I do not use LED lamps in my home. White light is not a single wavelength; it is produced by a combination of different wavelengths across the visible spectrum, including red, green and blue.. Exposure to blue light may have long-term effects on the brain and circadian system. Bright light, especially blue-enriched light, can stimulate the brain’s circadian system and influence the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which regulates cortisol. Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) detect this light and send signals to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the body’s biological clock. Some research has also suggested that blue light may influence behaviour.

Research by Professor Glen Jeffery at University College London suggests that mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells, may benefit from red and near-infrared wavelengths. His research indicates that exposure to these wavelengths can influence mitochondrial respiration and cellular energy production. This suggests that the lack of a natural light spectrum may be more than just a matter of eye strain; it may also have broader biological effects. Studies have found that exposure to specific red and near-infrared wavelengths can influence mitochondrial activity, glucose metabolism and oxygen consumption.  Choose your home lighting wisely. The right light matters.

Originally written on 1 August 2026

Edited on 17 August 2026

Lee Thiam Wah, the billionaire behind 99 Speedmart, is also associated with Burger King, while his sister, Lee Lay Liang, owns Nature Century Development. These examples illustrate how family and related-party ownership can extend across seemingly unrelated industries, including retail, food and beverage, and property development. The same pattern can be seen in other Malaysian business groups. Jakel, for instance, is widely known for its textile, but the group has also expanded into property development through Jakel Development. Similarly, Naza World is not simply an automotive business. It is part of the diversified, family-owned Naza Group, which has substantial interests in property development through Naza TTDI.

Beyond these family-owned conglomerates, the Klang Valley is also home to some of Malaysia's largest and most established property developers, including Mah Sing, MK Land, S P Setia, Sime Darby Property, Sunway Property, IOI Properties, Gamuda Land, EcoWorld and IJM Land. When you look at the broader picture, it becomes easier to understand why the Klang Valley continues to expand and why property development appears almost continuous. The region's urban growth is not driven by property developers alone. It is also shaped by the diversification strategies of Malaysian business families and conglomerates, many of which have accumulated substantial capital, landholdings and long-term interests in property development. 

Notes from the Journey

Pandamaran — 16 August

My wife and my son, Adam, are playing Gomoku. Umar, my eldest son, is sitting nearby, reading Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources by Martin Lings (Abu Bakr Sirajuddin). Martin Lings was Professor Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas’s doctoral supervisor at SOAS. Before this, Umar had read Al-Raheeq Al-Makhtum by Shaykh Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri. The book won first prize in an international competition on the Sīrah of the Prophet Muhammad, organised by the Muslim World League (Rābiṭat al-ʿĀlam al-Islāmī) in 1979.

Umar loves reading history books, especially books on the Sirah Nabawiyyah and the lives of the Ṣaḥabah. Among the books on his reading list are Al-Tanwīr fī Mawlid al-Sirāj al-Munīr by Imam Ibn Dihyah al-Kalbī and Nūr al-Yaqīn fī Sīrat Sayyid al-Mursalīn by Muhammad al-Khuḍari. I have also started encouraging him to read about ʿilm al-kalam, the Ashʿari and Maturidi traditions, Salafism—Wahhabism, the Khawarij, the Shiʿah, Ibaḍi thought, and the darker episodes of Islamic history. He is now preparing for his Sijil Tahfiz Malaysia (STM).

Soalan

"Orang dah move on banyak, dia pergi ingatkan"

"Kita tanya je"

"Tanya la benda lain macam pakai spender warna apa ke, telor okey ke tak ke, parking centre ke senget ke. Haa, bak kata Azhar Idrus tu baru soalan"

"Tak kuasa kita"

"Tak kuasa, tak kuasa pun tiap malam jalan hahahahahaha"

_

"Apa Ara usik abang"

"Acam suka tengok abang sentap"

"Tak baik usik laki. Usik la benda lain baru la tersentap naik ke atas hahahahahaha"

"Geramlah"

"Dia usik kita, dia yang geram"

_

"Apa masalah abang?"

"Apa?"

"Sentap la cepattttt"

"Dah pulak. Orang busy tengok laut. Cuba hayati pemandangan ni"

"Sama aje semua"

"Laaa"

_

"Abang tak ada apa nak komen. Floccinaucinihilipilification. Hah tu dia. Tak tahu rujuk kamus"

"I see you small small"

"Hahahahahahahaha"

_

"Luka dah nak sembuh. Penat abang taruh ubat. Ara jangan la buat darah balik. Ingat senang ke nak ubatkan hati"

"Tanya pun tak oleh"

"Kang orang ingat, dia marah"

"Tak menjawab soalan"

"Stories end, love doesn't. Some people stay with us forever even when they leave"

"Ikan paus, sini jab kau"

"Amboi. Tak sayang laki ke?"

15.8