tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90786352024-03-08T05:18:20.702+08:00Fikri JermadiFikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.comBlogger522125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-57930644902268412132014-08-18T06:56:00.005+08:002014-08-18T06:59:42.827+08:00Survive
Sometimes, we feel very down. Down and out. Depressed. So low that it seems this black hole we’re in is a never ending cyclone of despair, pain and anger.
All this negativity swirls, rising up to a crescendo we can’t bear to listen anymore. We close our ears, our hands pressed to the sides of our head, trying as much as possible to filter all of this out.
At times, though, it can be a calm Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-8035716445737419982014-08-16T15:08:00.000+08:002014-08-17T21:08:06.814+08:00The Prayer
It’s early in the morning. I have not had a restful sleep. Quite the opposite, in fact. I was kept awake for a number of different reasons, my (sub)consciousness unrested the entire time.
I sighed, and got up, sitting perched by the edge of the bed. The room was cloaked in its darkness. The light was not turned on, for once, but the street lights peeked through the curtains, finding its way Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-40124326071519435462014-08-14T06:42:00.000+08:002014-08-17T21:03:30.291+08:00The Squared Circle
I love professional wrestling.
That’s not an admission many would find interesting or appealing. More often than not, such a revelation has, in the past, invited more disdain than anything else. Usually, they are of the mildly amused kind. Nothing threatening or malicious there, at least to the best of my understanding.
Nonetheless, there is a clear lack of acceptance of professional Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-57836082488166472842014-08-03T23:31:00.000+08:002014-08-03T23:31:57.243+08:00Rhythm and Hues
There is the age-old argument of whether a tree that falls
in the forest did indeed fall if no one is around to acknowledge it. Ultimately
it depends on the context; primarily because the world does not revolve around
us, I am inclined to say it did.
Having said that, that’s subjecting myself to the
perspective of others. At times an admirable (and challenging) trait, but the
truth Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-15574440438105278192014-07-31T23:52:00.000+08:002014-08-01T01:52:40.789+08:00Jar of Hearts
There are many times when I feel somewhat lost and confused.
A number of years ago, I was in my office. It was late
night, possibly around 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning. The security guards at
Monash were, by then, well adjusted to my habits. They walked past my door on
their rounds, checking in on me with a polite knock.
I was slaving away, researching on Walter Benjamin’s idea of
theFikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-71531751985272987592014-07-30T00:54:00.000+08:002014-07-31T12:59:22.160+08:00The Difference Makers
There is a difference between all the different concepts we hold dear and uphold as a universal truth. That difference is an important distinction to make, for without it, there is no meaning.
If we, for example, do not understand what the colour black is like, it is equally difficult to formalise what the colour white is. If we understand something to be right and worth fighting for, by Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-81881277592978333882014-07-28T00:09:00.000+08:002014-07-28T01:04:18.150+08:00Ali
“Hi Ali, I’d like to have the large pepperoni pizza, please. Oh, and a can of Pepsi.” The second the call to the café downstairs was answered, I made my order, knowing full well Ali has got it all sorted.
“OK sir, thank you,” said the voice before hanging up. It felt a bit weird, primarily because it lacked the sort of rapport Ali and I usually share; it was more abrupt than usual, and truth Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-22577141134707730052014-07-24T23:35:00.000+08:002014-08-02T09:08:44.811+08:00The Ayes Have It
So the ayes have it: Joko Widodo is the president-elect of Indonesia, the seventh person to hold the title since their independence.
It was a fairly closely fought election in the end. Given Jokowi’s strong popularity, especially amongst the younger voters, I’d have thought he would have walked this election. Furthermore, his challenger, Prabowo Subianto, is a man who has not truly Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-85641786298714751222014-07-22T17:07:00.002+08:002014-07-22T17:07:20.150+08:00The Significant Other
Jahabar Sadiq of The Malaysian Insider wrote an important piece, questioning why Malaysians aren’t as angry about the downing of flight MH17 compared to their reactions on the Gaza issue. This is possibly in light of the number of protests held in Malaysia, condemning the Israeli offensive. “Aren't the 298 souls aboard MH17, 44 of them Malaysians, worth protesting about?”
With Israel air and Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-57435530939500674462014-07-20T16:09:00.001+08:002014-07-20T16:09:52.070+08:00Hearts and Minds
As I watch the news, there is a sense that the world has gone to hell.
On the one hand, Israel had just begun the ground offensive of the Gaza Strip. This is arguably the more crucial part of the operation, one that officially started when they were bombarded by rockets. In truth, it was a mission for which they have prepared for in the earnest for the longest time. Rightly or wrongly, this Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-11144457821643288422014-07-11T22:49:00.000+08:002014-07-20T16:05:22.760+08:00Satu Suara
“Satu, sah.”
The voice came from the nearby mosque, reverberating around the neighbourhood. I was busy doing some marking at home, thinking about the appropriate penalties to apply for those who did not follow the proper guidelines. As far as I am concerned, my classes are quite simple: follow the basic script guidelines, and it's difficult to lose marks. I'm a 'no such thing as one single Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-43218085239370139632014-07-08T20:13:00.000+08:002014-07-20T15:57:35.959+08:00Galaxy: Prisoners
The sweat trickled into his eye, awakening him from his sleepless sleep. He squinted, resisting the urge to rub it for the umpteenth time. It continued downwards, infusing itself into the open wound formed near the bridge of his nose under his right eye. It is a wound yet to heal given it was born a mere number of hours ago.
Or was it more than that? You lose count after the first few.
Kye Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-82010351738276516972014-07-06T21:22:00.000+08:002014-07-07T10:36:43.479+08:00The Other Side
The car rolled to a stop at the traffic lights.
I am seated inside, in the backseat of the X Trail. I leaned my head against the window, its cool veneer a small respite for my tired head.
Traffic conditions in Jakarta is rarely described as favourable at the best of times. With more motorised vehicles in Indonesia’s capital and its surrounding cities than there are people in Malaysia, this Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-18208616044305084712014-06-25T04:54:00.000+08:002014-06-27T04:54:56.938+08:00The American Project
The term ‘project’ has been thrown around with almost reckless abandon in world football. Whether by the subject matters themselves or by third parties, the instigators instantly attach a sense of long-term planning with a strong commitment to realise these visions.
When Rafa Benitez joined Napoli last year, he said, “I look forward to experiencing each and every one of the fans of Napoli andFikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-34313581244225890682014-06-18T23:02:00.002+08:002014-06-18T23:02:39.869+08:00Confessions of a Cat Killer (part 1)
I was driving past Ampang Point, along the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) as I saw it. I was in the fast lane, though admittedly I wasn’t driving all that fast. A small flurry of furry activity darted out before changing its mind just as quickly.
It was a Friday rush hour, in theory the end of a long working day. There was plenty of traffic all around, rendering fast movement of any sorts almost Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-14510121512633246572014-06-16T20:10:00.000+08:002014-06-17T18:26:28.819+08:00What We Can Learn
Recently, I had the pleasure of witnessing two presidential debates in Indonesia. With the main elections coming up in July, both candidates, Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo (popularly known as Jokowi), have been slugging it out on and off the screens of Metro TV and tvOne.
The debates, then, offered them a chance to truly go toe to toe with one another. Though I have to admit to a lack of Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-28651576826313013442014-06-08T15:52:00.002+08:002014-06-15T20:49:00.366+08:00This Life Came So Close To Never Happening
In thinking of what if, sometimes we neglect what is.
It is not uncommon to look back on the traces of life, the moments that stood out amongst the mediocrity of day to day mundanity. Try as we might, large parts of our years are non-existent in our memories, with only certain events serving as a representation for days, weeks, months and even years.
In that moment, recalling that sense of Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-81032131926507268182014-06-07T15:23:00.002+08:002014-06-07T15:23:51.024+08:00Galaxy: An Evening To Remember
He looked into her eyes, glistening with her tears as they were, agonising with the wish to comfort her while knowing how he caused her tears to begin with.
Hers were of the darker variety; hazelnut, with a hint of vibrant brown in the middle, all the more so when she is laughing. Her lips and mouths would part, a wondrous sound emitted from within, a laughter well known to children Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-10494957240526449992014-05-24T02:42:00.003+08:002014-05-24T11:02:40.614+08:00The Tube
I flicked through the channels from one to the next. Each press of the button on the remote brought with it further groans, internally at least. None of this is truly getting my interest. Somehow it feels like the more we have, the less we have. A reification of paradox more concrete by the day.
I catch a quick flick of Hugh Jackman, though. This is good, I thought to myself. I always have Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-56742388281244530322014-05-23T11:29:00.001+08:002014-05-23T11:29:38.610+08:00Landon
It’s a bit of a shock to wake up to.
In announcing the 23-man roster for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann has seen fit to select players he think will do the business down in South America. That is his right, and it has been since 2011. His approach has been revolutionary in nature, and his search for the right players for the World Cup has uprooted plenty of trees Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-62353657037892818752014-05-22T12:59:00.002+08:002014-05-23T11:43:12.538+08:00Human
“The truth of the matter is, everybody tends to reduce or expand things to a level that they understand. Two people can look at the same thing, they don’t necessarily see the same thing. Whatever happens on the screen really comes out of you. There’s no formula.”
Gordon Willis, cinematographer****
Karpal Singh. Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Gordon Willis. These are the passing of peoples who, over Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-25767738991024091062014-05-21T20:23:00.002+08:002014-05-21T21:55:33.386+08:00Labels
It seems like almost every day the name of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) is being presented in the media one way or another. It’s quite clear what the agenda may be at times, and for the most part, I just sit back and listen.
However, in a write up by Robert Chaen entitled A Tale of Two Universities, there are a couple of discrepancies and factors I feel he failed to consider that should Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-74189605740015176192014-05-21T00:20:00.000+08:002014-05-21T00:20:10.878+08:00Ryan
Until last summer, Ryan Giggs had an enviable record that very few people ever in the history of world football had.
It is somewhat related to him being a one-club man, but that is not that exclusive a club. The likes of Tony Adams, Paolo Maldini and Francesco Totti, amongst a number of others, are players who fall into this category. They were brought through from their team’s youth Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-46399092133189255572014-05-20T12:11:00.001+08:002014-05-20T12:11:54.081+08:00Dyana
With her fresh appearance, good looks and a fairly strong background, Dyana Sofya has appeared almost from nowhere to become a catalyst for a kind of change in Malaysian politics.
What kind of change, though? I am currently reading a book, El Clasico, by Richard Fitzpatrick, detailing the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona. This is a rivalry that has run for centuries, and one of the Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9078635.post-33825194706102297512014-05-20T00:01:00.001+08:002014-05-20T01:02:04.336+08:00Believe
I am waiting for the van to come and pick me up.
We are standing outside of the dormitory. There’s quite a number of the other foreign students here, but as such congregations tend to go, we are splintered off based on nationality and/or linguistic ability. Everyone here is here for one reason, though.
We are all waiting for the van.
Soon enough, the van turns up, and my coordinator, Jinim,Fikrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17385624097465928342noreply@blogger.com0