USM Hajj Research Cluster

Introduction

The USM Hajj Research Cluster was created in 2006. It involves 11 researchers (principal investigators) at 4 locations – the Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (IPPT) in Bertam, School of Biology (PPSB) and School of Pharmacy (PPSF) at the main campus in Penang and the School of Medical Sciences (PPSP) in Kelantan.

RESEARCH AIM AND FOCUS

There are 6 major research focus areas in the Hajj Research Cluster. They aim to touch on various aspects of the health of the mass of the annual Malaysian Hajj pilgrims. These include knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of respiratory tract infections (RTI), nutritional status, medication status, air quality and microbial contamination of selected living quarters, incidence of acute respiratory syndrome (ARS), and economic analysis involving health policy and healthcare intervention and implications. The 6 research projects are:

(1)    Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) on the prevention of respiratory tract infections (RTI) among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims,

(2)    Assessment of nutritional status of Malaysian Hajj pilgrims,

(3)    Assessment of medication status among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims,

(4)    Monitoring of microbial contaminants and (suggestions for) improvement of indoor air quality in buildings in Makkah, Arafah, Muzdalifah, Mina, hostels and other strategic places used by Malaysian Hajj pilgrims,  

(5)    Incidence of acute respiratory syndrome (ARS) among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims, and

(6)    Economic analysis and policy implications of health care interventions carried out on Malaysian Hajj pilgrims.

MEDICAL RESEARCH

The School of Medical Sciences is involved with Project (5) above: Incidence of acute respiratory syndrome (ARS) among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims. This is further divided into 5 research projects (studies), each under a Principal Investigator (PI). The specific medical research projects (studies) are:

(1)    A study to determine the prevalence of acute respiratory infection among Hajj pilgrims.

(2)    A study to evaluate the effectiveness of influenza Fluvax®; 3 specific flu virus strains in reducing symptoms of Acute Respiratory Syndrome among Hajj pilgrims.

(3)    A study to evaluate the effect of two types of face mask in reducing symptoms of Acute Respiratory Syndrome among Hajj pilgrims.

(4)    A study to evaluate the effectiveness of “Natural Tualang Honey” in reducing symptoms of Acute Respiratory Syndrome among Hajj pilgrims.

(5)    A nonrandomized open label trial to compare the effectiveness of preventive measures against respiratory symptoms among Hajj pilgrims.

Research Projects

Project	Research Title	Principal Investigator
1	Knowledge, Attitude and Practice [KAP] on the Prevention of Respiratory Tract Infections among Malaysian Hajj Pilgrims	Prof. Noorizan Abdul Aziz [PPSF] Moved to UiTM
2	Assessment of the Nutritional Status of Malaysian Pilgrims	Assoc. Prof. Dr Narazah bt Mohd Yusoff [IPPT] HAEMATOLOGY / TRANSFUSION MEDICINE / CLINICAL GENETICS Email : narazah [at] amdi.usm.edu.my
3	Assessment of the Medication Status among Malaysian Pilgrims	Assoc. Prof. Dr Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim [PPSF]
4	Monitoring of Microbial Contaminants and Improvement of Indoor Air Quality in Buildings in Makkah, Arafat, Muzdalifah, Mina, Hostels and Other Strategic Places	Prof. Baharuddin bin Salleh [PPSB] BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES => MICROBIOLOGY => MYCOLOGY BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES => BOTANY => PLANT PATHOLOGY AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES => FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION => FOOD TOXICOLOGY BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES => BIODIVERSITY AND CONVERSION => FUNGAL BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES => ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT AND BIOREMEDIATION => OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND BIOREMEDIATION Email : sallehb [at] usm.my
5	Acute Respiratory Syndrome among Malaysian Hajj Pilgrims	Prof. Nor Hayati bt Othman [PPSP] CYTOPATHOLOGY, HISTOPATHOLOGY, MEDICAL EDUCATION (PBL & STANDARDIZED PATIENTS) Email: hayati [at] kb.usm.my Scopus ID: 7003582354 Google Scholar ID : 14R3Q8oAAAAJ
6	Economic Analysis and Policy Implications of Health Care Interventions Carried Out on the Malaysian Hajj Pilgrim	Assoc. Prof. Dr Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim [PPSF]

PPSB = Pusat Pengajian Sains Biologi (School of Biology);

PPSF = Pusat Pengajian Sains Farmasi (School of Pharmacy);

PPSP = Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan (School of Medical Sciences);

IPPT = Institut Perubatan dan Pergigian Termaju (Advanced Medical and Dental Institute).

Under Project 5, sub-projects are:

Project	Research Title	Principal Investigator
5.1	A study to determine the prevalence of acute respiratory infection among Hajj Pilgrims.	Assoc. Prof. Dr Zakuan Zainy Deris CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY Email : zakuan [at] kb.usm.my
5.2	A study to evaluate the effectiveness of influenza Fluvax®; 3 specific flu virus strains in reducing symptoms of Acute Respiratory Syndrome among Hajj Pilgrims.	Assoc. Prof. Dr Habsah Hasan MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES => MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY => MYCOLOGY; BACTERIOLOGY; OTHER MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY N.E.C HEALTH => CLINICAL (ORGANS, DISEASES AND CONDITIONS) => INFECTIOUS DISEASES;  RESPIRATORY DISEASES MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES => CLINICAL MEDICINE => INFECTIOUS/COMMUNICABLE DISEASES E-mail : habsah [at] kb.usm.my Researcher ID: E-4561-2012 Scopus ID : 24469994500
5.3	A study to evaluate the effect of two types of face mask in reducing symptoms of Acute Respiratory Syndrome among Hajj Pilgrims.	Dr. Mohd Suhaimi Ab Wahab CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, GENERAL PAEDIATRICS Email : msuhaimi [at] kb.usm.my
5.4	A Study to evaluate the effectiveness of “Natural Tualang Honey” in reducing symptoms of Acute Respiratory Syndrome among Hajj Pilgrims.	Prof. Siti Amrah Sulaiman PHARMACOLOGY, TRADITIONAL & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE Email : sbsamrah [at] kb.usm.my
5.5	A nonrandomized open label trial to compare the effectiveness of preventive measures against respiratory symptoms among Hajj Pilgrims.	Prof. Syed Hatim Noor MEDICAL STATISTICS E-mail : nyi [at] kb.usm.my

Publications:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1708-8305.2009.00384.x/pdf

http://www.academia.edu/1380599/The_Prevalence_of_Acute_Respiratory_Symptoms_and_Role_of_Protective_Measures_among_Malaysian_Hajj_Pilgrims

Apitherapy:
http://apitherapy.blogspot.com/2010/02/honey-potential-treatment-for-lupus.html


Contact Us:

Dean (Clinical Science Research)

Prof. Dr Nor Hayati Othman

email: hayati [at] kb.usm.my

direct line: 609-767 2353

fax: 609 - 767 2351

Science Officer (Clinical Sciences)

Mazlita Zainal Abidin

email: mazlita [at] kck.usm.my

direct line: 609-767 2355 or ext:2355

fax: 609 - 767 2351

Science Officer (Biomedical & Health Sciences)

Tengku Ahmad Damitri Al-Astani Tengku Din

email: damitri [at] kck.usm.my

direct line: 609-767 2364 or ext:2364

fax: 609 - 764 8064

Sources:

http://www.research.kk.usm.my/

http://www.research.kk.usm.my/pages/intro.htm

http://www.research.kk.usm.my/pages/link.htm

http://www.research.kk.usm.my/pages/hajj.htm

http://experts.usm.my/

http://www.researcherid.com/

http://www.scopus.com/

Prepared by Prof. Faridah Abdul Rashid

Friday, 12 April 2013 at 10:24:29 PM
Updated: Wednesday, 29 May 2013 at 4:59 PM & 9:22 PM

References from USM 2007 Hajj Research paper:

1.      Moore PS, Reeves MW, Schwartz B, et al. Intercontinental spread of an epidemic group A Neisseria meningitides strain. Lancet 1989; 334:260–263.

2.      CDC Serogroup. W-135 meningococcal disease among travellers returning from Saudi Arabia—United States. 2000. MMWR 2000; 49:345–346.

3.      Alzeer A, Mashlah A, Fakim N, et al. Tuberculosis is the commonest cause of pneumonia requiring hospitalization during Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah). J Infect 1998;36:303–306.

4.      Rafiq SM, Rashid H, Haworth E, Booy R. Hazards of hepatitis at the Hajj. Travel Med Infect Dis 2009;7:239–246.

5.      Ahmed QA, Arabi YM, Memish ZA. Health risks at the Hajj. Lancet 2006; 367:1008–1015.

6.      Alzeer AH. Respiratory tract infection during Hajj. Ann Thorac Med 2009; 4:50–53.

7.      Al-Ghamdi SM, Akbar HO, Qari YA, et al. Pattern of admission to hospitals during Muslim pilgrimage (Hajj). Saudi Med J 2003; 24:1073–1076.

8.      Madani TA, Ghabrah TM, Al-Hedaithy MA, et al. Causes of hospitalization of pilgrims in the Hajj season of the Islamic year 1423 (2003). Ann Saudi Med 2006;26:346–351.

9.      Madani TA, Ghabrah TM, Albarrak AM, et al. Causes of admission to intensive care units in the Hajj period of the Islamic year 1424 (2004). Ann Saudi Med 2007;27:101–105.

10.  Mustafa AN, Gessner BD, Ismail R, et al. A case-control study of influenza vaccine effectiveness among Malaysian pilgrims attending the Haj in Saudi Arabia. Int J Infect Dis 2003; 7:210–214.

11.  Rashid H, Shafi S, Bashir HE, et al. Influenza and the Hajj: defining influenza-like illness clinically. Int J Infect Dis 2008; 12:102–103.

12.  Shafi S, Booy R, Haworth E, et al. Hajj: health lessons for mass gatherings. J Infect Public Health 2008; 1:27–32.

13.  Al-Asmary S, Al-Shehri A-S, Abou-Zeid A, et al. Acute respiratory tract infections among Hajj medical mission personnel, Saudi Arabia. Int J Infect Dis 2007;11:268–272.

14.  Choudhry AJ, Al-Mudaimegh KS, Turkistani AM, AlHamdan NA. Hajj-associated acute respiratory infection among hajjis from Riyadh. East Mediterr Health J 2006;12:300–309.

15.  AlMudmeigh K, AlNaji A, AlEnezi M, et al. Incidence of Hajj related acute respiratory infection among pilgrims from Riyadh, 1423 H (2003 G). Saudi Epidemiol Bull 2003; 10:25–26.

16.  El-Sheikh SM, El-Assouli SM, Mohammed KA, Albar M. Bacteria and viruses that cause respiratory tract infections during the pilgrimage (Haj) season in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Trop Med Int Health 1998; 3:205–209.

17.  Rashid H, Shafi S, Haworth E, et al. Viral respiratory infections at the Hajj: comparison between UK and Saudi pilgrims. Clin Microbiol Infect 2008; 14:569–574.

18.  El Bashir H, Haworth E, Zambon M, et al. Influenza among U.K. pilgrims to hajj, 2003. Emerg Infect Dis 2004; 10:1882–1883.

19.  Abdin EZ, Choudhry AJ, Al-Naji A. Effect of the use of face mask on hajj related acute respiratory infection among Hajjis from Riyadh, a health promotion intervention study. Saudi Epidemiol Bull 2005; 12:27–28.

20.  Babcock H, Merz L, Fraser V. Is influenza an influenzalike illness? Clinical presentation of influenza in hospitalized patients. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2006; 27:266–270.

21.  Qureshi H, Gessner BD, Leboulleux D, et al. The incidence of vaccine preventable influenza-like illness and medication use among Pakistani pilgrims to the Haj in Saudi Arabia. Vaccine 2000; 18:2956–2962.

22.  Thursky K, Cordova SP, Smith D, Kelly H. Working towards a simple case definition for influenza surveillance. J Clin Virol 2003; 27:170–179.

23.  Rashid H, Rafiq S. Defining influenza like illness. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2006; 27:1285–1286.

24.  Meysamie A, Ardakani HZ, Razavi SM, Doroodi T. Comparison of mortality and morbidity rates among Iranian pilgrims in Hajj 2004 and 2005. Saudi Med J 2006; 27:1049–1053.

25.  Gautret P, Yong W, Soula G, et al. Incidence of Hajjassociated febrile cough episodes among French pilgrims: a prospective cohort study on the influence of statin use and risk factors. Clin Microbiol Infect 2009; 15:335–340.

26.  Khamis NK. Epidemiological pattern of diseases and risk behaviors of pilgrims attending mina hospitals, hajj 1427 h (2007 g). J Egypt Public Health Assoc 2008; 83:15–33.

27.  CDC What you should know about using facemasks and respirators during a flu pandemic. 2009. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/features/masksrespirators/. (Accessed 2009 Jan 15).

28.  Gautret P, Gaillard C, Soula G, et al. Pilgrims from Marseille, France, to Mecca: demographics and vaccination status. J Travel Med 2007; 14:132–133.

29.  Rashid H, Shafi S, Booy R, et al. Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus infections in British Hajj pilgrims. Emerg Health Threats J 2008; 1:e2.

30.  Deris ZZ, Hasan H, Sulaiman SA, et al. Preference of treatment facilities among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims for acute respiratory symptoms. Saudi Med J 2009;30:1103–1104.

31.  Balkhy HH, Memish ZA, Bafaqeer S, Almuneef MA. Influenza a common viral infection among Hajj pilgrims: time for routine surveillance and vaccination. J Travel Med 2004; 11:82–86.

32.  Rashid H, Shafi S, Haworth E, et al. Value of rapid testing for influenza among Hajj pilgrims. Travel Med Infect Dis 2007; 5:310–313.

33.  Razavy S, Dabiran S, Ardekani HZ. The incidence of influenza like illness and determination of the efficacy of flu vaccine in Iranian pilgrims during hajj pilgrimage. Act Med Iran 2004; 42:397–401.

34.  Rashid H, Shafi S, Haworth E, et al. Influenza vaccine in Hajj pilgrims: policy issues from field studies. Vaccine 2008; 26:4809–4812.

35.  CDC. Surveillance for the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus and seasonal influenza viruses—New Zealand, 2009. MMWR 2009; 58:918–921.

36.  Kelly H, Grant K. Interim analysis of pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 in Australia: surveillance trends, age of infection and effectiveness of seasonal vaccination. Euro Surveill 2009; 14:19288.

37.  Gallaher W. Towards a sane and rational approach to management of Influenza H1N1 2009. Virol J 2009;6:51.

38.  H1N1 prompts hajj restrictions Aljazeera English News 2009. Available at: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/07/200972311236123448.html. (Accessed 2009 Aug 31).

Why was Malacca chosen for announcement of Merdeka?

Some students asked me in class, why the Malayan independence was announced first in Malacca before Tunku cried Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka at Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on 31 August 1957. I could not find a good answer until tonight. I will share some stuff here which you can gather from Baharam's blog and other places.

http://baharam.blogspot.com/2009/01/kesatuan-melayu-muda-melaka-1937.html

1. Malacca was one of 3 Straits Settlements, and without a sultan
2. The Kesatuan Melayu Muda Melaka (KMMM, established in 1937 in Malacca) was active in pushing and promoting reform for the Malays
3. KMM led to the formation of KMS (Kesatuan Melayu Singapura); people from KMM moved to Singapore to help establish KMS; KMM learned from KMS's experience as KMS fared better - KMS obtained a Malay settlement (Kampung Melayu) under Eunos
4. KMM was highly influential and had better educated men; Prof W.R. Roff referred to them as the Malay intelligensia. They were a better lot and were proactive
5. The Malacca Malays were united and stuck together for their own good; their battlecry was "Bersatu kita teguh, bercerai kita roboh"
6. Malacca was the seat of the famed Malacca Sultanate, the biggest and most widespread Malay kingdom that had the biggest influence on Malay civilisation
7. Malacca was famous as Serambi Makkah as it was the centre of religious learning
8. Malacca was the centre of Malay and world trade, and will always be (insyaAllah)
9. Malacca was an international city

Malacca's Currency Prior to 1511

Malacca used its own currency before it fell to the Portuguese on 11 July 1511. There is evidence that Malacca used coins with Jawi scripts. The reigning sultan was Sultan Ahmad bin Sultan Mahmud. Sultan Ahmad's name was inscribed in Jawi on the coins used in Malacca. On one side of the coins was inscribed his name, Ahmad bin Mahmud, and the reverse side was inscribed his honour, with the words, Al Sultan Al Adil. These words therefore show that the reigning sultan was a just ruler. So the Portuguese had come to attack a just ruler whose kingdom was trading fine and freely. Why then did the Portuguese launched an attack on Malacca, and captured it altogether? Why did the Portuguese destroy the very trade that kept Malacca going as the biggest and most well-known and safe trading haven? Why destroy Malacca's peaceful trade?

http://baharam.blogspot.com/2009/01/sultan-melaka-terakhir.html

Beneath The Bedpan

I wrote the story 'Beneath the bedpan' long ago. It was the first post I wrote that attracted many readers who were USM lecturers at our medical school. Then I wrote short stories for kids, which were translated into other languages (including Russian) by mothers for their children. Some were good stories, others were just plain story-telling. The one that many readers enjoyed was entitled '12 Golden pins'.

Many don't know that I don't have lights in my office when I type posts in my blogs. I type with just the light coming from the computer monitor. So you will see many typo errors because I can't see the keyboard myself. If I have time or remember, I will do the corrections. Otherwise they remain in my posts. I can type in dimmed light from my experience playing the piano and the piano keys have to be memorised. So my typing is just like when I was playing my piano, only that I played my piano with my eyes closed!

The repair boys have arrived, and I told them my room was flooded from upstairs. Sure enough, it short-circuit my ceiling lights and that's why I don't have lights.

Just like the other days, today too, I don't have lights in my office and I'm typing with just the lights from the computer monitor. I should have lights by noon, or next week, hopefully. I will come back and type later as it is quite straining on the eyes working in the dark.

My office was leaking for 2 weeks and I had 2 big rubbish dump of gunk from upstairs, the surgical ward. It seems, the 'new nurses' didn't know where to dump plaster of Paris (POP) after use and they simply dumped the leftover into the sink and over time, the POP built up in the plastic drainage pipes over my head. Of course, back pressure built up and the pipes burst at the joints, and I had the gunk and slurry from ages, down in my office, on  my research materials, on my teaching materials, on my carpets and sofa, on my fridge and magnets, etc. Everything in my room was drenched with gunk from upstairs. I can't say much because we already have ISO in place, so to speak. But what is ISO good for when I come to office and get a flooded office with gunk from upstairs? I can still work and produce books and papers even though I have one of the worst offices in a medical school. I think we have to simply survive this challenge in this age and keep writing our lousy workplace stories.

I'm going out to get some fresh air. The gunk and everything else stink in my office. It's nauseating but that's life here. Well, I will have survived and worked here for 30 years come 28 June 2013.

To The Doctor Or To The Bomoh?

For almost 2 days, Affandi couldn't decide on how to help his mother. The nature of the problem was grave, at least it seemed to me. His mother had recently re-married and 2 days ago had fallen in the toilet at her rental unit which she now shares with her new but former husband. Her place is not far from our home, maybe 5 minutes drive or so. Why couldn't Affandi decide and just take his mother to hospital? I found out that the big problem was his parents and siblings believe in bomoh, more than they have faith in western trained doctors at hospitals. Why? I will explain the reasons why ...

The Malay community is looked after well by its many bomoh. Bomoh is the first that comes to mind, not doctors. Never doctors! Not under any circumstance will the Malays think of doctors first! In Affandi's mother's case, the bomoh was found after contacting 2 people, his elder sister and a male cousin. The elder sister does not take any hospital medications and has no trust in such western medicines. The male cousin suffered from some chronic sprain and often goes to this particular bomoh.

Who is this bomoh? The word bomoh is arguably very sensitive and almost controversial. It is never mentioned when I am around! The word bomoh is hushed and silenced when I am around. So I am actually oblivious to anything that has to deal with bomoh. But this time, I have had enough of the bomoh tricks and I asked Affandi to seriously tell me why he took his mother to see a bomoh.

It was hard on him to explain to me. But Affandi narrated his account with much reluctance and holding back a lot of what he didn't want me to know about bomoh. According to Affandi, this male bomoh is not a bomoh! I was stunned! Try to understand that! If he is not a bomoh, then what is he? I had to probe Affandi and asked him the nature of this supposedly 'bomoh' man he took his mother to.

From Affandi's account, I see that this 'not bomoh man' is actually just a Quran reader. He reads Quran, that's all. I was happy with that. But he is such a good Quran reader than he has been bestowed special healing powers, that of healing bones. I was so intriuged by this new story and find. So I begged Affandi to tell me a bit more of this Quran reader's practice. It seems he only needs to press on the supposedly broken bone or painful spot and read a special verse and the pain disappears like magic! There is little residual pain and the patient walks away fine. I was even more thrilled so I went on to ask, "What verse did he read from the Quran?" Affandi said he read a verse about the bones that were gathered and thrown far beyond the hills and the birds came back flying! At that instant I remembered reading a verse in the Quran but I couldn't recall which particular verse. So, I still need to find that verse and write it here for you later, insyaAllah. That's all about the art of healing bone pain using a verse from the Quran. So he wasn't actually a bomoh, just a Quran reader and healer.

Affandi went on to mention that this healer also sells honey, of the good kind. Good genuine honey costs RM240 a bottle but Affandi managed to get 2 bottles for RM40 each. They look just like the other honey bottles we have at home.

I have seen and been to see a female bomoh once after a lot of coaxing. I don't know why, but Affandi trusts traditional healers more than I do. I have my reservation.

Here is the verse from the Quran on  page 44, second surah: Surah Baqarah, Ayat 260:

Dan (ingatlah) ketika Ibrahim berkata, "Ya Tuhanku, perlihatkanlah kepadaku bagaimana Engkau menghidupkan orang mati." Allah berfirman, "Belum percayakah engkau?" Dia (Ibrahim) menjawab, "Aku percaya tetapi agar hatiku tenang (mantap)." Dia (Allah) berfirman, "Kalau begitu ambillah empat ekor burung, lalu cincanglah olehmu kemudian letakkan  di atas masing-masing bukit satu bahagian, kemudian panggillah mereka, nescaya mereka datang kepadamu dengan segera." Ketahuilah bahawa Allah Maha Perkasa, Maha Bijaksana.

From: http://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious-texts/quran/verses/002-qmt.php

002.260
YUSUF ALI: When Abraham said: "Show me, Lord, how You will raise the dead, " He replied: "Have you no faith?" He said "Yes, but just to reassure my heart." Allah said, "Take four birds, draw them to you, and cut their bodies to pieces. Scatter them over the mountain-tops, then call them back. They will come swiftly to you. Know that Allah is Mighty, Wise."

PICKTHAL: And when Abraham said (unto his Lord): My Lord! Show me how Thou givest life to the dead, He said: Dost thou not believe? Abraham said: Yea, but (I ask) in order that my heart may be at ease. (His Lord) said: Take four of the birds and cause them to incline unto thee, then place a part of them on each hill, then call them, they will come to thee in haste, and know that Allah is Mighty, Wise.

SHAKIR: And when Ibrahim said: My Lord! show me how Thou givest life to the dead, He said: What! and do you not believe? He said: Yes, but that my heart may be at ease. He said: Then take four of the birds, then train them to follow you, then place on every mountain a part of them, then call them, they will come to you flying; and know that Allah is Mighty, Wise.

If It Is War ... What Will Our Food Be ...?

During the Japanese war in Malaya, Malayan families had little food to live on. Fresh food items had to come from nearby villages. Many war survivors tell me stories which I still find hard to believe, even today. I will share some of the stories with you ...

Chicken and eggs
In Penang, Dr Kamil Ariff's family obtained fresh livestock and vegetables came from farms in Balik Pulau.

On the mainland, the late Tan Sri Dr Abdul Majid bin Ismail (Coco Majid) narrated his war stories about where he got fresh chickens. He had to take the train from Kuala Lumpur and go up north to Alor Star, to get chickens for selling at Pasar Chow Kit. But the trip was too taxing, both on him and the chickens he tried to bring back. Most of his chickens died in the hot train and on the long trip (without food and water for the chickens). He survived but many of his chickens died, leaving him very little to earn cash. He then made money from selling dried salted fish (ikan sepat masin) and kerosene (minyak gas), which sold very well during the war.

Tea
My mother narrated the war story in Malacca, about my grandmother and her last son, her 14th child - Pak Salleh. My grandmother had her last child and last a son, Pak Salleh, in 1944. There was no milk during the war and my grandmother didn't have breastmilk for her new baby. Pak Salleh was brought up on tea! Imagine giving tea to a baby! Pak Salleh grew up to become a strong man indeed and worked very hard as an audit at the Malayan Railway in Kuala Lumpur; I was still a college student when Pak Salleh was working. Somehow, I noticed he aged too fast, faster than my father who was the 7th child. I kept on observing Pak Salleh as I grew up. Every time I saw him he had more white hair and a more stressful face. I also went up to ask him if he was ok. Of course, the jovial Pak Salleh always smilingly replied, "Alhamdulillah, I'm fine, I'm fine! ..." Somehow, there seems to be this worry tone in his voice even though he was seemingly happy. I worry. I often wondered whether tea would actually ruin a baby's life and result in an old man's face. I judged them to be linked - babies given tea will result in a stressful life as an adult, giving a stressful and older face, like my Pak Salleh. But sometimes I ask myself, "Is it just the tea given to babies that cause men to get old face fast?" I don't know and it is hard to tell or define or do a good study. I can only record the effect of that war even though I was born after the war and never experienced living during a war. I don't want to have to live through any war. Pak Salleh's face is enough to instill fear in me.