Fresh hope in southern Thailand

Ahmad A. Talib
New Straits Times
12-13-2009
Fresh hope in southern Thailand
Byline: Ahmad A. Talib
Edition: New Sunday Times
Section: Main Section
Column: Pahit manis

ONLY the heavy presence of armed policemen and soldiers reminded me of the tension that pervades Narathiwat in southern Thailand.

But that's understandable. How often do you get the prime ministers of two countries visiting the province together?
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Thai counterpart, Abhisit Vejjajiva, flew into Narathiwat on Wednesday. Najib had been in Bangkok for two days on a working visit .

His visit to Narathiwat, the first for any Malaysian prime minister, symbolises the new approach his administration is taking in engaging major and minor stakeholders in that country.

The visit was short but the Muslim population attached considerable significance to it. Teachers at the Attaqiah Institute, where the two prime ministers visited, harboured high hopes.

Teacher Rusli Der, 62, said the visit would help ensure that the school would continue receiving government support.

The school has a student enrolment of 4,500 and a teaching staff of about 250.

It's a private school but teacher salaries come from the government. Money to run the school comes from contributions of parents and well-wishers in faraway places, such as Saudi Arabia.

Najib's visit was a boost to Abhisit's standing in the Muslim community. That Najib saw it fit to spend at least half a day in Narathiwat symbolises his desire to promote peace in southern Thailand.

It is in Malaysia's interest that southern Thailand is free from violence and any serious political insurgencies.

The prime minister was greeted warmly by flag-waving students and teachers, most of whom could speak Malay but with a heavy Kelantan accent.

Mohamed Salleh, who has been teaching for eight years in the school, was hopeful that Najib's visit would help promote peace in the area.

I sensed undercurrents among some of the teachers, who appeared cynical of the Thai government's approach.

But the teachers were quick to point out that Najib's visit had given fresh hope for the start of something more meaningful than just promises and rhetoric.

Unknown to most of us in Narathiwat, there were several shootings and explosions in the area a day before the visit.

The shootings were a message too, I'm sure, something that both Abhisit and Najib can't ignore now that they have shown their commitment to look for a meaningful solution to the troubled south.

OF BRIYANI AND COAT HANGERS

Everyone reminded me not to forget to try the briyani in Hyderabad in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.

My first Hyderabad briyani was at the hotel where I was staying, the Hampshire Plaza.

The hotel offers chicken or lamb briyani every night as part of its buffet supper spread, which starts at 11pm and ends at 3am.

By the time I left the airport and checked in at 1.30am, and the airline food was as most airlines food was, the 2am supper was most welcome.

It was indeed a culinary delight. A search on the Internet will tell you that Hyderabad is also tagged as the "Briyani City". A glass of masala tea makes a nice end to a most satisfying supper.

Hyderabad was the venue for the World Editors Forum, an annual convention where editors talk shop and exchange ideas on how to stay relevant and remain profitable.

Hyderabad offers some learning experience for visitors.

Life can be very tough for a country with a population of more than 1.2 billion. Hyderabad has a population of four million, more if you include those who commute to the city.

I came across one of the hallmarks of the Indian economy that has made the country exciting. It's called "appropriate technology". This time, I found it on the headrest of the driver's seat in a hired Toyota.

The driver had a sturdy, chrome-plated coat hanger fixed to the headrest to enable the passenger to hang his jacket or coat. After a long flight, this may be necessary.

This may seem trivial to some people, but imagine the thought process that has gone into making the hanger available to a weary traveller.

This is exactly the kind of consideration that has helped make India what it is today - home to some of the world's best brand names.

I can't help but compare this with the MAS aircraft that flew my colleagues and I to Hyderabad and back. There was no place to hang our jackets. Everyone either had it on the lap or wore it.

Usually, the steward or stewardess would come around and offer to take the jacket from passengers and hang it in the small closet designed for such purpose.

I'm not sure why there was no such facility on my flight (I believe the aircraft was a Boeing 737-800).

Even the seats in the business class section were rather cramped. The seats in the same class from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Baru are a lot more comfortable, actually. Must be something in the seat configuration, I guess.

However, you still can't beat the in-flight service provided by MAS, though. Service was courteous, friendly and pleasant.

* The writer is also a blogger at ahmadtalib.blogspot.com and can be reached at ahmadt51@gmail.com

(Copyright 2009)