We had a table-tennis competition last week.  This is an annual affair in our Veterans Club of which I am
a regular player.  We have around 8 to 10 senior players with whom I regularly play in the evenings
I won the Singles category, beating about 12 competitors, all about 60 years old.  To be a champion
at 74, makes me feel good.
How I wish more people take up sports as a hobby.  It is enjoyable, healthy and gives you tremendous
satisfaction.  If all the world leaders are sportsmen, the world will be at peace, as all feelings of agression,
anger will be dissipated in the playing field.  That is the serendipity.

I'm filled with disgust when a political "ulama" (muslim spiritual leader) declared that he gave money
to his supporters who wanted to go for a public demonstration against the government.
Former Egyptian Chief Justice Muhammad Said al-Ashmawy claimed that politics cannot be fused
with religion.  He stated that Islam was, from the beginning an apolitical religion, concerned solely
with spiritual and ethical guidance.  He further declared that the most natural consequence of bringing
politics into religion is that the former debases the latter. Political statements, shrouded with religious
sanctity, will be seen as expressions of absolute truth.
When this happens, he says, their political statements cannot be criticised.  "If you open your mouth,
you will be accused of questioning God."
We are seeing this happening in Malaysia today.  The political ulama are causing polarization among
Malays who belong to a different political party.  The political ulama knows this - but he is interested
in political power and blatantly uses religion to fulfill his ambition. I am saddened by this state of affairs.