ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS A HUGE THREAT TO MALAYSIA'S CORONAVIRUS WAR

Indonesian illegal immigrants hiding in a banana plantation at Kampung Tawau Lama waiting for transport to go to their destinations after sneaking into the country by sea. The bad news is - Indonesia's Covid-19 cases have surpassed China (Source: Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia Facebook).

For months, since the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) on 18 March 2020 until now, I dare not go shopping at all to avoid any risk of infection by the virus. For the first time in my life, I have never bought any clothes, shoes, handbags, watches, books, and artificial jewellery for months. I have really saved a lot of money during these months because apart from food, I have nothing else to buy. Prior to the MCO, I used to visit all the shops in Bukit Bintang area every weekend looking for things to buy but I have never been to this area since the MCO. I prefer not to go out and will avoid it whenever I can particularly because I feel very uncomfortable wearing a mask. As someone who loves shopping, life has been very miserable for me but being hopeful that the coronavirus crisis would come to pass one day does help to brighten up my day. When Malaysia's Covid-19 cases dropped to one on 1 July 2020, I thought that life would go back to normal again very soon. Yes, Malaysia has been very successful in battling Covid-19 and was winning the war.

However, the recent increase of new Covid-19 clusters involving illegal immigrants with more than 100 new cases per day is really scary. It seems that these unwelcome guests are still trying to sneak into the country in the midst of the pandemic bringing the virus with them thus creating new sources of infections. Needless to say, these illegal immigrants pose a serious health threat to Malaysia and have done a lot of damage already. The recent case of a detainee at the Tawau Temporary Detention Center in Sabah who sneaked into Sabah again via Rat Lanes on 5 September 2020 after being deported to the Philippines on 27 August 2020 raise concerns over Covid-19 infections involving undocumented migrants. His wife was tested positive for Covid-19 on 8 September 2020 and was hospitalized. Two of his close contacts were also tested positive for Covid-19 and that was how the 'Sea Cluster' started in Kunak, Sabah. Thus one can see how much damage an illegal immigrant can do to the country. With the highest number of Covid-19 cases in South-East Asia, the Philippines is the worst hit country in the region. The new strain, G614, found in the Philippines, is ten times more infectious than D614, the original strain from Wuhan. With so many unwelcome trouble-makers like him in Sabah, many new clusters have been formed and the Sabah travelers have brought the infections to Peninsular Malaysia. 

Thanks to our Malaysian Armed Forces, Royal Malaysia Police, Immigration Officers, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Malaysian Civil Defence Force, Malaysian Border Security Agency, and the General Operations Force for their unrelenting efforts to tighten the country's border control and prevent the Covid-19 outbreak. These frontliners have been doing a great job and if not because of their tireless efforts to stop illegal immigrants from entering the country by sea and via Rat Lanes, the Covid-19 situation here would be much worse. The problem is there are still many illegal immigrants sneaking into Malaysia almost every day and every one of them can turn out to be a new source of Covid-19 infection. What's wrong with their countries? Why can't they stay in their own countries? Why is everyone coming to Malaysia? Is it because There Is Gold Everywhere in Malaysia? To date, millions of illegal immigrants have left their countries to look for an opportunity to succeed in Malaysia, something that is hard to find in their own countries. It seems that there are jobs waiting for the illegal immigrants in Malaysia even though many Malaysians have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus outbreak!

In this article, I would like to share some of the most recent "illegal entry" cases based on the information that I obtained from the Facebook of Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia (Immigration Department of Malaysia). These cases (dated from 1 August 2020 to 29 September 2020) clearly indicate that many illegal immigrants still risk their lives to get to Malaysia almost every day even though they know that they are not welcomed here. Why? Because they know that Malaysia  is the land of opportunity. Their predecessors have proven to them that anyone who comes here can become successful through hard work and determination. Since Malaysia is everyone's favored destination, it really deserves this reputation - the land of opportunity. 

Case 1 (27 September 2020)   
A 24-year-old female agent, 2 male agents aged 20 and 24, and 5 Thai men were arrested by the General Operations Force in Tumpat. The Thai nationals, aged 28 to 33, were on their way to Endau, Johor, to work as fishermen. According to Superintendent Azhari Nusi, their car was coming from the direction of Kampung Simpangan and heading towards Kampung Jubakar when they were asked to stop but they tried to flee and sped off. The officers then gave chase and arrrested them (Source: Ejen wanita, 2 tekong, 5 PATI ditahan).

Case 2 (25 September 2020)   
A 70-year-old taxi driver was arrested for trying to smuggle 3 Indonesian women (aged 37 to 40) into the country (Source: Warga emas, 3 PATI ditahan).

Case 3 (21 September 2020)   

Footsteps on the beach led to the discovery and arrest of 8 illegal immigrants from Indonesia (6 men and 2 women, aged 18-49) who disembarked on Desaru Beach, Johore (Source: Kesan tapak kaki bongkar PATI).

Case 4 (20 September 2020)   

The bodies of 6 illegal immigrants who were drowned while attempting to sneak into the country were found on Teluk C Beach near Bandar Penawar in Kota Tinggi, Johor (Source: 6 Mayat PATI Ditemui).

Case 5 (20 September 2020)   

2 Indonesian human trafficking agents (aged 50 and 59), 14 Indonesian men (aged 25 to 43) and 14 Indonesian women (aged 20 to 53) were arrested in Sabak Bernam by the General Operations Force while they were sneaking into the country (Source: Dua tekong darat dalang penyeludupan PATI ditahan).

Case 6 (19 September 2020)

An illegal Indonesian woman, aged 45, who was arrested by the General Operations Force at a shrimp pond area at Sungai Nipah, Simpang Lima, was tested positive for Covid-19. Also arrested were 12 Indonesian men and 12 Indonesian women aged 21 to 45, and 2 Bangladeshi men, aged 24 and 26. It was believed that they sneaked into the country by boat (Source: Seorang PATI dicekup PGA positif Covid-19).

Case 7 (19 September 2020)

A human trafficking agent and 5 illegal Thai nationals (1 man and 4 women), aged 19 to 44, was arrested by the General Operations Force at Salor, Kota Bharu. When asked to stop, the four-wheel drive sped off but were nabbed after a 17km car chase from Pangkalan Haram Jitong. According to Superintendent Azhari Nusi, the agent has been ordered to drive the illegal immigrants to Kota Bharu (Source: Tekong darat, lima PATI ditahan).

Case 8 (18 September 2020)    
4 illegal immigrants from Cambodia who sneaked into the country were on their way to Kota Bharu to work were when they were arrested by the General Operations Force near Pangkalan Haram Kampung Kebun, Pangkalan Kubor. A 65-year-old local man, who was driving them to their destination in his Proton Saga at a fee of RM100 per person, was also arrested (Source: Tekong, empat PATI warga Kemboja dicekup). 

Case 9 (17 September 2020)    
77 illegal Indonesians (53 men and 18 women aged 17 to 58, 2 children aged 1 and 3, a skipper and 3 crew) were arrested near Pulau Ketam while they were sneaking into the country by boat. Three of them tried to jump out of the boat but were caught. The boat was sailing from Tanjung Balai, Indonesia, to Port Klang (Source: 77 pendatang asing termasuk tekong, kru bot ditahan cuba menyusup masuk).

Case 10 (13 September 2020)   
20 illegal immigrants from Indonesia (13 men and 7 women, aged 24 to 40) were arrested by the General Operations Force at Sungai Nipah, Kampung Sungai Haji Dorani at Sungai Besar not long after they arrived by boat (Source: 20 PATI baru 'mendarat' dicekup).

Case 11 (9 September 2020)

The Malaysian Army arrested 13 illegal immigrants (8 men and 5 women, aged 20 to 54 years old) at Bandar Penawar, Kota Tinggi, who have been abandoned by their skipper and did not know how to swim ashore (Tekong 'cabut', PATI ditangkap). 

Case 12 (30 August 2020)   

13 Indonesian illegal immigrants (5 men, 5 women, and 3 boys, aged 7 to 58) who sneaked into Tawau early in the morning were arrested by the Marine Police Force at Kampung Hidayat Batu 4. At the time they were found, they were hiding on the potato farm - an illegal immigrant transit den (Source: Helah PATI tidak berjaya).

 

Case 13 (28 August 2020)   
11 Indonesian illegal immigrants (8 men, 2 women, and one child, aged 2 to 45) were hiding in a banana plantation at Kampung Tawau Lama when they were arrested by the Marine Police Force at 5.30 am. They sneaked into the plantation via Tawau sea border and were waiting for transport to go to their destinations. One of them had a passport but the other 10 did not have any documents (Source: PATI warga Indonesia sembunyi di kebun pisang ditahan).

Case 14 (24 August 2020)    
The Marine Operations Force arrested a 45-year-old illegal Indonesian man at a palm oil farm in Kampung Tinagat, Tawau, believed to be an illegal immigrant transit den, at midnight. However, the other illegals managed to escape into the nearby forest. A few hours later, 6 illegals (2 men and 3 women, aged 20-57, and a four-year-old child) were arrested at Jalan Batu Puyung while a 28-year-old local man was driving them to their destinations. All the illegals were undocumented and believed to have entered the country via Rat Lanes (Source: Penduduk tempatan jadi dalang seludup PATI). 

Case 15 (22 August 2020)    
A local woman, aged 33, was arrested at a roadblock for smuggling 3 undocumented Bangladeshi men (aged 30-36) from Kuala Lumpur to Keteri, Perlis, at a fee of RM450 (Source: Wanita tempatan jadi tekong darat). 

Case 16 (10 August 2020)    
A local man and 9 Thai men who sneaked into the country via Rat Lanes were arrested by the General Operations Force at Jalan Kampung Bagus, Rantau Panjang. At the time they were arrested, the local man was driving the Thai nationals to Selayang to work in his Toyota Alphard. The local man admitted that he was paid RM350 for each illegal immigrant and thus a total of RM3150 for this trip (Source: Tekong darat raih habuan RM350 bagi seorang PATI).

Case 17 (6 August 2020)

2 local men, human trafficking agents believed to be under the influence of drugs, and 6 illegals from Myanmar (2 men and 4 women), were arrested by the General Operations Force at Kampung Tok Bilal, Panyit, Machang. According to Superintendent Nor Azizan Yusof, they tried to flee and sped away in their Mitsubishi Pajero when the officers ordered them to stop at Kampung Bukit Tandak, Rantau Panjang. However, they were arrested after police car chase. The Myanmar nationals, believed to have sneaked into the country via Pangkalan Haram Sungai Golok, did not have any documents (Source: Cubaan seludup PATI gagal).

Case 18 (1 August 2020)   

4 Indonesian women (aged 27 to 37) were arrested by the General Operations Force at a palm oil farm at Taman Kenari, Sungai Sembilang, in Kuala Selangor for sneaking into the country illegally. They arrived here by boat and disembarked on Jeram Beach (Source: 'Kami mendarat di pantai Jeram' - PATI Indonesia). 

Can anyone imagine what will happen if all the illegal immigrants mentioned above manage to sneak into Malaysia bringing the coronavirus with them? OMG! Luckily they were arrested instead of moving around freely inside our country and transmitting Covid-19. Gone are the days when foreigners could come and go whenever they liked. Thanks to our Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, and our Minister of Defence, Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob, for their continuing efforts to stop illegal immigration. 

Transmitting Covid-19 to another person is a serious crime particularly during the coronavirus pamdemic and it's time for heavier punishment to stem illegal immigration. In Singapore, the punishment for illegal immigrants and their agents are mandatory caning (not less than 3 strokes) and imprisonment. Perhaps, Malaysia should do the same too so that the illegals will not play 'hide-and-seek' with us again. Giving the illegals a free ride home is a waste of time and money as the deported illegals will sneak back to Malaysia again and again. Drastic action must be taken so that they will think twice before sneaking into the country. 

You may also like to read Should the illegal entry of the Rohingyas into Malaysia be encouraged? and The Rohingya Issue: Justice for Malaysia and Bangladesh. To view the content page of this blog, please click here.

The Rohingya Issue: Justice for Malaysia and Bangladesh

More than 260 Rohingya refugees arrived in Malaysia by boat on 8 June 2020 

(Source: Friends of Immigration Facebook)

Many years ago, my aunt used to tell the whole world that my uncle (her brother) did not care for his aging father. She also kept telling me that she was a very filial daughter as she always bought lots of her father's favorite foods for him each time she visited him. In my heart, I was saying, "If you feel that uncle does not care for grandfather, why don't you let grandfather stay with you?" When my mom asked her this question, she started giving all sorts of lame excuses for herself. I used to visit my uncle during the school holidays and I would not deny the fact that he has done his best to look after his father even though he was a poor man. Since there were only two rooms in his flat, he had no choice but to let his father sleep in the living room. However, my grandfather has never gone hungry and my uncle's wife always ensured that he took his bath and changed his clothes. 

Why am I telling this story? Because there are many criticisms of Malaysia and Bangladesh for not doing enough to help the Rohingya refugees from people who are doing nothing to help them and these people keep reminding me of my aunt. Recently, there have been many online articles about Rohingya boats being turned away as though it was Malaysia's fault and written in such a way that Malaysia was to be blamed for those who perished at sea. But what about the half a million Rohingya refugees living in Malaysia now? As of July 2020, there are 177,920 Rohingyas registered with UNHCR in Malaysia and it is estimated that the undocumented Rohingyas are twice this number. Given the the large population of Rohingyas working and residing in Malaysia, is it fair to condemn Malaysia for turning away Rohingya boats that tried to sneak into the country illegally in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic? Surely, Malaysia has done more than enough for them all these years. How many countries in this world can accept so many Rohingya refugees? The answer is - only Malaysia and Bangladesh. However, even Bangladesh is criticized for its overcrowded refugee camps just because it is kind enough to give the Rohingyas a place they can call home at the expense of its tourism industry. 

I do not start this blog to write about the Rohingyas as I am not interested to know what they have been doing in Malaysia even though I know that they have been sneaking into the country illegally for years. It seems that everything has been going well for them all these years as they have no problem sneaking into Malaysia by sea, via Thailand, and through the Rat Lanes after disembarking in Indonesia. Once they have arrived in Malaysia, they could easily join the locals, find a job and start a new life. Many of them have started their own business and are living comfortably even though they do not have any documents. The clever ones would marry any grandmother or great-grandmother who comes along in order to get their PR. Prior to the Movement Control Order (MCO), there was no issue about the Rohingyas being left to die at sea because Malaysia was kind enough to allow all the Rohingya boats to disembark. However, since the MCO, the issue about the Rohingyas being left to die at sea keeps recurring so frequently that I am really tired of reading this kind of articles online. That is why I am writing this article today - to seek justice for Malaysia and Bangladesh. 

So what is the problem with the Rohingyas now? They have nowhere to go because Malaysia cannot afford to take any more Rohingya refugees due to the novel coronavirus pandemic and a struggling economy. Because of this, Malaysia is criticised for sending them back to sea. Why only Malaysia? Why not Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, China, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Korea or Japan? Since Malaysia is already saturated with the Rohingya refugees, perhaps it's time the other countries do their part to help them. In a way, those who criticize Malaysia for turning the Rohingya boats away are also encouraging the illegal smuggling of refugees thus putting their lives at risk. Anyone in their right senses would not encourage the ruthless human traffickers who completely disregard human life to prey on the Rohingyas and smuggle them from Bangladesh and Myanmar into Malaysia for monetary gain. How many of them would perish at sea during the journey? What would happen if their boats capsize? Blame Malaysia again? By turning their boats away, Malaysia is sending a message to the Rohingyas that they are not welcome here and they would not risk their lives to come here again knowing that they would be rejected. Malaysia did the right thing by giving them a very clear warning that no more Rohingya boats would be allowed to disembark. 

On 25 June 2020, when 100 Rohingya refugees were rescued by Indonesian fisherman in Aceh, and again on 7 September 2020, when nearly 300 Rohingya came ashore in Aceh, the Indonesian community was praised for rescuing them. What about Malaysia who has been taking in countless Rohingya refugees throughout the years? I am sure Malaysia also deserves to be praised too. Let us praise Malaysia for its generosity, compassion, and kindness for allowing half a million Rohingyas to make their homes in this country. Malaysia has already done a lot for the Rohingyas and it is unfair to force it to take in all the Rohingyas from the refugee camps in Bangladesh. Why did I say 'all the refugees'? Moving around freely in Malaysia is certainly better than living in the refugees camps in Bangladesh! It should be noted that once Malaysia has given the green light, not only the Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh but also those from Myanmar would rush to Malaysia because it is their favored destination - a safe haven for Rohingyas. The Indonesian authorities need not worry about the Rohingya refugees in Aceh because they will try to sneak into Malaysia. Even their own people are sneaking into Malaysia almost every day and the Rohingyas can easily join them. According to Chris Lewa of the Arakan Project, although the Rohingyas were grateful to Indonesia for saving their lives, they did not intend to stay there. When he visited them a few days after they were rescued from the sea, they were already inquiring how they could get to Malaysia. (Please read Rohingya refugees vanish from Indonesia). Similarly, the Rohingyas would not stay long in Thailand even if they manage to get there as their ultimate destination is Malaysia. Thus, as the Rohingya boats keep sailing to Southeast Asia, Malaysia is their only victim and if they are encouraged to do so and Malaysia is forced to accept them, the entire Cox's Bazar as well as the refugee camps in Myanmar would be moved to Malaysia in no time. Is this fair for Malaysia? 

As what Confucius says, "Act with kindness but do not expect gratitude" but to repay kindness with evil is a gross injustice. How do the Rohingyas repay Malaysia's kindness? Do not be deceived by Rohingya women who arrive in Malaysia crying with a baby on their arm as they can easily turn into the masterminds of robbery gangs. Earlier this month, a Rohingya woman, Norjahan, and her accomplices, known as the blue Alza robbery gang, were arrested by the police for being involved in a series of robberies and burglaries. Among the crimes committed by the Rohingyas in Malaysia include Three ethnic Rohingya arrested for housebreaking; Seven Myanmar Nationals nabbed in Kuantan for house break-in cases; Cops arrest two Rohingya men over house break-ins in Kulai; Cops arrest five UNHCR cardholders suspected of being involved in house break-ins in Ampang; Five Rohingyas detained in connection with multi-state crime spree; Cops nab Myanmar man, woman over Grab driver’s murder; Rohingya woman stabbed to death by her husband; Rohingya teen charged with murdering step-daughter; and Rohingya man charged with raping underage girl. It seems that the Rohingyas are very professional at house break-ins, rape, and murder. If they could kill 99 Hindu villagers in Rakhine State in one or two massacres, murdering a Grab driver is nothing at all. But what can we expect from people who can even murder their own family members?  Crimes in the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar are rampant and, needless to say, bringing the Rohingyas here would also mean bringing their crimes into this country. 

Norjahan, the mastermind of blue Alza robbery gang 

(Source: Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia)

According to many online articles, the Rohingyas are the most persecuted minority in the world but is that the entire truth? What did they do in Myanmar before they fled to Bangladesh? Do you know that this most persecuted minority actually burned down a monastery, a school, 37 houses and decapitated all the Buddha statues in the village of Nantthataung? Please also read Myanmar Rohingya militants massacred Hindus, says Amnesty; At least 71 killed in Myanmar as Rohingya insurgents stage major attack; and Rohingya insurgents attack police in western Myanmar, wounding six: state TV. What are they doing in Cox's Bazar's refugee camps now? Please read some of their latest cases dated this year @ Refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar: Rohingyas tangled up in crimes; Killing of Rohingya robbers sparks concerns in Bangladesh; Bangladeshi Forces Gun Down 8 Rohingya Criminal Suspects near Refugee Camps; and Several killed in 'gang war' at Rohingya camps in Bangladesh. To understand more about the Rohingyas, please read Facts that the world needs to know about Rohingya.

Needless to say, hosting more than 1 million Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar is a dangerous task for Bangladesh. Cox's Bazar, well-known for its beautiful beaches and coastal town, is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Bangladesh. However, the Rohingyas, with their crimes of stealing, robbery, extortion, drug trafficking, human trafficking, rape, and murder have caused a decline in the revenue of its tourism industry. But what is even worse is that Bangladesh is often criticised for its overcrowded refugee camps and landslides that put the lives of the Rohingyas at risk. It should be noted that Bangladesh is not a rich country as jobs are scarce and millions of Bangladeshis have come to Malaysia to work. Poverty and homelessness are prevalent and many Bangladeshis are living in mud houses and slums.  Given such circumstances, one cannot deny the fact that the Bangladesh Government has been extremely generous to the Rohingyas and has done its best to accommodate them. The refugees camps are overcrowded because the Rohingyas are breeding too fast despite the unfavorable circumstances that they are in and it is unfair to blame Bangladesh for that. 

To reduce overcrowding in Cox's Bazar's refugee camps, Bangladesh has spent US$280 million to build quality houses, shops, schools, hospitals, mosques, roads, playgrounds, and protection embankments on Bhasan Char Island so that the Rohingyas can live more comfortably. Given the fact that 5 million Bangladeshis are homeless and three quarters of its population live in mud houses, US$280 million is a lot of money to spend on the Rohingyas. However, Bangladesh's plans to relocate 100,000 Rohingya refugees to the modern township on Bhasan Char is again criticized because it is a floating silt island. But what about the famous floating silt island, Koh Panyee, in Phang Nga Bay, Thailand? Its residents have no problems living there and they are also very proud of this beautiful tourist destination. The floating football field built by the children of this island who later became successful football players is clearly a reminder that "nothing is impossible to a willing heart" (John Heywood). If so many families can live happily on this floating silt island in Thailand, how come the Rohingyas cannot move to Bhasan Char? Is it because of their drug smuggling business? The relocation of Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char would mean that they cannot smuggle drugs into Bangladesh anymore. Perhaps those who criticize Bangladesh for its overcrowded refugee camps and floating silt Bhasan Char Island should consider sending planes to Bangladesh to fetch the Rohingyas and take them to their own country. And don't forget to send some planes to Malaysia too as there are nearly half a million Rohingya refugees residing here! 

Forcing Malaysia to accept all Rohingya boats and forcing Bangladesh to make the refugee camps more comfortable for the Rohingyas cannot solve the refugee problems. Malaysia and Bangladesh are not affluent countries and it is a great injustice to put the burden of Rohingya refugees on them. The Rohingya problem is not solely the problem of Malaysia and Bangladesh. Taking in the Rohingyas out of kindness and sympathy does not mean that they have assumed responsibility for the livelihood of these refugees. The burden of Rohingya refugees should be shared by the whole world. If every country in this world could take in 10,000 Rohingya refugees, then there shouldn't be any problems at all. If traveling by sea is too dangerous for the Rohingyas, then sending a plane to fetch them is the best solution! Malaysia and Bangladesh have done their part and now it is the turn of the other countries to help the Rohingyas. How long are they going to remain in the refugee camps in Bangladesh? How long are they going to stay in Malaysia and for how many generations? Looks like they are not going anywhere because it seems that no one wants them. If the Rohingyas really have nowhere to go, the best thing for them to do is to return to Myanmar since Myanmar is ready to accept them. Perhaps Malaysia should consider placing all the Rohingya refugees in camps just like what Bangladesh is doing - this is one way to stop them from sneaking into this country. 

You may also like to read There Is Gold Everywhere in Malaysia, Should the illegal entry of the Rohingyas into Malaysia be encouraged? and ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS A HUGE THREAT TO MALAYSIA'S CORONAVIRUS WAR. To view the content page of this blog, please click here.

How Long Should a Widower Wait to Remarry After the Death of His Wife?

Seashell love birds which symbolize love and commitment according to Chinese Feng Shui

As I was tidying up my old photo albums and looking at the old photos, I did not know why I suddenly started thinking of my beautiful cousin sister, Alice (not her real name), and the days we spent together when we were kids. Well, I really miss those good old school holidays when we used to play with paper dolls and our plastic cookware sets. The last time I saw her was the day when she sent me to the bus station after I visited her in another state. Since then, both of us have been very busy with our work and studies and we never met again. A few years from then, I was shocked when I got news of her death - she died in an accident on the day she went to get her graduation gown. At that instant, I really could not believe what I heard and memories of her came flooding back. She was a very ambitious woman and studied so hard for her degree. She even delayed motherhood for a few years until she has completed her studies. But when that day finally came, she left us so suddenly. Sometimes I do wonder where she is and what is happening to her. Is she in heaven or if reincarnation does happen, is she reborn in another body?

Alice is the kind of woman who always puts her husband first. When she married Andy (not his real name), there was no wedding reception on the groom's side even though Alice's mother held a grand wedding banquet for her. But, of course, Alice did not mind as she loved her husband very much. She even offered to pay for the Government housing loan via monthly salary deduction as she did not want her husband to be burdened with it - that was what she told me. When Alice died in the accident, apart from the lump sum insurance payout, Andy also automatically inherited the house without having to pay for anything as the loan balance was paid by insurance. It was a brand new house but Alice would never get the chance to stay there. She has not yet moved to her dream house.

Alice did not have an easy childhood because my uncle was a poor man. During her student days, she had to give tuition and work at a shoe shop to earn some pocket money. I felt very sad for Alice because after all her hard work, she died at such a young age when her life was just beginning to change for the better. There were so many things that she planned to do but she would not get the chance to do them now. However, I felt even sadder when I heard that her husband remarried and had a baby in less than two years after her death. No doubt their marriage ended the moment Alice died and Andy was free to remarry but he should at least wait for three years before remarrying. Why three years? To show some respect for his deceased wife. Of course there is no right or wrong amount of time to remarry but what was the hurry? He was still very young then and surely three years were nothing compared to what Alice has done for him! If he could not even wait for three years and was in a hurry to remarry, I dare say that their marriage was worthless and meaningless. I wonder how he could fill his mind with thoughts of another woman so soon after his wife's death. He should feel sad because he has lost a good wife instead of enjoying a romantic relationship with another woman. Was it because he did not love her enough? Or was there someone else already waiting for him? He is a very handsome man and since there are very few male teachers in the schools, I wouldn't be surprised if he has lots of secret admirers.

Can Andy mourn for his wife while being in love with another woman at the same time? Sounds ridiculous to me because these two women can never co-exist in his heart. How can a man love two women at the same time? When it comes to love, it is either one or the other but not both as a man who says  that he loves his deceased wife and second wife equally is inviting trouble. We cannot deny the fact that women are jealous by nature and even though Alice is dead, Andy's new wife would never be able to share her husband with another woman irrespective of whether she is alive or dead. How would she feel if Andy keeps thinking of Alice  and keeps looking at her photos from time to time? What would she do if Andy keeps talking about Alice and telling her much he misses his dead wife? Can his new wife tolerate his love for his first wife with a smile on her face saying that she does not mind? Can he mourn her for eternity? Can his love for her remain strong even after her death? To avoid trouble and arguments, the best thing to do is not to mention his first wife again because she is already the past tense or there would never be peace in the household. That is the truth of it. Try asking around and the conclusion is nobody likes her husband to keep the things that belonged to his dead wife or even talk about her - as though someone who is dead is gone with the wind.

Is it really that difficult to wait for three years before remarrying after the death of a beloved wife? My godfather remarried almost immediately after my godmother died when he was already in his seventies. So what does his 50 years of marriage to my godmother mean to him? Why was she so easily replaceable by another woman? Marriage was her everything but it seemed to have ended completely the moment she died. What was she living for all her life? Was it worth living for a man who could simply replace her with another woman? Being a very active person, my godfather used to participate in different kinds of activities which provided him with lots of opportunities to meet single, divorced, and widowed women. My godmother once told me that he had some lady friends and he always behaved in a gentlemanly way in front of them even though he did not normally behave like that. Needless to say, if one of these ladies has targeted him and asked for his hand in marriage, it was not easy for him to say 'no' to her particularly when they have known each other and have been good friends for many years. However, he died not long after his second marriage.

For most people, love and marriage are essential aspects of their lives and they would find their lives meaningless without being attached to someone. I have come across many women who always say that marriage is their everything. But does life have meaning if you live just for that one person who forgets about you and moves on with someone else as soon as you're gone? Does true love mean eternal love? Most people would say 'yes'. Does eternal love really exist? What have we learnt from Alice and my godmother? Love is not forever. If marriage isn't forever, is it worthwhile? If you can find someone who wants to marry you, go ahead and get married. If you cannot find a life partner, do not go all the way out and disgrace yourself just to get one. Sad to say, many women and grandmothers and even great-grandmothers are busy looking for love online and making themselves victims of romance scammers. Some of them are so desperate that they don't mind buying love with money. Life is certainly more than that. DO NOT sit and mourn all day long just because you do not have a man in your life and NEVER spend all your time desperately looking for a man because, who knows, he may bring you more pain than joy. There are many things that you can do to make yourself happy such as baking a chocolate cake,  buying yourself a new pair of shoes, visiting your favorite countries, or simply going for an evening walk whilst enjoying the beauty of nature. Reach out to help the poor. Remember Mother Teresa? She is not married but she would never be forgotten and would always be the most loved and most talked about woman long after she has died. And of course she lived a meaningful life!

If you were to ask me whether remarriage after spousal death is the right thing to do, my answer is a big NO. Marriage does not end with the death of a spouse - it goes on forever and contnues in heaven. As what Jesus says to Simon Peter, "Whatever you declare bound on earth shall be bound in heaven" (Matthew 16:19). Since marriages take place in Church, they should last eternally beyond death and go on forever in heaven. Death is just a temporary parting period and couples who believe in the eternity of marriage would eventually meet each other again in heaven and live happily ever after. This is the kind of marriage that is worth more than all the treasure in this world - it brings meaning to life.

You may also like to read Will your husband divorce you and marry his lover?; THE LINES OF MARRIAGE AND HOW THEY AFFECT YOUR LOVE LIFE; Is Marriage Really Necessary and Important in Today's World?; and MARRIAGE AFTER 50: WHAT DO YOU NEED TO CONSIDER? To view the content page of this blog, please click here.

The Nativity Museum in Lourdes

Those who have been to Lourdes would probably still remember the Musee de la Nativite or Museum of the Nativity (Nativity Museum) as there were lots of things to see in this beautiful museum. Located at 21 Quai Saint Jean, 65100 Lourdes, the Nativity Museum was devoted to one of the most popular themes in Christianity, namely the birth of Jesus. Visitors to this museum were always busy taking photos because there were so many photos to take. It was an extremely interesting museum with so much to learn that being there for just one day would not be enough.

My tour of the museum began with the biblical scenes depicting the life of Jesus from the annunciation, visitation, the birth of Jesus, and the flight into Egypt to the finding in the temple. These scenes from the life of Jesus, as told by the New Testament, were beautifullly illustrated and displayed in the museum through a series of fourteen tableaux.

The Annunciation

In a dream, an angel appeared to Joseph to convince him that he should trust Mary

The Nativity of Jesus Christ

On the way to Bethlehem

The Flight into Egypt

The Finding in the Temple

Want to know what life was like in Palestine during the days when Jesus walked on earth? The Nativity Museum provided some good answers to this question through its scale model, a physical representation portraying the Jewish Palestine in the time of Jesus. It should be noted that during the days of Jesus, Palestine was part of the Roman Empire. During those days, Jewish Palestine was ruled by Herod the Great.

Life in Palestine as Jesus would have known it

Palestine in the time of Jesus

Workers and trades in the time of Jesus

How people made a living in Biblical times

Occupations and trades in Jesus' time

Life in Biblical Times

On the ground floor, there were a number of animated diorama automatons illustrating the daily lives of the inhabitants of the Pyrenees in the 19th Century. These realistic scenes of the Pyrenees could really take us back to the past. That was what Lourdes was like during the apparitions.

How the inhabitants of the Pyrenees made a living in the 19th Century

The Pyrenees at the time of the apparitions

Occupations and trades in the Pyrenees during the 19th Century

Life in the Pyrenees in the 19th Century

The Pyrenees in the 19th Century

Trades in the Pyrenees in the 19th Century 

My visit to the Nativity Museum ended with two beautiful life-size Biblical scenes, namely, the Nativity of Jesus and the Flight into Egypt.

The Nativity of Jesus Christ

The Flight into Egypt

It was a great privilege to visit the Nativity Museum because it was so unique and interesting with so much to see and learn. It has always been one of my favorite museums. However, I was shocked to learn that the museum has been closed permanently when I visited its website recently after reading the article entitled One in 8 museums may permanently close due to the pandemic - Insider.

Permanently closed? I can't believe it.

I do not know for what reason it shut down but I hope that it would reopen again one day. What is left now are the photos that I took in this museum and I am writing this article to tell the whole world that this beautiful museum once existed and will always live in our hearts. And I am also looking forward to its reopening in the future. Lastly, let us pray that the coronavirus pandemic would be over soon and everything would go back to normal again.

To find out more about the numerous museums in Lourdes, please read The Museum of Lourdes. To view the content page of this blog, please click here. There is a complete list of my articles about Lourdes on this page.

THE MUSEUM OF LOURDES

Lourdes is well-known for its numerous museums. These include the Cachot, Musée de Lourdes (Museum of Lourdes), Museum of Saint Bernadette, Nativity Museum, Castle Fort Pyrenean Museum, Petit Lourdes Museum, Musee de Cire Lourdes, Grevin Museum, Gemmail Museum, Moulin Lacade - Maison Paternelle de Sainte Bernadette (Lacade Mill), Moulin de Boly - Maison Natale de Bernadette (Boly Mill) and The Way of the Cross.

Located at 11 rue de  l'égalité, 65100 Lourdes, Musee de Lourdes or the Museum of Lourdes (Lourdes Museum) delved into the history of Lourdes and has provided a good presentation of 19th Century everyday life in Lourdes. In this treasure house of great knowledge, visitors could travel back in time to the past and discover how the modest country-town of Lourdes looked like during the time of the apparitions when Bernadette Soubirous was only fourteen years old. They could also see the traditional skills and crafts, the ancestral trades and occupations, the old streets of Lourdes with the old shops and houses, as well as the clothing style and the lifestyle in Lourdes during that era. Needless to say, the Lourdes Museum was an ideal place to learn about the history, civilization, beliefs, morals, art and architecture of ancient Lourdes. The life-size reconstruction of this little French town has enabled the visitors to gain valuable insights into the social, cultural, economic, political and religious practices of the inhabitants of this miraculous place more than 150 years ago.

I love Lourdes and I love the Lourdes Museum with its vivid illustrations of old Lourdes just the way it was in the time of Bernadette back in 1858. Being in the museum was like a real encounter with what life was in Lourdes during a forgone era. At that instant, I couldn't help placing myself in the shoes of Bernadette and imagining what my life would be like in a different era. It was indeed a very informative museum filled with local knowledge that could make history come alive for the visitors. Needless to say, knowing the history and culture of Lourdes made me appreciate this place even more. In a way, learning about the history and culture of Lourdes has not only brought me closer to this place but also to God. Why? Lourdes rose to prominence because of the apparitions in 1858 and I found it very meaningful to experience what life was like during the apparitions as though I was a part of it albeit for a short while. That kind of experience was like an encounter with God. As I reflected on my own life, I also found peace and tranquility in my heart and soul.

In this article, I would like to share some of the photos which I took in the Lourdes Museum during my visit to this memorable place. Every photo tells a unique story and provides rich insights into the history of Lourdes. They are proof that the Museum of Lourdes was one of the best museums in Lourdes.

A Bigourdan basketmaker

 Women in Nineteenth-Century Lourdes

The baker's oven

Blacksmiths at work

A Bigourdan cabinetmaker

An old village scene in Lourdes

The poor shepherdess, Bernadette Soubirous

The Grotto of Massabielle

The Lourdes Museum was an excellent place for pilgrims and was really worth visiting. Visiting the museum was a great way to find the old Lourdes that has become history. Although some museums may close permanently due to the coronavirus pandemic, I pray that the Lourdes Museum would survive these hard times and continue to be with us forever.

Permanently closed? Hope it's not true.

Thanks for reading. If you like this article, you may also like the other articles about Lourdes. You can find a complete list of these articles here.

LOURDES: THE PIC DU JER AND THE FUNICULAR

The Pic du Jer, which overlooks the town of Lourdes, is a summit in the Hautes Pyrenees. It can be reached by a historic funicular railway in about 15 minutes on a scenic and interesting journey. At an altitude of about 1000 meters, one can get an astounding view of the town of Lourdes, Pau, Tarbes, and the peaks of the Pyrenees from the summit of Pic du Jer. The funicular railway, one of the first to be built in France, was designed by the engineer, Chambrelent, built by Compagnie du Funiculaire  du Pic du Jer, and inaugurated in June 1900. Linking the summit of Pic du Jer to the town of Lourdes at its base, it is a must-visit attraction in Lourdes. Located at 59 avenue Francis Lagardere, 65100 Lourdes, the Pic du Jer is recognizable by its big cross which lights up at night. One can get to it by taking the Little Train of Lourdes from the town of Lourdes.

The Pic du Jer is a good place for hiking, climbing, and mountain biking but as I was not interested in these things, I had rather enjoy myself and relax while admiring the fantastic panorama. Since I went to Lourdes on my own and had two weeks to discover and explore this place, I was free to spend as much time as I wanted on Pic du Jer. It is the kind of place where you can take some time off to experience inner peace, reflect on your life and find your life purpose. There was also something very calming about looking at the shrubs and trees as these could help to relieve stress. What is the 'top of the mountain feeling' like? Once on the summit, there was this kind of rare and wonderful feeling in me which could not be described by words. Standing on the summit and listening to the sound of silence, I had this unique feeling of great elation, deep peacefulness, tranquility and serenity. At that instant, I only wished that I could stay there forever. It was really an unforgettable experience for me.

Inside a historic funicular railway and admiring the stunning views of this pleasant journey

A scenic view of the town of Lourdes on my journey to the summit of Pic du Jer

Riding up the summit along a scenic view

Beautiful mountain views from the train

Scenic view of the Pyrenees from the summit of Pic du Jer

Le Haut de Lourdes - the Restautant of Pic du Jer

View from the top of the world

The town of Lourdes at the base of Pic du Jer

Clouds over the Pyrenees mountain

A beautiful view of natural scenery from the summit

An astonishing view from the summit

Saying goodbye to Pic du Jer with a heavy heart

Descending from the summit of Pic du Jer

Thanks for reading. You may also like to read The Castle of Lourdes, The Cachot, and The Grotto of Massabielle. To view the content page of this blog, please click here. There is a complete list of my articles about Lourdes on this page.