BUANASENI

Looking Back in Life 2

by Johan Ishak

May 2024

Photography

Gelugor, Penang

Model: Sally Dali the Cow

Looking Back in Life

by Johan Ishak

May 2024

Photography

Sungai Nibong, Penang

Model: Uncle Ghouse

In Between Two Worlds

by Johan Ishak

May 2024

Photography

Georgetown, Penang

In Between Two Lands

by Johan Ishak

May 2024

Photography

Penang

Merenung Kesendirian

by Johan Ishak

April 2024

Photography

Bukit Jelutong

Model: Nor Latifah

Menunggu Kesendirian

by Johan Ishak

April 2024

Photography

Kota Damansara

The Godfather

by Johan Ishak

20 April 2024

Photography

Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur

The Godsons

by Johan Ishak

20 April 2024

Photography

Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur

A Solid Respect Between Law Enforcers

by Johan Ishak

20 April 2024

Photography

Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur

A Cloudy Disparity Between Two Complications

by Johan Ishak

March 2024

Photography

Kuala Lumpur

The Fairway to Heaven

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Masjid Section 13, Shah Alam

The Portal to Heaven

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Masjid Section 13, Shah Alam

Three Points and a Minaret

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Masjid Negara Kuala Lumpur

Three Audiences and a Preacher

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Masjid Negara Kuala Lumpur

This One Reaches the Heaven

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Masjid Negara Kuala Lumpur

Which One Reaches the Heaven?

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Masjid Negara Kuala Lumpur

Stained Unforgotten 2

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Bukit Gita Bayu

Stained Unforgotten 

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Bukit Gita Bayu

The Observation of Fatamorgana 2

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Bukit Gita Bayu

The Observation of Fatamorgana

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Bukit Gita Bayu

The Mystery of the Other Side 2

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Bukit Gita Bayu

The Mystery of the Other Side

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Bukit Gita Bayu

The Pot 2

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Bukit Gita Bayu

The Pot

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Bukit Gita Bayu

The Wall 2

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Bukit Gita Bayu

The Wall

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Bukit Gita Bayu

Stone 2

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Bukit Gita Bayu

Stone

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Bukit Gita Bayu

Grounded 2

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Bukit Gita Bayu

Grounded

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

Bukit Gita Bayu

The Base of Lampu Padang Kota

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

 Shah Alam

Model: Johan Ishak

Lampu Padang Kota

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

 Shah Alam

S.T.A.R. Ipoh

by Johan Ishak

February 2024

Photography

 Ipoh Perak

Ipoh Old Kopitiam

by Johan Ishak

January 2024

Photography

 Ipoh Perak

Boden's at Kaki Gurung Jerai

by Johan Ishak

January 2024

Photography

 Merbok, Kedah

Models: Aun & Ma' Jan

Penang from Kaki Gurung Jerai

by Johan Ishak

January 2024

Photography

 Merbok, Kedah

Warna Yang Kini Pudar

Dunia ini diselubung,

..... kemurungan

Hilang semua warna-warna,

..... yang dahulunya indah

Nyah ia bersama maut

Aku terus jua melangkah

Di alam yang tiada warna

Di maya serba 'sephia'

Diheretnya berus dan cat

Digaulnya keluarga hijau

Untuk mewarnakan pohon dedaunan

Dicampurnya biru, putih dan kelabu

Untuk mencantikkan langit dan awan

Diadunnya merah dan kuning

Untuk kuntuman mekar dan lebah

Namun,

Sehebat mana pun kebolehan

Masih tidak sempurna gambarannya

Sungguh lengkap dan tertib

Kecantikan duniawi ciptaan Tuhan

Sesungguhnya kudrat ini,

..... kurniaan Dia

Tidak terdaya aku menggagah

Untuk mengembalikan seri

Agar muncul warna-warni dahulu

Hanya sekadar imitasi nikmat

Yang suatu ketika wujud

Yang kini hilang ditelan zaman

Oleh Jo Haq

9 Mei 2024

1:08 pagi

Bukit Jelutong

Terkilannya Gurindam Jiwa 

Terbenamnya mentari merah

Terhembusnya gunung berapi

Terlayunya sekuntum sakura

Terkulainya seekor lebah

Terpadamnya api keretek

Terhangitnya pulut panggang

Terbujurnya perwira perang

Terjatuhnya hukuman hakim

Terlanjurnya kemaksiatan nafsu

Tertipunya umat lemah

Oleh Jo Haq

4 Mei 2024

5:45 petang

Kelab Golf Negara Subang

Mati

Angin bertiup sepoi sederhana

Terbau harumnya pohon kemboja

Dan berkicauan burung-burung rimba

Di situ tersedialah liang tanah merah

Dan terbujur insan itu bersahaja

Menunggu nisan batu waja

Dengan kain putih menutupi terlanjangnya

Anak-anak mengepal-ngepal tanah

Mengambus perginya cinta

Menitiskan butiran air mata

Dan mereka mampu menghadiahkan doa

Semoga insan itu sudah bersedia

Di dalam ruang sempit dan gelita

Bakal dipersoalkan amalan dunia

Setelah tamat tempoh nikmat dunia

Itulah juga pengakhiran kita

Kelak pasti akan kita terima

Oleh Jo Haq

1 Mei 2024

10:51 malam

Sungai Nibong

Suatu Rekoleksi Dapur Arwah

Ikan Parang

Ikan Alu-Alu

Ikan Tenggiri

Kacang Kuda

Kacang Kelisa

Kacang Panjang

Ubi Kayu

Ubi Kemili

Ubi Benggala

Pisang Raja

Pisang Rastali

Pisang Berangan

Jambu Air

Jambu Batu

Jambu Mawar

Nasi Kandar

Nasi Lemak Lemuni

Nasi Durian Santan Ais

Oleh Jo Haq

27 April 2024

11:28 malam

Bukit Jelutong

Hutang

Lemah longlainya kaki aku

Kusut serabainya kepala aku

Apabila dihitung hutang,

..... yang selama ini tidak diperlaku

Seribu hari puasanya tak tentu

Dan diabaikan pula rakaat dua ratus ribu

Belum lagi zakat yang beribu-ribu

Sempatkah lagi bila masaku sudah tepu?

Atau harus aku terus redah jalan berliku?

Membayar apa yang patut selagi laku

Oh! Tuhan, tenangkanlah hatiku yang pilu

Kerana aku terasanya sangat malu

Dengan Engkau aku mengaku

Layakkah aku menerima kurniaanMu?

DiberiNya anak syurga kepadaku

Yang akan menghulur tangan menarik jiwaku

Sedangkan dosa-dosaku penutup pintu

Dan aku naik saksi tidak sanggup juga aku,

..... untuk menahan panasnya nerakaMu

Oleh Jo Haq

22 April 2024

10:30 malam

Bukit Jelutong

Malam Yang Rendang

Awan malam bak pohon rendang

Tebarnya bagaikan bercabang

Dedaunnya segar dan kembang

Angan-angan aku pun melayang

Jauh ke Hospital Selayang

Cukup pantas masa disailang

Tau-tau 24 kali bulan berulang

Teringat insan yang aku sayang

Dia sudah pergi dan hilang

KepadaNya jua dia pulang

Tidak ditinggalkan pun bayang

Tidak pula diberinya peluang

Untuk aku membuat dia riang

Hidup ini terasanya amat kurang

Sehingga air mata titis terlinang

Aku harap dia sentiasa tenang

Dan tidak dibiarkan seorang

Berdoa aku dalam sembahyang

Semoga dia sudi kunjung datang

Di dalam mimpiku sebelum siang

Di kala malam awannya rendang

The Promised Land

Go back, go home

Where you came from

You bloody Penangites!

Go back to your promised land

For you are the people of the island

And your tongue desires the spices

And your feet longed the ocean splashes

Have you not any love and desire to go?

To walk the streets of Gelugor

Or to scream, swear and hate

At the motorist with 'P' plates?

Go home, go wander

You bloody islander

Nothing less than RM300 per square feet

And certainly anything more would be great

By Jo Haq

11 April 2024

10:41pm

Bukit Jelutong

Distrust, Loath and Disbelief

Do we trust the person who is looking for an answer?

.... and distrust the person who says he has found the answer?

For the questions with no answers we should desire,

.... and loath the answers that we cannot question

Are we to find faith?

.... and if so, must we first be in disbelief?

Because when we have faith,

.... we are already certainly bias

So, those are the questions we are faced,

.... for trust, desire and faith

Or,

.... for distrust, loath and disbelief

By Jo Haq

11 April 2024

10:14pm

Bukit Jelutong

As the Fair Sun Sets Today

As the Fair Sun sets today

It shimmers across His Milky Way

Ending Ramadhan as it bows to Pray

Closing books accepting No More pay 

It submits well to sacrifice its Ray

Allowing the Moon to Eclipse in its way

But what does Humanity have to say?

When Rafa is Blackened with forays

And its sky in Penumbra haze

Nevermind the Dead under the gray

For they are Martyrs as when they Lay

Leaving the Universe for God to slay

As the Sun rises on Judgement day

By Jo Haq

9 April 2024

30 Ramadhan / 1 Syawal 1445

7:21pm

Bukit Jelutong

FEATHERED FISH

Haafiz Shahimi

2019

92cm X 46cm X 4 Panels

Pyrography Print, Inverted Burn Fabric Dye, 2K Matte Paint Epoxy Resin, Acrylic on Jute

Acquired on 24 March 2024

(SAJAK INI TIDAK ADA KENA MENGENA DENGAN YANG HIDUP ATAU MATI DAN BUKAN PENDAPAT PENYAJAK. IANYA SEKADAR GUBAHAN KREATIF SEMATA-MATA)

Minta Maaf, Perempuan

Minta Maaf, Perempuan

Bukan gua nak buat generalisasi

Tetapi kalau gua buat observasi

Di jalan raya lu lagak langsi

Lu fikir jalan bapak lu kasi

Nak tukar tayar pancit pun lu geli

Minta Maaf, Perempuan

Bukan gua nak buat cerita

Tetapi kalau gua buat kira-kira

Berapalah sangat lu belanja

Lu sibuk beli beg, baju dan cucuk muka

Nasi, api, air, sekolah anak gua settle semua

Minta Maaf, Perempuan

Bukan gua nak perangai 'sexist'

Tetapi kalau gua fikir habis-habis

Ada sahaja benda lu nak tepis

Lu rasa hak lu dengan gua harus persis

Jangan sampai nanti lu yang mengemis

Minta Maaf, Perempuan

Bukan gua nak tunjuk alim

Tetapi kalau mata gua mengerling

Dikatakan gua otak pusing

Lu juga yang tunjuk paha, punggung dan puting

Habis lu ingat gua tak runsing?

Oleh Jo Haq

1 April 2024

4:34 petang

Shah Alam

Tutuplah Matamu

Engkau terbeliak

Rakus membaham apa sahaja

Kononnya wanginya ketiak

Hidungmu itu dikencing ganja

Matamu memandang dengan riak

Tidak engkau sedar usiamu senja

Jika betul, dikau harus teriak

Atau tutup sahaja pancaindera

Jangan syaitanmu itu membiak

Seolah-olah ditaburkan baja

Maka itulah lumrah manusia

Nafsunya bertahan waja

Oleh Jo Haq

28 Mac 2024

1:31 pagi

Bukit Jelutong

Lembah Kehancuran

Turunnya Sang Hujan

Deras yang meneggelami

Lembah ketikanya 

Manusia terlupa

Janji-janji yang tertera

Ketika bermulanya alam

Di detik pertama azali

Kembalilah .....

Sujud ikhlasmu

KepadaNya

Zahirkanlah .....

Cahaya imanmu

UntukNya

Kita berdoa

Agar dapat ditebusnya

Dosa,

..... hidup ini

Kita berdoa

Sejuknya alam

Akhirnya 

Oleh Jo Haq

25 Mac 2024

10:44 malam

Bukit Jelutong

PENDULUM

By Jo Haq

25 March 2024

6:08 am

THE PENDULUM, that was the focus of my dream, at least that was what Tun was interested about, "Say what? Tun, what do you mean?"

Tun looked at me with his fierce pair of eyes and uttered, "Look at the bitch's face will you. See how satisfied she is. It is as if she has discovered the secret of the Universe. That nasty bitch!"

I looked at Margaret who was sitting on a red-white-blue stripped sofa, with a stupid grin on her face like a crazy female Joker. Tun made his way to Margaret walking slowly but steadily in his grey bush jacket. He greeted, "Madam Thatcher, how do you do?"

"Ahhh! Mahathir! How nice of you to come visit me here. I am bored sitting on this red-white stripped sofa."

"If you do not mind me asking, from a distance, I hear the tick tock of a clock radiating from this rediculous sofa of yours. What is that sound?"

"Ahah! That is the sound of my policies. Hear it! What do you hear?"

I took the opportunity to say something while walking towards them after Tun had, "We heard a tick tock of a clock from that beautiful sofa of yours"

"Don't be a hypocrite boy! Tell the bitch the sofa looks ugly", scolded Tun while staring at me, again, with his pair of big fierce eyes, only this time accompanied by a big ridiculous nose.

"Well, I am sure this boy has better EQ than you Mahathir. Let him say the good things about my sofa", says Margaret. "So, boy, what do you think it means, .... my tick tocking sofa?"

"Well, errr... "

"Shut the fuck up will you boy", says Tun while kneeling to see underneath the sofa. I too find myself kneeling to have a look at what was under the sofa, only to be distracted by Margaret's old ugly legs swinging by the edge of the floating sofa with no shadows on the floor, if there was any floor at all. "Look! Look! I see now".

"See what Tun?"

"The arm of the pendulum. It is long, longer than one would expected. When it is long, the sway takes longer time, accumulating stronger momentum, hence producing a slower but more powerful sound of tick tock".

I observed. There was a golden pendulum swaying from left to right, and right to left, making a ticking sound that irritated my ears. "Okay, I see it. But I have no idea what the yardstick would be to conclude that it is longer than what one would imagine"

"You young punks know nothing about the tick tocks of a clock's pendulum. All you do is just play with the Chinese TikTok", grumbled the old Tun.

"Mahathir, my dear friend, my pendulum is made of cast iron and plated with gold. Its density is solid and that gives a wonderful velocity to its tick tock. It is very much like the solid move of a big ship. The bigger the ship, the stronger its inertia. Ain't no one gonna stop the ship, ain't it", responded Margaret, again with her stupid grin.

"Huh!", sighed Tun while standing back up. "I shall build my own pendulum, but for my red-white striped sofa accompanied by blue cusions with yellow moons and stars motives". Tun walked away while saying, "Okay Margaret, we shall meet again to compare the sounds of our sofas. Till we meet again".

I greeted farewell, "Thank you Mrs Thatcher. It was nice to have met you", and walked away.

"My pleasure young man. Go do your own shit with whatever you can find in that pathetic peninsula of yours".

I walked behind Tun towards an open door where another Tun was waiting with a pen and a little 555 note book.

As soon as Tun reached the other Tun, he said, "Daim, hang tengok sat apa besi, emaih, kita ada. I want to build our own super tick tocking pendulum". The other Tun just jotted down some notes and gave Tun a nod. Both Tuns left before I even reached the door.

I told myself, "What the fuck was all that?"

Rimba Bangsaku Kini

Rimba kini rimba batu

Penuh dengan hati beku

Sana-sini mereka kaku

Degil sampai kena duku

Rimba kini rimba hitam

Panas jiwanya berdendam

Asyik berdengki menikam

Ghibtahnya terus diperam

Rimba kini rimba nestapa

Mulutnya hancing berdusta

Fitnah ditabur pelbagai rupa

Seolah-olah lupa neraka

Rimba kini rimba hangus

Maruah bangsa dibungkus

Lagu tangisnya berhingus

Namun sanubarinya dayus

Oleh Jo Haq

21 Mac 2024

11:11 malam

Shah Alam

Lampu Trafik 199

Lampu merah sombong

Tidak mahu dia minggir

Sudah 199 minit berlalu

Ia terus jua, 

.....menganjingkan kita

Kepala otak kita semak

Berkira-kira waktu

Bertahan pundi kencing

Dan perut kembung angin

Namun, 

..... susah hidup puas rasanya

Lebih rela kita bertungkus

Mahu pun onak belukar dirempuh

Dari dipenjara zoo binatang

Kata orang kita harus terus berjuang

Bukan sekadar jam Rolex

Kononnya hadiah bersara

Berkilat berkilau cantik

Namun maknanya jelek

Di ufuk sana matahari malu

Pergi ia jauh dia dari kita

Agar kita berteguk air

Menghembus kretek

Dan bersyukur masih hidup

Oleh Jo Haq

18 Mac 2024

7:27 malam

Shah Alam

Sebab Kita Sayang

Kita marah dengan anak

Perangainya malas mencanak

Mahu dicorakkan otak

Sebab kita sayang anak

Kita membebel dengan isteri

Belanjanya boros tak terperi

Mahu dibendung kata hati

Sebab kita sayang isteri

Kita gelojoh wang dan harta

Lumayannya terbeliak biji mata

Mahu dikumpul macam Si Qarun Izha

Sebab kita sayang dunia

Kita mencabut lalang di pusara

Sejak kita bayi sabar mereka membela

Mahu kita tebus apa yang alpa

Sebab kita sayang ibu dan bapa

Kita meroyan fasal Kerajaan

Politikusnya hancing labunan 

Mahu dirombak keterampilan

Sebab kita sayang nilai kebangsaan

Kita sujud dan berdoa

Kumitannya nangis tak berirama

Mahu ditaubat dari segala dosa

Sebab kita sayang yang Maha Esa

Oleh Jo Haq

14 Mac 2024

7:26 pagi

Bukit Jelutong

1947 CHINESE HORSE RACING CALENDAR

By Jo Haq

11 March 2024

4:35 am

I just woke up to a very weird dream. I was an accidental time traveller back to 1947 in Malaya. I saw a Malaysian Chinese horse racing calendar somewhere while I was there, or when I was then. Funny, the clothing was more like 1957 because I saw women wearing mini skirts and police wearing shorts.

I checked my wallet and saw that I still have some 2024 Malaysian currency notes, my Malaysian national registered identification card and all. I figured that those stuff shall be my evidence. So, I went for a quest to identify someone whom I can give, maybe a 2024 fifty Ringgit note with my signature on it and my 2024 telephone number, that is 0179881185. That someone would look for me in 2024. 

Say if he or she is twenty years old, in 1947, then in 2024 he or she would be 77 years old. So, he or she would have to look for me earlier, say in 2014, at his or her age of 67. To be safe, I thought to myself, 67 is too old. He or she might be dead already. So, I resorted to give my phone number used earlier then 2013, that is 0172508811.

And there, or then, begun my adventure of identifying that person. But every time I was about to utter the words that I suspect the person will not believe, some obstacle will happen to stop me from continuing. This happened many times.

Oh! Ya! I forgot to mention. I was not alone. I had my friend, Riza, whom used to be the successor CEO to me for MyCreative. So, we both encountered the same obtacles together. One of the obstacle was a police raid due to fear of communism spreading. Riza got captured for God knows whatever reason. He does not look like a communist. So, I was left alone.

I was tired and had given up in my attempt to give the marked fifty Ringgit note because even if I did not attempt to utter any words, the act of pulling out that note with the attention to show what was written on it would trigger some sort of obstacle.

Soon I realised, every person that I got closed to would be out of my life. I became lonely. So, I think, or thought, rather, I should just retire from my intention and just live 1947. I looked for a job as an office boy. I met a twenty year old Malay lady by the name Sofia. She looks like Zaleha from the P. Ramlee film, Antara Dua Darjat. We became good friends, but not lovers.

Despite my effort to avoid telling her or showing her where, or when, I come from, an obstacle happened anyway. She did not want to continue our friendship and refused to see me. In fact, I couldn't even find her as I suspect she may have left town or moved away. I was alone, yet again. 

What could have happened? Did she try to look into my Bally wallet? Maybe she did see my Malaysian national registration identification card. Maybe she did see my fifty Ringgit note that had my signature coupled with a written date of 10 March 1947 as well as a written declaration scribbled as, "I am Johan bin Mohamed Ishak. I was born on 29 August 1975. Call me at 0172508811 in the year 2003". 

I was so sad that that sadness had awoken me from my sleep at 4:24 am on 11 March 2024. The funny thing is, normally I would not remember the details of my dreams. This dream, however, stays vivid in my mind down to the colour of clothes worn by people in the dream, their faces, as well as stuff like the Malaysian Chinese horse racing calendar. Oh well, I am just going to have a smoke and then back to sleep. Who knows I might end up in 2047?

SURPRISE! RISING RICE PRICE

By Johan Ishak

7 March 2024

RICE is a staple for us Malaysians as well as most countries in Asia. In fact, it is probably the ranking No.1 staple food surpassing fish, meat and vegetables. As simple as it may be, there is a need for many types of rice particularly those with medical condition. Given its importance, consumers reaction to any change in price of rice is highly elastic.

Since early 2023, price of rice has increased by 36% from RM2,350 per metric tonne to RM3,200, as reported in The Star on 1 September 2023, and consumers are angry. India, who is World's top exporter of rice has restricted its rice exports in order to satisfy their local consumption needs. As a result, the price of rice is now at RM6 per kilogram (expatistan.com). However, recent shopping done at the supermarket seems to price 10 kilogram at RM45, i.e RM4.50 per kilogram.

A kilogram is equivalent to 4.5 cups, enough to feed a family for a day. 30 days gives you RM135 per month. This can be sizeable portion of monthly household income of B40 segment of the market. That is assuming a small family of 4. What if there are more?

Malaysia produces 1.5 million tonnes of rice that can only meet 73% of the local consumer needs (ap.fftc.org.tw). The remaining 27% are imported from various countries including India, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam. The question is, why is Malaysia not addressing the supply issue and, hence, address the pricing issue. 

India has managed to become the No.1 rice exporter in the space of one decade since they embarked on their rice policies. What has the Malaysian Government done? Since the new Madani Government of Anwar Ibrahim came to power, a new ministry for food security has been created for which, Mat Sabu is the minister. Mat Sabu or even PMX Anwar should do what is necessary to address the situation we are facing.

According to Professor Fatimah Arshad of Universiti Putra Malaysia in a Breakfast Grill interview on BFM on 7 March 2024, the Government has introduced Beras Madani policy. The policy aims to combine local and imported rice, which means, combining low quality as well as high quality rice. This also means, the price averaging of rice deprives the poor from a cheaper rice price option.

What good does this policy bring particularly when the country is facing economic issues. The poor suffers more and the rich rice distributors make more profits. In any case, how does this address the issue of shortage of rice supply in the country? Fatimah further expressed her disagreement of such policy specifically and generally on the overall control mechanism for rice by the Government.

Whilst the Government is studying the monopolistic behaviour of Bernas for rice distribution on the pretext of fairness and equitability of the industry, the Beras Madani policy only tends to legalise the illegal activity of mixing low and high quality as well as depriving what could have been lower price for rice. Perhaps the rice subsidy mechanism needs to be overhauled as well and certainly, research and development needs affirmative action.

According to Fatimah, Malaysia is ranked second in the World for biodiversity behind Brazil, third in South East Asia for the number of scientist per capital, do not have climate issues like draught or elnino in India and a special ministry for food security. Shouldn't this result in better food economics? Fatimah further said that various studies suggest that seventy per cent of future supply of rice comes from research and development that we do, or can do, or should do, today.

The Professor's advice during the BFM interview was for Malaysia to upscale research and development, do away with monopoly and empower many small and medium companies to engage in distribution of rice as well as down stream pivoted product development from paddy or rice. Bernas can still be an important player if this is done as they have accumulated decades of experience since Lembaga Padi Negara days. What is left is just the political will to make it happen. Otherwise, we will always face many more future "Surprise! Rising Rice Price" again and again.

~ end ~

And I Shall Bow Down

Let the mighty light shine and glow

Melting away the dirty old snow

And may the flowers bloom on the meadow

So that the birds sing in the borough

I shall stand tall and thorough

Realising the blessings I can no longer borrow

Forgiveness I seek in the shadow

The darkness that juxtapose goodness halo

Let alone like in the gallow

As if deprived of any hello

For a soul that is mellow

So that I shall direct the flying arrow

To the eye of sorrow

Let the dreams follow

Soothing with bees black and yellow

In the garden of tomorrow

Where hope is set to grow

For me to prostrate in awe

By Jo Haq

5 March 2024

4:17 pm

Bukit Jelutong

Impian Makrifat

Bersinarlah cahaya keagongan

Meleburkan salji berlumuran

Maka debunga berterbangan

Menarilah,

..... burung-burung

..... berkicauan

Bangunlah aku kelapangan

Membuka mata keinsafan

Mengharapkan kemaafan

Dan makrifat,

.... yang sebenar

.... kepada Tuhan

Izinkan ku bersepi

Dengan kerelaan

Jiwaku ini

Dalam kekusutan

Agar ku mengerti

Makna kehidupan

Untukku hadapi

Segala kesulitan .....

Inginku bermimpi

Bunga-bunga di taman

Menyejukkan hati

Dengan keamanan

Membuka kembali

Jalan keimanan

Hamba ini .....

Ooo .....

Oleh Jo Haq

5 Mac 2024

3:33 petang

Bukit Jelutong

Hitam Merah Biru Hijau Putih Kuning

Gelap Hitamnya gaung mendalam

Menggelegak Merah gunung berapi

Terbentangnya luas lautan memBiru

MengHijau pepohon hutan belukar

Berkepulan awan Putih berarak

Terbenam menusuk mentari Kuning

Oleh Jo Haq

29 Februari 2024

6:13 petang

Bukit Jelutong

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

Because Rafizi said we'd have to reduce chicken in our diet

So, the chicken is either pissed off

.... because it has lost its importance in society

Or, it may just be happy

.... because its mortality has improved

Either or, the chicken crossed the road anyway

It is happily roaming the Earth

Or, sulking away in sadness

So, that is why the chicken crossed the road

By Jo Haq

29 February 2024

4:53 pm

Shah Alam

Hey! Orang Tua

Hembuslah lilin itu

Pejamkan matamu

Mimpi dan angan-angan

Yang indah-indah belaka

Ramaskan yang busuk hancing

Campak jauh nun jauh ke laut

Hidupkanlah keazaman baharu

Yang bersih, putih dan mulia

Yang padat, padu lagi jitu

Semoga kebahagiaan berpanjangan

Semoga dunia ini engkau redha

Untuk imbangan duga yang laras

Bukalah matamu

Lihatlah asap berkepulan naik

Meninggalkan lilin yang cair

Maka itulah ibaratnya hilang

Apa yang harus kehilangan

Dan apa yang harus wujud

Untuk engkau insan sejati

Selamat hari jadi

Oleh Jo Haq

28 February 2024

5:04 petang

Bukit Jelutong

Lest You Forget That Guilt Whispers Forever

Safe space for a difficult truth

And that is how the poem ruths

Write a thousand words to sooth

Or smell the tulips, roses and acanthus 

Yet you shall run like a headless goose

Excited over a screw that has gone loose

As if jack's beans went up through the roof

And you have now come to squeeze the juice

Hoping for its bitter to heal the bruise

And in the end you shall all be amused

Like a vampire sucking in profuse

The stale blood of those souls refused

The tale floods from whose roles abused

By Jo Haq

28 February 2024

1:58 am

Bukit Jelutong

TOP 11 GUITARS TO COLLECT

by Johan Ishak

GUITARS have been my passion for years since the age of fourteen. I can still remember watching the TV when Rock in Rio was on air in 1989. I saw Slash for the very first time with his iconic gold top Gibson Les Paul. Ever since, I dreamt of owning a Gibson Les Paul. I only got to acquire my first Gibson Les Paul fifteen years later in 2005 when a guitar shop at Denmark Street, London, had a huge discount for a 2002 Tobacco Burst 60's Style Gibson Les Paul. That was the beginning. From thereon, as my music appreciation expanded from Guns N' Roses to the likes of Metallica, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Joe Satriani and many more, Gibson was no longer the only brand that I had interest it. It expanded to Ibanez, Fender, PRS and EVH Wolfgangs.

The thing about collecting guitars is, not necessarily it needs to be brand new nor does it need to be the very expensive ones - although price can be damaging for some collectibles. So, let me share with you the 11 guitar models and editions worth collecting:

2. GIBSON SG ANGUS YOUNG - I am not a big fan of SG's. They look too over the top and the physical feel of the body is irritating. When you are hanging it on your body but with no hands holding it, it is super imbalance so much so that the head stock and neck falls down pushing the body up. That is super irritating. The body feels too compacted that, in my opinion, I do not get the right wood vibration from the guitar. Nevertheless, its satanic horn shape is quite iconic. If I ever want to buy, I'd buy the red one with black pick guard. Although Angus Young of ACDC had used a red SG on stage, he was seen mostly with a black SG. SG's would probably cost slightly cheaper than a Standard Gibson Les Paul, i.e. less than USD3,000.

3. GIBSON ES B.B. KING - What is amazing about an ES is that, the hollowbody effects on the sound is superb. That semi-acoustical surge even when on distortions is simply awesome especially when in harmonics. Most ES comes with the two f-holes on the body and some only one f-hole, hence the description Hollowbody and Semi-hollowbody, respectively. The most iconic ES is the black one used by B.B. King and despite it being hollowbody, B.B. King's version has no f-holes! Personally I prefer a dark crimson red ES with two f-holes. It costs probably the same as a Gibson Les Paul, i.e  around USD3,000. However, the thing about ES is, it is huge. It looks nice on a fat man's tummy but horrible if you are not fat. Ha!Ha!

4. IBANEZ JOE SATRIANI SERIES - Joe Satriani has many guitar editions with Ibanez, in various colours ranging from red, black, blue, white, chrome, gold to artsy fartsy designs, but never have I seen any in green or yellow. In any case, my personal pick would be a plain Ferrari red JS2480 where only this red ones have a sustainer single coil pickup accompanying the humbucker. JS series probably costs USD3,000 each and be sure that you buy the ones made in Japan. The ones made in Korea or Indonesia will not have the desired resale value albeit being an original Ibanes. If you have a money printing machine, and/or a spare USD10,000, then Satriani's top of the range would be the Ibanez JS 20th Anniversary with the iconic 3D image of Silver Surfer on it, emulating Satriani's album cover for Surfing with the Alien. JS 20th, as it is commonly refered to, only has 100 units made in Japan, if I am not mistaken. When surfing the net, as in February 2024, there is only one prelovedJS 20th available on Reverb listed by a Thai entity with the price of USD10,000.

5. IBANEZ STEVE VAI JEM SERIES - Steve Vai's top of the range series with Ibanez is the JEM PIA models. Personally, I do not like its aesthetic looks as it looks too feminine with those gayish floral motives. Hence, I would go for the older JEM such as the iconic trio JEM777 available in three neon colours: Yellow, Green and Pink. It has very ugly looking fret marks in the shapes of progressive pyramids. I also do not like its fret board because I am so used to rosewoods and JEM777 doesn't seem like it has rosewood fret boards. The pink and green ones can easily be found on the preloved market as these two colours do not fade as much as the yellow ones. The yellow ones fade dramatically so much so that it looks really old. As the neon feel is supposed to make it feel new, a faded yellow would certainly take away that feel. However, I do not like neons, so, the old yellows work well for me aesthetically. More so when it is the rarest amongst the three colours. New JEM such as PIA may cost around USD3,000 but a rare item like the yellow JEM777 can be as expensive as USD7,000. Oh ya!, don't forget, the made in Japan ones are recommended to retain its value.

6. FENDER STRATOCASTER JIMI HENDRIX MONTEREY - Jimi burned his Fender Stratocaster on stage during the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. That is the most memorable action done by Hendrix so much so that Fender released a special Hendrix Monterey edition of a Strat. The Monterey Strat is not made in the U.S. It is only manufactured by the Fender factories in Mexico. So, for those Strat collectors, they may not like it if the Strat is not made in the U.S. One other irritating fact is that its fret board is made of pau ferro instead of rosewood. Hence, it may not sound as good as expected. However, I would still collect one simply because of Hendrix's misbehaviour of burning his guitar! After all, it only costs USD1,800.

7. FENDER STRATOCASTER YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN - I do not appreciate scalloped frets. It disrupts my guitar playing as the notes get unintentionally distorted and flat, or sharp. This happens because I am so used to playing the rock n' roll style on a Gibson Les Paul. To play scalloped fret guitars, you need to be a shredder. Fast, swift and not too much pressure on the strings. As much as I love Malmsteen and his arpeggio from hell, I fuckin' hate scalloped frets! I would probably buy a Malmsteen Strat when I am satisfied that I have acquired all other guitars that I want in my collection simply because I do not know how to control scalloped frets. Malmsteens Strat only comes in yellowish cream body with white pick guard. This is a boring colour scheme. In addition, the frets are made of maple. I prefer rosewood. So, maybe someday, if there is a rosewood and not scalloped fret Strat on a heavy relic cream colour issued for Malmsteen series, then I might just buy one (Although I think the rosewood but scalloped fret board ones do exists as Ritchie Blackmore's signature edition). For now, I'd rather skip this first and go for other models not yet acquired. Oh! I do not mind a made in Japan or made in Mexico Strat for a Malmsteen series, as it is cheap at around USD1,500 for an undesirable model, yet fulfilling the completeness of a portfolio of guitar collection.

8. FENDER TELECASTER JIMMY PAGE DRAGON - Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin is well known for using Gibson Les Pauls. However, his memorable performance using a violin bow was on a Fender Telecaster prior to him being accustomed to a Gibson. Page painted his natural wood body Tele with some artwork that is supposed to be a dragon. Until today, I cannot figure out how are those red and green patches resembling a dragon. In any case, it is a famous design. As it is only produced by the Mexican Fender factories, the price is at a cheap USD1,200. What is also unique about this edition is that, its pick guard is in silver-metallic mirror-like colour.

9. PRS SANTANA - Paul Reed Smith, or PRS, was only established in the late 1980's. Being a young brand, it quite impressive that PRS has a few well known guitarists using them such as Orianthi, John Meyer and the famous latino rocker, Carlos Santana. Most PRS are slick in its shape but the Santana versions are fat. That gives unique characteristic akin to Gibson Les Paul. Santana PRSs comes in many colours but the ones mostly associated to Carlos Santana are the yellow-amber ones. It fetches USD4,000 to USD6,000 a piece but if you do not mind a lower PRS version of SE, it only costs USD600. Although a PRS SE can be cheap, the fact that its fret boards are made of ebony or rosewood, I will still enjoy playing it.

10. EVH WOLFGANG - The EVH Wolfgang or Eddie Van Halen shape designed guitar, named after his son Wolfgang, is a force to be reckon with as more and more guitarists are picking it up. The Wolfgang shape, coupled with a D-Tuna system allowing the 6th string to drop from E to D was first produced by Ernie Ball Musicman for Eddie. He then later brought the design to Peavey where the necks were made of a special wood called bird's eye maple. Although, in my opinion, rosewood sounds better than maple, a bird's eye maple has the versatility that enhances guitar tapping and the smooth use of floyd rose tremolo. The Peavey EVH Wolfgang was patented in 1997. The ones manufactured up to 1997 have engraves that say "Pat. Pend" and Eddie's signature; whereas the ones subsequently, says "Patent 388,117", also with Eddie's signature. Personally, I find the Pat. Pend 1997 and prior versions by Peavey has better playability and sound resonance than the patented ones. Maybe because the patented ones were mass produced. So, a 1997 Peavey EVH Wolfgang, at USD3,000 is a very good buy. Later on, Eddie brought the design to Fender incorporating two new features, that are, rosewood or ebony fret boards and a red button for stuttering sound effects. The Fender version is at USD4,000 for American made and at around USD1,000 for made in Mexico units.

11. ESP KIRK HAMMETT EDITION. Kirk Hammett of Metallica has recently moved to Gibson when he acquired the famous Greeny Gibson Les Paul that was previously owned by Gary Moore and Peter Green. However, throughout Hammett's life as a metal guitar shredder, he has established himself as a very famous ESP ambassador. All of his signature designed guitars were from ESP, made in Japan, or ESP's second brand, LTD, made in Korea. Hammett's signature models are mostly in SuperStrat shape and comes in various iconic pop art of horror themes like Dracula, Zombie, Frankenstein, ecetera. My personal pick would be the plain black relic ESP with two stickers, one saying, "Kirk's Guitar" and the other, in orange rectangle, saying, "Caution Hot". There are cheaper versions under LTD at USD1,000 but nothing beats the ESP ones at USD3,500. To prove a point, ESP versions give the closest sound you can get when playing the riffs for Metallica's Master of Puppets.

Well, There you go. My commentaries for signature guitars that ought to be in your portfolio of guitars, if you are a guitar collector. So, happy guitar hunting guys!

By the way, recently on 11 February, it was the American National Guitar Day! We do not have such day in Malaysia (where I come from). So, an American calendar mark would do.