Today marks a very important day for non-smokers and all health conscious human beings.  To totally eradicate smoking needs more than slogan shouting and publicity.  Smokers need very strong will power to overcome something they have been doing for umpteen years.  Everything depends on the individuals to say No  to tobacco.  On the other hand governments need to play their pivotal role to ensure that smokers can quit such habit.  May be to ban smoking throughout the country just like one country had done so.
The cooperation of everyone, smokers and non-smokers to ensure we live in a healthy environment is needed.  As long as tobacco companies are given the mandate to have the upper hand and allow to continue to operate, success will not come easy.  Even the names of tobacco companies should not be allowed to be seen or heard over the mass media may help to ensure some degrees of success.  The government has been carrying campaigns after campaigns, yet smoking continues to flourish.  What's worse is more and more youngsters have  taken this bad habit.
We can see teachers smoking in schools, people smoking in hospitals and this menace is blatantly disregarded and treated as a joke by the public.  Who is to enforce the rules on such offenders?  Do we have the will to take action against the culprits?
The government may impose heavy taxes on tobacco but that's not going to deter smokers.  The setback could be temporary and it's just a matter of time smokers will go back to their die-hard habit.  Perhaps we need to treat tobacco just like the way we treat other drugs like opium, morphine, etc.

Wealth Management

People use to say that it is easier to squander wealth than to make one.  People are more at ease when it is not their money cos they need not think twice using it.  We have to remember that we may not be rich all the time.  History has proven time and time again with countless examples how people, governments and empires had gone bust after a time of luxurious living.
Likewise a nation that is not careful throwing money like nobody's business may prove to be a folly.  Leaders who pride themselves in their abilities trying to impress on their citizens by splashing on them with tons of money, not counting the many mega projects yet to be implemented may sooner end with some of the european nations in the making.
The rakyat should not be too happy and be totally or even partially blinded by the ringgit glue on their eyes.  They should wake up and ask where do all these monies come from.  The rakyat should do a lot of soul searching and not be totally immersed and got drowned in all the so called 'goodies' splashed on them.  They should not take all the words of the leaders as the gospel truth but weigh and check and counter check to see if any of these words have some 'udang di sebalik batu'.  The rakyat should stand up for the truth and not be afraid to debate or point out the leaders wrong doing.  Leaders should be serving the people and not to be seen  making their pockets fat.
Today we have many leaders who are very rhetorical, even to the extent of causing the birds to fall from the sky.  Be very careful of such leaders especially with the impending election.  There will be countless mini, semi-mega and mega projects in each constituency but who will be there to monitor them.  Will every sen be accountable?  If you know of any hanky-panky in your area or any inflated project you should not take the 'tidak apa' attitude. Blow directly on such leaders faces.  Show them you mean business.  The general election is the right avenue to show your power.  Make the right choice and save the nation's wealth.  Don't let any of the candidates sweet talk you or coat your mouth with candies.

Look around you.  Surely you can see some not so nice things around you.  What do you do?  Keep quiet and mind your own business?  Please don't.  The country's wealth is ours not an individual's.  It is dosa untuk bersubahat with the wrong doers.

Prayer

"Prayer breaks all bars, dissolves all chains, opens all prisons, and widens all straits by which God's saints have been held." - E. M Bounds

"It is possible to move men, through God, by prayer alone." - Hudson Taylor

"Prayer is the root, the fountain, the mother of a thousand blessings." - Chrysostom

"We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties." - Oswald Chambers

"The battle of prayer is against two things in the earthlies: wandering thoughts, and lack of intimacy with God's character as revealed in His word. Neither can be cured at once, but they can be cured by discipline." - Oswald Chambers

"Faith in a prayer-hearing God will make a prayer-loving Christian." - Andrew Murray

"A life growing in its purity and devotion will be a more prayerful life." - E.M Bounds

"Four things let us ever keep in mind. God hears prayer, God heeds prayer, God answers prayer, and God delivers by prayer." - E.M Bounds

"We can do nothing without prayer. All things can be done by importunate prayer. That is the teaching of Jesus Christ." - E.M Bounds

"Prayer is the acid test of devotion." - Samuel Chadwick

"The true church lives and moves and has its being in prayer." - Leonard Ravenhill

"Prayer wonderfully clears the vision; steadies the nerves; defines duty; stiffens the purpose; sweetens and strengthens the spirit." - S.D. Gordon

Respect and be respected

If you force a child to something against his likings, very probably he will vomit out or do all kinds of nasty things. The same goes to adults.
If you go against the wishes and aspirations of the people and try to force things down their throats, you will pay for your folly dearly. It is good to open our ears and listen and be thorough in our findings before we attempt something. Even a child has the right to be heard and voice his view.
Many times we want people to respect us but we do not wish to respect others. Life is two ways, just like traffic flowing in two directions. That's the problem with human beings, societies and even governments! Let's give respect to where it is due and our action will be amply reciprocated. We simply cannot be taking all the time and not giving.
No matter how much we dislike a person or how bad or arrogant he may be, yet he has some strong points that could be put to good use. We must give equal coverage to all, though the opinions may be painful. A lob-sided judgement is a time-bomb.

The Importance of ONE

In this world, many people like big number. The bigger the better and the more the merrier. Before you jump the gun, don't get me wrong. I'm not against 'many', more people, more projects, etc but the importance of one cannot be overlooked.

Many tend to say, 'Ah! Without me, it's ok. Makes no difference. No big deal.' Think for a moment. You may think that the PTA meeting or your local residents' Association AGM is worthy to give a miss. You may far from right. Your crucial vote could have help your dear friend or your worthy neighbour to secure that important post which could mean a lot to the group as a whole. Your voice, idea or suggestion could be crucial in helping to turn the association around or strengthen it.

Think again. Your presence could have saved a person from embarassment, lend credibility or simply help to turn the tide in his favour. You could be the saviour in the most unlikely situation. You could have saved a person from the gallow!

What if in a general election, everyone starts to think his presence is not going to make any difference? You could live to regret for the rest of your life. In a bigger picture, your indifference could have caused the 'wrong' party to win and jeopardise the future of your children, siblings and friends. Do you want that to happen?

Before you allow yourself to toss this aside, 'Oh, that's for somebody else-how much difference can I make?' go back and review the value of one.

I am only one

But still I am one

I cannot do everything

But still I can do something

And because I cannot do everything

I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.

-Edward Everette Hale

Don't delay

Finally Tun M has spoken. He is willing to be probed into the allegation of the RM100 billion loss during his 22 years reign. It is only right that this man of honour be given all the opportunity to clear his name. The MACC should not delay but proceed to investigate so such allegation will not continue to linger on. I think the public are tired to keep hearing such nonsense and it's high time the MACC be diligent in discharging their responsiblity to the public.

Look b4 u leap

The STPM and SPM results will be out soon. Next, what? Students will be at wits of what to do next unless they are crystal clear regarding their destiny. They have to do a lot of soul-searching-to continue in sixth-form, A-level, SAM, Foundation, Diploma or to go for one of the many skill-based courses offered by countless of colleges.
A 'wrong' choice means a lot of headache and frustration, not counting the time-loss and money spent. But wait a moment. If ever you make the 'wrong' choice, don't despair. Count it as a wonderful lesson learnt and you could end up a lot wiser with more grey matter inside.
The much advice obtain from school counsellors or self-appointed experts may still lead you nowhere with more confusion and head-spinning. I'm not saying you should not seek advice. By all means, do so. Talk to you parents, uncles and aunties, teachers and your teachers. You never know. Somewhere along the way the door may be opened to you. You may want to sit down and ask yourself, "What do I really want to do?". Once you are clear, share with someone whom you BELIEVE can help you. It is good to share your ideal.
Important advice: don't just stop after your SPM or STPM. Continue with your education, formally of informally so that your mind will not go rusty. Remember: An idle mind is the workshop of the devil. It is better to pollute your mind with academic work, skill-based courses or any work that will enrich you.
Finally, seek God in every of your endeavour. He will never let you down. God wants you to have the BEST. The nation needs you.