Take 5

English F A Cup Final

Chelsea 2 Everton 1. Despite taking a very early lead, an opportunistic goal by Saha, it was not enough to bring back the Cup to Goodison Park. Drogba equalised in the 21st. minute and after that it was a matter of time when will Chelsea get another goal. And it came thru Lampard who scored with his weak left foot but enough placement to beat a slightly off-position Howard. Chelsea got another one thru Mouluda but the goal, a reminiscene of 1966 goal scored by Geoff Hurst at 'old' Wembley, was disallowed. Television replay clearly showed that the ball did crossed the line. But justice was done, when at the final whistle, Chelsea won by 2 goals againsy 1. Ashley Cole was declared the man of the match. To me the award should have been awarded to Mikel Obi, he was magnificent in midmield and it was he who actually won the game for Chelsea. Chelsea Chelsea..!

Champion's League Result

Ole.. ole.. ole.. ole., Barca.. Boleh!! Yezzzir, it's Barcelona 2 Manchester United 0. Barcelona is the champion of Europe!. A goal each by Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi doomed the Red Devils. After a promising start and as early as the 2nd. minute, United had the chance to score but attempt by J Sung was blocked by Barca goalie. Barca started nervously but in the 10th. minute, out of the blue and thru a solo effort and fantastic controlled and dribllingskills, Eto'o found the net when he shot passed Van Der Vaar. Man United goalie should have stopped the shot, but being quite a tall goalie, his movement and reaction was slow and sluggish, and United were punished. Ronaldo then tried to show to the world his'footballing antics' and tried hard to put United on level terms but was frustrated by the close and tight marking, a trademark of European football.

Second half started with United pulling off Anderson and replacing him with Tevez. Tried as they may but clearly, United were desperate and their tactics were easily read by Barca. Then came the unexpected but spot on lobbed by Xavi who found Messi unmarked and he scored through a header. Ferdinand was the nearest to Messi but his marking was terrible. After the goal United became more panicked and desperate - they took offf J Sung with Barbatov and later Giggs with Scholes, but hell no, the devils left their shooting boots at home.

Fergusson gambled by playing Ferdinand and Giggs - they were too slow and sluggish and their movements were restricted bcos of tired legs. Van Der Saar is passed his prime. Messi and Iniesta clearly controlled the game and their approach to the final with short passing and closed marking, left the Devils frustrated. Rooney tried hard,. He even has his temper under controlled. Perhaps that was United mistake, asking Rooney to stay calm and cool. Ronaldo showed this towards the last quarter of the game and received yellow card for his foul on Puyol. Maybe the speculation and much talk of him moving to Real Madrid unsettled him. Anyway, hard luck United.., if only they were playing Chelsea, they could have won the trophy.

Announcement

Old Boys Weekend for 2009 is scheduled on the 26th to 28th of June, 2009. Please save these dates in your organizer to ensure the dates do not conflict with other events. This year's event is organised by Batch 89.
For those interested in attending the gathering, you can now register online. Click HERE to register online and a free (very nice black t-shirt) t-shirt is to be given away to the first 100. Fee is at RM50.00 and is payable via ATM Cash Deposit or ATM 3rd Party Fund Transfer (Maybank or CIMB).

http://http//www.staroba.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage

Belated Teacher's day

Like others, I too have fond memories of teachers who have helped and shaped me as I am today.
One was a teacher called Manoharan, who taught us Biology when I was in Form Six. Manoharan, reminded me of a joke that he shared with us during one of his Biology classes. It was about a couple who had just been married - a Professor and a beauty Queen. One day the wife was heard saying, 'just imagine my dear, if we were to have a baby one day, the baby will have 'my beauty' and 'your inteeligent'!. Yeah, replied the husband, 'What if the child has 'my beauty' and 'your brain'!!
Another teacher was my Remove Class teacher, Mr. Lee Kam Choon - our Form Master and English teacher. One day whilst teaching, he stopped suddenly and asked for some papers. Mohd Noor Hassan, then our monitor, quickly and confidently, beating others to it, tore some papers from his exercise books and gave them to Mr. Lee. He quickly grabbed the papers and rushed off to the toilet. It was my first understanding and lesson that Chinese needs papers (toilet papers) to accomplish their mission in the toliet.
How could we forget Mr. Thambyrajah. He has this 'habit' of staring for a few minutes at the desk before entering the classes. He will go back and forth looking at the desk for a few times until he was 'satisfied' and 'done' and presume that everything was okay before entering. The class had to wait until he settled down with his 'antics' before we could greet him Good morning. The same routine applies after he finishes his classes, too. But, goodness me, I couldnot recalled the subject he taught us!. Was it Geography?!
Mr. Tan Teong Leong (TTL) was the one who likes to 'kuti' or pinched your tummy whenever you failed his History tests. And he will ridiculed and made funny calls to your name in doing so. I can remember one name he frequently and liked to make fun with - our Ismail Jumli (Captain). TTL will call him - 'Ismail Jumlah!.
I remembered the sweet Ms. Foong Pek Wann who taught us English cum General Paper in Form Six class. In one of her class, Shoib was asked to read a text from a book when suddenly she shouted, 'Shoib, speak louder, I can't see!. She had forgotten to bring her glasses to class.
To all dear teachers... a Happy belated Teachers' Day.

STAROBA NS/MALACCA DINNER

About 80 people including spouses and children attended the dinner held at STAR Fresh Chinese Muslim Restaurant in Seremban last nite. STAROBA President, YB Hamzah Zainuddin was there as early as 815 pm. The event took off slowly and the numbers grew towards the end, thanks and no thanks, to another event - a wedding ceremony - that was also held within the same vicinity - at Spanish Villa, Senawang by Zainal Mat Isa (69 Batch). The food was okay but not the place, if you asked my opinion. With noises coming from the main eating area (actually life music from a guy behind his music machine, spoiling what seemed to me quite a momentos nite for an old boy gathering session. Speeches by YBhg. Dato Ishak Ismail (Jack Palace) and from YB President had some jokes and a few anecdotes from life experience in Tiger lane. One thing for sure. Lucky me I did not bring my spouse or children along, otherwise I would have to do a bit of explaination to do to them when both speakers came out with words that were too familiar to us in school but not to them. I think it was uncalled for, well yes we did love to the jokes, reminiscing those confined years in Tiger Lane but having to tell and share them with your spouses and children is rather difficult. 'Road check' (or was it rochek), Jublee Park, 'kopi korek' - were amongst those came out during the speech. I hope these things wont be repeated at the Old Boys' Week to be held in Ipoh next month. Anyway, only three of us (Rustam, Rahim Osman and me from batch 73) attended the function. Apart from me, there were four others (Batch 73) from Negri Sembilan; Zulkifli Siraj (Ajoi), Omar Abdullah, Abdul Khalim Rashid (Dr.) and Mohd. Yusoff Abu Bakar (Che Chop). Apart from Omar and Khalim, we have not heard nor see both Ajoi and Che Chop, for almost 36 years!!. InsyaAllah, next month perhaps, during OBW in Ipoh.

Book Review

Saya Pun Melayu!
by M. Bakri Musa

Book Review: Saya Pun Melayu (I Am Also A Malay)Foreword by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.ZI Publications Sdn Bhd, Petaling Jaya, 2009. 312 pages. RM 35.00

The Annual UMNO General Assembly is also the season for the release of new books on local politics written in Malay. It must be a profitable venue and time, for the number of new titles keeps growing each year.

Foreigners may mistake this to reflect a healthy intellectual discourse, or at least a vigorous political debate. The reality however, is far different. With such titillating titles as “50 Dalil Mengapa XYZ Tidak Layak …” (Fifty Reason s Why XYZ Is Unfit For … ) and the promiscuous use of “half-past six English,” this “genre” poisons the political atmosphere, quite apart from degrading our national language.

As for content, these books are nothing more than warong kopi (coffee shop) gossips transcribed. Observers and political scientists hoping to gain an insight on Malaysian politics would do well to avoid these books. And they have. These books will never be cited in reputable publications or quoted by respected commentators.

Enter Zaid Ibrahim’s Saya Pun Melayu (I Am Also A Malay). It too was released to coincide with the recent UMNO General Assembly. There the similarity ends. This gem of a diamond sparkles with insights and wisdom. Like a diamond, this book too has innumerable multifaceted sharp edges that cut through rock-headed politicians. I would be insulting Zaid if I were to compare his thoughtful and well written book to the thrash that littered the hallways of Dewan Merdeka, where the recent Assembly took place.

Greater Impact Than The Malay Dilemma

A more appropriate comparison would be Mahathir’s The Malay Dilemma, written some 40 years ago and also at a time when UMNO and Malays were going through a critical crisis. This book will have an even greater impact than The Malay Dilemma.

Like Mahathir’s, the first run of this book quickly sold out, but unlike Mahathir’s, this book has not been banned. This is not due to any greater enlightenment on the part of the authorities today, rather a tribute to Zaid’s skillful and subtle approach. Whereas Mahathir is frontal and polemical, meant more to shock if not insult readers, Zaid, ever the accomplished corporate lawyer, takes a softer and polite approach. In contrast to Mahathir’s anger and indignant rhetoric, Zaid is more sorrowful and disappointment over UMNO’s current malaise. Zaid persuades us with his rational arguments; Mahathir barrages us with his accusations. Mahathir caters to our baser emotions and sense of victimization; Zaid to our intellect and pristine values of our culture.

Our culture goes for Zaid’s halus ways, of subtleties and obliqueness. Thus he is devastatingly effective, as for example in upbraiding his former cabinet colleagues who are lawyers. Rais Yatim, Syed Hamid Albar, Hishammuddin Hussein, and Azalina Othman, among others, are chastised for failing to live up to their professional ethics and obligations as shown by their disrespect for the due process of law and basic human rights. In Malay, Zaid’s polite criticisms are very damning. It would be difficult to maintain this tone with this style had the book been written in English. The translator should ponder this point.

The book is in three parts. The first is the author’s reflection on and prescription for our nation’s current predicaments. Zaid tackles such “hot” issues as Ketuanan Melayu (Malay hegemony), the rule of law, and the role of the monarchy in a democracy. It also includes his very brief tenure as Abdullah Badawi’s Law Minister.

The second is a brief memoir of sorts where he traced his humble origin in a village deep in Ulu Kelantan to become a highly successful corporate attorney who created the nation’s largest law firm. It also includes his tenure in UMNO politics and his current philanthropic works, where he has been recognized by Forbes magazines as Asia’s Inaugural Heroes of Philanthropy. The last part contains short profiles of Malaysians he admires (which includes former Chief Justice Salleh Abbas), his hopes on the future of Malays, and the current state of Malay, specifically UMNO, politics.

UMNO No Longer Represents Malays

One could be readily excused in assuming that those rent-seeking, keris-brandishing, and race-taunting types that infest UMNO represent the best if not the essence of the Malay race. Or that the angry menacing Mat Rempits, the jungle version of Hell’s Angels so eagerly being embraced by UMNO Youth, are the future of Malays.

Zaid’s ideas and approaches are the antithesis of UMNO’s. In deliberately choosing the simple title, Zaid is emphasizing that his is also a legitimate if not the prevailing viewpoint. To me, Zaid represents more of the essence of Malayness while those corrupt pseudo modernized UMNO types just happen to be Malays. They are the ones who soil our culture and give it a bad odor.
Zaid writes teasingly that he has already set a record of sorts by being the shortest serving cabinet minister! Here is another observation also worthy of the record books. He is the only minister whose reputation is enhanced on leaving office! Not to belittle Zaid’s own fine personal qualities and considerable achievements, that says a lot on the caliber of people leading Malaysia today!

Zaid takes to task UMNO leaders for presuming to speak on behalf of all Malays. It is clear now that they do not. In the chapter “Masa Depan Melayu” (The Future of Malays) in Part III, Zaid suggests that Malays must be outward looking, willing to learn from others, and not be obsessed with empty slogans like Ketuanan Melayu. The road to Ketuanan Melayu, he writes, is not by shouting your lungs out at every gathering, rather through diligence, hard work, and most of all, superior education.

Zaid relates his experience as a university student leader on a three-month trip to America visiting the top campuses (“Memburu Cita Cita, (Pursuing You Dreams) Chapter 8 Part II). This was in the 1970s, the height of the anti-Vietnam protests. He was struck that even though America was at war its government was still tolerant of dissent.

Decades later as Abdullah’s Law Minister, he was appalled when the government he was a part of detained dissenters like Raja Petra and Teresa Kok under the ISA. Not surprisingly, Zaid’s departure from the cabinet soon followed.

I have met many Malaysians who have lived for many years in America and yet miss this important aspect of American exceptionalism. Their America is the shopping malls, porno shops, and blighted downtowns.

Zaid’s ideas and observations resonate with me, as well as many Malaysians. Hear is the voice of a successful Malay professional and a member of the political elite. That he now quits UMNO is a loss for it but a gain for Malaysia. Another blessing is that he is now free to pursue his philanthropic works as well as his involvement in NGOs. And being an effective critic of the government!

To me the most valuable part of the book is his brief memoir (Part II). Zaid clearly subscribes early to the values he writes about. His divorced father took him away from the village to live with him in Kota Baru where he could attend an English school (Sultan Ismail College). When he reached secondary level he felt the urge to leave, to see the greater world beyond.

He chose English College in Johor Baru, at the very opposite end of the peninsula. The school however accepts new students only if their families were transferred there. So he wrote to the principal stating that indeed he had a “family” (his distant cousin) transferred to the Army base there. His father willingly signed the letter for him and supported his decision.

Unlike in Kota Baru where his classmates were almost exclusively Malays, down there he had an environment more reflective of Malaysia. From there he went on to Sekolah Tun Razak in Ipoh for his Form Six, where he excelled in debates, and then to UiTM for his law studies.
Except for about seven months in London at one of the Inns to qualify for the Bar, and the earlier trip to America, Zaid spent his formative years in Malaysia. It is remarkable that he could have such an open and receptive attitude. We have many who spent years at the best British universities only to return quickly to their old kampong mentality upon coming home.
Zaid has what the Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck refers to as a “growth mindset,” in contrast to a “fixed mindset.” Those with the growth mindset believe that their fate is dependent on how adaptive they are in seizing opportunities, and on their ability to grow and gain from their experiences. They do not believe that their fate is dependent on what nature had bestowed upon them, the benevolence of some remote emperor, or what had been written in the book of life. The “fixed mindset” view their talent and ability as fixed, and that their lot in life is ultimately tied to their innate nature, especially their intelligence and ‘giftedness.’

Zaid is always learning from others and improving on what they had done. He writes of his early experience articling in a prestigious law firm where he was offered a position. That was definitely a career coup, a young lawyer’s dream. What soured it were the whisperings among his colleagues that he was offered simply because the firm wanted to increase its Malay representation. After much soul searching, Zaid declined the offer. That must have shocked those senior partners. Another “dumb” Malay refusing to seize opportunities, they must have thought!

Zaid too must have questioned himself a thousand times in the years following that tough decision, especially when he had difficulty trying to borrow from MARA (a measly RM25,000.00) to start his own firm. In the end, he created ZICO, a law firm that easily bested the one where he articled. Not only is it the largest, it is also one of the few that could handle the complex needs of multinational corporations, and the first to venture abroad.
That is where a growth mindset could lead you.

Going back to MARA, an institution I am a never a fan of, Zaid relates an incident visiting his alma mater soon after being appointed Law Minister. He wanted to spend a few minutes to give the students a “pep talk.” On the appointed day, he was surprised by the overflowing crowd. Then as is typical, the Vice Chancellor, one Ibrahim Abu Shah (a “Dato’ Seri Prof. Dr.” no less!) hogged all the allotted time, pouring embarrassingly effusive praises on Zaid. He was left with a scant few minutes!

A few months later, after Zaid resigned as a minister and gave his talk at the Asean Law Forum where he challenged the wisdom of Ketuanan Melayu, that same Ibrahim called Zaid a traitor to our race! As Zaid says, our intellectuals are also now speaking like politicians. Zaid may not realize this; they do so because they are essentially politicians who happen to wear academic robes. Scholars and intellectuals they are not.

I wish all Malaysians would read this book. Our policy makers would benefit more from reading this instead of the World Bank’s dense treatises on rural poverty. The tribulations of his childhood that Zaid so well described are still very much the reality today for a vast number of young Malays. Zaid was fortunate in that his father saw the value of a good education. Many parents are trapped between needing their children to work to lessen the family’s burden and going to school. If our government were to adopt programs like Mexico’s Progresa where parents are being paid for keeping their children in school, then we would help those parents make the right decision that would benefit them and the nation in the long term.
If UMNO members and leaders were to read this volume they might just be disabused of their delusion of Ketuanan Melayu and ethnocentric mindset. On the other hand they might not like it when they realize their own stupidities. For young Malays, Zaid is an aspiration, of what is within their grasp if only they could see through the fraud of Ketuanan Melayu that is being perpetrated upon them. For non-Malays, this book might just erase some of their negative stereotypes of Malays they harbor.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book not only because of the remarkable personal story but also for the style of writing. Malays writers writing in Malay (and often also in English) tend to use non-declarative sentences. Thus instead of saying, “I like vanilla ice cream!” they would write, “On matters of ice cream taste, I like vanilla!” The latter takes nearly twice as many words, and the reader also has to shift gears. Very irritating!

This book is a valuable contribution to the political discourse, and it comes at a time when it is badly needed. Rest assured that this book will be talked about for years.
_____________________
Correction Doc. Zaid did his Form Six in Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Ipoh (STAR, Ipoh).

Announcement

The date: 16 May 2009 (Sat).

Time: 8 pm

The place: Star Fruit Chinese Muslim Restaurant, Km 12, Jalan Kuala Pilah - Seremban (at the foot of Bukit Putus)

The Occassion: STAROBA NS/Malacca Dinner

STAROBA Presiden, YB Dato Hamzah Zainuddin

will be there to grace the occassion.

Fees: RM35 per person (free admission for spouse)

FREE ADMISSION for STAROBANS 55 years and above!

For Confirmation, please contact Cik Samsiah : Tel : 06-6855166

OR Cik Hana : 012-3570957

'Jumpa di sanaaaa!!"

Belated wish

Champion's League Results

Hard luck Chelsea. Try again next time. But the drama in Stamford Bridge took to the worst after the final whistle when Chelsea players - Terry, Lampard and Drogba especially confronted the refferee for what they seemed to be claiming bias reffereeing. Very unsporting indeed. Should they feel that they were a victim of bias reffereeing, they should have protested then during the game. Once you carry on with the game then it is fair and square.

Barcelona did try to come back to the game once they found themselves trailing suddenly, out of the 'blue' from a 'lucky strike' by Essien. Then there were close calls for penalties claimed by Chelsea but was ignored by the ref. Even after Barcelone was left with 10 players, they continued to dominate the game and Chelsea players seemed to be ball watching and more than happy to simply kick and clear their goal areas. But, this is Champion's League where away goals may decide the game. Barcelona did just exactly that. God must have answered their (or was it FIFA's prayer) when Iniesta had a decent and clear shot at Chelsea goal.. and scored!! One all and Barcelona will be going to Rome for the showdown with Man United. Chelsea was left fuming.

Champion League Results

Arsenal 1 Manchester United 3. Arsenal was truly beaten this time in London. There was no escape this time for Arsenal. Almunia could do nothing, Fabregas could do no passing and despite what Wenger did promise to give Man United a fight, it did not come. It took a rather awkward and lucky break for Man United though to be one goal up. Thanks to a slipped by Gibbs which left Park Ji Sung with the opportunity to score. He did and it was 0 - 1 Man United. Then came the strike by Ronaldo on the 11th. minutes after he was fouled by Van Persie. From almost 35 yards out, he unleashed a cracker and Almunia was beaten. Came half time and I expected Arsenal to come back charging after a brashing by Arsene Wenger but Fabregas and Co. must have known, realised and felt that Arsenal trophy cabinet will be bare again for another year. When Ronaldo scored again after a sensational breakthru out of Arsenal's corner, clearance by Vidic to Ronaldo, who passed the ball to Ji Sung, who then slipped it over to Rooney, who then crossed a curler and was well connected by Ronaldo for his 2nd. goal, Arsenal was in tatters!. Fletcher was sent out after a clumsy tackle on Fabregas whci ruled him out of the final in Rome. Van Persie converted the penalty but Arsenal was already dead and gone at the Emirates!. Fianal score, semi final of the Champion league... Man United 4 Arsenal 1. Glory glory Man United!

Tonight, Chelsea will play host to Barcelona in the other semi-final. Another London flop!? We'll see!

Selamat hari Ibu

Terima e-mail dari sahabat. Selepas membaca e-mail tersebut, saya terkedu..
Saya ingin berkongsi e-mail tersebut dengan yang sudi berkongsi...

Orang kata aku lahir dari perut mak..
(bukan org kata...memang betul)

Bila dahaga, yang susukan aku....mak
Bila lapar, yang suapkan aku....mak
Bila keseorangan, yang sentiasa di sampingku.. ..mak
Kata mak, perkataan pertama yang aku sebut....mak
Bila bangun tidur, aku cari....mak
Bila nangis, orang pertama yang datang ....mak
Bila nak bermanja, aku dekati....mak
Bila nak bergesel, aku duduk sebelah....mak
Bila sedih, yang boleh memujukku hanya....mak
Bila nakal, yang memarahi aku....mak
Bila merajuk, yang memujukku cuma....mak
Bila melakukan kesalahan, yang paling cepat marah....mak
Bila takut, yang tenangkan aku....mak
Bila nak peluk, yang aku suka peluk....mak
Aku selalu teringatkan ....mak
Bila sedih, aku mesti talipon....mak
Bila seronok, orang pertama aku nak beritahu.....mak
Bila bengang.. aku suka luah pada..mak
Bila takut, aku selalu panggil... "mmaaakkkk! "
Bila sakit, orang paling risau adalah....mak
Bila nak exam, orang paling sibuk juga....mak
Bila buat hal, yang marah aku dulu....mak
Bila ada masalah, yang paling risau.... mak
Yang masih peluk dan cium aku sampai hari ni.. mak
Yang selalu masak makanan kegemaranku....mak
kalau balik ke kampung, yang selalu bekalkan ulam & lauk pauk.....mak
Yang selalu simpan dan kemaskan barang-barang aku....mak
Yang selalu berleter kat aku...mak
Yang selalu puji aku....mak
Yang selalu nasihat aku....mak
Bila nak kahwin..Orang pertama aku tunjuk dan rujuk.....mak

Aku dah ada pasangan hidup sendiri....

Bila seronok, aku cari....pasanganku
Bila sedih, aku cari....mak

Bila berjaya, aku ceritakan pada....pasanganku
Bila gagal, aku ceritakan pada....mak

Bila bahagia, aku peluk erat....pasanganku
Bila berduka, aku peluk erat....emakku

Bila nak bercuti, aku bawa....pasanganku
Bila sibuk, aku hantar anak ke rumah....mak

Bila sambut valentine.. Aku bagi hadiah pada pasanganku
Bila sambut hari ibu...aku cuma dapat ucapkan “Selamat Hari Ibu”

Selalu.. aku ingat pasanganku
Selalu.. mak ingat kat aku

Bila-bila... aku akan talipon pasanganku
Entah bila... aku nak talipon mak

Selalu...aku belikan hadiah untuk pasanganku
Entah bila... aku nak belikan hadiah untuk emak

Renungkan:
"Kalau kau sudah habis belajar dan berkerja... bolehkah kau kirim wang untuk mak?
mak bukan nak banyak... lima puluh ringgit sebulan pun cukuplah".
Berderai air mata jika kita mendengarnya........

Tapi kalau mak sudah tiada..........
MAKKKKK...RINDU MAK.... RINDU SANGAT!!!....

Berapa ramai yang sanggup menyuapkan ibunya....
berapa ramai yang sanggup mencuci muntah ibunya.....
berapa ramai yang sanggup mengantikan lampin ibunya.....
berapa ramai yang sanggup membersihkan najis ibunya.......
berapa ramai yang sanggup membuang ulat dan membersihkan luka kudis ibunya....
berapa ramai yang sanggup berhenti kerja untuk menjaga ibunya.....
dan akhir sekali berapa ramai yang sembahyang JENAZAH ibunya......

____________________

Seorang anak mendapatkan ibunya yang sedang sibuk menyediakan makan malam di dapur lalu menghulurkan sekeping kertas yang bertulis sesuatu. Si ibu segera mengesatkan tangan di apron menyambut kertas yang dihulurkan oleh si anak lalu membacanya.Kos upah membantu ibu:

1) Tolong pergi kedai : RM4.00
2) Tolong jaga adik : RM4..00
3) Tolong buang sampah : RM1.00
4) Tolong kemas bilik : RM2.00
5) Tolong siram bunga : RM3.00
6) Tolong sapu sampah : RM3.00
Jumlah : RM17.00

Selesai membaca, si ibu tersenyum memandang si anak sambil sesuatu berlegar-legar si mindanya. Si ibu mencapai sebatang pen dan menulis sesuatu di belakang kertas yang sama.

1) Kos mengandungkanmu selama 9 bulan - PERCUMA
2) Kos berjaga malam kerana menjagamu - PERCUMA
3) Kos air mata yang menitis keranamu - PERCUMA
4) Kos kerunsingan kerana bimbangkanmu - PERCUMA
5) Kos menyediakan makan minum, pakaian, dan keperluanmu -PERCUMA
Jumlah Keseluruhan Nilai Kasihku - PERCUMA

Air mata si anak berlinang setelah membaca apa yang dituliskan oleh siibu. Si anak menatap wajah ibu, memeluknya dan berkata,

"Saya Sayangkan Ibu". Kemudian si anak mengambil pen dan menulis "Telah Dibayar" pada mukasurat yang sama ditulisnya.
_____________________
Selamat Hari Ibu ... 10 Mei 2009

Take 5: Labour Day Special!