FROM THE BOOK, IN PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN PIMLOTT, Guild Publishing London, 1984
Japans's Blitzkrieg Tha Fall of Malaya and Singapore (the full photos in page 60-61)
World War II was a 'total war'. Although it began in september 1939 as an essentially regional conflict between Germany and the Anglo-French allies over the future of Poland, it rapidly developed into an idealogical contest, with each side- Axis and Allies- intent upon the complete destruction of its rival. It culminated in the use of atomic bombs against Japan in August 1945, by which time over 50 million people had died and the shape of the world politics had been radically altered.
1. Japanese troops offload supplies during the invasion of Thailand/Malaya, 8 December, 1941. Elements of the invasion fleet may be seen on the horizon.
2. British troops under Japanese guard in Singapore, 15 February, 1942. Over 130,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers were taken prisoner during the Malayan campaign: all were to suffer appaling hardship during the 4 1/2 years of their captivity and many were to die of exhaustion, overwork and neglect.
3. Japanese Type 95 light tanks advence down a Malayan road, Devemver 1941. Armed with 37mm main gun, the Type 95 was mobile but poorly armoured and given the type of terrain usually encountered, saw limited action.
4. The Japanese ability to move swiftly through difficult country wes one of the keys to their victory in Malaya. It was created in part by the use of bicycles: here a group of Japanese cyclists surmont the obstacle of a muddy stream.
5. Symbol of British defeat: Japanese soldiers march past the General Post Office in Singapore, 15 February 1942.
6. The destruction of Force Z, 10 decemver, 1941: sailors scramble over the side of the stricken Prince of Wales, destroyed by Japanese aircraft. She was the first capital ship in history to be sunk by air power alone.
Aku berkesempatan berkunjung ke rumah kawan-kawan di UK ini, namun aku dapati kadang-kadang rumah mereka tidak terurus. Antaranya:-
1. Pinggan mangkuk di ‘sink’ dan dapur didapati kotor, sampah merata-rata.
2. Tandas kotor dan bilik air basah, bertakung dengan air, tumbuh kulat atau lumut, lantai basah dan kotor.
3. Langsir lusuh. Pakaian belum sempat di basuh, bertaburan dan tidak disusun di dalam bakul dengan sempurna.
4. Di halaman rumah, sampah bersepah-sepah atau rumput panjang tanpa dipotong atau dibersihkan.
5. Di bilik anak-anak, permainan bersepah-sepah, berdebu. Sampah seperti kertas, plastik, botol, bekas gula-gula, tin-tin minuman tidak dibuang di dalam bakul sampah.
6. Rumah dan bilik disumbat dengan pelbagai barangan tanpa disusun atau disimpan di dalam stor dengan sempurna.
Mengapa rumah tidak terurus atau bersih atau tidak kemas?
1. Suami isteri dan anak-anak mempunyai sikap sambil lewa dan suka bertangguh.
2. Menjaga kebersihan dan mengemas rumah bagi sebahagian daripada kita bukannya sebahagian daripada proses atau budaya kehidupan.
3. Anak-anak tidak dididik untuk menjaga kebersihan dan bersama-sama membantu mengemaskan rumah.
4. Sudah biasa membiarkan rumah kotor dan tidak kemas. Tabiat ini sukar untuk diubah.
Penyelesaian
1. Menyediakan jadual waktu atau ‘duty roster’ untuk seisi rumah melakukan aktiviti membersihkan rumah seperti menyapu, mengemop lantai atau membersihkan ‘carpet ‘dengan ‘vacuum machine’, membasuh pakaian, menyidai, melipat pakaian dan menyimpan di dalam almari setiap ahli keluarga
2. Menyediakan bakul sampah, peralatan membersihkan rumah yang sesuai dan cukup dan mesti menyediakan masa untuk mengemas rumah dengan segera dan berterusan, setiap hari.
3. Memotong atau mencabut rumput atau menanam pokok-pokok untuk menyerikan halaman rumah.
4. Setiap sebulan sekali melihat mana-mana baju, seluar, perabut atau apa sahaja yang tidak boleh dipakai atau barangan rosak atau pecah bolehlah disedekahkan kepada orang (recycle) atau dibuang dengan sempurna.
5. Siapa yang mampu, mengambil ‘orang gaji’ untuk urusan mengemas rumah.
Rumusan
Mengemas rumah, tempat tidur, bilik, halaman rumah, dapur, stor, tandas adalah menjadi tanggung seisi keluarga. Bapa dan Ibu wajib mengajar anak-anak mereka menjaga kebersihan rumah masing-masing.
Pada 4 Jun, 2009, merupakan pilihanraya parlimen Eropah. Aku dan isteri banyak menerima risalah-risalah dan kempen parti daripada pelbagai parti di UK ini, menerusi mail box di rumah. Aku dapati pelbagai kaedah digunakan. Semua pengundi bebas memilih siapa yang mereka inginkan.
Aku turut layak mengundi dan nama kami ada didaftarkan apabila bermastautin di sini secara automatik oleh Hull City Council. Antara syarat boleh mengundi ialah bekas rakyat negara 'British Commonwealth'.
Aku merasa tertarik, ada seorang calon daripada parti Lim Dems menghantar surat merayu pengundi, sedangkan zaman sekarang zaman siber. Beliau turut menyediakan ruang webnya iaitu http://www.denishealy.org.uk/ Beliau ialah calon dan Local Campaigner Lib Dems, Denis Healy.
Bersama-sama ini, aku sertakan suatu "surat kempen" berwarna biru, yang ditulis dengan tangan, tulisan rangkai, bersampulkan/envelope berwarna biru dan dicetak dan diposkan kepada pengundi. Walau bagaimanapun, aku terpaksa menaip semula untuk mudah membacanya.
Sila teliti pandangan beliau terhadap pilihanraya ini.
Do you-like me-feel that it’s time for a change? Gordon Brown has been a huge disappointment. He has let us down on the economy, the environment and an MPs expenses. After 12 years in powers, labour cannot blame anyone else for their mess any longer.
The MPs expenses scandal has left people feeling even more dismayed. Our labour MP Diana Johnson voted to allow Mps to claim expenses for furnishing their second homes-and now look at the mess. Enough is enough.
Things have got to change-but only a vote for the Liberal democrats will make that difference in Hull.
Elections in Hull are a clear choice between the Lim Dems and labour-with the Conservatives in a distant third place. Voting Conservative, or for a minor party, will let Labours weak a head and will just let Gordon Brown off the hook.
The Lib Dems are fighting for a better deal for Hull. They have cut back Labour’s planned Council tax rises to put more money in people’s pockets during this tough time. Everyone knows someone who has been helped by the Lib Dem Team.
Local Lib Dem MEP, Diana Wallis is part of that team. She works hard all year round for Hull. She fought for extra funding after the floods of 2007, and is calling for Humber Bridge Tolls to be scrapped. She is strong voice for Hull.
Together, we can send Gordon Brown a message on June 4th. We can tell him it’s time for a change. Every Lib Dem vote is a vote for a better deal for Hull.
With Best Wishes
Denis Healy
P.sStaying at home will let Gordon Brown off the hook. Voting Conservative or for a minor party will just help labour is win again. Only a Lib Dem vote will send Gordon Brown a message he cannot ignore-please make your vote count on June 4th.
Interviewee: Mohammad Yaghi, Lafer International Fellow, Washington Institute for Near East Policy on January 5, 2009
Mohammad Yaghi, a veteran Palestinian political expert based in Toronto, says the current fighting between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group that governs Gaza, wasn't necessary. Yaghi proposes that the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama call a meeting bringing together Arab states and Israel to overcome Hamas' refusal to negotiate with Israel. "The time for bilateral negotiations between Palestine and Israel has come to its end," Yaghi says. "The Palestinians and the Israels won't come to agreement because [Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud] Abbas lacks legitimacy and he's very weak and because Hamas is very extreme and they don't want negotiations with Israel. The only way to bring peace to that area is to make an overall agreement with the Arab countries including a deal to end the Palestinian-Israel conflict."
You're an experienced Palestinian observer who was born in the West Bank city of Ramallah. What has struck you the most about the current fighting between Israel and Hamas? Is there something different or is this the same as in the past?
It's very different--very, very different actually. First of all, it wasn't a war of necessity. Hamas was contained in Gaza prior to the war, and the only thing that Hamas wanted was the ending of the economic siege on Gaza. Renewing the truce [a six-month truce that began in mid-June 2008] was very possible. The war wasn't necessary. Actually, prior to the war, the situation in Gaza was very severe on the Palestinians so Hamas was facing a choice--either to renew the truce, or to make an improved one that allowed the [Gaza-Israel border] crossings to be open, or to resume its attacks on Israel. That was the situation when Israel launched its operations in Gaza.
But hadn't Hamas allowed the rockets to begin to fire into Israel right after the truce expired in mid-December?
Yes, they allowed it because they were seeking an improved truce. They wanted an improved one. They didn't want the same truce that had been implemented. They said this truce neither benefits Hamas nor the Palestinians in Gaza. They wanted to pressure Israel to open the crossings.
So do you think Hamas was surprised by the strong Israeli military attack?
I can't say this. Their officials all the time declare that they knew that this would happen. They say Hamas was prepared for this, so I can't say that they didn't expect this.
It's been going on now for ten days. Have you been surprised so far at the reaction in the Arab world?
Not at all. What's new in this conflict actually is that those who are leading the conflict with Israel are not the forces of the secular Palestinian Liberation Organization [PLO]. It's the Islamic movement in Gaza, represented by Hamas. And the Islamic movement in Gaza has huge support in the Arab and Islamic worlds. It's part of the Muslim Brotherhood, which enjoys a lot of support and which has popularity in the Arab world. Actually, they are the only opposition in the Arab countries that has a chance to rule in the Arab world, so I'm not that surprised by the huge support for the Palestinians in Gaza or for Hamas in Gaza. In fact, if I didn't see this, I would say that the Muslim Brotherhood in the Arab world was very weak, but I know that they are very strong.
I meant the reaction of the Arab governments, not the people in the street.
The position of the Arab governments actually didn't surprise me. Egypt and the Palestinian Authority had interest in the Israeli operation in Gaza. Egypt sees Hamas as a big threat to its regime and actually, Hamas accused Egypt and the Palestinian Authority of knowing about and helping organize this attack with Israel. So it was expected that the moderate Arab countries--Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and also the Palestinian Authority--will try to give Israel as much time as possible in its mission. We have seen this before actually when Israel attacked Hezbollah in Lebanon two years ago.
Israel of course claims that Hamas and Hezbollah are both supported by Iran. Many of the Arab countries are quite fearful of Iran's influence, yes?
That's very true. Hezbollah and Hamas are supported by Iran and they are supported by Syria. The moderate Arab countries want to reduce the Iran position in the Middle East, and that's how we can understand their behavior. And since the Islamic movement in the Arab world is the only opposition to the moderate governments, they have interest in putting down Hamas.
Let's talk a bit about the Palestinian Authority. This is a very complicated question because President Mahmoud Abbas's term officially ends at the end of this week. What's going to happen?
Before the war in Gaza, Hamas was preparing to declare him an illegitimate president. They said his term will have expired [on January 9] and they won't deal with him anymore. That was the situation and Hamas believed that part of the goal of this war is to extend the term of Abbas's presidency. Now, what's going to happen depends on the war right now in Gaza. If Hamas is defeated, if Hamas surrenders, Abbas will have more chances to serve and he will force Hamas to accept his terms. If Hamas emerges stronger than before the war, then Abbas will have to bow down and to accept Hamas's terms for a unity government.
What would Israel have to do to defeat Hamas? Or is it not even possible?
I'm not sure this is possible actually because when there is a popular movement, you can't defeat it by war. You can defeat it only by direct election. The main mistake actually was that of the Palestinian Authority. From the beginning, it should have allowed Hamas to rule after Hamas won the parliamentary election in 2006. Since the West was not going to finance the Palestinian Authority after this election, Hamas wouldn't have been able to provide the people with services and wouldn't [have been] able to implement its reform agenda. The next round of elections was going to be in 2010 and the people would have replaced Hamas. Unfortunately, the Palestinians acted in a rush; they wanted to oust Hamas very quickly. That's why we are at this point right now.
What would you recommend to U.S. President-elect Barack Obama when he takes office in two weeks?
He will be in a situation that's very difficult, but he has to face the realities. The realities are that first of all, this conflict is complicating the situation in the Middle East, but at the same time he needs to recognize that Abbas is not the only power in Palestinian politics. In fact, he lacks the legitimacy to sign and implement any agreement. The only option for Obama is to facilitate talks between the Arab countries as a whole and Israel. The time for bilateral negotiations between Palestine and Israel has come to its end. The Palestinians and the Israelis won't come to agreement because [Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud] Abbas lacks legitimacy and he's very weak and because Hamas is very extreme and they don't want negotiation with Israel. The only way to bring peace to that area is to make an overall agreement with the Arab countries, including a deal to end the Palestinian-Israel conflict. Hamas won't be able to defy Syria and most of the Arab countries, and will accept an agreement approved by the Arab countries.
Do you think this is really possible?
There are two problems. [One is] how to represent the Palestinians in the negotiations. But the Arab League can find a formula. Maybe they can be in a committee that advises Arabs on the negotiations or the Arabs can negotiate and defer to this committee in which Hamas and Fatah would be represented, for example. The second issue is, who is going to negotiate on behalf of the Arabs? The Arab League can find a way. For example, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Jordan would do this negotiation.
I don't know if Israel is even interested in such a proposal.
It's much better for them because Israel is facing Hamas in the south; they are facing Hezbollah in the north. The issue that Israel should focus on is how to weaken Iran's influence in the Middle East. In the coming years, or even right now, Iran is trying to influence everyone in the Middle East to step into the conflict with Israel. So Israel has enormous interest in neutralizing Iran, and preventing many of the Arab countries from being allied with Iran. It's in the Israeli interest to have allies in the Arab world against Iran.
Some other people propose this general approach. The Arab League itself has, hasn't it?
The Arab countries proposed this initiative in 2002 and this initiative entails negotiation with Israel. How can we implement this initative when there are no negotiations? Initially, the Arabs were in favor for this position and I have doubts that they will object to it.
Do you think the fighting and all the casualities in Gaza have increased the support of Palestinians in Gaza for Hamas or do you think Hamas is losing some of its popularity?
I don't want to speculate actually, but with those TV images from Gaza, it's hard to tell. You see, prior to the war, Hamas was able to gather 300,000 people on its anniversary, just one week before the conflict broke out. I believe Hamas has deep roots in Gaza and the Palestinians will support Hamas especially because they have no place to go. You see, the borders of Egypt are closed, the borders with Israel are closed, and Israel is bombing Gaza more heavily than since 1967, and what are the people in Gaza supposed to do? I wouldn't say that the people would say that Hamas is to be blamed. I would say the people are going to blame Israel.
Ada seorang temanku, Sharif amat gemar mengirim pelbagai berita, keratan akhbar, kata nasihat, kisah rumah tangga, pemandangan atau tempat melancong yang menarik dan selingan untuk berinteraksi setiap hari menerusi e-mel.
Aku paparkan beberapa contoh gambar songket dari Palembang. Akupun tidak pernah pakai songket buatan Indonesia. Aku ada beberapa helai songket biasa buatan tempatan, khususnya dari Terengganu.
Siapa yang biasa pergi Palembang, mungkin boleh ceritakan perbezaan dan mutu kain songket ini dengan songket buatan kita sendiri.
Menabung bolehlah dimaksudkan mengasingkan sejumlah wang dari sejumlah kewangan yang dimiliki. Ianya bermakna, menyimpan sejumlah wang daripada pendapatan yang diperolehi untuk keperluan pada masa hadapan. Pada amnya, wang yang ditabungkan ialah baki pendapatan selepas ditolak dengan perbelanjaan seseorang.
Tujuan/Manfaat/Faedah
Memang orang amat gemar berbelanja dan boros. Tentu sukar dikikis sikap berboros. Perubahan taraf, cita rasa, godaan dan gaya hidup kini dianggap turut menghalang orang untuk berjimat cermat dan menabung. Sikap berbelanja secara berhemah mesti dilakukan.
Walaupun begitu, pada sesiapa yang berhajat untuk menabung atau menyimpan mempunyai tujuan bagi maksud jangka pendek atau jangka panjang. Tujuan menyimpan adalah bergantung kepada niat yang hendak dilakukan oleh seseorang pada suatu jangka masa yang akan ditentukan. Pada amnya, menyimpan untuk keselesaan hidup seperti membeli motosikal, kereta, harta yang dihajati, ada yang menabung untuk berkahwin, dijadikan modal untuk berniaga, urusan anak sekolah dan ramai melakukannya untuk bekalan pada hari tua atau kecemasan atau untuk menambahkan harta.
Cara mengurus yang strategik
Potongan gaji pada mereka yang bekerja tetap yang telah ditetapkan oleh kerajaan (sebagai wajib), seperti KWSP, potongan terus (secara memaksa diri) ke akaun bank anak-anak atau simpanan untuk syer atau saham di koperasi atau simpanan di bank-bank sendiri dan Tabung Haji. Potongan saham di koperasi akan turut memperolehi ‘dividend‘ dan dianggap turut menambahkan jumlah tabungan.
Menabung secara manual dan kaedah ini seseorang itu mesti bersemangat, bermotivasi dan berdisiplin untuk menabung sebahagian daripada pendapatannya. Sewajarnya, suatu kadar daripada gaji atau pendapatan yang diterima atau yang diperolehi hendaklah disimpan (menjadi simpanan senyap). Kadar ini wajar ditingkatkan dari semasa ke semasa, walaupun agak sukar di dalam situasi ekonomi sekarang.
Pengajaran positif
Anak-anak yang bersekolah mulai di peringkat pra sekolah, rendah ataupun sekolah menengah wajar melatih diri berbelanja secara berhemah, walaupun ikut sebenar, duit boleh dihabiskan sekelip mata sahaja. Mereka wajar belajar berjimat cermat, membuka akuan simpanan di mana-mana bank dan memasukkan wang untuk simpanan.Mereka boleh menggunakan wang tersebut untuk kemasukan ke sekolah, kolej atau universiti masa hadapan.
Seseorang itu akan hanya berbelanja pada suatu yang perlu sahaja. Orang ramai diajak dan diseru berjimat cermat dan menyimpan. Menggalakkan orang ramai menyimpan di institusi yang selamat dan disahkan oleh kerajaan bagi mengelakkan penipuan, penyalahgunaan dan melanggar undang-undang negara.
Seseorang akan berfikir untuk berbelanja, mana yang wajar dibeli atau untuk dipakai secara bijaksana. Berbelanja hendaklah berpada-pada atau secara sederhana sahaja dan melakukan infaq bulanan seperti zakat atau bersedekah bagi memastikan pendapatan yang kita perolehi diberkati dan “dibersihkan” daripada sebarang kekotoran lahir dan batin.
Tujuan menyimpan atau menabung untuk bersedia melakukan sesuatu suruhan Allah adalah lebih utama dan wajar didahulukan daripada tujuan lainnya seperti membesarkan dan mengindahkan rumah, menyediakan wang deposit secukupnya untuk menukar atau membeli kereta baru, ataumelancong ke luar negara dan lain-lain tujuan yang dianggap untuk berseronok atau bersukaria atau sekadar untuk berseronok menghimpun harta dan tanah. Simpanan untuk anak-anak melanjutkan pelajaran yang lebih tinggi atau menunaikan fardhu haji pada mereka yang belum menunaikan tanggungjawab ini, sepatutnya dijadikan wajib pada diri sendiri untuk mengambil langkah segera dan pro aktif menyimpan seberapa banyak yang boleh.
Rumusan
Menyimpan atau menabung wajar dilaksanakan, melainkan seseorang itu bekerja, kais pagi, makan pagi, kais petang makan petang atau kais malam makan malam (tidak cukup untuk menampung hidup/makanan seharian). Mungkin tidak mampu untuk seseorang yang dianggap fakir atau miskin untuk berbuat demikian, namun anak-anak dan diri kita masing-masing, wajar belajar duduk berbincang seisi keluarga menyediakan catatan pendapatan dan perbelanjaan (Family Financing Planning) yang sempurna, terperinci dan bersedia untuk membahagikan beberapa kadar tertentu untuk tujuan tabungan atau simpanan tetap bulanan.
Kita wajar berusaha memperbaiki amalan dan kehidupan kita sendiri terlebih dahulu tanpa mengharapkan simpati dan sumbangan daripada orang lain.
Marilah kita belajar menyimpan dan jauhi seboleh-bolehnya daripada berhutang dan berbelanja boros atau membeli sesuatu yang dianggap mendatangkan mudarat dan sia-sia seperti ketagihan merokok.
Sama ada anda semua ingin menabung kemudian setelah berbelanja atau menyimpan dahulu sebelum berbelanja, anda mampu membuat pilihan sendiri, asalkan anda ada “sedikit potongan” untuk tabungan pada setiap bulan.
Hari Sabtu lepas, 23 Mei, 2009, aku, isteri dan anak-anak sempena cuti sekolah untuk seminggu di UK, sempat ziarah dan bermalam dua malam di rumah teman Fairuzam di Stoke-on-Trent. Kerap juga kami bermalam di rumahnya. Kami menginap di rumahnya dan tengahari Isnin, kamipun berangkat pulang ke Hull, sebab aku kerja, petang itu. Perjalanan Hull-Stoke-on-Trent mengambil masa 2 ½ jam, jika memandu sekitar 110-120km sejam, tanpa berhenti, ikut lebuhraya, A63, M62, M18, M1, A50, A500.
Biasalah, bila tiba cuti sekolah, anak-anak berminat hendak berjalan dan jumpa kawan-kawan. Lagipun, kami dengan keluarga Fairuzam, lama kenal sejak tinggal di Kuala Lumpur lagi, sekitar tahun 1993. Isterinya, sedang menunggu ‘viva’ dan akan balik ke Malaysia, 'for good' Julai 2009 ini. Rumahnya, yang terletak di 16, Grove Street sudahpun ditimbuni dengan pinggan mangkuk. Dia berseloroh denganku, bila sampai di Malaysia nanti, dia hendak menjalankan kegiatan car boot sale di Pasar Tani, Shah Alam.
Kami ke Stoke sudah kerap sangat kerana Stoke ini tempat kilang pinggan mangkuk yang terkenal di UK. Orang perempuan, memang sukalah hendak membeli pinggan mangkuk jenama seperti Royal Doulton, Royal Albert atau Bone China. Kalau di Sogo, KL, harganya beribu ringgit, namun di UK, ada potongan harga lagi, boleh banyak jimatkan duit. Isteri Menteri kita selalu datang ke sini.
Lagipun, ada kenalan kami, Dr. Thohiroh belum pernah datang ke Stoke dan nampaknya, beliau berminat hendak membeli barangan tersebut untuk buat koleksi di rumahnya di Cheras. Dr. Thohiroh menaiki keretapi ke Stoke, sebab keretaku, sudah penuh dengan anak-anak. Isteriku dan doktor ini memanglah suka datang ke Stoke, kerap sangat lagi bagus, di samping membawa dan menghiburkan anak-anak, turut mengambil peluang cuti hujung minggu dan Bank Holiday pada Isnin, 25 Mei, 2009.
Hari Sabtu lepas, ramai juga jumpa orang Malaysia, sama ada pelawat atau student from the nearest places from Stoke, mengambil peluang membeli belah dan isteriku turut berjumpa dengan kenalanku dan kenalan isteriku juga semasa menetap di Taman Grennwood, Gombak dan Kg. Kerdas 2, brother Baharudin Baharom dan isterinya, ‘UITM lecturer’ sedang mengikuti kursus PhD di Nottingham University, di UK ini. Aku masa itu, lepas balik dari car boot, sudahpun letih, tetapi selepas pukul 2.00 petang, isteriku, Hanim dan Dr. Thohiroh pantas keluar rumah semula pergi 'shopping' di kedai-kedai di sekitar Stoke.
Aku kerap jumpa kawan-kawan lama, sudahpun berbelas-belas tahun tidak lagi berjumpa di Malaysia, tetapi boleh jumpa kembali di UK dan boleh datang dan ziarah ke rumah mereka di sini. Aku rasakan bersyukur sangat dapat berjumpa dengan mereka kembali dan yang penting, masing-masing masih sihat, ramai anak dan rambut sudah beruban di samping usia masih dipanjangkan oleh Allah s.w.t.
Di Stoke, aktiviti kami yang penting, kami penuhi dengan ziarah kawan-kawan, ada sembilan keluarga yang masing-masing sedang mengikuti kursus di peringkat PhD dan Master, di antara lainnya, brother Rawi, berasal dari Kelantan, bertugas di Kementerian Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi dan Mastika, pensyarah UNIMAS, Sarawak. Kalau di Malaysia hendak ziarah kawanpun amat susah, sebab banyak komitmen dengan anak-anak terutama yang bersekolah di asrama, perlu jengok setiap minggu atau balik kampung tengok nenek.
Hari Ahad, selain daripada meninjau beberapa car boot di sekitar Stoke, di sebelah petangnya, selepas jam 4.00 petang, kami dapat berkunjung ke rumah brother Kamal, rakyat Melayu Singapura (berketurunan suku Boyan dan isterinya suku Jawa), bekerja di London, sudah menjadi penduduk tetap (PR) UK. Beliau menganjurkan program ramah mesra dan membakar satay. Aku pada pagi Ahad itupun, sudah bangun awal dan mencucuk satay untuk brother tersebut. Di rumah brother Kamal, aku turut menemui brother Zul, bekas pelajar di Staffordshire University, sejak sembilan tahun yang lalu, sudah berkeluarga, memperolehi PR, bekerja di London, berulang alik pergi kerja, Stoke-london dan setiap tahun balik menziarah keluarganya di kampung iaitu di Muar, Johor. Aku sempat juga berjumpa dengan emaknya yang datang sekejap ke UK ini.
Pada pagi Isnin, 25 Mei, 2009 sempat aku ke Car Boot Sale yang terletak di pedalaman Stoke, ‘rural area’, namun seronok jugalah melihat pemandangan yang menghijau, apabila keadaan cuaca sekarang sudah panas sekitar 17-23 darjah celcius, peralihan ke musim panas.
Kepentingan Ziarah
1. Satu amalan agama untuk meneruskan ikatan persaudaraan, memperolehi nasihat dan bimbingan.
2. Untuk mendedahkan dan membimbing anak-anak cara atau adab bergaul dan menghormati orang lain serta hidup bermasyarakat.
3. Satu tradisi yang wajar dikekalkan dan dipastikan anak-anak dapat menghargai proses bersosialisasi secara baik.
4. Meramaikan kenalan dan membawa punca rezeki di samping membantu teman-teman jika diperlukan.
5. Menganjurkan aktiviti dan program ramah mesra seperti kenduri kesyukuran, membakar satay, BBQ, ‘camping’ berdekatan, berkelah bersama dan riadah untuk keceriaan keluarga.
