LAMPU TRAFIK 199

Monday, March 18, 2024 at 9:24 PM

 

Lampu Trafik 199


Lampu merah sombong

Tidak mahu dia minggir

Sudah 199 minit berlalu

Ia terus jua, 

.....menganjingkan kita

Kepala otak kita semak

Berkira-kira waktu

Bertahan pundi kencing

Dan perut kembung angin

Namun, 

..... susah hidup puas rasanya

Lebih rela kita bertungkus

Mahu pun onak belukar dirempuh

Dari dipenjara zoo binatang

Kata orang kita harus terus berjuang

Bukan sekadar jam Rolex

Kononnya hadiah bersara

Berkilat berkilau cantik

Namun maknanya jelek

Di ufuk sana matahari malu

Pergi ia jauh dia dari kita

Agar kita berteguk air

Menghembus kretek

Dan bersyukur masih hidup



Oleh Jo Haq

18 Mac 2024

7:27 malam

Shah Alam



SEBAB KITA SAYANG

Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 7:34 AM

 


Sebab Kita Sayang


Kita marah dengan anak

Perangainya malas mencanak

Mahu dicorakkan otak

Sebab kita sayang anak


Kita membebel dengan isteri

Belanjanya boros tak terperi

Mahu dibendung kata hati

Sebab kita sayang isteri


Kita gelojoh wang dan harta

Lumayannya terbeliak biji mata

Mahu dikumpul macam Si Qarun Izha

Sebab kita sayang dunia


Kita mencabut lalang di pusara

Sejak kita bayi sabar mereka membela

Mahu kita tebus apa yang alpa

Sebab kita sayang ibu dan bapa


Kita meroyan fasal Kerajaan

Politikusnya hancing labunan 

Mahu dirombak keterampilan

Sebab kita sayang nilai kebangsaan


Kita sujud dan berdoa

Kumitannya nangis tak berirama

Mahu ditaubat dari segala dosa

Sebab kita sayang yang Maha Esa



Oleh Jo Haq

14 Mac 2024

7:26 pagi

Bukit Jelutong



1947 CHINESE HORSE RACING CALENDAR

Monday, March 11, 2024 at 5:22 AM

 


1947 CHINESE HORSE RACING CALENDAR

By Jo Haq

11 March 2024

4:35 am


I just woke up to a very weird dream. I was an accidental time traveller back to 1947 in Malaya. I saw a Malaysian Chinese horse racing calendar somewhere while I was there, or when I was then. Funny, the clothing was more like 1957 because I saw women wearing mini skirts and police wearing shorts.

I checked my wallet and saw that I still have some 2024 Malaysian currency notes, my Malaysian national registered identification card and all. I figured that those stuff shall be my evidence. So, I went for a quest to identify someone whom I can give, maybe a 2024 fifty Ringgit note with my signature on it and my 2024 telephone number, that is 0179881185. That someone would look for me in 2024. 

Say if he or she is twenty years old, in 1947, then in 2024 he or she would be 77 years old. So, he or she would have to look for me earlier, say in 2014, at his or her age of 67. To be safe, I thought to myself, 67 is too old. He or she might be dead already. So, I resorted to give my phone number used earlier then 2013, that is 0172508811.

And there, or then, begun my adventure of identifying that person. But every time I was about to utter the words that I suspect the person will not believe, some obstacle will happen to stop me from continuing. This happened many times.

Oh! Ya! I forgot to mention. I was not alone. I had my friend, Riza, whom used to be the successor CEO to me for MyCreative. So, we both encountered the same obtacles together. One of the obstacle was a police raid due to fear of communism spreading. Riza got captured for God knows whatever reason. He does not look like a communist. So, I was left alone.

I was tired and had given up in my attempt to give the marked fifty Ringgit note because even if I did not attempt to utter any words, the act of pulling out that note with the attention to show what was written on it would trigger some sort of obstacle.

Soon I realised, every person that I got closed to would be out of my life. I became lonely. So, I think, or thought, rather, I should just retire from my intention and just live 1947. I looked for a job as an office boy. I met a twenty year old Malay lady by the name Sofia. She looks like Zaleha from the P. Ramlee film, Antara Dua Darjat. We became good friends, but not lovers.

Despite my effort to avoid telling her or showing her where, or when, I come from, an obstacle happened anyway. She did not want to continue our friendship and refused to see me. In fact, I couldn't even find her as I suspect she may have left town or moved away. I was alone, yet again. 

What could have happened? Did she try to look into my Bally wallet? Maybe she did see my Malaysian national registration identification card. Maybe she did see my fifty Ringgit note that had my signature coupled with a written date of 10 March 1947 as well as a written declaration scribbled as, "I am Johan bin Mohamed Ishak. I was born on 29 August 1975. Call me at 0172508811 in the year 2003". 

I was so sad that that sadness had awoken me from my sleep at 4:24 am on 11 March 2024. The funny thing is, normally I would not remember the details of my dreams. This dream, however, stays vivid in my mind down to the colour of clothes worn by people in the dream, their faces, as well as stuff like the Malaysian Chinese horse racing calendar. Oh well, I am just going to have a smoke and then back to sleep. Who knows I might end up in 2047?





SURPRISE! RISING RICE PRICE

Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 7:54 PM

 















SURPRISE! RISING RICE PRICE

By Johan Ishak

7 March 2024


RICE is a staple for us Malaysians as well as most countries in Asia. In fact, it is probably the ranking No.1 staple food surpassing fish, meat and vegetables. As simple as it may be, there is a need for many types of rice particularly those with medical condition. Given its importance, consumers reaction to any change in price of rice is highly elastic.

Since early 2023, price of rice has increased by 36% from RM2,350 per metric tonne to RM3,200, as reported in The Star on 1 September 2023, and consumers are angry. India, who is World's top exporter of rice has restricted its rice exports in order to satisfy their local consumption needs. As a result, the price of rice is now at RM6 per kilogram (expatistan.com). However, recent shopping done at the supermarket seems to price 10 kilogram at RM45, i.e RM4.50 per kilogram.

A kilogram is equivalent to 4.5 cups, enough to feed a family for a day. 30 days gives you RM135 per month. This can be sizeable portion of monthly household income of B40 segment of the market. That is assuming a small family of 4. What if there are more?

Malaysia produces 1.5 million tonnes of rice that can only meet 73% of the local consumer needs (ap.fftc.org.tw). The remaining 27% are imported from various countries including India, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam. The question is, why is Malaysia not addressing the supply issue and, hence, address the pricing issue. 

India has managed to become the No.1 rice exporter in the space of one decade since they embarked on their rice policies. What has the Malaysian Government done? Since the new Madani Government of Anwar Ibrahim came to power, a new ministry for food security has been created for which, Mat Sabu is the minister. Mat Sabu or even PMX Anwar should do what is necessary to address the situation we are facing.

According to Professor Fatimah Arshad of Universiti Putra Malaysia in a Breakfast Grill interview on BFM on 7 March 2024, the Government has introduced Beras Madani policy. The policy aims to combine local and imported rice, which means, combining low quality as well as high quality rice. This also means, the price averaging of rice deprives the poor from a cheaper rice price option.

What good does this policy bring particularly when the country is facing economic issues. The poor suffers more and the rich rice distributors make more profits. In any case, how does this address the issue of shortage of rice supply in the country? Fatimah further expressed her disagreement of such policy specifically and generally on the overall control mechanism for rice by the Government.

Whilst the Government is studying the monopolistic behaviour of Bernas for rice distribution on the pretext of fairness and equitability of the industry, the Beras Madani policy only tends to legalise the illegal activity of mixing low and high quality as well as depriving what could have been lower price for rice. Perhaps the rice subsidy mechanism needs to be overhauled as well and certainly, research and development needs affirmative action.

According to Fatimah, Malaysia is ranked second in the World for biodiversity behind Brazil, third in South East Asia for the number of scientist per capital, do not have climate issues like draught or elnino in India and a special ministry for food security. Shouldn't this result in better food economics? Fatimah further said that various studies suggest that seventy per cent of future supply of rice comes from research and development that we do, or can do, or should do, today.

The Professor's advice during the BFM interview was for Malaysia to upscale research and development, do away with monopoly and empower many small and medium companies to engage in distribution of rice as well as down stream pivoted product development from paddy or rice. Bernas can still be an important player if this is done as they have accumulated decades of experience since Lembaga Padi Negara days. What is left is just the political will to make it happen. Otherwise, we will always face many more future "Surprise! Rising Rice Price" again and again.


~ end ~

AND I SHALL BOW DOWN

Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 4:23 PM

 


And I Shall Bow Down


Let the mighty light shine and glow

Melting away the dirty old snow

And may the flowers bloom on the meadow

So that the birds sing in the borough

I shall stand tall and thorough

Realising the blessings I can no longer borrow

Forgiveness I seek in the shadow

The darkness that juxtapose goodness halo

Let alone like in the gallow

As if deprived of any hello

For a soul that is mellow

So that I shall direct the flying arrow

To the eye of sorrow

Let the dreams follow

Soothing with bees black and yellow

In the garden of tomorrow

Where hope is set to grow

For me to prostrate in awe



By Jo Haq

5 March 2024

4:17 pm

Bukit Jelutong



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