Intermission #3

It's that time again. It is just around the corner, ready to pounce on us once its time has arrived.

Exams are, indubitably, necessary. An evil necessity. Its basic function is to assess how good/capable/credible you are, and whether you've been doing what you're supposed to do and not just fooling around.

Of course, it also strikes fear into the very hearts of those who are liable and/or vulnerable. It reminds us that we, essentially, at God's Mercy (especially when we're talking about clinical years, where luck plays a bigger role) and what we could only do is to prepare for the worst.

It is the wake-up call, and there is no other lifeline to save you.

...Despair and regrets, begone already!

Current Music: Kimi ni Negai wo - Miyavi

Intermission #2

Undeniably, one of the most obvious changes after the sixth Prime Minister came into power is that I seldom read the topics pertaining to the nation in the newspapers nowadays, be it The Star or Utusan. Personally I prefer the former, because it's in English *cough*andlessbiasedinperspective*cough*.

Anyway. For those who have not been up to date - i.e. less than yours truly have been - the present issue is still the teaching of science and mathematics in English and, now as an added bonus, the issue of making a pass in English compulsory to earn a pass in SPM as a whole.

But this entry is not to expound on why I would support or condemn the move, or why I am a proponent of the English language because I seriously need to settle my forsaken case write up before engaging in another futile rant which probably won't make an ounce of positive change in the country's future. Or my own, for that matter.

Out of sheer boredom, and equipped with a sense of dread and a prayer, I opened today's copy of Utusan - perhaps my second time of reading the newspaper this month alone, which probably isn't saying much. Naturally, I skipped the nonsensical political melee...but my eyes caught one particular heading. More accurately, it was the layout of the content that sparked my interest, because it had something _other_ than party A criticising/thrashing/damning party B. It had poetry.

I can appreciate some form of literature, but the general rule in my books is simple: "English>>>Malay". Don't start saying how unpatriotic I am to make this statement. It is simply my preference, just like how one prefers black to white, for example. So it's one of my basic human rights. Just like I can say how I suffered reading through Bukit Kepong and Konserto Terakhir in my late secondary school years...although frankly reading The Pearl was also a bore chore...

Ahem.

Here is a copy of the poem...and I'll pass commenting on how I feel about it, because my sentiments towards my own race has always been - and forever will be - ambivalent at best. That still doesn't cloud my judgment...that this poem still carries a great weight of truth.

MELAYU - Usman Awang

Melayu itu orang yang bijaksana
Nakalnya bersulam jenaka
Budi bahasanya tidak terkira
Kurang ajarnya tetap santun
Jika menipu pun masih bersopan
Bila mengampu bijak beralas tangan.

Melayu itu berani jika bersalah
Kecut takut kerana benar,
Janji simpan di perut
Selalu pecah di mulut,
Biar mati adat
Jangan mati anak.

Melayu di tanah Semenanjung luas maknanya:
Jawa itu Melayu, Bugis itu Melayu
Banjar juga disebut Melayu, Minangkabau
memang Melayu,
Keturunan Acheh adalah Melayu,
Jakun dan Sakai asli Melayu,
Arab dan Pakistani, semua Melayu
Mamak dan Malbari serap ke Melayu
Malah mua'alaf bertakrif Melayu
(Setelah disunat anunya itu)

Dalam sejarahnya
Melayu itu pengembara lautan
Melorongkan jalur sejarah zaman
Begitu luas daerah sempadan
Sayangnya kini segala kehilangan

Melayu itu kaya falsafahnya
Kias kata bidal pusaka
Akar budi bersulamkan daya
Gedung akal laut bicara

Malangnya Melayu itu kuat bersorak
Terlalu ghairah pesta temasya
Sedangkan kampung telah tergadai
Sawah sejalur tinggal sejengkal
tanah sebidang mudah terjual

Meski telah memiliki telaga
Tangan masih memegang tali
Sedang orang mencapai timba.
Berbuahlah pisang tiga kali
Melayu itu masih bermimpi

Walaupun sudah mengenal universiti
Masih berdagang di rumah sendiri.
Berkelahi cara Melayu
Menikam dengan pantun
Menyanggah dengan senyum
Marahnya dengan diam
Merendah bukan menyembah
Meninggi bukan melonjak.

Watak Melayu menolak permusuhan
Setia dan sabar tiada sempadan
Tapi jika marah tak nampak telinga
Musuh dicari ke lubang cacing
Tak dapat tanduk telinga dijinjing
Maruah dan agama dihina jangan
Hebat amuknya tak kenal lawan

Berdamai cara Melayu indah sekali
Silaturrahim hati yang murni
Maaf diungkap senantiasa bersahut
Tangan diulur sentiasa bersambut
Luka pun tidak lagi berparut

Baiknya hati Melayu itu tak terbandingkan
Selagi yang ada sanggup diberikan
Sehingga tercipta sebuah kiasan:
"Dagang lalu nasi ditanakkan
Suami pulang lapar tak makan
Kera di hutan disusu-susukan
Anak di pangkuan mati kebuluran"

Bagaimanakah Melayu abad dua puluh satu
Masihkan tunduk tersipu-sipu?
Jangan takut melanggar pantang
Jika pantang menghalang kemajuan;
Jangan segan menentang larangan
Jika yakin kepada kebenaran;
Jangan malu mengucapkan keyakinan
Jika percaya kepada keadilan.

Jadilah bangsa yang bijaksana
Memegang tali memegang timba
Memiliki ekonomi mencipta budaya
Menjadi tuan di negara Merdeka
Current Music: Don't Say Lazy - Hikasa Yoko

Missing Clerking Book

Ack. What is it with Surgical students losing their clerking books? Is it not too far-fetched to say that the book is the heart and soul of Surgery, especially when it is deemed as an uber vital necessity?

Where on God's Earth has my clerking book gone to? I only have 7 days to find it, or else I'm doomed.

*Facepalms*

If anyone has seen an A4 sized notebook with green front and back covers - nameless, because of the stupidity of yours truly - please return it to this poor little soul...before the unthinkable befalls me.

Current Music: Hi no Izuru Kuni, Zipang - Takahashi Hiroki