Personal Page of Rashid Abdul Samad

Rashid Abdul Samad

I take pride in raising a large family, in addition to my minding a consequent tight family budget and shuttling among the routine office-home-forest rampages. I really mean it -- that I am proud to be a parent to a LARGE FAMILY -- and extremely large, by today's measure of comfort, I am sure. My family size is exceptional, by both Malaysian (as a positive response to ex-Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir's symbolic wish of Malaysian population swelling to a whooping 70 million people in 70 years' time) and international standards, it can be mind-boggling. Yup! Yup! Yup! the kids are not only the noisiest due to their constant quarrels and rivalries, but they are exceptional in many other ways because they do look after the well-beings of themselves, and among themselves. In a way, it has not produced stress on the parents rather fill my ears and heart with joy and make me alert, all the time. God-willing, they will grow to become good citizen of Malaysia and be proud always of being a Malaysian.

My aspirations for the kids' future are simple. Thereafter, when they grow up and turn out to be as planned (and fated, too), I feel that my job is only half-fulfilled as a parent. I continually pray for their success and wish that they become 'anak soleh' (an all-forgiving, thankful and blessed child). That is my humble wish for their future.

So, you do notice! That I tread on an almost impossible lifeline by juggling hectic forestry job with incompatible domestic demands. But, both have similarities, don't they? Both require intense planning. Both pose constant challenges that spur me forward to face head-on. Both seem satisfying because they must be handled delicately. Both are promising because when nurtured properly, they bear fruits for everyone to reap.

Back to Personal Page