In a race against time to finish this, my seven hundred fifty words of my thoughts and feelings.
.
Tell me dear reader why must I be so cowardly. Yesterday I became a witness to a tyranny yet I did nothing to change the order of things. And today, still I am reliving the memory and imagining things I should have done but did not. I still feel the handle of the fork that I was holding so tightly while I became the silent participant to that act.
.
What I saw was a man wearing shorts and a jacket that had a police insignia on it, talking quietly to the ear of a patron of a restaurant which was where I had lunch. The harassed man didn’t look local, probably from Sabah, he had with him his girlfriend. He was being asked for his identification card by the guy in the police jacket. But I get the feeling that he was actually asking for money from the guy and his girlfriend.
.
The Sabahan complied and showed his IC. I was on the table next to them and from where I was sitting which was close, but not as close to hear what the Jacket Guy was saying, I see that it’s legit. But still the Jacket guy continue to speak to his ear.
.
And I did nothing.
.
I should have taken a video with my mobile phone. I should have stood up and asked for Jacket Guy’s police identification, if he had any. I should have made a phone call and reported what is saw to the police. I should have walked over to the table and asked the Sabahan if there was any problem. I should have drawn Jacket Guy’s attention and pulled him away and pretend there was an emergency. I should, I should, I should.
.
But I did nothing. I just went up to the counter, paid and leave.
.
If someone were to ask me, why didn’t I do anything? My excuse would be that I was hungry, I was tired, sweating profusely, my feet was blistered from a very long walk in the sun in uncomfortable flip-flops. but these I reflect are excuses still.
.
And today I’m haunted by what I had seen, still imagining outcomes in which, embarrassingly, I am the hero. Enough,enough. Let me have in the future, the ability to spot and the courage to act to stamp tyranny however small or petty.
.
A proposal on how to spend a long holiday. First stating at Kuala Rompin, specifically Rompin Beach Resort, spend a night there, see the sunrise at the beach, eat at grandpa’s house, go to the moming market at Endau and Kuala Rompin. Spend evenings at the beach in Penyabong, Pasir Lanun and maybe find that place the locals call Tioman Darat which I sawat that show about honeymoon destinations in Malaysia specifically the episode featuring Bell Ngasri and wife.
.
Then move on to Kuantan, maybe stay at hotel in town or in Cherating, sample the seafood in Tanjung Lumpur, visit Kak Ain’s family and see the sea, maybe take a river cruise. Also a visit to Bekelah Falls, beaches and other places of interest.After that, head north towards Terengganu, take the coastal road, visit Kuala Terengganu, imagine scenes in that book‘Growing Up In Trengganu’ by Awang Goneng. Visit the wife’s friend there. See the beaches there, sample the authentic Kopok Leko while feet is still on Trengganu sand. Drive at night to see the hellish glow at the petroleum works there.
.
Make my way to Kelantan after that, make way to Kota Bharu, sample food, go to Rantau Panjang, shop, make way to Pasir Mas, visit brother-in-law’s family, seek out my old friend from college who has a business there.
.
Make my way back, and make a point to visit Mak Lang’s house in Mentakab, the place where I took first breath.
.
And another one hundred words to go to finish this session of seven hundred words. My thoughts go to my job security, the pros and cons of staying on the job where I am now. That’s not for me to share here, too many things that would be controversial. ‘Pee and Cee’. The grass is always greener on the other side, especially when the grass you’re on is starting to yellow and there is smell of smoke in the air. There is a tinge of regret to what I am in now, but there is much sweet that I have experienced that would make the regret insignificant. ,
Advertisement
