Telekung Tale

I was refolding a small pile of telekungs (prayer garments for women) this morning when Eli, our parttime maid, casually remarked whilst sweeping the floor:

"The cleaners are not allowed to use those telekungs that they have placed in the surau (on the ground floor) for public use. We have to bring our own."

Jolted by the sudden remark, I stopped folding and shot a look at her. "But why?" I sputtered, suddenly feeling rather cross.

"Sebab kami hanya pencuci dan jugak pendatang, jadi di pandang rendah dan di anggap tidak bersih. AJK surau arah pejabat pengurusan bagitau kami."

["Because we are only cleaners and not locals too. They looked down upon us and considered us unclean. The surau committee asked the management office to relay it to us."]

I was dumbfounded. It had never crossed my mind that anyone living in this condo would stoop so low to issue such a directive. What were they thinking?

At the Royal Lake Club, staff and members use all the telekungs and kain pelikat (men's sarong) provided by the Club for public use, freely.

In fact, my friends and I too had placed brand new telekungs in the ladies' prayer room for common use. An insignificant contribution from us, yet it had somehow made us feel 'useful'.   

Material wealth notwithstanding, we are equal in the eyes of Allah swt. I feel so ashamed for my fellow residents. I know a great majority of them are good, kind and considerate folks.

But now I also know there are rotten apples among them. "Ya Allah, sedarkanlah mereka ini daripada kesombongan mereka. Semulia-mulia manusia ialah mereka yang beriman, bukan mereka yang kaya raya."

Hati ini terasa amat malu sekali...

Ayoh Wang's Open House

A maze of taman (housing estates) had sprouted in the Cheras area since I last lived there that getting lost was almost a certainty  despite maps, pointers and directionals.

Cheras was my backyard for a couple of years when I started working in Kuala Lumpur in the mid-70s. I was then bunking in my late aunt's City Hall low-cost flat off Jalan Cheras.

We went Cheras way again last Saturday, to Taman Bukit Teratai to be exact, to partake raya fare at the open house of fellow Trengganu blogger, Wan Shariff (who blogs here).

That we got lost looking for the taman goes without saying. Fortunately we retraced our steps and one phone call to our would-be host later, we got there in time to sapu some of the foods lovingly prepared by his petite Mok Wang.

I would have loved to eat more of her absolutely delicious kuah kacang (peanut sauce) teamed with nasik kapek (Trengganuspeak for 'nasi himpit' i.e. rice cubes), but had to show a bit of decorum lah, after three successive visits to the table...

Biryani rice, Bombay chicken, dalca, mutton khorma, acar,  nasik kapek & kuah kacang, serunding, laksa penang, home-made tapai wrapped in daun jambu laut, kek lapis sarawak, agar-agar & cookies, fresh fruits, downed with sirap.... pheww,  sekok weh!

  

Yours truly found a niche to indulge in a bit of 'catsipping' (no we didn't gossip, just catsip) with blogger Cat-in-Sydney (who pens her thoughts here). Let it be known that it's always a delight to meet this Mak Kucing.

Ayoh Wang with his grandniece..

 The thorn with his rose. On extreme right is ever-smiling Ona, Cat's friend who hails from Losong, KT.

I had to take a short nap after reaching home to prepare my perut for the evening's royal banquet (story here) pulak. Thank be to Him for all the rezeki..

When Hajar Weds Lasahi (revised)

Ikan di laut asam di darat, dalam periuk bermuafakat..

The army captain, fifth from a family of 10, hails from the highlands of Keningau, Sabah, and currently works and lives in Perlis.

The gutsy entrepreneur, the eldest of eight, manages her family business in Kuala Kangsar, lives in Ipoh and maintains another family home in Shah Alam.

I am not privy to how they met, but they had known each other for quite a while before deciding to build a life together. 

 I struggled to hold back my tears when the bride's younger brother, acting on behalf of their mom now that their 'Bapak' is no more, gave a brief but emotion-laden speech to thank those present.

When my younger brother "Ab" (Megat Wahab) passed away four years ago at the relatively young age of 48, he left behind a wife and eight children to mourn his passing.

Last week in Ipoh, Ab's eldest, Puteri Nor Hajar tied the knot with Capt Lasahi Laiji, on the heels of her younger sister Puteri Nor Sarah who wed in December last year.

It was largely a family affair, not losing sight of the fact that the Megat clan is one huge extended family. Thus, guests numbered in the thousands.

Last night the family held another do, in Kuala Lumpur this time, for special guests.

Their Royal Highnesses Raja Perlis and his Consort, HRH the Sultan of Johor and the Regent of Perlis and his Consort, were guests-of-honour at the banquet.

Others who graced the function included the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces top brass and foreign guests from as far as Austria and Germany and nearer home, from Indonesia and Thailand (largely business acquaintances and personal friends of my late brother).

It was an event steeped in army tradition; interesting and enjoyable to watch....  

Their Royal Highnesses the Sultan of Johor and Raja Perlis.

The newlyweds making their grand entrance under a canopy of ceremonial swords..

Cake-cutting ceremony.. and I kept missing out on the cake tasting!

The radiant couple flanked by their 'pengiring' and 'pengapit', and bagpipers too..

The bride's younger brother Megat Ibrahim, saying a few words on behalf of his family. My tears welled when he said the siblings were not ready to let their big sister go; she was, after all, their rock, onto whom they had clung tenaciously since their father's demise. 

My nieces Puteri Liana (in red tudung) and Puteri Murni (in grey tudung), daughters of my elder brothers Megat Fauzi and Megat Yusof, respectively.

Our new kin from Keningau, Sabah..

Mango jelly dessert. The banquet was arabic in nature, with succulent lamb mandey, bamia, kuzi and many other delicious offerings.

The groom's comrades (from the Airborne Unit, if I'm not mistaken) who acted as 'pengiring pengantin'....

The Solemnisation Ceremony in Ipoh 17/09/11

Naj & Joe resting after a heavy makan..

Cendol was served by the poolside.. you-know-who having his cendol fix.

With bride's mom and my sister-in-law, Datin Hjh Rosnah Abdul Latif and my eldest abang, Megat Yusof.

Arrival of orphans from several homes and orphanages in Ipoh & Kuala Kangsar.

Hantaran cake, groom to bride.

Hantaran cake, bride to groom.

Merenjis (sprinkling of scented water & bunga rampai i.e. potpourri) paraphernalia.. 

Peach-hued lace from groom to bride.

Wedding ring & bunga rampai..

Some words of advice just before the aqad...

The newlyweds...Lasahi Laiji & Puteri Nor Hajar Megat Abdul Wahab..

I absolutely love this picture of Ayah Sulong Megat Najmuddin with his great grandnieces! Cicit tuu....

Hajar in a pensive mood on the balcony..

Lasahi & Hajar with their Mak Yong's family..

The dais..

Wedding of Nawwar & Zul Ariff

Nawwar & Zul Ariff

Arrival of bridegroom's 40-strong entourage

Minicakes hantaran (thanks Zai.. lovely AND yummylicious to boot!)

Hantaran buku agama untuk pengantin lelaki

Bride's brothers Joe (left) and Naj (right) with cousin Kudin

Awwa's 'Papa' (Dtk Kamal Hussein, husband of her paternal aunt Sofwanah Rahman), the designated spokesperson for the bride's family.

Yours truly, sitting next to bride's paternal grandma, PS Hj Halimah Mohd Isa, waiting for the akad to begin.

Bride's father conducting the akad himself.

Husband and wife, freshly minted, sealing the union with a wedding ring.

Makcik Bloggers! From left: Angelina's mom, 'London-mari' Kak Teh, Kay & Kak Nas.

Oh, it's 'em pesky makciks again! Aww...Standing, from left: Zai, Kay, Aida, Cat, Dee, my ITM buddy Mimah, Kak Teh, Kak Nas, Ollie.Sitting, from left: Yani, bride's mom, Ezza.

Chatter friends (from left): Siti, Sue, saya, Kitty & Melur..

Folks from my childhood.. My sisters and I grew up with Datuk Sam and his sister Zuraida (the sweet lady in blue) in the mining town of Bukit Besi, Terengganu; we were neighbours as well as schoolmates.

Bride's maternal grand-uncle TS Megat Najmuddin Khas, younger brother of my late father Megat Abu Bakar. Behind him is Awwa's uncle Megat Yusof, my eldest brother.  

Three brothers and a sister: Megat Ruzi, Megat Sham, Megat Yusof and saya.

Here comes the younger set: my sisters (from left): Zahana, Zaridah (& husband Radzi), Hanizah and Zanariah.

Kakteh with Dee yg murah dengan senyuman..

Ezza with her daughters.. and I promptly called on Joe to 'look-see'.. lol 

My only surviving maternal uncle, Ayah Cik Ali & family.

Pak Abu's "Amin Classic" golf buddies..

The Abus' diehard karaoke kakis (with the exception of Jon, in glasses, who doesn't sing) from the Royal Lake Club.

Pak Abu's MCKK classmates (Class of 69)..

Pak Abu and his sister Dilla and her baby girl..

There were too many cameras we didn't even know where to look..

Here comes the Tok Kadhi..

Zul with his Al-Qadeem buddies..

Prepping the wedding cakes for the cake-cutting ceremony..

The elegant, ivory/peach hued four-tiered cake is the handiwork of Kitchen Guardian blogger,Yani. Tq Yani for such a beaut..

I didn't get the chance to taste the cake, though..

Bride's sister, Ann, with her paternal aunt Rose Fernando.

Alhamdulillah syukur, semuanya dapat disempurnakan dengan baik. Our heartfelt thanks to all our guests yang datang untuk turut meraikan majlis kami.