Friday, November 12, 2010

A PATRIOTIC ISSUE

Below is a correspondence I received. You be the judge.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Dear Rama.

Below is the link to my letter as published by The Star in their 'Letters' section today. However, I do not like the title. The following sentences were conveniently left out or amended.
1. Not all Malay Malaysians want to serve in the armed forces too so, is lack of patriotism also the reason for this?
2. I wish to suggest that the Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi clarifies his stand and issue a public apology as soon as possible and let the matter die down quickly so that we all can move on and fully embrace the 1Malaysia spirit.

So, I wrote them a reply this morning as follows:

"Dear Sir,
Thank you for publishing my letter. However, I think the headline is way off the essence of the letter. My letter addressed the alleged lack of patriotism as made by the defence minister and certainly not about the lack of patriotism of non-Malays who served or are serving in the armed forces and that was why I suggested, 'Ministers must not make sensitive statements' as the title, but understandably, as a mainstream newspaper, such a title may not look good on you.
Best regards
Hussaini Abdul Karim
Shah Alam"

Below is the full letter I sent to the newspapers:

Dear Sir,
I understand the surprise, fear, disappointments and even anger expressed by many non-Malay ministers in Parliament and the people on the street in response to the statement made by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi when he was reported to have said in Parliament on Tuesday that lack of patriotism was a reason for the low number of non-Malay recruits in the Armed Forces when he announced that Chinese and Indians each made up less than one per cent of new recruits in the Armed Forces for the 2008/2009 session.
Not all Malay Malaysians want to serve in the armed forces too so, is lack of patriotism also the reason for this?
I served as an officer in one of the many multi-racial units of the Malaysian Army where the soldiers included many Chinese, Indians, Ibans, Kadazans, orang asli, etc. and some of them were officers like me too. Never once throughout my many years in military service the question of patriotism or loyalty to the country was raised especially when it concerns the non-Malays - Chinese, Indians and others. We all served with dignity, discipline, integrity, patriotism, loyalty and a high sense of duty and we shared all the benefits and bore all the sufferings together all the same, nothing more nothing less. We were all brothers and lived like a closely knit family and all of us demonstrated a very high sense of espirit-de-corp throughout our service.
I saw many applications sent in by young men who are non-Malay Malaysian citizens, in particular Chinese and Indians, both as officer cadets and recruits, over the years, turned down for various reasons. This showed that there is no such things as to suggest that there is a lack of patriotism in these people at all.
Yes, as a senior minister suggested in Parliament yesterday, the defence minister should be very, very careful before making such statements and earlier, he described the statement made by the latter as 'irresponsible'.
When Malaysians are now in the mood to be 'one' with the trend going towards embracing the spirit of 1Malaysia by all, the Defence Minister, or for that matter any minister, must avoid making statements that may hinder the momentum in Malaysia becoming a 'one nation and one people' country.
Best regards.
Hussaini

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

A GUNNER WRITES

How I see English is taught, learnt, used and applied in Malaysia


First and foremost, I personally would agree with most Malaysians that Bahasa Malaysia must be developed into a strong and viable language for the sciences, mathematics and arts too. I personally am in favour of teaching subjects in both Bahasa Malaysia and English in our national primary and secondary schools and encouraging students to think and write and do research in both languages (depending on the subjects and/or topics researched) when they enter universities and go for their first degrees or higher.

Secondly, and at the same time, English language needs to be taught to a high standard at all national primary and secondary schools as a second language in order for the country to progress faster to achieve 1st World status by 2020 and to achieve a high-income economy, and for our graduates to gain employment and have good and well-paid careers, not only in the country but also in countries outside Malaysia.

I notice that many people send letters to the press about English language and they mention examples of some practices in certain European countries, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, China, South Korea, Japan and Thailand to support their arguments and I am not too sure whether their comments are based on their own personal experiences, heresy or something they read about in some magazines, newspapers, book, research papers or reports. However, like many of them, I also have had my own personal experiences interacting with Europeans, Americans, Australians, New Zealanders, Chinese (from China), Japanese, South Koreans and Thais here and in their respective countries during my work and social visits to the many European countries the last 25 years (Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Portugal, Poland), Ukraine, Russia, Japan, China, South Korea, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and Thailand beside countries in the UK (United Kingdom of Gt. Britain and Northern Ireland), and I wish to share my first-hand knowledge and experiences in my letter here.

Germany is a good example of a country that has preserved its culture and excelled in science and the arts through its own language. At the same time, everyone there accepts the importance of English, and a great many people use it to a very high standard indeed. I do not think there are any German scientists who are unable to write an academic paper in perfect English.

Tertiary education in Germany uses mainly German but a lot of science and applied engineering disciplines are taught in English. Their primary and secondary schools use mainly German.

However, there is a strong non-German education system; most of all in English (from kindergarten to Year 12), but also in French, Portuguese, Polish, even Mandarin and Arabic, in a few places. Often these are bilingual programs and children study all subjects in two languages. This is happening there because of the presence of people of many nationalities residing and working in Germany itself.

An English language professor friend of mine who is a Welshman and who has been teaching at one of the top universities in Tokyo, Japan for many years now, once told to me, “When I was 17, I attended a school in Germany for a few weeks and their English lessons were almost the same as the ones we had in England and Wales – they didn't really discuss English, they just discussed things in English.”

Few Germans claim to speak the Queen's English (even the Queen doesn't speak that anymore!) or breathe the 'same air as native speakers', but in their own way they use it very proficiently. On the whole it does not prevent them using and developing their own language, but some people do complain about the enormous amount of English words that have been absorbed, such as 'sorry' - which young people think is not as formal and cold-sounding as ‘verzeihen Sie mir bitte’ (meaning: ‘please forgive me’ in English).

In Sweden and Switzerland, at tertiary level, lessons for many subjects are conducted in English. The Swedes and the Swiss are mostly, if not all, bilingual, at least, which work to their great advantage. Bilingualism is good for a country like Malaysia too.

Many other European countries are similar to Germany, Sweden and Switzerland in their attitude toward English.

I think the Chinese, Koreans and the Thais are getting close to it too. No Chinese, Koreans or Thais would ever think that their own language or culture is disappearing just because they speak English, and more and more of them are speaking it very well. Personally, I find the English spoken by people in and from China, South Korea and Thailand very easy to understand - less so the English spoken by many Malaysian Malays, Chinese and Indians, especially those who graduated from local public and private universities and even some of those who graduated from overseas universities, including universities in the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, the last thirty years or less. However, their written and spoken Bahasa Malaysia is excellent.



France used to be well known for resisting English, and personally I respect them for continuing to make a major contribution to world culture in their own language. But there is no doubt that many young people there now speak it very well. Even their politicians use it in international settings - something that would have been unthinkable as recent as ten years ago. Whatever language they use, I think there is very little chance of the French becoming less French.



Russia is a huge country and I think it is still the case that most people don't need English. Under the Soviet Union, Russian was a major language in science and technology. Now many Russians study and work abroad and gain high proficiency in English, but I think they are still a minority. The situation in Ukraine and Poland and in many East European countries is quite similar to this.



As for Japan, on the one hand they have made great achievements in economics and science entirely in their own language. On the other hand, despite putting a lot of time and into English language learning, they are still pretty lousy at it. The reality is that they just do not need English, so only a minority are motivated to use it. The other day I saw an advertisement for a mobile phone: you simply speak Japanese into it and it speaks the same thing in English (or Chinese or whatever) back at you. Of course it is not a perfect translation, but it is much better than translation devices used to be. So in the case of the Japanese I do not think much will change as far as English is concerned.



I think Middle European countries may emphasise native languages (at least at lower levels), lacking the finances to foster English-only. But I also gather there is a strong will to use English.

As for Malaysia, Bahasa Malaysia is already a very important regional language, even if there is not much science or globally-read literature being produced in it yet.



As I said above, ‘English language needs to be taught to a high standard at all national primary and secondary schools as a second language,’ and the best people to teach English here are not the foreigners but locals especially our retired well-trained and very experienced specialist English language teachers who can still be recalled to serve the people. They may be assisted or complemented by the many graduate teachers who have gone through the TESL programme, for example, at various local and foreign universities. Native English speaking English language teachers from the UK and worse still, teachers from Australia (who do not speak proper English), do not know and do not understand our culture and customs and the situation pertaining to the history, the preferred methods and the standard of teaching English, among others, in the country very well. It will be a waste of time and money if the government still insists on this move.

There will be no progress on this language issue in Malaysia as long as the people, in particular our politicians from both divides, think of it as a zero-sum game. Malaysians have no choice but to be bilingual (Bahasa Malaysia and English language), and we should try for the highest proficiency in both languages.

The common factor of most of the 1st World countries, as we can see from the above is English, and many of the countries we know that used to ignore English before are now embracing it, with passion, like China, for example. Therefore, it would be good for Malaysia, where the majority of the people used to be excellent English speakers and writers during the pre-seventy years, emulating the 1st World countries’ use of English would hasten our quest to become one of the new members of the 1st World Club.

Let us all work together and fully support our Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak, in his noble aim for this country to achieve 1st World status and to achieve a high-income economy by 2020, by being good at both Bahasa Malaysia and English language.
Links to this post in Star
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/10/27/focus/7300332&sec=focus
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/10/25/focus/7290333&sec=focus
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/10/23/focus/7282430&sec=focus
HUSSAINI ABDUL KARIM, Shah Alam

Sunday, October 3, 2010

GUNNERS CLUB INAUGURAL AGM

Let us all keep a date with the Gunners Club Protem Committee that has put together the first AGM of the Club.
DATE : SATURDAY 9TH OCTOBER 2010
TIME: 0900 HRS TO 1445 HRS
VENUE: DEWAN HIKMAT, MAKTAB TURUS ANGKATAN TENTERA JALAN TEKPI OFF JALAN PADANG TEMBAK (THE STAFF COLLEGE AT HAIGATE)
In short, it will be a gathering of ex service gunners to elect the Committee and also provide ideas and suggestions. Flyer's were dished out during the last Corps Day celebrations.Very recently, E Mails and SMSs were also sent out to invite one and all for this grand occasion. This is indeed a milestone event and, surely as a gunner, not to be missed. Make it a point to be there and lend support to this organisation which has noble aims. We have registered the Club with the ROS and now it is up to us to start the ball rolling.Light refreshments shall be served on arrival and lunch before the AGM proper. See you all there!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

The Korean War

HI all,

I am really, really into the Korean Front now.
What do I like about Korean War ? Comradeship, and of course love at its best.
Need I say more ?

Here is another up and coming blockbuster. Road Number One.

Watch it in U-tube for now before its release.

Allen Lai


Friday, August 20, 2010

RELIC HUNTERS- THE SEARCH FOR KEM KAJANG

LAYOUT DISCUSSIONS
A couple of weeks ago an idea was mooted to visit the exact location of Kem Kajang. This is the place, if we recall where it all began in 1957 for the Malaysian Artillery. That day was a Saturday morning and the RV was along Jalan Bukit at the last known camp location. The team was headed by Dato'Jaafar himself with Dato' Hadi, Maj.Ganeson and yours truly. Two reliable guides were roped in to provide accurate historical perspectives - QM Hamid & QM Zahir.
Like true gunners, all were at the RV at the appointed time. Yes, we discovered that there is no trace whatsoever, of the camp. Straddling the road was a hardware yard on one side and on Lot 5 Seksyen 10 stood the New Era College.
So much for progress eradicating all traces of history. The least we could do was to record something. Then Dato' Hadi put pen to paper and the 'pioneers'started rattling away about the layout of the camp. After much discussion and corrections, based on sheer memory,a fairly accurate layout sketch revealed itself. "If only we had an old bird's eye view photo", I thought to myself.
Next on the agenda was to visit the Kampong Paya area, where it was recalled that some of the gunners rented homes to stay. A kind gentleman watching us loitering, invited us over to his nursery and treated us with snacks and drinks, whilst trading old stories. QM Zahir, being the typical host that he is, insisted that all arrangements has been made for a coffee break at his house, and no excuses shall be accepted. With little choice left, we convoyed to his home. A fantastic spread awaited us and more old stories came out from both QMs. My most memorable phrase was when Zahir recalled his Sergeant Major telling him as a gunner - "You Zahir, are like a lighted bulb, painted black on the outside- you will remain in the gunner rank with no future". We laughed out loud at the analogy and the misprediction as Zahir made it to Major(QM) rank when he retired. According to Zahir, it all started with good hand writing - that's another story which shall be told on our next outing. Any suggestions, anyone?
CAMP LOCATION NOW - GUNPARK SIDE
CAMP LOCATION- GUARD ROOM SIDE

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Legends of the patriots

Legends of the patriots


Hi all,

I am back, fighting fit. However I am grossly involved in viewing Legends of the Patriots on channel 303 on ASTRO. I believe most would have overlooked this beautiful Korean War movie, about the Korean war in the 1950s. I personally recommend everybody to view this 20 odd episodes of the movie. Scheduled for screening on prime time Saturdays and Sundays at 2020 hours and repeats on Fridays 1130 hours.

Watch it as it is highly recommended for those who do not know what fighting in a war all about. It is just not the fighting but also realities of life, heroism, love and most of all comradeship.

Enjoy the movie. Tell me if you don't like it.

Allen Lai

Thursday, August 5, 2010

HARI ULANG TAHUN KE 53 REJIMEN ARTILERI DIRAJA



It was a fine sunny Monday morning, and the gun salute roared in Gemas to announce the Gunners' Birthday Celebrations. This year the celebration was moved forward to 2nd August to accommodate the coming month of Ramadan. There was a festive mood filled with pomp and ceremony. The occasion is usually spread over a few days with other activities, but always culminates with the parade. The turnout of retirees was not that many as in previous years.Upon asking around I realised that it was a working Monday, hence many could not make it as they were also employed post retirement. Some regulars were sighted and also there were some I met who came for the first time. The serving officers and other ranks of the corps were gracious hosts, and made us very comfortable with their welcome. After the parade, we adjourned for a "jamuan ringan", where the cake cutting ceremony was held. After the formalities, there was the usual mingling and some time was spent on catching up between serving and retired members. The ladies too were out there in full force, dressed resplendently for the occassion. Someone suggested that a groupie should be done, and so it was. All in all it was a heart warming moment to be among your own. Looking forward to the next one , I guess. Meanwhile, turn up your speakers and enjoy the video clip of random shots.

Monday, July 19, 2010

New Fire Orders Net



Hi all,


I have switched on to a new RFO net. I am under command and in direct support of another battle. I have placed myself at priority call to Ibrahim FPFs. You may follow my battles here 
http://feelgoodfeelinggood.blogspot.com/


All guns are firing well and the battle for Ibrahim has begun. I need more fire units. Join me as some of you had. Thanks Gunners. I assure you that this will be a good fight, and you will feel good.


Allen Lai

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Total Victory

Today, six weeks passed my final assault and fireplan, all surveillance, damage assessments and intelligence reports are in.

The CO Oncology Regiment had called for an O group in his Tac HQ. It has been a total victory for us. Both the tactical approaches of Hormone and Radiotherapy were very effective. Radiation shelling were all on targets. No more signs of active enemy. All dead and gone. Dead and gone without a trace. PSA reports 0.09 down from an all time high of 27. There were collateral damages, but within acceptable levels.

I am glad that I had learnt my target acquisition, target survey and application of fire well. Our fireplan was effective because of the correct weight of fire, concentration, precision  and target plan. A big thank you to HUKM personnel's professionalism.

The next course of action for me is to do another appreciation of the situation. I must now secure the objectives, hold all ground and move rapidly into defence phase. I need to send out surveillance patrols to seek out any more enemy lurking around. 

Thank you everybody for your morale support and hope you had learnt something from my experiences. 

Happy Hour anybody ? A toast to the guns.

Allen Lai

Monday, July 5, 2010

53rd ARTILLERY REGIMENTAL DAY CELEBRATIONS

The activities are over a few days as follows:
31st July (Saturday) - GOLF RAGA at PDGCC Port Dickson
1st August (Sunday) - Tahlil and Rugby at 51 RAD Gemas
2nd August (Monday) - 0800hrs - The Annual Parade at 51 RAD Gemas
As usual the parade is followed by lunch and year in-year out, this is the best occasion to meet and savour the spirit and camaradarie of gunners. You may have noticed that the dates have been brought forward this year. The reason is that 15th August this year falls smack into the holy month of Rammadan, hence the changes. I hope to see you all there for a good meet up.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Reorganisation Phase

It is now more than 3 weeks after my final assault on the enemy position. The fight had been decisive. We went in under full artillery cover, captured and held the objective. The enemy was very well entrenched. Thankfully even enemy trenches with strong OHP could not withstand our Photons bombardments. The enemy suffered maximum casualties and also most of our forward assault troops. All fire missions were danger close missions. Acceptable safety distances and precisions were ensured. Battle wounds and scars were everywhere. And battle fatigue is taking its toll. I don’t think I can withstand another intense assault like this. This was as much as I could take. No more. No more, I cried in my mind. But I must press home. I must maintain the momentum. Enemy defenses were beginning to break up. We broke in and fought deep into the objective. Deep penetrations into the enemy lines were achieved, thanks to the fire support. I took a look around the battlefield at others who were fighting their own battles. Many had suffered more than me. Most had suffered unbearable pain and nausea. Many cried and begged to be relieved. One combatant could not finish her fight and was pulled out of the battlefield. She must live to fight another day, another time. I could only encourage them to hold on, often reminding them that we have a bit more to go. Only a bit more to go. Come on Go! Go! Go! I could not let them down. I must bite the bullet. I must finish my assault. I would relate to our ARTEP physical tests. It is home run. I can do it. They saw my courage and thankfully held their ground.
The smoke cleared and the dust had settled. Reorg had been in full swing. I brought up more ammo and supplies. Did a full staff check and called up more reserved troops to take up occupied positions. I was told it would take a full two weeks to recuperate from radiation fallouts. Radiation in the objective does not dissipate immediate. It remains there killing everything in its range for the next two weeks. And my troops are still fighting from trench to trench. It now calls for close quarters combat. Hand to hand combat. Bayonets! Fire support cover had ceased. I must improve my immunization system as I can easily catch infections and inflammations. No soap, lotions or creams are allowed. No matter what ailment prevails. My body radiates heat even in air-conditioned environments. My skin is parched and brittle. I have prickly heat spots all over my body and I scratched like hell only to draw blood at each scratch line. And no toilets please. My rectum feels full all time and I suffered each time I did my business. I am drained of all my energy and I feel lethargic all the time.
I took two weeks off, doing nothing. Just eat, drink and slept it off. I went to Port Dickson for a nice and quiet weekend. I participated in the Relay For Life event held at Bukit Jalil NSC stadium. I also spent time to help out several of my fellow combatants who needed help most. I took my mind off the battle by reading heavily into photography. A new hobby for me.
I will know the outcome of my battle in a month’s time. I am fine now. I just know it. My body tells me so. I have been given a second chance at life.
Allen Lai

Lesson learnt No 13.
If maintaining health is expensive, try illness.


Saturday, June 12, 2010

Power of the Human Spirit



Please allow me to share this little episode with all who only watch things happen. I still walk the talk in my last twilight zone. My Gunner spirit is forever unconditional. It is pure and genuine. The power of human spirit is an awesome experience. Many people would have experienced it sometime in their lifetime. I just did.
I always had a high quotient of EQ and compassion in me and I had applied myself well in a general way. When I became a victim of a life threatening disease, my quotients raised to another notch higher, particularly for those who were less fortunate than me in coping with our medical predicament.
I was doing my daily radiotherapy sessions in PPUKM Cheras (HUKM) when I met Ibrahim accompanied by his father Encik Mazlan. Ibrahim was sick, undernourished, frail and wheel chaired. Ibrahim had the classic profile of a very sick child suffering from Leukemia. Needless to say Encik Mazlan had looked even worse off. He had the profile of a very lost father. Lost for words, lost in his thoughts, lost in his esteem and lost for hope. Encik Mazlan had lost hope for his son Ibrahim because Ibrahim in a span of several years had three relapses of cancer cells lodgment in the brain, spine and now testicles. Chemo and radio therapies are not working well for Ibrahim. How many cancer relapses can a person take? How many cancer relapses can a frail child take? It is more often that chemo and radiation side effects would kill the patient well before cancer does. Encik Mazlan understood that.
It took two days for me to break through to Encik Mazlan. The first two days were always exchanges of a polite weak smile and “Selamat Pagi, ada baik ?”. Encik Mazlan would then shut down into his though, sitting by himself; Ibrahim waiting for the nurse to call his name for his turn in the daily long queue. From the third day onwards I had learnt more of Ibrahim’s medical conditions and the team of Oncologist’s fight to stabilize his Leukemia. PPUKM is a teaching hospital and a Specialist Centre. Ibrahim’s Oncologists are Professors and teaching staff. All doctors were on overdrive to make Ibrahim well. But there are always constraints in life. Encik Mazlan works as a billing clerk in a local TELCO company. He does not get government support and rates for hospital treatments. However Encik Mazlan is able to cover his son’s treatment under his company’s basic standard insurance scheme for lower staff members. Bone marrow and cell stem transplants are out of the question.
Over the week I had gained more confidence from Encik Mazlan and I was also able to put Ibrahim in a happy mood every morning by letting him play the games I had downloaded into my iPhone. In the course of our daily conversations, Encik Mazlan had told me something interesting. There was a full year that Ibrahim was well and his quarterly medical examinations and reports showed good markers. That was the year that Encik Mazlan’s neighbour had helped Ibrahim. He had provided filtered water for Ibrahim to drink daily from his new water filter system. All was well until Encik Mazlan had to relocate from his home in Kelana Jaya, PJ to Rawang for economic reasons. Ibrahim did not have any more opportunity drink filtered water since then, as the neighbour’s filtered water system cost about RM2500.00, with yearly maintenance cost to change the filters. Encik Mazlan could not afford it. Then Ibrahim’s cancer relapses came in one after another unabated.
I told Encik Mazlan, that he should provide the same filtered water for Ibrahim to drink daily no matter what it cost. Ibrahim was OK when drinking the filtered water. We had found out that his neighbour was using the RX WATER filter system from WorldwellnessSdn Bhd. A local provider in wellness products founded by Dato’ Dr. Noordin Darus.
I had suggested to Encik Mazlan to take a loan or an advance salary from his company to purchase RX water system. But he could not get his request granted for a small company loan nor advance salary. I told Encik Mazlan not to worry not to despair, I will think of something. I will think of a two stage plan for Ibrahim. Firstly is to get the RX water system immediately for Ibrahim and on a longer planning term, to source support for a Bone Marrow transplant.
I was troubled and worried but did not panic. What if I could not deliver my promise to help Ibrahim? I prayed for guidance and clarity of thoughts. I was no longer thinking of my own prevailing medical problems. My only thoughts were on how to help Ibrahim. I shared my thoughts with my wife and my daughter May Senn. I am Encik Mazlan’s HOPE. I must not fail him and Ibrahim. I must not.
I researched relentlessly in the internet into Leukemia and more into Worldwellness Network Sdn Bhd. I must contact Dato Dr. Noordin Darus. I know help is out there. But how do I talk to the company? More so, what do I talk about to the company? I called the company and requested for an appointment with Dato. The next day I had an appointment with his marketing staff who gave me the best returned call I had ever received in my mobile. Dato’ would see me, Encik Mazlan and Ibrahim on Tuesday 8 June at 11.00am.
My prayers were answered when the good Dato agreed to take on Ibrahim under hisDanaWellness programme. Dato gave instruction to his staff to issue a new set of RX WATER filter system, prescription for RX salt and RX Tra to Encik Mazlan. Dato also took time to explain to us his approach to cure Ibrahim. He will see to Ibrahim on a monthly basis. What more do we want? Dato Dr Noordin is God sent to help Ibrahim. We have achieved our first stage with God’s grace.
I have gained this inert power of human spirit in me. I have it, in part because of my upbringing and the close family bondage that I cherished; thanks to my parents. In part also due to my long career in the Army. But in a great part, it is due good friends and camaraderie with my running friends in Pacesetters Malaysia. They are the most selfless souls I know. After all running marathons is very akin to the human spirit. The sweat, endurance for pain and the sheer determination says it all.
Allen Lai

COMMUNICATING IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE

I read with interest some comments on postings made in this blog and I suppose I want to chip in my two cents worth. Most of us are in the proverbial "Twilight Zone". If you remember the narration of the then famous TV series, I am sure you know what I mean.
As Rod Serling narrates:
 "There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man, it is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity, it is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge.This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call- the Twilight Zone".
Imagine twenty years ago, if we were not prolific letter writers, then we were simply not in touch. Today, technology allows us unlimited communication in unbelieveable ways. Personally, I would like to read on experience,humour, regrets,achievements etc. The list is never exhaustive. Sheldrake was created for this noble purpose among the local gunner community. With the exception of vulgarirty and hate mail, I suppose good communication is always appreciated. Recently, I chatted up some young gunner Majors and I am impressed by their sense of camaraderie and enthusiasm of simply being "Proud to be Gunners". It is indeed heartening to see the spirit living on. On the other hand, I also notice how some senior retired officers became reclusive and chose not to actively communicate. I am a firm believer of living for the day and I suppose it is an individual's choice on how one wants to conduct oneself in "THE TWILIGHT ZONE'. So Zulu Zulu- keep them coming. I am learning much as ever especially from you.

"The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives."
- Anthony Robbins

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Learning the Enemy Language


We are familiar with anti-aircraft, anti-tank, anti-personnel but anti-angiogenesis? What about apoptasis, metatasis, proanthocyanidines, and Coenzymes?  Wow, I hope I had spelt them right. I still cannot pronounce them though.

I did a crash language course just to understand the enemy. Big Charlie generally uses Greek and Latin languages, syntax and nuances. But I wouldn’t be surprise if the language used also contain some Sanskrit. It is highly recommended that we learn a word a day to be abreast with Big Charlie.

To keep this post as brief as possible, I link you directly to the US National Cancer Institute’s reference dictionary:

http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary/

 

Allen Lai

 

Lesson Learnt No.12

Nah, You already know this lesson.

Combat Ration


Having been in the front line for almost a year now, I am now convinced that our conventional combat ration is unsuitable to sustain current operations against Big Charlie. Conventional supplies in fresh ration and combat ration are adequately nutritious, but not necessary sustainable in new combat environments. This is now so with higher toxicity and pollution levels in every form of food, water, air and environment. New Carcinogens are being discovered almost on a yearly basis. Food scientists, Nutritionist and Dieticians worldwide are coming up with new studies to prove and encourage eating food that are specific to combating Big Charlie. In the wake of increasing numbers of new casualties to Big Charlie, there is a spurt of new findings in the properties of plant and animal foods. There are as many confirmed researches and findings as there are scientist interested in this field of research. So much so that there seems to be a lack of control and coordination of researches and findings by any central body. Most of the time I find studies contradict themselves and are inadequately and unsatisfactorily concluded.

My personal understanding is that, there is no one magic food or mineral that will be good for every person. What is good for some people may not necessary be good for you. My understanding is actually quite simple, as no two person has the same DNA, body chemistry level, body energy level, body toxicity level and oxygen level. For example the proverbial Jack Sprat who could eat no Fat and his wife could eat no Thin. And also there are more than 150 types of Big Charlie. Dr David Servan-Schreiber, who wrote Anti Cancer: A new way of life, Dr Patrick Quillin, author of Beating Cancer with Nutrition and Dr Colin Campbell of The China Study are some of the leading doctors in food research. Not to mention also of Dr Lai Chui Nam founder of Lapis Lazuli Light Resource Centers.

I find Dr David Servan- Schreiber’s work to be adequate enough as all other works concur with his. The following combat ration is good in fighting most types of Big Charlie (Not in any particular order of food values):

Green Tea for its Polyphenols and Catechins.

Turmeric (Kunyit) for anti inflammatory properties.

Ginger for anti inflammatory properties and being a powerful antioxidant.

Cruciform Vegetables for its sulforaphan and indo-3-carbinols.

Garlic, Onions, Leeks, Shallots and Chives being ancient medicinal herbals and has anti bacterial properties.

Vegetables and fruits rich in Carotenoids for its Lycopene and Vitamin A.

Tomatoes for its Lycopene, excellent for prostate cancer.

Soy for its blocking angiogenesis properties.

Mushrooms for its Polysaccharides and Lentinian.

Seaweeds for Fucoxanthin and Fucodian causing apoptosis in cancer cells.

Food rich in Selenium for boosting effects of antioxidant mechanism.

Flaxseed oil rich in short-chain vegetal Omega-3.

Sunshine for Vitamin D.

Fish rich in Omega-3 for its fish oils.

Probiotics for its friendly bacteria.

Berries for its Ellagic acid and Polyphenols.

Citrus Fruits for its Vitamin C.

Pomegranate Juice for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Red wine for its Resveratrol and Polyphenols.

Dark Chocolate for its antioxidants, Proanthocyanidines and Polyphenols.

 

The above list is extracted from Dr David’s book. Take sometime to understand and digest them. Boy, do I like dark Chocolates.

 

Allen Lai

 

Lesson Learnt No.11

Knowing what you eat is not as important as knowing what is eating you.

 

End of Mission


“The guns, thank GOD, the guns...” I borrow this Rudyard Kipling’s quote from the Gunners Club. I am really thankful to GOD and the guns. Today is the end of my fireplan HUKM Phase 2. I took the last fire mission personally. ZU1011. All guns firing with their barrels blazing hot. I observed full impacts on the target. I did not see any enemy surrender. The enemy will not surrender, they will try to hide to fight another day. I will not take prisoners. The rules of engagement in this front is unlike any conventional warfare. Kill or be killed. My enemy engaged me at the wrong front. The enemy underestimated me and he will pay for his mistake. I will not spare any quarters.

Phase 2 comprising 12 more fire missions took its toll on me and almost did me in. I could barely sustain Phase 1 with 20 fire missions. A total of 32 fire missions are a lot to take. I am glad that I am graded FE at my last PULHEEMS test. I am fairly fit before the fireplan. Others fighting in the same front with me, were in a worser shape than me. One had to do a modification and was stopped in the middle of her fireplan and she was evacuated to the base hospital. My whole terrain is drenched dry and the most sensitive point was closed for operation. I literally could not do my daily business in the morning and night. The pain I endure in each trip to the field toilet is indescribable. The torn and cut areas in between my legs caused by the rubbers of my running shorts would not heal as quickly as I would like them. I will have to continue to walk like a pregnant penguin for the next two weeks. I also have prickly heat pin pokes all over my terrain. I cannot apply any soap, lotions, creams or medications, as the radiation retained in my terrain will not subside for the next two weeks. My body radiates out heat and aches, I have short stressed spells of head spins and nauseas. Otherwise I am fine.

I was given medical leave for 6 weeks before I report to HUKM again. The CO of Oncology Regiment told me that all was well with my fireplan. However it will take up to 6 weeks before full intelligence and operational reports can be collected and collated.

I thank the HUKM personnel for standing by me daily. They had stood by me, and others with full dedication to duty and professionalism. They had no fear of the hazards in the frontline, nor were they affected physiologically by the daily interactions with combatants like me. And I admit that most others are really non- combatants and they had fear and despair in their eyes. Most untrained and unprofessional personnel will need constant counseling when facing such traumas on a daily basis. I salute the present HUKM staff doing their job. I will be glad to share each and every one of my medals with them. They had earned it as well. I brought a nice cake and some biscuits to celebrate my victory with them and my fellow frontliners. They appreciated my camaraderie.

I must thank my wife Peggy, for standing by me and my family. She deserves the KPK medal, a medal my brother John Lai received whilst in service many years ago. He described the KPK medal as 'just short of the PGB medal' as his bravery was not in the face of the enemy.

Finally I wish to thank you, my family members, friends and everybody else who had offered prayers and thoughts for me. A big thank you.

LESSON 10

ALWAYS THANK GOD.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

War rumours


In the midst of my campaign I am bombarded with war rumours. This is bound to happen with the ease of access to the highways, broadbands, emails and internet. There are as many war rumours as there are victims of the war and survivors and caregivers. And there are even more war rumours coming from unscrupulous war scavengers, always ever ready to make money from casualties victims and survivors. These war scavengers will even sell junk technologies, nutrition’s and new magic cures. There is NO ONE MAGIC CURE. There will always be more disinformation than information.

All war rumours from victims and survivors from the war, are generally genuine and sincere, we should not discard them totally as they mean well. However they are always not necessary workable solutions. Unscrupulous corporations will use the vulnerability of victims’ want to survive. Victims want Hope. Any Hope. Unscrupulous corporations act like angels, but they are disguised in clever psychological and marketing techniques. Values in their products are hyped up stuff.

I am in part, a war rumour myself. I will continue to dig up war rumours in search of a genuine remedy for myself and other victims. But how do I separate the chaff from the stalk? I apply my own rules of engagement as follows:

1. Successful war rumours from survivors are generally genuine. They are worth a second thought.

2. War rumors supported by medical researchers are fairly good. However they need more independent researches and confirmation.

3. A good rule of engagement is not to take it in totality. Look for the caveats and motives of the rumour. Bad rumours will stand out like a sore thumb.

4. Always listen and read the fine prints and also in-between the lines.

5. I will be very cautious if it is a free trail as they are always filled with hidden costs. They say that there is no free lunch.

6. I am also apprehensive of some testimonials supporting the products.

7. I always test the products using the ‘truth of the matter test’.

8. If a person says it is 100% good, it is 100% junk.

9. I always visit regulated sources for information. My guiding foundation will always be based from Dr David Servans-Schreiber’s book ‘Anti cancer: A new way of life’

10. There is no one cure for all. If the product does not pinpoint t a specific type of cancer, it is to be discarded.

We should never allow our fears and hopelessness distort the truth of the matter. We do not have fears and hopelessness as help is always at hand.

Allen Lai

Lesson learnt No 9

GOD won’t grant us our wants, HE will always grant us our needs. We will have to work it out to get our wants from HIS grants.

Enemy Profiling


We know more and more of the enemy each day. Thanks to many heroes, dedicated doctors and researchers worldwide. Thanks to GOD for granting our needs. I surmise the enemy’s profile below:

The enemy is afraid of GOD.

The enemy is defeatable.

Cannot live in oxygenated terrain.

Cannot live in alkaline terrain.

Can be poisoned.

Can commit suicide.

Can be easily tricked.

Gluttonous, hence easily starved.

The enemy is now being defeated with new medical technology breakthroughs.

The enemy is defeatable by alternative approaches.


Lesson learnt No 8

Act upon the profiles above. The enemy is defeatable.


Counter attack


The counter attack has always been a commander’s nightmare. When do we counter attack? When is our position really, really untenable ? Untenable is always our keyword. So hard to define. Yes, we have our local counter attacks plans in place. But when should we trigger our main counter attack ?

The enemy is well contained and successfully bombarded with my Fireplan HUKM. Phase 2 was even more intense. I am at the tail end of my fireplan phase 2. I have suffered heavy casualties. I am fully exhausted and just barely coping with my collateral damages. My troops are in their last stage of grouping. Latest sitreps are very encouraging and intreps have been reporting that the enemy is in complete disarray. I am ready to launch my main counter attack.

I had done my appreciation . I conclude that there are 3 main options with several approaches in each of the option. I have listed them below:

Options.

1. Classical approach.

a. Hormone therapy.

b. Radiotherapy internal, external administered.

c. Surgical.

d. Chemotherapy.

e. Immunotherapy – Provenge.

2. Traditional or alternative approach.

a. Diet plan.

b. Change lifestyle plan.

c. Exercise plan.

d. Need for enzymes.

e. Need for good metabolism.

3. Spiritual approach.

a. Prayers.

b. Meditation.

c. Hypnotism.

d. Imagery.

I have applied some of the above approaches as follows:

Options 1a, 1b, 2c, 3a and 3d.

These counter attack approaches have been successful todate. I will now begin with options 2a, 2b, 2 d and 2e. These approaches will complete my main counter attack plan.

Allen Lai


Lesson learnt No 7

We should adopt elements of approaches 2 and 3 above to avoid approach 1.


Thursday, May 20, 2010

A minor hich

Hi all,

It is true that you can't think when your A- hole clogs up. Mine did at the tail end of my battles.

Hold on, will you ? I'll get myself a plumber.

Allen Lai

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

A bit of help needed

Hello all,

I wish to digress a bit, but for a good cause. Please visit my other website per below:


Thank you

Allen Lai

Monday, May 17, 2010

Enemy Attack Plan


17 May 2010 0900 hours

The enemy’s attack plan and tactics are quite complex but reasonably straightforward. The CO of the Oncology Regiment is responsible to study the enemy’s organization, growth, maneuver and attack plans. He is responsible to prepare damage control and counter attack plans.

By and large the enemy comes from our own troops which had mutinied and changed their uniforms. There are as many as 150 different types of enemy, each type depending on where they prefer to lodge in. Big Charlie is the common name given to them. But we know each type is very individual and has different levels of aggressiveness. The enemy quietly digs in and hide inside our terrain for up to five years sometimes. They greet new agents known as carcinogens and form alliances with them. They then grow from strength to strength in a standard drill called inflammation and the enemy will very quickly form a firm base in our weakest areas. These bases are both soft gel like lumps or hard benign tumors. Sometimes some bases are false alarms, these are malignant tumours. The enemy’s preparation stage are stage 1, stage 2 and stage 3. They then start to maneuver and metastases throughout our terrain at stage 4, via strategic junctions and routes. Some aggressive enemies breakout even at stage two.

The enemy in stage 1 is cleverly camouflaged and lie below radar sights and other modern monitoring sensors. It is almost impossible to detect them. They are sometimes detected only by accident by a GD regimental officer investigating and probing other threats. The enemy in stage two is still very careful in not revealing itself. Generally it does not leave any telltale signs nor any symptoms suspecting of its existence. Our infantry patrols and Koris reports do sometime pick up their clandestine activities. The enemy in stage three is fairly bold and aggressive. They are fairly detectable and arrogantly attack our weak points. There will be frequent contacts and firefights with own troops. The enemy breaks out in a blitzkrieg in stage 4. This is their home run so to speak. They are almost unstoppable. The Chemo approach is the only known counter attack, normally after radiological and surgical counter attacks. Kill the enemy or be killed.

The enemy is quite clever and does not kill us directly. They are great eaters and consume all our supplies and our troops will start to suffer and die from malnutrition’s. We will be wasted away, literally. I cannot describe the enemy’s activities in my terrain as I did not detect them until stage three. The enemy, thankfully is quite docile and did not create any symptoms or fuss. I detected my enemy through a late PSA investigation because I had difficulty in peeing. But then it is a natural phenomena for the aged, hence I had neglected my regular PULHEEMS.

Lesson No 6.

An old lesson but never learnt. Prevention is better than cure.


Friday, May 14, 2010

Fireplan Phase 2


14 May 2010 0700 hours

The CO Radiological Regiment called me to his Tac HQ to discuss and plan for phase 2 to Fireplan HUKM. The collateral damage caused by the radiation fallout is unacceptable. I am BBQed, ready to eat.

Whilst I am barely OK, I had witnessed that others were worst off than me. This week’s gory lost films from WWII, currently shown in ASTRO’s History Channel pales by comparison to my daily visits to the frontline.

I am sorry for a Form 3 girl with enemies in her brain area, causing her to loose her sights. I am just as sorry to see a Standard 5 boy suffering with enemy in his blood stream. He is just down and out, thin as a scarecrow, in a wheelchair looking real bad. Another man in his fifties is fighting his last fight. He sits in his wheelchair, lifeless, confused and hopeless. Everyday I see more and more new casualties. Unfortunately most others would have taken the Chemo path in addition to radiation. The former has the most trauma and fallout effects.

I stayed strong and I talk to them, trying not to look into their eyes. I melt when I look into their eyes. It is always in the eyes that we see their true feelings and fears. The blind girl would only stare blankly, back at me. A CO does not cry in front of his men. Sometimes I “minta diri” for a couple of minutes. I am proud that I have tried and had brought comfort to each and every one of my new friends. I am glad to have acquired EQ and other soft skills whilst as a Gunner officer in the army. It has been seeing to my men first and last always… Always. I share my knowledge of the enemy with them, I share my personal combat strategy and most of all I bring them hope. I am glad they have accepted my leadership, a role I know I can and must play. It makes me stronger too. I am a Gunner.

The CO Radiological Regiment is pleased to see me taking my beatings well. With 20 fire missions successfully conducted, I start to feel a bit lethargic. Notwithstanding being scorched and badly burnt, my strong leg muzzles weaken, I feel dizzy, tired and purge at night. This drains my energy. I park my rover in the wagon line area , 27 steps below the Tac HQ. I climbed the steps everyday and I wished it had been 26 steps. Seriously.

The officers, staff in the gun position, BDP staff and survey team worked efficiently as a team. I salute them as they remain strong and dedicated to their duties and roles despite seeing miseries and sufferings on a daily basis. They go about doing their job without complaining. However I hope they would enhance their service level a bit more with better soft skills. They should be given a High Morale allowance for this line of occupation.

I reported to the simulation room. A quick request brought in more aerial photos and scans. Overlays and tracings are made. The CO then analyzed the overall picture and selected another 4 targets to be fired 3 times at 10 seconds each. Phase 2 would have a total of 12 more fire missions. The survey team quickly surveyed and registered the targets ZU1008 through ZU1012.The target lists and records were circulated to all gun positions.

I thanked the CO and made my way directly back to the frontline.

Allen Lai

Lessons learnt No 6.

Do a full medical checkup. It will save your life.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

War Game

13 May 2010 0930 hours

War games are played by military formations, units and personnel to visualize a potential outcome of a strategy or tactics employed. Scenarios are set and tokens are placed and played, with resolutions generated by computers or umpires. It is very much a mind game of sorts.

I also played war games daily in the frontline. I create positive scenarios and positive resolutions all the time when our guns are firing. Positive thinking is a very powerful tool. It brings out the best in us. It harnesses and release all the good hormones in our terrain and maneuvers them to the right direction. We become winners all the time and that is good. Mind imageries are also taught in meditations,Yoga, Pilates, and most cultural/religious cultures.

Each day as I visit the gun position, I see our gunners preparing for the fireplan. Bearings and Elevations and Angle of Sights are set to the assigned targets. Bearings are still measured in degrees and elevations measured in millimeters. Munitions are loaded. A Safety Officer would check the center of arcs, survey data and gridlines in the good old ARTY board. I will then ask the GPO permission to order the fire orders. I still remember the elements of fireorders necessary to fire the guns.

I have a built- in TANOY speaker system and I would shout the fire orders into it.

Fire Mission Bty

ZU1001

Radiation, Photon

Charge .....30 Gy.

10 MegaVolts

10 seconds

Enemy dug in.

At my command…..

I wait until the safety officer clears me and I shout TEMBAK.

The guns fire with a whirling sound for ten seconds. And I would order Check Firing before I order for the next target ZU1002. We fire 4 targets for 10 seconds each per day. Ten seconds is a long time when I am lying motionless on my terrain. I would bring out my binoculars and observe the target areas. I actually can visualize the fall of shots. The crumps (sometimes a late gun ?) and smoke and dust kicked up. It is a joy to visualize the enemy being hit with a direct full barrage of radiation beam. I can vividly recollect the tight crump when all the guns are calibrated and compensated for bearings and elevations. I am actually most happy to be able to visualize the effects of a bombardment. It makes my day. And I long for my next fire mission. I am glad I am a Gunner, trained in the ASAHAN ranges.

Targets destroyed. End of mission. Hurray……another successful fire mission.

I can smell the fresh aroma of cordite. Just like when we were in the gun position in Asahan. Can you smell it too?

Allen Lai

Lessons learnt No 5

Know your terrain and fight on grounds of your own choosing.