That Would be NO, NO, NO!

The Redevelopment Plan

At the request of my wise mother, I've decided to put my two cents worth on an issue that is very close to our hearts.

The distressful news appeared on Monday's Street section of NST (one of Malaysian dailies - New Straits Times) highlighting the plans to overhaul the Kampung Baru area into 'a potpourri of residential and city centre commercial area.'

The major revamp on Kampung Baru comes at the heel of the Draft Kuala Lumpur 2020 City Plan which was unveiled last Thursday.

Having called Kampung Baru my Kampung (or village) since I was a wee toddler, I'm vehemently opposed to this purported redevelopment project. It is a travesty to the long line of Malay generations that have established their roots here.

I take umbrage at the insinuation that Kampung Baru is hindering development and progress by refusing to pander to the greedy exploits of businessmen and politicians alike.

Naturally this issue all boils down to dollars and cents. Or in our case, Ringgits and sens.

With an estimated market value of up to US$1.4billion for a 250-acre of land, I bet every conceivable person wants a piece of the action. To me, Kampung Baru is liken to a diamond in the rough in dire need of some honing and polishing by prospective suitors. Unless she is protected and well-informed, this 'fair maiden' might fall into the wrong hands where her reputation (and to a degree, her identity) will forever be tarnished.

What is Kampung Baru without some wooden houses? Do we really need another concrete jungle in the middle of KL? I'd understand if the City Hall wants to raze the squatter houses that have turned up illegally in some parts of KL, but demolishing a piece of our cultural heritage, legal tracts of land owned by fellow Malaysians is simply a cruel, underhanded tactic to cash in some easy money.

In my sincerest opinion, KL would be just like another city if it were not for Kampung Baru. Kampung Baru is famous for its perennial culinary offerings that are sold below the prices of that available in the food courts of shopping malls. And what is Kampung Baru without its annual, boisterous Ramadan Bazaar that never disappoint?

Kampung Baru has also witnessed many a number of watershed moments in Malaysian history such as the formation of UMNO at its equally historical Sultan Sulaiman Club followed by several AGM meetings and of course, the bloody May 13th 1969 incident.

Sultan Sulaiman Club

While it looks noble on the outset, the City Hall's plan to 'form a centre for collection, distribution, marketing and showcasing of the cultural, arts and artifacts' in the area appears to be at best disingenuous and at worst, feels like an afterthought.

We already have Karyaneka and a slew of other cultural and craft centers that would be able to satisfy the curiosity of both foreign and local tourists. These centers, which focus on demonstrating artistic and cultural endeavours, lack the real-life appeal that comes with experiencing another person's culture. Instead, tourists could just walk into (or take the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) to) Kampung Baru and soak in the sight, smell and action that define our old Malay Reserve settlement.

I hope and pray the powers-that-be won't mete out the same fate on Kampung Baru as that which befell the beautiful, colonial-style building that housed the oldest school in KL, Bukit Bintang Girls School (BBGS). In its place is predictably a 'commercial centre' - an ultra-modern yet soulless shopping complex called Pavilion, whose only tribute to BBGS is a minuscule floor space exhibiting photographs of the school and its occupants throughout the decades.

I don't want the pictures of my grandparents to end up on any tribute wall for the wrong, commercially-driven reasons.

To safeguard the interests of these Malay settlers, I implore City Hall to scrap the redevelopment plan and instead use its resources - financial, manpower, and so forth - to improve these people's lives by fortifying the drainage system in response to flooding, fixing the roads to avoid traffic jams and solving the problem of automobile overcrowding by building a multi-tiered parking area. The latter would be strictly for visitors' use and residents having more than one car per household. Hefty fines would be imposed on those who fail to comply with this rule.

In Delft, for instance, parking by the side of the canals is mostly reserved for residents of that particular canal-facing buildings. Out-of-towners who park without a proper 'Resident Sticker' will be fined a heavy fee. There are some parking spaces for visitors - indoors and streetside - but they are limited and a bit on the expensive side. This in turn encourages people to take the efficient public transport like trams and trains.

Short of saying that KL is light-years behind The Netherlands, it has yet to boast an efficient and highly-respectable transportation system but in time we will get there. While I don't have the faintest idea when that time will be, the meddling and squabbling of petty, selfish politicians as well as slow funneling of funds should account for most of the time lost in revitalising Kampung Baru's infrastructure.

Redeveloping Kampung Baru into a 'main residential centre' (read: condos galore) and a 'city centre commercial centre' (read: charging food at premium prices) provides an easy route for City Hall to embark on and profit from, as opposed to bettering the current infrastructure that would enrich the lives of so-called 'village' folks.

Foreigners and out-of-towners visiting Kampung Baru will attest to Kampung Baru's uniqueness as a vibrant and lively Kampong in the middle of the city. If Kampung Baru were to be obliterated from KL's map, KL in my opinion would be like any other cities in the world. Advanced by all means yet lack of originality. How sad is that?

Why oh why do we need to lose yet another part of our heritage in the name of progress? The government must gazette Kampung Baru as a Heritage Site and protect it at all cause. Heck, it can even pass a law to shoo away and punish greedy developers and ruthless capitalists.

Beyond any doubt, the real value of Kampung Baru is truly inestimable.


p.s. As written in the NST article, 'City Hall has urged KLites to give their views on the draft plan and voice their objections, if any, before June 30.' Together, let's record our objections to City Hall on the Kampung Baru project. Believe me, it would do us 'city' folks a lot of good. However, since the term KLites is pretty vague, we must first inquire as to the definition of the term KLites. Is it just for those born in KL or is it inclusive of those residing in KL for XX number of years? While we're at it, can City Hall look into providing KLites with more green lung areas?

An aside: Intelligence

I'm forever fascinated by the array of adjectives that mothers employ to reinforce certain intelligent behaviour by their kids.

For instance, I invariably use Pandaiiii* as a form of reward for Sadia's smartness. Sometimes, I interchange it with "Good girl" for other types of behaviour that don't cause me a headache and make me run amok.

Other variations to this word that I've come across being used are Pandainyeeeee* and Clever.

But the most interesting, not to mention long, sentence that I've heard is "That's it, XXX. Mommy is so proud of you. You can do it," uttered by a local TV personality that I had the pleasure of meeting in Bangsar's Kizsport and Gym. And she said these every single time her boy did something physically remarkable.

*It is one of the Malay adjectives for Intelligent.

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Since we're on the topic of intelligence, I have a story to share that is both bizarre and stupid at the same time. At least, in my estimation it is. Of course, there are other adjectives that I could offer for good measure, but you get the drift once you read this story.

Last Monday, my husband was in one of his office lifts going out to lunch. As wont during this hour the lift was almost full of people and he had the misfortune of being in the same one with this lady whom we shall refer to in this anecdote as M.

In the said lift, M who naturally craves attention started making conversation in that high-pitched voice of hers with my husband. This took place while others stayed quiet and proper until the lift was to arrive on the ground floor.

The conversation veered towards me for some reason. She was asking if I had already started working to which hubby answered in the negative.

And then she made the most uncalled of remarks, "I don't think I can do that (not working and staying at home)...I need to think, man" and trailed off to say "I read Wall Street Journal" at which point she promptly opened her oversized bag and practically shoved the pile of said broadsheet onto my husband's face.

Hubby was taken aback by such an inane comment and odd gesture and replied "It doesn't mean when you stay at home you don't think....she (meaning moi) has other outlets....she writes, for example."

"What does she write about?" she asked curiously.

"Anything...she does research on them."

Finally, in an impudent and mocking manner, she shot back "Does it get published?"

Wanting to put her in her place, hubby lied and said Yes. That shut her trap up.

Knowing that she was now out of tricks, M tried to change the subject "So where are you off for lunch?"

As timing is everything, hubby sardonically said "Obviously not with you" as soon as the elevator's door opened and walked away from the ugly scene.

I was in disbelief when hubby phoned me shortly after his weird encounter with M. The nerve of that woman. I know she had received a Professional Qualification in Finance a couple of years back, but that does not automatically translate into a freewheeling license to be high and mighty about other people.

She has always been annoying with all those blunt remarks about matters of no consequence. Two years back she opined that staying at home all the time would make it harder to lose all those pregnancy weight. This was after I told her that I'd quit my job to follow my hubby for studies. I think her logic is flawed since there are other avenues to lose weight for SAHMs like the ubiquitous 'reputable' slimming centres that are all the rage in Malaysia. (Not that I'm its patron :) )

She was just saying that to get a reaction out of me. It's her classic, biatch M.O., I think.

Like the time she was in the hotel lift (again) with my husband and said "How come you didn't say anything?" referring to the course they had attended together. She was mighty proud for being an eager beaver participant and wanted to show off to the passive participants who took the same elevator with them.

Of course, hubby corrected her that he did ask questions but she was too busy hearing her own voice to listen to other people's input in the class. :P

We always dread bumping into her at hubby's workplace - KLCC - due to this 'quirky' attitude of hers. Most of the times, we do the 'BBTN' - Buat-Buat Tak Nampak* - and goes up or down the elevator, whence she lingers nearby. The only reason we tolerate her is because she's the wife of our mutual friend.

I don't know whether she gets a high from inflicting others with this kind of verbal abuse or that she just wants to reaffirm her superiority. I recall the moment when she showed the photo of her newborn in her wallet and quickly added almost regretfully that she (the baby) has a button-like (penyet) nose. I didn't understand why she preempted by telling me that trivial information even before I could open my mouth to comment anything. Probably she's not happy with the nose or would like to save the trouble of mean people saying that to her face. However, I'm NOT that kind of person. And I was not even focusing on the little clueless, innocent baby's nose, for goodness' sake!

This particular species wouldn't like if we throw a few curve balls their way, but relish the feeling of doing the same. Such is life.

What goes around comes around, man!

I find it very amusing that she resorted to open her bag to prove that she does indeed read WSJ, thus confirming her high-minded persona. Please spare me the mindless posturing!

What I don't like is her antiquated school of thought which equates housewives to ditsy ladies with no access to intelligent pursuits. I would expect this mindset from Neanderthal males, but not from a so-called Professional.

But sadly, I believe this narrow perception is rife in some Asian societies where men think highly of their female work colleagues and see their domesticated wives as unequal in this respect. If only they take time to discuss worldly issues with their partner, then they would be surprised to know how 'learned' the wife is. How shortsighted can some men be!

I always love the 'lively' discussions - anything under the sun - I usually partake with my husband.

It's not about who knows more about certain topics, there's bound to be stuff that we won't know in this whole wide world.

The important thing is we learn from one another. Thanks for reminding me dear.

And thanks again for defending me. How chivalrous of you :)


* Is humorously translated as Feigning Temporary Blindness

Short-take: B'day Photo-Op

Azmal (or Ahmal)

Azmal, Zahra, Elisa and Alya

Sadia with her 'contemporaries'

Blowing candles time!

Sadia loves singing the birthday song

Due to popular demand, we all sang the birthday song thrice!

Here's some photos from the Kota Damansara's potluck held on the 3rd May in conjunction with Sofia's birthday which actually fell on 24th April. I haven't been making an appearance at these potlucks for a while so it was nice to see familiar faces again.

I love the delectable chocolate cake, ordered from the hotel where BIL works. And the usual nasi with lauk-pauk was sorely missed.

There would be another potluck cum birthday, God willing, this Saturday. Oh my, so many birthdays mean ka-ching! :)

On a different note, I can't wait to take a holiday somewhere!

On a short note...(or at least I tried to)

First of, I would like to apologise for not replying to the comments for my last three blogposts. My *ahem* internet connection has gone kaput the morning after I posted my last entry and I have been downtrodden ever since. Downtrodden is a great euphemism for all imaginable excuses like procrastination, goofing off, heavy baby duty thanks to a round-the-clock flu and sheer laziness.

I am stealing time away from a toddler who refused to fall asleep at the wee hours of the morning. Since she's glued to the tv sans my mammary glands for a change, I get a free rein of the Internet...for now.

Thus, I'd better finish this rambling before she remembers me or THEM. :)

Some people have suggested either directly or indirectly (via my other half) that I should wean her off by now. Some cited religious reasons (I have yet to get a reliable source), others use the health routes - more nutritious food for her Royal Fussypot and vitamin deficiency for moi. But I think the most significant factor that would compel me to wean her in a heartbeat is having control of MY time without her looking for me every time she wants some comfort. My husband is in complete agreement with me on that ground after seeing me in frustration over this nursing dependence.

But I have yet to throw in the towel solely because my patience has yet to run out. And most of my sisters (if not all) continue to breastfeed until they conceive another baby! Now if that isn't an incentive, I don't know what is.

As such, I would appreciate if people wouldn't pass judgment on me for nursing a toddler. I have also read somewhere the benefits of breastfeeding one's child until he or she is naturally weaned off. So, we will see how things pan out.

Speaking of judgment calls, I had recently encountered a 'rubbing me the wrong way' moment when a college friend whom I had the 'pleasure' of reuniting on Facebook chatted with me about matters of the heart. She had wanted me to tell all as to how I finally got hitched with my other half, whom I had ostensibly carried the torch for since college.

If she were to express her words differently, I would probably have complied. But the manner in which she asked grated me to no end. Since she was pressed for time, she requested that I emailed her the lurid details. Of course, I haven't done that at all.

She seemed to imply that I had waited and pined so long for a man. I didn't like the sound of that at all. But in the realm of online chatting, I didn't get to say my piece and had resorted to spew out a silly quote instead. The story of my life - not able to convey exactly what I feel at the crucial time. I tend to stew on it afterwards, rather than lash out immediately there and then. Well, at least most of the times.

Anyhow, it should have been an indication 10 years back when the said friend and I had a fallout over a petty issue i.e., email spamming, to which she had said something that rubbed me the wrong way (Surprise!). Something to the effect that I need to get a life, rather than send those endless forwards. She can be heartless sometimes.

And I had thought she had mellowed after a decade. That's why I didn't mind adding her as my friend on Facebook. Boy, was I wrong!

Probably I am too sensitive when it comes to words. But as the saying goes, 'Choose Your Words Wisely, For It Can Be Your Last', friendships (or relationships for that matter) can cease to exist over the wrong choice of words.

I also believe those who say you're sensitive are sensitive themselves. If you can indulge a friendly banter with one person, but cannot tolerate it when the person returns the favour, then by all means, you ARE sensitive.

Like my other half said, "Well, you're the one who wants to keep her as a friend." I'm regretting that decision now.

When she already has a certain preconceived notion about my life, it'd be futile to recount what has happened up to the moment that I got married. We're never THAT close for me to share those pages of my interesting life.

On that basis alone, it'd be best to let sleeping dogs lie.

In the Name of Bigotry

I am incensed by this article that I have read last week, April 28th.

Before I delve further into my anger, I'd like to record my commendation to the writer for her impartial, factual reporting on this controversial issue. By exploring and balancing the opinions from both camps, the author helps to shed the light on, what seems to me, a trivial matter that has been overblown out of proportion by some educated bigots (now isn't that an oxymoron?). However, judging from the online comments on the article itself, some people beg to differ and think that the author is siding with the 'protagonist'. Alas, the subtleties of the language were lost on a neophyte like me.

The story centers on Ms. Debbie (real name Dhabah) Almontaser whose dream of opening an Arab-language-oriented public school was shattered by cruel political maneuverings and a deliberate, twisted exposé. Critics of the school accused Ms. Almontaser of harbouring terrorist-laden agendas with her emphasis on Arab language in the school curriculum, and that she is out to convert the students into Islam. Some ill-informed and foolish people went so far as equating the school with its Arabic equivalent 'Madrassa', the word which presently carries a negative connotation in the press as a training ground for terrorists in post-9/11 times. But the truth of the matter is Madrassa is just an Arab word for school. Let's call a spade a spade, shall we?

Apparently, these opponents of Islam - or rather of having Muslims in the public realm - rely on new strategies in getting rid of Pan-Islamic excesses that have crept up amongst them in recent years. And Ms. Almontaser is just one of the convenient platforms to unleash their bigotry and hatred for things that are perceived as a threat to their hegemonic existence. The scars left by the 9/11 tragedy only aid to propel their prejudiced causes.

In the aftermath of Sept. 11, critics of radical Islam focused largely on terrorism, scrutinizing Muslim-American charities or asserting links between Muslim organizations and violent groups like Hamas. But as the authorities have stepped up the war on terror, those critics have shifted their gaze to a new frontier, what they describe as law-abiding Muslim-Americans who are imposing their religious values in the public domain.

Mr. Pipes and others reel off a list of examples: Muslim cabdrivers in Minneapolis who have refused to take passengers carrying liquor; municipal pools and a gym at Harvard that have adopted female-only hours to accommodate Muslim women; candidates for office who are suspected of supporting political Islam; and banks that are offering financial products compliant with sharia, the Islamic code of law.

The danger, Mr. Pipes says, is that the United States stands to become another England or France, a place where Muslims are balkanized and ultimately threaten to impose sharia.

Now, doesn't that make you feel sick to your stomach? Nowadays, moderate Muslim citizens like you and me, are being branded as 'lawful Islamists' with a 'soft jihad' agenda - whatever that means. And however loopy that sounded, misguided Americans were still buying it and had pressured Ms. Almonaster, through a series of unfortunate circumstances, to resign from her post as the school's principal.

I seriously don't understand how the beautiful Arab language which is chosen to record God's beautiful words in the Qur'an (or the Koran) could be construed as inviting people to become Muslim fundamentalists. It is like saying if you were to study Latin, you'd become a Christian evangelist! By the by, I should remind these ignorant people that a majority of Muslims in the world now are NOT Arabs. So probably they are picking their fights with the wrong folks?

Also, what more disturbing to me is that the so-called leader in this Stop the Madrassa Coalition, Mr. Pipes has a doctorate in History from Harvard and has authored 12 books! But it seems that he's still living in the Medieval times from the way he behaves and the words he chooses to spout. The kind of rhetoric he engages in will only widen the rift further between the U.S. and the Arab nations. In turn, this mindset helps to reinforce the insular attitude that some Americans have consistently demonstrated towards those who either do not subscribe or pose a threat to the 'great American way of life.'

Without knowing heads or tails about the nature of this public school, Mr. Pipes blindly wrote in the New York Sun:

Conceptually, such a school could be “marvelous,” Mr. Pipes wrote, but in practice, it was certain to be problematic. “Arabic-language instruction is inevitably laden with Pan-Arabist and Islamist baggage,” he wrote, referring to the school as a madrassa, which means school in Arabic but, in the West, carries the implication of Islamic teaching.

Utterly rubbish!

A major part of the NYT article dealt with the McCarthyism-like, convoluted tactics used by Mr. Pipes and his allies, especially the sleazy media which ratcheted up the suspicion towards Ms. Almontaser's motivations that eventually led to her resignation as the principal of Kahlil Gibran International Academy.

Reading some of the comments and responses attached to the article, I am finally able to grasp the level of understanding that some Americans have about Muslims and their religion, Islam. I would like to emphasize that Islam does not condone violence of any kind, unless of course it were provoked from outside parties. The differing ideologies held by Muslims of varying cultural backgrounds do not call for a blanket discrimination to all practicing Muslims. How about those who were involved in the Crusades to annihilate foreign threats? Is it fair to say they - the Christians - have violent tendencies?

I would also like to refute the claims of our so-called soft jihad agenda, involving for instance a gym class solely for Muslim women usage and so forth. Some universities have long implemented women's-only classes such as the one taken by a Hijabi friend of mine for swimming. As for the cab driver who declined to pick up inebriated passengers and those bearing alcohols, it is within his rights to do so, not unlike store owners who won't sell liquors on the 'resting day' of Sunday and clinic attendants who refuse to perform selective abortions.

And what about those concerned citizens who complained over the suggestion of serving Halal meat in the Kahlil Gibran school's cafeteria? Unless it is laden with germs and bacterias, Halal food is a much better deal than the fast food diet available at schools that teenagers thrive on these days. This particular gripe recalls to my college days where I had requested for Halal meat to be served for me while eating in the common dining hall. I informed them - the University's Food Service - the nearest place to source for Halal meat which at that time was in Devon Street of Chicago. I'd have my Halal food 2-3 times a week and must collect it in the kitchen area from this quirky African-American chef, Mike. He is such a sport, always coming up with a variety of ideas on how to cook the chicken or beef for me. A few times, as I emerged from the kitchen to the line forming for the predictable buffet, someone would quip "Hey, I want to have what she's having." I must say this accomodation to my special diet is praiseworthy for a Catholic university.

As for the objection against universities scheduling classes around the Muslims' prayer times and allocating a prayer room for Muslims, need I remind them that all Abrahamic faiths preach tolerance towards other human beings? Back in the pre-9/11 days, my college-going husband used to attend his Friday prayers in the makeshift surau or musalla in the basement of a Church!

Lastly, the accusation that this 'Soft Jihad' is part of the Muslims' masterplan to proselytize non-Muslims (or to take over the world - take your pick), I have to reiterate that Muslims, like any others, just want to live in accord with their religion - buying Sharia-compliant financing products, abstaining from alcoholic influences, respecting one's parents and the elders and the list goes on - with no intention whatsoever to encroach their beliefs on other people. My husband's Parish-run primary school experience came to mind here where some Christian classmates persistently invited him to Sunday school on the pretext of going to a 'fun party' with a lot of singing and sumptuous food. With the tables turned, should he feel being proselytized?

In that case, I too experienced such brain-washing incidents involving a college professor who insisted on saying a Prayer at the start of his pre-requisite Biology class, and the two Theology classes that I must take attending a Catholic University, which had opened my mind not only to the differences of our religions but most importantly to our similarities. And how about those who chided me for not being more like 'one of them' - drinking and partying the weekend away or dressing a certain way to fit in?

I believe it is one thing to integrate the foreigners to the community as a whole, but another to lose one's ethnic identity in the process. I also think that patriotism exists regardless of creed and race, and it does not necessarily correspond to the number of years you've been in that country (or the number of generations who have lived there), nor does it depend on the wealth you've amassed. It's either you love and identify with the country you live in, or you don't.

If you have the time, please read the article above in its entirety in order to understand the depth of my sorrow.

That portrait (of Islam as a major problem), Muslim and Arab advocates contend, is rife with a bias that would never be tolerated were it directed at other ethnic or religious groups. And if Ms. Almontaser’s story is any indication, they say, the message of her critics wields great power.

I bid you peace.