A final tribute to Uncle George

                          Mr.George Anthony : 3 June 1920 - 22 November 2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

 The death of Mr. George Anthony at the ripe old age of 94 is indeed a sad new for me, my family and many old residents of Batu Gajah. To many in Batu Gajah he was fondly called Uncle George. He used to be known for his cheerful look and moving around on his bicycle wearing his typical Mexican hat.

I knew him since I was a child in the late sixties when I used to follow him to visit the sick in the hospital.  In fact it was these trips to the hospitals that had inspired me to take up medicine as a career. Uncle George played a very influential role not on me alone but many of my friends too in our church at that time as he was a senior member in the church then. After I left Batu Gajah, I used to meet him on and off whenever I went back home on vacations.

It was one these meetings about 10 years ago that brought me and my wife close to him. We bought him a simple breakfast one day and that opened a new chapter in our relationship. He was so grateful for the way we treated him that he wrote a letter thanking us for showing so much care and respect for him, who was old and unemployed then. In fact he had written about70 over letters since then.

 Soon he became a regular guest at all the functions in my family. He even became close to my in-laws in Ipoh who had lot of respect for him.It was during these 10 years that I learned much more about life from Uncle George. 

I was particularly impressed with what he said on 2 important issues, love and aging. After being married to his wife for nearly 60 years, he said, “Love grows with age. I think I love my wife more now than ever before”. He was 85 and his wife 82 then. These words came from a man at the final phase of his life and they are so real and meaningful. Yes, Uncle George was right; beauty, vitality and youth will die but love never dies contrary to what we usually tend to believe.

The second important lesson from Uncle George was about the fear of loneliness. He said the greatest fear as one  grows old is loneliness and this he really experienced to the fullest after the death of his only daughter and later his wife. His words, “It is not money, food or gifts we need now but the company of children, family and friends that we need most”.

The perpetual cheerful look and his loud laughter were trademarks of Uncle George that remained with him till the end. Today he may be gone but images of him cycling up Changkat hill daily wearing his trademark Mexican hat remains vividly in our minds. His vast experience is a treasure that we value so much.

Uncle George we will miss you dearly especially during our family gatherings but knowing that you have gone to a better place where you will be happier with your wife and daughter, brings us some comfort.

May you rest in peace  

Anwar Ibrahim: Pidato Umum Di Universiti Malaya

Sodomy II : Anwar’s final appeal

Last night Anwar Ibrahim returned to UM, the same place from where everything began for him 40years.His return was not as what it should have been as the legitimate parliamentary Opposition Leader but in his usual style of controversy and sabotage by the powers that be. Every of his moves is being feared by those in power and they go all out to stop him. Plunging UM into darkness by an alleged power failure speaks volumes of the fear this man.

Defying the warnings by the UM authorities, thousands of students waited for hours in the rain for Anwar at the locked gates of UM last night to give him a rousing welcome. It is an indeed triumphant return for a man who had been beaten to the pulp and charged with all kinds of crimes. He keeps coming back again and again after each setback. Anwar’s perseverance and resilience is admired by many even those who never liked him.

He has achieved what many have failed - united the people of diverse ethnicity and ideologies to "bring to its knees" a repressive and abusive regime that is ruling for over 6 decades. Within six years he managed to deny the ruling party its He may not have succeeded to bring it down totally yet but he has ignited the process which will can never be extinguished.

Today Malaysia is at its worst with racism, corruption and power abuses at their peak. Even hate is being used as a political tool to cling on to power. Only the younger generation of Malaysians can put a stop to all these dangerous trends of racial and religious hatred and confrontation. Will they do it? The UM incident gives some hope they will.

The following 28.October 2014 is D-day for Anwar Ibrahim when the Federal Courts convenes to hear the final appeal for his acquittal. The powers that be are all out to put him behind bars. But Anwar is not intimidated by all these. Age may be against him but definitely his spirit is not. They may imprison him but they cannot put out the spark he has ignited.

The UM rally today confirms that younger leaders are ready to carry his torch to bring change. Anwar may not personally succeed to bring down the government, he may not realize his ambitions to become the PM but definitely he will go down in history as the man who dared to do stand for justice against a power regime, something which many will not dare.

Anwar says he does not want to go to jail but is prepared for that if he has to saying that it will be his last service to the nation and the people. As the Federal Court goes into session, the nation prays for Anwar as he prepares mind and soul to go to jail for a second time. Like all men of his age, it will be heart-breaking experience being separated from his wife, children and especially   his little grandchildren with whom he is closely attached. We share his fears, his anxieties and sorrow for having to separate from his family.

At is age of 67,it will not be easy for him to endure all these but if he is willing to accept that sacrifice, the least we can do is give him the moral and spiritual support.

God bless Anwar Ibrahim, God bless Malaysia

The return of Anwar Ibrahim

Tonight Anwar returns to UM the same place from where everything began for him 40years.It is a triumphant return for a man who had been beaten to the pulp and charged with all kinds of crimes.He keeps coming back again and again after each setback.

He achieved what many have failed - united the people of diverse ethnicity and ideologies to "bring to its knees" the repressive and abusive regime that is ruling for over 6 decades.He may not have succeeded to bring it down totally yet but he has ignited the process which will can never be extinguished.

Today Malaysi a is at its worst - racism.corruption and power abuses at their peak.Even hate is being used as a political tool to cling on to power.Only the younger generation of Malaysians can put a stop to all these dangerous trends of racial and religious hatred and confrontation.And I think they will.
Tomorrow is D-day for Anwar Ibrahim.The powers that be are all out to put him behind bars.But Anwar is not intimidated by all these.Age may be against him but definitely his spirit is for him and the people who look up to him.They may imprison him but they cannot put out the spark he has ignited.

The UM rally today confirms that younger leaders are ready to carry his torch to bring change.Anwar may not personally succeed but definitely he will go down in history as a man who dared to do what is right,something which many will not dare.

The nation prays for Anwar as he prepares mind and soul to go to jail for one more time.At 67 years it may not be easy for him but if he is willing to accept that sacrifice,the least we can do is give him the moral and spiritual support.God bless Anwar,God bless Malaysia

Mahatma's Gandhi's 145th birthday

There is enough for everybody’s need, but not for everybody’s greed

Mahatma Gandhi was known for doing what he preached and preach only what he did. He wanted to be like one of millions of the poor Indians in his country whom he represented.  

On this 145^th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi I would to share a story of the humility of this great man which should be an inspiration for all of us especially the politicians who claim to be working for the people.

A little boy was greatly distressed to see the way Gandhi was dressed. Such a great man yet he doesn't even wear a shirt, he wondered.
"Why don't you wear a kurta, Gandhiji?" the little boy couldn't help asking finally.
"Where's the money, son?" Gandhi asked gently. "I am very poor. I can't afford a kurta."
The boy's heart was filled with pity.
"My mother sews well", he said. "She makes all my clothes. I'll ask her to sew a Kurta for you."
"How many Kurtas can your mother make?" Gandhi asked.
"How many do you need?" asked the boy. "One, two, three.... she'll make as many as you want."
Gandhi thought for a moment. Then he said, "But I am not alone, son. It wouldn't be right for me to be the only one to wear a kurta."
"How many Kurtas do you need?" the boy persisted. "I'll ask my mother to make as many as you want. Just tell me how many you need."
"I have a very large family, son. I have forty crore (400 million) brothers and sisters," Gandhi explained.
"Till every one of them has a kurta, how can I wear one? Tell me, can your mother make kurtas for all of them?

At this question the little boy became very thoughtful as he could understand what Gandhi meant.

Forty crore brothers and sisters. Gandhi was right. Till every one of them had a kurta to wear how could he wear one himself? After all the whole nation was Gandhi's family, and he was the head of that family. He was their friend, their companion. What use would one kurta be to him?

Gandhi gave up almost everything he had so as become like one of the ordinary citizen in his country, until he was left just clad in a loin cloth. He wanted the leaders to be examples and role models but he did not just preach but lived to show them what he meant. He conquered greed, hatred and violence and promoted peace and love towards all mankind.

At a time when corruption is so rampant all over the world including in our own country, Gandhi stands out as a conscience in the hearts of men especially political leaders who claim to be working for the ordinary man on the street, who suffers in poverty and struggling to make ends meet for him and his family. Gandhi’s leadership by example should many hypocrite leaders to shame but unfortunately today not many feel ashamed of the greed that engulf them.

57years Merdeka nation on reverse gear despite progress

Merdeka 57 – Hopeful despite gloomy 

This year our Merdeka is of special significance. It is 57^th year of independence that was obtained from the British in 1957.Independence did not come automatically, it was hard-earned with the blood and sweat of our forefathers of all races. Despite having come from different lands and diverse cultures, they came together as citizens to fight for our independence and to make this land their cherished motherland for them and their children. 

 

They then worked hard to develop this land to what it is today. No one community can claim sole responsibility for our success as it was with the concerted efforts of all that we could achieve all that have today. Our forefathers started from extremely humble beginnings, being poor padi farmers, rubber tappers and tin miners. They gave everything they had to make this country their own,which they were proud to call Malaysia.

But today the country that we have inherited from our forefathers is far from what it was before. We are now into our third generation after independents but things have begun to go wrong, far from the ideals of forefathers on which the nation was founded. We are so divided by race, creed and colour of our skin like never before. The very existence of a multiracial population is being questioned by the younger generation who seem to be have guided by a distorted history of our origins.

Belonging to the second generation of immigrants to this country it is sad to know all our contributions and sacrifices are not only not appreciated but our sincerity and loyalty to the nation is questioned.We have nowhere to go and many have not set foot in any foreign land including that from where their ancestors came.We are not here to question the provisions of the constitution under which our nation was founded  and which must be safeguarded at all costs by all. The citizens of all races are all here to stay for good and it is time for our leaders to accept this as a fact and emphasise it to the youth to ensure lasting  peace and progress of our nation.

As an environment of gloom and despair looms over us by the increasing polarisation of the people, the suppression of the rights of the people, injustice against those who defend truth and the fear that grips those who do good, let us search our hearts sincerely to see where we have gone wrong.Let’s get rid of the hatred and suspicion from our  hearts for people of different race and faith and replace them with goodwill and tolerance as it was during the days of our founding fathers.

Many believe that our nation can only be saved through divine intervention but such intervention will never fall from the sky but only prevail through sincere conversion of our hearts by adopting love and good will for fellow men not hate and suspicion that we all harbour now.We may all be different but are one in spirit as Malaysians.

Good bye Bro.George Lim

The final farewell to Bro.George Lim

George Lim

28 August 1935 - 31 July 2014

TBC is deeply saddened and disturbed by the sudden and untimely death of its most active and senior most member. He left us without saying goodbye. We miss him dearly and will continue to feel the pain of his loss for a very long time.

Meanwhile let us continue with our activities with greater fervour especially our services for the sick, elderly, poor and needy. Let us encourage one another to develop our ailing TBC.

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May our departed beloved Bro rest in peace

 

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