The other day I was craving to have Bukhari Biryani and not wanting to just have it in a mamak restaurant, I thought I would cook it myself for a change. Knowing that biryani cannot be made in a small quantity or for one person, I decided to invite some friends over for a biryani party. The content in this article has been portrayed in a negative light by many Malaysian critics via Facebook and other social media channels but my version of keeping an open mind is an appreciation of the successful ventures of Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary. Born to Syed Nor and Sharifah Rokiah in Kampung Hutan Keriang, Alor Setar Kedah, Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary was of Yemeni descent and is also a success story like Dr Mahathir who has Indian roots. Syed Mokhtar Albukhary’s father was in the cattle business which went bust due to the spread of disease and he had to quit school due to hardship. An entrepreneur at heart his success in business can be attributed to his close connections and history with Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin. The two people who spiraled him to the height of his empire of entities that were once Government owned. (The Star)
My endeavor to cook this biryani will have a roadmap that will clearly identify the various Al-Bukhary connections that are involved.
Now, I need to go into town to shop for stuff to put my culinary skills into action. I have 3 choices, I could take my Modenas motorcycle or my beat-up Proton Saga or even my Honda City which are all assembled by DRB Hicom, an Al-Bukhary connection.
My Proton Saga has its insurance expired, this means that it has to be either the Modenas motorcycle or the Honda city which are both still under hire purchase loans from Bank Muamalat which is DRB owned, an Al-Bukhary connection.
Aiyoh! That reminds me, I have to get my Proton Saga up and running after neglecting it for more than a year and so I need to take it for inspection to qualify its road worthiness. This means I need to take it to Puspakom, a vehicle inspection centre which is a DRB Hicom facility, an Al-Bukhary connection.
I have to renew my Uni Asia Insurance which was also previously a DRB Hicom owned concern, an Al-Bukhary connection but now it is owned by another entity.
My insurance agent informed me that he would courier my road tax and insurance documents by POS LAJU, which has also been privatised and belongs to DRB-HICOM, an Al-Bukhary connection.
After shopping, I am home again excited and ready to be the chef but realised that once again even at home in the kitchen I will have to rely on the Al-Bukhary connections to continue.
Let us begin with rice, the main component ingredient which comes from Bernas, the local Rice Authority and the parent organisation is Tradewinds Malaysia, an Al-Bukhary connection.
If I wanted to use Basmati rice or anything from outside the country, it would most likely be shipped to a seaport or even air flown to an airport owned by MMC and later be transported by vehicles assembled by DRB Hicom or by the railways built by MMC, all Al-Bukhary connections.
To rinse the rice I need water and for water comes from Aliran Ihsan Resources and who owns Ihsas Resources, it certainly is MMC, an Al-Bukhary connection.
The cooking gas which fuels my stove is piped into my condominium by Gas Malaysia which is owned by MMC, another Al-Bukhary connection.
Frozen chicken is faster thawed by the use of a microwave oven and that needs electricity which involves the Malakoff, an Independent Power Producer (IPP) in Malaysia where TNB buys electricity, an Al-Bukhary connection. (MMC)
After the Biryani party my guests may want to have tea or coffee and not to forget some dessert and for this the sugar would come from MSM, a Felda, FGV Holdings Berhad and which of a 20% ownership is a Bukhari connection. (MSM)
So now you see and appreciate this man’s contribution to our Nation building and he has made many things possible single handedly for the Rakyat to appreciate.
My friends enjoyed my Bukhari biryani and were keen in knowing about the ingredients I used so I told them what I had used but left out the more intricate details of the Bukhari connections that made it all possible.
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