Reflecting on Urban Poverty, and the Opportunity to Serve

Over the past weekend, I had to do a quick last-minute drafting work for a speech that the Boss was going to deliver today, Monday. Alhamdulillah, the draft went thru fine and was delivered with great passion and aplomb by the Boss (though he also saw it fit to go off into a brief segue on durian and mango products!)

The beauty of speechwriting is that one comes into intimate contact with subjects of great public import. Call me as sucker, but I still get a rush when my words are spoken by men in power, who have the ability to make decisions that can make a positive difference for the people.

Hence the issue of urban poverty. Malaysia is fortunate that we have not succumbed to the proliferation of urban slums in the same way that so many other developing countries have. And yet, there are still many in our midst who surely deserve better than a lifetime of squalor. The state must play its part in giving these people the opportunities they need to better themselves; to raise themselves up into a life of comfort and dignity.

Much has been said, and will continue to be said about my Boss in the days and years to come. But today, as he spoke so passionately and informedly about the issues of the poor, and the need to bring equitable distribution of quality opportunities to all Malaysians, I said a prayer of thanks that He has found it fit to bless me with this opportunity to serve a thoughtful, humble leader and a good man.

This Is My Disease...

... a chronic inability to live in the moment. An ingrained defiance, never to enjoy the present. Always peering into the future, always hoping for better things.

And always wondering if time is running out; if this is all that is left. Regrets over mistakes made, things that should not have been said: these gather like dust on pavements, swirling swirling swirling away in the wind.

Bermula Kembali

Apabila sudah lama tidak menulis, adakalanya pensel jadi tumpul; ada masanya pena jadi kering kontang. Lebih menyiksakan lagi apabila kesunyian itu dipaksakan ke atas diri sendiri.

Banyak perkiraan yang telah membawa kepada ketiadaan saya dalam arena blog ini; dan pelbagai perkiraan juga yang telah mendorong saya untuk kembali menulis.

Buat waktu ini, blog ini akan menjurus lebih kepada renungan-renungan yang bersifat peribadi, juga isu-isu lain yang menarik untuk dikongsi bersama. Harap rakan-rakan dalam blogosphere akan dapat menerima kehadiran semula saya setelah sekian lama.

Salam hormat, ZR.