Sometimes it is very frustrating when you receive phone calls from insurance companies or credit card agencies offering you their promotional packages. The first question popped up in your mind is how they managed to know your personal information data which is supposedly private. The answer is simple. In Malaysia, your privacy is not as per right. In other words, you cannot cry for your privacy right no matter how you crave for it. I have commented on this issue in my dissertation previously.

Federal Constitution is the Supreme Law of the country and Part II of the Constitution provides fundamental liberties to the citizen to enjoy individual rights within the ambit of law. It has been suggested that ‘The founding fathers of our Constitution envisaged the Malaysian judiciary to act as the bulwark to protect and secure an individual's fundamental liberties enshrined in Part II of the Federal Constitution’ (Thomas, T. (2001). Human Rights in 21st Century Malaysia. Insaf, The Journal of the Malaysian Bar , 91-106). However, the meaning of ‘fundamental liberties’ has not been explained neither by the Reid Commission nor the White Paper when drafting the Federal Constitution in Malaysia (Bari, A., & Shuaib, F. (2006). Constitution of Malaysia: Text and Commentary 2nd edn. Kuala Lumpur: Pearson ). Perhaps, it was purposely not explained so that the courts will have legal freedom to interpret the phrase ‘fundamental liberties’ widely in line with the local and current needs.

It is important to note that the Constitution is silent on the issue of rights to privacy despite being recognised as one of the fundamental human rights under Article 12 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (El Islamy, H. (2005). Information Privacy in Malaysia: A Legal Perspetive. Malayan Law Journal, xxv-xlix). However, based on the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, the rights under UDHR shall be given regard to the extent it is consistent with the Federal Constitution. Nonetheless, it is not clear whether privacy right under UDHR is inconsistent with any other provision in the Constitution. It has been further argued by El Islamy that in the absence of express provision on the right to privacy, any claim to right of privacy must be based on other related constitutional right such as right to life or personal liberty or right to property (El Islamy, 2005).

However, the first Malaysian case on privacy is Ultra Dimension Sdn. Bhd v. Kook We Kuan [2004] 5 CLJ 285 involving a claim for breach of privacy pertaining to photograph of a group of kindergarten pupils published in several local newspapers advertisement. One of the legal issues was whether invasion of privacy is a recognized tort action under the Malaysian law. Faiza Tamby Chik J held that right to privacy is not recognized under the Malaysian law since it is not recognized under English common law based on the decision in Kaye v. Robertson. The learned Judge further cited the definition of privacy right as ‘right to be alone and live free from all intrusion by others’ is different from the phrase ‘life’ and ‘personal liberty’ in Article 5 of the Constitution. Therefore, it was concluded that rights to privacy do not come under the purview of Article 5 of the Federal Constitution.

Consequently, the decision in Ultra Dimension reflects the stance of Malaysian courts for not recognising privacy as part of the constitutional rights and laws in the country. However, the judgment in Ultra Dimension must not be viewed as a ‘closed legal gate’ to deny recognition of privacy right in Malaysia. It is still open to legal argument that the learned judge failed to take into consideration the extent of the provision pertaining to the rights to privacy under UDHR vide section 4 (4) of SUHAKAM Act 1999. Further, there is no legal provision or decision to indicate any inconsistency between the privacy rights under UDHR with the Constitution that will result the former not to be regarded in Malaysia. As a result, Ultra Dimension shall not be regarded as a conclusive legal argument to prevent any attempt to regard privacy right under UDHR to the Malaysian citizen.

Be as it may, personally speaking such potential legal argument is not suffice to convince the judiciary as well as the general public that there is a ‘hope’ that privacy right is recognised in Malaysia. The proposed draft Personal Data Protection Bill in year 2000 could be regarded as a positive step towards recognising and providing right to privacy in the country. However, that Bill is yet to become law and as long as it is not passed in the Parliament, there is no statutory protection available to individual citizen in Malaysia against any disclosure of personal data without consent.

But again the main question for the Malaysian lawmakers to really consider is whether the Personal Data Protection law is sufficient to protect the individual privacy? In my personal opinion, such law is not sufficient and could be argued to be ultra vires the provision in Federal Constitution despite that the Constitution is silent on the matter relating to privacy right. It is commendable to explore the wisdom behind the recommendation made by the Commission 1956-1957 Report in relation to privacy rights. Based on the Federation of Malaya Constitutional Commission, 1956-1957 Report at paragraph 161, it has been recommended that the Constitution defines and guarantees certain fundamental individual rights which are generally regarded as essential conditions for a free and democratic way of life. Further, paragraph 162 states that ‘Our recommendations afford means of redress, readily available to any individual, against unlawful infringements of personal liberty in any of its aspects’.

Ideally speaking, the word ‘personal liberty’ and the phrase ‘...in any of its aspects’ in the report must be given a wider interpretation to include right to privacy to be part of the fundamental liberty rights. Interestingly, the right to privacy was purposely not specifically stated in the Constitution at the time of drafting of the Constitution in 1956. It was suggested that the main objective of restricting such right was to create a balance in maintaining a homogeneous nation and to protect from Communist threat.
(http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd[347]=x-347-559517).

Therefore, it is now open to legal argument whether the spirit of the Constitution drafted in 1956 has indefinite intention to refuse rights to privacy as one of the constitutional rights in Malaysia. In the absence of communist threat in the modern days and the country’s political stability for the past 51 years, it is not in the interest of justice to restrict such privacy rights in the advent of new sciences and technologies development. Like other fundamental rights under the Constitutions, the right to personal privacy is not absolute and still subject to law and procedures. Even in Europe, the courts do not view privacy rights as absolute as it must be weighed against the means to protect the society at large such as serious crime investigation.

The government’s moves in installing more CCTV cameras and setting up of the new DNA databank demand a significant privacy protection law to be made available to the citizen. Proper safeguards in the like of Personal Data Protection Bill are badly needed in the absence of constitutional rights to privacy must be passed in the Parliament immediately to avoid any possible infringement. But most of all, I personally wish our lawmakers to consider inserting privacy rights to be part of the Constitution which somehow qualified and save in accordance with law.

p/s – this write is merely a personal opinion of the writer and not meant for academic or legal argument.

My supposedly peaceful saturday morning is interrupted by the NST Online news "PAS Muktamar: 'We can lead a Pakatan govt'"
(http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/Frontpage/2575496/Article/index_html).

Interesting to note that PAS has the desire to lead the Pakatan Rakyat government if they win the PRU13. Why I said interesting is simply because all these while I was under the impression that PAS is merely playing a minor role behind PKR and DAP. That combination of three (3) political parties to form a marriage of convenience under the name of Pakatan Rakyat to have political controls over the Five (5) States then after the PRU12 remind me of a 'Sepak Takraw' team. The PKR plays the role of 'Killer', DAP as 'Tekong' and PAS as 'Feeder'. In other words, PAS is merely playing a secondary role in that sepak takraw team (my personal view).

Ironically, if PAS now declares openly their intention to be the Captain of the team or the man of that marriage, what then Anwar Ibrahim will be? what about the DAP paramount leader Lim Kit Siang? I guess I am not stupid enough to get myself ready to accept the fact that my Malaysia is led by Three (3) Prime Ministers and to my recollection, I have never come across (to my limited number of readings) that there was/is any government led by more than One (1) person. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Personally speaking, the Pakatan Rakyat leaders must be fair to all people who support them by setting up a 'Shadow Cabinet' in the Parliament (like in the UK) so that if they win the PRU13 (which i greatly doubt), the forming of the next government will not be in a shoddy manner. This somehow will avoid any chaotic political landscape in the future. I don't vote Pakatan Rakyat as I am not convinced by their agendas and root. But if they win the next PRU13, I will have to accept the majority choice. However, it is the political stability and political certainty of the country that become the utmost consideration should that 'political tsunami' become reality.

My dear fellow Malaysians, are we ready for a drastic unclear change? can we now have a clear certainty of 'who is the man in the family'? so Pakatan Rakyat, as an ordinary Malaysian, please tell daddy who is the man??!!




***********************************************

NST Online » Frontpage
2009/06/06
PAS Muktamar: 'We can lead a Pakatan govt'
Sheridan Mahavera, Suresh Ram, Sajahan Waheed, Eileen Ng, Joseph Sipalan and Ili Liyana Mokhtar
Email to friend Email to Friend Print article Print Article


SHAH ALAM: Pas has offered to lead the country if Pakatan Rakyat wins the next general election.
Party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said Pas would continue to be committed to defining and effecting changes based on an universal Islamic framework.

"Pas is prepared to offer itself to lead the changes and carry the burden of leadership in a multiracial society in Malaysia after the 13th general election," he said.

Opening of the 55th Pas Muktamar at the Malawati Stadium here, Hadi said over the years, the party had also broken down barriers with non-Muslims.

He said the votes received by the party in recent by-elections had also showed increasing support for Pas, adding that this had been possible with the pioneering effort by past leaders, such as through the establishment of the Chinese Consultative Committee and recently, the setting up of the Pas Supporters Club.
"As a result, Pas is able to understand better the needs and atmosphere of a multiracial and multi-religious country."

On Pas Supporters Club, Hadi said there was a need for the implementation of a specific orientation programme to provide a clear understanding of the struggle of Pas.

He also suggested that the club be institutionalised through amendments in the party's constitution.

Hadi said the party would aggressively spread its wings further in Sabah and Sarawak.

He also said the party's religious scholar wing, the Dewan Ulama, would continue to play a vital role in the party and there was a need for its duties to be enhanced.

This, Hadi said, could be done by attracting younger religious scholars into the wing as well as through involvement of veterans who no longer hold party positions.

Hadi said as young voters were important, it was important for Pas Youth to come up with a plan to sustain the support of the youth.

He also said the party's Dewan Muslimat (women's wing) had an important role to play in building bridges with the younger generation.

There is a saying ‘when you go to Rome, you must do what the Romans do’. Having been in this country for almost a year, so many unbelievable things happened besides being ‘back to school’ stuff. The best thing is that I am currently doing ‘thing’ that I’ve never imagined I will and can do ‘it’. Ironically, it has been almost 5 months since I started my new ‘dunno how to explain’ job. It was all started when my housemate Pae text me sms that he had booked one ‘job’ for me. I had informed him few days before that I was so bored and need a job for so that at least I have something to do.

I was a depth morning sleep when I received that sms. Without any second blink I replied ‘OK’ (while my brain was half working) without even figuring out the content of the sms. Soon as I woke up, then only I realized that it was a job thing. And yes, I really need to find a job since my course workload was too light during that 2nd semester. The big time gap is filled up by thinking of my wife, nata and kyra in Sabah.

During the interview, the supervisor explained to me the ’scope of works’ and the training I have to go thru. The worst part of the interview was when she told me about the uniform (work attire) i.e. the same typical black and white attire plus a neck tie and mini vast. Feels like a deja vu, I’ve been trying to avoid that ‘tahi cicak uniform’ thru all my ‘lawyering’ days. Funny but odd for my new job, I have to wear them on from monday to friday. On my very first day in such a ‘proper attire’, my house mates asked ‘pergi mana bang, pakai smart2 ni?’ and I just answered ‘pergi mencari sesuap nasi’…hhahahahahaaha.

Each of the steps to my new workplace seems to be meaningful as I was still playing the ‘to be or not to be’ game in my mind. Must I proceed or should I go to town and go watch movie instead. While trying to have an imaginative ‘toss of coin’ in my head, I have actually reached the place and registered my name in the employee log book. Hence, no other choice but to proceed.

Come the training part, the supervisor explained to me what and how to do the tasks. My first task of the day is vacuuming and cleaning all the desks and chairs in the office area within an hour from 5pm to 6pm. To be frank, I am not used to do this kind of works through all my life and I don’t even know how to handle the vacuum cleaner. I guess I should have gone to town and watch movie instead. After the vacuuming part, the supervisor asked me to get a bucket, mop, black garbage plastic and the cleaning spray. I was stunned and completely speechless when she told me that I need to clean all the eight (8) toilets on the 2nd and 3rd floors respectively within an hour or so. Sigh, I quietly asked myself in the most soothing way ‘’Muammar Julkarnain what are you doing??’’ as I begin to clean the first toilet.

Each of the toilets, I need to empty the bins, check the toilet bowls and flush them, spray and wipe the mirrors and all the head pipes, the tissue holders, soap holders and finally ‘mop lantai’. After the toilets, I have to vacuum the common places on the 2nd and 3rd floors as well as the 2 elevators (spray and wipe the mirrors and the steel part). I was under the impression that doing the vacuum and toilets were the toughest tasks to do but I was wrong. My final task of the day, reminds me of Pandekar Bujang Lapok script ‘woo...kerja saya memang merbahaya pakcik, sambung ekor harimau…’. I need carry a vacuum bag (mcm ghostbuster’s bag) on my shoulder, then carry it from the store to the 4th floor and finally, start vacuuming all the steps down until the basement floor. Then, Merdeka!!! (Now I know what is the meaning of MERDEKA!!).

Too heavy for me but somehow I enjoy it for no obvious reason. Every time I log out from workplace, I feel really relieve. I begin to love this job despite how odd it may sounds. There was one time when I told my wife about my aching back for wiping many tables that forced me to stretch my whole body to reach the corner point of the tables especially those behind the computer monitors. She then asked me to quit and find another lighter job. I simply replied ‘no, I want to stay as long as I think I can’. Forget about the tiring and body torturing part, what is important to me this odd job teaches me a lot about adapting life and surroundings.

Being a lawyer, sometimes I feel ‘classy’ since it is no doubt a prestige profession in the eyes of the public. Of course, I miss those moments whenever I do my cleaning job where I just simply sit down do some ’serious’ works and just ask my junior lawyers and clerks to assist. Easy job but need to crack my brain. In contrast, I am currently doing all the physical oriented works and minimal use of brain and most of all no one is helping me with the works. The interesting part is when I have to take instruction from my supervisor. The funniest part is when I started to feel nervous and uneasy whenever the supervisor is doing the checking on me. I can’t really explain how such feeling like but one thing for sure, I never imagine myself being in this kind of situation again... not the nervous part.

We may look things in this world differently and from my ‘new lens’, I now believe that every works and every workers are equally important no matter what. Being a cleaner may not be as classy as being a lawyer but this is a ‘noble’ job too. To me, it is like a minor part that complete the whole drama even though the audience may not even realize its existence. Most of the people may start from small to big things but what I am doing now is the opposite direction or in other words, a reversed perspective in toto.

I may have no more complain in life and I do treasure having this kind of experience and frankly speaking, I love this job no matter what. But above all those things, I will never ever allow my Nata, Kyra and Qatryna to do this kind of job in the future simply on the basis that ‘I love them so so so much’. Call me a hyprocrite, I love being a lawyer more anyway...definitely or maybe.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 8th, 2008 at 11:21 pm

'Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean,
Needs not the painted flourish of your praise:
Beauty is bought by judgement of the eye,
Not utter'd by base sale of chapmen's tongues'
(Shakespeare in Love's Labours Lost, 1588)

People say 'Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder' and that is why there is a phrase 'love is blind'. I remember my university days in IIUM. I have many friends from foreign countries especially Myanmar and Indonesia. In one outing days in the KL city with my friends Habib from Myanmar and Caman an Indonesian, we saw one odd couple passed us by in front of the Central Market's bus station. A good looking chap and a lady whom we thought to be out of that man's league. I don't know how to explain it but enough if I quote 'Beauty & the Beast' in a reversed version.

In one light argument, Caman and I were in a diplomatic agreement that 'love is blind' and that 'love feeling' is the utmost element and not the look. Habib simply replied 'I know love is blind...but shouldn't be that blind'. With that, it left us no more room to argue further but to concur instead. In another story, a friend of mine told me that there was one time when one huge ugly rich man and a beautiful young and sexy lady entered a pub hand in hand. One man inside the pub shouted 'Beauty & the Beast' and the boyfriend confronted the man and yelling at him 'How dare you call my girlfriend a beast?!' that man was taken a back and so as the people inside the pub.

Back to the Woman Rights group and the governmental Women's Development Department plans to ask the Parliament to ban "emotional violence" against women to include a husband who "tells his wife she is ugly or humiliates her until she feels emotionally pressured, the move seems to criminalize emotional abuse and will put all the husband on alert mode. One single mistake or slip of the tongue, he will end up in the court of law and jail.

I believe this move is a little bit too harsh to the husbands. To criminalise the husband's freedom of expression is 'unconstitutional'. They can be blamed but should not be penalized simply because 'his love is no longer blind'.


************************************


http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20090528/tap-as-malaysia-belittling-wives-1st-ld-b3c65ae.html

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - It soon could be a crime for Malaysian men to call their wives ugly, a women's rights group and a news report said Thursday.

The governmental Women's Development Department plans to ask Parliament to ban "emotional violence" against women, who currently have legal protection against physical assault only, The Star newspaper reported.

Women's groups told the department that husbands who "demonstrate a pattern of causing mental and psychological damage" should face counseling, fines and jail terms, Ivy Josiah, director of the Women's Aid Organization, told The Associated Press.

Offenders include a husband who "tells his wife she is ugly or humiliates her until she feels emotionally pressured," the government department's head, Noorul Ainur Mohamad Nur, said during a conference on violence against women, the newspaper reported.

Noorul Ainur said there was a need to criminalize emotional abuse because it could deeply scar a woman's dignity and self-confidence, the report said.

There were no immediate details about when Parliament would discuss the plan.

About 90 percent of some 800 women who called the Women's Aid Organization for help last year reported being psychologically abused, though some were also physically assaulted, Josiah said.

A government representative said Noorul Ainur and other officials familiar with the plan could not immediately be contacted Thursday.

Everyday I am proud to tell people that I am indeed a Man Utd die hard fan. One of the reasons I opted for Leeds University mainly because of it is just a stone throw away from Manchester. Old Trafford is not an old dream but more like a revolving day to day dream.

I’ve been eagerly anticipating the 6th August 2008 with excitement. A friendly match between Man Utd v Juventus at the Theatre of Dream. As the day approaching, I bought a used Man Utd Shirt 96/98 ‘SHARP’ logo from ebay just to grace that special moment with perfection. Yes, I want to be a bit fashionable and stylish to be in the Old Trafford stadium. I’ve never been this fashion conscious before in my life, not even when attending official functions and the Penerimaan Bintang ceremony at the Istana Negeri last year. During my wedding, it is a bit different since everything was aken care by my then fiance (now Mrs. Rocky Julkarnain) and my role was just to say OK. I always believe in one thing ‘once you are a good looking chap, you will look good in whatever attire!!!...’

The shirt did not come easy. The day it was delivered to my place on 5th August, no one was available to receive since it is a ’signature required’ parcel. Thus, I decided to go to the Royal Mail delivery office on the next day (6th August)before heading to the Leeds Train Station in the afternoon. Fortunately, when I called a friend to show off that I will be in the stadium with that Retro Man Utd shirt, he told me the delivery office will be closed at 12pm and it was already 11.44 am then. Without a shower, I just grabbed whatever things necessary and took a bus to that place. I should say the bus timing was so perfect that day and then, I had to run as fast as I can from the bus stop to the delivery office but I felt my run was in a slow motion mode maybe due to the excess baggage. I reached the place by 11.59am just in the nick of time in with heavy breathing. Alhamdulillah, the shirt is just perfect and worth all the troubles. Old Trafford…here I come in style.

By the time I reached outside the Old Trafford stadium with a friend Bro. Nasri, I was feeling like a small child who eagerly excited to enter a ‘Fun Fair’ for the first time. That was surely the same feeling. I was smiling and giggling all the
way as I walk inside. I used to see some girls in Malaysia jumping and shouting
‘haaaahhhh!!! before…and I kind of menyampah to see those mengada-ngada attitude. But the time I walked inside the stadium, I was mesmerized and I felt like wanting to jump and shout like those girls, ironically speaking. Maybe now I know what the meaning of excitement is. I used to say winning court cases always give me some kind of relief and excitement, but this one is different, very different as it was something more than that. The environment inside the stadium especially the fans, the players on the pitch and most of all the “Mexican Wave” moving around the stadium were hard to describe. I can’t really illustrate those feelings into words, I wish I could but I really have no idea how to describe those. Simply amazing!!!

I wished the time move slower that day so that I can enjoy that moment a little bit more. I remember wishing the same thing when ‘keluar dating’ with my girlfriend then (now Mrs. Rocky Julkarnain) just to share more the beautiful moments with her. Surely, most people experienced the same moments in their lives and wish the same wish too.

Walking out from the Theatre of Dream was shattering bit and bit of my beautiful dream. As I am typing this story, I can still feel that electrifying one moment in time that surely will remain immortally my Old Trafford Theatre of Dream...a never fading dream.

Regards,
Rocky Julkarnain Esq.
Beeston, Leeds.
9.08.08
23:28pm

this is something that i jotted down when i was in Leeds...i've got nothing to do then...so, here is one of them...


Definitely tomorrow will be the Hari Raya Aidilfitri here in Leeds UK and so as in Malaysia I believe and because of such important day is approaching, I’m feeling a little bit emotional and sentimental tonight of not having my wife, my nata, my kyra and my family celebrate the hari raya together. Imagine, I don’t have the benefit of kissing my wife’s forehead as a symbol of my love towards her, kissing and hugging my nata and my kyra, kissing mommy’s hand, daddy’s hand, aunty ammong’s hand other aunties and uncles, my siblings, my cousins, my anak-anak buah and my other family members during hari raya and the most important of all, visiting and reciting doa at my Arwah Grandmother’s grave.. Imagine, imagine and imagine and nobody knows it but me.

I really hate to unveil my sentimental feelings at this very moment and I guess I better finish off my story in ‘A life I never dream’ which has been left hanging for quite some time and thru this sleepless night, I’ll try to somehow do my level best to continue the sequence of the story.

I still remember very well the moment when I tried to convey the message to my wife pertaining to that crazy idea of mine and she was a bit puzzled noticing me behaving strangely as I was struggling to find the right moment and the gesture to tell her once and for all. Finally, as I explained to her line by line and word by word, she got the message clearly. Surprisingly, she was not surprise at all and not even a word of protest or ‘what if’ question. She gave me her full support instead and suggested that I should apply for chevening scholarship so that I can pursue my little dream without having to crack my head on how to finance my studies. And yes, that little dream of mine is to pursue my studies in Master Degree in Criminal Law in the UK so that I can push myself a little further to acquire such detailed knowledge and expertise in order have various options in life. After all, no harm for a small time kampung boy like me to dream a little bit bigger.

Last year was my wife’s turn to celebrate hari raya at her hometown Hulu Langat Selangor and bear in mind, unlike our hari raya in sabah, those orang Malaya’s way of celebrating hari raya is really what I view as ‘an intensive one week hari raya affair’ where each of every morning, afternoon and evening of that very week we have to visit all the saudara mara’s houses. And one thing that always make me smile when I come to think of it is when people posed one magic word and the most frequent question asked...‘mhay (my pet name) bila sampai Malaysia’? And that will be followed by another not so less popular phrase... ‘makan la ini masakan orang Malaysia rendang, ketupat, lemang etc’ (which I can have those every day in sabah) and normally I just smile and simply reply ‘dah lama dah’ (mcm Tun Dr Mahathir punya tone). But deep down I have to admit that orang Malaya punya hari raya celebration is more lively and much better compare to ours (this is my personal assessment and you can deny if you possibly wish to) and the best thing is my mother in law’s cooking where she cooks a very delicious Assam Laksa (sampai semua orang datang rumah just for the laksa). Oh ya the last year’s hari raya fall during the mid of October and the last day to submit the application form for the chevening was on 31st October 2006.

All that material time, I actually tried to forego that little crazy idea as I was not so ready to be far from my wife and nata (that time my wife was still expecting my kyra) and unfortunately (or should I say ‘fortunately’), my wife kept on reminding me of whether all my documents and papers are in order. Believe it or not, nothing was ready or in order until the day before the due date. I told her to forget the thing and no need to think of it. She was quite upset and told me to at least give a shot and decide later. I was speechless and laughed as she left me no room to refute. Maybe this the price I have to pay for marrying a lady who is smarter than me (she is a qualified lawyer as well) and for most of the time it took me lots of reasoning to outsmart her convincingly. Having no other option but to follow her so called instruction, I have to ring my brother Shah and Idroy to scan all my documents and send them by email the next morning.

Incidentally, my wife had to send my mother in law HUKM Cheras for her appointment together with my sister in law Kak Edy. While waiting for her turn, my wife and I had to look for a cyber cafe to print the scanned documents and to do so; we have to go as far as the Bandar Tasik Selatan. Subsequently, we have to drive all the way to Wisma Dredging opposite KLCC to submit the application form to the British Council in KL and my poor mother in law and sister in law had to catch a cab to Mydin KL to do some shopping while waiting for us. I have to admit that I really pity my pregnant wife coz she had to drive the car and rushed here and there in order to make sure that I can submit the application form before the closing time. In fact, it was her who helped me to fill up the application form and handed over the form and documents as I know she always have a good ‘fengshui’ and to get the scholarship surely I need an extra luck though most of the time I have to create my own luck in every tasks I do. Thereafter, I smiled to her and thanked her for everything she did and told her that if I were shortlisted for interview, I know I can make it. Somehow for unknown reason, Allah SWT blesses me with such a wonderful lady in my life and she completes me (now I know what Jerry Maguire meant by that line).

Alhamdulillah, I received an email from British Council congratulating me for being shortlisted and the interview date had been fixed. Honestly speaking, I had a mixed feeling when reading that mail coz if I go to interview, I have a strong itchy feeling that I will get it. Not because of my charm but because of something that I myself don’t know how to describe. My wife was so happy to hear that and reminded me of my pledge that ‘I can make it’ during interview and therefore, definitely I must walk the talk. During the interview date, my wife had accompanied me to the British Council office at Jalan Gaya and during the 45 minutes interview........ (whatever transpired during the interview cannot be revealed and remain classified) and thereafter, I told my wife that I had a feeling that I can get it. The news of that scholarship was published in the Daily Express Newspaper, and of course I received so many congratulatory remarks from family members and friends. However, some people seems to be in doubt on how I managed to get the scholarship and I simply answered them ‘I got it by fluke’. But deep down I firmly believe I got it based on merit and I don’t give a damn of what other people may think of. Obviously, this is not a case where a bumiputera can enjoy the affirmative action’s privilege i.e. to have a quota for such scholarship (only one Sabahan was selected for this year’s batch). Anyone may apply for the scholarship and it is up to them to show their merit if they think they are better. However, ‘I am the special one’ (pinjam kejap dari Mourinho) and it may sound too much and overboard but frankly speaking, I am too tired of being down to earth and apologetic to people most of the time. Being a Bumiputera and of course being a ‘SULUK’ should not be a reason for other people to look down on my little ability. Trust me, there is always a room to be a better man and much more better than what we actually can possibly think of.

Back to my story, people may be under the impression that I must be very happy to have this beautiful opportunity but deep down, I was in a great reluctance to be happy as it was and still is, too heavy for me to leave my beautiful newborn second daughter Kyra so as my nata and wife. But again, it left me with no better option but to proceed with the original plan i.e. to do my LLM Criminal Law & Criminal Justice at University of Leeds because I believe there will be no more lady luck to knock my door and smile sweetly on me. It is like a beautiful dream that is too good to be true i.e. to do my Master Degree in a 5A rating university for criminal justice course and a worldly recognised prestigious scholarship. Indeed, I myself had never thought that a simple kampung boy, a trouble maker and a no hope high school student like me can have a dream which is beyond a dreamable dream. Tell me who can resist that golden opportunity? but then again, it comes with a price. The price that too heavy for me to pay even if a good discount is given.

And now, here I am too far away from home, my wife, my nata, my kyra and my family on this so called ‘silent night’. I have to sail thru this sentimental night with emptiness all around me and this is exactly a life that I never imagine thru all my days indeed... a life I never dream.

P/S- This story and blog are exclusively for my family members strict viewing and reading ONLY and therefore, I accept no liability if you feel offended or ridiculed in whatsoever circumstances.

P/S- I realised that writing a narrative story is much more difficult than preparing a legal submissions. I wish I have Echang’s skills and expertise in writing a column professionally and in a proper order.

Wassalam.
Warm Regards,
Muammar Julkarnain Esq.
Beeston Leeds 12 Oct 2007 (10.41pm)

I am not in the habit of reading all the news on the internet every morning. Now the Manik Urai seat in Kelantan is vacant due to the demised of its assemblyman, Allahyarham Ismail Yaacob. Salam Takziah to Allahyarham's family members. Unlike Penanti, i guess the reason for the vacancy is very much valid and BN must stand and give a fight by all means even though it is merely a by-election. If BN manage to wrist the seat, then it will be a good benchmark to be a yardstick to evaluate the acceptance of Kelantan's voters in relation to the new leadership of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

P/S: BN & UMNO, get up and fight one more round coz sometimes you have to fight when you are a man.!!

Taken from Staronline:

Kelantan’s Manik Urai assemblyman passes away
By SHAHANAAZ HABIB and SYED AZHAR MOHAMMED

KOTA BARU: Kelantan assemblyman for Manik Urai, Ismail Yaacob, 60, (PAS) passed away from complications arising from diabetes at 6am on Friday at the Raja Perempuan Zainab II hospital here.

PAS deputy commissioner II Datuk Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said he would be buried at his home in Manik Urai after Friday prayers.

PAS Elections Director Datuk Nustafa Ali will hold a press conference at 11am at PAS headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut.