An eulogy to my beloved uncle, Bao Kiew

The earliest memory of watching movie was the cowboy movies that was projected to the white screen made from cloth in my grandma house.

We have a personal projector and operated by my uncle. Well, it’s actually owned by Aji-no-moto.

My uncle works for Aji-no-moto, the factory which was located just 1km from my grandma house.

His was a promoter and his main tasks was to to travel all over towns and kampung to show free movies and to promote the Aji-no-moto products.

He told us many strange stories which he encountered during all those trips to small towns and cities. He told us hair were found on the table in motel room despite he had very little hair (bald). And how he said after the movie show, he struggle to collect the white screen as somehow try to pull away.

Later on, He bought a Volkswagen and the whole family traveled to PJ from Salak South to watch Sam Hui movie.

Or during some weekend, we were able to follow him to PJ Section java supermarket (that not many shopping mall around during 70s). My uncle bought us ice cream.

My uncle does not have luck in having pets. He went all the way to Melaka to purchase 2 dogs and unfortunately, the dogs which of doberman , were wild and even injured one of relative kid.

And later on, my uncle fell ill and was admitted. And for a while, he had been sick.

Thank god, my uncle did make good recovery from his illness and continue with his work at Aji-No-Moto.

AND at the gracious of the lord, my uncle met a lady and they’re fall in love. And with the marriage and they were gifted with 2 great children.

Through his life, he had been struggling with his illness and as he grew older, he was even burden with chronic illness and cancer.

But my uncle is able to put it through, he worked in Aji-no-moto till retirement and the Volkswagen is still running until today.

Today, we may have lost him but he will stay in our memory forever.

When the Norm is danger

If you’re been to the Northern states of Malaysia like Perlis or Kedah, you will be mesmerized by the stunning beauty of green padi fiellds.

BUT

Few of us relied that the beautiful padi fields had a hidden danger and fatal secrets.

Long and straight tar road built by the government enable cars and trucks and motorcycles travel smoothly between towns.

If you’re go to Kangar from Alor setar via the old trunk road, you can see plenty of motorcycles, regardless of age and sex, some is 10yrs boy or even 80 year-old pakcik wearing kopiah,  they are riding bike WITHOUT HELMET.

I know what is a NORM for kampung folk, the NORM which one need not need to wear helmet for short distance travelling.

There is no police enforcement and I suspect everyone is do it and so this a NORM and its wil be alright as no one will be issued a summon.

BUT DO YOU KNOW ITS DOES PAY A HEAVY PRICE.

We have many case of Motor vehicle accidents in Perlis involved head injury.

We have a young man who died of head injury after fall from his bike.  He was admitted to ICU after the operation and my nurses told me that this young man brother died at the same bed for the same head injury.

This is not a NORM that we should accept.

Being a NORM do not make the thing right.

Not wearing a helmet is fine as it is more convenience , the statement is damn wrong.

It’s took a few second to put on a helmet which greatly reduced head injury in the event of crash.

Why we are allowing the tragedy to happen?

Seeing young people with a full life ahead of them were being cut short by this so-call NORM.