Anak Gen-X

 

A throwback to more than two decades ago -- a moment with Chris Benoit. I remember him as approachable and genuinely curious, even asking about Malaysia and what life was like on this side of the world. Back then, he was at the peak of his career -- respected, intense, and admired by fans everywhere. But time has a way of reshaping how we remember people. His death in 2007, tied to a deeply tragic and controversial incident involving his family, changed everything. Investigations later pointed to severe brain trauma, similar to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), as a possible factor -- sparking wider conversations about the long-term effects of head injuries in professional wrestling and contact sports. Today, feelings about him are understandably divided -- admiration for the athlete he was, and sorrow and anger over how his story ended. So when I look at this photo now, it’s no longer just a memory. It’s complicated. What about you -- what do you feel when you see this?

  Ungku Abdul Aziz was a visionary thinker who transformed Malaysia’s understanding of poverty, development, and education through bold, people-centered ideas. As the long-serving Vice-Chancellor of University of Malaya , he elevated UM into a leading intellectual hub in the region, shaping generations of scholars and leaders.  He passed away on 15 December 2020 at the age of 98, leaving behind a legacy defined by integrity, intellectual courage, and an unwavering commitment to uplifting the nation through knowledge.

 

Long before apps, online carts, and same-day delivery, folks in Malaya were already getting a taste of “ modern shopping ”. Really! Back in 1957 , Cold Storage in Singapore rolled out a price list that felt pretty futuristic for its time. We’re talking credit accounts, ordering by telephone (yes, telephone), and even home delivery. And get this -- it wasn’t just a Singapore thing. Cold Storage already had branches across Malaya, including Kuala Lumpur , Klang, Malacca and Seremban -- making it a go-to spot for the more “ atas ” crowd of the day. The food? Not your typical kedai runcit selection. They had imported goodies like Scotch kippers, fresh salmon, and Arbroath smokies -- basically atas-level groceries before “atas” was even a word we used. Even their “makan kechil” section sounded fancy: sandwiches, curry puffs , lobster patties … plus some mysteriously named items like “ Angels on Horseback ” and “ Frankfurters in Hospital ” (no one really explained those 😅). Different...

Keluarga Allahyarham ayahku memang besar -- 16 adik-beradik (3 telah pergi ketika kecil). Jadi setiap kali Raya , rumah Allahyarhamah nenek (‘atuk’) di Jalan Merdeka, Kampung Melayu Majidee JB memang tersangat meriah. Rumah besar pun terasa sempit bila 10+ keluarga berkumpul. Asal ada toto dan bantal, mana-mana sudut pun jadi tempat tidur. Ramai balik sehari sebelum Raya -- dari KL, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu. Aku pula biasanya sampai pagi Raya. Lepas salam dengan semua pakcik makcik (walaupun ada yang masih blur sebab queue tandas panjang 😄), terus bersedia untuk acara utama. Lepas solat Raya, bermulalah misi kutip duit raya . Dulu 50 sen pun dah kira besar, siap ada “tier” ikut umur dan status bersunat 😆 Meja makan pula memang level hotel -- ketupat , rendang , lontong, soto, laksa Johor … kuih raya bersusun, termasuk tart nenas  Allahyarhamah ibu aku ❤️ Petang, kami serbu rumah terbuka satu kampung -- siap ada “strategi” route macam dalam filem 😄 Malam pula penuh dengan merc...

  Around this time in 2016, we landed in Hannover, Germany for the first time. Not exactly a top-of-mind destination, but I tagged along on my other half’s work trip 😁 Our hotel was near Hannover Hauptbahnhof , right in the city centre—super convenient for trains and trams, with plenty of shops and halal eateries around. Since it was CeBIT week, my wife had arranged a special week-pass for the trains and trams, so getting around was easy. Interesting thing about the tram system there: no ticket turnstiles. You’re trusted to buy your own ticket before boarding. On the first day itself, we visited the Herrenhausen Great Garden , a stunning 17th-century baroque garden and one of the finest in Europe. Entry was just €6. For the next few days, while my wife was busy with work, I had time to explore the city on my own. One day the weather was simply magnificent (still cold though), so I returned to Herrenhausen and wandered around the adjacent Großer Garten . There was also SEA LIFE H...

#throwback These food stalls in Madinah were especially popular among Asians, as they sold bakso , murtabak etc. But my favourite was the Kunafa 🙂 The stalls though were demolished soon after we left #Madinah. They've rebuilt them but not sure if the Kunafa stall is still there. #umrahthrowback

 

Jambatan Sultan Ismail merupakan jambatan pertama yang menghubungkan bandar Muar dengan kawasan seberang di Tanjung Agas . Pembinaan jambatan ini bermula pada tahun 1960 dan siap pada tahun 1962, sekali gus memudahkan pergerakan penduduk serta merancakkan perkembangan ekonomi di kedua-dua kawasan tersebut. Jambatan ini kemudiannya dibuka secara rasmi pada 15 April 1967 oleh Sultan Johor ketika itu, Sultan Ismail Al-Khalidi . Sebelum wujudnya jambatan ini, penduduk tempatan bergantung kepada perkhidmatan feri yang dikenali sebagai penambang untuk menyeberangi Sungai Muar , satu perkhidmatan yang pernah dirasmikan oleh Sultan Abu Bakar pada zaman dahulu. Kredit video: Finas

  Many moons ago, I found myself in Bandar Seri Begawan for the Brunei Marathon . As always with these trips, the run was just part of the story. The pre and post-event wandering was the real reward. One stop I was really looking forward to was the majestic Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque . Set on a serene artificial lagoon along the Brunei River , the mosque almost seems to float on the water. Standing there and taking it all in, I could see why it’s considered one of the most beautiful mosques in the region. Completed in 1958 and named after Brunei’s 28th ruler, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III , the mosque can accommodate more than 3,000 worshippers. But beyond its role as a place of prayer, it’s also one of Brunei’s most iconic landmarks -- elegant, timeless, and quietly breathtaking. Sometimes travel gives you moments like this. No rush. Just pause, look around… and take it all in.

  Tokoh ilmuwan dan pemikir peradaban Islam kontemporari, Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas , dilaporkan meninggal dunia pada 8 Mac 2026 pada usia 95 tahun. Pemergian Allahyarham merupakan satu kehilangan besar kepada dunia keilmuan Islam, khususnya dalam bidang falsafah , pemikiran Islam dan tamadun Melayu . Dilahirkan pada tahun 1931, Prof. Diraja Tan Sri Dr. Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas dikenali sebagai salah seorang sarjana Islam paling berpengaruh di dunia moden. Allahyarham banyak menyumbang kepada gagasan Islamisasi ilmu pengetahuan kontemporari , selain memperjuangkan pembaharuan dalam pendidikan umat Islam. Sepanjang hayatnya, Allahyarham menghasilkan pelbagai karya penting mengenai tasawuf , kosmologi , metafizik , falsafah serta bahasa dan kesusasteraan Melayu . Antara sumbangan intelektual Allahyarham yang paling penting ialah merumuskan teori umum Islamisasi Alam Melayu , yang menghuraikan proses penyebaran dan pengaruh Islam dalam sejarah rantau Melayu-Indonesia. Pemiki...

  Looking back now, it’s wild to think how my Malaysian F1 journey began -- and how it ended. When the very first Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix rolled into Sepang , I was freelancing (on top of my day job) and somehow landed the cover story for the (now-defunct) KLIA magazine . That assignment came with a press pass , and just like that, I found myself right in the middle of history. Everything felt brand new. There was an electric buzz in the air as the F1 circus finally arrived on Malaysian soil. The 1999 season itself was already full of drama -- Michael Schumacher had broken his leg at Silverstone , Eddie Irvine was suddenly Ferrari ’s lead driver, and McLaren’s Mika Häkkinen was charging towards the championship. By the time the paddock arrived in Sepang for the penultimate round, the stage couldn’t have been better set. Unsurprisingly, much of the attention was on Schumacher, who made a dramatic return from injury for the final two races. I still remember the press pa...

Masjid Jamek Tanjong Malim di Perak mula dibina pada 1918 di Kampung Kubu dan diperbesarkan pada 1926 apabila jumlah jemaah meningkat, termasuk warga Sultan Idris Training College . Masjid ini dirasmikan oleh Sultan Iskandar Shah dan hingga kini kekal di tapak asal dengan seni bina berinspirasikan gaya India-Moor yang unik. 

 

  Masjid Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah , Bentong bukan sekadar tempat ibadah, tetapi mercu tanda yang mendamaikan jiwa. Seni bina moden berteraskan Islam , berlatarbelakangkan kehijauan alam #Bentong , menjadikannya persinggahan wajib sama ada untuk solat, berehat atau sekadar menenangkan fikiran. Jika singgah ke Bentong, luangkan masa di sini -- tenang itu terasa.

The new MotoGP season is just hours away from the full race, and I’m putting my chips on Pedro Acosta . Not necessarily for the overall title -- though who knows? -- but to take Thailand and a handful of other races this year. He’s already set the tone by winning the Sprint Race in Thailand yesterday, showing that he’s got the pace and the nerve. I have a soft spot for the man. Beyond his natural charisma and raw talent on the track, I had the privilege of stepping into his garage at the Malaysian MotoGP back in 2024. Oh yes--— what a rush it was to see the team working behind the scenes, fine-tuning a MotoGP machine , watching a rookie’s dream in motion. Pedro Acosta -- The Quick Rise 2024 MotoGP Debut: Riding for Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 , he made an immediate impact. Multiple podiums, including a 3rd place in just his second race, and finishing 6th overall in his rookie season. Rookie Accolades: Known as “ The Shark ”, he displayed maturity beyond his years, clinching Rookie of...