and realized I needed socks as well. No sweat, they were there, just few railings from the shorts. I grabbed them, and smelt them as well. All good and I rushed back and put my boots, my brother's and everything else into the bag and did some recheck before I zipped it up.

1630 hours - Brother arrived and I managed to pull the I-am-not-rushing look. Off we went to Seksyen 2, Wangsa Maju for the game. The traffic was still fine. So was the weather. Other than the key to the backyard, this could be smashing for my debut.

1635 hours - I was reading some news in the car, and found out Peter Storrie stepped down as Portsmouth's Chief Executive - which he should have done a week ago. But he possibly delayed it to save good people from exiting because of Pompey's financially inept board. Also, Sam Allardyce reiterated the fume between himself and Rafa Benitez by saying 'Hey Rafa, I don't like you'. I can't blame Big Sam. Rafa's a good manager, but sometimes he put himself ahead before others. It's always everyone else's fault but his. And I failed to recognize any particular reason why Lucas had been featured as first eleven every time. Maybe I am wrong, because as I said before, Rafa sees what we don't.

1650 hours - Arrived at the field and noticed there was no covered area. The weather was superb but take my word, never underestimate the weather, because in the wise words of John Lennon, life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans ha ha. So, don't get too busy playing football. Look out for the weather too.

1700 hours - If the size was fitting, I'd have the number 17. Number 17 was an L and since I am not yet a Randy Orton, I settled for some other number with smaller jersey size. It was all white, from the jersey to shorts to socks, and for me to the boots. People called the team Real Madrid. But I call it Real Madras.

1730 hours - KO. It stands for kick-off, not knock-out like they explained in dictionaries.

1905 hours - FT. Yes, Fernando Torres. He came to the field to say hi and sign some autographs. I took picture with him and said mucho gusto encantando. No lah, FT is full time. The game was no more. Referee suruh balik rumah. We won the game by a slim margin, but looking at how we fared, it should have been more to our side. The game was no match to any English football you watch on telly, but for amateurs like us, it was like playing in a cup final. Okay, maybe semi-final. Final score, 3-2.

1920 hours - The team is a small enterprise who is run by players who share common love and passion in football. We had no kit manager to organize the jersey, so the juniors were always helpful to sort them out. We took some time and fathomed the win before decided to go somewhere for drinks. The usual post-game banter and laugh just had to be cherished and we were lucky that there was a restaurant at a walking distance.

2010 hours - I was drinking my second iced tea when a friend from Gombak texted me about a futsal friendly match in Segambut at 9. I bid the team goodbye and rushed home to clean myself up and get ready for Segambut futsal, which was more Kelamkabut futsal.

2030 hours - Back home and while in the shower, I remembered a text message from Nizam, my friend from Wangsa Maju about a futsal session at Ampang at 10.

2040 hours - Of course I didn't get out of the shower and panicked.

2050 hours - Okay now it's time to panic, now that I am done.

2100 hours - I used the same huge bag to put football stuff out and futsal stuff in. I had to catch up with the guys at Jalan Gombak for the convoy at 2045 hours. But it is now 2100 hours and I had to be more than The Stig to make it.

2105 hours - MRR2 and Jalan Gombak were such sweethearts and I managed to catch the convoy. Aziz Hazmi was leading the pack. Getting to Segambut via Jalan Sentul could be a bit tricky but he got ourselves through with the greatest of grace.

2110 hours - We made it almost in time, to find that the opposition team were not there. We chatted and kicked the ball around for 20 minutes before they arrived. I was more excited to see Hazree's sizzling new Adidas Super Sala to notice that I have lost 20 minutes and I only have 30 minutes to play because I need to be in Ampang at 2200 hours, or 2215 hours (15 minutes injury time Sports Planet graciously awards to its client, which might come in handy for me this time).

2200 hours - The opposition team turned out to be a tough nut to crack. Maybe because they brought some WAGs to distract most of us. We were 2-4 behind when I left, and I left after I scored the second with a sweet chip up and under the good looking goalkeeper he he. Score and leave, priceless.

2205 hours - Jalan Ampang disappointed me, and I had to volume up the radio to conciliate the driver's agony. It was live radio broadcast of the Chelsea-West Ham United London derby and pundits were analyzing leading up to the game. Pundits can be so annoying, especially when their premises were not backed by facts and numbers, and mostly splurged out of personal whims. I'd turn to fan pages to see people saying good things about things they like just because they like it. Like Lisa Surihani's Facebook fan page, for example. With heavy traffic, especially near the embassies, even the thought of Lisa Surihani didn't help me go through the nerve.

2225 hours - Nizam tried to call but I missed it because I was driving (he he hello Abang Polis), and because I had arrived and was parking my car. The car was a terrible looking little machine. I had no idea where the smell came from and it's a wreck from outside; with leaves I had no idea where they came from and few strands of cat's hair, maybe of my cat which finds comfort in warm pre-heated hood. I sneaked a look and promised myself to wash the car tomorrow and make it look sexy again.

2230 hours - It turned out that Nizam waited to use my discount card, so I didn't miss a minute. Still sweating from the rush hour, I said hello the guys, put on my futsal shoe, said hello again to those I haven't, and walked calmly into the court.

2345 hours - My mind was as tired as the body and I haven't had my proper dinner yet. I had few hot dogs before Segambut and washed them down with mineral water. So I thought I better reward myself with something worthwhile. I called Aliff Adha to ask him out for drink as I wanted to have my dinner, but he was too tired to go out, or maybe still weeping from Milan's exit from the Champions League. I had the feeling few months ago.

2355 hours - Scott Parker scored an amazing volley to level the score at the Bridge when I arrived at NZ Curry House, Wangsa Maju. My favourite spot was taken, so I had the table next to it all for myself. Not to waste any space, I had three glasses of teh o ais (iced tea), two plates of nasi goreng daging merah (fried rice with beef cubes and chili), a plate of tauhu bakar (grilled tofu with peanut sauce) and a plate of roti telur (prata bread with egg).

0050 hours - Chelsea grabbed all three points at the Bridge, not to my surprise. Bolton hammered Wigan four-nil. Yes Wigan, the team that beat Liverpool last week. I was full but the car wasn't. I fueled her up before going back. I was practically limping from places to places; from the table to the cashier counter, from the car to the cashier counter, and back to the car again. But life has to go on.

0130 hours - I cleaned myself up for the second time of the night and started my night reading before decided to blog my day.

0245 hours - I think Arsenal are playing now but I am too tired to do anything.

0300 hours - I tried to sleep as I hit the 'publish post' button. I thought I have clicked it, but turned out I haven't. I was on the same page for 15 minutes. I think I have to stop now.

Dear Diary,

Why are you not stopping me? Is it because I used more than a page?

Sorry.

Ido-Lah

2010-03-12T00:25:00.004+08:00

I have always suspected that this girl's personality has something to do with her wonderful upbringing. I saw a video when she was a little girl, where her dad brought her and her brother to Disneyland somewhere, along with a video camera to seize a priceless father-daughter conversation, which could easily struck anyone with awe, and of course 'aww' for some people.

Just when I thought that is the best thing I've seen in years, this thing comes out.

If you can't groom your daughter to be like her, at least try to be like her dad, who reminded me of Cesare Maldini, a football legend, the father of Paolo Maldini, another football legend.

And to have lovely children who love you is a stuff of legend. The guy is class, pure class.

P.S. She's a Kaki Letup, go figure.

Lab Report

2010-03-11T06:39:00.004+08:00

If you can watch a live Champions League telecast in Malaysia, I just have to give you a hats off and a bow, because the time difference is not that pretty and there are a lot of things need to be given away in order to watch a Champions League - and the most obvious, you have to stay awake and fresh at 3 in the morning (where paranormal activity at its peak he he).

Okay seriously, and for those who earn a living working in a company that is not of your dad's, you might have put productivity and quality of work at risk due to lack of sleep, which might cost you a pay cut, or even worse, job cut.

But inference is there to be proved. Buckle up kids, let's do some experiment.

*

Old Trafford welcomed home the Golden Boy, and the reception could not be better. A goal from a free kick would fit a perfect homecoming, but seeing Stretford End heaved with fans chanting 'Fergie, Fergie, Sign Him' and few other songs about him I could not pick up made me thinking: he is forever Manchester United's Number 7.

Tough luck Milan, now let's just hope Inter persist, go through all the way, win the Champions League, and get themselves distracted from domestic titles, because if you can't have the crown of Europe, a Scudetto would do for hungry Rossoneri.

It is good to see how Wayne Rooney developed his game play and becoming a mature stature who sets the pace for the team. No doubt, an England captain in the near future. Possibly the next World Cup.

But that surely, is subject to Steven Gerrard's commitment to either follow suit to remodel himself and rebrand Liverpool, or settle himself and Liverpool as middle-league club material.

Real Madrid knocked out at Santiago Bernebeu, their own fortress they hoped to win the Champions League at. But few hundred million euros later, the club that groomed Karim Benzema showed them that money might buy your wife a Coach handbag, but not your team a Champions League.

Interesting night of football. Things like this drift my minds away from quite a number of things, like Alessandra Ambrosio's legs and Kate Beckinsale's hair.

I hope for the same effect when Liverpool play Lille soon in the Europa League.

Fuh.

*

When I was in the UK, I don't have to stay up or wake up to watch football: because football matches are played in afternoons and evenings, and because there are no mamak stalls with big screen, teh tarik and brader cakap besar sebelah meja to look forward to.

Great football, great teh tarik and great people - those variables which might work perfectly to revitalize the motivation and energy to work, hence enhancing productivity and escalate the quality of work.

To which the experiment ends with this conclusion: don't worry if you are single because you spend too much time watching football, because your boss might like you and will hook you up with his niece who happens to have Alessandra Ambrosio's legs and Kate Beckinsale's hair.

No seriously, Malaysians are the best football fans in the world, because we put everything including career and relationship on the line to watch live football.

Correction, live international football.

Ha ha boleh dapat A tak?

P.S. Sorry, I just had to put a picture, and that is a picture I snapped in a post office near my house few years ago. I spent few minutes and gave up to find any possible relation of the picture to this post, because I thought you get extra mark if you put diagrams.

Hujantan

2010-03-09T09:02:00.010+08:00

Kuala Lumpur is a funny little niche with peculiar range of weather fluctuations. One moment it could be the warmest place on the planet, and in few seconds roads became puddle.

I for one enjoy the reflection puddles make, because once in a while I have to look at myself in the eyes and wash myself all over from bad vibrations holding myself down, like beautiful rain does to the great city.

I've never seen that expensive film Avatar, neither the Oscar-winner The Hurt Locker. I am sure either one has its one unique perk to offer and to pick one piece of art over another just shows how inadequate the understanding and passion in arts among us.

We should not discriminate, and it can be quite distressing to learn that not only low-budget film win over the multi-million production could be a laugh for some lot, they stretched their thickness in recognizing the gender of the director, something even they don't have any options to choose from.

So I say no to Oscar, but yes to any movies that move the hearts of many. Good movies should be in the hearts of many, not in the form of gold-plated brittanium that could divide the world even more.

Stadium Shah Alam might be the only place that is unaffected by abrupt weather the Klang Valley comply with. I have missed few Selangor games due to some thick action of commitments, but when Faisol and Azlifaizal alerted me that the next game would be against Kedah, I just had to make myself available for a date.

Kedah and myself has a natural connection. Being the place where my mum was born and raised, the family developed huge influence with anything Kedahan, from food, accent and even some peculiar stance, like the way we receive guests and talk loudly over any eating sessions.

But when it comes to football, passion overthrows romantics.

Selangor-Kedah is a correspondence to Manchester United-Liverpool rivalry in England. I see Kedah has a steeper tendency to be Liverpool, owing to the fans whom I suppose the best in the country. They came early to the stadium, and sang the loud 'Biar Jasa Jadi Kenangan' few times before kick off, which easily reminded me of the deafening 'You'll Never Walk Alone' I once had the privilege to sing along at Anfield.

If they awarded goals for noise, Kedah would kick off with two goals up. Although not coming from Selangor, that is the thing I like about Malaysian football - it's not the best weather, stadium not totally full, but the pitch heaves with noise, hope and love for local football.

The crowd got bigger with my friends, the most number of friends I went out and watch football with. It was also the first time for Airil and Adzim coincidentally both in black, and also maybe for few others. They looked lost at first, but football is an accommodating game, you'll feel home in no time, and they did.

Recent statistics was in favour of Selangor, and as expected, Kedah ran into a storm at Stadium Shah Alam, and allowed Selangor to walk in four goals on top of three valuable points.

I expected some magic from the captain Amri Yahyah, but the one who excelled was Amirul Hadi Zainal. He scored twice past former national goalkeeper Helmi Eliza Alias. K. Devan has taken few steps on managerial ladder, and his ascent is timely for Selangor to clinch the title this season.

He didn't play Liew Kit Kong and deploy Amri Yahyah at the right position and the result, four goals against the Liverpool of Malaysia. Of course, I am not saying Selangor is akin to the red team from the Midlands.

But Kedah fans should be proud of themselves. Kedah might have lost three points, but the chants and roars coming from the amazing array of green-yellow colours of Kedah were just something special Selangor fans have to learn to have.

Thanks for the goals, at least Airil could jump around celebrating and loosen his first-timer bones up, not once but for four times.

No, it was five. Someone's goal was disallowed for offside.

Anyways, could not ask for anything better from Selangor. A good game with many touch of class. They have been working so hard and got what they deserve. Excellent stuff.

DUKE and NKVE combine nicely for a nice drive to Shah Alam from KL. There wasn't a real hassle, although the rain did worry me. But I still miss the charm Federal Highway has, although it could be unpleasant to drive on especially on rainy evenings.

But driving is always a pleasure when you have someone to talk to - like these two people.

Airil, on the left and Faisol, another special people I met in Kuala Kangsar.

I didn't park the car where I usually did, which is a good thing. More people are more open to the idea of flocking the stadium to watch football. Premier League plans to charge TV stations more next season with their new Premier League TV scheme, and with Liverpool dismal performance these days, I don't see why I can't get rid of Premier League from my life for good.

I guess it is a matter of time.

It drizzles outside as I write, just after Wigan sinked Liverpool at DW Stadium. Kuala Lumpur is crying with the Liverpool fans.

Maybe Rafa should make himself a puddle.

And as for me, I have some more work to do. See you lay-tah.

Hah nak try pronounce lah tu.

Times Like These

2010-02-28T06:57:00.008+08:00

Good morning and good evening.

I guess things like these happen when football is the language of your love, like when you were talking about how you were doing, of course in all seriousness, after months long of AWOL,

suddenly Didier Drogba popped up to say hello.

which rounded up the best video call I have ever made in my life (of course with shirt on). An hour flied and suddenly it's half past seven in the morning. Thanks Gangdust for making my day, a day.

Gangdust played in Sheffield for the second time. Wayne Bridge refused England call-up and JT's handshake before thumping former club Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Malaysia overcame Yemen at Bukit Jalil, and Selangor gunned Penang down up north after having a nice plate of nasi kandar ayam with papadom tabur, and Liverpool are now in the last 16 of Europa Cup.

It's all good.

Like good, good.

Well then, moving on.

Ah and of course, good night.

CNY

2010-02-14T02:36:00.004+08:00

Gong Xi Fa Chai.

Picture: Amiruddin Jamil, or Ah Tong. His relatives call him Amilulin Jamiw.

He he, seriously - a Happy Chinese New Year to all my Chinese friends. KL is a quiet little city without you guys.

What else happens on the 14th of February?

Tepuk Dada Tanya Dada

2010-02-05T17:00:00.002+08:00

Dada akhbar kini lebih hangat dari dada wanita.

Perang, bunuh, rasuah, rogol, politik, benci-membenci.

Mana tidaknya, masing-masing berlumba-lumba tunjuk handal, entah untuk apa dan untuk siapa.

Awak ingat nyawa awak punya? Awak ingat bom-bom kepala lancau semua itu boleh bawa awak masuk syurga? Awak ingat awak boleh terlepas seksa kubur walaupun tanah kubur itu nenek moyang awak yang punya?

Awak ingat awak malaikat maut? Awak ingat revolver boleh selesai masalah bodoh awak?

Awak ingat konek awak paling power? Awak ingat anak dara orang semua ada nafsu pornstar? Awak ingat anak dara orang yang awak paku tidak ada masa depan?

Awak ingat awak pakai kot awak lagi segak dari orang lain? Awak ingat lepas menang pilihanraya, rakyat boleh letak dekat tepi tayar kereta Mercedes pinjam awak? Awak ingat duit awak semua duit kepala bapak awak?

Awak ingat awak sempurna untuk benci makhluk tuhan lain?

Bangsa putih dengan keputihannya, bangsa hitam dengan kehitamannya, bangsa bangsat dengan kebangsatannya, bangsa bodoh dengan kebodohannya, bangsa ganas dengan keganasannya, bangsa kaya dengan kekayaannya, bangsa zalim dengan kezalimannya, bangsa kuat dengan kekuatannya.

Berlumba-lumba untuk jadi bangsa terhandal - sehingga masing-masing lupa untuk jadi bangsa manusia.

P.S. Aku copy paste post lama. Licik tak?

Amman

2010-01-26T17:40:00.001+08:00

"Amman nak kawan dengan big girl je, tak nak kawan dengan little girl."

Kenapa nak kawan dengan big girl je?

"Sebab big girl ada tetek."

Meet Amman, my nephew.

Of Free Speech and Responsible Conduct

2010-01-24T03:40:00.003+08:00

I met Ku Ali in Mecca while doing my umrah. It was in a hot summer night that we took a stroll around the holy city, admired the eminence the city had, and talked in a language only the two of us could decipher.

He bought me falafel and left before I could thank him.

It seems in Malaysia there now exist groups that refuse to make our country work. Failing to realize the unique social and cultural framework that we have, either through sheer stupidity or a much sinister agenda, they continually harp on issues that they know to be sensitive and delicate, in the name of that oh-so-familiar slogan of free speech. Regretfully, these exact same groups often forget about the importance of ‘responsible conduct’ when they embrace that convenient slogan. I am all for free speech, don’t get me wrong. But I am also totally against stupidity and irresponsibility.

The controversial “Allah” issue should not be an issue in the first place, if those involved could be wise enough to put national harmony before any other goals. I am not a theology scholar, so I would not attempt to address this issue from that angle. Furthermore, I see the unrestrained and zealous comments of those without knowledge and expertise, on everything under the sun, to be the main cause of the bulk of the problems we have today.

Allah is an Arabic word that had been used in the Malay world since the coming of Islam to this region. Historical chronology suggests that Muslim traders, whom arrived earlier compared to Christian missionaries, were those responsible for the introduction. The study of linguistics and semantics will tell us that words are “sounds” that we give meaning to. The process in which a word acquires its meaning and significance is a complex and interesting study of human consciousness. We will not go deep into the technicalities of these processes, but suffice to say that local culture, usage and convention play a major role in assessing the significance and concept that a word embodies.

It is true that in the Arab world “Allah” is the common term for god. However, in our country, through many centuries of usage and adaptation, that same term had gained a more specific meaning with Islamic connotation. It had become a proper noun (this is why “Allah” is always written with a capital A), and as all those who had paid attention in grammar class would know, proper nouns always refer to something specific. The Malay language provides more common terms to refer to god(s) of other faiths, examples being ‘tuhan,’ ‘dewa’ and ‘dewi.’ These terms can be variously used as a common or proper noun, depending on context.

The arguments that suggests “Allah” should be used by faiths other than Islam, just because the Arabs and Indonesian Christians are using it, from a linguist’s view, is redundant, and from a nationalist’s view, preposterous. Context differs with locality, and evidently our situation and context is different from those countries. One thing that we can’t get our head around is why should we follow Indonesia’s lead? Had this country proven to be a better model for a country, in any aspect, compared to us? Why must we, after 53 years of independence, look towards a country that had on many occasions showed hostility towards us, for a solution? What is the use of being independent if we continually admire the conventions from abroad, rather than developing and having confidence in our own system?

The usage of the term “Allah” differs between East Malaysia and the Peninsula. In the Peninsula the term embodies strong Islamic connotation. The Christians here do not and never have used the term “Allah” to refer to god. In East Malaysia, however, the native Christians do use it. My Christian friends from Sarawak told me that yes they do use the term, but they always make the distinction by using “Tuan Allah” when referring to their god. They understand the confusion that could be created by the casual use of “Allah,” and they, like the Muslim natives of East Malaysia, did not like the idea of confusion. For them, if one was to convert to any religion, one should not be confused as to which god one is submitting oneself to.

Christianity exists in various sects throughout the world. The liturgical languages used in the services differ with sect and location. The Vatican Catholics use Latin. The various Eastern Orthodoxies use Russian, Armenian, and Greek etc. The Coptic uses Arabic, while the Syriacs are probably the only church left still using the original language of Jesus, Aramaic. The plethora of languages used for services, and the lack of effort to reestablish Aramaic as the liturgical language (since it was the language spoken by Jesus himself), seems to suggest the name by whom god is called is not of central importance in Christian doctrine. If it was of grave concern, it would have been corrected a long time ago, in the various councils convened throughout Christian history. The use and adaptations of the various liturgical languages were accepted and tolerated by the original, pre-Christian practitioners of those languages. We assume that none of these communities opposed the absorption of their languages as a liturgical language by the Christian community. It seems to us that The Herald, through its active pursuit of this issue, is trying to break from the Christian convention, by imposing their will on the Malay language. This is despite the clear opposition and resistance of a majority of the original practitioners, the Malays. This makes us wonder the level of respect those from The Herald have with regards to the Malay community, in contrast to their predecessors who were in contact with the pre-Christian communities whose languages are now part of Christian liturgical practices. We would feel very much sad for the Christian faith, if its image of toleration and love is marred by The Herald, which seems adamant about imposing its will on a visibly reluctant community.

Maybe those from The Herald were not aware of the linguistic connotation and significance of the term “Allah,” and how it applied to the Malaysian context. We will give them the benefit of the doubt. They were testing waters unexplored. However, what we find unsettling is the zeal with which they are pursuing the issue. Muslims had clearly expressed their grievances and disagreement when this issue started, long before it spiraled into the chaos that it is now. It appears to us that those from The Herald were not wise enough to lay off the case when the ban was made by the Government. They decided that no, they had to bring it to another level. We say this action was unwise because they failed to realize the dire consequences it had on our social harmony. It doesn’t take a university education to see that tensions were brewing (then). Let us hope that this is just a case of poor judgment and lack of wisdom on the part of those from The Herald. We would be damned as a nation, if they did actually know exactly what they were doing. Stupidity can be forgiven, but malicious intent is much graver.

We Malaysians cannot begin to describe how angry we are at those responsible for the church and surau attacks. As I said earlier, I am totally against stupidity and irresponsibility. Hey morons, what did you think you were achieving by those attacks? The action was too stupid because it did not contribute to any solution. And do you honestly think that the Muslims and Christians will hail you as heroes for your cowardice? Why should they, after you smeared their image. Most Malaysians understand our faith well enough to know that it is strictly forbidden to cause damage to houses of worship. Whoever you are, we hope you will be sentenced the severest punishment. Scumbags like you are part of that group which I said refuse to make our country work. Please excuse my harsh language, but I put high emphasis on the exactness of meaning.

When Caliph Umar Al-Khattab entered Jerusalem, he was offered by the Patriarch of Jerusalem to pray inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. He refused, preferring to pray just outside it. Nothing in the doctrine of Islam or Christianity prevented him to pray in the church. It was only his foresight and good judgment that explained this action. He realized the implications the Christians will have if he did pray in it. He did not want future quarrels between Muslims and Christians over the significance of the church. Those with wisdom and good intent will never pursue anything just because they can. Doing things just for the sake of doing it, without much consideration for future implications is stupid, and might we say, destructive. We urge all those involved in this scandal to ponder the significance of Caliph Umar’s decision, and think about the consequences our actions today will have on the future.

I will refrain from making comments about the ruling made by Justice Lau. I will leave that task to the public. We believe that we are guaranteed the right to having our own opinion under the Constitution. We hope the next judge dealing with this case will impress us with a verdict worthy of the case. Please take into consideration the unique social and cultural framework that our country is based upon, and the consequences your judgments will have on the future of our harmony. We put our faith in the judicial system, so please do not disappoint us.

When the British granted us independence, they believed that we will become a failed nation, considering the social setting that they themselves had developed in our nation. So far we had proved them wrong. We must understand the unique and delicate situation that we are. Sensitivity and consideration must be employed in conducting ourselves. It will be such a shame if our actions today will contribute to the realization of what the British had predicted when they left us. For the sake of our nation, please ponder and think where we want our country to go from here. We decide.

Ku Ali

Remember the name, it's Ku Ali. In case you have forgotten already.

Playlist Di-Raja

2010-01-21T11:59:00.003+08:00

Aku ada satu rahsia yang champion nak kongsi. Moga boleh jadi inspirasi untuk memulakan hari kau, kau dan kau.

Kalau rasa malas nak mandi pagi, aku pasang track Know Your Role sambil berjalan masuk toilet – style jalan tak payah ceritalah, ala ala People’s Champ baru lepas layan Rock Bottom kat Triple H.

Untuk effect lebih ganas dan elegan, kening diangkat sebelah – menimbulkan pertikaian, kening siapa lebih menangkap, The Rock atau Ziana Zain.

Lebih champion kalau buat depan cermin yang bersaiz super.

Lepas mandi, lagu Exists biasanya akan mengambil alih, sengaja menimbulkan effect syahdu supaya effect The Rock dapat dineutralkan. Rahsia Pohon Cemara lah biasanya.

Dan hidup bermula bila LFO rampas waktu siaran. Alexi Murdoch pun kadang-kadang bikin haru biru Playlist Di-Raja. Bertumbuk dia dengan Liam Gallagher sebab rampas mikrofon. N’Sync cool je, tak mahu kacau orang tua bergaduh.

John Lennon perhati dari jauh. Paul, Ringo dengan George stand-by kat belakang dia, macam cerita Pendekar Bujang Lapok.

Masa tu aku cakap, hilang punca semua lari bertempiaran. Akon yang gangster pun goyang. Eminem lagi lah, sekali John petik terus demam.

Bila John dengan kawan-kawan tidur, Adam Levine rampas mikrofon. Lepas puas buat suara charming, Jason Mraz dengan Gavin DeGraw pula test market. Line-line ini memang gentleman, sebab lepas perform stage mesti kekal in order.

Tapi kalau Axl Rose dengan James Hetfield pegang mikrofon, siap lah aku nak mengemas stage. Si Mark pun sama, lagi lagi kalau Tom dengan Travis dah start buka baju.

Awie, Amy dengan Aris Ariwatan pun kadang-kadang try nak buat samseng, tapi selalu dia orang kemas balik stage. Sebab air mata penuh siapa nak lap. Aku kesian tengok line-line ini, struggle gila nak masuk playlist orang lain - tak market dan tak fashionable katanya. Menangis-nangis line-line ini merayu kat aku nak feature dalam Playlist Di-Raja.

Kesian dia orang jadi mangsa seni subjektif.

Tapi ada satu time Duta ikut Ahmad Dhani datang. Pasha dengan Ariel senyap-senyap ikut dari belakang. Dia orang ini memang steady, sampai Freddie Fernandez kucar kacir cari alasan kenapa dia orang tak boleh datang dah.

Dalam Playlist Di-Raja, orang jual Char Koay Teow pun boleh feature, asalkan suara boleh challenge Ebiet G. Ade. Nak diskriminasi pergi Palestine. Alah kat sini pun boleh, pandai-pandai lah cari port.

Dan baru tadi Pasha dah check in secara rasmi, bawa sekali dua tiga track. Tapi ada satu yang aku ingat, Kekasih Gelapku. Tercipta Untukku pun boleh tahan dia punya naik.

Pergh itu time, aku sure sudah tarik selimut.

Agak-agak mata aku pun dah nak padam, aku suruh dia orang semua balik. Boleh tengok dia orang tarik muka kat aku macam mana. Macam budak budak.

Basuh kaki, clear tekak, gosok mata, tarik selimut – lepas tu layan doa sebelum tidur. Tiga kul menyusul kalau sempat, mana lah tahu, esok dah tak tengok dunia.

Tidur.

Esok The Rock nak bangun sebab ada benda lagi tak settle dengan Triple H. Nasib baik dia ada Playlist Di-Raja, supaya The Rock lupa nak tarik muka dan benci membenci sesama umat.

Kadang-kadang aku try juga nak feature dalam Playlist Di-Raja, tapi skill tak cukup Satriani dan suara tak cukup Freddie lah. Roslan Aziz sure rasa nak tepuk je belakang aku sekali aku petik. Paula Abdul pun agak-agak boleh hilang sabar dengar aku cuba jadi V.E.

Petik pun sekadar tak nak bagi berhabuk. Tak apa, sedap telinga aku, sedap lah Playlist Di-Raja.

Playlist Di-Raja ada dimana mana, mungkin belakang window IE komputer kau ini pun ada. Cuba tekan minimize tengok, sebab kalau tekan close macam mana kau nak baca blog orang lain pula kan.

Tapi ego aku mengatakan Playlist Di-Raja aku yang paling champion. Habis emosi aku kena main dengan Playlist Di-Raja. Okaylah, at least Playlist Di-Raja sudi nak mainkan emosi aku.

You define your own Playlist Di-Raja. Jangan tarik muka kalau Raihan tiba-tiba buat comeback dalam Playlist Di-Raja aku.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Seni itu subjektif.

Aku ada satu rahsia yang champion nak kongsi. Moga boleh jadi inspirasi untuk memulakan hari kau, kau dan kau.

P.S. Aku copy paste post lama. Licik tak?

Peraduan Teka Dialog

2010-01-16T06:19:00.003+08:00

Siapa salah bayar.

Lembah Klang Derby

2010-01-13T23:34:00.005+08:00

I saw the most beautiful girl I've seen in years. She was eating at Williams near Kelana Jaya LRT station yesterday. I am not going to reveal any of her likeness in my imagination, but what I can tell is, no I am not going to tell you anything.

Selangor hosted cross-city rival Kuala Lumpur in their second Super League match at Stadium Shah Alam. Last outing in Seremban was a successful yet a nervous one for the Red Giants and looking at how lucky they were, they need to remodel their gameplay against Kuala Lumpur if they wanted to be a serious title contender this season.

A friend tried to pick a bone and questioned my place of birth with the team I support, especially in the run to last night's match.

I was born and raised up in Kuala Lumpur, and if anything has to go by the place you grew up, I might have to root for Kuala Lumpur football team. But I grew up supporting Selangor, and started giving my soul and watching Selangor's matches when I was 8, so the love was a natural thing.

My friend is a Malaysian of course, born in Johor and grew up in Kuala Lumpur. He took a safe way and decided not to support any Malaysian team. But he lost the bet when I figured out that he is an Arsenal fan although I tried to be positive that he might have actually born in London but the family migrated back to Malaysia just before he could learn some English.

I was particularly disappointed with Safiq Rahim after his recent poor performances, primarily in Malaysia-Syria friendly international, and looking at the credential he garnered last year when playing with KL-PLUS, I felt he needed more than a reason not to emulate the fantastic one year stint he had.

Federal Highway is a bitch on weekday evenings, as citizens commute from agora back to home. I had to pick four friends up and if I've known how bad the traffic could get, I'd go out earlier.

As a result, I missed few minutes of the first half and did not get to witness the goal KL scored. I was still driving when a friend texted the goal - which he described as a tactical, set-piece blunder.

It was like something was chasing me from behind. Something very big and ferocious and for some reason the colour was black with long hair and red eyes. I picked up the speed and made it just before Safee Sali equalised.

I was shocked to see Amri Yahyah playing as a pairing striker again with Safee Sali, but I guess when you are playing a team like Kuala Lumpur, you can be a little bit flexible. Liew Kit Kong was again upsetting, and substitute Amirul Hadi Zainal made me lose a bet I made with my friend.

Not playing his best game, Amirul Hadi lost it and he needs to bounce back more than he did on the training ground to regain his statue in the first eleven. I don't call him Malaysia's Yossi Benayoun for nothing.

But every Selangor fan was a winner when Safiq Rahim rose to the occasion and produced brilliance from the centre half to create chances after chances, and one of it met Amri Yahyah at one end, and the captain brilliantly chipped the ball to take Selangor on the lead.

Selangor played simple football all the match around, and skeptics from previous match against Negri Sembilan were shove off to the margins. Superior possession is a key for any football match and last night, Selangor stood taller in that area.

Selangor have to benefit from on-fire R. Surendran in the next matches, with the striker again showed his finishing wizardry with two both brilliant goals in the second half. It was certainly a joy to watch how Selangor incorporated the home game advantage with composed possession, and churning opportunities at will and turning most of them into goals.

I guess this season will be yet another season of silverware for Selangor.

But of course, they have to look for that team from the north.

I have written in a post on how special the year 1996 was for me as a young Selangor fan, and if I had a time machine, I would take myself to that moment I went to see Selangor played Sabah in the final.

But since time traveling has remained an unsolved problems in physics for centuries now, I settled for the DVD of the game someone recorded. Deja vu and I stayed up late watching it and was even trying to look up for myself in the crowd.

It cost me RM10 to get the DVD, and the same feeling Azman Adnan and Mehmet Durakovic gave to me when they had the ball on their feet was priceless.

And it turned out the girl I eyed was not alone. She was with a guy. A guy who wears Armani and drives a Golf GTi, and most importantly, the guy who never checked his wallet before ordering.

Maybe that's the price I have to pay for being a 'Mat Stadium', gua boleh tengok je! Ha ha.

Dear Nigella Ashworth

2010-01-11T02:04:00.000+08:00

Look at you. Just look in the mirror. Just, just, just look at yourself.

How can you say you are strong when no one has ever punched you in the face?

How can you say you can jump a wall when you haven't been to one?

How can you say you know it all when you never read a line?

How can you say you know how to win a battle when you haven't fought a single soul?

How can you say you know how to love someone when all you want is just to be loved?

Look at you.

You want me to look at you.

But you haven't been looking at yourself long enough.

That's why.

Hoi Paroi!

2010-01-10T16:10:00.006+08:00

Driving to Paroi as a Selangor fan was easier with a car with registration plate beginning with N. It naturally avoided any sort of fanatical trigger, especially when looking for space to park near Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

The stadium reminded me of Craven Cottage, erected not exactly in the hearts of the city but in the middle of a housing area. I settled the car in front of a house, at a walking distance to the stadium, and minus my Selangor jersey, I looked like a visiting relative.

Not the best performance from Red Giants, especially with K. Devan's first half experiment to pair Amri Yahyah, the midfielder, with Safee Sali up front. The gamble did not work, and looking at his range of passes, Hardi Jaafar's vision was short sighted. The experienced Liew Kit Kong was too fancy in the middle, but his energy defied his age.

The worst came from the back four, and Khairul Anuar Baharom failed to organise the defence as tightly as he did before, but however cut off few deadly passes from Negri destructive forces.

Selangor were out of possession throughout the game. Negri's dynamic duo Rezal Zambry and Idris Karim calmly roamed the centre half and were brilliant suppliers to Zaquan Adha to benefit.

But I don't know why, and I hope it did not involve Ayu Raudhah, but Zaquan Adha's performance did not match his regard as nation's number one.

Maybe K. Devan spotted few holes that he changed the dynamic in the second half, bringing on R. Surendran and played Amri Yahyah back in midfield. Amirul Hadi Zainal was also brought in to fill the space Hardi Jaafar hugely left.

Looking at how bad Selangor played and the unfavourable score board in the first half, I thought the journey to Paroi would end in the blues.

But Selangor is still the Selangor I knew. With few brilliant tactical changes, a bit of luck and the belief of its fans, Red Giants scored twice in 7 minutes, enough to check the first silverware of the season.

It is going to be a long season for Selangor with 60 matches and 5 cups to die for, amounts more than any Super League teams this year. But that is what champions do, we fight the battle worth fighthing, and with the kind of support I saw in Paroi last night, I fail to see why not.

The crowd was a strong 30,000 people. Even when playing home, Negri fans were no match to the tradition and colour Selangor fans brought with them to Paroi. Selangor fans sang almost every time, and the intertwined mandatory cheer-jeer easily out-do Negri fans, who relied on their 'Hobin Jang Hobin' chant everytime to flare the atmosphere up when their team were attacking.

Kedah and Kelantan fans are more of Selangor's material to fight, and I can't wait for such intensity to come.

But their presence and love for their local team was something commendable and deserved a mention, although I don't know what happened before the team won the Malaysian Cup after so many years.

A nearer exit to take to get to Paroi is Senawang and it will cost you RM8.20 if you're driving from KL. There is a nice Tom Yam restaurant (a habitual Malaysian restaurateur misnomer - Tom Yam is a dish, not a cuisine) on your right after the exit.

I was surprised to know that there is actually a Taman Rashidah Utama and it is located in Seremban. The car was full with karaoke bums and looking at the sign was like paedophiles waking up in a kindergarten.

My dad is from Kuala Pilah, and going to Negri Sembilan using his car and as a Selangor fan guilted me.

The night continued and ended at Downtown Cheras with teh o ais (iced tea), a plate of nasi goreng with telur mata kerbau (fried rice and eggs, sunny side up) and a sweet three point in the pocket.

Excellent, excellent curtain raiser.

Roadblock

2010-01-09T12:42:00.003+08:00

It is during these hard days you know the people you'd take with you later. Thanks guys, you know who you are.

Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?

2010-01-08T17:01:00.005+08:00

Four churches were attacked in one day and a potential chaotic days ahead is expected. Tony Fernandes is lining up a bid to buy West Ham United.

That was a picture of me and Ayie, taken last year when we watched Malaysia played Manchester United. Church reminds me of Ayie, I just don't know why. He is in the UK now, probably somewhere near St Paul's Cathedral. Ha ha have fun there man!

I finally bought Zaid Ibrahim's 'I, Too, Am Malay' and my room just got its white-collar look with a new printer, now sitting under the light of my age-old table lamp. Old and new combination, the kind of mixture that gave Italy a world cup.

I've settled for a cheaper notebook over a Moleskine and learnt that movie editors are neglected heroes.

Malaysian Super League is kicking off tomorrow and a while after a Facebook status is posted, my car is now ready for Seremban.

It's my fourth time in KLIA in a space of a year. Last few days, it was to send off a certain Haziq Izzat who is now in the freezing East Midlands.

Rafa is now after Marouane Chamakh and Maxi Rodriguez and still not ruling out the possible Nistelrooy-van der Vaart switch to Anfield. It is still good news, although they were all to be loaned in, to the expense of Ryan Babel, Andriy Voronin and Andrea Dossena who are going to God-knows-where-and-I-don't-care.

I play football every evening now at the same place I used to play every day 8 years ago. There are so many familiar faces who still give me the same benevolence, and the way they greeted and passed the ball to me make me feel like home again.

The journey within the city is as interesting as the destination. That is why sometimes I don't mind driving in heavy traffic. It gives me time to be with myself, who I was when I left the city and who I want to be now that I am back.

It is full of stories in the city, and wanting to be part of it is a natural thing for me.

Take care all and goodbye now.

Night Train

2010-01-03T20:31:00.004+08:00

Some people I know are a funny lot. They make me laugh easily without having to try much.

Like some of them who think they have succeeded to lie to me, and another who makes up my life story without having to spend their time with me.

Knowing people is a privilege, but some of them just take relationship for granted.

Relationship is not a game you can afford to lose today and work harder to win tomorrow. My mum didn't let me go when I was a little boy and pick me up when I am no longer a worry to shoulder. She works to grow me up everyday because everyday is a battle she needs to win.

I am not perfect, so saying bad things about me doesn't give much space for anyone to give it a doubt. I know myself very well to say that negativity is an easy association with me, so I don't really mind when people starts to rough a hideous picture out of my life.

But some other people just let me go because of the weight I carry, and they leave marks on my face for other people to see, and yet still expecting the privilege from me.

It can tick some people off, including myself. And I could brush off the stain, hold the knuckle and stand up to fight.

But It is good news for them because I don't fight pointless battles. So I would laugh at myself, and move on, because if it is that easy to draw a bad picture of myself, then I have only myself to blame for not looking good.

Bola Akhir Tahun

2009-12-31T15:10:00.008+08:00

Bukit Jalil National Stadium hasn't changed much since I left, and now that I am back, it is nice to know that I haven't miss anything major at Bukit Jalil other than the game between my dad's Negri Sembilan and Kelantan, the very much talked about and controversial Malaysia Cup final match.

I was 10 years old when I went to Bukit Jalil for the first time and it was not for any football match, but for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. The only way for me to get there that time was by train. Everything was new back then, so the comfort of a new train journey to a new stadium was something really big for a small boy like me.

So 10 years passed, and I have lost count the number of times I went to Bukit Jalil to watch football matches. I had the privilege to travel across the globe to witness and experience the atmosphere of world-class and famous football stadiums like Old Trafford and Anfield, and while they boast to be the home of many football historic moments and greats, my favourite is still the ones at home; the one in Shah Alam and the other in Bukit Jalil.

So I paid the latter a visit yesterday, as Malaysia hosted Syria in a friendly match. The number of fans were no match to the number of support and love the national team got when they bagged the SEA Games gold medal last month. In a way, it was good to have so much space for yourself in the absence of so many on-and-off football fans.

I arrived an hour early, like I always do in any football match I go to, usually to avoid traffic and to have enough time to settle down (strolling around the stadium for food and souvenirs and snap few pictures before going to the loo for final clearance). Usually the ritual was very quick and brief, and the leisure of having the breathing space was non-existence. I could not even talk in my normal voice because I would have to shout every time I was talking to a friend.

But last night was a bit different. I parked my car 100 feet from the field, and I could see the sight of my car from the place I sat when I was eating at the food court. And the fact that I ate at the food court was something new as usually I would have a small bite of crisp or burger before the game. But last night, I had nasi goreng cili api with telur mata kerbau (fried rice with Bird's eye chili and eggs, sunny side up) with teh o ais (iced tea).

I finished and started to walk to get my seat 5 minutes before the game started and I didn't have to run and rush as I would normally have to. When I secured a nice seat, the game was just kicked off.

For my standard, last night was a VIP experience. Thanks to Alep, Sam, Faiz and Nazha for the company.

Malaysia was not the better team in term of ball possession as Syria was more superior in controlling the ball. It was their infamous vocation in playing long ball that brought the ball forward most of the time. It proved a lucrative gamble, especially with Zaquan Adha's decent ability to win the ball and taking shots.

While the strongest point for Malaysia was in its defense, they lacked the edge in the attack. Midfielders, especially Safiq Rahim was not playing his best match, albeit scoring two goals both from penalties. His lack of creativity and the eye for killer passes were the points for Zaquan Adha's wasted runs. He also wasted so much the opportunity to benefit from dead ball situation and Rajagopal should have brought in Amirul Hadi Zainal earlier in the game to turn things around.

I am personally worried with Safiq Rahim's form, who now plays for Selangor, but Amirul Hadi, who also wears Merah Kuning came to the rescue.

Amirul Hadi wasted no time to provide the assist for Malaysia's fourth goal, my pick for the best goal of the night, as he calmly fed Gurusamy before the midfielder chipped the ball nicely to the back of the net to round a satisfactory 4-1 win.

While the game was marred by disputable decisions by the referee, it was surely a nice moral booster for the boys ahead of Asian Cup qualifier against UAE, 6 days from today. I wish the boys the best of luck and continue the winning streak, play nicely, score goals, and score the hearts of Malaysians.

Do you know Ayu Raudhah? She played Aliya in the hit series Nur Kasih which I didn't watch but most of my friends did. She was there at Bukit Jalil, most probably because his boyfriend, the national striker Zaquan Adha was there to play. Zaquan Adha scored the third goal and was sent off under the suspicion of time-wasting. My friends were looking for Ayu Raudhah after the game, and instead we found her 'striker'.

Alep suggested a place for after-game drink, and we headed to a stall at Dato' Keramat, located in front of Masjid Dato' Keramat. It opens until late and you can easily park the car at the side of the road, or inside the mosque if you are not wearing shorts he he. Watching a football match needs as much stamina as playing a football match so I had a giant glass watermelon juice and iced tea to rehydrate. I ordered tauhu bakar (grilled tofu with vegetable filling, prawn paste sauce and crushed peanuts), and was surprised to just have to pay RM5 for all that.

Now that I am broke and have no one to pay me every month, I can imagine coming back to the stall. To eat lah, not to work. Bodoh lah you.

Earlier that day, I had lunch and catching up with Cepe at Avenue K before walking to Ampang Park. Yes, walking to Ampang Park to-and-fro KLCC like I used to 10 years ago. But I am 10 years older now, so I took a return train and joined cute fashionable school girls on my way back.

Cepe told me they are building a third tower for KLCC, means more weapons for Ultraman to fight with invading monsters.

The old camera shop where my dad used to take me when he still had his craze in photography is still there at Ampang Park. Off The Edge is now priced at RM12. It doubles its editorial size too, so okay lah kot.

It is good to know I didn't miss anything much.

It's the last post for the eventful year. I would like to personally wish you a very happy new year. Take care and see you next year!

Houdini

2009-12-28T09:13:00.003+08:00

Someone said I am a good writer and bla bla bla. First of all, I am not a writer. Let me tell you why.

Izham Ismail a writer is a big misnomer. Because I am a blogger - something that I am not really proud of.

Blogger is not a writer. Blogger is an escapist, a mediocre writer. Bearing the pain of being rejected and unpublished, blog is an easy compromise.

But until he had his work published, he should stay quiet and remain a blogger.

Television makes watching theatre pointless. Photography is eating painting little by little, inch by inch, day by day. E-books is taking away the pleasure of reading hardcovers, and online news' plot to murder broadsheet newspaper is in its final phase.

Blogging kills writing.

But someone has to start somewhere, and blog is the most convenient breathing space. But one has to realize where the other hand would take. Blog might take you somewhere now, but one day it will turn its back.

The life cycle is just too comforting that you would not know when will it smite.

Have you heard of Twitter? It is a micro-blogging scheme.

It kills blogging and it goes without saying.

So where am I going from here?

I don't know, for I am just another mediocre blogger.

Art is never about the turnout, the crowd. No matter how celebrated an artist is, no one can guarantee he could belch another masterpiece the next time.

That is why looking at how well the blog is received is never a celebration for me. I have miles ahead of me before anyone can call me a writer.

But thanks anyway, I am sure flattered.

I think too much (or too little). Okay I'll go masturbate now to balance it out.

So much for the thought of quitting blogging and write seriously.

How I Spend My Boxing Day

2009-12-26T08:10:00.004+08:00

Out for drink with great friends, and remember the day the most important person in my life came to this world.

Happy Doplo Nang Disember.

Au Revoir

2009-12-23T14:46:00.003+08:00

Thanks for everything. Take care of yourself. I'll come and see you again one day. Bye now, I have a flight to catch.