Ibu Somchai

Gilli. Tidak hairan jika anda seperti saya juga yang akan mengendap peta kepulauan Indonesia mencari letak pulau kecil tersebut setelah atau sebelum membaca novel Matahari di atas Gilli. Seperti saya tercari-cari pulau Belitong selepas membaca Laskar Pelangi. Saya juga mencari ''Kampung Kambing''setelah terkesan dengan Salina, A. Samad Said tapi tidak jumpa.

Saya juga mahu ke Banggol Derdap, Shahnon Ahmad.Mahu meniti di atas kelapa nan sebatang.

Begitulah latar tempat dalam sesebuah novel yang berjaya diangkat penulis hingga menaik ghairah pembaca untuk lebih mengenalinya terutama orang seperti saya yang suka mengembara( buat masa ini saya sasaran saya negara miskin sekitar Asia Tenggara--Kemboja dan Myanmar terlalu kaya untuk pengembara miskin tapi bahaya).

Gambaran latar tempat adalah terlalu penting tetapi terlalu kurang ditekan dalam novel pop Melayu yang terlebih menekan penceritaan dan konflik pencintaan. Ini menjadi novel pop Melayu kurang eksotik dan sekali gus tidak boleh dijual di peringkat antarabangsa.

Dan, saya kalau ada kesempatan akan ke Ban Ka Rua, Bangkok.Saya mahu bertemu Ibu Somchai, penting sangat!

Ibu! Saya telah jatuh cinta!!

*Atas adalah Pulau Belitong.
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Asia Sentinel kelmarin menulis di bawah tajuk Southern Thailand's Intractable Problems melaporkan:

For Thailand's Abhisit it provided a means of showing that he was at least trying to make progress on the issue, in contrast not only to the disastrous southern policy pursued by Thaksin Shinawatra. A meeting with Najib in the south also gives the impression that Malaysia is in earnest about not allowing Pattani separatist sympathizers on the Malaysian side aiding the bomb planters and slogan painters in the three southern provinces. It may also be aimed to please the southern voters who mostly support Abhsit's Democrat Party. He called for a political solution while rejecting dialogue with the rebels.

As for Najib, it gave him a chance to look statesmanlike, deliver a message to PAS-run Kelantan not tolerate cross-border trouble makers and reaffirm Malaysia's acceptance of Thai sovereignty over a region which has wanted to be joined to (then British-ruled Malaya) for a century100. That would play well with non-Malays and underline UMNO's self-image as a moderate, responsible force for domestic progress and regional cooperation. But at the same time Najib could make it clear to Abhisit that without more serious political effort on the Thai side, the problem would at best fester and could get worse. To some Malays at least it would seem that Najib is showing some concern for cousins across the border.

*Pagi tadi saya berbual-bual dengan bekas ahli parlimen UMNO tahun 90-an dan topik utama tentulah tentang lawatan Bang Na-jib ke selatan Thai tempoh hari.Dia bangga dengan keberanian Bang Na-jib.Melangit pujinya.