12/5/11 CHIKI CHIKI BOOM AND ONDE-ONDE

(The real Buah Melaka as known by the Malaccan, which elsewhere, is a type of traditional Malay cake)

The morning of 13 May, 2011, with some friends I met with the representatives of Kg.Datu, Sibu to seek their view on the possible approach that should be undertaken to redevelop their settlement into a much conducive and surely placing them into a greater advantage of the urban renewal process. Despite internationally sort of taboo date, 13 May, and it was Friday, which was always being referred as the Black Friday, in deed, I was please that the discussion was fruitful, and I would say there was a great challenge a head that I must handle quickly to bring all the relevant parties into consesus. The people seem delighted when I invited them to be involved in the planning of the development.

(2) By 12.30 I flew to KL, and in the flight I read the statement by Mustapha Muhammed that Malaysia need to gain an Annual Productive Growth by 5% to achieve what Najib termed as High Income Economy. This Productive Growth is a very interesting concept that Mustapha tried to bring into the limelight, though he didn't elaborate, and I hope to dwell on that in my future article. Now I just want to share my weekend experiences both in KL and Malacca.

(3) Upon landing, I rushed over to Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR), despite a hot killing day, I took the pain to stroll the Street to look for a new Hotel that would be my future landing place. Previously, I love to stay at Bukit Bintang, and now such Hotel had been sold to a Singaporean, thus I made my mind to be a little bit nationalistic not to patronage such a hotel any more. I just want to look for a nice, clean, safe hotel. I've been loyal to a place where I stay all this while as long as my principle is not violated. I don't believe, Singapore is a good neighbor, that deserve a respect.

(4) To my surprise, the old Globe Silk, close to Kamdar, had now been turned into the Frenz Hotel. The hotel looks simple but meet the modern need of business travelers. The room is well organised, with all the needed electrical connection well in place. At least, this is a medium cost hotel that meet today IT requirement. Few Islamic Bookstores are just nearby. That gave me an alternative to MPH. Colleseum Cinema is on the opposite. Probably nice to watch those Hindustan Movie in future, in case I got bored.

(5) Weekend booking is very tough here, since on Saturday night, there is that Pasar Malam Jln TAR. In the day time, definitely the place is busy due to the bustling textile arcades. To me this place is heaven for lower middle and the lower income groups. About 10 years ago, most of these arcades were operated by Kelantanese, Trengganus, Kedahan, and the other locals. Nowadays, from the way they communicate, I believe most are Padang and Bangladeshi. Nonetheless, the arcades are now well cooled by the aircons and better alignment as compared to 10 years ago.

(6) Long time ago, I used to buy those textile and sold back home on credit basis (trying to be 'Cheti of Pakistani') for extra income, which to this day never 'made to my extra income'. Those are those young days, when even as a civil servant, life is just 'cukup makan'.

(7) From a nearby Islamic BookStore I bought two good books: Manaj Haraki, Strategi Pergerakkan dan Perjuangan Politik dalam Sirah Nabi Saw by KH Rahmat Abdullah and an old photocopy of Shekh Burhanuddin, yang mulai pengembang agama Islam di alam Minang Kabau.

(8) In the night, I took a walk along Jln TAR toward Chow Kit. Since the night was also heaty, I took a rest and have my Kerang Rebus by the stall at the junction of
Jln TAR and Sultan Ismail (?). The cockles taste real great. Real nicely done, boiled with lemon grass, and onion, with hot ketchup sauce. Not as normally done by most, merely boiled and serve without care of providing a good service. While eating, I enjoyed the old Malays' oddies played by the stall operator. All those nostalgic song remind me of my old days. In fact, the night, seeing stream of cars passing by both at Jln TAR and Jln Sultan Ismail, refreshed me of my old days kid life standing by the Sadong River watching boats, sampans, and all sort rushing up or down river. The old odies really remind me of those kid days sitting around among the families members and neighbors by the verandah while having the Kampung Kopi 'O' and fried banana, in today word: Starbuck and probably Tempura.

(9) In front of me sat, an elderly lady. She was skinny. She dressed in soft colorful chest opened dress. Would be nice scene for a man to appreciate, but since her chest was flat, there is nothing interesting then to follow. With a colorful head scarf. Putting on sun glass 'in the dark night', probbably to protect herself from the glare of those in coming shinning cars. She smokes a lot, none stop. She follows all the songs well. She seem to murmured lots of things as well. I presume, she is a lost woman in this bustling World of KL. How many more KL's citizen are lost in the Pride of a Nation?

(10) Later I walked up to Chow Kit to have a look at those bundle sales at Lorong Hj Taib. Again the Padang had flooded the place. At a dark corner, I saw lorries arriving and people seem to crowd the place. I made a look. Interesting to find out, this is a place where 'Durian Trading' takes place. The lorry beared the Thai plate nos. The durians look perfect but less aromatic as compare those sold in Kuching.

(11) In fact along the way, I passed many 'street people' which I'm wondering from where they are. They sleep by the road side, at the five footpath in the darker corners. I though I was walking along a 'black slump neighborhood in Denver'. Sometimes I make stops to watch some men gathering to play the 'Dam Haji' or 'Main Apit' the Malay version of chest.

(12) On the 14 May morning I rushed to Putra Jaya to have discussion to solve some serious investment problems that currently facing the Organization. A deal of legal standing as well as possible of acquisition were explored.

(13) Later, with a friend, I rushed down in a sporty Kancil down to Malacca. As usual, upon reaching Malacca, I went over to have my Cendol Pulut under the tree by the Malacca Stream (I can't call that a river as compare to Sarawak standard) opposite the Jonker Street. Then we strolled the Jonker Street. My aimed always to look for some nice tropical scenes painting. Nonetheless I found none, but came to discover the P Ramlee odies: Chiki Chiki Boom by P Ramlee and Sudarmaji, sung by Saloma, playable on the Gramophone. I got the Gramophone in Serikin about a year ago yet have non of the 'piring hitam'.

(14) Later we stopped at an Old Lady Cake House. She is a real old lady. I asked for 'Buah Melaka'. She seem to be wondering. Then I explained how does 'Buah Melaka' look like. Made of glutinous rice flour, usually colored green (pandan), filled with 'gula Melaka' or brown nipah sugar as the core, boil, then rolled onto decicated coconut. Immediately, she said: 'Itu onde-onde, bukan Buah Melaka, Buah Melaka orang tak makan'. She is right, in Malacca, Buah Melaka is a ornamental plant, while onde-onde is what elsewhere being called buah melaka, I believe, the term onde-onde is of a Batawi origin ie gentel-gentel.

(15) I just took good leisure for the night. We went to a movie and I treat myself to a good nap while my friend enjoy the heart breaking and ears daming movie.

(16) Early morning 15 May, we went again to the Jonker Street. We turned to the lane along the 'Stream' and I met an antique dealer by the name of Tham. He sell lots of those old 'junks', and to my surprise he had those old record players that I've been looking for. I bought the Sansui brand at a price that lure him to let go even his favourite odies: Blame It On The Bossa Nova and Guess I Should Have Loves Him More, by Eydie Gorme, a CBS production. I really love to have this player and odies as I intend to operate a Book Cafe once I retired in four years time. I have such a dream, copying the idea of a BookCafe in Boulder, Colorado, that I have visited many times.

(18) Later, we drove to Port Dickson, and have our late lunch somewhere at Tg. Tuan R&R area. Since this is a Negeri Sembilan teritory, one could easily figure out the type of food being serve. Lots of 'Gulai Lemak and Fried' dishes. For a Malay, those are sliver triggering, thus I took 'all those gulai lemak' fishes and vege.

(19) As customers streaming in, I keep my watch on them. Most are 'prosperous' Malays. I would say, nowadays, 60% of the lower middle and even the lower income, are having obes problem. The Chinese seem to trail very closely. Scanning through the food being served and those taken, I hardly could see they take more vege as compared to all those 'lemak' and fatty dishes. I wonder hard, one day, we really need to build big hospital and polyclinic all over the country to cater for our growing obesity problem.

(20) In line with Mustapha Mohammed call for Malaysia to have Productive Growth, I would figure out we are now in the verge of Unproductive Growth. The obesity phenomena would be one of those that is going to pull down our Productive Growth.

(21) In the flight back, I read a novel: Matahari di atas Gilli, by Lintang Sugiato, which is about a struggle by a outside lady to inculcate a learning habit among the Madura kids at Pulau Gilli. She was originally an orphan, from Java, whom was unable to finish her study herself, later married to a young man from Gilli, a Madura. The husband was a young man who fought his community tradition that every young Madura man must be a fisherman, yet he chose to be a boat builder. Both in fact being portrayed as characters that go against the wind to bring change to their community. They stand to their principle despite being harsely challenged. Nonetheless, though socially they succeed, but personally their love end in disaster.

(22) I love to explore this Madura Island this year. I hope to make my time and see their true hardship and 'dark side of their lives'.

KLIA-kUCHING
15 May, 2011