The week that was 2

After my mother's 79th birthday, I dropped my parents off while I waited for my ride to the airport. My ride was a taxi driven by a taxi driver I befriended years ago. How I befriended him?

Years ago, I booked a ride on Grab for a ride to the airport. As a habit, I would book my ride early, I am not fond of rushing especially catching a flight. I booked, he responded and that was that. Suddenly, my booking disappeared, and I was running late. And just as sudden, I received a call from an unknown number. It was the taxi driver. He developed car trouble and had to stop to get his car repaired. He said that he can repair the car and if I can still give him this deal, he will make sure I will get to the airport on time.

In normal circumstances I would just dismiss the driver and book another ride. But something struck me, and I glanced at my watch. It was still early. So, I said to him okay, I will wait for him. Soon he arrived and I took a liking for him. He seems genuine and earnest. A friendship was formed, and I have never taken another ride ever again unless he wasn't able.

From being just a taxi driver, he became my friend and that was over 6 years ago. Sometimes we meet up for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even for break fast, especially to or from the airport or my destinations. I have even provided advice to him on agriculture matters. We hope to collaborate on an agriculture project. Unfortunately, lately, he has developed COPD. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) happened because he quit smoking suddenly. He was a heavy smoker and one day he just quit. That triggered a series of lungs and chest issues that require him to depend on mobile oxygen when he develops breathing difficulty. Using too much gas has triggered skin issues. He gets into coughing fits, especially in the morning. So, I sought advice from my friend that's involved in health products and planting Bentong ginger.

Photo from https://www.mrinz.ac.nz/programmes/copd

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease causing restricted airflow and breathing problems. It is sometimes called emphysema or chronic bronchitis.

In people with COPD, the lungs can get damaged or clogged with phlegm. Symptoms include cough, sometimes with phlegm, difficulty breathing, wheezing and tiredness. Smoking and air pollution are the most common causes of COPD. People with COPD are at higher risk of other health problems. COPD is not curable but symptoms can improve if one avoids smoking and exposure to air pollution and gets vaccines to prevent infections. It can also be treated with medicines, oxygen and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Bentong Ginger

I bought some and gave to him, hoping that it will reduce his dependency to the gas. Bentong ginger has a lot of medicinal properties. Look it up. For me, I love ginger! Be it ginger tea, ginger beer, preserved ginger. And I cook with ginger whenever I can.

I returned to Kota Bharu where I was picked up by another Grab driver friend. I befriended him when he first picked me at the airport, and I've engaged him ever since. So he has been very useful for my transportation needs in Kelantan.

The very next day was a Sunday, a working day for Kelantan. Immediately, I fell into work where there was a presentation to the Director of the State Economic Planning Unit on Phase 2 of the Hardcore Poverty Eradication Programme or BMT (Basmi Miskin Tegar). It is now called IPR (Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat). Objective is the same but initiating it will be very different. We identified issues in Phase 1 which we are now trying to manage the situation, more or less closing the barn door after the horses have bolted.

On a Monday, my week continued with a Implementation Committee Meeting in Machang chaired by the Deputy District Officer. This was to initiate our programme on Empower Entrepreneur. This is generally part of our poverty eradication programme to ensure that no one is left behind. In the meeting we took the opportunity to present our proposal for IPR Phase 2, including looking for land for our fertigation projects. During our meeting, DDO informed the existence of a grape farm. We had to leave for Pasir Puteh next and decided to visit the farm on our way back.

In Pasir Puteh, we met with the District Officer with the same objectives. DO pledged 10 acres in a land that's suitable for fertigation. After our meeting in Pasir Puteh we returned to Machang to visit the grape farm.

The farm is amazing. I will write more on this later.

That brings me to Tuesday. Tuesday was our 15th Anniversary. I am here in Kota Bharu, so for the Regional Offices, it was celebrated online. It was later followed up with a continuation of our Master Plan Workshop specifically for Human Capital Development.

On Wednesday was our Weekly Management Meeting (WMM) where we highlighted key issues for immediate Management decisions. After the meeting, I rushed for my next meeting with another District Officer in Tumpat. Meeting objective is the same again. For IPR and fertigation, seeking land. DO pledge a sizable piece of land. We will need to arrange for another visit. We were again surprised by DO that in Tumpat there is ANOTHER grape farm. We will be visiting that. There's also an innovation on cultivating mushrooms by UiTM (Universiti Institut Teknologi MARA) and their final year student. My calendar will be filled.

We were also surprised by a message we received that the Kelantan State Assembly will be dissolved on 22nd June 2023 to make way for the next coming State Elections. With that, the Kelantan State Government is now under a caretaker government until the elections. The Election Commission will decide the State Elections date.

Dissolution of Kelantan State Assembly - phot from astroawani

Thursday started with a meeting on the Malaysia Thai Border Study. I attended it online. Then we had another meeting on State level IPR that is chaired by the Director of the State Economic Planning Unit. We are doing so much, and spending a lot to eradicate poverty, yet it is not that simple. After being here for over 7 years, eradicating poverty is a mind-set change, not all that easy.

As I was listening to the presentation and proposals, I realised that my job is getting more and more complicated. With the elections looming, we need to tread carefully.

This brings us to Friday. The day started with a Special Management Committee Meeting. Friday is my weekend but there's an urgent matter to be discussed, thus the SMC. That's half a day gone. Managed to make my cup of oats as my breakfast. In fact, this week I won't have a weekend. On Saturday I will be attending 2 invitations by Bank Negara for their programmes. Part of my role as a rep in Kelantan.

Okay time to get this published.