Broken Wing

A mynah, just like the above, hops around on the street of my house, trying to seek refuge from a group of small boys chasing it. Normally, I would raise my voice at the kids in hope of stopping them from hurting the bird. But there was something about the mynah which stopped me from doing so, and I, instead, became an observer. As I watch, it became obvious to me that the children had the correct intent; they were, trying to catch the bird and keep if safe - the mynah, was suffering from a broken wing.

The 5 kids, at one point of time, had the bird in a circle. But as they each rushed in to capture it with their bare hands, the bird, even with its right wing sagging, was too slippery for them. Soon, it hops out of my view, taking the kids along with it. At this point of writing, I can't say whether the kids were successful or not. But perhaps that is not so important as what matters more is that the kids have a noble intent, caring for a life which rarely cross their path what else touch them. But their act, touched me.

Its been raining daily here since Ramadhan began, and its not helping me at all with my flu, causing me to have cold chest which in turn, leads to incessant coughing. Perhaps due to the coughs, I have been feeling very tired these past few days, what with the energy used and the lack of sleep caused by it, having to sleep in an upright position rather than horizontal. And the jeli gamat I have been taking again recently, does not seem to help as it once did many years ago. Perhaps its the brand. Or perhaps, I am already in a state of irreparable damage. But to be honest, in all, I would rather have this cold chest than cold feet (literal meaning) which some people must be experiencing now with the approaching September 16 date. That, sort of perks me up. InsyAllah, we will be going through a most interesting time in the history of Malaysia, which makes me glad to be around. What happens next, only Allah s.w.t. in His Infinite Wisdom knows.

Reading through RPK's entry here, I pray we will be able to re-look into some strange laws which were enacted for some industry, but exempted to others. Agreed, alcohol is haram, and so is selling and serving it. But as the man asked though not verbatim "What about MAS and the many Muslims forced to serve it?" That, reminded me of a question many have been asking too regarding a certain 24hours convenience chain store.

Arriving some 20minutes early for an appointment, I stepped into one of those stores looking for something to bite. Seeing the hot servings they have I asked if the food is halal. The staff of the store, some 3 of them and all Muslims, looked at each other and replied in one voice that everything in the store is halal. Alhamdulillah, I thought. But then, I saw another staff was busy rearranging the cold drinks section and was in fact, holding a bottle of beer in each hand with more bottles on the floor and in the fridge. Halal? I think not.

Going by RPK's statement and the act of the religious department as well as RELA, how come Muslims are allowed to sell and serve liquor and beer here, but not in pubs and discotheques and whatnot? Or that there was once a law that whenever a shop wants to sell liquor, it has to put up a notice in a newspaper to inform the public of its intention. A certain lee time is then given for any member of public to object, and the objection taken into view by the authorities concerned. So how come this convenience chain store does not seem to do so? Something's amiss somewhere.

The above, and many other inconsistencies of the current regime is what makes a commoner like cakapaje feeling disgusted and helpless. I pray from the 17th onwards, the people concerned will be more mindful of such matters and not leave a commoner to be like the mynah with a broken wing and left to the mercy of the elements (if not for the boys).