Monday, 28 November 2022

Peace Be upon Malaysia


Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Through all the ups and downs of the Malaysian Election that delivered a hung parliament, there is a silver lining. Maybe, the hung parliament is a blessing in disguise. Now, Malaysia has a new Prime Minister and a “Unity Government” made up of political parties from different sides of the divide. Maybe, this is the time to put aside our differences and work towards creating a new unity, a Malaysia where harmony and cooperation among the different races and religions are more important than progressing our own faction’s agendas. Forgive and let’s move on to build up our nation again. Mr Anwar Ibrahim has finally achieved his dream of becoming Malaysia’s Prime Minister. After 25 years of being framed, beaten up, jailed, shamed, subjected to all sorts of charges, …he persevered. God bless him.

I think he is the correct leader to have now for Malaysia, who has grown ever more divided through the years, fuelled by extremists, the selfish and racist zealots. I think he’s the right man to heal the nation and build it up again. Maybe God let him go through all the trials and injustice that he’d been through, to shape him up into a true Malaysian leader who could see the problems of the Malaysian system. Interestingly, God also blessed his once mentor, then nemesis, Tun Dr Mahathir to live a long and healthy life to see this day come to pass. Tun Dr Mahathir was the main person who caused much of Anwar’s problems and also incidentally, in looking back, the one who contributed to some of the existing problems of the nation, like nepotism, the loss of judicial independence and racism, during his time in power, in his drive for consolidation of power in the 80’s and 90’s. Tun Dr Mahathir who stood for this election, at 97 years of age, lost the election. Not only that, he was trounced in his own constituency and came in only 4th among all the contenders. The new party that he created also lost all their seats. Maybe God showed him this, to humble him before he returns to God. Who says heaven doesn’t have eyes? For me, God has eyes, on Malaysia. Thank You God for looking after us. Amen.

As usual, I am posting some photos with this post. I’ve decided to post photos of Kuching, the capital of the state of Sarawak, or what I called the kingmaker state. Sarawak who has a habit of voting en bloc, holds quite a lot of clout, when it comes to deciding who forms the government, when no party could obtain the majority. We visited Sarawak in July this year, my first ever visit to East Malaysia in my 52 years of life as a Malaysian, believe it or not?!


Grandpa, Papa, kids – 3 generations of Ong in Kuching, Sarawak


Masjid India (India Mosque), on the Sarawak River, Kuching


The Astana (Palace) of Sarawak, once the palace of the White Rajahs of Sarawak. Sarawak was at one time a kingdom ruled by the Brooke family of Great Britain. Now, the Astana is the residence of the Governor of Sarawak


Sungai Sarawak (Sarawak River) and the Kuching Waterfront from the Darul Hana Bridge


The Square Tower on the Kuching Waterfront, with the State Legislative Assembly Building behind


Late lunch at Atap Street aka Carpenter Street, Kuching, opposite the Hiang Thian Siang Ti Temple, Kuching






Hiang Thian Siang Ti Teochew Temple, Carpenter Street, Kuching – (How do I know all these names? …Google Maps, mate. Check it out!)


Padang Merdeka (Independence Field), Kuching, with the Borneo Cultures Museum in the background


Let’s run, it’s raining… Kuching in the rain – At the start of India Street looking towards the Kuching City Mosque (with the gold domes)


I Heart Kuching – at Kuching’s Old Court House

And that concludes our half day stopover at Kuching, and this post. Adios!

Tuesday, 22 November 2022

Perak Shows the Way

And so, the Malaysian General Election is finished. And so is Malaysia. It’s a big, fat mess now. Hung parliament, no party having a majority. Looks like the politicians would have to swallow their pride (and words) and team up with their rivals on the other side, the people whom they've been ridiculing and insulting for ages, and cobble up some government of unity of sorts. No mean feat I would say, for politicians. They’re not exactly known for having firm principles, hehe.


Ubudiah Mosque, Kuala Kangsar, Perak, Malaysia

And it looks like my home state, Perak is leading the way in that. They formed a unity state government of 2 opposing parties in a record 2 days’ time after the election, with the blessing of the Sultan of Perak. Kudos. I kinda like the idea of a unity government. Put aside your differences, and start working for the people! Yes, Perak boleh!

Leaving some photos of Kuala Kangsar, Perak’s royal town for this post. Hope Malaysia learns from Perak and come up with a tolerant, progressive and clean government. I don’t really fancy conservative, right-wing people taking over, especially, the extremist ones. God, keep those sorts of people out of positions of leadership. Amen.




Masjid Ubudiah, Kuala Kangsar, Perak


A dilapidated old mansion beside the Ubudiah Mosque. The name plaque reads Baitol Anor. Wonder who owns this…












And this is the Istana Kenangan (or Memorial Palace). The sign says it was originally built as a temporary mausoleum for a deceased Sultan while a permanent palace (Istana Iskandariah) was being constructed. They decided to keep the building and later converted it into a museum.




Istana Kenangan, Royal Museum of Perak, Kuala Kangsar, Perak, Malaysia. Behind this palace, beyond the trees at the back, is the Istana Iskandariah, the current abode of the Sultan of Perak. Nope, that’s not open for visits. (It used to be when I was a kid, but only on one day, every year, on the then Sultan's birthday. I think it was 15-Sep). Daulat Tuanku!

That’s all for now folks. Pray that Malaysia gets a good government.

Tuesday, 8 November 2022

Justin’s New Life


Our big son Justin’s leaving home to start his studies in another country. Can’t believe it… So quick. It felt like it was just the other day that he was a toddler running around the home, and now he’s gearing up to go and start his new life in Singapore.

Two more days, and he’d be in Singapore, on the same day as our anniversary 16 years ago.

We love you, Justin. Stay safe, stay happy, be always positive, be kind, work hard, take care, think of us and keep in touch!

Here’re some photos of the Jewel in Singapore’s Changi Airport. Looks like we’d be seeing a lot more of this from now onwards…




Huh? What’s this wall of water??


It’s the Rainfall Vortex, Jewel, Changi Airport, Singapore - It's the tallest indoor friggin waterfall in the world!




Let there be RAIN!


Shadows of the structural lattice work on the waterfall


Can you spot Jayden?


A rainbow on the rainfall vortex – nope, no pot of gold


Family picture, Changi Airport, Singapore, Jul 2022