A Busy Week

At Yayasan Pahang after the interview

It was quite a week despite I am still having limitations with my back. I accompanied a patient to Kuala Lumpur by ambulance, interviewed candidates for Anugerah Belia Negara Peringkat Negeri Pahang, visited families and testdrive a newly bought Honda Civic.

A view of Sungai Kuantan(Esplanade) from Floor 17 Yayasan Pahang

A day prior to traveling to Kuala Lumpur, I was a panel interviewing candidates for Anugerah Belia. Anugerah Belia Negara. This Anugerah is a yearly event where the Ministry of Youth and Sports will select individuals and society which they think performs well and can be an example to others. Pengarah Yayasan Pahang, Pengarah Penerangan Negeri, Timbalan Pengarah Biro Tata Negara, Pengarah Jabatan Belia dan Sukan Pahang and I (representing Presiden Majlis Belia Negeri Pahang) were the panels. We interviewed candidates in Youth Leader category. We spent 4 1/2 hours questioning and testing the abilities of the 10 selected candidates in various aspects including ability to speak fluently both in Bahasa Melayu and Bahasa Inggeris, leadership, capabilities, performance, contributions, recognition obtained, his views on present scenarios including policies and politics. All the candidates are active in the governing political parties except for one who is not holding any political post but very charismatic with good potentials.

A boat moving towards Kuala Sungai Kuantan

One our favourite question, "Apa pendapat anda tentang kenaikan harga minyak 30 sen seliter. Apakah ia tidak menjejaskan kehidupan rakyat terutamanya orang kampong?"

Special sambal ikan bilis cili padi

Favourite answer, "Kenaikan ini tidak banyak dan tidak menjejaskan. 30 sen je, kalau beringgit-ringgit memang menyusahkan. Ada juga orang kampong yang komplen, tapi selepas mendengar penjelasan, ok je la."

Delicacies served after lunch. Prepared by students from IKIP Catering

A few who are in business will say, "Memang meningkatkan kos operasi tetapi kami akan cari jalan untuk mengatasinya agar tidak menjejaskan perniagaan kami."

Bunga Ros air mawar at my aunty's house

We further enquired, "Awak rasa wajar tak kenaikan ini. Kami dengar ada yang kata wajar, ada yang kata tidak wajar dan ada yang kata tidak wajar tetapi kerajaan tiada pilihan lain."

Kesidang; Strong and Very saeet smell

The answer, "Memang wajar sangat, ini pun kerajaan masih memberikan subsidi. Harga minyak kita masih murah berbanding dengan negara-negara lain. Kan harga minyak mentah meningkat tinggi dan kerajaan kena beli mahal."

Keladi Kemahang(not like ordinary keladi)

But the charismatic youth answered differently. Maybe he was not obliged to defence any policyor stand. To him the hike was expensive considering we are a country that produce oil and comparison should be among oil producing countries. He also added that the government might have no choice with the current situation and old debts.

Honda City belongs to Orang Kilang(just look at the plate number!)

On Saturday and Sunday we had our meals at my dad's place. Panglima was in Kuantan over the weekend helping to clear the undergrowth at our 'tanah pesaka'. We had supper with Mr OK and later drove his new Honda Civic. VROOOOM!

Opposite warong Pak Mat-drying the salted fish(on a good day)

This coming weekend will he more hectic since there is a wedding among the family and then I have to travel to Mentakab to meet my old friends from Abu Bakar School whom I last saw more than 30 years ago.

Warung Pak Mat Corner;
excellent Mee Calong, Mee Jawa and Mee Goreng Mamak