Saturday, 14 June 2014

A lady of substance

Woke up a bit early today despite taking the day off.

A journalist friend had asked me to accompany him to a book launch at the KLGCC in Mount Kiara.

It's a book by Professor Datin Paduka Dr Jamilah Ariffin, the wife of former Johor MB Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.



I am not sure of its title but what I know was that it's a book about the Johor's Orang Asli Seletar 


I believe it's an interesting book and am planning to write a review of it in this blog.

Honestly, I don't really know Prof Jamilah very well.

I met her several times, mostly at the Johor MB's official residence Saujana a few years ago, but those were occasions when I was in a group with other people.

What I know of her was that she is a very smart and opinionated lady.

And typically, ladies of such were always targets of vicious criticisms and slanders, especially when their husband holds a position of power.

Prof Jamilah had her share of that nonsense when Datuk Ghani was the Johor MB. 

What many did not realize was that Prof Jamilah had given up her successful academic career to stand by her husband in the tough world of politics.

Otherwise, I believe she would have been a vice-chancellor of a prestigious university or something like that.

Some said she is smarter than Datuk Ghani, which I am not very sure myself. 

What I am quite sure is that, she is smarter than the current Johor MB...and tougher.

She always seems spunky to me.

It will indeed be nice to see her again later today.

Anyway, the book launch today is not Prof Jamilah's first.

If you want to know more about Prof Jamilah, I suggest you read about her at this 
posting by Peggy Loh, a JB-based NST columnist,

The Prof and I


Note: I am adding Peggy's to my blog list. Her blog is a good read for especially Johoreans.

4 comments:

  1. Shouldn't a Menteri Besar take note about the people's conditions and their sufferings?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTxxz_6bSBA#t=16

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    1. Sayyidina Ali (r.a) had this counsel: "Lead such a life, that, when you die, the people may mourn you, and while you are alive they long for your company . . . Of all the follies the greatest is to love the world . . . Riches without faith are the greatest poverty . . . A man's worth depends upon the nobility of his aspirations . . . And the word of God is the medicine of the heart. Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahiim

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  2. Annie, pls do not praise Jamillah Ariffin too highly because you don't really know her. We know her well from our Australian Uni days but we'd rather keep it to ourselves.

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    Replies
    1. Well, I don't think I had praised Prof Jamilah too highly. I just highlighted her achievements and good attributes which I believe she deserved. Australian Uni days....hmmm...that must be such a long time ago...

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