Benevolence Defined

Benevolence Defined - Published January 2008
 

Ask most Malaysians about their thoughts on Marina Mahathir and they will usually reply in glowing terms of her refreshingly fair liberalism, her intelligence, her opinionated stance and her drive to create awareness for a number of serious issues in this country. A lady who doesn't mince her words but instead is more interested in getting to the root cause of a situation and highlighting it.

A journalist with an almost 18 year old bi-weekly column in a national Malaysian newspaper, Marina compiled some of her articles into book form and released 'In Liberal Doses' in which she expressed her thoughts and opinions on things mainly related to life in Malaysia. 'In Liberal Doses' has garnered strong support internationally since it was published in 1997. Apart from that Marina has also worked in a publishing capacity by assisting in the production of several Malaysian and ASEAN coffee table photography books. Marina also worked on developing and producing an award winning television program '3 R - Respect, Relax and Respond' and she was co-producer of Malaysian film 'Gol & Gincu' (Goalposts and Lipsticks).

Taking into account that she is the daughter of Malaysia's former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohammad, one would never get any inkling of this in her published writings. A mild exception to this however can be found on her personal blog, Rantings With Marina Mahathir, in which she speaks of her father in warm tones especially during Tun Mahathir's recent heart bypass surgery. Marina updated her blog regularly and ensured that readers were kept abreast on her father's recovery every step of the way. While she clearly places a high value on filial love and respect, Marina is very much her own person and it resonates loudly. It would be easy to be overwhelmed living under the shadow of a greatly respected and iconic man as well as equally revered Tun Dr Siti Hasmah, a pioneer female doctor in then Malaya, Marina carves a nice, clean niche with her brand of thinking.

Even though Marina is better known for her strong support of the AIDS awareness movement, women's rights and violence against women are also high on her list. Marina is a member of the Women's Aid Organization which is a shelter for abused and battered women and children, as well as supporting Sisters In Islam, an organization that seeks out justice for Muslim women. She is also a member of the National Women’s Advisory Council that meets with the government on topics relating to women's rights and issues. In 2006 she was featured in a Malaysian book entitled 'SHE', that focuses on women who have thrived in their various fields of work. In that same year Marina was featured on the cover of Newsweek as one of the world's eight leading women that deal with different aspects of life in truly outstanding ways.

* COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND?
I did my early schooling up to Form 3 at St Nicholas' Convent in Alor Setar, Kedah. After that I spent two years at Tunku Kurshiah College, Seremban, before going to the UK to do my A Levels. Then I did my BA (Hons) in International Relations at the University of Sussex, Brighton.

* WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME THIS COUNTRY'S BEST KNOWN AND MOST RESPECTED SOCIAL ACTIVIST?
I don't know if I'm the best-known and most respected but I really became an AIDS activist by accident. I hadn't set out to do it but when I was made Chair of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation in 1993, I realized that few people understood what AIDS was all about and they had many myths and prejudices about it. So I set about to educate myself so that I could educate them. In the course of that, becoming frustrated with the response to what is essentially a preventable epidemic, I became an activist.


* YOU WERE PREVIOUSLY PRESIDENT OF THE MALAYSIAN AIDS COUNCIL. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY POSITIVE CHANGES TOWARDS HIV IN THE LAST 10 YEARS IN MALAYSIA?
I was President from 1993-2005. I think the most positive general change is the level of awareness that AIDS is among us in Malaysia, that we are not spared. That doesn't mean that people are necessarily better educated about it because the stigma and prejudice about HIV/AIDS still exist. But at least we have gotten the Government to allocate more money towards HIV/AIDS programmes and particularly to give almost free treatment to those who need it in the Government hospitals. Also, quite incredibly, we now have methadone replacement therapy and needle exchange programmes in this country for the prevention of HIV among injecting drug users, which only a few years ago would have been unimaginable. All this wasn't just my work but also my colleagues at MAC, including Prof Dr AdeebaKamarulzaman, my successor as President.

* WHAT ARE THE REOCCURRING PROBLEMS FACED WHEN DEALING WITH HIV IN MALAYSIA?
The most recurring problem is probably denial, an unwillingness to face up to the realities of people's lives, especially from bureaucrats and other policymakers. It is no use talking about abstinence, for instance, when wives are unable to be abstinent and are extremely vulnerable to infection from their own husbands. People are unwilling to do the very tough work of thinking out strategies and programmes for different types of people, instead of a one-size-fits-all strategy. We also have so little knowledge about our epidemic, and are so unwilling to learn from others. We could have predicted years ago that the female partners and wives of HIV+ drug users will be the next lot to get infected and done something about that. But we didn't so now that's exactly where we are seeing the rise in infections.

Furthermore things can change quickly and we need to be sensitive to that and change strategies just as quickly. You need different strategies for big countries and for small countries. Right now the worst hit country, with over 2% prevalence, is Papua New Guinea, which is a small but very poor country. Indonesia is a very large country but it has pockets of the epidemic, for example in West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), which is very serious. In the last 10 years, the drug problem in Indonesia has increased and with it the HIV problem.

* THE AIDS EPIDEMIC APPEARS TO BE SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL IN ASIA. ARE THERE ASPECTS OF IT THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED URGENTLY?
As the numbers of people moving around Asia is very great, there needs to be tremendous cooperation between countries on HIV. It's not a matter of testing migrant workers and deporting them; that's akin to sweeping things under the market. It's a matter of ensuring that each and every person who travels to another country is aware of HIV/AIDS and what they need to do to protect themselves. That's not easy when there are so many different cultures and languages, when it is difficult to reach some workers e.g. female domestic workers and where there are also huge numbers of illegals. It really doesn't help also when politicians stoke up prejudices against foreign workers by making unfounded statements that they are walking around full of disease.

* COULD YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT THE NGO SISTERS IN ISLAM AND YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT?
I have been a supporter of SIS since they were founded because I think they do excellent work in highlighting that Islam upholds justice and equality for Muslim women. For some reason, there are people who think this is wrong. Yet it is people like SIS that gives a good impression of Islam to the non-Muslim world, particularly in the West where there is so much prejudice about Muslims in general and myths about Muslim women in particular.

* DO YOU HAVE ANY INPUT OR SUGGESTIONS ON THE WORK DONE BY NGO'S IN SABAH? ARE THERE AREAS THAT COULD BE IMPROVED?
I can't say that I know a lot about what NGOs are doing in Sabah. But if they have the interests of the community and the most marginalized at heart, and they always take into account the needs of those communities, as the communities themselves see them, then they should be doing OK.

* WORK-WISE WHAT IS ON THE CALENDAR FOR 2008?
I'm still working out what I want to do this year and rationalize my travelling so that I'm not away too much, especially on work. I have some AIDS meetings to attend in New Delhi and in Barcelona in the first half of the year in my capacity as a member of the International Steering Committee of the Asia Pacific Leadership Forum on HIV and Development (APLF), a high-level advocacy and leadership organization.
I am assisting the Indonesians in organizing the 9th International Conference on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) in Bali in 2009 so I should be travelling to Indonesia a lot. Apart from that there are several conferences on women which I hope to attend.

Marina has a lot to say. And Malaysians are clearly listening. It is evident that a large number of us could do with taking a page out of her book. Visit Marina at : http://www.rantingsbymm.blogspot.com. 

The Writing Fraternity

The Writing Fraternity - Published January 2008

Last week I wrote a humbly short review on Thrity Umrigar's novel 'The Space Between Us'.  After reading that amazing gift of a book I was highly motivated to re-edit a lot of my own work and try to kick things up a notch. Where before I used to settle for the average in terms of my own expectations for my writing, I now feel that I can set the bar higher in terms of identifying a better personal caliber.

Writing is a true joy for me. Something that has introduced a sense of verve, drive and direction into a life that used to be fuzzy, grey and mediocre at best. It gives me focus and I have broadened my reading spectrum immensely, digesting anything from fiction novels flung at me by highly supportive friends, to financial magazines that previously used to induce a catatonic state of unfeigned boredom bordering on a vegetative state of mind - and which I now find fascinating simply because I am paying attention to the style of writing. To be able to notice the small things, like the color of yesterday's sunset for example, wondering to myself how I am going to later describe it all as accurately as I can in my frenzied scribblings. As Siobhan Adcock, my tutor at Gotham repeated almost mantra-like: Read. Read as much as you can. Read everything.

I was fortunate enough to take part in three writers workshops with the Gotham Writer's Workshop. Some seriously cultivated authors in the market today are faculty at this private writing school and are represented by quite a few international publishing house giants. While the facility is based in New York I was able to sign up for their online classes. So effective are these classes that Gotham was voted 'Best Of The Web' in 2002 by Forbes Magazine. The core of Gotham is that it is workshops for writers by writers. Who better to school you and clue you, the bumbling lay-person, in to the intricacies of the written word, than someone who has done it before. While I was participating in the workshops, I was able to communicate and interact with fellow writers from other parts of the world. A varied crowd to say the least : from a retired homemaker in Wales to a chef who worked in the Caribbean. I still have fond memories of the guy who dropped out of his pre-med degree at Columbia because he wanted to write. That's passion, that.

A weekly assignment, on top of preparing a 500 word piece related to what the instructor required, was to critique work from peers. That in itself gave me some serious insight into how other people read and thought and felt. Priceless. And while I can sit here and say with a grin that a lot of my work was enjoyed, I am also very aware of how difficult it is to bend and twist and write for a group. However in such a supportive and encouraging environment, it was easy to shake off a negative mindset and to flex my writing muscles which had been lying very dormant while I spent the better part of my twenties pursuing a career in another field entirely.
And of course there is comfort in the knowledge that one can write. Write well. And finish what was started.

The first valuable bit of information that we were told is to 'write what you know'. Makes perfect sense doesn't it? Why decide to write about something you are so far removed from that the research alone could seriously maim and discourage you? Writing about things that you are very familiar with allows you to inject your own flavor into it, to give it your personal spin, which is something every writer craves for. Individuality and the ability to stand out from the crowd.

The second thing we were taught is to be aware of an old saying when it comes to writing. A rule of thumb, if you will permit me a small bon mot by way of Aristotle :

Get your hero up in a tree.
Throw rocks at him.
Get him down.

This is another way of referring to the basic rule of three. There has to be a beginning, a middle and an end. Common sense isn't it? But you would be surprised at how difficult it is to direct the flow of writing in an intelligent format to capture the reader, to just let the story make sense. It sounds simple enough but it's a method that has worked for thousands of years and I don't know about you, but I certainly am not going to mess with it. This is what it is; you have to tell the story.


I wanted the aim of today's article to focus on any of you out there who would like to just put pen to paper (or as in my case, finger to keyboard) and write. It could be a story of your life, a memoir of sorts. It could be something that's been ticking away in the back of your mind, a little tale. From the profound to the sweet, it could be about anything. Kahlil Gibran once wrote that "Work is love made visible." I adore that sentiment and find it appropriately fitting.

Writing, or writing well, is a lonely job with a lot of quiet time required. Then there are the spells of walking around the house talking to yourself because you need to hear how the dialogue will project. Sounds a little kooky I know, but believe me when I say I've done it myself.
So it is with that firmly in mind that I'd like to present the following for the aspiring writer by none other than Thrity Umrigar herself entitled 'Words To The Wise. Would-Be Writer : Fifteen Tips'. I was very taken with Umrigar's dossier on writing. Simple, honest and unaffected. Even the uninitiated would be able to relate.


1)Ask yourself why you want to write.
These days it seems like more people want to write books than read them. Are you just doing it because it's a trendy, intellectual pursuit? Because all your friends seem to be working on their own books? Are you wanting to write because of peer pressure? Remember, it is possible to have a perfectly happy and balanced life without ever writing a book, short story, or even a poem. You can take up less dangerous pursuits such as snowboarding or sky diving, instead. In other words, give yourself permission not to write.


2) If you are a true writer, you will find what I just said laughable.
Because for you, writing is a way of surviving in the world, the medium through which you can make sense of your life. Besides, you can't think of a more fun way to spend your time. If you feel this deep desire, this aching need to write, then read on :

3) Ask yourself what you want to write.
The problem writers often have is that they have too many stories to tell. But there is usually one story that haunts you, that feels like a fever occupying your body. If the doctor gave you six months to live, which is the story that you would most want to tell? Write that story first.

4) Get away from what I call "the tyranny of the blank screen".
There is nothing more intimidating that sitting in front of the computer with nothing to say. Many people think that when they turn on the computer, they're also jump-starting their brains. But that's not the way the subconscious works. You have to tap into it more frequently than that. That means thinking about your story all the time, living with it, never letting it wander too far away from you.  So write dialogue in the shower. Go for long, solitary walks and try different lines out loud. Think about plot when you're in your car. The story you're writing should feel more real to you than the life you are living.

5) Make time for yourself.
Find out what time of the day your writing flows best and keep that time for yourself. But writing is also preparing the subconscious to be ready. So you need to find more alone time for yourself even when you're not actually writing. Solitude is really important for a writer.

6) Most of us don't have the luxury of finding large blocks of time to write.
That's why God made flash drives. Carry that flash drive with you at all times. Use every minute of every day that you can find for your work.

7) Saying that you don't have time to write is an excuse.
The fact is that nobody has time to write, other than the minuscule number of writers who make their living from writing full-time. Most writers make the time to write. The difference between writers and non-writers is just that writers write. Non-writers talk about wanting to write.

8) Read extensively.
Read everything, from the New York Times, to billboards, to cereal boxes. Read the classics and read new books. Not only will this make you a better writer but a great book can serve as an inspiration. Every time I read a great book, it makes me want to drop everything I'm doing and work on my own stuff.

9) Believe in your work.
Remember that every person on this sweet, blue earth has a story to tell. The sad truth is that most of us will never write like Shakespeare. We will never be Toni Morrison or Leo Tolstoy or Charles Dickens. All I can try to do is be the best Thrity Umrigar that I can be. And that will have to be enough.

10) Turn off the soft, sinister voice that's forever telling you, "No one will ever want to read this."
That is the voice of self-doubt and you must think of it as the voice of the devil. Turn that voice off. There will be plenty of time to heed that critical voice later and even make it work for you.

11) After you're done with the first draft, you can re-read your work in a loving but critical way.
That's what a second and third and fourth draft are all about. But that criticism should be constructive and come later in the process.

12) Live a large and active life.
Meet different kinds of people. Put yourself in unfamiliar situations. Expose yourself to diverse experiences that challenge you. All of this will make your writing more interesting.

13) Love someone deeply and intensely.
You will learn more about yourself - your flaws and your strengths, your limits and your expansiveness - through this experience than any other. And the self-knowledge that you gain will come through in your writing.

14) Be gentle with yourself.
Great writing is always compassionate. The same compassion that you bring to your observations about the foibles of humanity, you must grant to yourself. So don't judge yourself too harshly if the writing is truly terrible on a given day or you decided to go for a walk with your daughter instead of working on your manuscript. Just get back to it the next day.


This is a bit of personal superstition, I suppose. But the ability to write is a gift, a special grace. It should not be abused for cynical purposes. Resist the temptation to write according to a formula or to imitate what is currently commercially successful. Write what's in your heart. Write the stories that make you proud of yourself, not embarrassed. And never lose the ability to know the difference.

The Fine Line

The Fine Line - Published January 2008

"The Space Between Us" by accomplished journalist and novelist Thrity Umrigar is an incomplex story about the lives of women in a society fraught with hierarchy, beliefs and taboos as old as time.
It delves into the lives of Bhima, a poor Hindu servant living in the slums of modern day Mumbai who has spent the last 20 years working for Sera Dubash, a Parsi patrician from an upper-middle class family. These are the two main protagonists and the writing switches back and forth between them easily. The prose tiptoes across the fine line between happiness and misery with grace.

The parallels between Bhima's unwavering loyalty and Sera's cultivated distancing are laid bare and are captivating. From Bhima's honest love and devotion to a family that has given her so much, to Sera's obvious and open affection for Bhima - even though Bhima works in a household that doesn't allow her to eat and drink with the same cups and utensils, nor sit on any furniture. It is a dynamic that is a sensitive topic for many and Feroz, Sera's husband, confirms this : "Treating that woman as if she's a family member. Servants have to be kept in their place, I tell you. One of these days I'll come home to find you waiting on Bhima."

There is also Maya, Bhima's orphaned granddaughter, who's predicament much of the novel centers around. And then there is Dinaz, Sera's daughter. "Dinaz, refusing to eat a chocolate unless she can share it with Bhima; Dinaz, begging Bhima to sit on the furniture with her when the two of them were alone at home; Dinaz, slipping money from her allowance into Bhima's embarrassed hands. Before there was Maya, there was Dinaz who had loved her with an abandon that only a child could muster."

The fact that Bhima has kept all the household secrets is never lost on Sera however, and she in turn becomes Bhima's source of emotional and financial support, even going so far as to pay for Bhima's granddaughter Maya's college tuition fees.
This book explores boundaries and the goings-on of life in a country where the poor are invisible while the rich rule all. It shows us how women can be so easily cast down in the eyes of society for the slightest infringement of what is deemed to be acceptable behavior and that violence can be found anywhere. It also measures the human capacity for euphoria as well as despair.

"The Space Between Us" opens with Bhima struggling with the issue of what to do with Maya who has recently become pregnant and who refuses to reveal the identity of the baby's father. As the sole guardian of Maya, Bhima is unable to deal with this and blames herself for being a poor, illiterate old woman, unable to provide a better life for the girl. Not knowing where to turn, Bhima seeks advice from Sera as the story unfolds : "And Serabai, tall, fair, a sentry who stood at the gates of hell and tried to keep Bhima from being snatched away by the infernal fires."
Bhima's surname is never mentioned or revealed and this seems to suggest unimportance in her family history while her fierce protector Sera Dubash comes from a financially comfortable, educated background. The pitiful yet lovingly careful way that Bhima is described endears the reader even further to her. Someone who has spent her entire life in servitude to other families. Old Bhima with her wrinkled skin, thin, bony fingers and her aching hip: "Bhima jumps to her feet, and as she does, her left hip lets out a loud pop. She stands still for a moment, waiting for the wave of pain that follows the pop, but today is a good day. No pain."

This book addresses prejudices so guttural and difficult it borders on incomprehension, but it is these said prejudices that are still very much alive today. Umrigar's description of the practice of dehumanizing people who are of a lower stature is brutal but is altogether refreshing in it's honesty.The writing flows effortlessly and even though local colloquialisms are thrown in now and again, it is easy for a non-Hindi speaker to understand the gist of what is being said.

This book does not propose to revolutionize the world with any suggestion of great cultural insight but is instead a simple, moving story woven in and around the lives of two women from opposite ends of society who have both experienced great love and immeasurable loss.
"The Space Between Us" sheds light on deep-rooted animosity that Umrigar herself refers to as a polarization of class divisions. But while a lot of the writing suggests desperation and gloom, it also hits home with the concept of the silver lining to every dark cloud.

Umrigar drew from her own wealth of personal experiences when defining the characteristics of both Bhima and Sera. She has likened it to growing up in a household where there was a real Bhima in 'A Conversation With Thrity Umrigar'. "I was an earnest, well-meaning teenager and I loved Bhima

Explains Umrigar, "The Space Between us is an attempt to understand, through the illuminating searchlight of fiction, paradoxes that I could never make sense of in real life. I began the novel in the spring of 2003. But in fact I have been writing this book forever." And the dedication of this book, "for the real Bhima and the millions like her," really does evoke a powerful sense of hope against humiliation, for the wrongly perceived bête noire of the fragile class structure in a country still heavily immersed in tradition gone awry.

Thrity Umrigar is a Mumbai born writer who moved to the United States at the age of 21. Her other novels are "Bombay Time", "First Darling Of The Morning" and "If Today Be Sweet". A journalist for over 17 years, Umrigar has written for the Washington Post as well as Pulitzer-prize winning publication the Akron Beacon Journal. Umrigar won the Nieman Fellowship to Harvard University in 1999 and currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio.

Smell And Taste Hedonics

 Smell And Taste Hedonics - Published January 2008

You are no longer only what you eat, but what you smell too. For the past 3 weeks I have been reading as much as possible on neurologist and psychiatrist Dr. Alan Hirsch. Neurological director and founder of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago for over 25 years, Dr. Hirsch has dedicated his medical career to focusing on the treatment of smell and taste related disorders and such. The author of over 100 articles on said topics for various well respected medical journals, he has also written 6 books on the subject.

Dr. Hirsch and his team have complied breakthrough research on the direct correlation between weight loss and scent with test subjects reporting healthy levels of decreased body mass over a period of 6 months ."The urge to eat too much is governed not by the stomach - as most people believe - but by a specific portion of the brain called the satiety center. Once you understand how taste and smell affect this center, you can satisfy it by sniffing certain scents whenever you feel the urge to overeat," he writes. Dubbed "the Magellan of the nasal passages" by talk show goddess Oprah (surname not required), Dr Hirsch has some interesting, quirky and original data to offer. A well respected individual in his field, he has appeared on The Oprah Show, CNN, 20/20 and Good Morning America to name a few.

States Dr. Hirsch, "90% of taste is actually smell." A basic and obvious approach to scent is our first instinct to smells. A person who smells 'good' to us will subconsciously make a positive impression and the same would apply to someone with bad body odor - we would respond negatively to them. Smells can also revive cherished memories from past experiences and is emotionally evocative such as the scent of crayons for those among us who colored with them in kindergarten.

A light, floral smell tends to improve our ability to learn while the scent of green apples is said to help those who are suffering from bouts of claustrophobia by making a room appear bigger than it actually is. Scented oils and candles with a peppermint smell trigger a sense of fullness after meals.

According to conclusions based on the measuring of blood flow to reproductive areas, men respond sexually to the smell of cinnamon, pumpkin and lavender. Women react very strongly to the smell of black licorice candy, cucumber and ylang ylang but are put off by the scent of cherries and charcoaled grilled meat. So this is probably why barbecues so often end up being a male dominated arena. Fragrances are the quickest way to alter moods. Dr. Hirsch's findings shed new light on so many factors regarding olfactory stimuli but he has also devoted a large portion of time to the simplistics of taste.

Were you aware that your preferences for food speak volumes about your personality? Dr. Hirsch says that our choices can give insight into human behavior and conducted a thorough, detailed study on this in his book "What Flavor Is Your Personality?" A good indication would be to look at what our favorite flavor of ice-cream indicates.

Vanilla Personality : Colorful, at times impulsive, likes to take risks, gregarious, tends to live a hectic life with an overly filled schedule. Easily suggestible, expressive, enjoys close relationship with others, idealistic, sets high goals, a private person, sets high expectations for oneself, most comfortable in a close secure relationship.

Strawberry Personality: : Content to be a follower working behind the scenes. Likes being part of a team.

Coffee Personality : Lively, dramatic, seductive and flirtatious and lives life with gusto. Prefers to live in the moment rather than think about the future.

Chocolate Chip Personality : Generous, a visionary, competitive, a conqueror,accomplished, someone who is on the top,charming in a social situations, enjoys being catered to, a go getter, ambitious, competent, intolerant of defeat, always a winner.

Rocky Road Personality : Charming and engaging in social situations, but driven at work. Can lose temper over life's inconveniences, particularly waiting in line.

The flavor of chocolate itself and the behavior traits associated with it are almost impossible to determine due to the fact that it is ridiculously popular. However once it is broken down into casual specifics, milk chocolate eaters are contemplative and quiet as opposed to dark chocolate gourmands who are extroverted and live louder.

In his other book "What's Your Food Sign?", Dr. Hirsch writes that the food preferences of a couple are enough to indicate as to whether they will be in it for the long term, or if it's an incompatible mess. With reference to the classic taste sensations, a sweet tooth means that you live for the moment while a hankering for anything sour indicates that you are loyal and will stay together with your loved one. Lovers of spicy food are thrill seekers who like being in control and will end a relationship quickly while salt fanatics are introverts who will always try to avoid confrontation.

In a research paper "Snack Food Hedonics And Personality", research points to the following :

        

* Potato-chip lovers are "ambitious, successful high achievers who enjoy the trimmings of their success."

* Tortilla-chip eaters are "humanitarians who are often distressed by inequities and injustices of society."

* Pretzel people are trend-conscious. They "seek novelty" and are "lively, enthusiastic and fun to be with!"

* Cheese-curls adherents are "formal, conscientious and always proper."

* Meat-snack types tend to be "gregarious, generous to a fault" and male. They sacrifice their own comfort to please others.

* Cracker snackers are "contemplative and thoughtful"; they base decisions on "logic rather than emotions." Dr. Hirsch predicts that "those who prefer crackers may easily find themselves romantically involved in an Internet relationship."

These preferences for snack food should not be confused with food cravings which usually indicate a change in the mood state.At different times in the menstrual cycle for example, women crave chocolate especially when they feel mildly dysphoric or restless.

Interesting to note that pizza eaters tend to be perfectionists and even topping choices can tell us a lot. Those who prefer risqué and unconventional toppings like onion and pineapple for example, lean towards being aggressive, achievement oriented, highly competitive and are natural leaders.

Pepperoni enthusiasts are said to be procrastinators who are irritable and argumentative. And the pure meat topping lovers are extroverts who enjoy being the center of attention as well as indulging in healthy bouts of seduction. They also tend to be aware of trends and are fashionable.

Pie connoisseurs who had multiple vegetable topping are loyal, dependable, value friendship and work best in a group dynamic.

Eaters who enjoy buffalo wings are keepers in the romance department. Fruit fans are open minded and optimistic. Coffee drinkers are ambitious yet responsible while black tea imbibers tend to enjoy being homebodies and appreciate serenity. Green tea devotees on the other hand tend to be outgoing and flirtatious. Vanilla patrons gravitate towards other vanilla patrons. The same rings true for potato chip aficionados.

In a widely published study of his, Dr Hirsch addressed the topic "Effects Of Garlic Bread And Family Interactions". The results were interesting to say the least. "Smelling and eating garlic bread decreased the number of negative interactions between family members," the report says, and "the number of pleasant interactions increased." Dr Hirsch reached the conclusion that: "Serving garlic bread at dinner enhanced the quality of family interactions. This has potential application in promoting and maintaining shared family experiences, thus stabilizing the family unit, and also may have utility as an adjunct to family therapy." Research showed that the scent of the garlic bread reduced the percentage of negative interactions by 22.7% and increased the number of pleasant interactions by 7.4%.

While these underlying preferences towards smells and tastes may initially appear a little rudimentary, it would be unrealistic to simply chalk everything up to genetics and fluff. The corollary conclusions that were done under strictly controlled environments, do happen to point towards behavior and particular patterns that would make it, without due consideration, difficult to simply thumb one's nose at. Pun fully intended.

The Chemicals Between Us

The Chemicals Between Us - Published December 2007

Love is truly an original emotion indeed. Philosophers indicate that the biggest human desire is simply to love and be loved. There are many different facets to love - platonic, familial, and altruic love, just to name a few. Then there's romantic love. And that particular aspect alone makes love the deadliest four letter word that comes to mind in my humble opinion. One is allowed an incredulous response if I may go so far as to suggest that being in love can be interpreted as a form of cruel and unusual punishment. But jokes aside I do however have an immense respect for the sentiment. Think of the things that have been done in history out of this particular type of love. The infamous but ill-fated pairing of Cleopatra and Marc Anthony who wed in secret and had designs on the Roman Empire. Marc Anthony however fell on his own sword after receiving false information of Cleopatra's death. She in turn left her fate to the bite of an asp. Paris, the young price of Troy and Helen who's face is said to have launched a thousand ship. Shah Jahan Bahadur and his impassioned tribute of the Taj Mahal to his late wife Mumtaz Mahal.

No other theme in life has had more songs, art or literature dedicated to it. Many an enlightened person has stated that there is a fine line between love and madness. The concept of soul-mates has been carefully considered since the beginning of time and who isn't familiar with Shakesphere's tale of star-crossed lovers Romeo And Juliet? As Hugh Grant mused in a movie not too long ago, "Love, actually, is all around."
But what happens to us when we first meet the object of our affection? That initial rush of attraction is usually nothing more than bodily biochemistry. Eye contact and body language are all related to science.

We tend to make more eye contact with visuals that we find pleasing. This is especially true in individuals that we become attracted to. Our pupils tend to dialate to indicate interest or excitement. Studies have shown that we tend to be attracted to prospective mates who's pupils dialate in return when eye contact is made. A group of men were shown two photographs of the same woman and were asked to select which picture they preferred. The photos were exactly the same with one minor adjustment. The woman's pupils had been slightly enlarged in one of them - and this was the one that was selected as a clear favorite.

It was then with great interest that I read this article on the BBC science and nature site :   "New York psychologist, Professor Arthur Arun, has been studying the dynamics of what happens when people fall in love. He has shown that the simple act of staring into each other's eyes has a powerful impact.
He asked two complete strangers to reveal to each other intimate details about their lives. This carried on for an hour and a half. The two strangers were then made to stare into each others eyes without talking for four minutes. Afterwards many of his couples confessed to feeling deeply attracted to their opposite number and two of his subjects even married afterwards."

The display of body language is an art all onto itself. Men stand straighter and chests are puffed out for the strong alpha male effect. Women tend to play with their hair and draw attention to their lips and necks. Body language communicates over 50% of what we are trying to get across. Less than 40% is from our voice and tone of speaking alone and a tiny 7% is of what we are actually saying. This is why you'll probably know if you fancy someone anywhere from 90 seconds to 4 minutes of your first encounter.

Both sexes will also mirror and copy each other's behavior to a certain degree. This strongly suggests that we like people who remind us of ourselves or whom we regard as being on the same level as us.
There is also something known as the eyebrow flash when we become attracted to someone. It happens at the speed of one fifth of a second so you're not to blame if you've never noticed it. All quite subconscious, this. Another telltale sign of sexual attraction is to simply note where one's body is leaning or pointing towards. Arms, feet and toes all indicate towards a person we find attractive and while we may not be looking directly at or conversing with them, that body language does all the communicating. Playing hard to get is probably not the best idea and if it used to be part of your game plan then perhaps you should nix that. Research suggest that playing hard to get doesn't usually work. However, there is a strong theory to show that we tend to become attracted to individuals who are hard to get for everyone else, but easy for us to get. An exclusive deal, in a manner of speaking.
Men tend to be drawn to the classic hour-glass shape of a woman's body with a waist to hip ratio of 0.7 as this seems to imply good fertility and reproductive health and both sexes lean towards preferences for partners with symmetrical facial features.

Chemically speaking, that gooey "in love" feeling is easy to explain. Most people tend to need less sleep and food and are generally happier. The following neurotransmitters are reported to be prevalent in individuals at this particular stage as they introduce a feeling of euphoria and infatuation, namely :

Dopamine - Also activated by cocaine and nicotine


Norepine - Alternatively known as Adrenaline, which gets the heart pumping and the pulse racing


Serotonin - An elevated level of this is responsible for mood changes in the brain. It causes the 'love high' and can actually lead to moments of insanity. Reduced Serotonin levels can also lead to depression. Nervous yet?



Not to be left out, pheromones are also a hotly debated topic. Pheromones are generally odorless chemicals released by our bodies and detected by the Vomeronasal Organ in the nose (or VNO). Pheromones are also one of the reasons why women who spend a fair amount of time together will find their menstrual cycles synchronizing, something otherwise known as The McClintock Effect. Some researchers argue that the presence of pheromones in humans is pointless and unimportant to attracting a mate, as our noses are nowhere near as sensitive as those of animals. Others state that the VNO is indeed capable of picking up pheromones from sexually compatible individuals. Research on pheromones do indicate a slight increased level of arousal for both men and women when odors of potentially suitable mates are introduced. There has been a large amount of hypothesizing as far as this is issue is concerned so it would be difficult to give a concise answer on how truly effective pheromones are.
There are three identified phases of love. The first physical response is 'lust'. The second phase in falling in love is called 'attraction'. The third is the emotional commitment, required to make relationships last. This is 'attachment'. Teenagers for example spend more time in the 'attraction' part of the dynamic as opposed to adults who move on to 'attachment'. This could explain for the lack of duration in teenage relationships.Brain activity during this period is similar to having consumed large amounts of chocolate.

Being in a strong state of infatuation and love probably means that you are full to the brim with chemicals like serotonin for example. This sometimes makes for some interesting, if not out-of-the-ordinary, wacky behavior. Obsessive calling, compulsive gift-giving and even jealousy can be expected to be the norm. From happiness to sadness to anger to happiness again, these are all calling cards linked to the primitive brain and everything seems to smack of irrationality. Certain experts even liken the desire to be in love to be as powerful as an addiction to drugs for some. Newly smitten lovers often idealize their mate, magnifying their virtues while tolerating and ignoring their flaws explains Ellen Berscheid, a leading researcher on the psychology of love.This gives rise to that cringe-worthy phrase, 'Love is blind'.

And then there is the distinct possibility of a break-up. Not a pleasant situation to ponder on but it happens. A report in the New York Times states that 'in a series of studies, researchers have found that, among other processes, new love involves psychologically internalizing a lover, absorbing elements of the other person's opinions, hobbies, expressions, character, as well as sharing one's own.To lose all that, all at once, while still in love, plays havoc with the emotional, cognitive and deeper reward-driven areas of the brain. But the heightened activity in these areas inevitably settles down. And the circuits in the brain related to passion remain intact, the researchers say - intact and capable in time of flaring to life with someone new.'


I suppose it's all well and good to try and understand what happens to individuals in love and why we behave the way we do. But perhaps it should not be necessary to question or quantify what is surely the most exhilarating and breath-taking emotion known to humans. Maybe somethings shouldn't have to be explained. "What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil." Nietzsche said that.

The Resolution Catalyst

 The Resolution Catalyst - Published December 2007

In a little over a week we will be closing the chapter on 2007. It's at this time of the year when social activities and ironically enough, a certain level of morality really seem to kick in. Parties to attend for some, the penance of overindulging for others. With the prospect of a fresh, new beginning and the feeling of being able to 'start over', people will naturally feel a bit sanguine and a little wistful. There will be wrongs that'll be righted and fences will get mended.Good thoughts, health, happiness and success will be wished on friends and loved ones. New Zealand and Tonga will probably once again argue over which country has bragging rights to be the first to greet the new year. A quagmire indeed. It's interesting to note however that the last countries on earth to celebrate New Year's Day will be Samoa, American Samoa and tiny Niue in the South Pacific Ocean, not all that far away from the first two in terms of geography.

And as seems to be the norm, millions worldwide will be making New Year's resolutions. A very common practice, this ; announcing them as the clock strikes 12 while poorly sung versions of Robert Burns's Auld Lang Syne are bleated out and varying degrees of affections exchanged.

The origin of the New Year's resolution is Babylonian in it's ancestry and dates back to 2000BC. Their new year was at the time of the Spring Equinox - that's December 22nd to you and me. It was a day that marked the beginning of spring and more importantly the new harvest. They too had their own interpretation of resolutions which required them to return farming tools borrowed from their neighbors on this day, and this task was treated with the utmost importance. Taking into account that this was 4,000 years ago, it could also be considered as the oldest known holiday in world history.

While Julius Caesar was credited with picking and fixing the actual date of January 1st as New Years Day in what we now know to be the Julian calendar, the Babylonians began the practice of having New Year's resolutions. After Caesar's handiwork, there was much tussling and jostling of dates as certain popes in the Middle Ages tried to remedy a problem. It turned out that the Julian calendar was 11 and a half minutes longer than the solar calendar, causing it to be out of sync with the seasons and severely antiquated even by their standards. January 1st was once again selected as the first day of the new year with the actualization of the proper Gregorian calendar by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, in which he canceled out the build-up of 11 and a half minutes over the years beginning at 46BC and introduced a clean slate, calendarwise.

To make a New Year's resolution is simple and is usually motivated by a desire for a little self-improvement. To stop smoking. Take better care of one's health. Spend more time with the family. Give up the junk food. Finally take that vacation. Contribute to charity.
I read somewhere that the most common New Year's resolution is to lose weight. It does make perfect sense seeing as how so few are comfortable and confident with their bodies to begin with. Almost all of us have things we consider imperfections, albeit usually inaccurately.

While the intentions of these declarations are indeed noble and would benefit the resolution maker greatly, it should be no surprise that they are so very often broken. Research has shown that up to 60% of New Years resolutions made have been broken within 3 months of being made.

Given these odds, it's safe to assume that one would be hard pressed to make a New Year's resolution with any hope of actually sticking to it. But it's not all bleak. A study done by the University of Washington's Addictive Behavior Research Center states that the following factors are essential in seeing your resolution through. Dr Alan Marlatt, Director of the Center, listed the following points :

• Have a strong initial commitment to make a change.

• Have coping strategies to deal with problems that will come up.

• Keep track of your progress. The more monitoring you do and feedback you get, the better you will do.

This suggests that there is indeed a high level of psychology behind the humble New Year's resolution. Paulin Wallin, Ph.D states that "during the month of December people tend to overindulge in eating, drinking, spending money and neglecting exercise. Rather than moderate these behaviors, we promise ourselves that after the holiday season is over, we will definitely take control. In the meantime, we give ourselves permission to overindulge without guilt.

Our resolve is at its peak when we feel full, drunk, or broke. It's easy to think about going on a diet as we groan from a bloating holiday meal. It's no problem to plan to quit smoking when we've just had a cigarette and replenished our nicotine level. At this point we feel confident about our New Year's resolutions because we have not yet confronted any prolonged physical deprivation or discomfort."

As is human nature yet again we make deals with ourselves. We have inner dialogs about the pros and cons of getting up at 5am to go for that run we promised we'd do while having that extra slice of cake for dessert last night. And, as is in most of our natures to do, we comfortably reason that the cons are appropriate. It then becomes easier to abandon the commitments that were so easily made only a few short weeks prior.

Experts state that you should ask yourself 3 questions before even attempting to make a serious resolution.

1) Why Am I Making A Resolution?

People are usually able to identify things in their lives that they would like to amend or improve. Or maybe they'd like to see themselves as a totally different person in a year's time.Whatever your resolution is, only you will really be able to answer this question truthfully and honestly.

2) How Will I Keep This Resolution?

Intelligent goal-setting will go far. Realistic target levels and a measure of grabbing the proverbial bull by it's horns will help. A serious attitude and a healthy level of expectation are key. Don't feel demoralized simply because you're not seeing the results you want as quickly as you'd like.

3) What Will I Do If I Break The Resolution?

Keep at it. Everyone is allowed to make mistakes. Don't let the guilt at slipping hinder you from getting back on track.

I've been wondering about resolutions all week, mainly thinking if I should make any and publicly list them down here. I've already put my goals down in an earlier article regarding Life Lists. I then decided against it. Simply because if I ended up breaking any resolutions I'd probably be pretty upset with myself, and the main gist of it all is that I thoroughly enjoy my little vices coupled with what some would call a very healthy social life. I've had my life-altering catalyst already, handled the challenges it threw at me and I survived. I'm now looking forward to enjoying a bit of calm, some peace and quiet. I'd like to think of myself as a realist to a casual degree. And I've not made any New Year's resolutions for a very long time.

I do however recall the first and last time I took a stab at one. It was December 31st 1985. I had only  just found out about the workings of the countdown to the new year. With all the pomp and circumstance an 8 year old could muster, I announced that I would too be present with my family as 12am approached and I had a lot to say in the resolution department. The parents smiled, smirked and nodded, no doubt thinking that humoring me would be a far better option than explaining why it wouldn't be feasible for a child to still be able to stay awake at such a late hour. And they were indeed right. I was told that I fell fast asleep by around 10pm, but put in a valiant effort in trying my level best to stop myself from nodding off. Apparently there were several attempts to wake me. All were unsuccessful. 

But something tells me that I should be having no such problem with that this year. Happy holidays everyone. 

The World Through A Lens

Photography as a whole has recently started to fascinate me. The idea of capturing something, be it comical or grim, defining or loving, greatly appeals to me. That moment itself is forever secured, never to be forgotten.

Now I've always believed that travel photographers are an interesting breed all on their own, set apart from their other lens-minded counterparts by a serious appetite for travel and the desire to capture and catalogue their experiences. Most of us, at one point or another, have lived vicariously through them or indulged in a little wish fulfillment when looking at photographs of exotic or appealing locations.


Suchen is a perfect example of what a travel photographer should be like. Armed with a genial disposition, he towers above many here in Kota Kinabalu with his long dreadlocks and trademark shorts and t-shirt. Sociable and good-humored, Suchen is always ready with a smile, especially so when one has queries about his profession. He appropriately quotes Confucius and says "Find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life". A sentiment that most artisans usually adopt as a personal maxim.


Even a glimpse into Suchen's online photography portfolio will have you agreeing that his passion for both travel and photography go hand in hand. Growing up in West Malaysia with a father who was an avid photography fan, I wondered if this was the main reason for his interests. "Not really," explains Suchen. "My father gave me some tips when I was younger, the point and shoot variety. But when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, that's when he gave me his camera equipment. I only really got into photography in 2003."


Suchen's first proper stint abroad was when he went to Australia in 1997. After obtaining a degree in music production the next thing left for him was to "get a degree in life".
States Suchen, " Not being very poetic, I guess the camera was my best friend as I never left home without it. Being a friend to technology has had its advantages as well. Picking up a camera and figuring it out was something that came naturally. Being a person of a curious nature, I always wondered how other people made their photographs look good. Their techniques, angle, equipment and whatever else they used to make a photo stand out. I have always been a big fan of photography and gadget magazines."


Spending the last 10 years traveling has taken him to 36 countries around the world, most notably to Krakow , Poland where he met his Hungarian wife Szilvia Pinter, an economist who nurtures a serious dedication to cooking as a hobby. Suchen proposed in Slovakia after 3 months and they married in Gibraltar 8 months later. The black and white photograph featured in this article is of the cafe in Krakow , the setting of their first chance encounter.
If you look at the vehicle in the picture you'll notice that it's the only object that is in color. It is a method termed "Selective Color", a post-processing technique that Suchen excels at.


All that traveling brings with it a wealth of exposure. Apart from speaking English and Bahasa Malaysia as first languages, Suchen can communicate in basic Tamil, Japanese, Swedish and Dutch while Szilvia speaks English, Hungarian, German and Italian. A total of 9 languages between the two of them. Suchen is also about to enroll in Korean and Mandarin classes here in KK as he feels that it would give him an added advantage with tourists.


Suchen has over 70 thousand photographs in his library and has plans to sell them to hotels, travel agencies, restaurants and other outlets of a similar vein. A photo exhibition for customers of a leading bank in town is currently on the cards as well. Suchen in also in the process of setting up a proper gallery in Tanjung Aru Plaza where he will be showcasing his work for photography fans and buyers alike. He currently sells to buyers in the USA, Canada and Europe. his biggest fan is from Finland who buys most of his works and noted Malaysian celebrity Amir Yussof recently purchased one of Suchen's photographs for his new home.


His main source of pride however is a recently completed book of photographs entitled Borderless Frames. Explains Suchen, "Borderless Frames is a collection of pictures of people and places taken during my years of traveling around Europe and Asia . It is a personal collection of how I see the world. This edition covers 18 countries with over 400 photographs. It is a piece of work that is part of my life’s journey of growing. It is the visual journal of a traveler through the years that have defined who I am.
This is a piece of work for anyone who appreciates art, freedom, and the pursuit for human excellence."
Borderless Frames is only available for sale online, mainly for the American and European market, and Suchen is currently in the process of looking for a local publisher. With any luck you'll be able to find it at your local bookshop soon.


Apart from travel photographs, Suchen also has an extensive collection of portraits as well as nude photography for private clients which he declines to show as he wants to respect their privacy. But he adds that this is something he used to do while living abroad.

It goes without saying that anyone who is able to thoroughly indulge in whatever moves them is living a truly blessed life. Imagination, drive and verve are all virtues that should always be encouraged regardless of  circumstance. I'll leave you with the first stanza of William Blake's Auguries of Innocence, which articulates the spirit of passion for creativity far better than I ever could ; "To see a world in a grain of sand, and heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand. And eternity in an hour." A highly apropos excerpt given the theme of today's column.

Visit Suchen at www.suchens.com

 

The Nurin Alert

The Nurin Alert - Published December 2007


Due to human nature, we'll never agree on a lot of issues. Society is such. Opinions are constantly aplenty and will always differ, from the profound to the superficial.
But one thing that brings about a level of unison across a broad spectrum of any community is the dismay at the sharp increase of child murders. However the pathos for anger at this appalling fact is totally valid. This year alone saw precedents being set for crimes against children so violent they were beyond comprehension.


On September 17th, the naked body of 8-year-old Nurin Jazlin was found stuffed in a sports bag at a shop lot in Petaling Jaya, 28 days after she went missing. She was believed to have been snatched while on her way to the night market near her home. A victim of horrendous sexual and physical abuse, Nurin died of an infection due to a ruptured intestine.


On November 4th, 9-year-old Preeshena Varshiny was beaten, raped, sodomized and thrown from the balcony of a high rise apartment block to her death in Kuala Lumpur. She was believed to have been attacked while she was home alone.


When it was confirmed that the tiny, broken body in the bag was indeed Nurin the country grieved. Less than two months after Nurin's body was found, Preeshena was killed. There was an extremely high level of outrage and anger as Malaysians worried about the safety of their children. Two deaths in such an uncomfortably short timespan made for a lot of questions.


Given these inhumane abominations that have been happening of late, people have had a lot to say. Bloggers in particular have been extremely vocal in their opinions. They raised the alarm and put up alerts when Chia Kah Man went missing by posting her photograph and details on their blogs, urging readers to help find her or asking for information if anyone had seen her.
More than a few openly stated that they cried when they found out about Preeshena's violent and senseless end.
Bloggers like Marina Mahathir, Ahirudin Attan and Jeff Ooi, just to name a few, used their high readership to highlight these issues with their readers for the greater good. Needless to say there was a strong outpouring of emotion evident in nearly all the comments left on their blogs by readers. People wanted discourse. It was time to ask what was being done to prevent these things from happening .


When Nurin disappeared on August 20th, Jasni Abdul Jalil, Nurin's paternal uncle, started a blog called "In Search Of Nurin Jazlin". Its original aim was to reach out to a larger base of people informing them about the current situation at the time. The blog is now named "In Memory of Nurin Jazlin".


Jasni, a company secretary with a Kuala Lumpur based legal firm, decided to change the focus of the blog to promote the introduction of NURIN Alert, an effort pioneered by a group of bloggers calling themselves the Citizens for NURIN Alert (CFNA). Jasni himself is the Deputy Chairman of the group.


NURIN, or Nationwide Urgent Response Information Network, aims to broadcast information on missing children out in the shortest amount of time possible, to facilitate awareness amongst the general public.


"NURIN Alert is an idea tailored from the successful implementation of AMBER Alert in the USA. Similar programs are also carried out in the UK and Australia.  It is a defined mechanism in handling cases of missing children," states Jasni.

"It is a centre where information on missing children is disseminated to the public via mass media channels like television, radio, internet, billboards and so on.

NURIN Alert would be the reference point for any matters relating to the progress of finding missing children. Conceptually, NURIN Alert is to be operated by the authorities, i.e. the police as the main coordinators.  No one should be allowed to issue the NURIN Alert unless authorized to do so and this has to be in accordance to a set criteria and operating procedures. 

 

NURIN Alert is designed to assist search and rescue efforts by getting the public involved in helping the authorities.  It is also designed to highlight these cases so that the public is aware.

Parents of missing children will no longer have to approach the media themselves as it will be co-ordinated by the NURIN Alert Centre.  This would certainly be helpful to all parents, especially those located in rural and remote locations where access to media channels are either limited or non-existent. 

The blog "In Memory of Nurin Jazlin", initially known as "In Search of Nurin Jazlin" was set up a couple of days after Nurin Jazlin went missing.  The idea of setting up the blog was to disseminate information on the missing child to a greater span of the public through internet surfers.

Along the way, the blog was utilized to compile news reports in order for the public to keep abreast with the incident. The blog was also used to convey messages directly from the victim's family. 

The first such message was on what had actually transpired on the day the DNA results of the child was made public without the parents having prior knowledge of it. This blog entry was then referred to by most media to correct the false perception that had been created.

While the blog continues its function to report information and progresses on Nurin's tragedy, it has also found a new role upon the inception of the NURIN Alert initiative. The blog promotes and seeks public support for the introduction of NURIN Alert.  The feedback it receives so far for NURIN Alert is a great success. Hundreds of internet surfers registered themselves as supporters of the initiative and making themselves available for any voluntary services that might be required to see the project through.
The primary media even started quoting entries from the blog when making their own reports on the NURIN Alert initiative.

Other bloggers joined the bandwagon by publicly stating their support for the cause and started to link the blog to theirs. NURIN Alert is perhaps the most widely discussed topic in the Malaysian blogsphere after issues relating to political matters."


When asked about his thoughts on what the authorities are doing to improve this situation, Jasni stated "The government,  i.e. the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development is very receptive of this initiative.  After meeting the Minister concerned, the Social Welfare Department was assigned to incorporate the NURIN Alert mechanism into the currently drafted "Child Protection Policy".


The Child Protection Policy Committee consisting of various relevant bodies, including the police would be tasked to co-ordinate the incorporation of NURIN Alert. Representatives from the CFNA has been invited to work along with the Child Protection Policy Committee in addressing the technical and co-ordination direction."


The blog gets some very strong support from all walks of life around the country and beyond, and Jasni confirmed this. "The blog has been receiving various and numerous comments from parents.  Concerns ranging from the fateful tragedy, the progress of the police investigations on the murder and the unauthorized distribution of the autopsy pictures as well NURIN Alert itself were duly registered and widely discussed."


America has Megan's Law, otherwise known as The Sexual Offenders Act, which makes it mandatory for authorities to inform the public if a registered sex offender lives in the vicinity. They also have AMBER Alert. AMBER or "America's Missing: Broadcasting Emergency Response" kicks in when a child goes missing in the United States or Canada and as many details as possible are posted by the media.
Radio, television, the internet and SMS texts are some of the avenues utilized in getting information about the missing child out to as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time. AMBER Alert is named after Amber Hagerman who was abducted and murdered in Texas in 1996.

As a highly concerned citizen and someone who realizes that the innocence of simple days are long gone, I will readily admit to being shocked and appalled. A growing number of children in Malaysia are being abused violently on a daily basis. I personally believe that the longer indifference and apathy are prevalent, we will see more incidents of this nature. Apathy towards a crime, reasoning that these things happen and that there may be nothing one can do about it, should be treated as a felony in itself.


Remember other innocents who were preyed upon. 20 years ago, 8-year-old Ang May Hong was found dead, violated with a piece of wood embedded with nails that eventually punctured her intestines, stomach and heart. In 1999, 17-year-old Audrey Melissa Bathinathan was raped and murdered in an underpass on her way home from school.
6-year-old Nushuhada Burak was raped and murdered in 2000. Her body was found on top of a water tank in a residential area.

2004 saw the deaths of Harirawati Saridi here in Sabah and Nurul Huda Abdul Ghani in Johor. Both were 10 years old and both had been raped and murdered within 2 weeks of each other. Out of all the children listed in this article, these two girls are the only ones who's killers have been apprehended.

Please do not allow these victims to simply become statistics. Let us ensure that their deaths were not in vain.


Visit www.nurinjazlin.blogspot.com

Road Trippin'

Road Trippin' - Published November 2007

The humble road trip. It's not just another vernacular expression but is truly an experience. Wikipedia defines the term as "a journey via automobile, sometimes unplanned or impromptu".

I doubt that your daily errand-running or grocery shopping excursions qualify. However given the amount of time drivers spend stuck in traffic these days, one may as well have driven out of the city to do a little sightseeing.

My interpretation of a road trip concurs heavily with the Wikipedia definition. Road trips that are planned on the day itself usually turn out to be the most memorable. And this is exactly what happened on Monday morning. I woke up with an appetite for a little travel. A good drive was the order of the day and I was more than happy to give in to it.
By the time I had packed a bag full of basic essentials and had secured a co-pilot for the last minute journey, what had begun as a general hankering for a day away from the city had festered into a gentle frenzy. It was certainly time to say goodbye to Kota Kinabalu for a few hours.

I fetched the travel buddy from his place of residence, adjusted the iPod playlists accordingly, hooked the Hilux up with a full tank of gas, and we were on our way up to the Sabah highlands.
Approximately one and a half hours later we reached Kundasang. This is a town synonymous with anything pertaining to Mount Kinabalu as it is quite possibly the closest community area to the mountain itself, Kinabalu Park notwithstanding.
If you're in vicinity and passing through (say, en route to or from Poring Hot Springs, Ranau or even Sandakan) you'd be hard pressed to miss the small "tamu" or roadside stalls which sell fresh local vegetable produce, honey, plants, souvenirs and the like.

The reason why you'd be made aware of these stalls is due to the large number of tour buses parked alongside them waiting for tourists to make their purchases. A good thing for the local economy in my humble opinion, but a little vexing for drivers navigating the traffic along that particularly small stretch.

What made this trip truly unique for us was the unusually adverse wind conditions we encountered as soon as we reached the town. Granted Kundasang is around 1,500 meters above sea level but this was something new even for the locals, who by the looks of things appeared to be having a little difficulty acclimatizing to the gusts themselves.

We turned off at the Kundasang stalls and drove for another ten minutes until we reached the Mesilau Nature Resort for lunch. Mesilau is an ecofriendly vacation stay complete with chalets, an abundance of greenery and for those seeking an alternative approach to summiting Mount Kinabalu, the Mesilau Trail for climbers.

Located at around 2,000 meters above sea level this is quite possibly the highest resort in and around the Kundasang valley and surrounding range. Taking that into account, the winds became slightly more volatile, slamming into us from different directions and disappearing as quickly as they had appeared. I suppose that given the current weather conditions around South East Asia at the moment this should have been expected.

The best thing about these winds is that they made the eastern ridge of Mount Kinabalu visible, something I had never seen up close. The mountain itself was heavily shrouded but just being able to view these rocky, rugged side peaks made this road trip all that much more rewarding.

After lunch and a long, lazy caffeine induced verbal acclamation of the very welcome drop in temperature (we guesstimated around 18 degrees Celsius given the wind chill factor) we drove back to Kundasang town and spent a good half an hour taking note of ubiquitous motels, lodges and chalets in the vicinity, all with something different to offer.
The Kinabalu Pine Resort for example, has been a consistent industry leader for its category with numerous awards under its belt. We also noticed that there were a few up-and-coming developments currently under construction.
There were sadly a couple that were bordering on dilapidation. A very disappointing fact given the amazing vistas that are everywhere.

Our drive back down was pleasant enough and uneventful except for the antics of a driver of a large bus who was firmly in an F-1 state of mind. His lane-cutting tactics around blind corners had me jittery in expecting the inevitable oncoming car crash from the opposite lane. Thankfully nothing of the sort happened and after overtaking a succession of cars the bus sped off, no doubt to terrify the occupants of other vehicles further along.

We got back to the city after dark and drove straight into a heavy rainstorm which gravitated us towards a lovely steamboat dinner, to warm the bones.
A perfect way to end a truly memorable day. Road trips are definitely the way to go. We're planning our next one already.

Beneath The Surface

Beneath The Surface - Published November 2007

I have always maintained the old adage that everyone has a fascinating story to them. All it takes is to spend some time with someone and get a good flow of conversation going. Ask enough questions. What you discover could amaze you.

I found this to be especially true when I met Bob Hartley. This affable and disarmingly pleasant man will set even the most reserved individual at ease with a ready smile and unpretentious behaviour. What drew me to speaking with him was that I had heard about his serious talent as an illustrator. I was intrigued and asked if he would be kind enough to tell me more about it.

Bob spoke about his interest in all things drawing related, especially caricatures. However, he had other stories to share too. I was more than happy to listen. When he was finished, I have to be honest in stating that I was more than a little humbled, and highly impressed.

Bob was born in West Germany to a British military family. After postings all over Europe, his father was transferred back to the UK where Bob picked up a fondness for art. He credits his mother as a true source of inspiration. "She is an amazing artist. Her paintings could have sold for thousands of pounds but she remained true to herself, and never discussed her art with anyone else," Bob mused. "She would paint on a canvas and once the painting was completed, she would wipe it clean and reuse the same canvas to start on something new. My father and I managed to save a few pieces of her work for ourselves. Line drawings and things like that."

A recently retired detective for the British police, Bob honed his artistic abilities during his thirty years on the force. "I've always loved to draw, ever since I was young. My friends were usually asking me to do caricatures or illustrations as going-away presents or retirement gifts. Or even when something funny happened while we were working.
It was fine at first but then I realised how much of my time it was taking up. So I started charging them for it," he laughs.

Larger caricatures in full colour tend to take Bob around four to five weeks to complete. Small black and white drawings however can be finished within two to three hours depending on the content.
He stresses that he is not a portrait artist by any means but thoroughly enjoys caricature. "Caricature is generally better because you can draw a feature out of someone. A facial or physical trait. It makes it easier. More interesting."

Caricatures are not Bob's only speciality. "Realism, accurate portrayals of machinery and explanatory exploded view of parts. That's actually how I became serious about illustrations.The owner of a UK publication named Rotorworld contacted me and asked me to prepare some interesting graphics. Rotorworld is a magazine for remote control helicopter fans. I'm a fan as well. I had to come up with a detailed drawing that would make it easier for readers to understand the designs of certain parts, to make it less boring.
I showed the people at the magazine some of my other work and I was offered a regular slot as the resident cartoonist. And the rest is history."
His humorous drawings, aptly titled "Giggles by Bob Hartley" are a regular feature in  Rotorworld.

We then proceeded onto other topics. I was already aware that Bob had a serious passion for the outdoors and proceeded to ask him if he could spare any "really cool adventure stories", at the risk of sounding like a complete novice.
This is a man who is an admitted mountaineer and has scaled some seriously daunting peaks. Bjel Toubkal of the Atlas Mountains in North Africa, Denali or Mount McKinley in Alaska, Mont Blanc in France and of course Mount Kinabalu, which he has climbed thirteen times.

He speaks with warm tones about the 2002 Mont Blanc expedition in which he was a cameraman and support team member for his best friend, renowned mountaineer Tony Ward.
The latter had lost the use of both his kidneys several years prior and viewed this challenge as a way to raise funds and awareness for kidney research, treatment and organ donation.
"Tony needed a dialysis pack change every four hours but he managed to set a world record for the highest dialysis exchange at 4,000 metres above sea level. It was a climb that would normally take three days. It took us two weeks," remembers Bob. " Sir Ranulph Fiennes was really great and helped us by forwarding the video footage we had recorded. It appeared on British television."
Sir Fiennes is the first man to complete land treks to both the North and South Pole as well as The Antarctic. He is widely regarded as one of the best explorers in the world.

The world record for the highest dialysis transfer has since been reset by none other than Tony Ward himself during his 2004 climb of Mount Toubcal in North Africa. That record currently sits at 4150 metres above sea level.

 After pressing on for more stories, I found out just how serious Bob's love for nature is. He classifies himself as an "extreme canoeist" and was among the first group to ever paddle down Brunei's Sungai Temburong. While still in the UK he also set up and ran Kaboa for 6 years - a dedicated jungle training course which teaches expedition leaders to be rainforest aware. From this facility alone, he personally trained 250 leaders. Hence his nickname, Jungle Bob.

Bob has organised 13 trips for the World Challenge Expeditions, a programme that educates young adults through travel and by exploring a different range of countries around the world. "That is how I came to Sabah in the first place," states Bob, "And that's how I met my wife". 

Sue Chong-Hartley has a strong affinity for the jungle and this evident through her own reminiscing of forest trips and fantastic skills behind the camera. This talented yet modest lenswoman exhibits serious flair for animal and insect photography, arachnids being her favourite subject. A flip through her portfolio will have you agreeing that her work is serious gallery worthy material, to say the least.

Not to be left behind, Bob too is an avid photographer but quickly lets on with a grin that "Mrs. Hartley has a far better eye for photography than I do."