NOW & THEN

 

 6/3/2021 I was never a sportsman in my younger days. But when I turned 50, a young friend from SDAR invited me to join his group of mountain bikers. That invitation changed my life. I started riding with them regularly and have kept the habit until today. The mountain bikes may be gone, but the spirit of cycling lives on. These days, I ride a Brompton folding bicycle around the scenic routes of Putrajaya. At 70, I’ve decided to slow down on cycling and focus more on walking. My new goal is modest—just 60 kilometers a month—but it keeps me active and fit for my age. Alhamdulillah. Why do I prefer walking over other forms of exercise? Walking offers numerous benefits for senior citizens like myself. It helps improve cardiovascular health, strengthens muscles and bones, enhances balance and coordination—which is essential to prevent falls—and boosts mood and mental well-being. It’s a low-impact exercise, gentle on the joints, yet highly effective in maintaining mobility and independe...

NOW & THEN #10 GOOD DEEDS Friday, 5 March 2021 This morning, I watched an interview on a YouTube photography channel featuring a young, prolific, and successful photographer. He spoke passionately about the importance of doing good deeds for others. His words carried weight—his own success was built on the kindness and generosity of others who helped him along the way. He urged his audience to continue doing good, paying forward the compassion he once received. I believe he will indeed do the same, just as others did for him. The power of sincere kindness and the joy it brings are beyond words. More than 20 years ago, a schoolmate reached out to me. His daughter needed information about student accommodation at Hertfordshire Polytechnic in England. Back then, the internet was still in its infancy—there was no Google Maps, no social media, and very little online guidance. Fortunately, through my blogging connections at the time, I knew someone who lived nearby. I emailed him, asking...

  SUNDAY 4.3.2021 Another Preventable Tragedy on a Malaysian Construction Site Yesterday, I received yet another piece of tragic news involving the SUKE Highway construction project. An oversized lorry crashed into the scaffolding of the elevated highway, causing it to collapse onto a passing van. Two innocent lives were lost. As a 69-year-old engineer with over 40 years of experience in the industry, I am both heartbroken and outraged. This was not just an accident—it was a preventable failure. With proper design and engineering of scaffolding, this tragedy could have been mitigated, if not entirely avoided. But once again, we are reminded of how costly our ignorance and negligence can be. Just a few months ago, a parapet wall from an elevated railway under construction fell and struck a car on the road below. Fortunately, no one was injured or killed that time. But again, basic construction safety protocols were ignored—there was no safety net, no containment. The Standard Operat...

Now & Then: The Smartphone Lifestyle Wednesday, 3 March 2021 Nowadays, it’s almost unthinkable to leave home without a smartphone. For many, it’s more than just a device—it’s a lifeline. It keeps us connected to family, friends, and work. For most of us, the first thing we reach for in the morning is our smartphone, and it’s also the last thing we check before going to sleep. We’ve become deeply attached—some might say addicted—to this small screen that displays our world in pixels and notifications. Let me share a real-life scene I witnessed: a couple walked into a restaurant and took their seats. After placing their food order, both immediately turned to their smartphones. They sat in silence, scrolling, tapping—completely absorbed in their screens—until the food arrived. No eye contact. No conversation. It’s a familiar sight. On the MRT to KL, the moment passengers sit down, their heads bow—not in prayer, but into their phones. No one looks at anyone else. Everyone is plugged in...