How to solve a problem

When there's a problem and it is causing confusion and dissatisfaction, how do you solve it?

First you acknowledge that there is a problem. Usually, you call for a meeting, get the parties to sit together and talk things out, and then try to find a solution that is best for all. If that can't be done, well at least give a clear explanation, and a solution that is favorable to all. The worst thing to do is to pretend that the problem does not exist, everything ok, sweep it under the carpet, and shout 'shut up and just do as I say'. Let's not kid ourselves, the problem will not go away. It'll just wait for the right time to explode.

Unfortunately, people in high positions and leadership posts do not seem to understand the rule of problem solving. I mean THIS. And the big joke is, they are invited as guests to teach about problem solving in another country, when they could not even handle it properly with their own. Read HERE.

To me, it read weak, insincere and incompetent leadership. Pray for the nation, please.

Rule of chaos

On a Sunday morning two months ago, a group of Malaysians gathered in front of the KLCC to voice their protest regarding the hike in fuel prices and escalating costs of living. They were ordinary citizens of various races showing their concern about issues that affect their daily lives. What did they get in return? A treat of water cannon and violent bashings from the FRU and police. 'No permit', the enforcers said.

Yesterday another group of Malaysians gathered too, voicing their protest of what's happening in faraway Lebanon. However, they received pretty good treatment I would say, that they could march all the way into an international conference site, pushed their way past FRU lines, gathered for 3 hours, and their leader got to show his bad manners to a guest of the Malaysian government. He 'gave Rice five minutes to come out and receive the memorandum'. Well, the FRU and police were very tolerant this time, no mention of needing any permit. Read the full text HERE. And HERE is another example where it's ok to stage fiery protests and make violent threats... but you must be with the right party and the right race.

How I see it, it's NOT OK if you protest something that concerns your livelihood. It's OK it you protest about other people's business. If you are an ordinary citizen, you have no right gather and voice you problems. If you are aligned to the right party, you can get away scot-free showing your bad manners in public and creating chaos, even if you are bossing about other people's business.

This kind of double-standard and lack-of-principle response from the government is indeed worrying. I dunno whether it is a sign of weak governance, or a sign of preferential treatment and silent consent that is leading to more worrying agendas.

Pray for the nation in the coming Merdeka month.

Alvin and Jenny - Part 3 of 3

We woke up late on the Sunday morning, due to the hectic day before.

Brought Irene's family for dim sum (Chinese touch-hearts ?) breakfast.


Well, the dim sum in Seremban is probably a bit lacking compared to the famous ones in Foh San Ipoh, but close enough.


After breakfast we went for a spin in Seremban town. Took a walk at the stalls beside the market, where we bought durians for RM 4 per kg (in Sabah it's RM 10 per kg). Irene's dad bought a plant to bring back to Sabah.


From there we went to check out the State Museum, which features a unique Mikangkabau architecture. Remember the schooltime story of Minangkabau, where a calf killed a bull, thanks to a little boy's wisdom?


Finally we went to the Seremban Train Station. Irene's parents and brother Ian took the Komuter train to go to KL Sentral, where a relative will receive them for the rest of their trip. Meanwhile, me and loupo went back to rest.


In the evening, we took an AirAsia flight back to Kota Kinabalu. Irene's auntie was there to pick us up. Took our car and stayed in a hotel in KK for the night. Tried to wake up at 2 a.m. for the World Cup finals... but couldn't la. Anyway, there was a replay in the morning, and we watched Zidane's 'amazing' header, and Italy kicked out France.

That's the end of the trilogy story. If you would like to see more photos, click the links below. But dun compare la... he got dSLR, and award-winning photographer lagi. Me just play-play take photos.
Kenneth's photos
Michael's photos

Alvin and Jenny - Part 2 of 3

After sweating an afternoon out in Midvalley Megamall, we went to my 5th auntie's house for some freshening up. In the evening, we drove in a convoy to Bukit Jalil for the wedding dinner.

Alvin and Jenny chose to have their wedding dinner at the Bukit Jalil Golf and Country Club. The dinner booking was made way in advance last year! Seems that people in KL had to make wedding dinner bookings even a year in advance, otherwise... belanja makan in mamak stall la.

Here's Mark and Julia registering the diners.


Alvin and Jenny making their entrance.


Then the food made its entrance.


It was a Chinese-style wedding dinner, 8-course with desserts.

The families went on stage for the toast.


Then there was the yam-seng and bottoms-up session around the restaurant, from table to table. For kids too, as you can see... There were some XOs being passed around (if you don't know what this is, don't worry). I was forced to try a little bit. Just a bit bit. I said I was driving ma.


As the dinner came to and end, me and loupo took some photos at the club.


Then we drove back to Seremban to rest and sleep. It had been a long and tiring day.

... to be continued ...

Alvin and Jenny - Part 1 of 3

My younger brother Alvin married his long-time girlfriend Jenny on the 8th of July 2006. They were paktor-ing since Form Six, then university, then working.... then now at last.

Since my loupo and her family members haven't met many of my relatives in West Malaysia, they too came along. We arrived in KLIA past midnight, then woke up early the next morning and drove up to Petaling Jaya for Alvin's wedding.

The wedding was held in Grace Community Center in Section 23, Petaling Jaya. To my surprise, the venue looked more like a church than a community center. We had some trouble finding the place, you know... PJ roads and the traffic and so on.

We arrived early, luckily. Alvin had got an official photographer Kenneth, armed with his dSLR Canon 350D. I shy shy to show my Canon S2IS, so I turned off my photographer mode, sat back and relax. But fingers got itchy, had to take out my S2 later and started to shoot... some crappy photos.

Here's Alvin with his bestman Chiew-Yan (his ol' schoolmate) waiting anxiously for the ceremony to start. And, hey, where's the bride??? Still doing make-up ka? Learn to get used to it man.


Ah, here they are. The wedding march played, and the father brought his daughter to be presented to the groom. Much like the scene in the Garden of Eden, where the heavenly Father brought Eve to Adam (difference was it was a naked event back then).


The wedding started with reading of the scriptures, then some Christian songs. The ceremony pastor, Pastor Stancil gave a sermon on essential elements of a good marriage... Communion, Companionship, Commitment.


Here's the pastor saying 'eii, are you guys serious ah... don't play play hah!'. No la, just joking. There was the exchange of vows, then the exchange of rings.


After that, they had the marriage certificate signing ceremony.


That was followed by the transfering of flames from two candles to one big candle, signifying two persons uniting into one soul. Or two families joined into one big family, depends on how you intepret it. Quite a nice touch.


Then the newly-wed knelt before the altar to receive prayer of blessing from the ceremony pastor. Sorry I didn't manage to catch the you-may-kiss-the-bride photo, but I am sure Kenneth had them.


And here they are, the new Mr and Mrs Hoong. (Mine was done earlier already).


When all was done, there was the photography session, followed by makan-makan upstairs.


When everything was over, my parents went to Alvin's apartment to get some rest. Me and loupo and her family went to Midvalley Megamall to get some exercise.

... to be continued...

Alvin's wedding

Me and my loupo and family were in Seremban and Kuala Lumpur last weekend for my younger brother's wedding. More stories and photos coming up soon. Watch this space.

Making soya milk

My loupo tried to make soya-milk some weeks ago. It didn't turn out right. Tak jadi. Tasted like taugeh juice. Finally, with some tips from Mr PenaRajawali, we got it right. Here are the steps for home-made soya-milk. Tell you, it tastes much better than those boxed ones on supermarket shelves.

1. Get soya beans (half kg will do). Wash and soak in water for few hours. Change the water in between.
2. Discard the water. Put the beans in a blender. Add clean water. Blend blend blend.
3. Sieve the pulp using a cloth 'kopi powder' sieve. This will separate the soya-milk from the bean sediment. The normal sieve won't do.
4. Bring the soya-milk to boil (kill the germs), with some pandan leaves for fragrance.
5. Add sugar according to preference.

There you are. Simple and delicious home-made soya-milk. Of course it becomes even easier if you have a couple hundred ringgits to buy a soya-milk machine. Oh the bean sediments can be used as fertiliser, my farmer neighbour said. Extra pandan leaves can be used as car refreshener. Think recycle.

When I was travelling Beijing last time, hot soya-milk was always part of the local breakfast. Difference was, the China-Chinese liked it salty, I much prefered it sweet.

And why did we fail in our first attempt...? We bought the wrong beans. Hahaha...

My favourite song

Do you have a favourite song? Why do you like it?

This is my favourite. I like the smoothing and serene rhythm, love the lyrics even more. It's a song of love, faith and hope. Told you, I am an oldie person.

What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Text: Joseph M. Scriven, 1820-1886
Music: Charles C. Converse, 1832-1918

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there.

Updates on missionary recruitment

Two days ago I wrote on cash and cars for missionaries. Felt that it's not right to use Ah Chai and Ramasamy's tax moneys for that purpose. SUHAKAM, the Human Rights Commission agrees too. Some excerpts...

It is wrong to use state funds as a marriage reward, said Suhakam economic, social and cultural rights working committee chairman Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria in a statement.

"The utilisation of state resources as a motivation for preachers to convert orang asli women by marriage is an abuse of power and violation of the basic right, especially the freedom of thought, conscience and religion by monetary inducement," he said.

"Inducement or reward for conversion, especially of very vulnerable and marginalised women in Malaysian society, is unethical and unacceptable even from any religious perspectives," added Dr Denison.

Click HERE to read the full article in Bernama. Any comments?

In becoming a Christian, we are reminded to 'carry the cross', 'count the cost', 'there will be troubles', 'do not love the world'. Incentives ah, got plenty stored up in heaven for the faithful ones.

India Night

As mentioned in my earlier blog entry, my loupo and I went to SIB Likas (English) in Kota Kinabalu for their India Night.


A group of youths (mostly teens) from SIB Likas went for a mission trip to India recently, and that night they took turns to share about their 13-day experience, backed by powerpoint presentation with photos and movies. They had their fair share of unexpected adventures, missed schedules, tummy aches, not unfamiliar in any mission trip. But they have proudly transcended the hurdles and each had their lives enriched from their India experience. They had concert in a shopping mall, visited churches to preach and teach, prayed for people, went to orphanage and HIV/AIDS center, travelled in terrorist areas... Err. if you can read the language on this photo, please help translate.

Here are some exact (well, almost...) words from the young missionaries, and the SIB senior pastor:

"I have learned that prayer really works. I always read about it... but in India, I am fully convinced that it really works!"
"The trip has opened my eyes to the real world outside..."
"I learned to appreciate the things I have at home. Looking at how destitute people in that part of India are, I have realise that it's so silly to complain about petty things in my life..."
"I learned to appreciate my parents even more..."
"We should encourage our youths to go for mission trips. Let us as a church make it an aim to send our youths out, every year... what they learn in the field is something they can never learn at home..."
"Parents, your children are a wonderful lot, and they have grown so much matured through the two weeks of India mission trip..."
"Pastor Bobby... Pastor Susan..." is that prophesy or what?
"I am glad that the mission trip didn't go smoothly. That's how Christian mission really is. And in difficulties we learn to lean on God, and see Him take charge."

Told you we went dressed to kill. Appeared that I was the ONLY guy in Indian costume. Felt so silly. Of course, the girls were more sporting hehehe, came in colourful sarees. We had to rush back to Keningau after the presentation. So didn't manage to try out their roti canai and chapattis.

Click HERE for more photos. Vanakam and Namaste!