Life's Happenings

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Chinese Surnames

My surname is Ong (as known in Malaysia) but in China it's known as Weng. Maybe it's how the Hainanese people pronounced it. My paternal grandparents were from Hainan Island.

In China, when a local baby was given birth, the baby could follow either the father or mother's surname. In Malaysia, we have to take the father's surname.

My surname is not that popular in the sense not many people shared the same surname. Following are the top surnames being shared in China:-
* 93 million with the family name Wang (normally known as Wong in Malaysia)
* 92 million people shared the surname Li (Li = Lee)
* 88 million were called Zhang (Zhang = Chong or Cheong)
* 20 million shared between Chen, Zhou and Lin surnames (Chen = Chan)

And if you are interested to know your family tree back in China, Shanghai Library is currently compiling the world's largest genealogical database, containing about 50,000 Chinese family trees, by the end of this year. Wow!!! Alternatively, you can join the political arena where your political foes will definitely find out on your behalf as they will dig till the cow comes home on your historical background to bring you down.

This database will comprise tens of thousands of characters, records Chinese families' lives and histories going back 1,000 years which includes overseas Chinese too. Data contributions are coming from overseas Chinese libraries in USA, Singapore, Holland and Taiwan. Once compiled, the data will be available online for the public to access.

Will I be related to any one of the China emperors????
Tags: Ong, Weng, Hainanese, Hainan Island, China, Wang, Wong, Li, Lee, Zhang, Chong, Cheong, Chen, Zhou, Lin, Chan, Shanghai Library, Genealogical Database, Chinese Family Tree, Overseas Chinese

Sudan - Forward Looking Country

Despite the setbacks down in south, west and east with different tribes trying to settle with the existing government, it has not hampered the government's effort in preparing for the future.

Owing to the large in-flow of chinese companies/investments into Sudan, the University of Khartoum could foresee the need of chinese language. Hence, a department was set up to cater for it. Even a Chinese Bridge Speech competition was held in the university in order to enhance the students' abilities to speak in the language. They could be better than me.

With another language in their cap besides their arabic and english languages, it will help graduates to obtain jobs with chinese companies there. With influence such as China's oil interests (approx. 60% goes to China) in Sudan and Sudanese's value of imports from China equates 5% of China's oil import from Sudan. The main oil company in Sudan is Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company which is 40% chinese-owned. Apart from that a major 1,500km pipeline to Port Sudan on the Red Sea is being constructed by chinese companies. With such impact, the government cannot afford to close even one eye.

Smart move for a country that is still considered a Third World Country. I'm sure Malaysia is much better than this.........

Tags: Sudan, China, Chinese Language, Chinese, University of Khartoum, Chinese Bridge Speech

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Sudan in Reality

There are 2 good articles found in The Star newspaper today about life in Sudan and its realities there. It did quote Malaysia's Ambassador to Sudan Zainal Hamzah view about Sudan too.

Opportunities in Sudan infrastructure and electricity

Businessmen, just by reading this statement, would have gotten their subordinates to check/obtain more info about Sudan. But in reality?

Not cheap to live in Khartoum

This is without a doubt. How could a third world country's goods and services be quoted at an astronomical price compared with Malaysia.

The above 2 articles really do reflect the current situation in Sudan. Of course I can vouch for it. Most of us who had been there, even for a short period, did mention that we could co-author a book to tell our side of the story. Khartoum - a city that could surprise and amaze you daily.

Tags: Sudan, Khartoum, Ambassador to Sudan, Zainal Hamzah

Saudi Style Parties

Whisky, women and weapons (extracted from The Age)
LONG after midnight, the party is in full swing, the music loud, the whisky and champagne flowing. In the penthouse suite at a five-star London hotel, six attractive young British women, most in short, tight dresses that leave little to the imagination, sashay between wealthy princes from Saudi Arabia, flirting and laughing slightly more loudly than the Arabs' witticisms merit.

A silver dish of white powder, with matching spoon, is passed around. From time to time a couple slips out of the suite only to reappear half an hour later and seek new friends. Others do not feel impelled to leave to share intimate moments but settle on a sofa or the four-poster in the main bedroom oblivious, perhaps, to their fellow partygoers.

For this is the country where Islamic sharia law reigns, the Koran is the constitution, woman are not allowed to drive and where the religious zealots hold sway over law and order in a delicate pact with the ruling House of Saud, the extended royal family that holds every government post.

The Saudi royals also like to entertain and expect that to be reciprocated. In their home country that will consist of lavish dinners, with the finest food, in elegant surroundings. Abroad they will expect at least the same - and sometimes much more, especially in western Europe.

The "whisky and women" were usually demanded by less senior members of the ruling family, says one former diplomat in Riyadh. "There are about 5000 Saudi princes and a lot of the younger ones especially like to do things that many men of their age do. They are very restricted in their country so it's understandable that some go a bit wild when they are over here."
(Full text...........)
Tags: Saudi Arabia, House of Saud, Saudi Royals, Saudi Princes, Arabs, Whisky

Easy To Become A Malay

Everyday I'm learning something new. This time the lecturer is the Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam.

At a press conference in Kota Kinabalu, he mentioned that it's not hard becoming a Malay. His "How To" is listed as follow:-
* Be a muslim or convert to a muslim
* Converse in Malay language
* Follow Malay tradition

He also said that as long as you meet the above criteria, you are deemed to be a Malay even though you were a born Chinese, Indian or Kadazan. Ain't it simple?

May I know what was his education level? To me, I think he needs to attend a lecture before giving out such statements. The terms Malay, Chinese, Indian & Kadazan only denote different races. Even though if I were to adopt all the 3 items as stated above, it doesn't deny the fact that I'm still a Chinese with the colour of my skin. Can someone please proof read his speech next time.

As mentioned, if I was a Christian, converse in English at home/office, consumes western food (bread/jam for breakfast, salad/sandwiches for my lunch, fish & chips for dinner), celebrates Christmas/Easter - means to say that I'm an Englishman??? Really no sense......
Tags: Malacca Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Racial

From death row to freedom

Freed Australian businessman George Forbes has described his three-month ordeal in a squalid Sudanese prison as a "bloody nightmare". He said the experience of living with the ever-present threat of death had left him "mentally fatigued".

Mr Forbes will fly out of Sudan today a free man, after his murder conviction was annulled by the country's court of appeal. Mr Forbes, 46, a construction engineer with Kenyan firm Trax International, was last month convicted of the murder of Ukrainian flight engineer Mykola Serebrenikov, who was found hanging from a towel rack in the company compound in the southern Sudan city of Rumbek in March.

Mr Forbes and three colleagues were convicted of murder, which is punishable by death in Sudan, despite an autopsy concluding the Ukrainian killed himself. A panel of three judges, including the president of the court of appeal, yesterday annulled the convictions of the men, noting the lack of forensic evidence and the lack of evidence of a motive.

Because there was no dissenting decision, the ruling cannot be appealed. Mr Forbes last night said he was elated that his "bloody nightmare" had come to an end. "Finally, after three months, justice and common sense prevailed," he wrote in an email to family and supporters. "The relief we feel is beyond explanation."

(continued.........)

This is the kind of life I have in Sudan.

Reading: Fraught foreign adventures - The Age