Work In Progress

Space Mission And A Double Heart Transplant

This week has been quite eventful for all Malaysians. We are set to welcome the first Malaysian to step into space or the International Space Station to be more exact. And while the mission gets underway, there is a lone shooting star in our Malaysian sky that has caught the attention of all of us. I'm referring, of course, to 14 year old Tee Hui Yi, who remarkably survived not one but two heart transplant, in two days.

Imagine how her parents would feel when told that her body had rejected the first transplant - then in a most dramatic and unimaginable turn of event, the dedicated and efficient heart transplant unit in IJN announced that they are ready to perform a second tranplant after the first one ended in hyperacute rejection.

What we are getting here is more than a case of successful transplant.

Hui Yi is like a bright streak of light in the sky - she represents that hope that is able to overcome all odds.

After a long wait for a heart donor and in her anguish, she made a heart rending appeal to the nation thru the mainstream newspapers. Overnight she had gained the deep symphathy of the public. There is nothing to be ashamed of by the use of the word sympathy - it is one of the most enduring of universal value of ethics at this age of pluralism and modernity.

Throughout history, up to this modern age, each cultural and religious group still think that they are superior in terms of moral values. It is time, especially in our pluralistic society, that we get at some universal ethical values, that common human feelings and sentiments that we all share. Sentiments like kindness, patience, sympathy and benevolence - can bond us together as one despite our cultural and religious differences. It is said that it is either we learn to live together as one or we shall die together.

Sometimes, in our march for justice and unity, when all else fails including reasoning, we have to appeal to our most innate and respected universal sentiment, that is altruism. Here, I'm not talking about selective altruism which is helping those of the same social standing, your own circle of friends relatives or similar race. I'm referring to an altruism that is truly colour blind and reciprocal in nature. This is in actual fact, a live demonstration of our social contract in action. This is that something that is so sorely missing for such a long time that we should be looking out for in the future. This is the passion that will propel our nation to be looked at by the international community as a truly harmonious society. For me, such an example is already a national success.

Thank you, Hui Yi for showing patience and courage and for being that loving example where each Malaysian can pour out his or her heart and soul. Thank you, also, to the IJN team for showing again that true mark of service from the heart.

Note (Oct 12th): This article also appeared in Malaysiakini under the heading Hui Yi a bright streak of light. In the meantime, the IJN transplant team had done their first of a series of heart muscle biopsies on her, and the finding is that there is almost no organ rejection. Bravo to Hui Yi. Let's hope that she will have a speedy and uneventful recovery.

My Everlasting Light

Green Pastures

Slideshow - seascape

The Lake House

Remembering the victims of the September 11th attack.

Merdeka Chess Team Standard

The 2-week long Malaysian Chess Festival ended yesterday with the conclusion of the Merdeka Team Standard event. There is good participation from players from all corners of the nation, who came in conjunction with the 50th National Day celebration. Congrats to ASTRO team for winning the Open Section in blazing fashion. They were in the lead most of the time. Kudos to Malaysian Chess Federation for the meticulous organising, especially the Malaysian Open which attracted a myriad of grandmasters and international masters from 15 countries (see news coverage under Chessbase). Rather than wait for the news to arrive on my breakfast table, I decided to make my own small contribution. Here's some photo sharing:










For me, chess is a form of pleasure and enjoyment. This is just part of life, though, which needs to be continuosly balanced up by being a responsible citizen and a free thinker. We must strive to reject all forms of imbalance, which will always appear in the real world. Just as in a chess match there are all sorts of imbalances that we have to sort out, ranging from the obvious material imbalance to pawn structure (isolated, doubled, backward pawns etc), relative strength of minor pieces, control of vital squares/files, advantage in space, lead in development and finally who has the current initiative.

Recently, a study done by a team of psychologists revealed that contrary to public opinion, chess does surprisingly involved a series of risk-taking behaviour quite similar to activities like rock climbing, sky diving and bungee jumping. The only reason why the public do not see it that way is because chess is the ultimate invisible game to the spectators. One do not see the emotionally tense battle going in the minds of two great players. Of course, rarely, like myself who is not as agile as before, I do doze off a little during (and not in between) matches!

Seriously, chess can be a very creative game if one sees it with an artistic mind, instead of just relying on memorizing 15 to 25 move long opening theories which is a favourite approach by experts and amateurs alike including me. Of course there is a lot of hard work where one has to deal with a position in a systematic manner, but apart from top level chess, the game still provides ample fun. Especially so when a single last move represents the magical end point of a brilliantly thought out combination several moves preceding it. Sometimes, one may be surprised that an insignificant pawn can turn out to be the saviour in a mating attack against the fortress.

Garry Kasparov, recently wrote a book titled How Life Imitates Chess. I think sometimes chess imitates life. And life can be hard. In a difficult situation, one will have to look for whatever tactical resources available to stay in the game before calling it a day.