NFAK......my obsession with the GOD of Qawwali....

dont worry, nothin indecent here...im pretty sure some of you who've read the title would've thought i am about to write something related to vulgarity, since this post is titled NFAK (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan).....anyway, my infatuation to sufism music had been for long...not just a sudden click or caused by some trend of listening, and the liking to this sorts of music is nothing related to religion, since Qawwali and Sufism is very much connected to the great religion of Islam....its just the poetic quality and the deepness of the lyrics, and most importantly the way the music is composed and the singers quality to manipulate his audience with they way he plays with the lyrics, aalaps, clappings of the backing singers, intonation and so on....writing about this music would never do justice as the history is to elaborate and the lineage of these sort of music produces tremendous quality prodigys such as the Ustad (NFAK).....my favorite song in his enormous renderings of qawwalis is the one titled "Tumhein Dillagi Bhool Jaani Paadegi", a version which i had embedded here for your listening.....ARR is a avid fan of NFAK, these he had iterated many times before and had even incorporated some clipping of his songs in his compositions...enjoy!!!

note  :  this video is uploaded without the intention of intention of infringing any copyrights holder...it is just for the sake of spreading the joy of listening a splendid piece of music...if the upload indeed violated anybody's copyright, kindly inform me so that I can remove the upload ASAP!!

RHB Bank, please get your act right....

every month i'm a frequent visitor of this Bank's branch at the IOI Boulevard and its been the same thing for the past 6-7 months..their service had been deteriorating over the period...in fact i still remember they'd fixed the survey machine in front of their cashiers for the customers to key in their input...it was still tolerable during those days but right after they dismantled the survey machines, their service especiallly the queue management had turned for the worst...today was my longest waiting time....i.e. 1 hour plus just to make my car installment payment.....get your act right....people are paying your monthly installments, not asking money from you...morons!!!!!

Be Safe and Sound...it never hurts to be prudent!!!

Another set of guides and advice you may find useful in your daily city life....
 

Do feel free to share this to your friends and loved ones.

1)      Get a pepper spray if possible. A standard one will cost you about RM30+ nowadays. Get something that can be held comfortably for easy usage. But be reminded, only use when necessary. This is not to be used against your friendly neighbourhood colleagues.

2)      If you are in a car park lift alone with another individual, place yourself near the lift buttons. If you are attacked, press all the buttons, the lift will stop at all floors and you might even possibly press the alarm button. This will create some attention and this might save you.

3)      Whenever you are entering a carpark to collect your vehicle, hold the car key. The reason? Because most of the car remote controls do have a function, which is if pressed it will trigger the alarm Most of us will use this function to find the car but actually this is a panic button function. When pressed continuously (if you are in danger or in need) at least it will draw attention and most probably the would be attacker will withdraw. But first before you do this, get a reliable alarm system for your car. No point pressing an alarm controller that has no battery or broken.  If you are alone in a quiet carpark, always try to walk in a lighted area, look out for blind spots such as curves and behind big pillars. If there is someone, the ideal place to hide is here. If you feel something is amiss, get out immediately (or go back to the building or mall )  and seek help. A friendly guy like me would definitely try to help if you ask nicely.  

4)      Always keep your parking ticket with you especially if the carpark uses an autopay system. Most of us fail to do this. Remember, the attacker is not an ad-hoc/impromptu based individual as he had done some research and do study your habits whilst you are in the premise. He will always expect you to come back to the car to collect the ticket prior to making the payment. When he will attack you possibly? When you come back to your vehicle after making the payment. You had made his work easier as you had already validated the ticket and he knows the passage to go out from the carpark is already 50% green as the ticket can be used at the exit point.  If you had the ticket with you all the time, this scenario could be avoided at all cost. However, he may still make his move with or without the abovesaid scenario. If you are attacked anyway, crumple the ticket. Why? To damage the magnetic strip or the coding which will halt an easy exit from the carpark. Remember, this is way much easier for the perpetrator if you are using a Touch n Go or even a season parking card. As such, keep this cards where other can’t see or locate it easily. Remember, Canny Ong was attacked whilst retrieving her parking ticket in this manner at BSC.

5)      When you go to the spot where you parked your car, do not look at the vehicle directly. “This will make the car blush because you are making an eye contact”. That was a joke, seriously. The actual reason not to do this is you will give away your vehicle spot to the perpetrator as he will know where is your vehicle location and he can easily awaits you at the car. Instead look at a different direction and make sudden turns whenever you’ve reached your car to create an element of surprise and will catch them offguard. This suggestion might sounds absurd but a little bit of creativity will save your life and dignity. One more thing, once in your car, lock immediately and get out from the carpark as soon as possible, you can put your lipstick and comb your hair next time as you can’t possibly get much beautiful anyway.

6)      Avoid confrontation if you are attacked. If the perpetrator wants your valuables, surrender it. Do not fight unless you are properly trained or you are the elder sister of Bruce Lee. Sexually motivated attacker will forgo your valuables, hence is this happen shout, scream, wail, struggle, kick, grab as hard as you can. Also find a vehicle and get under it as fast as you can, It is very hard to pull you out from under a vehicles and this will definitely draw attention of others. As much as you can, try not to be grabbed and loaded inside the vehicle of the perpetrators as you might not get out alive from this situations.

7)      Some carparks have installed emergency alert buttons (IOI Mall, Plaza Perangsang, Pavillion). Try to get a parking spot near this buttons as it might be useful in case of need. If you feel certain malls or building is unsafe to be patronized, make your choice of not going there anymore, or if unavoidable, find a nearby parking area which is deemed safe. Tell your friends and colleagues also about this.

8)      Whilst driving, if another vehicle banged your car from the back, check your rear view mirror first. If there are more than one person in the car there is a good chance that the accident is premeditated. Instead of getting out, keep on driving to the nearest police station. Unless you are in the middle of a traffic jam as the accident will be definitely 90% genuine. Of course you can ignore this advice if you’re a tow truck operator.

9)      If the vehicle keep on chasing you, do not get onto a highway. Reason? You will be less noticed as most of the vehicles will be speeding anyway on a highway. Instead, try getting into smaller roads where there are more traffic and buildings along . You can always drive to a police station, fire station, hospital, 24 hours clinic or wherever you think it is safer. There are always some individuals that will go a long way to help others in our country.

10)   Teach your kids not to approach anyone who is stopping by the road and asks for direction. No person in a sound mind would bother to ask a kid for directions.

11)   Tagging you kids with an info tag will be very helpful. I know the idea sounds a bit absurd but parents in western countries do this normally. The tag might contain the parents name, no to contact, address and so on. If your kid are lost anywhere, this will prove to be very helpful to the person who is trying to return them back to you.

The above are just some reminders that I can recall. Prevention is better than cure. Times are bad and criminals are very cold hearted nowadays. Be safe and sound always,

YOGANANTHA ARUMUGAM

For Ladies and Some Gentlemen (Safety Tips in Carpark & Whilst Driving)

since I'm involved in the industry and do play some part in the policy making and regulations of the industry, the following is some contribution and ideas for you guys to follow. Nothing is wrong if it contributs to the safety of oneself.....

Car Park Safety Tips

Please note that all these guidelines are mostly general and might not be a help in time of need due to various crime methods and perseverance of the perpetrators. As such, always exercise caution at all cost and most importantly, do not let overconfidence rules you.

·         Drivers should choose their car parks carefully - Opt for ones that are well lit, have plenty of traffic and are monitored by CCTV or security personnel.

·         Drivers shouldn’t leave anything on the back seat of the car while parked in a car park that might attract unwanted attention.  Female motorists in particular, should inspect their car for tell tales signs that their car is driven by a woman.  Any giveaway items should be placed in the car boot.  

·         Drivers should consider parking their car as close as possible to the car park lift area as there’ll be more people circulating in this area of the car park.

·         Drivers should also where possible, choose a well-lit car parking space.

·         Drivers should take note of where they park their vehicle to avoid needlessly wandering around the car park when they return.

·         Drivers returning to their car should keep both hands free amalgamating everything into a shoulder bag if possible before entering the car park.  Drivers juggling bags are an easier target for attackers.

·         Drivers should always have their car keys to hand before entering the car park.

·         Drivers who feel unsafe should ask the car park security guard to walk them to their vehicle.

·         Drivers should check around and under their car followed by the vehicle’s back seats before getting in.

·         If feeling intimidated drivers should get into their car as quickly as possible, lock the car doors and exit the car park without delay. 

·         If vans with side sliding door parked on the driver’s side of their vehicle, drivers should consider entering their car from the passenger side just in case.

·         Drivers should think twice before responding to another motorist who is looking for assistance in a car park.  If you have any reservations refer them to the car park security guard.

·         Drivers who find you have a flat tyre or your vehicle won’t start in a car park shouldn’t hang around the car park.  Go to a public place and call the Auto Assist (of your choice) for breakdown assistance or a local garage. 

·         Drivers who find their vehicle has been broken into should immediately go to the car park security guard for help, call the Guards and inform the car park management.  Don’t hang around the car park alone waiting for them to arrive.

Yoga

till the last breath of this body!!!

dunno why out of a sudden i had this urge of writing this....its been a long time since i had updated this blog but today when i came back home and saw the faces of my both girls i felt like telling them how i love them but i do know they are in a such innocent age they wont understand what i intended to tell them....when vinithaa was conceived, i had anticipated for her arrival since the first day i knew that my other half is carrying another soul within...coincidentally i watched billy crystals interview by david letterman in which he told that the moment he found out that his daughter is pregnant with his first granddaughter, he started loving the kid....for those who does not share the same sentiment as i am, this emotion could be hard to fathom but i understand him fully without a single node of doubt....the feeling of an anticipating father waiting for the arrival of his first offspring is hard to tell...if i felt that way, imagine her grandfather who'd been waiting for the past 10 years to carry his first grand kid,  the anticipation whilst he was with my mom and after her passing...i still remember going into the labor room and watching her coming out from her mothers womb and the realization that im a father now is hard to tell...all the childhood memories  that i had is practically being played all again within the confined space of my intelligence box...my grandpa, mom, dad, brothers, the old houses....all the thing that i had experienced before i manifested into what i am today....seeing the little person being rolled out from the labor room and watching her from the viewing mirror of the baby room...coming to delishaa, so many people told me that the second one will be a breeze as you will be used to all those things after the first one..let me tell you, i had the same state of mind and anticipation when the mother was rolled into the labpr room and later being told that she had to go for Caesar and the baby is in duress had made me a very anxious person even after she was born as i was worried for the mother....luckily i had my father and other family members with me at that juncture giving me support....the feeling of suddenly being a father for two kids is such a wonderful state and i have no words for it.....nowadays whenever im with them and watching them growing up is such a joy i wish that i will be forever immersed in this feeling and im pretty sure that i will experience it for years to come.....now i know what my parents felt and hoped from all of us......i will always love you mom and my love for my father knows no boundary.............................my kids and the other half..do not ask how much i love u all.....every single breath!!!!

Another Fantastic Specimen of Manglish!!

Good morning folks....I've been omitting of paying a visit to this particular assignment of mine which used to be a favorite hang out place but due to the hectic schedule and busy undertakings of recent, frequent visits are being kept in abeyance for a while.

Nevertheless, last Friday I'd dropped by at the place and as usual frequented the men restroom and this particular notice (haphazardly done with an A4 paper) had been pulling my eyes for quite some time but the one I noticed earlier was on a different level and subsequently was taken out, but at this level which I've never been before fortunately, the notice was still there. I bet the photograph itself is sufficient for you all to tabulate the beautiful language and grammar and the way they describe the human waste i.e. your "SHIT"...........enjoy

Agony and Despair!!

It is always heart-wrenching when you see the dailies portraying news informing death of kids and toddlers, due to some negligence in the care centres, nurseries or even abuse by the caretakers and even parents, latest being the 2 year old toddler at a georgetown's nursery whereby she drowned in a tub at a day care center. the funny thing is when is saw the papers today the authorities are all screaming their lungs out on how the care center can be operating without a licence all this while (in this case for the past 5 years) and bullshit brouhahahh......what the hell are these enforcement officers of the necessary departments are doing all this while. Not that this centre's are all located inside a jungle or some hidden areas as from what i can see they're always easily located in any of the residential areas and commercial plots even.

At the end, as we always read and encounter in a everyday life, all this issues are contributed due to the basic attitude of our people and civil/private servants with the 'tidak apa' attitude and everything 'boleh' until the karma bites them back on their butt at the end. Its not until the mishap happens to someone that we love or care, that we will even want to think about the legality and the authenticity of the whole operation......in this sense, we as parents i think has the most authority to determine and decide the place or venue to whom or which place we are sending our kids for care or study by actually ascertaining the validity of the place or the institution...there is no harm in checking out this facts since you are sending you own flesh and blood and in this case this kiddo is the only child of the couple after 8 years of marriage.....


To see the mother carrying the lifeless body of the toddler is totally unbearable especially if you yourself is a parent.....may GOD bless her soul......