Of blue skies, grey haze and white clouds

Last week was a bad week for Ipoh as we were badly hit by the haze. Our API was 136, at the worst. Unusual, as the haze does not normally travel so far up north. And with the air quality that bad, with the DOE having announced a ban on open burning, I was sad to see people disregarding the environment and the health of others by continuing to burn big piles of garden refuse.

I don't take our beautiful blue skies and fluffy white clouds for granted anymore.

Once, long ago, our clear blue skies were a daily gift - always present and sometimes, unnoticed.

But since 1997, when the annual regional forest fires/ open burning during the dry season started giving rise to heavy smoke and haze, obscuring our blue skies and suffocating our air, I now take special note and pause with gratitude for each day that I see that the skies above our country are clear and blue.

Today is one such day.

There is a gentle wind, and the tree branches are nodding in the breeze. The clouds are puffing white, suspended in a light blue expanse. The sunlight is strong and a pale yellow, casting dappled light wherever it shines through trees and shrubs.

Malaysia is a blessed country, a lucky land. May she be ruled by a government chosen by the people, of the people and for the people, fairly and justly.