Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Goodbye Chang Chee Teck......9/11/2012

When Chang was diagnosed with cancer in Sept 2009, doctors did not expect him to survive more than six months with or without conventional medical intervention. Three years to be exact!  Do you all remember the talk  he gave  in April 2011 at the Poolside Room, Royal Lake Club? Never mind; He is gone today! Our deepest condolences to his family!

For the benefit of our readers, I am reproducing below 'comments' posted by 'The Boss' in http://upekah.blogspot.com which is CT Chang's blog:

"I am jotting down my thoughts and feelings as I know I don’t have the guts to say all these to you in person. You see, my greatest regret in life is not saying what I needed to say to people in your situation. I couldn’t say it to my mother, my father, my sisters. I guess I am trying to absolve myself by saying it to you. So please hear me out.

Firstly, I pray that, while you are waiting to make the transition from this realm to the next, God grants you calm and peace. He knows you have fulfilled your obligations as a son, sibling, husband, father. You have discharged your duties as a citizen, friend and colleague. You did your best to carry out your responsibility as a man, aware that you are one creature out of His many creations and that you stood to be counted. Rest assured that you are leaving your mark here on Earth.

Thank you Chang, for blogging, which enabled many to benefit from the research that you did into various aspects of the cancer journey. You have been generous with the knowledge that you gained and many of us can claim that you are our teacher. Terima kasih, cikgu! for showing us the way....you changed our perspectives, our mind sets and you made us realise that it is ok to move the goal posts as and when necessary. Nothing is permanent anyway. We accept and then we adjust ourselves accordingly... and we move on, after learning from the experience.

And I find that the part that is most stressful is saying goodbye to people you have come to know as a friend, colleague, fellow-traveller... I wonder if I will ever learn how to do it right cos' most times I just fail to say goodbye. But after reading "Not the Last Goodbye" by Servan-Screiber, I know that the French are right in saying "We can say goodbye many times" and you can do that in as many ways as you want to. C’est acceptable. So I suppose in my own way I have said goodbye to you. Did you realise that?

And Chang, I pray that you make the crossing from HERE to THERE confidently, without fear or doubt. When you were given this cancer assignment, you took charge of the situation without a second thought. You did all you could within your means, without neglecting your duties as a son, sibling, husband and father, and I might add, as a fellow human being. How many can look back and say that they have shared their experience with fellow travellers and benefitted them in the process… you did well, Chang! It is not about the Destination, it is about the Journey! I pray that God grant you the wisdom to accept His decision, His will. We are told that life here on Earth is just a segment of a long journey back to Him. You had an eventful Journey. May you arrive at your Destination safe and sound. And, if God permits, please be there to welcome us when our time comes. Amen!"



With love and respect,

Khadijah

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Solo Art Exhibition of Mrs Sivam Selvaratnam Launched on August 24, 2012


Royal Professor Ungku Aziz

On Friday 24th August, Uncle Selvamany and Auntie Poovayee made a special day trip to KL to attend the official launch of a solo art exhibition of Mrs Sivam Selvaratnam, wife of Dr Viswanathan Selvaratnam (see page 222 of DSS's biography). The collection of artworks was officially opened by Royal Professor Ungku Aziz at the University of Malaya Art Gallery (UMAG) which is located at Level 5 of a brand new building called "The Chancellori".....just next to the Dewan Tunku Chancellor (just in case you may wish to make a trip there). Ramli Ibrahim read the citation of Mrs Sivam.


Ramli Ibrahim reading  the citation of Mrs Sivam.



At the function, both Uncle and Auntie met up with many old friends and old Andersonians like Tan Sri Aris Othman and Puan Sri Sherina Mow Cheng, Senathi Raja, Dr Mahadevan, Dr Majumdar, Gana and many others.....too many to name.



It was my first experience at an art exhibition and everything was really blurry to me.....nevertheless, I enjoyed the 2 hours there......the UM campus is not the same anymore except the memorable Dewan Tunku Chancellor.....the big lake is now just a small pond.......so sad. The lake was my place to relieve the stress of study (as if I studied). How about an excursion back to UM?

 
Salam,
 
Sek Yee

'Nasi Lemak' with Edward Lam & May on August 28, 2012






We had an early nasi lemak breakfast meeting with Thye Loy and his wife May at our house on Tuesday 28th Aug....they are at the moment putting up at May's sister's house which is just a mere 2 minute's drive from our house.


Salam,

Sek Yee and Ah Kat