Same School, Two Generations -- STAR (2), JB

My late parents were meticulous document keepers. They never threw important papers away. Birth certificates, vaccination cards, letters, forms -- everything carefully folded into old envelopes and tucked safely into files.

Today, those files feel less like paperwork and more like a time capsule.

Inside are both of their original birth certificates from 1940, my father’s vaccination certificate from the same era, and my mother’s conversion certificate -- fragile, yellowed, edges soft with age. Whenever I share them online, people are always surprised that documents this old still exist. But to me, they’re more than records. They’re proof of lives lived long before I came along.

And then there’s this one -- my father’s School Leaving Certificate from 1955.

Typed out on a typewriter. Slightly crooked lines. Faded ink. The paper creased from being folded and refolded for decades. His name, Abdul Jalil b. Suleiman, neatly stamped into history. Attendance: 190 out of 193 days. Games: Football and Basketball. Conduct: Good. And a remark from the headmaster that stopped me in my tracks: “Reliable, honest boy, will do well in life.”

Reading that, I don’t just see my father. I see a skinny 15-year-old schoolboy in shorts and canvas shoes, probably running across the padang with his friends, not knowing what the future would hold. Not knowing he would one day become my dad.

He left Temenggong Abdul Rahman School in 1955. Twenty-three years later, I walked through the very same gates as a Darjah 1 student. Same school. Same grounds. Two generations, connected by one old piece of paper.

Funny how something so simple can carry so much love.

Peninsula: A Story That Hurts

 

I finally finished reading Peninsula by Rehman Rashid recently, and by sheer coincidence, a rather melancholic music score was playing in the background just as I closed the book. I’m not going to lie -- it was an enjoyable, thought-provoking read that quietly tore at me.

But before that, what took me so long to finally read this 2016 sequel by one of Malaysia’s finest writers?

Years ago, I had read its “prequel”, the magnum opus A Malaysian Journey, not long after it was published, and I was completely blown away by the vividness of his storytelling. Then, a couple of years ago, as part of my personal quest to revisit Malaysian books from years past, I hunted high and low for A Malaysian Journey, finally managed to secure a copy online, and read it again. Once more, I was floored.

Naturally, the next step was to read Peninsula. But being out of print for so long, it proved elusive — even in second-hand online markets. I finally stumbled upon a copy at Pustaka Raja Tun Uda in Shah Alam, quickly borrowed it, and read it slowly from cover to cover, savouring every story, every flourish of language, every emotion he managed to evoke.

For those unfamiliar, Peninsula: A Story of Malaysia is Rehman's deeply personal and political memoir about returning home and trying to make sense of the country he loved. Blending autobiography with history, he retraces his childhood, his career in journalism, and his marriage, while reflecting on pivotal national moments -- Independence, May 13, the New Economic Policy, and the rise of racial and religious politics. Through his eyes, Malaysia’s early promise gradually gives way to bureaucracy, cronyism, and widening divisions.

What eventually broke me was learning that he had written the book partly as a tribute to his ex-wife, Rosemarie. After her passing, Rehman shared a note on Facebook -- and the response, he said, was a strange mix of deep empathy and condemnation.

Curious, I went looking for that piece of writing. Here is part of it:

“Of course, I should have gone back to her as soon as the book was published. But then it took off so successfully, and she and I both knew me well enough to know that, wherever else we were in the world, I would only feel all the more that I belonged in Malaysia and nowhere else. So I feel now that our separation would have been inevitable, if for reasons very different from those for which marriages ordinarily end. And so Rosemarie went on, up & out into the world, while I…

…I, the biggest, saddest fool, gave up my angel for this country. Which is as much to say, for this hatred and contempt; this mediocrity and ignorance; this incompetence, cynicism and corruption. This religious arrogance and racial chauvinism; this vile mediaevalist barbarism.

I paid for my loyalty to Malaysia with everything good and decent that I had, only to be mocked and despised; to watch my profession usurped by “the right kind of Malay” regardless of literacy; to have my name smeared and reputation destroyed; and in the end to be hounded back to the very redoubt in the hills where I had written that book 23 years ago now, never again to write. Rosemarie never saw this place where I may now languish forgotten and ignored for the rest of my own days, and now she never will. I chose my love for my country over my love for her. Bad choice. Big mistake. My punishment has been a life of regret and insuperable loneliness.”

Rehman himself passed away just a year after Peninsula was published.

So if you haven’t yet, do read Peninsula.

Heartbreaking soundtrack optional.

The Demolition of The Puteri Pacific, JB -- It's Finally Happening

Pic from FB

 

I didn’t expect it to feel like a stab in the heart -- but it did. Seeing the news of a Johor Bahru institution, The Puteri Pacific Hotel, being demolished made me pause and stare into space for a while. This wasn’t just any hotel. A four-star property with over 500 rooms, connected to the Persada Johor International Convention Centre and standing proudly on Jalan Abdullah Ibrahim, it was part of the city’s skyline and soul for decades.

Yes, I know the hotel had ceased operations some five years ago during the pandemic. That part was already a quiet goodbye. But watching it being physically dismantled hit very differently. The Puteri Pacific began life as the Pan Pacific in 1991, and back then it was one of those landmarks we were genuinely proud of -- a sign that JB was going places, standing tall and confident just across the Causeway.

After both my parents passed on, the hotel became my “home” each time I balik kampung to JB. The moment you stepped into the lobby, that unmistakable Johor hospitality wrapped itself around you. People were always warm and welcoming, whether you turned up in a suit or in a simple T-shirt and jeans. From the room window, you could take in that familiar view of JB with Singapore in the distance -- steady, reassuring, quietly comforting. 

And of course, everything was within walking distance: KOMTAR, Kotaraya, Salahuddin Bakery, Hua Mui. So thank you, Puteri Pacific, for the memories. You were never just a hotel.

New Kubah For Masjid Kg Melayu, JB After 55 Years!

I was scrolling through social media the other day when a video popped up and instantly put a big smile on my face.

The mosque of my childhood — Masjid Kampung Melayu in Johor Bahru — is finally getting a new kubah after 55 years. Alhamdulillah, such wonderful news!

For those who may not know, I was born in my late grandmother’s house in Kampung Melayu, though we moved away just before I started school. Still, this masjid played a huge part in my early years. I used to perform Solat Jumaat and Solat Hari Raya here, especially during school holidays, and the memories remain vivid.

I even managed to dig up an old photo of the masjid taken from our family home at Jalan Merdeka — and that really added to the wave of nostalgia. 

Over the past few days, I’ve been grinning from ear to ear watching videos of the new dome being installed, step by step, posted by the same account.

Can’t wait to drop by and see it in person the next time I’m back in JB, Insya-Allah.

Watch the video here:

Why Don't I Remember This Stuff?

Just for fun, I spent the past weekend hunting down old Malaysia Hari Ini videos that I once co-hosted and compiling them into a playlist. I must have hosted a couple of hundred episodes of Malaysia’s No. 1 morning show, but the funny thing is -- I don’t actually have any proper archive of them. No hard drive. No personal collection. Nothing “for kenangan sake”.

It was a different time back in the 2010s. Not everything was easily recordable, and although Media Prima had an internal system where we could watch all programmes on demand, I never made it a habit to save even the “big” episodes. And tonton -- the portal I co-launched -- didn’t keep full episodes of MHI back then either.

So here I am today, scrolling through videos uploaded by random people on YouTube. Nostalgic? Definitely. Fun? Absolutely. But also a bit shocking because the videos made me go, “Eh, I interviewed THAT person?” or “I actually did THAT on the show??”

I’ve always credited myself with having a pretty good memory. While I may not be able to list every single person I interviewed throughout my media career (and trust me, it was A LOT), I usually remember the moment when I come across an article or video. But I guess age is catching up (haha), because quite a few memories have slipped through the cracks.

Case in point: I have absolutely no recollection of interviewing our current Deputy Prime Minister II, YAB Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof, back when he was a deputy minister.

I mean, I clearly remember interviewing most of the politicians who came on MHI -- including the other DPM, Zahid Hamidi, as well as KJ, Ahmad Maslan, Mukhriz Mahathir etc -- but this particular interview? Zero memory.

But that’s the beauty of being on MHI. We got to meet and talk to people from all walks of life: politicians, celebrities, trend-setters, business icons, cute kids with big stories, and ordinary Malaysians with extraordinary experiences. It kept us on our toes -- we had to stay updated, stay sharp, and constantly refine our interviewing game because every day brought someone new.

So go ahead and check out some of these interesting interviews that I can hardly remember doing! There are dancers, martial artists, lawyers, bands -- the works!

Why Dave Barry Will Always Be My Writing Hero

Every writer has that one person they look up to -- the voice that made them go, “Yes. This. This is how I want to write.” For me, that person is Miami Herald humour columnist and author, Dave Barry.

Not Stephen King. Not Murakami. Not some tortured soul in a Parisian café. Nope -- my hero is the guy who once wrote a serious column about exploding toilets and still walked away with a Pulitzer (no, really!).

If you’ve ever read anything I’ve written (especially from those FHM years) and thought, “This sounds unhinged but oddly relatable” -- that’s Barry’s influence shining through. I copy his style shamelessly because nobody does it better when it comes to turning mundane, everyday events into something absurd, hilarious, and weirdly profound.

But growing up and living in Malaysia, tracking down his books has always been a challenge. As far as I know, only Kinokuniya at KLCC reliably stocks his work. The rest? I had to hunt down online, one shipping fee at a time. And let me tell you -- it was worth every sen.

Dave’s genius lies in making the ridiculous feel completely logical. He exaggerates things to the point of insanity, but somehow it all makes sense. He'll start by talking about Valentine's Day and end up in a rant about guys buying Star Wars Lego instead of gifts -- and you’ll be laughing the whole way through.

That’s the kind of writing I try to emulate:

✔️ Wild comparisons that don’t belong in polite society

✔️ Men being clueless and proud of it

✔️ Situations spiralling out of control, usually involving trolleys or bodily harm

✔️ And a constant sense that the world is way too weird to take seriously

If you’ve never read him before, start with these five. Trust me, they’re worth every ringgit (and international shipping fee):

And here are five of my absolute favourites from the Dave Barry universe:

I’ll Mature When I’m Dead

Dave Barry’s Complete Guide to Guys – A Fairly Short Book

Dave Barry Turns 40

Dave Barry in Cyberspace

Dave Barry is NOT Making This Up

Whether you're Gen X, Gen Z, or Gen “Still Thinks Email is Cool,” you’ll find yourself laughing -- and learning -- from one of the funniest writers to ever pick up a keyboard.

Mo Salah And The 10,000-Hour Rule

 

Why is it that some people still don’t give Liverpool living legend Mo Salah the respect he deserves? 

Maybe it’s because he makes football look too easy.

Last season alone, he recorded over 50 goal involvements – an extraordinary feat – yet there are still corners of the football world that scoff. Why? Because Salah makes it look effortless. But what looks effortless on the pitch is really the product of years of extraordinary effort, sacrifice, and relentless repetition.

Malcolm Gladwell’s famous 10,000-hour rule suggests that true mastery of a skill takes that much dedicated practice. Salah has gone far beyond that. His dazzling runs, his clinical finishing, his ability to torment defenders – they didn’t happen overnight. They were sharpened through countless hours on training grounds, through discipline, and through the mindset of an elite professional who refuses to be satisfied.

People take his numbers for granted now, as though a goal or assist every other game is "normal." It isn’t. Not by a long shot. Salah is 4th on the all-time Premier League goalscoring list, sitting among legends of the game. His record-breaking feats could fill a book, and yet he remains humble, grounded, and committed to his family and his craft.

And just last night, he made history yet again – winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award for the third time. Nobody had ever done that before. Not Henry, not Ronaldo, not even De Bruyne. Salah did it.

Mo Salah is not just a Liverpool icon, not just an Egyptian King – he is a footballing great of this era. The numbers don’t lie. The consistency doesn’t lie. The respect of his peers doesn’t lie.

Mabruk, Mohamed Salah! 

* Pics by PFA

Turning Doubters Into Believers: What Klopp Really Did for Liverpool

Some time ago, I read two books back to back -- An Epic Swindle (The Near Death of Liverpool FC) by Brian Reade, and Believe Us by Melissa Reddy. One chronicles a club on the brink of financial and moral collapse, the other celebrates its astonishing rebirth under one man. Reading them in succession was like watching a gripping two-part documentary: the fall… and then the rise.

And what a rise it was.

By the time I closed the second book, my respect for Jürgen Klopp had evolved into full‑blown awe. It became crystal clear that he wasn't just a successful manager, he was a miracle worker. To take a club still reeling from years of boardroom chaos, fan frustration, and false dawns… and turn it into a European and Premier League‑winning machine? That’s not just football. That’s alchemy.

Honestly, the real miracle might be that it only took him a few years to win the Champions League, and then -- finally -- the Premier League title that had eluded Liverpool for three painful decades.

The Cowboys and the Chaos

To truly appreciate what Klopp inherited -- and rebuilt -- we must revisit the darkest chapter of modern Liverpool: the Hicks and Gillett years. This era brought broken promises, legal battles, crippling debt, and an atmosphere so toxic it choked the last breath out of hope.

Though Liverpool still had stars -- Gerrard, Torres, Alonso, Mascherano -- belief was gone. Matches unfolded in a haze of exhaustion; the supporters, weary and fractured. The club’s identity, once a source of immense pride, had been eroded.

A Steady Hand: FSG and Klopp’s Arrival

In 2010, Fenway Sports Group took over and brought stability. Five years later, in October 2015, Jürgen Klopp arrived with a simple but seismic message:

“We have to turn doubters into believers.”

No flamboyant pledges. No heroics. Just a mission.

He reintroduced belief, unity, passion and identity. Players ran harder, staff stood taller, and Anfield roared again. Slowly, something beautiful took shape.

From Belief to Glory: The Road to Triumph

Liverpool reached the 2018 Champions League final, only to fall heartbreakingly short. Klopp’s response? Regroup. Return stronger.

2019 in Madrid: Salah and Origi scored as Liverpool claimed their 6th European crown. A healing moment for fans everywhere.

A personal highlight? Being there, in Liverpool, for the trophy parade. With my family amidst a sea of red, I watched the players pass by, glory in their hands. It was joy and disbelief, combined.

Then in 2020, they finally won the Premier League, a title 30 years in waiting. I cried. Real tears. Release of decades of longing. The wait was over.

Witnessing the Klopp Era Firsthand

As detailed in my getaran.my column Kisah Anak Gen‑X: Selamat Tinggal, Jurgen Klopp! -- I grew up in Liverpool’s golden age. The drought felt endless, déjà vu after near misses cut deeper each time. But Klopp changed the script.

In 2017, I visited Anfield, sat on Klopp’s seat during the Stadium Tour, and imagined the roar of 60,000 fans on a European night.

 

By June 2019, I stood among 750,000 Scousers, celebrating our heroes returning from Madrid. Hours-long waits turned timeless memories. Football felt transcendent again.

I wrote then:

“Licik, pantas, agresif -- Liverpool milik Klopp bermain setiap nota ‘heavy metal football’ dengan semangat buas.”

His trademark Klopp hugs weren’t just gestures, they were how he wove together a fractured club .

A Legacy Beyond Trophies

Klopp’s departure in 2024 marked the end of an era -- he did it on his terms, walking away with respect, gratitude and seven major trophies. His impact, by the numbers -- win rate, memorable matches, and youth development -- is one for the record books.

But more than stats, his legacy lives in what he restored: belief, pride, emotion, unity. He reminded Kopites -- young and old -- what they were. What they always could be.

Only now, with books read and experiences reflected on, do I fully realise: Klopp didn’t just win football matches. He resurrected a club’s soul. And as he so beautifully promised: he turned doubters into believers.

The Great OceanGate Tragedy

The documentary on this great OceanGate tragedy is currently showing on Netflix...

Dalam kitab al-Majallis as-Saniyyah karya Syekh Ahmad bin Syekh Hijazi Al Fusyni ada menceritakan, pada suatu hari, malaikat maut Izra’il AS datang menghadap Nabi Sulaiman AS. Tiba-tiba Izra’il AS memandang tajam ke arah seorang lelaki yang sedang duduk bersama tetamu Nabi Sulaiman AS. Tidak lama kemudian malaikat Izra’il AS berlalu pergi.

Lelaki itu bertanya, “Wahai Nabi Allah! Siapakan orang itu?” “Dia adalah malaikat maut,” jawab Nabi Sulaiman AS. Lelaki itu berkata, “Wahai Nabi Allah, tadi aku melihat dia selalu memandangku dengan tajam dan aku menjadi sangat takut. Mungkin dia ingin mencabut nyawaku. Selamatkan aku daripada dia.”

“Bagaimana caranya aku boleh menyelamatkanmu?” tanya Nabi Sulaiman AS. “Arahkan angin untuk membawaku ke negeri India. Mungkin dengan begitu tidak akan dapat menjejakiku,” jawab lelaki itu.

Nabi Sulaiman kemudiannya memerintahkan angin untuk menghantar lelaki itu ke India dalam sekelip mata. Sesampainya di India, Izra’il AS terus mencabut nyawa laki-laki itu, dan setelah selesai, Izra’il AS kembali menghadap Nabi Sulaiman AS.

Nabi Sulaiman AS kemudiannya bertanyakan Izra’il, “Kenapa kau merenung lelaki itu?” Izra’il AS menjawab, “Aku merasa sangat hairan. Aku diperintahkan untuk mencabut nyawanya di India. Namun mengapa dia berada sangat jauh dari negeri itu. Tiba-tiba ada angin yang membawanya sampai ke India. Lalu aku mencabut nyawanya sesuai dengan apa yang telah ditakdirkan oleh Allah SWT.

Sesungguhnya, setiap yang bernyawa pasti akan mati. Setiap manusia tidak akan mungkin lari dari takdir kematian.

Teluk Rubiah, The Chief Justice & The Chauffeur (Me)

Gambar Hiasan

This story popped up in my head sometime ago. Here goes... 

It was the judges conference in Lumut, in 1999 I think. I was then the special officer to the chief registrar, Datuk Ramly Ali. So one evening during some downtime, we were told that the Chief Justice then, Tun Eusoff Chin wanted to go to this place he's heard of. I think it was the Teluk Rubiah Resort. 

He was asking around but no one knew where it was. But we met at the car park and Datuk Ramly said, "Zul, you drive". Alamak. This was pre GPS days lah. 

I got in and started driving his Perdana, and the Chief Justice's car and a couple of other judges were following us. Funnily, I don't know why there were no police escorts then. Terketar kaki. 

I just drove and followed the sign boards. Siap masuk like kawasan hutan, and all the while I was thinking, manalah aku bawak Ketua Hakim Negara ni. 

But somehow we found the place. My boss just laughed. 

But I really thought my head was on the chopping block, or paling kurang kena transfer to somewhere like Kuala Krai or something. Haha. 

Why I'm Not A Computer Wizard

 

When I was growing up, there was a time when I wanted to become a computer whiz sort of person. And of course (much like everything else that happened during my childhood), I was influenced by popular culture. First, it was the TV show "Automan", then there was the movie "War Games".

But then it became apparent to me that to become a computer whiz, I'd need to be good in maths and science and stuff. But I wasn't. I just wanted to play Star Wars and Matchbox cars, and read comics. Then I started writing stories and reading books.

The "dream" came back briefly when my late father bought for me a ZX Spectrum 48k (above) when I was 15. I HAD AN ACTUAL COMPUTER!

I tried doing some "programming", but I ended up playing "Football Manager" (below) and "Gremlins". So I never became a computer whiz. 

Instead, I fell in love with Law and content creation. So I worked in both fields for much of my life.

Years later when I joined media prima, I was lucky enough to be part of the new media pioneering team. I still can't program nuts, but I know what kind of content to put online. So I worked with nerds to create and launch stuff online. 

So really, do what you love. And there'll always be nerds to help you out with stuff you don't know about...

If The Suit Fits!

So, I only realised recently that I've been wearing suits all of my life. Haha. And guess what? I actually have all the pictures to prove it. 

It started in school when being a prefect meant I looked a bit more dashing than my normal classmates, having to wear a blazer on most days. 

I then joined the judiciary a few months after graduation at that meant wearing a black suit every work day for most of my 20s.

Joined the media industry in my 30s, and while it was mostly casual every day of the week, I did have to slap on the blazer for board meetings and fancy dos. 

But of course at the late age of 39, I landed a talkshow gig with 'Malaysia Hari Ini' on TV3 and so I had to look suitably sharp for the cameras. 

Then in my mid 40s, I found myself working in the education industry for a couple of years, so there were no T-shirt and jeans days!

The same during my time at iclif. 

And finally now, I only have to crank out the suit and tie for photoshoots at work, but they also come in handy on winter holidays : )

8 March 2008 -- When The Unthinkable Happened

Today is the 8th of March. 17 years ago, the 12th General Elections took place and the results were shocking, to say the least. Mighty BN lost 5 states and the much-cherished 2/3s majority in Parliament. 

Coincidentally, I'm currently finishing up on Karim Raslan's 'Ceritalah 3'( I know, finally!), a collection of his columns and essays written between 2002 to 2008. What's interesting to me was how Karim, an astute political observer and commentator, absolutely did not see what transpired coming. He was confident of another landslide for Pak Lah and co. 

After all, just 4 years before, BN won a whopping 198 seats. How did someone so popular lost so much support in such a short period of time? (Well, I know exactly who was partly responsible but the theory is not exactly Ramadan-friendly, haha.) 

It's also interesting to note Karim's tone in "The Aftermath" section of his book. Suddenly he acknowledged that BN actually had it coming. But my absolute favourite was this rant on the state of mainstream media: "It should be clear by now that the political control of the media is paradoxical and self-defeating. The BN has to free the MSM from their bondage and allow the journalists and editors to report what they have long known but cannot say -- all the more so since the public will looking for objective, unbiased reporting and analysis of the opposition's record in the states they now hold.

"The 'spin' that has characterised the Malaysian media for the past decades must end. In short, nothing works like the unvarnished truth..." But we all know what happened 10 years later...

The Pandemic Diaries (2020-2022)

All decked out for a Supermarket Sweep

It's been 5 years since the pandemic arrived without warning and changed our lives forever... 

(The following are collected from my status updates across FB, IG and Twitter)

29 Feb 2020

Mendoakan isteri dan semua jemaah Umrah yg lain selamat pulang ke tanahair esok. Insya Allah.

1 Mar 2020

Alhamdulillah, my wife along with other Jemaah are already onboard the flight for home. Relief.

16 Mar

Everyone in the lift had beras, minyak masak and bread. I bought Toblerone.

16 Mar

Some already decided they wanted to use the word "lockdown". First tweet straight away dive in. Then apologise at the end it's not a lockdown. Pah.

17 Mar

Thinking about those who work in Singapore and won't be allowed to leave the country during this period. Hope their employers will understand and there will be no job losses.

17 Mar

673 cases. 2 deaths today. Condolences to the families. Stay safe, everyone.

23 Mar

You get RM500! You get RM500! You get RM500! -- of your own money...

25 Mar

Will trade PS3 games for Gardenia bread. PM.

29 Mar

Roadblock on the LDP before Sunway toll, pergi balik.

31 Mar

Even if there were Ramadan Bazaars this year, it is highly unlikely I will be going. Will try and support the sellers through other means, but won't be risking anything anytime soon 😔

1 April 2020

It was LITERALLY like Supermarket Sweep! Only 30mins per customer. I stuck to the list for about 5mins before I started grabbing whatever I could. By the 20th minute, they were already making an announcement for green tag holders to go to the cashier counter. I was racing shopping trolleys with aunties and braders in tracksuits. A good workout AND I also got Gardenia bread. I need to lie down now.

3 April

Running up and down your condo stairs. Is this breaking MCO? My convo with an editor. And by "an editor", I mean Graig Martyn Nunis 😁

8 April

Gonna go for another round of Supermarket Sweep this morning 😬😬

10 April

Tia will be attending a zoom birthday party for her friend. No need to bring present or cake. Money saved! Haha. And wifey just planted bawang. More money saved. #alhamdulillah #newnormal

26 April

Of course our children's education is a major worry. Tia will be sitting for her IGCSE this year and you can imagine the chaos for students and teachers now. The May/June papers have been cancelled by Cambridge International and students will be awarded a predicted grade by the school. Fair or not? Well, thats the new norm...

28 April

Gardenia AND Ramly burger patty. Alhamdulillah

2 May 2020

RM0. PKPB - Tindakan undang - undang akan diambil terhadap mereka yang ingkar PKP walaupun bermula 4 Mei hampir semua aktiviti perniagaan dibenarkan beroperasi.

3 May 

8 states say you can take the cmco and shove it up your backdoor. Chaotic.

4 May

Already got people jogging #cmco

6 May

CMCO Bulletin

So, went to IOI Mall earlier today:

- plenty more cars on the road. The roadblock in front of the BK5 LRT station is still happening though

- 80% of shops are open at IOI Mall

- temperature check and signing in happens at every store. This is properly done

- people wear masks with no exception

- social distancing is generally observed, but there were couples jalan peluk2 as well 😅

- aeon has plenty of fresh food!

- lagu Raya can already be heard

- Royal Canin for British Short Hair habis 😢 had to buy different brand for 🐈

- parking was free

OK, back to regular programming...

9 May

After 53 days, Tia is out of the house. FOR THE FIRST TIME.

16 May 

Wearing a mask means I don't have to put on my Marks and Spencer talcum powder on my face when going out 👍

18 May

So during C/MCO, I finished reading just 4 books, but over 300 hours (at least) of video and podcast lectures and classes. Alhamdulillah.

25 May

Raya Kedua. Pakai tshirt Star Wars

25 May

Ibadat jadi bahan lawak sebab gigih nak berkongsi di media sosial. Dijulang pulak sesetengah media yg anggap benda ni "kreatif". Tapi kalau niat nak buat Allah suka dengan memegang tukul Thor ketika berkhutbah, silakan. Kalau nak sukakan manusia, boleh check balik niat. "Kreatif" beribadat mcm ni pun merujuk kitab mana ya?

2 June 2020

"Boleh rentas negeri untuk bernikah"... just begs for a tele to be made 😂 

11 June

[TERKINI] Ibadat haji untuk semua rakyat Malaysia bagi Musim Haji 1441 Hijrah adalah ditangguhkan.

19 June

Alhamdulillah. After being closed for some 100 days, Masjid Al-Ehsan Bandar Kinrara is open again by Allah's permission on this beautiful Friday morning. Managed to sign in at no 30 out of 40. Syukur Alhamdulillah!

26 June

"buat makluman, kami beritahu awal2, siapa yg dah Solat Jumaat minggu lepas, minggu ni mmg tak dapat..." 😔😔

26 June

Liverpool are Premier League Championnsss!!!

Woooohooooooo #YNWA

1 July 2020

A new month and the world is recovering. Best time to do some self-auditing. What is different now compared to 3 months ago? Are we kinder? More empathetic? More thankful of what we have? Or it's Business As Usual as per the pre-covid days? We live in a world where we need to APPLY to perform some of our prayers and the mosques are still closed at certain times. Let's ponder over what that truly means.

If we have less of everything now, imagine those who didn't have anything to begin with. How are they coping? Or does it mean we just have to be more selfish since we're getting less of the world's abundance? Think about our lowest points during this period. What were we praying for? Protection from the disease and death? To go out to buy bread? To see our loved ones? To keep our jobs? And what are we praying for now? So much to think about. And thank Allah that He actually stopped everything to make us sit and ponder, before it's simply too late.

21 July

Sedih jugak dengar luahan Nazir masjid tadi sebelum Isyak tentang ketidakpatuhan kpd SOP oleh sesetengah pihak. Kesian pada ahli kariah yang hari-hari 100% patuh; pakai pelitup muka, bawa sejadah penuh dan ambil wudhu dari rumah/ofis. Especially hari ni ada pasar malam berhampiran, ada public yg datang panjat masuk ke tempat wudhu dan toilet yg telah ditutup. Sampai ada yang nak bertumbuk! Sebak Tn Haji bercerita sebab ni tanggungjawab dia. Minggu depan mungkin kena letak security/rela sebab risiko terlalu tinggi. It just takes one. Pls be reminded that kita belum menang!

31 July

Istilah rasmi telah ditukar ke "Penjarakan Fizikal" daripada "Penjarakan Sosial". Sosial dah keluar penjara 😊

19 September 2020

بسم الله 

First flight since Jan...

13 October 2020

Masjids and suraus - where SOPs are strictly adhered to by thousands of people every single day - are again closed for 2 weeks...

14 October

CMCO be like...

16 October 

Like someone said on twitter, CMCO stands for Cincai MCO! How many in a car lah? How many can eat out? What's the latest news? Thanks.

16 October

Alhamdulillah. Masjid di KL dibuka semula. 20 org utk solat fardhu. Boleh check dgn masjid ttg prosedur. (Selangor belum lg)

17 October

SOP dipatuhi. Hanya 20 org jemaah untuk setiap solat fardhu di waktu CMCO ini.

20 October

Tia is taking her IGCSE papers now. What a year for her. Preparing and sitting for the most important exam in her life so far in the most challenging of circumstances. Hoping for the best. Amin.

5 Dec 2020

Whatever MCO this is, at least can go Yik Mun for breakfast. HURRAH!

13 Jan 2021

Seems like everyone has a letter to go to work. Hmmm...

25 Jan

Hey look, it's THE MASKED SINGER! It's all happening this Friday. Stay tuned, folks! #rasakangetaran #Getaranmy #depanmata

29 Jan

Launch done! Thanks for all the kind wishes! Now, go and check out getaran.my 😄

9 Feb 2021

Can dine in at restaurants. 2 per table.

21 Feb 

Never thought I'd see the day when we're all waiting for the arrival of a vaccine...

2 Mar  2021

KL, Selangor back to CMCO from 5th March.

21 Mar 

The other day was I eating pucuk paku and thought, "Someday I will tell my grandkids that during the Emergency of 2021, I had to eat pucuk paku. At Dancing Fish. In Bangsar Shopping Centre. For RM15 per plate." Ok, scratch that story...

15 April 2021

KKM cadangkan rentas negeri untuk sambutan Hari Raya Aidilfitri ditangguh - Dr Adham

16 April

Tinjauan team foto Getaranmy ke Bazar Ramadan Kg. Baru semalam.

20 April 

As Salam dan selamat pagi kepada semua yg belum dapat satu pun dos vaksin dan tak boleh rentas negeri.

2 May 2021

MCO but everyone will have letters. That's my guess 😛

13 May

Another Raya at home but thankful to have each other always. Alhamdulillah...

16 May

Seriously, can you believe that while we're in a state of "emergency", and a deadly pandemic causing unprecedented hardship on the rakyat, this Prime Minister still DOES NOT answer questions from the media? 

17 May

Tindakan orang ramai sambut Hari Raya di pusat beli belah berpotensi cetus krisis jangkitan COVID-19 - Menteri Kesihatan

22 May

Operasi perniagaan di seluruh negara dihadkan dari 8 pagi sehingga 8 malam sahaja mulai 25 Mei - Ismail Sabri

Operasi kedai makan dari 8 pagi hingga 8 malam 

40 peratus sektor swasta akan bekerja dari rumah libatkan lebih enam juta pekerja

PKP: Penumpang pengangkutan awam dikurangkan 50 peratus mulai 25 Mei

23 May

Makin berat ujian. Bermula esok, masjid hanya dibuka utk anak kariah #muhasabah

26 May

Click banyak kali sampai dapat is not "technology" 🤪 Punyalah susah nak dapatkan enjeksyen.

27 May

Khairy mohon maaf kepada individu yang mengalami masalah ketika membuat pendaftaran vaksin AstraZeneca semalam.

28 May

Kerajaan putus penutupan penuh sektor sosial dan ekonomi (total lockdown) fasa pertama di seluruh negara bagi tempoh 14 hari bermula 1 Jun 2021 - PMO

2 June 2021

COVID: 126 kes kematian baharu, tertinggi dilaporkan sejak negara dilanda pandemik ini - KP Kesihatan

3 June

Polis terima semua surat pergerakan rentas daerah, baik dari MITI, kementerian lain atau mana-mana jabatan kerajaan.

6 June 

Sejak covid, dah mcm2 sop solat berjemaah kita dah harungi.

Lepas masjid semua tutup lebih kurang 100 hari, Alhamdulillah dibuka semula utk 40 org jemaah (Selangor), solat jumaat pun sama 40, first come first served.

Kemudian kena apply utk solat Jumaat. Kemudian kena apply melalui app. Di KL dibuka utk 130 org, first come, first served. Ramai yg beratur awal, pulang kecewa.

Kemudian jadi 1/3 ruang masjid. Kemudian 50 peratus.

Oh, penjarakan 1m masa tu.

Kemudian pernah Selangor buka, KL tutup. Ada masa, KL buka, Selangor tutup. Kita kena keep track. Itu pun yg mana boleh pergi dua2, kalau tak, boleh dicaj rentas daerah.

Kemudian bila kes naik, tutup semua (kecuali imam, bilal, noja).

Bila bukak balik, utk 50 org, cukup je, pintu kunci. Penjarakan jadi 1.5m.

Di Selangor, utk anak kariah saja.

Baru-baru ni, di KL pun solat fardhu utk anak kariah saja, Jumaat 50 org first come, first served. Sekarang jadi solat fardhu dan Jumaat utk AJK saja. Yg lain solat di rumah.

Di Selangor, hanya 6 org utk solat Jumaat, 5 org utk solat fardhu.

I don't have to make any conclusions. Kita sendiri fikirkan kenapa kita diuji sebegini.

13 June

Seeing friends' parents getting vaccine shots just reminds me that I no longer have parents... 😟

16 June

Smlm ada geng ajak tapau Sithique outlet baharu, tapi timing tak kena. Lagipun hati ni belum dapat lepaskan Sitihque lama, jadi ke sanalah saya serbu. Ayam goreng, sotong, kuah campur macam biasa. Surrr tetap surrr. Alhamdulillah.

25 June

Kemarahan rakyat kian memuncak. Dari #KerajaanGagal dah jadi #KerajaanBangsat sekarang ni...

27 June

#TERKINI - PKP tidak tamat esok, fasa pertama terus sehingga nilai ambang kurang 4,000 kes - PM

9 July 2021

#TERKINI - COVID: Kes baharu 9,180 hari ini, tertinggi sejak pandemik melanda negara - KP Kesihatan

17 July

Alhamdulillah! Finally vaccinated. A big thanks to everyone who made it a smooth experience!

22 July

(Good news for a change!)

Pasangan jarak jauh lengkap dua dos vaksin COVID-19 mungkin dibenarkan merentas negeri bertemu keluarga - TPM

11 September 2021

Boleh rentas daerah! And our first destination... Bangi 😄😄 Tapau nasi manggey.

18 September 

Dose no 2!

13 November 2021

In Malaysia, since the COVID-19 pandemic began:

29,500 people lost their lives to the virus

800,000 people lost their jobs (up till 2020 only)

77,000 couples got divorced

Over 1,000 people have taken their own lives (for each life lost, 135 people are directly affected)

224,000 calls have been made to helplines requesting for psychosocial and emotional support

30,000 businesses have closed down (up till 2020 only)

20 December 2021

Tinjauan team visual Getaran dan Petra News ke Taman Sri Muda. 😢😢

29 January 2022

Getaran Dah Setahun! Congrats to the awesome team for all that we've achieved these past 365 days! Alhamdulillah. Bukan senang dengan mcm2 external and internal challenges. Gonna miss everyone. 😔 But I know that with this bunch of talented people, Getaran will only soar to greater heights. Congrats again! #Getaran1Tahun

3 February 2022

An empty causeway...

1 April 2022

Alhamdulillah...

SOP Fasa Endemik:

1- Sila scan MySejahtera  seperti biasa.

2- Sentiasa memakai pelitup muka. 

3- Tiada had umur kepada yang ingin hadir ke masjid. 

4- Digalakkan membawa sejadah sendiri bersaiz standard.

5- Tiada penjarakan sewaktu solat berjemaah (rapat sejadah dengan sejadah).

6- Sentiasa mengamalkan penjarakan fizikal sewaktu selain solat berjemaah.