Friends, I was tested positive for H1N1 today. Its a preliminary result based on a throat swab done at the Sabah Medical Centre. Home quarantine for 7 days :(
Update: I am ok now. If you get high fever, which just feels terribly abnormal, horrible body and joint ache, a bad cough, headache and if you start to throw up, go get tested. Try the government hospital first, but in my case, it didnt work when I was "dismissed" at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Was given anti-biotics, panadol, piriton and cough mixture, and told to return if I get worse. Great.
The next morning my sister dragged me to the Sabah Medical Centre. They did a swab and confirmed in less than an hour that I was positive for H1N1, which as of today, has killed 75 people in Malaysia. I was prescribed Tamiflu (10 tablets for five days). The pain went off after a while.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Change
I've spent the last 3 weeks thinking hard about change. There are many who have been telling me that the change I am talking about is a bad kind of change. Then there are others who understand what I am going through, and are telling me change is good. I've had the same job since I left university more than 12 years ago, and yes, I think its time for change. Some say the only thing constant in life is change. Hmmm.... I decided to google "define: change" and this is an edited version of what I found:
* cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"
* an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is ...
* undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night"
* a relational difference between states; especially between states before and after some event; "he attributed the change to their marriage"
* become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence; "her mood changes in accordance with the weather"; "The supermarket's selection of vegetables varies according to the season"
* the action of changing something; "the change of government had no impact on the economy"; "his change on abortion cost him the election"
* switch: lay aside, abandon, or leave for another; "switch to a different brand of beer"; "She switched psychiatrists"; "The car changed lanes"
P/s: Yes, its time for change.
* cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"
* an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is ...
* undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night"
* a relational difference between states; especially between states before and after some event; "he attributed the change to their marriage"
* become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence; "her mood changes in accordance with the weather"; "The supermarket's selection of vegetables varies according to the season"
* the action of changing something; "the change of government had no impact on the economy"; "his change on abortion cost him the election"
* switch: lay aside, abandon, or leave for another; "switch to a different brand of beer"; "She switched psychiatrists"; "The car changed lanes"
P/s: Yes, its time for change.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Migrants
As a reporter, especially one who is based in Sabah, I write about immigrants every few months or so. A majority of people here would tell you that immigrants, mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia, are a pain. But I don't think like most. I like to look at things through a different eyeglass, and what I feel hardly goes down well with some friends when I bring this matter up.
Migrants are here for many reasons. Unrest at home, as in the case of southern Philippines, poverty, historical ties to communities who live here. I sometimes try to put myself in their situation. What if we have war here? What if I am so poor I can only have one simple meal a day? What if I see people dying around me? Wouldn't I take a tiny boat across raging seas to get a job? Then there are political reasons. I think most Sabahans know what I am talking about.
Like them or not, most foreigners are hardworking. I will bet my last Ringgit that the building you are sitting in now (at least here in Sabah) was built by a foreigner. The roads we drive on are built by foreign workers. Our airports, our ports ... you get the picture. They work hard in restaurants too, and I cant blame employers for hiring them. I often hear complaints that locals quit after a while and so that is why restaurant operators have to hire foreigners. I remember seeing a bunch of local boys fooling around at a restaurant near my office, they just refused to come over to take my order!
I also noticed that you cant find locals who do pedicures and manicures. Only Filipinas are willing to do clean people's toes and fingernails. There is nothing wrong with doing this job, but no, its too beneath some people. It brings in good money. Too bad many dont see that. I see young LOCAL girls and boys, not more than 15 or 16, getting drunk on cheap alcohol every weekend in Asia City and in front of Centre Point. Just last week, one girl was so drunk, she was crawling on the pavement, and when her guy friend pulled her up, she started kissing him right in front of a coffee shop. Makes you wonder.
Then there are (some) politicians who ... well, politicise everything. About a year ago, the Indonesian consulate opened a school in Alam Mesra, Kota Kinabalu, for children of Indonesian nationals. They did not have a choice. Although Malaysia is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child, which allows ANY child to go to school until the age of 12, children born to foreign parents are not allowed to, at least here in Sabah. I was amazed when a senior and seasoned politician from Parti Bersatu Sabah made a remark which was published in a local newspaper, that it was not right for the consulate to open a school. That it would erode the rights of locals. Hello? I think it would be better for this politician, and others who think like him, to go into the interior and help local children who dont have the best of education.
You know, I could just go on and on. Actually, this post was only triggered by my irritation at not being able to get anyone to clean my toes. I finally found one at the waterfront, and paid the lady RM35. You guessed it ... she is from the Philippines. And I say a big thank you to her.
Migrants are here for many reasons. Unrest at home, as in the case of southern Philippines, poverty, historical ties to communities who live here. I sometimes try to put myself in their situation. What if we have war here? What if I am so poor I can only have one simple meal a day? What if I see people dying around me? Wouldn't I take a tiny boat across raging seas to get a job? Then there are political reasons. I think most Sabahans know what I am talking about.
Like them or not, most foreigners are hardworking. I will bet my last Ringgit that the building you are sitting in now (at least here in Sabah) was built by a foreigner. The roads we drive on are built by foreign workers. Our airports, our ports ... you get the picture. They work hard in restaurants too, and I cant blame employers for hiring them. I often hear complaints that locals quit after a while and so that is why restaurant operators have to hire foreigners. I remember seeing a bunch of local boys fooling around at a restaurant near my office, they just refused to come over to take my order!
I also noticed that you cant find locals who do pedicures and manicures. Only Filipinas are willing to do clean people's toes and fingernails. There is nothing wrong with doing this job, but no, its too beneath some people. It brings in good money. Too bad many dont see that. I see young LOCAL girls and boys, not more than 15 or 16, getting drunk on cheap alcohol every weekend in Asia City and in front of Centre Point. Just last week, one girl was so drunk, she was crawling on the pavement, and when her guy friend pulled her up, she started kissing him right in front of a coffee shop. Makes you wonder.
Then there are (some) politicians who ... well, politicise everything. About a year ago, the Indonesian consulate opened a school in Alam Mesra, Kota Kinabalu, for children of Indonesian nationals. They did not have a choice. Although Malaysia is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child, which allows ANY child to go to school until the age of 12, children born to foreign parents are not allowed to, at least here in Sabah. I was amazed when a senior and seasoned politician from Parti Bersatu Sabah made a remark which was published in a local newspaper, that it was not right for the consulate to open a school. That it would erode the rights of locals. Hello? I think it would be better for this politician, and others who think like him, to go into the interior and help local children who dont have the best of education.
You know, I could just go on and on. Actually, this post was only triggered by my irritation at not being able to get anyone to clean my toes. I finally found one at the waterfront, and paid the lady RM35. You guessed it ... she is from the Philippines. And I say a big thank you to her.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Stop Human Trafficking
I want to share an issue that I worry about -- human trafficking. Children, young women, and even men, are sold daily worldwide, to serve in so many different sectors of the economy. Most of us are probably aware of women getting sold for the sex trade, and children lost in the 'trafficking system," turned into beggars and sex workers. I first heard of men getting sold when I attended a human trafficking workshop a few months back. Men from places like Myanmar are sold and end up on fishing trawlers -- so that you and I will have a steady supply of seafood.
There are 3 stages of trafficking -- first victims are recruited and often promised good jobs overseas, then they are sent to the person who will eventually sell them to other parties, and finally victims will end up abused. A few months back, I interviewed two women from the slums of Manila, in the Philippines. One has 2 children back home and she thought she was going to work in a karaoke joint, serving drinks. Another girl, aged 19, wanted to earn money to go to college so she jumped at the chance of working in Sabah. Both were traded and made to have sex on the day they arrived. The two, with a few others, managed to escape after a couple of weeks when their apartment was raided. The victims I met dont speak Malay and were told by the men holding them that they would be jailed forever if the Malaysian police caught them, so they were scared stiff of running away, as their passports were in the hands of their "owners." Yes, they had become commodities. Girls from remote areas in Sabah, too, end up in the sex trade and boys are made to do hard labour, when they are sold in Singapore and peninsular Malaysia. Usually, they go through bogus job agencies.
I was glad when I passed a Bodyshop outlet in Centre Point today. A "STOP SEX TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE" sign in yellow and red screamed at me. I had a closer look, and found that the beauty shop is working with Tenaganita, an NGO dedicated to helping trafficked victims, to create awareness on the problem and to sell a hand cream. Profit from the "Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream" will go to Tenaganita and ECPAT International, a global network of organisations and individuals working together for the elimination of child prostitution, child pornography and trafficking. I think the hand cream costs RM29.90 for a 75 ml pack. I will go get one on the weekend.
There are 3 stages of trafficking -- first victims are recruited and often promised good jobs overseas, then they are sent to the person who will eventually sell them to other parties, and finally victims will end up abused. A few months back, I interviewed two women from the slums of Manila, in the Philippines. One has 2 children back home and she thought she was going to work in a karaoke joint, serving drinks. Another girl, aged 19, wanted to earn money to go to college so she jumped at the chance of working in Sabah. Both were traded and made to have sex on the day they arrived. The two, with a few others, managed to escape after a couple of weeks when their apartment was raided. The victims I met dont speak Malay and were told by the men holding them that they would be jailed forever if the Malaysian police caught them, so they were scared stiff of running away, as their passports were in the hands of their "owners." Yes, they had become commodities. Girls from remote areas in Sabah, too, end up in the sex trade and boys are made to do hard labour, when they are sold in Singapore and peninsular Malaysia. Usually, they go through bogus job agencies.
I was glad when I passed a Bodyshop outlet in Centre Point today. A "STOP SEX TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE" sign in yellow and red screamed at me. I had a closer look, and found that the beauty shop is working with Tenaganita, an NGO dedicated to helping trafficked victims, to create awareness on the problem and to sell a hand cream. Profit from the "Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream" will go to Tenaganita and ECPAT International, a global network of organisations and individuals working together for the elimination of child prostitution, child pornography and trafficking. I think the hand cream costs RM29.90 for a 75 ml pack. I will go get one on the weekend.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Tony Blair in Sabah
Tony Blair leaving the Sacred
Heart church in Kota Kinabalu
This is when parishioners realisedthat Tony Blair was at their church
Excited church-goers greeting
Tony and Cherie Blair.
This is why we need a
camera phone
A moment in church
When we reached our office, we got a tip off that Mr Blair, his wife Mrs Cherie Blair and maybe 2 of their children had just entered the Sacred Heart cathedral, about 5 minutes outside Kota Kinabalu, so we rushed over. And yes, the Blairs were there. The best part parishioners were not aware he was among them. Some thought he looked familiar, others later told us that they thought he was a football star. I wasnt able to speak to him because everything happened too fast, but I want to share the story I wrote, with you:
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair caused a stir at a local church here when he came for mass with his family as part of a private visit to Sabah. Many didn't realise that he was seated at a pew in the middle of the Sacred Heart Catholic church until prayers ended at about 10.20am yesterday, and Blair stood up to leave the hall.
Those who recognised him started shaking his hand, not bothered by body guards who followed Blair closely as he left the church for a multi-purpose van parked just metres away. Some started taking photos with their handphones and others managed to take pictures with him and wife Cherie Blair, as their children disappeared into a vehicle.
Dressed in a black collared t-shirt, white slacks and skin-coloured flip flops, Blair who served as Prime Minister for a decade until 2007, offered a smile to everyone and accomodated a request from a few parishioners who wanted to have their photos taken with him. The excitement lasted less than five minutes before he was whisked away into his waiting van, but church-goers who spoke or shook hands with him lingered on for a while.
Civil servant Christopher Chiu said Blair took his hand when he offered to shake it when they left the hall. "I was so surprised when I saw him because I didn't realise that he was in church. He was so nice to me. "He told me that he liked the cathedral and was glad that many people had come for mass. "He said he is here on a private visit with his family," Chiu, an officer with the Road Transport Department, said.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong said he didn't know that the Blair family was sitting behind him. "I saw his wife (Cherie) and I thought that she looked familiar. It is only when I saw the excitement outside that I knew Blair was behind me, and who the lady I saw was. "I didn't manage to speak with him or shake his hand, but I am very happy that he joined us for Sunday service," Liew said.
It is learnt that Blair and his family arrived in Kota Kinabalu close to a week ago for a holiday. Blair is actively involved in charitable events through the Tony Blair Sports Foundation and the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. He is also known for his views on climate change and recently produced a report called "Technology for a Low Carbon Future."
This is why we need a
camera phone
A moment in church
ON Sunday, 2nd August, 2009, I woke up early because I was told the night before that former British prime minister Mr Tony Blair was going to attend Sunday mass at the Stella Maris church in Tanjung Aru. I reached just before 8am, and after asking around, I found out that he wasn't there. My colleague, Datu Ruslan and I, left after we were sure he was not around.
When we reached our office, we got a tip off that Mr Blair, his wife Mrs Cherie Blair and maybe 2 of their children had just entered the Sacred Heart cathedral, about 5 minutes outside Kota Kinabalu, so we rushed over. And yes, the Blairs were there. The best part parishioners were not aware he was among them. Some thought he looked familiar, others later told us that they thought he was a football star. I wasnt able to speak to him because everything happened too fast, but I want to share the story I wrote, with you:
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair caused a stir at a local church here when he came for mass with his family as part of a private visit to Sabah. Many didn't realise that he was seated at a pew in the middle of the Sacred Heart Catholic church until prayers ended at about 10.20am yesterday, and Blair stood up to leave the hall.
Those who recognised him started shaking his hand, not bothered by body guards who followed Blair closely as he left the church for a multi-purpose van parked just metres away. Some started taking photos with their handphones and others managed to take pictures with him and wife Cherie Blair, as their children disappeared into a vehicle.
Dressed in a black collared t-shirt, white slacks and skin-coloured flip flops, Blair who served as Prime Minister for a decade until 2007, offered a smile to everyone and accomodated a request from a few parishioners who wanted to have their photos taken with him. The excitement lasted less than five minutes before he was whisked away into his waiting van, but church-goers who spoke or shook hands with him lingered on for a while.
Civil servant Christopher Chiu said Blair took his hand when he offered to shake it when they left the hall. "I was so surprised when I saw him because I didn't realise that he was in church. He was so nice to me. "He told me that he liked the cathedral and was glad that many people had come for mass. "He said he is here on a private visit with his family," Chiu, an officer with the Road Transport Department, said.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong said he didn't know that the Blair family was sitting behind him. "I saw his wife (Cherie) and I thought that she looked familiar. It is only when I saw the excitement outside that I knew Blair was behind me, and who the lady I saw was. "I didn't manage to speak with him or shake his hand, but I am very happy that he joined us for Sunday service," Liew said.
It is learnt that Blair and his family arrived in Kota Kinabalu close to a week ago for a holiday. Blair is actively involved in charitable events through the Tony Blair Sports Foundation and the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. He is also known for his views on climate change and recently produced a report called "Technology for a Low Carbon Future."
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