DISEASE AND DEATH

Death is inevitable and, in a way, disease is too!

In the end most of us will die because of a disease, sometimes defined as a disorder of structure or function  in a human animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms (The Oxford Dictionary,  Thesaurus and Wordpower Guide).

I often think how good it would be if we could choose the disease we are to die from. And I would definitely choose one that is not too debilitating, with clear symptoms that are treatable, with a tolerable level of pain – because in life pain (physical and emotional) is inevitable! In death too!

But most of all I’d like to die calmly and peacefully surrounded by loved ones whom I’ve bade farewell to in the nicest possible way. I’d like to leave words of comfort to each of my anak cucu, by which they will remember me and say a little doa whenever they think of me. But I will miss them so much in death and wonder how they will turn out and what their lives will be!

To die naturally even after a period of illness is what we all pray for! We pray that God will have mercy in sparing us the most excruciating pain and unbearable suffering! From dust to dust! INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILLAIHI RAJIOON!

Sudden or premature death is hard to bear especially for the family you leave behind. When my mother died of a heart attack in 1983, we were  stunned! To receive a call early on a Monday morning to say your beloved Mum has passed away is the worst possible news – especially when you had meant to visit her the day before! Grief laced with guilt is the worst possible emotion!

Tak sempat nak jaga! Tak sempat nak kata! If only…!

For my Mum and all those for whom God has ordained death  in their sleep  it was the best way to go! It would have been a quick, merciful heart failure or heart attack. It’s always the heart that bears the pain and gives way in the end – physically and emotionally! But it’s also the heart that loves and remembers and endures! 

But sudden, premature death that is unnatural or caused by unnatural circumstances is controversial and provocative – forensically, legally, culturally, socially and politically. It is no longer just a family thing! The whole community, society and nation partakes of the sorrow and the mourning! And the guilt and blame of causation! But finger pointing is always at others never at ourselves!

The death of Teoh Beng Hock, the 30 year old political secretary of a Selangor EXCO member hours after the lengthy MACC questioning has raised a public outcry and a call for a Royal Commission of inquiry into his death. Teoh’s falling to death from the14th floor of the MACC Selangor headquarters raises a million questions about the unusual circumstances surrounding the young man’s sudden death!  He was after all a witness in investigations re corruption at the highest levels of the Selangor state government!

Death Most Foul! Foul Play! Foul People! Foul Society! Foul Values! 

May Teoh Beng Hock’s soul rest in peace!