Bhutto's successor

Three days after his mother's assasination, 19-year-old Bilawal Bhutto, finds himself inheriting not just one of the most celebrated names in politics, but a history steeped in power and bloodshed.

He has been chosen as the chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) while his father, Asif Ali Zardari, will serve as co-chairman.

The appointment means the party leadership follows the Bhutto bloodline for a third generation, some four decades after it was founded by Bilawal's grandfather and former prime minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

The decisions were made at a closed-door meeting of the party's central executive committee.

The PPP also decided to contest in the upcoming elections, apparently ending the threat of a wholesale boycott by Pakistan's political opposition.

"The party's long struggle for democracy will continue with renewed vigour," Bilawal told a news conference.

"My mother always said democracy is the best revenge," he said.

While friends of the slain former Prime Minister say she always envisaged Bilawal becoming her political heir, they agree that she would not have wanted him to have to bear that burden so young.

At 19, Bilawal is still some way from completing his education.

Read here, here and here

Benazir Bhutto killed

Somehow I knew that it would come to this - the moment she returned home to Pakistan on Oct 18 to take part in the country's election after eight years of self-imposed exile.
May she rest in Peace. Al-Fatiha.
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Left: Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto waves to supporters after an election rally in Rawalpindi December 27, 2007, shortly before she was killed in a gun and bomb attack.
Pix by: Mian Khursheed / Reuters


Pakistani former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been killed in a presumed suicide attack, a spokesman for the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) says. Earlier reports said Ms Bhutto had only been injured and taken to hospital.

Ms Bhutto had just addressed a rally of PPP supporters in the town of Rawalpindi when the rally was hit by a blast.

At least 15 other people are reported killed in the attack.

Ms Bhutto has twice been the country's prime minister and was campaigning ahead of elections due in January. More from BBC

AFP: Here
Time: Here
More Here and here
Obituary: Bhutto had turbulent history
Also read Who did it? By Jason Burke, here
Benazir Bhutto (1953–2007)

My grandson is now a ...man!

“Tell me Tok Mommy, will it be painful?” Adam, my eight-year-old grandson, asked me.

“Hmm, I don’t think so. You go ask Tok Abah.” I replied.

“Abang says it is not. But I don’t want to use a clamp. Abang says laser is better.”

That was a conversation between Adam and me. And the topic of discussion was on circumcision - an important rite of passage marking a boy's entrance into adulthood

You see, I don’t have a son and so I wouldn’t know the difference between using a clamp or a laser. I wonder if Adam himself knew the difference. I suppose he does after having talked about it with Nik Adam Haris, my sister Lalin's eldest son. Twelve-year-old Haris, whom Adam refers to as abang, was circumcised three years ago by the laser method.

I was told that the benefits of using a laser are: faster operation, limited or no bleeding, quicker healing, minimal post-op pain, pleasant experience and most aesthetically pleasing results. (Lol!)

“It is better because the wounds heal faster,” Lalin said.

Adam is the grandson whom I raised since he was a baby. My husband and I have been preparing him for this important journey in his life - that first step towards adulthood.

We thought that the December school holidays would be a good time for Adam to be circumcised - there would be enough time for him to recuperate.

Somehow we weren’t able to have it done during the first half of the holidays and had to settle for the second half. We chose Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) for Adam on the recommendation of our neighbours whose 12-year-old son had his done there recently. Secondly, it is near to our house. They also recommended to us the doctor who performed the surgery on Hisham.

So, last Friday we brought Adam to see Dr Zulkifli Laidin who assured us that it‘d be okay for him to be circumscised this week because the wound would heal by the time school reopens.

The day of the circumcision was fixed for Monday, December 24. The surgery was to be performed by Dr Zulkifli at SJMC, at 11.00am.

Adam was not to eat after 5.00am - five hours before the surgery. Why you might ask. After all it is a simple surgery. Not really...because his circumcision was to be done under general anesthetics (G.A). We opted for G.A out of fear that he might get cold feet if the circumcision was done by conventional method. But of course the costs of having it done under G.A. is 10 times more than under local anesthetics.

Adam was asleep by 10.pm Sunday night after a dinner of Dominos pizza. We wanted to make sure he had enough to eat.

He was up by 7.30am the next morning, had his bath, dressed up and by 9.00am we were already on the 1st floor of SJMC’s North Tower, where the surgery would take place.

I know Adam was quite nervous but he behaved very well. After the necessary registration and changing to hospital attire, he was wheeled into the Operating theatre at 10.30. And within 15 minutes the circumcision was complete. However, he was not out until an hour later when the anesthetic wore off.

At about noon he was wheeled out of the day care surgery centre. There was my grandson, now a man!

We had wanted him stay for the night at the hospital, but he was eager to come home. By 1.00pm we were already back.

Christmas Greetings

Wishing all visitors here a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and May God's Blessings be on each of you.

Floods worsening in Pahang

The flood situation in Pahang and Kedah is worsening. More people had been evacuated yesterday. In the meantime, the situation in Terengganu, Kelantan and Johor has improved.

In PAHANG, the number of evacuees rose to 16,791 from 3,621 families at 90 relief centres as at 4.30pm ysterday from 16,637 in the morning.

Pekan has the highest number of evacuees at 9,700 followed by Maran (3,290), Rompin (1,569), Bera (1,125), Kuantan (1,019) and Temerloh (88), according to a Pahang police spokesman.

Jalan Pekan-Kuantan at Km19, Jalan Pekan-Muadzam Shah (Km8) and Temerloh-Maran trunk road are closed to all vehicles, while Jalan Muadzam Shah-Rompin and Temerloh-Triang are closed to light vehicles. Bernama has more: here

Marina Mahathir received an urgent sms from a friend appealing for help for the flood victims in Pahang.

The floods are getting worse especially in Pekan area. 8000 people are stranded and the roads have been cut off. Not sure how they are going to get supplies to the Pekanites but these are items they need:

diapers, baby milk, sanitary pads, eggs, canned food, rice, sugar, water, other foodstuffs, candles and torchlights, clothing.

Those living in KL, please deliver your contributions to the Flood Relief Centre at Istana Pahang, Persiaran Raja Chulan, KL. Please contact Dato Nordin at 012-988-9149 or 012-900-7068."

Pix: Courtesy of Pasquale

A quiet Eidul Adha

My 2nd daughter Jehan, with her kids (Ayra and Ayna on her lap) and my brother-in-law. TJ

Sitting from l-r: yours truly, my mom-in-law, Datin Zaiton, Adam and my biras, Nafisah. Standing l-r: Hashley, Ayesha and Johanne (Nafisah's children)

Jehan, Ayna, Shahriman (her husband) Ayra and my mom-in-law.




Left: Food galore...prepared by Puan Nafisah Ali
At my dad's: Food, glorious food ...

As with previous Hari Rayas, we spent the first half of the day at my mother-in-law's at her section 14 house. My 77-year-old-mom-in-law lives alone since my father-in-law passed away 11 years ago. And since she is alone, she doesn’t cook. So when it comes to special occasions like Hari Raya, we will bring food to her house and have a "feast" together with other members of my husband’s small family.

When I talk of "we", it usually means my biras, Picah (Nafisah, the wife of my third brother-in-law, Tajudin or TJ) and I. But this time, Picah called up to inform me that she'd be preparing "everything" (the whole works - nasi empit, rendang, serunding, kuah kacang & lodeh). How nice, I thought. My dear sis-in-law, Nafisah, is someone who you can always count on! She's one great lady. All I had to bring was ayam goreng, which I had promised my mom-in-law earlier.

The afternoon, as always, was reserved for my visit to my dad’s. The same goes for my sisters. They spent the morning at their respective in-laws. I don’t have any pictures at my dad’s because my siblings suddenly became camera shy.

”No need to take our pictures and put them in you blog. Cukup lah gambar yang ambil during the Singapore trip. Just take the picture of the food," says Nina.

Eidul Adha Mubarak

Here's wishing all Muslim readers and visitors of "Tok Mommy" a Happy Eid ul-Adha, the day of sacrifice.

Eidul Adha is a celebration of God's love for the whole of mankind.

Let us rejoice on this holy occasion and spread the Spirit of Eid among our dear ones... near and afar.

It was a good trip

Adam and Heikal... raring to go

The Aeroline, the bus which took us to Singapore. It is very comfortable, clean and provides good service. It is punctual too. I like that.

Front row, Syaira, Adel, Adam and Heikal together with Afizuddin, Amalina and Sara back row waiting to board the bus. At 8.00 am sharp, we departed for Singapore.

After a journey of 2 1/2 hours we made a 20-minute stop-over at the recently-renovated PLUS's R&R in Pagoh. It's very pretty and clean...

... with rows of stalls selling fresh local and imported fruits

Just arrived and waiting to check in at York Hotel

On our first night (Fri, Dec 14), we went on the "must see" Nite Safari. Seen queuing up to board the tram/train for the 45-minute ride are from L-R: Syaira, Sara, Liyana and Amalina. Towering over them at the back is Adel.


Nuraina, the photographer clicking away...

Lalin and three of her children, (from left, Sofia, Soraya and Sonia) Adam, Nina and Sara (partly hidden) waiting to board the tram. The Night Safari is said to be the world's first wildlife park with a night view.

"Abang" Haris and his two loyal fans, Adam and Heikal.

All smiles and ready for the fancy tram ride covering a distance of 3.2km to catch sight of rhinos, elephants, giraffes, tapirs, tigers, lions along with a variety of birds in their "natural" habitat. The ride takes you along two loops that cover terrain ranging from the rocky Himalayan foothills to the grassy plains of Equatorial Africa. L-R, Sonia, Soraya, Sofia (hidden) and Cik ton aka Tok Mommy

These are tiger cubs. They are among the 900 noctural animals of 130 species inhabiting 40 hectares of dense forest located near the Upper Seletar Reservoir. The forest is bathed in shadowy half-light so that the animals are largely oblivious to our presence. We aren't allowed to take pictures of these animals in case the flash frightens them. This picture is taken from the Night Safari pamphlet.

The awe-inspiring tribal performers from the rainforests of Borneo demonstrating their fire-eating...

...acrobatic and blowpipe skills

Lalin and the children having fish and chips at the Bongo Bongo


Nuraina and Adel

Tok Mommy and Haris

Syaira, Amalina, Liyana and Mia (Raja Amylea)

Sofia, Sara and Tante Nina having breakfast on the 2nd day at York Hotel

Abang flanked by his fans during breakfast

A walk down Orchard Road after breakfast before visiting "Nek Busu" (on the 2nd day).

Takng a rest...near Tang's

A lone Chinese musician


On the 2nd & last night (Sat, Dec 15) in Singapore we went down to Orchard Road which is about 10 minutes walk from the hotel. We simply love the Xmas trees in all the shops along the road.

Just have to take more...

One for the road...with my cousin, Linda, (and her two children beside her) who called on us just before we checked out.

In front of the hotel's beautifully-decorated Xmas tree minutes before we checked out and headed for the Harbourfront to catch our Aeroline bus. We left for home at 3pm.

Read nuraina's Oh Singapura here and
Balik Kampung: here

Who is Damai?

So this is the question some of the popular blogs are asking: Who is Damai?

I heard that Damai is supposed to be representing us, the silent majority? I haven’t heard of the organisation. Have you? And who gave Damai the right to speak on my behalf?

From the little that I know, Damai wants peace. Well, that is what damai means.

And the silent majority? Who are they? Do they constitute majority of Malaysians or the majority from Barisan Nasional?

According to the Star it is a coalition of 395 non-governmental organizations, representing nearly 1.5 million members.

Damai Malaysia representatives also included those from 75 Chinese-based and 20 Indian groups and associations.

It’s mainly a coalition of mostly pro-government groups and they held a forum to denounce street demonstrations without specifically mentioning names, but mostly likely in response to Hindraf as well as the Bersih coalition gathering on November 10th.

Marina Mahathir is still pretty riled up over this and Rockybru is trying to mencari damai .

And so are we - the silent majority - trying to figure out what Damai is all about.