Again talking about my dad, (Nationalist – Peace be upon him) actual facts – from my point of view, he is not a politician although he love politics & always talk about it, laughing & bang the coffee table once the subject becoming more interesting. Yet nothing happen…just talk & talk for the sake of entertainment. Yahh!!! Whatelse for govt pensioner…what life without newspaper in hand and sipped of coffee in warung with friends. UUhh, he is not smoking either he has quit for quite sometime. He used to ride his old bicycle everywhere with a hippie logo in front of the handle…(Me & brother – Used liquid paper to draw the Hippie Logo without him knowing heheheh!) So the whole kampung call him “Pak Aji Hippis”…heheheh. Its funny – When Dad realize,…and he just smile – told the people that he has such creative child and very proud of it...heheheh. He doesn’t even request us to rub it off.
Love to attend all sort of charity works i.e. looking out for poor family in kampong (with his bicycle off-course) who in needs of financial assistance and he work round the clock just to make sure these people received minimal financial aid from the Ministry of Charity (I don’t know whether that Ministry is still exist today). I did ask him, why must do this dad? Why don’t you just rest at home and relax while enjoying your day. And he said that is crazy…what’s life without work, he just don’t wanna be old sick man and be rotten in bed while waiting for his death to come.
For him work is just like a life support machine, satisfaction on giving without asking for returns is the most valuable contribution in life…that includes the faithful contribution to the community, family & friends. He is not a so called pure devotee who devotes himself to God by sitting, reading Quran and praying at the mosque all the time…he is not like that at all. For him the development of kampong, the people life, road, bridge, school, children education, rukun tetangga, khairat kematian, lampu jalan, and all sort of facilities either its infrastructure or community development is more important in his head than other things in his life.
Even cross on his mind to develop cooperative bodies for the kampong people, oohhh I totally disagree with that because I know, he will face a lot of obstacle, might end-up doing the entire job alone by himself. What to do – he is the one & only who have that capabilities & expertise. So it just stops there, my family against it…heheheh. So, Dad has to pull handbrake else, my mum will pull his ear off.
Talking about racial sentiment, eemmhh Dad, he is a moderate guy, for kampong people, they just know him as Pak Aji, govt pensioner – His old time partner Late Uncle Chong – Peace be upon him as well (A well known electrical contractor in my hometown – Also PE/IR Engineer by training) this is his old loyal buddy (They know each other since age of 7-8 years old – Neighbours of my grandpa I guess). Uncle Chong’s parent died when he was about 15 or 17 years old and he has another younger brother who is my math’s school teacher & quite garang (Mr. Chong Pak Hin - smart guy indeed). My grandpa did assist and manage to take care of these 2 boys until them grad, and dad has being appointed as their protectorlah with all his magic tricks hehehe.
Every once a week, Uncle Chong will drop by to our house either weekdays late at night or weekend just to have cup of coffee talking about certain projects and getting some assistance/ advise from Dad on his business. Sometime I’m wondering what type of project they were into…maybe Dad converse good British English (being a negotiator) and have that beautiful handwriting la kuut.
Uncle Chong even cries to my dad shoulder when it comes to Chinese New Year. He really appreciates what dad & grandpa done to him. He used to bring his family, grandchild and the entire family member just to visit our house in Kampung and celebrate together – I mean every CNY without failed. Sometimes the kampong folks feel curious, yahh what da hell this china man & the whole bunch of Chinese group coming down to our house climbing the rambutan’s trees, mango and pokok jambu…hehehe!!. It funny really funny tho. I saw my maths teacher “Mr. Chong Pak Hin” crying when he sees my dad cycling to school just to say hello to him. No wonder I always get screwed and torture for nothing from him..I mean all the time…especially during his lesson. He really wants me to be a better person I think.
Well enough about Chong’s brothers, this about my dad and his chauffeur i.e. the taxi friends, Mr. Singh and another Indian, I just called him Ayaa. Every weekend i.e. Sunday Morning after Dad’s morning fitness, at 8.30am or so..he will start collecting from mum all the list of things need to buy from the wet market. The wet market located in town area i.e. 10 to 15 km. from our house. So at 8.45am or something either one of this 2 clowns will wait for him at this nearby bus stand. When he arrived, either Mr. Singh or Ayaa (the Indian guy) will start talking lah…whatelse politics man….huh…never ending stories ….Guess what?? For other passenger…fuuhh dream on..man…you’re not going to get any free ride..only my Dad..thats it.
They just don’t even bother to give way for other people to catch their taxi…maybe they don’t want other passenger to interrupt their so called conversation…not just that. After finish buying groceries, Dad will continue chatting with them at this Chinese coffee shop near the taxi stand. Huuhh…again politics! I just can’t get it…aren’t they bored. I know this when mum ask me to join Dad on that morning just to make sure he bought the exact same thing inside the buying list, else for sure tertinggal 1 or 2 items.
Again when I look at this community, my Dad, his way of life, emmh.. with very humble beginning and respecting each other is one of the crucial element in this relationship and why it is so successful and strong. They can just talk-talk & talk add-in with joke and sincerity.
What I admire most is that my dad doesn’t even try to influence them to become Muslim. I did ask Dad, why don’t you invite Uncle Chong & his brother, your friends who is non muslim to become Islam or convert (It will be a great honor for Muslim community & Islam as religion in this country).
Dad giving me answer that changes my perspective about religion in my life until today.
“Religion is a way of life of an individual – Freedom of belief is what it preaches in Islam” “Word of Islam is from Salam – That means peace!” – Uncle Chong, his brother & friends, they have their own roots, ancestors and their own belief. If they want to adapt Islam as their religion, it must come from their heart, passionate by themself and if they feel that Islam is the right religion for them it’s good tho, but if they found out that their current religion is better, and then let it be. All religion taught us the same language i.e. do good things avoid bad things…. ” That’s how simple Dad phrase out….so easy huh!!!!. I disagree with that because that is not what school teacher teaches us, also not in any mosque’s ceramah that I’ve attended. I argue in academic way of Islam i.e. so called fundamental lahhh.
Again Dad emphasize - Whatever belief doesn’t matter, the most important thing, you must be plain, clear and sincere towards any relationship, friends, family, life and to the world we live in. Then it’s easier when you wanna die. God knows that you’re pure plain, beautiful, clean & clear…so he will take you in and be with him forever together with tender, love, care, passion and sincerity. Well that is what life all about.” That wisdom words struck my head by lightning.
Never in his life screw or yell or whack his children, only mum does that hehehe!. Such a loving dad I have, same goes to mum as well…she is very naïve, plain and honest. Mum in the other hand always giving me that strength to move forward, her faith and sincerity has been above the rest. Although Dad have long gone, while mum waiting the call from God, I’ll make sure I, myself be your unsung hero and protector the rest of yourlife mak, till death do us a part. God will always love you both and you will be side by side for eternity. I Love you Mak.
Both of you are the final cause of creation and the embodiment of GOD.
So my view on Merdeka Day is all about freedom and being independent as an individual exactly as what Dad & Mum teach me.
FREEDOM!!!!!!!!….