Flowers And Spring

22 February is officially the date that denotes spring. It was 1985. I was there for about two months. So much had happened. As if the world was spinning too fast. I was still learning to get a grip of the situation. Everything was new to me. What I saw was newer and newer everyday. What I heard was news all the way. Slowly the ice thawed. It started to melt. Water running here and there. Thinner and thinner. The ice was gone. Then the unexpected happened. It seemed by February I and my family had setteled down. Settling fast. There was a lot to do. A lot to learn. Everything was in place. Life had gone rather smoothly. My study was picking up. Getting the taste of American lives. Sampling every bit of it. A life time experience. Nothing to be taken for granted.

Long ago I heard about Spring. As a small boy I could just wonder. Not able to imagine. It was not in my vocabulary. Something that was never in my mind. I was so naïve. A real kampung boy. Never aspiring  to be something different. There was not the slightest inkling that one day I would be in the US. Asa a kampung boy my only wish was to live happily. In whatever form. Wishing everything to run as norm.  Not   to be different at all.  When reality confronted me I found that Spring was a time of joy. Flowers everywhere. A beautiful sight. One that must not be missed. To be treasured. To the young, love would be in the air. Blossoming with bountiful colours.  The book said so. I took it as it was. Never realising the reality of it. It never occured to me that Spring was different from what I perceived. I agree, seeing was believing. Being there in Pittsburgh  made me realise that experience was comparable to none. As Socrettes said, reality exists even in the mind. Yet, seeing and real life experience summed it all. There was no substitute for experience. Real life experience. It felt good. Fresh and refreshing. It was enlightening. Everything seemed very light. A lifting sensation from that heavy snow the previous season. That was the past. Spring was the present. The in thing. I thought I could never live to see this day.

That particular morning, for the first time I could hear birds singing. Chirping around the neighbourhood.  The song of Spring. For the past two months the land was so barren. The trees was so barren. Nothing left on the trees. Every single leaf was discarded. Fell to the ground. Completing its cycle. Ecology. Generation after generation. Emitting oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. The system that allows man and his environment to survive together. Forming a bond  of partnership not to be separated. Ecology will be destroyed it that happens. After being absent for a few months, the chirping of birds was most welcome. Yes! Spring was there. Spring was in the air. The change of weather was an education by it self. I was learning non-stop. Everyday was a new day. Something new is to be expected. Always full of anticipation. I came in Winter. And it was only Spring. I had yet to experience Summer and Fall. Anxious and full of dire expectation.

Days later things simply became much different. Suddenly flowers were everywhere. Sprouting out of nowhere. Flowers were on the ground. On every space available. Blooming with colours. Different sizes. Different parttern.  They were small flowers befitting the plant that were expected to show itself later on. Flowers were also sprouting from brances and twigs. Bunches of them. Every branch and twig was covered with flowers.  When I landed at Pittsburgh the trees were already bare. The ground bare. Now it was moment of great anticipation. What shape would the leaves be? How would the plants look  like? I was very anxious. Anxiously waiting for plants to grow. For the trees to bear leaves. It took weeks for that to happen. By that time the flowers were a spectrum of colours. Pleasing the eyes. It was so beautiful. Flowers and flowers everywhere. Every trees. So much were dedicated to Spring. Season of much activities. People were starting to warm their bodies. Warmed their hearts.  More people were moving about. Children started pouring out of their houses. Filling the streets after schools. During the last winter those streets were deserted. Every soul was indoors. Avoiding  the coldness of Winter.

Alas there was something that made Spring not as beautiful as expected. There was some drawbacks. Setbacks to some people. For one rains were more frequent. Mind you, the water was very cold because the temperature was still low in Spring. It was not fun to be caught in the rain. Shivering for sure. In Spring pollens were flying in the air. It was never a pleasure for some. There came sinus problems. People would be sneezing around. Flu here and there. Headache to some. Coughing for others.  Maybe migrane. Fun but with some reservations. Still waiting for better sunlight. Waiting for the temperature to rise and rise. Waiting for Summer. Still a long time away.

Why the terminology Spring? What was there to understand about Spring? You will never know without experiencing it. Day in day out the temperature kept changing. Up and down. Not on different days. It can happened within a single day. It could be warm in the morning but the temperature could dip so low in the afternoon that you have to wear your winter attire again. At least your overcoat. What I learned was that although the temperature fluctuated, its ups was greater than its downs. You can expect that the coming days the temperature would be warmer than previously. Not everday but most of it. Polar winds can still come sweeping the land. Dipping the temperature down tremendously. Sometimes unbelievableably very low. Imagine from 56º  the  temperature could plunged down to -15º.

At first I felt funny. There was a special channel on TV. A real special channel. That channel was about weather only. Only weather day in and day out. 24 hours. Seven days a week. 365 day a year. Nothing but weather. Americans were so concerned about weather. About temperature.  Before they retire for the night they would study the temperature for the whole day tomorrow.  In fact for the whole of the coming week. Early the next morning they would refer to the weather channel again before they started for work. It was to confirm what was predicted the previous day. Thus they were always prepared for whatever changes in weather and temperatures. They could bring their umbrellas, overcoats, jackets, gloves and a host of others. Just to be prepared. The weather was very localized. Seldom ventured beyond a particular town or city. Very very exclusive.

The ground would be soggy. Water everywhere. Running here and there. Melting snow and ice. Not really a beautiful sight. The flowers were. But not the ground. It would be after some times things were changing for the better. Once the snow and ice were gone, leaves would be growing on branches. On twigs. On the ground. Then only I could match the flowers and the leaves. A full concept that was previously could only be imagined.  The melting snow was gone from brances and twigs.   Instead there were leaves and flowers blooming. An array of colours. Sprouting. Dangling. Birds would swarmed on those flowers seeking nectars. They become agents of repoduction. Pollination. Ecology at its best.  Spring was like a song. Beautiful and harmonised itself with expectant happiness. Happy to be there. Happy to experience Allah’s creation. Seeking His pleasure. Alhamdulillah.

I was lucky to experience Spring. The beauty of it. I enjoyed every moment of it. Those colours. Abundant around. A bit electrifying. For those able to travel to Washington DC, the capital, they were lucky because only in Washington they could see cherry blossom. A beautiful flower indeed. People were making a beeline for Washington just  to winness that beautiful flower. I could still feel those two Springs. Never been satisfied. Wishing to come back and relive that Spring. After 26 years Spring is still in my heart. Wait, the other seasons were simply fabulous. I still have a lot to write about. A little longer perhaps. Have patience please.

When The Kids Are Schooling

We made compromises. A bond of understanding amongst fellow Malaysian students. Sending our children to school was never a problem. Except that it sometimes clashed with our classes at the Pitts. Because of that we came to an agreement that if either one of us was not available then the others will take charge. Sending them to school in early morning  was not  a problem. Fetching them from school did pose some problems. Some of my friends could be in classes. Some days it could be my turn. Luckily my classes never clashed with my children’s timetable. Thus, every morning I sent them to school. I fetched them from school at around 11.00 am. Pardon me. I am talking about my third and my fourth daughters. The third was in kindergarten and the fourth was in headstart. The third was five years old and the fourth was three years old.  To me the fourth was too small. So fragile. Yet she was so cute in her own way. Both of them have different characters. The third wss a bit of an extrovert. She can easily mix around. Befriending all that she came across. The fourth was different altogether. A real introvert. Very reserved indeed. But she sbsorbed everything. She developed intelligently. Love schooling. Adorable. Small and petite. Maybe to some extent more like me. Like father like daughter. Reserved.

I had no problems with both of them. Every morning they were eager to go to school. It  was fun all the way. It was fun schooling for them. Waking them up was a breeze. Not a single protest. At first I and my wife was a bit sceptical about the fourth. She was so timid. Very extremely quiet. Nevertheless oberdient. I was lucky because the teacher was so professional. Miss Couch was a gem of a teacher. She took care of those small kids amiacablly. They developed rapport between them. Very nice to watch at. I was really happy that my daughter was in good hands. It turned out that Miss Couch was extremely fond of my daughter. She was the smallest in the class of about 30. Mostly children of foreign students at Pitts.

The first few months was winter. Dressing both of my girls was quite troublesome. Two layers of trousers. Three layers of clothing. Winter jackets was a must. Headgear and of course gloves. Yes! Two layers of socks plus stokings and sneakers. We walked slowly. A bit sluggishly. Snow was abound. White all around. An astounding sight. Whichever way we  turned we saw snow. I noticed that nobody was intimidated with the weather. Not the temperature. Not the snow. Not the ice. More of fun actually. My daughters would pick up the snow. Making snowballs. Threw them around. Smiling. Giggling. Laughing. Their hands would brushed the snow at those small shrubs along the walkaways. Near fences of houses all along the way to school. The school was about two kilometers away. Nevertheless walking them up to school was fun. Fetching them from school was  also fun.

Those moments are still very vivid in my mind. They were so small yet so dear to me. Their command of English developed tremendously. The “r” was perfectly pronounced. It was fantastic. They could understand whatever was commanded unto them. Talking in English. Understanding the environment. A little harsh in winter. Very cold to some extent. Nevertheless they enjoyed it. They savoured the moments. It was not an illusion. It was real. I wonder if both of them can still remember those cherished moments. I wish they would remember every facet of their experiences overseas. A distant memories indeed. Somewhere a long time ago. I guess those moments was vever amiss to me. It keeps coming back. As though my children never grow up. They are still small in my heart. That is true. Every child is forever small in their parents’ heart. Very dear indeed.   

Schooling was part of the integrated system in American lives. Every single part is an integral part of the bigger system. The route to school crossed a few roads and crossroads. At every crossing there was always  a traffic warden. They were posted at every crossing to help children made the crossing without any problem. Let alone any stoppage or hindrances. School children can cross any road without fear. Without any intimidation. The road  were at their disposal. All vehichels on both sides must stop and gave way. It was mandatory. Drivers must stop their vehichels at every crossing. Any driver flouting that rule would be dealt severly. Accident involving serious injuries or death to school children would end up with heavy consequences. The penalty could run up to hundres of millions.

How I wish we have that system. Protecting our children from anything that could divert them from achieving success intellectually as well as physicaly. The whole system protects children. They are guaranteed survival. Thery pursue success. They are given that assistance all the way. The American is devoid of any discrimination in whatever form. Not gender. Not religion. Not race. Not  ethnical. Not origin. Every soul is treated equal. They enjoy that freedom. They are expected to grow. Thrown to the wide world. Expected to deliver. To share a bond of mankind. A big scope of understanding of the environment around them. Maybe that is the reason that make them able to stay sustainable. Able to withstand any adversaries. Psychologically they are fit. Fit to take care of the world.

God Bless You!

One cold winter I was walking through Oakland, the university town surrounding the University of Pittsburgh. Life in the west was always busy then. To them winter is just a season. A passing season. Life just goes on. Never stopping for one moment. Americans simply enjoy their lives. Sometimes changing weather are most welcome. A change in life style. Doing something new. Pursuing something long awaited. Walking through town in winter could be romantic. Remember the old song by Frank Sinatra. Strangers in the night, walking together ……

Strangers in the night, exchanging glances
wondering in the night, what were the chances

something in your eyes was so inviting
something in your smile was so exciting
something in my heart told me I must have you

strangers in the night
two lonely people, we were strangers in the night
up to the moment when we said our first hello little did we know
love was just a glance away, a warm embracing dance away

and

ever since that night we've been together
love at first sight in love forever
it turned out right for strangers in  the night


love was just a glance away, a warm embracing dance away

and

ever since that night we've been together
love at first sight in love forever
it turned out right for strangers in  the night

love was just a glance away, a warm embracing dance away
ever since that night we've been together
love at first sight in love forever
it turned out right for strangers in the night.


Wow! It was sometime ago. In 1961 to be excact. A  very long time ago. In the sixties. If my memory is right I was in love at that time when I first heard that song. How I wish I was that song. How romantic.

Oakland was always busy. I guess it is busier now. After 26 years it should have grown tremendously. Engulfing the university. Until now I could not imagine the demarcation line. The boundry that separate the town and the university. All merging into one. Nothing at all that denotes any separation. The students were enjoying their lives as if the were in a distant town. For sure, Oakland is part of the greater Pittsburgh now. Development must have been converging around the university. Yes the university was and is still the vital landmark of Pittsburgh. The pride of her citizens. They adore it. Wishing every child that they have has the opportunity to be schooling at Pitts. Yes at Pitts.

If you watch videos or films produced in the States, please never believe everything that is portrayed. It is just the world of make belief. Sort of social emancipation. Or just psychological escapism. The truth is far beyond. I was there and I never saw everything. It is a fag. A situation of high morality but exploited to the point that it is supposed to be life at its best. Mind you. I was there for the full 18 months. More than 450 days. On films, boys and girls are kissing each other like nobody’s business. Especially college students. They are supposed at their elements. In reality I saw none except once.  On a cold winter night. A couple was showing their affection to each other.  In love. Witnessed by the cold night. The wide world. Void of the emptiness. Void of the coldness. They warmed their hearts and their feelings to each other. That was their world. They dearly created that moment. Cherished forever. They would like to come back to that spot again and again. Remembering the moment. The long lasting moment.

Pittsburgh was a sane city. I hope they preserve that status. Way back in 1985 it was voted the number one city in the whole of USA. The most liveable city. That’s right. In the whole of USA. How lucky I was. I and my family was part of it. I was there. A pleasure to be there. I really enjoyed my stay. A lot of memories. Nice and treasured. How I wish to be back there again. To relive those years gone by. Part of my soul is still there.  The city was calm. Less crime. Full of hope and opportunity. Every citizen has the opportunity to live to the fullest possible.

I was strolling in that winter night. I was of course shivering to my bones. As a foreign student that was my first winter. Familiarising my life over there. Getting used to the harsh winter. To the Americans winter was nothing. They were not wearing gloves. Some were bold enough not to drape their bodies with thick clothing. To them winter is just something normal. A bit colder maybe. Nothing much. Not a big deal. They can withstand anything worse than that. I was never expecting something so bizarre to me. They jog in winter! In cold winter. Donning their shorts and singlets. Can you imagine at all. Correct. Winter is just part of their lives. They live with it.

You know what? In winter I always felt the terrible coldness. To some extent sometimes I felt my head was simply throbbing. Feeling drowsy. Most often sneezing. My nose was watering all the while. That winter night I sneezed quite loudly. Well I was English educated. From remove class until form five. My alma mater was High School Batu Pahat. Somewhere in Johore. What a coincidence. I am now living close to my old school. A mere half a kilometer away. Almost everyday I pass through the school.  Well, that was my contact with British customs and culture. I learned their ways of life. When I sneezed, I immediately said, “Excuse me!” Guess what! People around me  replied, “God bless you!” Not one but a crescendo of voices. Never sure how many of them. My, I was caught completely by surprised. Yes! They still uphold their culture. I was wrong in not expecting it. Something that has been in their blood will not be discarded easily. But when I come back to my dear land, my country, sometimes I missed those cultures that I once saw very abundant. Life has changed so much. The elders have lost their touch. The youngs refuse to uphold the lives so dear to their elders. Instead they are embracing cultures alient to the people. At he end of it they lose their identity. They lose their entity. Lost into anonymity.

Senior citizens like me always try to pass on whatever there is left in our system. To impart not only knowledge but also the whole inheritance. The system is what that made us today.   It really hurt seeing everything being eroded away. Bit by bit those that were dear to us are being deplored. Discarded as not relevant anymore. That was our heritage. Our beginning. Our blood, flesh and soul. We live by it for a long time. Maybe globalisation has taken that social treasure. Our roots. The world of reality has taken over. Humans are imitating robots. Many of us have lost the feeling. Lost the sense of what we were before. Deviated from the norm. Being mechanised. Huminity at risk. Could be nation at risk. Worst still, religion at risk. Please take stock, we could lose everything so dear to us. Before you realise it one day you may wake up losing everything.

Nostalgia - The Years Gone By

Whenever my thought wanders back to those years gone by, I feel there is a tinge of sadness.  I simply come to terms with life that every facet of my life has evolved tremendously. Life is moving at a speed so fast that everything is seemed so  distant. I just wonder how long  can I go on. When will be the end? Maybe not in the too distant future. I was about to write an entry in my blog concerning my children when they were small. Those tender years that I nurtuterd them. The years that I used to educate them. The days we were together. Sharing and accommodating each other. Back to those years things are still vivid in my mind. So dear in my memory. The memory enliven my being what I am now.

When the eldest was born 29 May 1973 I was so jubilant. Could be euphoria. Eureka. My first baby. As a father I was expecting a boy. But then a child is a child. She is always welcome. I adored her. She could be my torch bearer. I never discriminate my children whether she is the eldest or the youngest. Never discriminate their gender. They are all my children. My dear children. My dear blood and flesh. My soul. My gratitude to Allah for blessing me with the best children that I have. Each and everyone of them is dear to me in their own and different ways. Each and everyone of them is special. They have all grown up now. Seven are graduates. Each of them has his or her own success stories. They are holding respectable jobs. Economically stable and enjoying their lives. That is the purpose of education. The ultimate is to be self sufficient, self-relient and  self sustanaible. Five of them are married. 12 grandchildren between them. Only the third is long overdue. Still waiting. My prayer unto them. May Allah bestows upun her and her husband the children that will be dear to them. Children that ensure a long heritage. My heritage.

Occasionallay I would flipped through those family albums that spanned more that five decades. How I wish I could be back to those years. Those tiny children engulfed my memory.  Engulfed my emotions. I could still remember the times I played around with them. Entertaining their wishes. Telling them stories. Sending them to schools. Helping them with their homeworks. Bringing them around the country.  The holidays spent together. Enjoying the comfort of being a government officer. Yes! Frequenting  hotels for meetings and workshops. That were the experiences they acquired. Blending them into children of the world. When I brought the first five of them on a crusade around the world they were simply sampling life. Their  future. The impetus needed cascading on life full of zest. Converging on success of being wellbeing.  Turning all their efforts to maintain  a demeanour of success.

Alhamdulillah, four of them managed to further their studies abroad. Two to US. One to Lancaster, England. One to Al-Azhar University, Egypt. Three has graduated. One still pursuing his studies. Four graduated from  local universities. The youngest is about to embark on her endeavour to success at International Islamic University Malaysia this coming September 2011.  It is almost there. InsyaAllah in about four years from now all nine of them will be graduates either from local or foreign universities. It has been a success story all along. The script  Allah bestowes upon us is simply perfect.  Nevertheless, those years that we were together are gone. It will never come back. I could never look back. It is always the way forward.

I have to accept the fact that both of us are back to square one. Most of the times I and my wife are alone. Together the two of us. Savouring what is left of our lives. Happy being able in discharging our duties. We have been alone together since the youngest went to boarding school way back in 2005.  The house that used to be full of laughter and cries will be enliven now and then when they come back for a short stay. A day or two. Maybe during the Hari Rayas they stay longer. Other days the house is so quite. Maybe a bit tranquil. Lacking luster that used to be.

Most often I and my wife have no time to brood or to dwell on any subject concerning our children. We are busy enough. Maybe too busy. Exhausted when we reach home everyday. Without fail. Day in and day out we leave our house before eight every morning. The whole day the house will be empty. We reach home at about seven in the evening. We are out again after our Maghrib prayer. We are together again at about 10.00 pm. What a life. We made that choice a long time ago. She busies herself. She has a life dear to her. Moving around teaching the holy Quran. I myself is still attached to UTHM. Many weeks I would be around the country on official duties. Most weekends I would not be around.

My loneliness will be felt once in a while. When I drive long distance, I may feel lonely. Yet I welcome that loneliness. It gives me the opportunity to gauge my feelings. To dwell on certain isues. Planning some activities pertaining to public interest.  It is more like public services in the form of informal education such as talks on parenting, motivation, career guidance, forums and seminars. I feel I should contribute to  society. Giving them back whatever is due to them. I owed them so much as citizen. As a student before.They educated me so it is fair enough that I return that favour. They scratched my back then, now I scratch their backs.

Nevertheless the memories that I spent with my children always come back. Sometimes I could still remember the days when my children were small. They were so cute. The are all beautiful to me. My loved ones. In my heart they never grow. They are still small. Soft and tender.   I still can visualise the time I bathed them. Dressed them. Rocked them. The moments that I caressed them. Cajoled them. Prompting them. Of course I strongly remember the time I disciplined them. There are standards that they had to follow. Certain qualities that they have to uphold. Most of the times there was no compromise. A standard is a standard. Even after they have all grown up (the youngest is 18 now) they are still required to adhere to those standards. By the way the eight has a blog of his own almaurid.blogspot.com.  A blog for him to express his thought. Or to expound on any subject  deemed worth thinking. The rest seemed to a share a blog mengemasrumah.blogsport.com. The latter is dedicated to their mother who has taught them so much. A huge tribute. An upbringing full of discipline. Never any compromise. Maybe it was the recipe for success. It could be the only recipe.

I was maybe a bit lenient. But I used to uphold whatever is imposed by my wife. She needed my support. It was the only way to impart a sense of responsibility unto my children. Alhamdulillah, they grew from that situation. They went to the wide world. To be alone. Self independent. When they come back they have self respect. Have moral judgement. Able to make decisions. Well aware of any adverse situation. Most importantly they have adversary quotient (AQ) dan excellent in emotional quotient (EQ). Two ingredients necessary for success. Guiding them to the distant future. The unknown. But  with certainty.

Children with well upbringing do gain success in their lives. Being  well educated, they should never become boomerang kids. Not to trouble their parents again. Not to be thrown out and come back hurtling and hurting back. Should never hit back. Should never give the slightest hint that their lives are in a mess. In disarray. Everything should be portrayed as happiness and well taken care off. When children are sent away, they are to learn and to acquire those ingredients for the worst in life. Be prepared for the worst. The future is always very harsh. Education is to overcome any uncompromising position in the years ahead. Just imagine if they come back as boomerang. Parents will be dejected. Something somewhere things did not performed accordingly. Something was made wrong.

 Down in my heart, I deeply remember the times gone by. Parents do become old. Yet their memories remain intact. Sticking in their mind until the end of time. Children will take over that turn when their time come completing that circle. Parents are parents. Always loving their dear children. Bearing better hopes for the best in them. I love you all. Yes! I always do. I have given you all the best there was. Of course with some limitations. Take stock and go for the future with vigour. The future should always be better. InsyaAllah.

Sikap Melayu Ada Di Mana-Mana

Orang Melayu ada di mana-mana. Seronok juga bersama mereka. Sekurang-kurangnya tidak lupa asal usul. Adat istiadat masih dibawa bersama. Kebiasaan yang tidak dilupakan. Jatidiri yang tetap menyalut budi.  Wewenang yang membawa harga diri. Nilainya tinggi. Merentas benua dan negeri. Terbang ke manapun masih kekal Melayunya. Masih tetap dengan lemah lembutnya. Namun begitu dalam kelembutannya itu ingin pula selalu mengena. Minta maaflah banyak-banyak. Dari hujung rambut hingga ke hujung kaki saya. Setelah berzaman-zaman lamanya, sifat Melayu masih banyak yang belum terhakis. Yang positifnya sudah ada. Namun yang negatifnya masih tetap banyak. Masih merisaukan hati. Masih banyak yang mengeruhkan suasana.

Ini pengalaman  saya di US dahulu. Ramai pelajar Malaysia membawa keluarga. Nantilah dalam entry yang terkemudian akan saya paparkan gambar-gambar yang yang menunjukkan ramainya anak-anak pelajar Malaysia di Pittsburgh sewaktu saya di sana dahulu. Pengamatan saya menunjukkan bahawa bila kita tidak ramai, hubungan antara sesama mereka sangat akrab. Tetapi bila bilangan mereka bertambah mulalah berpuak-puak. Mula mencari rakan yang serasa. Yang serupa matlamat. Yang datang dari tempat yang sama. Yang pangkatnya sama. Yang kelayakannya sama. Yang minatnya sama. Yang boleh mendengar celotehnya. Yang setuju dengan pendapatnya. Maka berlakulah sindir menyindir. Yang sendiri menyendiri. Yang mengasingkan diri. Yang memisahkan persahabatan. Yang dikeruhkan dengan cerita-cerita yang direka-reka.

Dalam keadaan seperti itu kerenganggan berlaku. Mulalah bermasam muka walaupun tanpa cukanya. Manis di bibir walaupun tebunya entah di mana.  Manis tetapi tiada madunya. Sopan di hadapan tetapi mencerca di belakang. Mulut yang satu dibawa merata. Dijaja ke sana ke mari. Di letak di tempat yang rendah hina. Mulut yang dijadikan Allah untuk syahadah dicemari. Mulut yang dicipta untuk membaca al-Quran dikotori. Mulut yang dicipta untuk solat dipermain-mainkan. Mulut yang sepatutnya untuk memberi nasihat tetapi dijadikan alat untuk memperkatakan tentang hal-hal yang mencarut. Yang lucah. Yang menghina. Yang mencerca. Yang menista. Payah benar untuk lurus. Untuk ikhlas. Untuk istiqamah. Untuk membina ukhwah.

Apabila saya dan isteri mula mengumpul barang yang boleh dibawa balik ke Malaysia, ramai pula yang tahu. Tentulah pada mulanya hanya ada seorang dua yang tahu. Cerita itu merebak. Hingga seolah-olah kami tidak ada kerja lain. Kerjanya hanya mengumpul barang. Pada anggapan mereka barang yang kami kumpul tentulah berlonggok-longgok. Mulalah ada yang menakut-nakutkan. Nanti tambangnya mahal. Mana hendak dicari duit tambang. Malaysia jauh. Nanti rosak dalam perjalanan. Aduh pening kepada saya. Ramai orang tidak tahu bahawa apabila seseorang berbuat sesuatu tentu dia telah merancangkan sebab musababnya. Dia tahu tentang tindakannya. Tentang natijahnya. Tentang impaknya. Bagi pelajar sarjana atau PhD tentu tiada masalah kerana gaji yang ditinggal di Malaysia boleh digunakan bila perlu. Yang penting semuanya dirancang dengan rapi. Difikirkan baik dan buruknya. Dinilai rendah dan tingginya.

Saya ke US membawa lima orang anak. Yang sulung melepasi 12 tahun. Dalam perjanjian biasiswa tidak ada apa yang disebut sehingga menggusarkan. Maknanya jika semasa pergi kerajaan memberi tambang, tentulah kembalinya nanti akan ditanggung tambangnya. Ada sahaja yang menakjut-nakutkan. Kononnya nanti balik kena bayar tambang sendiri. Berdesing juga telinga. Kata-kata seperti tiada asasnya. Tiada dalilnya. Tiada nasnya. Tiada peraturannya. Kebetulan yang bercakap itu belum mempunyai anak. Sudah lama berkahwin namun Allah belum memberi rezeki kepadanya. Kerana itu kepekaannya masih rendah. Oleh kerana tiada siapa yang boleh saya rujuk, saya pasrah. Kalau kena tambang sekalipun saya bayarlah nanti. Apa yang hendak dibisingkan. Jika itu ketentuannya. Terima terima sahaja.

Suatu ketika seorang isteri terhendap-hendap tentang gerak geri kami suami isteri. Apabila pecah cerita itu, tindakannya adalah untuk menentusahkan sama ada pada pagi Sabtu itu kami keluar atau tidak. Ketika itu dia ke laundry sambil meninjau-ninjau jika kami melalui jalan di hadapan laundry itu. Kebetulan itulah jalan yang biasa kam lalui. Tindakannya ialah untuk mengesan sama ada kami berbohong atau tidak. Ingin tahu kenapa? Mereka tahu saya selalu ke jualan gudang. Orang lain pergi juga. Tetapi kami yang selalu jadi sasaran maklumat. Bila kami pergi tanpa memberitahu sesiapa, menjadi kesalahan besar kepada mereka. Kami tidak mahu berkongsi maklumat. Bila kami minta maklumat itu disebarkan mereka enggan pula. Kami berfikir mana mungkin kami menelefon semua orang Maleyu di Pittsburgh apabila ada jualan gudang. Parahlah bil telefon kami.

Selalu saya katakan bahawa maklumat jualan gudang disiarkan dalam Pittsburgh Chronicle. Akhbar paling popular di Pittsburgh. Saya katakan hanya USD1 sahaja. Yang perlu dibeli ialah akhbar hari Jumaat kerana jualan gudang diadakan pada hari Sabtu sahaja. Kadang-kadang tiap minggu. Kadang-kadang setiap bulan. Payah jadinya. Disuruh beli akhbar, kedekut duit. Disuruh panjang-panjangkan maklumat tidak dituruti. Mereka ingin memberatkan saya dan isteri juga untuk memulakan sebaran maklumat. Terasa berat juga kerana itu bukan tanggungjawab hakiki saya. Pergi ke jualan gudang bukan kerja hakiki. Suka-suka. Lagipun jualan itu kerap diadakan. Bila-bila boleh pergi. Tiada masalah langsung.

Begitulah adat manusia Melayu. Banyak benar yang tidak kena. Sesuatu yang biasa menjadi luarbiasa. Menjadi punca fitnah yang tidak bertepi. Tiada asas yang benar. Kebenarannya yang tersasar entah jauh ke mana. Ada beberapa perkara yang saya pelajari dari kehidupan. Yang saya dapat dari pengalaman. Yang saya kutip dalam perjalanan hidup. Yang saya kumpul dalam pengembaraan saya.

1                    Bila tidak tahu, cari maklumat dari sumbernya. Terlalu banyak maklumat bertebaran tetapi tiada kepastian kebenarannya. Pergi kepada sumbernya untuk mendapat maklumat yang hakiki.

2                    Bina inisiatif untuk melakukan sesuatu yang baik. Timbang banyak-banyak tentang kebaikannya. Jika sudah mustaid lakukan sebaiknya. Dengar kata orang tetapi tidak perlu bertindak berdasarkan kata orang itu. Senyum bila dengar komen orang. Kita pasti kita berada pada landasan yang betul.

3                    Pengalaman sahaja tidak cukup sebagai landasan untuk membuat tindakan yang hasilnya terbaik. Masih banyak variable baru yang perlu diambil kira.

4                    Kecerdasan minda perlu dibangunkan. Sikap rasionale perlu dipupuk. Kewarasan mengatasi kejahilan dan kejumudan.

5                    Tanam emosi yang stabil. Jangan emosional dalam situasi-situasi yang tidak kondusif. Marah atau tenang berlaku selalu. Senang atau susah berlaku serentak dalam suatu garisan lurus yang bertentangan.

6                    Tapis berita yang sampai kepada kita. Saring orang yang memberi berita itu. Terima berita yang ada fakta sahih. Tarikh, masa, hari, tempat, saksi atau gambar-gambar yang menjadi bukti. Allah memperingatkan kita supaya berhati-hati apabila orang fasik membawa berita. Semak. Tapis. Saring. Tidak boleh terima berita itu tanpa syarat. Takut-takut terjadi perbalahan. Pergeseran. Konflik yang tidak sepatutnya.

7                    Akhir sekali buatlah apa yang hendak dibuat asalkan tidak menyusahkan orang lain secara fizikal. Secara mental itu di luar kuasa kita. Asalkan tidak menjerumuskan diri ke lembah kesusahan atau kehinaan. Asalkan tidak derhaka kepada Allah. Kepada Rasulullah,. Kepada ibu bapa. Kepada guru. Kepada orang lain di sekeliling kita.

Hanya makluman. Barang-barang yang saya dan isteri kumpul banyak juga akhirnya. Kos penghantarannya hampir USD500. Tidak mengapalah. Dapat dibayar tambangnya. Saya terima barang itu di Malaysia tanpa cacat cela. Intact. sama seperti pada mula dibungkus dahulu. Saya dan keluarga kembali ke Malaysia melalui London-Frankfurt-Dubai-Kuala Lumpur. Percuma. Kesemuanya percuma. Transit di London selama seminggu. Percuma juga. Alhamdulillah. Akhirnya saya berpegang "dengar cakap orang tetapi untuk ikut kena tapis dulu." Beringat-ingat selalu.

Berbaliklah kepada kebenaran. Tiada yang terang selain dari kebenaran. Pada akhirnya kebenaran itu juga yang menyerlah. Yang dipandang orang. Yang mendamaikan. Saya mencapai ketenangan dengan falsafah itu. Saya redha. Saya senang. Saya damai. Cubalah. Tidak rugi apa-apa. Nothing to lose. InsyaAllah.

Mengapa Ada Jualan Gudang?

Sesebuah negara  yang sudah dikira bertamadun mencipta berbagai sistemnya sendiri. Sistem itu telah di selidiki. Telah diuji. Telah dibuktikan mantap untuk dilaksanakan. Yang penting ialah rakyatnya yakin dengan sistem itu. Mereka mendokongnya. Arif  tentang permasalahannya. Maka sistem itu berkembang maju dan menjadi ikutan atau ikon kepada negara lain. Kepada tamadun lain. Ramai yang selesa mengamalkannya. Di kira ada benarnya. Ada kebaikannya. Itu menjadi tamadun mereka. Menyerlah dan menjadi penanda aras kemajuan.

Sewaktu saya mengikuti Sarjana Muda Ekonomi dengan pengkhususan Pentadbiran Perniagaan di Universiti Malaya dahulu, saya mempercayai apa yang dirujuk melalui pembacaan saya. Buku ekonomi, pemasaran, pengurusan dan berbagai lagi yang seperlunya. Pada ketika itu saya yakin bahawa semua yang saya baca adalah benar belaka. Saya terbang ke US dengan keyakinan itu. Di belakang minda saya maklumat yang saya ada seolah-olah saya mengetahui serba serbi tentang negara yang bakal  saya huni sementara itu. Yakin benar dengan apa yang ada. Sedikit rasa bangga. Mendahului masa. USA here I come.

Melihat sendiri secara live itu lebih jelas. Tiada filter yang menyaring pandangan kita. Saya boleh ulang pandang untuk meyakinkan pandangan. Untuk mengesahkan apa sebenarnya yang saya pandang. Memandang dari dekat tentu lebih jelas. Pandangan primer itu lebih meyakinkan berbanding dengan pandangan sekunder. Pandangan melalui orang lain. Persepsi manusia berbeza. Keutamaan pandangan juga berbeza. Terjemahan dan interpretasi juga berlainan. Walhasilnya ialah kita tidak boleh membina keyakinan hanya dengan menggunakan mata orang lain.  Mata kita juga yang akhirnya menentukan keyakinan yang kita perlukan. Dari mata juga yang akhirnya jatuh ke hati.

Banyak kejutan yang saya alami. Ada jualan gudang saban bulan. Ada jualan kilang. Ada pula konsep money back guarantee. Semuanya tidak ada di Malaysia. Di negara yang saya cintai ini. Kita ingin maju. Kita ingin membangun. Kita ingin menjadi juara. Kita ingin berada di depan.  Kita ingin mengungguli orang lain. Hakikatnya tidak dapat kita nafikan. Bayangkan dalam tiga perkara di atas kita tertinggal selama berpuluh tahun. Saya mengalaminya 26 tahun yang lalu. Bayangnya bahawa ia akan berada di negara tercinta ini belum nampak kelibatnya lagi. Itu baru sesuatu yang sangat simple sahaja. Kita belum bincangkan hal-hal yang sejagat bentuknya. Kita mesti bekerja lebih keras untuk menjayakan agenda ekonomi negara. Kita tidak boleh hanya bercakap. Tidak boleh hanya menunjukkan pelan tindakan. Kita ingin melihat hasilnya. Kehebatan ekonomi yang real. Bukan omongan.

Jualan gudang sudah saya ceritakan. Namun proses terjadinya masih belum termaklum. Hanya mereka yang berada di sana lebih mengetahuinya. Itupun jika mereka memerhati dan mepelajarinya. Gedung-gedung besar membina dasar dan strategi perniagaan  mereka. Saya dapati sistem yang mereka anuti serupa di mana-mana. Gedung-gedung ini mempunyai hubungan yang rapat dengan pembekal dan pada masa yang sama selalu mendekati pelanggan. Dekat dengan pelanggan. Consumers are sovereign. Kedua-dua pihak ini diberi keutamaan dalam konsep win-win. Barang-barang bekalan tidak dibeli apabila perlu. Sebaliknya suatu kontrak jangkapanjang ditandatangani. Pembekal mestilah menghantar consignment pada hari-hari yang tertentu. Mungkin pada minggu-minggu yang tertentu. Mungkin pada bulan-bulan yang tertentu. Semuanya bergantung kepada jenis barang. Barang mudah rosak – perishable – lebih kerap penghantarannya. Telur umpamanya dihantar seminggu sekali. Pakaian mungkin sebulan sekali. Pinggan mangkuk mungkin setiap suku tahun.

Setiap barang ada tarikh dan masa penghantaran. Perjanjian itu mesti dipatuhi. Jika tidak tentu sahaja pembekal dikenakan penalti. Sesuatu yang lumrah demi menjaga kelancaran bekalan. Kelancaran perniagaan. Kelancaran pusingan modal dan wang. Jika telur mesti dihantar pada pukul 2.00 hari Jumaat, maka pada waktu dan hari itu consignment telur mesti sampai. Ketika itu bekalan telur di gedung itu mungkin sudah habis beberapa jam yang lalu. Atau mungkin masih ada sedikit lagi. Ini bermakna bekalan telur tidak boleh terputus sama sekali. Kenapa?

Kita mungkin memandang remeh perkara tersebut.  Tanggungjawab peniaga ialah menyediakan bekalan terus kepada pengguna. Itu bukan hak peniaga. Itu adalah hak pengguna. Peniaga wujud untuk memenuhi keperluan pengguna. Bukan sebaliknya. Pada masa yang sama peniaga bertanggungjawab menyampaikan produk pembekal kepada pengguna. Itu hak pembekal. Bukan hak peniaga. Bila peniaga mengambil tanggungjawab itu maka peniaga tidak boleh mengundur dari melaksanakan tanggungjawabnya. Jika enggan peniaga itu hendaklah tinggalkan profesionnya. Berikan kepada orang lain.

Oleh kerana barang dihantar mengikut jadual maka pihak gedung perniagaan hendaklah menerimanya tanpa syarat. Bila sampai sahaja hendaklah dipunggah turun. Pihak gedung bertanggungjawab menyediakan ruang dan rak untuk menempatkan produk itu di dalam gedungnya. Apa berlaku jika bekalan yang terdahulu belum habis? Tentu sahaja tidak boleh dibuang. Jika dibiarkan di tempat atau di kaunternya, bagaimana dengan yang baru? Di sinilah letaknya inovasi perniagaan itu. Produk yang lama hendaklah dilepaskan dengan cara terhormat. Tidak boleh dibuang. Pembaziran namanya. Maka jualan gudang adalah jalannya. Boleh melepaskan barang lama dengan jumlah yang besar dan banyak. Saya pernah tulis dahulu bahawa Amerika adalah land of plenty. Barang-barang dikira murah berbanding dengan pendapatan purata rakyatnya. Seorang drebar bas mungkin mendapat USD2,500 sebulan atau USD30,000 setahun. Saya dapati ramai drebar bas adalah wanita. Tetapi USD2,500 itu hanya layak untuk wanita kulit hitam. Bagi wanita kulit putih pendapatan mereka melebihi tahap itu. Barang-barang dan bahan-bahan mentah dikira sangat murah. Barang-barang siap memang mahal. Upah mahal. Cukai  mahal. Service charge mahal.  Sales tax memang sudah lama dikenakan di sana.

Untuk mempastikan julan gudang itu berjaya, maklumannya diiklankan di surat khabar.  Ditampal di gedung perniagaan miliknya. Bas disediakan untuk membawa pembeli ke gudang. Mungkin sejam perjalanan jauh di luar bandar. Gudang itu mungkin seluas padang bola. Jenuh berjalan. Gudang itu besar kerana di sesuatu kawasan itu terdapat beberapa cawangan. Yang di tengah bandar mungkin ibu pejabatnya. Cawangan-cawangannya bertabur di mall-mall yang ada di mukim (county) itu.  Pembeli tidak pergi ke semua kawasan dalam gudang itu. Bukan semua kategori barang. Saya sendiri hanya pergi ke kawasan tuala mandi, alas meja, peralatan tidur, pinggan mangkuk dan sedikit yang lain-lain. Itupun  terpilih-pilih. Bajet sana bajet sini. Bila saya pandang orang putih terkejut saya. Untuk membeli tuala mereka mengangkut seluas kedua tangan mereka. Masukkan dalam troli. Pergi ke tempat yang agak lengang. Pilih mengikut warna, corak, jenis dan sebagainya. Selebihnya orang lain pula yang memilih. Sekali beli mungkin sepuluh. USD39 untuk sepuluh helai tuala tidak memberi bekas kepada pendapatan mereka.

Begitulah di negara yang penuh kemewahan. Kemewahan itu dilihat di mana-mana. Selaut mata memandang. Toleh ke manapun kita melihat kemewahan. Rumah mereka besar-besar. Kereta mereka besar-besar. Orangnya juga besar-besar. Allah memberi mereka rezeki yang melimpah ruah. Saya yang bertandang sekejap tempias dengan kemewahan  itu. Terasa benar nikmatnya.  Dengan biasiswa yang sedikit berbaki itu masih berkesempatan membeli itu dan ini. Alhamdulillah. Namun di sebalik kemewahan itu ada juga suara-suara yang tidak senang. Nantikan ulasannya. InsyaAllah.

Menyewa, Penyewa Yang Bayar

Ada sesuatu yang mengikat dalam sistem maklumat warganegara Amerika. Kita yang datang bertandangpun dikaitkan dengan sistem itu. Di US bekalan elektrik didaftarkan atas nama penyewa. Begitu juga telefon. Juga cable TV. Tuan rumah hanya menyewakan premisnya sahaja. Rumah memang fully furnished. Tetapi sesuai dengan yang asas sahaja. Bukan perabot mewah. Selainnya untuk menghidupkan rumah itu terpulang kepada penyewa. Boleh duduk atau tidak penyewa yang kena berusaha. Sejuk atau panas, penyewa kena ambil tahu.

Sekali imbas sukar juga hendak menyewa rumah di sana. Jika di Malaysia ada tuan rumah seperti  itu mungkin rumahnya tidak ada yang sudi menyewa sampai kiamat. Banyak pilihan lain. Lain halnya di US. Undang-undang tentang sewa rumah dan kaedah penyewaannya memberi tanggungjawab kepada penyewa untuk menguruskannya sendiri. Tuan rumah mungkin membantu sekadar menghubungi pembekal. Butiran diri yang diberikan ialah butiran diri penyewa. Apa-apa bayaran tertanggung ke atas penyewa. Pemilik rumah tiada apa-apa hubungan dengan bekalan elektrik, telefon atau cable TV.

Jika diteliti dalam-dalam barulah boleh dimengerti. Di Malaysia, kes penyewa tidak membayar bil elektrik, dan teleon rasanya berbillion ringgit nilainya. Tuan rumah gigit jari. TEN dan Telekom tidak pernah rugi. Tuan rumah yang akhirnya membayar. Rela atau terpaksa. Bayar tetap bayar. Undang-undangnya begitu. Pemilik rumah selalu menjadi mangsa. Entahlah. Di  Malaysia pemilih harta selalu tekena. Penyewa lepas bebas dari apa-apa isu. Kadang-kadang takut untuk menyewakan rumah atau premis bangunan. Terkena banyak kali mana boleh tahan.

Dalam kes di US apabila seseorang ingin mendapatkan bekalan elektrik atau telefon atau cable TV maka satu search dibuat ke pusat maklumat mengenai kedudukan pemohon. Mungkin ada bil elektrik yang belum dibayar dua tahun dahulu di rumah yang beralamat di Iowa. Sekarang dia hendak menyewa di Pittsburgh. Permohonannya tidak diproses kecuali dia membayar terlebih dahulu bil yang tertunggak sejak dua tahun dahulu. Bila diperundangkan begitu, tiada penyewa yang dapat melarikan diri dari tanggungjawab. Di mana sahaja dia berada di US, sistem itu mengikat mereka. Akhirnya tiada siapa yang engkar dari membayar bil-bil yang didaftarkan atas namanya.  Bil tertunggak  itu mengejarnya ke mana sahaja dia pergi selagi dia berada di bumi yang namanya Amerika. Mungkin di Hawaii yang jauh di Lautan Pasifik. Mungkin juga di Alaska yang jauh berhampiran Kutub Utara. Sistem maklumat itu kekal hidup.

Oleh yang demikian pemilik harta di US tidak pernah bimbang. Sekiranya sewa rumahnya tidak dibayar dia boleh melaporkannya   dan sudah pasti penyewa itu disenarai hitam dan dihalang dari membuat transaksi tentang sewa menyewa rumah atau bangunan pada masa hadapan. Perkara  itu diselesaikan secara perundangan. Rasanya elok perkara itu dilaksanakan di Malaysia supaya orang Islam sendiri terumatanya terhindar dari menanggung hutang yang berjela-jela panjangnya. Atau sengaja lupa tentang hutangnya. Atau menghindar dari membayarnya.

System maklumat kita hanya berkaitan dengan status kredit kita dengan sistem kewangan. Bila kita hendak meminjam barulah dilihat sistem. Bila kita hendak membeli kereta barulah dilihat sistem yang ada.  Sudah sampaki masanya sistem seperti itu dilaksanakan di sini. Ramai yang akan setuju kecuali mereka yang pernah melarikan diri dari menjelaskan bil-bilnya yang terdahulu.   Banyak masalah hutang piutang dapat diselesaikan. Sistem kewangan negara menjadi lebih mantap. Peniaga tidak banyak masalah.

Tidak salah kita meniru amalan yang baik. Ia banyak memberikan manfaat kepada kesejahteraan ekonomi. Kesejahteraan masyarakat.  Keyakinan  sosial pasti meningkat. Keadilan ekonomi dan sosial dimantapkan.