KLASS AIDS MEMORIAL DAY

Jimbo spent the Saturday afternoon seated together with about 100 other people who are gathered together to remember those who have passed on in the last one year due to AIDS.

The gathering was held in a hotel in KL, in an (in)famous area famed for its population of marginalised group. It was organised by KLASS (Kuala Lumpur AIDS Support and Services), an NGO group under the Malaysian AIDS Council.

The tagline for year’s gathering is ‘Never give up, Never forget’.

The gathering, as expected, was simple, sombre and yet steep in meaning. Dr. Christopher Lee gave the opening address, reminding one and all to persevere, to not give up and to never forget all that has been achieved.

This was followed by a brief memorial to the 20 odd people who have passed on over the last year. A brief candlelight vigil was held and a minute of silence was observed.

Prayers were then said by 4 religious leaders representing the 4 major religions in this country, for those who have passed on and for those who are left behind.

And then one by one, people living with HIV and AIDS came forward to share their trials and tribulations and more importantly their triumphs in overcoming the disease in their lives.

Tears of sadness and joy were shed.

The closing speech by Michael Chow, the president of KLASS, himself being HIV+ for the last 16 years, was both touching and inspiring.

It was a beautiful ceremony.

And yes, Jimbo shed some tears too.

Sat, 100508 @ 1630

Accidental Life Guard

Jimbo went swimming after work yesterday, as always. He didn’t really feel like doing his usual laps but still pushed himself to do the laps, just to keep in reasonable level of fitness in preparation for the KK climb in July and while waiting for the injured knee from the Nuang climb to heal properly.

Right about the middle of the 6th lap, in the middle of the pool, Jimbo suddenly saw this Malay boy who has, just seconds before, lost his grip on the polystyrene float he was holding, and he was struggling in the water, thrashing here and there. Jimbo saw him under the water, fear and terror in his eyes.

Jimbo abandoned his lap and quickly grabbed hold of the boy and hoisted him clear out of the water. He was about 6 or 7 years old, barely tall enough to be swimming in the adult pool. He gasped for air while Jimbo got hold of the wayward float and handed it back to him. Jimbo carried him and the float to the edge of the pool and let him go with a word of admonishment:“dik, jangan mandi kat sini, air sangat dalam” (little brother, do not swim here, the water is deep).

He left Jimbo’s grip and rejoined his friends without saying a word.

Jimbo resumed his laps, aiming to complete at least 16 before he calls it a day.

Jimbo felt good. He’d like to think that it was by Providence that he happened to be there at the right time and the right place. In fact, this boy was the 3rd he has saved from drowning. He talked about one incident before.

Jimbo’d like to think that this boy who was saved might one day be some one great, perhaps a great thinker, or a philosopher, or Malaysia’s first nuclear scientist or even the first politician with a conscience.

As Jimbo neared his 10th lap, he saw the boy again, still in the adult pool, holding tightly to his polystyrene float, kicking the water furiously to propel himself forward and quite oblivious to what could have happened just a few minutes earlier!

Ok, the boy may not be so bright after all. Definitely not the intellectual type.

Still, a life is a life and that’s more than enough reason to make Jimbo feel like a scout who has done his ‘good deed for the day’.

Sat, 100508 @ 0700