Foul!

As published in Malay Mail today HARESH SAYS By Haresh Deol THE Sungai Batu Archaeological Complex has slowly but surely uncovered the intriguing mystery of Southeast Asia’s oldest civilisation. The centuries-old secret of Sungai Batu — once referred to as Kataha in Sanskrit — is simply mind blowing as archaeologists are unearthing more items including remnants of ancients barges and items which described what life was in this region in the first and early second centuries. A decade ago, an archaeological team from Universiti Sains Malaysia discovered other relics including iron-smelting facilities, monuments, jetties and administrative buildings in the area which is within Kedah’s Bujang Valley. Some historians argue the relics found are not as old as they are believed to be. Others insist Sungai Batu deserves to be called a Unesco heritage site for there are enough evidence to prove it is the oldest civilisation in the region – dating earlier than the famous Angkor Wa...

Haresh Says as published in The Malay Mail today. Respect. That was one word my late father used to harp on every single day. “Go say hello to your aunt” or “make sure you use the word ji (a sign of respect in Punjabi) when addressing an elderly relative”. He used to often say: “You will be respected if you respect others”. Eager to eat burrito, I was shopping for ingredients at a grocer near the embassy row along Jalan Ampang over the weekend when I noticed an elderly woman greeting a child. The child, perhaps about six-years-old, pulled a long face instead. The boy’s parents felt nothing wrong with that and went on to say the kid was “tired” and “shy”. Five minutes later, he was seen running, shouting at the top of his lungs and even thrust several grapes into his mouth. Not so tired and shy after all. I thought opening a door for a lady or allowing them to step out or into an elevator was being “respectful”. I have instead been ridiculed for being a “pak guard” and was even acc...