Wuan and I just got back from Ipoh. It took us three hours for a one way journey. PLUS’ upgrading from Rawang to Slim River slashed the 110km/h speed limit to 60km/h the entire stretch as traffic in some parts of the expressway were limited to one lane only. By this rate, I estimate that it will take 6 hours for me to reach Penang from Kuala Lumpur. If we were to leave after Wuan cast her vote here, we will reach Penang at around 3pm.

I am still mulling over whether I should fly back alone as the journey back and forth by road is going to wear me out. Flying poses another set of problems. Friends in Penang have offered to pick me up from the airport and assist with getting food. That solves half of the problem. The other half is dressing me up. Dressing up is a very personal matter and I am not comfortable getting help from other people. Wuan has been helping me with that. If I were to do that by myself, I would be spending more than 30 minutes doing it and become totally exhausted after that.

I am too tired to think straight now. We spent more than 6 hours on the road today. All I am looking forward to is a hot bath and a good night’s sleep. I foresee another long day tomorrow. I am going to leave it as it is for now. No point cracking my head over this. As I was about to conclude this entry, I am reminded of what Jesus said in the Bible:

So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6: 34 (New Jerusalem Bible)

Wise words those. Good night Malaysia.

Related entry:
The Dilemma Of Voting In Penang

Reallybites wrote an eulogy for her friend who passed away recently. Eulogies are beautifully written sad stories that remembers the memorable times of a person’s life. What I could relate to was that her friend, although having to undergo dialysis, continued doing what he loved best - photography. I love photography. I am living with chronic kidney failure. One day in the future, I may just have to undergo dialysis when my kidneys give up on me.

That final moment when I breathe my last and go meet my Maker does not scare me much. What I fear most is the process that leads to that final moment. Am I able to live my life to the fullest in spite of the 3-day per week routine of 4-hour sessions of boring renal dialysis? Will I continue to freeze moments in time with my camera? Will I be able to muster the spirits to never give up? I am not sure I can be that strong.

When that day comes, I will look back at ReallyBites’ story to inspire me to fight to the last, to never give up. I cannot forsee or change whatever that is forthcoming. What I can do now is to build up my courage for that day and pray that I do not falter. All that I can do now is to live day at a time and hope for the best.

The bed was pushed right up to the walls at the far corner of the room. There were two windows. One had louvers that opened out to a spacious air well where Mum would hang clothes that she had washed. The other opened out to the garden and had cast iron grilles and green window panes.

My eyes were still closed. The familiar sounds of birds chirping indicated that it was already mid-morning. In my mind’s eye, the view beyond the iron grilles was as familiar as the lines on my palms. Just outside the window, a fertile bush of betel thrived. Its vines gripped and snaked around the stakes that looked like rotting wood but were sturdy nonetheless. A coconut tree stood behind, spreading out its fronds in all directions and provided ample shade for everything beneath it.

I strained my ears to catch hints of activity in the garden. Mum would usually be pottering away with her adeniums, orchids and bougainvillas. She was especially proud of her green fingers and skills in cultivating beautiful looking adeniums. Many Chinese households have a pot or two of this plant for its auspicious name which meant prosperity in any of the Chinese dialects.

There were no familiar sounds other than the chirpings. I wondered where Mum was. Perhaps she had gone for her breakfast. I was happy nonetheless, knowing that I was in familiar surroundings. A sense of security and contentment enveloped me. Then reality struck. I realised was reliving a time fifteen years ago. Mum was no longer around and I was 400km from home. And I woke up from that dream feeling empty and lonely.

The Bishop of Penang, the Right Reverend Bishop Antony Selvanayagam, issued a message regarding the 2008 General Election in a pastoral letter dated February 17, 2008 through the Diocese of Penang website. In the letter addressed to all Fathers, Religious and Lay Faithfuls of the Roman Catholic Church, he said that voting is the sacred Christian duty of all Catholics. He also outlined five points to guide Catholics in casting their votes wisely.

As Christians, we must send out the message loud and clear that we do not take lightly to the action by certain parties to dictate how we should practice our faith. Lets make our voices heard and ensure that the freedom to practice the religion of our choice is not scuttled in any way.

The Bishop’s letter and the election message from the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) can be viewed from the following links:

Letter from the Right Reverend Bishop Antony Selvanayagam
(MS Word format)

Election message from the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM)
(Adobe PDF format)

I need to arrange the logistics for me to get back to Penang to vote. The problem is that Wuan will be casting her ballot here in Kuala Lumpur. I am not going to ask her to give up that right to vote just to accompany me back. I need assistance for moving around in Penang. I tire easily nowadays. Maybe it is the weather. Maybe it is my health. It will be difficult for me to go back by myself in this condition.

This election may be the first and last one that I am voting in Penang. I am considering changing my address and voting constituency to where I am residing in Kuala Lumpur now. I have never bothered with exercising my right to vote previously because of the inaccessibility of voting centres. I disliked being carried on my wheelchair up steps. Wheelchairs are not designed to be carried. There is a danger of parts breaking away.

Being an advocate on disability issues now, I realised that disabled people need to go out to exercise their voting rights and where necessary advocate for accessible voting centres and most importantly, accessible public transport to take us there. If I have my way, the ministers responsible for these insufficiencies in infrastructure will not be getting any vote from disabled people. What have they done in the past five years to make the environment accessible to disabled people? Many of us are still stuck at home because there is no concerted effort to ensure that accessible facilities are in place.