ZORRO'S FATHER OF THE YEAR

SHARIFAH AMANI'S DAD, TUAN SYED ZAINAL RASHID

Several imams (but not the imam from Perlis) were at their usual hair/beard-pulling antics when Sharifah Amani took the bald-path for her role in Yasmin Ahmads Muallaf. It was definitely a traumatic thing to sacrifice long flowing locks....always a woman's pride....but she took the bold step because she is a professional. The controversy ensued. Its unislamic this, unislamic that. On the other side of the coin, some of our muslim women are sneered at, ridiculed and shunned if they are non-tudunged. This is perplexing. Somebody enlighten me. These self-serving, holier-than-all-of-us imams might now turn their religious ire at Tuan Syed Zainal Rashid because he too went bald to stand beside his daughter. THAT'S MY MAN! These imams should go bald, yes, no? And discard their long robes, skull caps and goatee beards. No they cannot do that, as these are the accoutrements of office. Without these people will not think them holy and they cannot look holy!
These are all trappings to give the illusion that they are God's chosen. I am made to understand they were APPOINTED by their Sultans and not ANNOINTED by God.

Tuan Syed stood by Sharifah Amani because he is "very happy to see her commitment to her profession. There is a lot of honesty and integrity in her work."

Tuan Syed went on to say: "I am proud of my daughters. I count myself as very lucky to have them. They grew up as sensible people. My children are a gift from God."

Tuan Syed your daughters will go on to me models to their children because you and your wife have nurtured them well with positive values. You said you dont mind boys. If you had them, you too will be proud of them because of who you are.

Sharifah Amani puts it succinctly: He is a guy's guy...a cool guy....both my parents are witty, open-minded and sensible. They are our gatekeepers." (Let me add, GOOD GATEKEEPERS as we have some who steal land from the poor to build a mansion without approval!)

AS SUCH, YOU ARE ZORRO'S CHOICE AS
FATHER OF THE YEAR 2007.

I dedicate these lines to you. It was sent to me this morning by a former student Charles Peters of the Sun (formerly of the Revolvers) who received this same message from his friend Ravindran of Northport: To you Tuan Syed, sir, I dedicated these lines:

He never asks
He never takes
He cares, protects, loves, provides and nurtures
He leads
HE IS DAD.

To all who will be fathers for the first time before this day is over. Happy Fathers Day. Bring up your children the Syed Zainal Rashid's way.

To all imams who are fathers, Happy Fathers Day too...but do smell the coffee....make time for that will ya?

TO ALL MY FRIENDS WHO ARE FATHERS, go get yourself the amber-colored chilled one.

HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE.